Blog

Blogging and Freedom.
Both share the same great qualities, but also the same downfalls.

We had the freedom to choose which assignments we wanted to write about.  It allowed us to explore different components of health and report it to our classmates.  We had control over what we learned and how deep we investigated.  Some of the writings were creative, thought provoking, informative, and humorous.

Some were not.

I appreciated that each assignment was an opportunity to reflect.  Health isn't just something we learn, it's something we live.

Wheat Grass or Wheat Gross?

What is Wheat Grass?

I always see the stuff in planters on the shelves of Smoothie Shops.  I don't know anyone that has actually had it, though I've heard stories.  But apparently, it's a big deal.

According to Wikipedia, "Wheatgrass is a food prepared from the cotyledons of the common wheat plant..."  So what is the benefit of downing a shot of liquefied grass?

Wheatgrass is a great source of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron, and Vitamin B12.  It contains numerous nutrients, antioxidants and minerals.  Even as a nutrient rich green, it is easy to buy some (like the smoothie shop) or even grow your own.  It aids in digestion and detoxifying the body of hard metals.  Some even claim that wheatgrass fights cancer.

However, wheatgrass doesn't contain any type of dietary benefits.  There is also not very much evidence that wheatgrass actually provides the benefits and there is no proof that wheatgrass can actually overturn serious diseases like cancer.  Wheatgrass can also be expensive (especially compared to a bag of spinach).

There doesn't seem to be any side-effects besides a possible disgusting taste and a loss of a five dollar bill from your pocket.  However, many swear by the effects of Wheat Grass.  Would I try it?  Sure.  But only as an addition to a solid nutritional diet. 

Kids

If I do my job right, I won't have to tell my kids to "say no to drugs".

I will NOT scare my kids from drugs
and
I will NOT keep my kids ignorant of drugs.


But...
I will teach my kids that actions have consequences.
I will teach my kids that they have a choice, and by making a choice, they must accept these consequences.
I will teach my kids to hold strong to their beliefs.
I will teach my kids to set boundaries.
I will build up their confidence and encourage them to fight against temptations and peer pressures that invade those boundaries.
I will teach them to think.
I will trust them.

Drugs are not bad, but they can serve bad purposes.  I hope my children will have a life that is overwhelmingly good; a life that doesn't need drugs. 

Love Language

According to the 5 Love Languages:
"Acts of Service

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter."

It was a long night.  After one hour of sleep, my friend woke me up to remind me that I had to pick up my cousin from the airport.  As I slowly rolled off the couch, my friend disappeared into the kitchen.  While putting my socks and shoes on, she returned with a bowl of oatmeal, tea, an apple and directions to the airport.  This was one of the greatest moments of my life.

I would do anything for my family and friends, so it makes sense that I would want it reciprocated.  It seemed like every other question was about "Receiving Gifts" and I usually chose the alternative.  Gifts are nice, but I don't really need anything.  I simply enjoy the idea that someone thought of me when I wasn't around.  I thought my "Physcial Touch" score would be higher considering I'm all about high-fives and the occasional hug.  Overall though, these results sound right.

The questions on this quiz were too obvious.  "Do you prefer 'acts of service' or 'receiving gifts'?"  Of course I'll get the results that I want.  There isn't anything truly surprising.  The quiz is nice, but it doesn't seem to mean much without reading the book.  Looks like I'm going to the library.

Six

http://www.smithmag.net/happiness/story.php?did=351945

A life and philosophy summed up in six words?  I spent a week thinking about this.

Too often, I get stuck waiting.  Waiting for the next opportunity.  Waiting for the right time.  Waiting for the right words.  I'm done with that.
Simply make a goal and go for it.  If it's something that is truly important to me, shouldn't I do all I can right now to make it happen?  What am I waiting for?

What about you?  What are you shooting for?  What can you do right now to make it happen?

"Don't get stuck in the meantime,

 There's no such thing as the meantime..."

"Meantime" by Givers

Namaste

I was talking to a friend about this health class.  We had gone into this summer promising to improve our health.  A year of rigorous schooling and work had kept us inactive.  So when I mentioned that I was looking for an activity that dealt with stress, she invited me to the yoga class at the local fitness center.  Now, I admit.  I thought yoga was “only for chicks”.  An hour of stretching hardly seemed like a workout.

I was wrong.

Yoga is more than a series of stretches or a flexibility test.  It pushes the body to physical limits then asks you to calmly hold the position.  Within minutes, my body was begging for mercy.  Much of this activity is about maintaining control: control of movement, control of breath, and control of mind.  We were constantly reminded to relax and clear the mind.  “Get out of your head,” the instructor would say.  There were various moves such as upward and downward dog, various warrior moves and some extreme balance postures that I can’t remember the name of.  As we moved from each position to the next, I could feel all the small muscles that normally lay dormant finally waking up and asking “What is happening?”  By far, yoga was one of the most extreme workouts I had endured.

How was it as a stress reliever?

Well, I can’t say much has changed spiritually.  I did not necessarily feel a oneness with the universe or reach any true enlightenment.  But I was left with a feeling of calmness and peace; an exhausted and sweaty calmness and peace.  Physically, my body was in conflict.  It had fought through so many moves and falls, but the muscles were loose and even felt a bit stronger than when it started.  Ending the session with slow restful positions such as the “corpse” pose almost sent me into a deep sleep.  I noticed the biggest change emotionally and mentally however.  During the first half of the session, it seemed like yoga gave me more stress than it relieved.  All these people were around me were clearly more skilled and graceful.  Despite all my effort, my flexibility was limited.  It was frustrating.  But with each reminder to relax, to find inner calmness, I slowly began to shift my thinking to the simplicity of breathing.  All along, I had been taking breath for granted.  But it became the lifeline that got me through the intensity of yoga.

If you are given the chance, leave your ego at home and try out yoga.  It’s a great stress reliever in all aspects.  It stretches out the stress in the body, invites you to release the stress in your soul through breathing and it might be the only time you’re asked to think of nothing.

Namaste.

What are you, Chicken?

Chicken Sandwiches are my go to.  They're cheap (usually a buck) and pretty tasty.  Add different condiments and you get a whole new meal: teriyaki chicken, buffalo chicken, sweet and sour chicken...you get the idea.

But am I sacrificing cost for nutrition?  I looked up my top 3 burger places to compare the nutrition facts of their cheapest chicken sandwiches and their "Premium" counterparts.  How did they compare?  Check it out after the jump: