photo: Thinkstock

Today’s Question: Plenty of things can lead to a low sex drive. Which of the following could be the culprit: too little sleep, too few vegetables, or too much iron?

Answer to Friday’s Question: While fibroid tumors are almost always benign, they can make getting pregnant much harder than it would normally be. They can also cause problems during pregnancy, like going into labor early or miscarriage. Head to the doctor if you’re having long, heavy periods, lower back pain, a constant urge to urinate, or pressure in your lower abdomen.

Post from: BlissTree

Low Libido: Daily Health Quiz

- male sex
- lower socioeconomic background
- early academic difficulties at medical school

– Steve Martin

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Steve Martin on Having a Way With Words

Today I was a little better. I got tons of stuff done around the house and ran some errands preparing for the week. I even made up a new fun dessert using some fresh peaches and raspberries…

OMG… it was SO good. Anyway, tomorrow I’m planning on an early morning run and some weight training. Then it’s back to work on the conference! Oh! and I have the teleclass in the evening if you’d like to join me!

Here’s my food journal for the day. I feel good about my food choices today. I’ve been battling a bit of morning sickness but it really hasn’t stopped me from eating.

Food	Units
~*~*~ monday ~*~*~
made some stuffed peaches this morning
had a late breakfast with this hubz… 1 egg/2 egg white omelet with tons of veggies and turkey bacon.
had another stuffed peach.. I couldn’t help myself. they are staring at me from the counter. so good!
handful of dark choc covered raisins while strolling around the mall.
leftover mango, black bean and couscous salad for lunch!
finished half the little guys grilled cheese. totally mindless munch.. wasn’t even hungry it was just good.
making dinner.. salmon like this.. but with collards instead of kale. plus some green beans and baked potato
fresh strawberries and raspberries for dessert!
Total:	N/A

Table provided by Roni’s Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.Follow live @RonisFood

If you are not reading this on Roni’s Weigh OR your RSS reader then it has been plagiarized!

In closing:

It’s amazing how the community came together to support LeeAnn but the best part of Diabetes Art Day is the emotions, the heart and the love poured into the artwork, videos and photo art–even though our diabetes may vary and our treatment may be different–We all are a lot a like. I saw myself and emotions in each and everyones work of art. I laughed, cried and smiled a lot! I was/am touched by your work of art.

Thank you for allowing my eyes to see the things I did not see.

Be Blessed

Cherise

As I grew up, my lack of maternal instinct remained strong, and formed in to a concrete opinion that I didn’t want children. Ever. I was the odd one out amongst my peers, the only one who felt “never” rather than “someday” would be the best time to procreate.

I never had to deal with any sadness at the fact that diabetes might make it difficult, or impossible, for me to be a mum because I didn’t want to be one anyway. It was either that or the possibility was what made me, albeit unconsciously, shut my mind down to the decision. Either way I was unconcerned, content to imagine a life shared with just a partner.

In my early twenties my periods, always irregular, stopped altogether. I had an IUD at the time and I, and my doctors, assumed this was the reason. But after I had it removed, they still did not return. In two years, I had two periods. I was not particularly bothered. Relieved more at the absence of pre-menstrual bad moods and bloating and of dealing with the whole messy business, not to mention the cyclical screwiness of hormonal effects on my blood sugars. Plus, I had more space in my bathroom cabinet without the need for tampons! It took me those two years to actually ask for the reasons to be investigated. I was given a diagnosis of premature ovarian failure and told I wouldn’t be able to have children. The diagnosis was, quickly, proved to be false when my periods re-started. I was, however, found to be oestrogen deficient and having anovulatory cycles. When my autoimmune pituitary issue was diagnosed my gynaecologist was adamant that probably played a role too. I was told it was still unlikely that I would fall pregnant, at least without assistance.

I still wasn’t all that concerned.

A few years passed. Then I met Ian.

And all of a sudden, I wanted children. With a passion that surprised me. The first time we discussed it, as a possible part of our future, I cried the kind of tears that come right from the bottom of your heart. Because suddenly I wanted this so much but was afraid to feel that way. Afraid it wouldn’t be possible. I still didn’t “want children”, but I wanted Ian’s children. All in a moment, it clicked for me.

Now, Ian is my husband. The three months since our wedding have been an exciting, happy whirlwind. From our amazing honeymoon in Kenya, to buying a new house and getting ready to move out of London. We’re both thirty years old, and much as we love being a family of two, we’re ready. We want to have a baby and be a family of three.

Things are changing around here in preparation for that goal. I’ve been taking a pre-natal vitamin for a while now, but I’ve recently added high-dose folic acid. (The pre-natal vitamin includes the standard 400 microgram dose, but given that I have two of the factors that increase risk for neural tube defects - diabetes and taking anti-convulsants - I’m definitely rocking the 5 milligram dose.) I’ve cut down on caffeine. I’m maximising the fruit and vegetable content of my diet, and minimising the carbs in pursuit of lower post-prandial blood sugars.

Most significantly, I’ve stopped using the hormonal patches I’ve relied on to replace oestrogen and to prevent pregnancy. No, we’re not trying (yet), but they have an impact on my blood sugars that I need to eliminate. And on that note: diabetes. I’ve moved to a once a month schedule at the diabetes centre. I have my first official appointment at the pregnancy clinic in November. I’m religiously logging numbers: blood sugars, boluses and carbs. I’m stalking the highs, tightening my targets and correcting with vigour.

Which is why I was so disappointed to receive an A1c this week that hasn’t changed in two months. Two months ago, I was just back from honeymoon. Between that and the craziness of planning our wedding, I was surprised that the number wasn’t worse. But this week, I really thought it would be better. It wasn’t a terrible number - 7.1%. But it isn’t good enough for pregnancy. Not by standard guidelines and not for me. Not for us.

When the nurse specialist gave me the number, my heart sank. I couldn’t look at Ian, sitting next to me, because I knew that I’d cry. We’re ready for a baby. But my diabetes isn’t. I hate that this is what’s stopping us.

The nurse specialist reassured me that we can get there. She had concrete suggestions to improve my blood sugars that actually make sense. Looking at my logs, she was very clear that I don’t need to work harder, I just need to be more efficient. She believes in me and my ability to do this.

I want to believe it too. But I’m still afraid to want a baby so much, because I’m afraid that I can’t do it. I’m afraid that my body won’t work the way it’s supposed to and let me get pregnant. But I’m more afraid that I can’t achieve the kind of control that I need to even begin to try.

Damn diabetes.

– Steve Martin

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Steve Martin on Music

The secret to changing your life is in your intentions. Wishing, hoping and goal setting cannot accomplish change without intention. What is needed is a shift from the inert energy of wanting to the active energy of doing and intention. —-Wayne Dyer

It’s the middle of the day on Saturday. Today I already worked my butt of at Boot Camp class and went for an hour hike with the family. Now we are getting ready to make some homemade pizza and watch the Notre Dame game. Afterwards, we are heading to PA to spend some time with the Grandparents.

It’s a great day and I plan on making it an even better weekend! I’m actively living my life. I’m done talking about what I want. Wishing for a different body. Hoping one day to achieve some ridiculous goal of "skinny" I set for myself.

Nope, no more. Now I spend my energy doing instead of wishing. Playing instead of hoping. And I set goals that I actively work towards not just daydream about.

Today we had a blast having a fun active morning. Here’s some pictures from our 3 mile hike… Goal Accomplished.

If you are not reading this on Roni’s Weigh OR your RSS reader then it has been plagiarized!

“Can you get me something?”

“No.”

“But Dad, I’m starving.”

“No you’re not, we just ate.”

“But I’m hungry.”

“No you’re not.”

“Check my blood sugar then.” she said, holding her index finger out to me, convinced that she’d be low and get a treat from around the corner.

I pull out my meter and a test strip, rotate my MultiClix around for a new lancet, then spend at least five minutes waiting for her to muster up the courage to submit to a finger stick.  We talk about whether it will hurt or not.  She switches fingers a bunch of times, and finally settles on her thumb. 

First she wants to push the button, then she wants me to do it, then her, then me.  Back and forth more times than I can remember.  It doesn’t matter to me, though I am curious about her blood sugar.  She’s playing games hoping for a treat.

The poke actually hurt her even at the lowest setting.  That distracted her for a while, as she inspected the hole and seemed fascinated by squeezing blood out of her thumb.

133 mg/dl (give or take 20%), 25 minutes after eating and without washing her hands.

She was lost in the inspection of her wound and swore she had a permanent bruise.  I went back to writing.  

“Dad?”

“Hmm?”

“Did it say I was hungry?”

A 2006 study questioned the acceptability of minor episodic memory loss in older adults as normal. Episodic memory loss includes things such as forgetting the name of a new acquaintance, a recent conversation, or an upcoming appointment.

People commonly undergo an age-related slowing of the ability to retrieve information. They might forget where they put their keys, but they usually remember eventually. But when Alzheimer’s is involved, new information is never properly stored, meaning the affected person never learned it well enough to be able to retrieve it.

Related:
Senior Moments: Signs Of Alzheimer’s? CBS News.

Photo by Flickr user Beau B

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Bear In the Woods: Photo of the Day

– Dr. Seuss

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Dr. Seuss on Weirdness

photo via Ecouterre

Do you know how many times we held an ice cube against our wrist this summer? Dozens. The hottest summer on record in New York really made us sweat, whine, and search desperately for ways to cool off. That’s why we slapped our hands on our foreheads when we saw design team 01Mathery’s DIY solution for cooling off — ice-cube gems.

Simply stick some chains or string in an ice cube tray, and let them freeze. Then you’re ready to have your own personal cooling system. We’d recommend only wearing these in the comfort of your own home or yard, though. Greeting your boss might be weird with water running down your chest.

via Ecouterre

Post from: BlissTree

Ice Jewelry to Stay Cool: Why Didn’t We Think of That?