Happy Birthday to me... Happy Birthday to me...

Happy Birthday to me....  Happy Birthday to me!
My morning wasn't as fabulous as I would hope for a nice relaxing birthday...
I thought it would be nice to start the day with a little Chinese health exercises and meditation class followed by a Nia dance class.  The instructor for the Chinese health class (basically Qigong, which I've never really been into) showed up 20 minutes late!!!!!  Some of the other people in the room noted that he's always late...  Well, that didn't impress me one bit!  I find it very disrespectful for an instructor to be 20 minutes late to a 1 hour class and I really wasn't impressed by his energy when he walked in the room.  I might be mentioning that to HHI when I fill out the comment card at the end of my stay.  So, he does 40 minutes of class and at the end he says that since we started late, he didn't have time to do the last part of the class... and, then he proceeds to tell us there's a DVD in the HHI store that we can buy if we're interested.  I was like, What?  I don't think so...  I'm not returning to any of his (Dr. Keith) classes during the rest of my stay.
So, that was kind of a disappointing start to my birthday.
Then, Nia dance, which was actually kind of fun and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I didn't feel so tired today and sore from doing weight training yesterday.  I could barely do anything with my arms, certainly nothing much fast.
After Nia dance was over, I headed back to my room to try to restart my day on better foot...  but, I realized I had misplaced my name-tag and room keys!  I searched all over.  I couldn't find them.  I went back to the class area twice, searched through all my belongings in my room.  Time was running short for getting to the Essential Oils class that I wanted to get to.
So, I had to say to myself...  I'm going to let the stress of losing my keys go, for now, and I'm going to go to this class, and worry about keys after.  And, I'm so glad I went to that class.  I learned a lot.  I've been using essential oils for a while now but this class opened up my mind, or reminded my mind, of all the possibilities of essential oils for healing. 
Then, with a little more calm and clarity of mind, I went back to my room, looked for keys again...  and realized what might have happened...  I had put my name-tag with keys on a shelf in the class room and I thought, they must have gotten knocked off and fallen behind the shelf.  I went to look... and sure enough, they were there!  phew! relax...
I went to lunch with one of my roommates.  She is very friendly and talks to everyone.
So much so that she welcomed another person to our table...  someone I hadn't met yet but I had seen and observed during other meal-times.  I didn't like his energy either and had no interest in ever meeting him... yet, here he was now sitting at the lunch table on my birthday....
Conversation was going okay until my roommate suddenly had to leave to get to an appointment she had.  Which, left me feeling like I had to sit with this man while he finished his lunch.  Long story short I ended up having to listen to 1/2 hour of advice, which I thought would be positive (not sure why I expected such) but ended up being negative and way too depressing a conversation for my birthday.  Finally I was able to extricate myself.  I almost ran back to my room and called my significant other for support because my day just didn't seem to be going well. 
Then, I headed to the hot mineral pool, which always makes me feel better.  And, this time was no different than any other.  It was marvelous.  I love that hot mineral pool.
After being in the pool relaxing, I thought to myself, it's my birthday, I should go to the HHI store and get myself a present...  but then I thought to myself, "that's silly, I've gotten myself the best present in the world... this 3 week Life Transformation Program at HHI!"  What could be better on one's birthday, a celebration of life, than the gift of living foods!!!!!
Special treat for Saturday's dinner is "ice-cream" dessert.  I thought that was great since it's my birthday.  The "ice-cream" is either made with banana or nut-milk.  The nut-milk version is the no sugar version, which I had since I'm no sugar during this adventure.  There was quite a line for the no sugar version since so many people here are instructed to be no sugar.  Anyways, it was delicious!  And, since it's my birthday today, they also made me another special treat, a raw truffle, and everyone in the dining hall sang happy birthday to me while someone played piano.  I almost cried.  It was awesome.  There may be some folks here I don't really want to be around but, overall most everyone is caring, friendly, and supportive.  It was a great end to the day.

White Coat Syndrome

Did you know...
Did you know that not everyone knows about "white coat syndrome?"
In late December, when I was getting ready to come to Hippocrates Health Institute (HHI), I told my significant other (perhaps he remembers...), "the best possible outcome is that they confirm for me that I have "white coat syndrome. That would be worth everything."

Friday's (today's) check as follows:
blood pressure (BP): 120 over 78
weight 142

Now, if you read earlier... during the first health check when I arrived at HHI, my BP was taken as 148 over 84, the next day it was taken twice with the second reading being 130 over 80.  Well, it took 3 readings today to get 120 over 78.  I was nervous as heck waiting to get my BP taken today...  I could feel my heart beating miles a minute.  I felt all this nervousness about whether or not I was improving and what my BP reading would be...  I had difficulty calming myself down.  I tried to breathe deep... 
I went into the nurse, she took the first reading... 140s
second reading... 130
third reading... 120 over 78
In between all those readings she kept calmly telling me to relax, breathe deep.  So, I kept breathing deep and trying to relax...  meanwhile amazed that after all the meditation practice I've done that I still can't calm myself down when my BP is being taken.  On the other hand, I suppose I could say that in a matter of some minutes I was able to get it down from 140s to 120.  It helped that the nurse was so calm and not jumping to conclusions!
After seeing the three readings, she said, "I think you have white coat syndrome." 
I'm relieved that someone finally said with confidence that I have white coat syndrome.  I'm still a little unsure...
One of the things that concerns me most is that... I believe our mind is powerful and our thoughts impact our bodies.  I need to work on getting my mind into a better place about my BP so that I can live a healthy life.

UPDATE: if this interests you, see the second -"White Coat Syndrome" Continued- post, for the "white coat syndrome" story continues....

P.S. down 5 pounds, however...  that was probably just the 5 pounds that I had put on during Christmas vacation in the Florida Keys and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th "last meals" that I had before I arrived at HHI...

How did I get here?

How did I get to be at Hippocrates Health Institute...?
About 7 years ago now, I went into the doctor's for I don't even recall what...  At any rate, what I ended up getting myself into was my blood pressure story...
In my teens and early 20s, blood pressure wasn't an issue.  I'll never forget when the nurse taking my blood pressure at that time jokingly said, "did you walk in here alive?"  Meaning, my blood pressure was really low, although not problematic low. 
Full speed ahead 10+ years... into my early 30s (about 7+ years ago) and I'm in the doctor's office.  He says, "your blood pressure is high."  He puts me on a water pill for two weeks.  The blood pressure remains high.  He puts me on blood pressure medicine for 2 weeks.  Blood pressure is down to normal.  He says, "okay, let's write you a prescription for blood pressure medicine."  I ask, "Don't you think I'm too young?  How long will I be on this?"  He responds, "You'll probably be on this for the rest of your life."  Well, that was not acceptable.  So, I asked him to give me a month to change my diet.  I ate oatmeal every day and cut out salt and salty foods (check labels!).  I returned in a month and my blood pressure was normal.  Doctor said fine and sent me on my way.
About 4 years later, and about 3 years ago, my GYN says, "your blood pressure is high, we recommend you go on a reduced hormone."  I'm assuming she suggested reduced hormones because these types of hormones tend to increase the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, etc.  A little background FYI, I've been on hormones to control my, let's just say, "less than ideal," female cycles since I was probably about 18 (there will be more on this subject to come later in this blog...). 
So, I go in some weeks later to get the new hormone method.  I'm nervous to start.  I'm trying to relax.  I think by this point going to a doctor's office and getting my blood pressure taken is starting to get the better of me...  Nurse takes my blood pressure reading with one of those fancy automatic readers.  My blood pressure is crazy high, if I recall correctly, something like 150s over 100....  Nurse decides to take my blood pressure manually and it's much better, but still high, like in the 140s over 90s.  She decides to call the hormone company to see if it's okay to proceed...  They give the approval and we move forward...
Almost 2 years later (February 2011), I'm in for a new job basic medical check-in.  They take my blood pressure.  It's high.  They give me cold water and tell me to try and relax...  near impossible since I was, at that time, currently in the habit of having a large Dunkin Donuts iced coffee with cream and sugar and, had just taken some gulps before walking into the nurse's office...  She takes my blood pressure again towards the end of the visit.  It's lower but, still not ideal.  She suggests I look into it.  Ya, right!  Not likely for a girl that does not like doctors!  Plus, I've almost convinced myself that I have white coat syndrome but, no one else seems to be suggesting that and, how does one test for it anyway...? 
So, it does start to work on my mind that perhaps I do have an issue....
Then, 9 months later (November 2011), I'm in for a work-provided health check.  And, of course, high blood pressure, 148 over 78.  But, at least the nurse acknowledges that I'm nervous as heck and it could be white coat syndrome.  She writes, "white coat?" on the paper.
In summer/fall of 2012, I was in the doctor's office for a variety of reasons...  stung by hive of bumble bees...  infected bug bite... dog bite.  Each time, of course, stressful situations, blood pressure is consistently high all three times, even though I didn't feel that I was all that stressed about the bug or dog bites...  The doctor seeing I have high blood pressure and telling me I should be on medication... now that stresses me out!  150s over 80s/90s.
Then in November 2011, another work-provided health check.  My blood pressure again high (152 over 84) and the nurses chew me out and give me a slip of paper telling me I need to see a doctor about my blood pressure in the next 30 days.  Although my blood pressure concerned me, because it had now been consistently read in the 150s for the past 3-4 months, what frightened me more was that almost all of my other blood work had gone up over the past year from 2011 to 2012 as follows:
total cholesterol went from 198 to 209
HDL (good cholesterol) went from 59 to 63, this was the good increase
Triglycerides went from below their standard detection limit of 45 to 88
LDL (bad cholesterol) went from below their standard detection limit (not provided) up to 128
Glucose (fasting) went from 88 to 97 (FYI, they consider pre-diabetes 100-125)
Although nothing real terrible yet...  I couldn't believe how much my numbers had changed in the wrong direction! 
So, after my supervisor tells me, in yet another annual review immediately before a vacation, that I need to work on work-life balance... on my 2 hour drive home from work that night (usually 50 minutes but traffic was horrendous), I decided I'd had enough of my current work situation and long commute.  It was not worth my health!  The universe is hitting me over the head with a 2x4!
The universe also whispered into my ear twice in 2012... Hippocrates Health Institute.
So, here I am.... and I am so glad I came...

Sugar Feeds Cancer

Sugar feeds cancer.  Did you know that?  I don't think I knew that. 
HHI recommends that anyone with cancer or within 2 years of having cancer avoid sugar.  And that means all sugars, including fruits.
So, No fruit for you!
I'd already been told "no fruit" upon arrival to HHI.  My blood sugar was high at 103 (normal is 65-100).  Not too bad but, not too good either.
So, I just have to laugh about it because every time someone says, "no fruit for you" it reminds me of that Seinfeld "No soup for you" episode.  tee hee hee :)

p.s. In case you were trying to forget...  alcohol is sugar!
UPDATE: Tomatoes are a fruit!
sugar is everywhere...

Fasting Day and Walmart

Is it me....?  Or, does it seem strange to offer a trip to Wal-Mart at 7:30 p.m. on a liquid fast day...
Wednesdays are liquid fasting days at HHI.  Although not solid food, I'm feeling fairly full from all the liquids...  2 ounces wheat grass in the morning, 8 ounces lemon water also morning, 16 ounces green juice mid-morning, yummy coconut water for lunch, 16 ounces green juice mid-afternoon, and a cup of green soup for dinner... not to mention all the plain ol' water I've had today.  I actually feel quite content.  However...  a trip to Wal-Mart?  Is that advisable?  I've been at HHI for 3 full days now and today is liquid fast day...  How will I manage once I get to Wal-Mart?  I don't really want to go but, unfortunately, there's a few things I need, including a new camera.  I really don't want to miss photographing this experience and the charger for my old beaten up camera cannot be found.  So, I guess it's time for new!  Now, off to Wal-Mart!

Iron, Olive Oil, and Cayenne Pepper

Who would have thought a vegetarian would be getting too much iron...?  Usually that's one of those items that people express concern over the vegetarian way of life.  Well, based on my experience (and blood results back today), cooking in an iron skillet almost every day has actually put me in the excess iron realm.  Iron in excess can actually be problematic.  So...  the nurse told me to switch it up with stainless steel every once in a while.  Who would have thought?  My iron levels will likely go down over the next few weeks as there is no "cooking" in iron here.  UPDATE: I later learned during one of the lectures that the iron one gets from iron skillets is not the kind of iron we should be getting...  so, out with the iron skillet!  stainless steel it is.

Olive oil is another one of those things I've been indulging in at home...  The reason I've been using more olive oil is because I've been cooking with flavor infused olive oils to add flavor to foods since reducing salt (because of the BP).  However, the nurse said olive oil, 1 to 2 tablespoons a day probably not a big deal, but more than that can potentially increase thickness of blood... not so good for high BP.  I guess I'll have to work on that because the olive oils from Bella Balsamic and The Pressed (mostly imported from Italy) are delicious!

One thing I can keep doing is adding cayenne pepper to everything :)  I have been using more cayenne pepper recently because I don't miss the salt when I use cayenne.  And, as recommended by the nurse, cayenne pepper is good for circulation. spice it up!

It's amazing to see how different the blood test results are from the ones I had just a couple months ago in early November.  Some numbers better and some worse :(  Cholesterol for one went up from 210 in November to 257 this week (updated number after recheck).  Bummer :(  But, nurse says people's cholesterol levels can drop significantly during the time here at HHI.  We shall see....  Apparently these numbers are less static over short periods of time than I thought....

First 6 ounces

After a fairly good night's sleep, minus all the ruckus that woke me up at midnight... hmmm... oh, Happy New Year!!!
This morning I awoke feeling much better than yesterday.  I strolled over to the dinning hall for some morning electrolyte water and then headed over to get my BP checked.  This morning's BP reading was 130 over 80.  I'm a little shocked that it could have dropped so much after just one day of detox...  The nurse took it twice...  well, we'll see what Friday morning brings.
After that lovely news, I went to the "juice bar" to make my first round of 6 ounces of wheat grass juice.  I would love to post photos of the juice bar but...  I forgot my camera charger and battery is almost dead.  I have some ideas to remedy this situation and hope to start getting photos up on the blog in the next couple days....
Anywho, I digress from wheat grass... beautiful green wheat grass.
The HHI recommendation while on site working on a health challenge is 6 ounces of wheat grass twice per day.  We drink the first 2 ounces within 15 minutes of juicing and the next 4 ounces...  well, I'll perhaps save that for later... let's just say, the goal is 20 minutes and I made it 3 minutes this morning...
One of the people in the juice bar this morning mentioned to me that he loved the wheat grass and said he'd lost 20 pounds in two weeks...  I'm down one pound from yesterday but, that's no big surprise because I was 141 before the Christmas holidays and now I'm 146.  I expect those holiday pounds to melt away quickly and then start working on the other.
Also this morning, I noticed I have evidence of another detox symptom that I forgot to mention yesterday...  That is, random skin rashes.  Yup, I've got a small one.
All and all though, I feel pretty good this morning :)
I think it's time for mineral pools and meditation....