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Every new year I make resolutions for things I think I can stick to and goals for other things. The things I focus on are usually financial, and diet and exercise. Also, just changes in my retirement life. Since Covid I have really become lazy, not sure why. Daily lists ensure I at least accomplish something every day, usually household chores.
One thing I really am going to try to do is follow an anti inflammatory diet. After blood work several years ago my doctor explained how I should eat since I had really, really high CRP levels (C Reactive Protein). I don't think this is a test that is routinely done, my doctor did it because of a family history of heart issues. After my doctor explained the diet to me I just did it. Basically he said to avoid processed foods and meats. He even told me what processed meats were - hot dogs, bacon, sausage, salami, etc. I went 2 months without bread, cereal, pasta, frozen meals (mostly Lean Cuisine for me). No soda, no chips. At that time I wasn't drinking coffee but I made hot chocolate every day with skim milk and Ghirardelli hot cocoa mix. I gave that up. I did still have non fat milk every day. Dairy is listed as one of the foods to avoid unless it is low fat. No added sugar on the diet. I think I will have to stop drinking coffee because I just can't drink it black. There are some teas I can drink black. I think it was too drastic a change for me to stick to 100%. This time I will continue to eat the food I have now in the freezer and panty - lots of cans of Campbell's tomato soup. But I need to have mostly fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, beans, seeds. Fatty fish such as tuna and salmon is recommended. I remember mixing a can of tuna with avocado (also recommended) and chopped almonds since mayonaise is not recommended. Crossing my fingers that I can do this. When I lost 50 pounds last time my CRP levels dropped in half, still too high but they dropped and went back up again when I gained the weight back. I know losing weight and walking every day is a big help in reducing the inflammation that the high CRP levels indicate.
We are supposed to have rain and stormy weather today, Friday and Saturday. After what seems like a decade of constant drought I really look forward to rain. My retirement life really seems boring. Yesterday my big activity was going to the local hardware store to get a rain gauge! I also enjoyed wandering around the store - looking at everything. I think we may get 5-8 inches of rain where I live during these 3 days. I hope the rain gauge survives in the little planter on the deck I stuck it into to. The squirrels may pull it out - they can be very destructive if they want to bury the peanuts I put out for them or they think there are sunflower chips in the planter.
Wishing everyone a happy new year and succesful resolutions!
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