Healthy Living: Healthy Eating. New Year's Resolutions- Shrimps to The Rescue

In the haze after the holidays I resolved to really, I mean really, (just like I said last year) lose weight.  After all, it's best for healthy living and general heart health.  It sounds good to say it, and it's easy to think about doing it, until you actually have to do it.  But the day of reckoning finally comes; you've run out of excuses and there are no more get-out-of-jail cards to play.

So, my day of reckoning came today and I have actually started my diet, looking for things I can eat that are healthy and even taste good.  Now I love burgers and have run the gamut from bison burgers to turkey and chicken burgers to the dreadful veggie (read cardboard) burgers.  Most of them are fine, but the eternal search goes on for that elusive best-of-class burger you didn't know about....and I found it!

There on the shelf coyly waving at me was a box of shrimp burgers.  Could it be true, a burger that had eluded me in my lifelong quest for burger wonderfulness?  I held my breath as I read the vital statistics....incredibly, it ticked all the right boxes....97% fat free, 180 calories, O% trans fats, and 0% saturated fats.  Burger nirvana!  But did it taste like real food?

With great suspicion I heated up my pan, added some olive oil and slowly and carefully sauted 2 shrimp burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side.  Then it was the moment of truth....would it actually taste good, opening up new burger vistas for the burger maven in me?  Yes, the taste was really good and tasted like I thought a shrimp burger ought to taste.  My search was successful.

You can find shrimp burger nirvana for yourself.  Look for frozen shrimp burgers (CBS Foods, Inc.) at your favorite grocery store.  You can prepare them to go with vegetables or, better yet, prepare them as true burgers.  Here's a tip for a great burger.  Cook the burger and put it between a toasted low calorie (lite, multi-grain) English muffin.  You can dress it with lettuce and tomato and finish it off with fat-free tartar sauce.  Mmmm good.  I think I'll go and make one right now.

I'll continue the search for more great burger ideas to help in the search for healthy living and healthy eating.  Who'd a thought that shrimps would come to the rescue?  Stay hungry for healthy food my friends.

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating, Leftovers Nation

So, Christmas has come and gone and soon the New Year will be upon us and more excuses to party and eat like it's 1999 (actually, I don't remember eating that well in 1999).  That this time of the year is a challenge to healthy eating is an understatement that will surprise no one.  We've all been there; the refrigerator loaded with Christmas dinner leftovers while we plan for the next holiday's reveling.  Here are my 10 tips for managing leftovers during the holidays:

1. Don't throw away the gravy;  reconstitute it so that you can drown the dried-out beef or turkey with it, so it's edible.  
2. Do re-heat the potatoes in any form, mashed, scalloped, diced, etc., the Irish knew about potatoes and valued their staying power (a secret- mix a little low fat Boursin cheese spread in your mashed potatoes- makes you look like a gourmet chef).
3. The All-American green bean mushroom soup with fried casserole.  If you have it leftover, you have to re-heat it and eat it.....after all the Campbells brought it over on the Mayflower. 
4. The Jesus Christmas birthday cake.  We'd love to keep eating it all year, but....as responsible in our healthy living and healthy eating, we have to finish the leftovers and wait until next year for more.  
5. Fruitcake, Ok, you got it as a gift and it's still not opened.  While there are rumors that it is edible, it's also a notorious building material with longevity so maybe you can pool fruitcakes with your neighbors to build a community building.
6. Egg nog:  I know I extolled the goodness of egg nog in my Christmas post, but the truth is I only have one small sip or two each year.  There are stories of past by-pass patients that take only one glass and are rushed straight to the ER.  Hmmm.  
7. I grew up in a tradition that stated that any opened bottle of spirits on New Year's Eve had to be finished;  It doesn't.  
8. Once the holidays are finally over, look carefully.  That Elf-on-the-Shelf may be Elf-Underfoot.  
9. Consolidate your garbage and trash for your pick-up guy. After he sees the mountains you have for him, he may only come back again if you organize it for him......or not. 
10. Make sure children don't become leftovers. When you're vacuuming and cleaning up look for small children in the nooks and crannies.  They have a way of getting lost in the post-holiday clean-up fervor.  

And finally, once the holidays are over, the kids and grand kids are back in school, and the New Year has begun, take a moment to thank God for your blessings, as great or small as they may be.  This is still a great country to live in and a great place to pursue healthy living.
Stay well in the New Year my friends.

Healthy Living: Merry Christmas, Tips for Surviving Into the Next Year

Ho, ho, ho, and Merry Christmas to you and yours.  It's that time once again when we give presents, receive presents, look for reindeer, and are obligated to eat too much.  So when you're looking down and wondering where your feet went, it may be time to push away from the cookie jar and run for the nearest gym.

Surely, in our search for healthy living and healthy eating there are some steps we can take to minimize the expansion of our girth during the holidays without putting ourselves on bread and water.....well, maybe garlic bread.  Here are my 10 "must dos and don'ts" for the holidays which are carved in sandstone and written in vanishing ink....very permanent:

1. Don't feel you need to finish off the cookies that Santa left.
2. Stay away from reindeer food....it's got magic dust in it after all.  
3. When cooking Christmas breakfast don't cook the eggs in bacon fat...that's what the cavemen did because they didn't have Olivio.  
4. Do eat muffins....America was built on great muffins (The Pilgrims brought the first ones with them in 1620)
5. When you cook the roast beast, don't over cook it.....you can always cook it more, but you can't cook it less.  
6. Do have lots of egg nog.....that's another thing the Pilgrims brought over.....I think.  
7. Do have an ice cream cake for baby Jesus.  It's a great tradition and I know in my heart that He approves.
8. Don't worry about the dishes, the dish fairies will surely come to your house and bail you out.....hmmm, I'm still waiting.....waiting. 
9. Naps are allowed.....at any time...for any reason.  After all, the kids will eventually run themselves out and you will have regained your energy to supervise all those dish fairies.  
10. Above all, do get all the used wrappings, bows, and ribbons stashed in bags for the garbage man on pick-up day, and do make sure that there are no children in any of the bags.   

Christmas and the holidays are a great time and after a gathering of the whole family you understand why the original holiday planners decided to have them only once a year.  Eleven months from now you'll be ready to do it all over again.  

Good luck in the New Year on your quest for healthy living and healthy eating.  I'll be here cheering you on.  Meanwhile, stay healthy my friends.  

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating - Staying Fresh, It's a Stretch

During this holiday time it seems like everyone who is celebrating anything, is doing so around a tradition or culture of food.  Slice it, dice it, throw it against the wall, each tradition involves lots of holiday preparation and piles of different foods; most of which the kids are going to turn their noses up at and ask for peanut butter and jelly (thank God for PB&J).  It's a fun time for those of us that actually like to eat and many of the foods we indulge in we only get to eat at this time of the year.  So, go for it.

Problem is, after all the crowds have gathered and the foods have been cooked and enjoyed, there are always leftovers and they all need to find a place in your refrigerator or, at least, some place between 40 and 45 degrees or so (you folks in Alaska, remember the bears - they're real gourmands when it comes to leftovers).  The challenge has always been to successfully seal and preserve your leftover treats so that they can be eaten well into the next year (Xmas only, however, as we all know, there are fruitcakes that have survived well into the next century).  To the rescue...a product that I just heard about and wanted to tip you off to.

Stretch and Fresh (www.stretchandfresh.com)....rectangular pieces of silicone that stretch to fit any sizes and shapes of cups, dishes, bowls, or whatever for storing leftovers, or anything you need to keep fresh.  The company states that the product will stretch to 3 times it's normal size to fit and hold a seal for just about any shape...round, oval, rectangular, or other.  The pieces are dishwasher and microwave safe for easy use.  One thing I like about the concept is that the silicone cover can be fitted over a bowl or pot and then "burped" to get the air out....something that will certainly help your food stay fresher longer.
The product comes in three sizes and can be ordered (at the moment) on-line.  Check them out.

I'll plan a full review down the road to give you some real life experiences. Meanwhile, happy holidays and may you have success in your holiday search for healthy living and healthy eating.  Stay hungry my friends.   

Healthy Living: Obamacare, The Emperor Has No Polls

Yup, once again it's time for the Political Corner on Healthy Living.  It's tough to keep up with the wall of news and developments that come out daily on the impending collapse of Obamacare.  Yes, it's the law of the land (as Democrats love to remind us) but it's also a double-edged sword that will, IMO, come back to haunt the Dems down the road.  There are some early signs that president Obama and his minions will ultimately reap and receive their just desserts.  In this case those desserts aren't so sweet.
A series of recent Fox News Polls of registered voters taken between Dec. 14th and 16th showed that the president's popularity is hitting all time lows as the Obamacare sign-up continues and the realities of how the A.C.A is going to hit the average person's wallet become clearer. Here are the results of recent Fox News polls taken which focus on president Obama's trustworthiness and the likability of his health care law:

1. "Is president Barack Obama honest and trustworthy"?  In April of 2009 73% of respondents said yes, while that number had dropped to 45% by December of 2013.
2. "Should the implementation of the A.C.A. be delayed for a year"?  In October 57% of respondents said yes, while that number has risen to 67% in December.  
3. When asked in mid-December, "are you glad that the health care law passed"? 54% responded that they wished it hadn't passed. 

These polls show a continuing decline in the support for the president and his healthcare policy.  Add to that that he is losing the support of young people between the ages of 18 and 29, (see Pew Poll cited in an earlier post) and he has the makings of a real implosion of the A.C.A. in the first quarter of 2014.  The remaining question is; if the A.C.A. is hurting millions of middle class families with policies they don't want and at monthly payments and deductibles they can't afford, why would he insist on pushing this law forward?

One can only conclude that the A.C.A. is not, and never was about, health care.  It's about control of the American people (18% of the U.S. economy).  If Obama truly did not want to injure the American people, he would delay the program to give relief to families and allow the program to get its act together.  The fact that he is plowing ahead with no compromise tells us everything; and that everything is that he and his regime want to ultimately force us into a single payer system, from which there will be no return.

If, like me, you find this scenario chilling, call your representative and make your feelings and concerns known.  Even if you have Democrat representatives, they should know the will of the people and what repercussions going against them may have in the 2014 elections.  Make your voice heard.

Back to healthy living tips and secrets in my next post.  Meanwhile, stay engaged and informed my friends.  
 

Healthy living: CPAP, Help, I'm Shrinking!.

For any of you that have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or think that you may have the condition, there is good news.  The size and weight of CPAP machines are getting smaller and lighter, allowing for a CPAP user more options for travel and use without access to the power grid.

Until recently, CPAP machines were mostly large, bulky, and loud.  You might get a good night's rest, but at the expense of quiet for you and your partner.  As well, the machines were, by and large, bulky and not easy to transport from point A to point B.  I have an older ResMed unit (which is touted as being small) but it weighs several pounds and, when packed in it's carrying case, takes up the space of a small carry-on suitcase.

Enter the realm of the ultralight CPAP machines.  In a recent post I referred to the Transcend CPAP machine (www.mytranscend.com) It's been on the market for over a year or so and has offered the option of a full CPAP machine that weighs just under one pound and can be held in the palm of your hand.  You can buy two types of battery modules for this machine; one for overnight use (8 hours) and a larger one for up to 16 hours of use (multi-night).  There is an option for a battery charger for users that are in to boating, hiking, climbing, or other activities that take them away from the power grid.

Just recently, a new ultralight CPAP machine was released to the market; the Z1 (www.smallcpap.com).  It too is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and weighs in at only 10 ounces.  There is an option for a battery charger which fits together with the base CPAP in a modular arrangement.  I haven't had the opportunity to try the Z1 out yet, but will plan to cover that review in a future post.

Either of these two machines offer the convenience of light weight and extreme portability, but that comes at a price.  The machines' base prices start between $500 and $600 dollars and, with options, can top $1,000.  Yet, that price brings you the comfort of a great night's sleep equal to what you enjoy at home in your own bed.  For those of us who tend to travel a lot, that's a price worth paying.  One tip: if you keep your lightweight CPAP battery charged up, you're ready for a quick trip at the drop of a hat.

Watch for future CPAP machines to get even smaller and lighter while incorporating more options for less money.  I'll be the first in line for one of those.  Now, if only they could develop a mask that is so lightweight and soft that you aren't aware you're wearing a CPAP mask!  Sign me up for that one.

If you have any questions on or experiences with CPAP machines or masks,  let me know.  Meanwhile, breath safely my friends on your way to healthy living and healthy sleeping.

Healthy Living: Politics- Obamacare, A National "Selfie"

The nation watched as president Obama traveled to South Africa to attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela.  Less attention or mention was placed on the fact that three former presidents (G.W.Bush, Clinton, and Carter) also attended.  During the ceremony, in a lighter moment, Obama was caught leaning into a group "selfie" with the P.M.s of Great Britain and Denmark.  Mrs. Obama did not look amused.

I have no problem with Obama sharing a lighter moment with two of his European counterparts, however, the scene did spark a thought in my mind about the greater Obamacare mess that president Obama looked relieved to be away from during his impromptu selfie.  The relaxed grin on his face as he leaned into the group shot suddenly, for me, became a metaphor for his position on Obamacare.  It's all about his prized national program and his legacy...at all costs...regardless of who is impacted along the way- the perfect national selfie.

There is no question that some percentage of the population will get healthcare (up to 30 million) who never had it before.  But more than 100 million other Americans will be impacted to make this national rework of healthcare a reality., and that number may turn out to be low.  Families that liked their healthcare are being forced to lose it for government imposed policies that contain coverage they don't want or need.  What kind of president would impose a healthcare program that injures the many for the benefit of the few?- a national selfie president.  In the end, it is about him, not about us.

It is interesting that, as this national healthcare mess rolls out, the president is losing one of his core constituencies that supported him during the 2008 and 2012 elections.  Young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are turning on the president and his signature legislation.  Why? They have the most to lose in the future, and they finally have awakened to the fact that Obama's study in selfie legacy is at their expense.  As I posted earlier, a recent poll found that 52% of voters in this age group wanted to recall the president...and we were losing hope for the Melennial Generation.  Even they appear to be saying that enough is enough with Obamacare,

Just today it was released that approximately 365,000 people signed up for Obamacare in the months of October and November- not enrolled or paid up- just signed up.  The administration needs 3.3 million people enrolled by the end of December and 7 million enrolled by the end of March 2014.  They are a long way from those numbers.  If Obamacare proves out to be the rolling disaster it is showing itself to be, the question is whether the president will, at some point soon, step in and make modifications to the law (legally or illegally, as he has done in the past) to give the nation relief from this flawed legislation.

IMO, don't look for any relief soon.  This is more about president Obama's personal healthcare agenda and his legacy than what is good for the nation at large.  If you don't believe it, look at his actions-they speak louder than his words.  It appears that even young people are now starting to see this president for what he ultimately is, the national selfie president.  And they don't like it.

More on healthy living in my next post.  Meanwhile, stay healthy my friends.
 

Healthy Living: Finding Your Inner Fish

Sometimes it's not enough to just eat as healthily as you can to enjoy healthy living.  In order to stimulate your body to burn fat and and work your heart you need to get moving to help get your muscles working, your heart, pumping, and your circulation circulating.  All good things.  Problem is, as we age, we develop limitations that inhibit our ability to play some sports or engage in some activities; our joints complain, our spinal discs enflame or bulge, or our muscles tear and strain.  And sometimes that happens when we're not that old - it just happens.

The key is to find an activity that will aid our pursuit of healthy living without pushing our bodies over the edge, and still provide the exercise we need to keep in shape and eating the foods we want to enjoy without worrying about weight gain.  I have an exercise that works for me and I suggest that you try -swimming.  

The arguments for swimming are many; it's a great workout for your heart and lungs, it exercises almost all of your muscles - at once - and the weightlessness of water puts little, if any, strain on your joints.  No wonder many cardiologists and orthopaedic surgeons laud the benefits of swimming for exercise.  In my case, after open heart surgery, back surgery, and a knee replacement, my doctors were all in agreement that if you could only pursue one sport, swimming would be the best.  

I know, you're probably saying:  

1. I've tried swimming and I just don't like it.
2. I sink like a stone.
3. I tend to eat the water.
4. I can't swim more than one lap without feeling like throwing up.  
5. It's boring, just going back and forth.

When I started swimming 15 years ago after back surgery, I swam up and back once and felt like throwing up.  No kidding- it was awful.  Because I knew that it was good for my back and my overall health, I persevered.  Next day I swam three laps and felt like throwing up.  Improvement?  Eventually I was able to swim 10 laps, then 20, and today I regularly swim 40 to 55 lengths a day without breathing hard.  It took time, but the payoff has been worth it.  I encourage you to try swimming and persevere as I did.  Not sure I can solve the boring complaint (as in #5 above) but I can say that I do some of my most productive thinking and problem solving in the quiet and serenity of the pool.   

At the end of the day swimming may not be for everyone, but it sure merits a real college try.  See if you can't push through the difficult early stage.  Once you are able to swim freely and effortlessly for a half hour or more, you will experience the great healthy feelings that swimming imparts.  Hang in there, the pay-off is worth it!

Make swimming a part of your weekly workout.  You will find that it's benefits will help you attain the best of healthy living.  Stay wet my friends.  

Healthy Living: Politics...Obamacare...Making a Sow's Ear Out of a Silk Purse

Well folks, it's that time once again.  It's the political corner where we catch up on the latest politics that affect your quest for healthy living.  It's pretty much general consensus by now that the Affordable Care Act is not rolling out well and has many hurdles facing those that have the fortitude to run the sign-up gauntlet.  Many millions are in danger of losing their current coverage while many fewer are getting health care coverage for the first time.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of those signing up are signing up for medicaid, putting ever more strain on an already-overburdened program.

A recent Harvard Poll showed that young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are beginning to turn on the president and his broken promises.  They see their generation as the prime financial supporters of a health care that is out of control and want to see it changed.  Interestingly, a Pew Poll found that 52% of 18 to 25 year olds were in favor of recalling the president for his lies to them on Obamacare.

Ok, not a great situation for the president and his party, but one of his and their own making.  They will try hard to shift blame to the Republicans, but with a clear lie on the books now, that will be a difficult case to make....people know the source of the lies.....president Obama.

That the president and the Democrats actually think that people are so stupid as to buy their lies and factual distortions is incredible.  All Americans should be insulted to think that they are considered not bright enough to know what is good for them....especially when it comes to health care.  What business does the federal government have inserting themselves between the individual and his doctor?  If this administration can't put together a simple sign-up health care site, imagine what chaos they will be bringing to a health care exchange near you once the program has begun.  We have only seen the calm before the storm.

We are now within three and a half weeks of the end of the year.  Based on the multitude of problems the A.C.A. website has had since October 1, the chances of a miracle turn-around before the end of the year are close to none.  Then what will happen?  Stay tuned for things to get worse...much worse, in the new year.

Back to healthy living, healthy eating, and sleep apnea treatments next post.  Meanwhile, stay healthy my friends.

Healthy Living: Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving...With No Guilt

'Tis the season to eat big.  After all it's Thanksgiving and that's a green light to eat like it's 1999.  Let's pig out on mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, yams, sweet potatoes, and the ubiquitous stuffing.  All the ingredients that tickle your taste and have you seeing Pilgrims yucking it up with Indians after your meal. (should have laid off the wine a bit).  

So, should we feel good about Thanksgiving but have waves of guilt for how much we ate and how full of fat our meal was?  Of course not.  I would suggest that Thanksgiving dinner should be balanced by loading up on the things that are good for us...turkey, beans, corn....and lighten up on the potatoes, stuffing, and pies.  I think it's important to eat the whole meal, but parts of it can be taken in moderation.  Oh no, there's the M word.  

I must confess that I grew up saying that anything worth doing was worth overdoing, and the same went for good food.  In my later years, I've developed an appreciation for the benefits of moderating the high calorie stuff while still allowing myself to enjoy it.  Can't we enjoy food and still maintain healthy eating?

Surely, there are ways we can prepare traditional Thanksgiving foods with low-fat margarines and oils, and cut sugar from pies and desserts without compromising taste.  There are scads of recipes for Thanksgiving dishes that cut the fat and sugar that can be easily found on the internet.  It's a beginning.

So eat your Thanksgiving meal as part of your plan for healthy living and don't apologize.  After all, it's only one day a year and should be celebrated as a special day with once-a-year foods you love and look forward to.  After dinner, why not get out and take a walk.  Get your blood pumping and burn some of that wonderful meal off.  You'll be ready for more before you know it.  

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, remembering what makes this country great and give thanks we can live here.   Meanwhile, enjoy your journey to healthy living and healthy eating.  I'll see you along the way.      

Healthy Living: Politics - Obamacare, Playing Small Ball

Ok folks, once again it's time for the political corner of the Healthy Living blog.  Rest your questions for healthy living and sleeping for a moment and let's get caught up on what's been going on with political doings that WILL affect your quest for healthy living.

Maybe it's just me.  Didn't the A.C.A. launch on October 1 and get off to a disastrous start?  Isn't December 1 just around the corner and things have gotten worse and worse since the beginning of October?  I heard this morning that zero....zero people...have signed up for Obamacare in the state of Oregon....can't be a good thing.  And Oregon, like Washington state is a hotbed of Democratic liberalism.

Where is the president as his signature legislation is tanking.  He's off once again in California giving speeches and raising money...the two things he seems capable of doing.  I listened to his speeches last night and once again he's blaming Republicans for all of the A.C.A.'s problems...small ball.  At what point does this president begin to take responsibility for anything?  I know, I know, he seemed to say he was sorry for Obamacare, but what he said was that he was sorry that so many people were having problems with the roll-out, not that he was sorry for lying to the nation.  Don't hold your breath waiting for a true apology; his arrogance and the notion that he is the smartest guy in the country will never allow him to say it.

In the end his intractability and arrogance will be his undoing.  He will continue to push for the enaction of his socialist agenda regardless of the impact it is having on the average "middle American".  So much for caring about the middle class.  In fact, Obamacare will impact the middle class harder than any other section of the American people as up to 100 million Americans are reported to be in jeopardy of losing their current health care policies.  Obama's unwillingness to amend Obamacare to lessen the impact on the middle class tells you everything you need to know about his priorities and his intentions.  He will forward his wealth distribution agenda at any and all costs.  Watch what he does, not what he says.

Now we are hearing reports that the Senate's recent change in Senate rules, thwarting the Republicans' ability to use the filibuster as a means of slowing down judicial and executive branch appointments, will allow Obama to load the Washington D.C. district court of appeals with activist judicial appointments.  This may pose a clear and present danger to your health as he may load the IPAD (aka "death panel") such that healthcare could be rationed.

See a trend here?  Let me give you a hint.  Your freedoms are being threatened.  If we as a nation continue to allow the erosion of our freedoms by this administration, we will only have ourselves to blame.  And when we wake up, it may be too late.

I am seeing some signs that some people are waking up, but it's going to take a lot more of us.  Maybe when your healthcare is taken away and you are forced to pay twice as much for less coverage with things you don't need, you'll do something.  Let's hope so.

Back to healthy living, healthy eatng and more on sleep apnea next post.  Meanwhile, stay free my friends.  

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating - 5 Steps On The Road To Morocco.

Every once and a while you just want to make a meal that's easy, quick, and low in fat and cholesterol.  Here's a tip for making a chicken-based meal that is consistent with a diet based on healthy eating, and will let you spice up your palate on the way.

To make a Moroccan style chicken dish quickly, follow these 5 easy steps: 

1. Start with several frozen grilled chicken breast chunks (I like Tyson brand).  They're fully cooked and frozen.  Microwave for 1 to 2 and a half minutes (depending on number of pieces)  
2. Take one package of Moroccan style Chicken With Chickpeas soup (I use Campell's in the bag).  
3. Heat the soup in the microwave and pour over warmed grilled chicken chunks.
4. You can heat up some white or brown rice and put chicken and soup mixture over the rice.  
5. Add some Moroccan hot olive mixture on the side for added olive oil health goodness. 

The key to heart health is that the chicken chunks are 98% fat free and the soup contains only 1.5 grams of fat.  The taste is great and you can leave the guilt behind.  

If you have recipes for fat-free heart health, let me know.  Best of luck on your road to Morocco, or to healthy living, or to healthy eating, or to wherever.  Stay hungry my friends.  

Healthy Living: Political Nuclear Option Promising The Winter of Our Discontent.

Readers of Healthy Living Tips and Secrets know that it's no secret that I delve into politics from time to time.  I don't know if the current political climate affects your health, but it sure does mine.  Now, just when you think it's safe to go about living your life, the Democratic party comes along and drops the political nuclear bomb that no party has ever risked enacting before....neither Republican nor Democratic.

What the Democrats have done is to change the Senate rules for the confirmation of most executive branch and judicial appointments (however, it does not pertain to Supreme Court judge nominees).  With a vote of 52 to 48 they revised the Senate rules on appointments changing from 60 votes needed to a simple majority of 51.  It is interesting to note that three senators; Levin of Michigan, Pryor of Arkansas, and Manchin of West Virginia voted with all Republicans against the new rule.  Nonetheless, the rule has been changed.  Why now?

There may be multiple explanations for this risky, and some say reckless, move by the Dems.  Here are some that seem clear to me:

• It was enacted in part to move the conversation away from the very damning and embarrassing roll-out of Obamacare.  However, this seems unlikely to have little long-lasting effect as more and more Americans are personally impacted by Obamacare every day.
• Dems want to ram through as many judicial appointments as possible before the 2014 mid-term elections as the negative effects of Obamacare appear to be shifting toward a possible Republican take-over of the Senate
• Dems want to load critical courts with as many of their nominees as possible in order to forward their agenda judicially rather than through the more difficult legislative route.  

What the Democrats seem to be missing is the boomerang effect of this change.  What goes around will surely come around.  In their desperation to force through their social agenda, they are losing sight of the devestating cumulative effect the A.C.A. is having on the majority of working Americans from all backgrounds and all parties.  If they seek to isolate themselves from what is affecting the lives of normal citizens, their pocketbooks, their families' needs, and the effect that will have on how they vote, they are doing a good job.  They can blame the disenfranchisement of voters with their agenda all they want, but they will pay the price in the end.  And that price may come due soon. 

I will get back to healthy living and healthy eating tips and secrets in my next blog.  Meanwhile, if you have any thoughts you would like to share on this topic, please drop a comment.

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating - Sherbet...Great Low-Fat Dessert

In our quest for healthy eating we look for ways that we can minimize or limit our daily fat intake.  A little bit of fat is ok.  In fact, we need a certain amount of daily fat to maintain healthy nutrition, however, that fat can mount up quickly as it seems that anything that tastes good has lots of fat content.  The challenge is to get the taste we want in the foods we desire without loading up on fat...especially saturated fats.  

That challenge is most clearly put to the test at dinner time when it's time for dessert.  Sure, you can skip dessert, I do it often.  But sometimes (if you have a real sweet tooth) there is no substitute for something sweet at the end of a good meal.  Ice cream is the great American dessert standard, and there certainly are low-fat ice creams on the market, but...have you tried them?  They may be low in fat, but more times than not, they are low in taste as well.  It's just hard to take the fat out of a dessert and keep the rich, smooth flavor.  Next time the dessert spirit moves you, try sherbet.  

Sherbet has low amounts of fat (usually 1 to 3%) yet it maintains a rich flavor and satisfies the need for a sweet dessert.  For those of us that have had heart disease, this provides a wonderful way for us to maintain healthy eating habits without the guilt that we are consuming too much fat. 

Here's a tip for a great sherbet pick-me-up.  Start with your favorite flavor of sherbet.  Put a couple of scoops in a blender.  Add a half cup of fruit, adjusting portions to taste.  I like strawberry banana.  Add a small amount of crushed ice (you can add a protein powder if desired) and blend.  You'll have a great tasting drink that goes well at any time of the day.  

If you have desserts that are low in fat but taste great, let me know.  Meanwhile, I'll keep searching for other tips and secrets to share for healthy living and healthy eating.   

Healthy Living: Healthcare - Just The Facts Ma'am

I admit that I'm not the smartest guy in the room when it comes to medical issues.  I only know what I've learned by researching the various conditions I've had over the years-sort of self-help learning OJT, as it were.  I suspect that many other Americans are like me; we learn about medical issues when they affect us, and then we focus on them like a laser to assess their impact on us and our options for treating them.  Obamacare is such a case.

I sense that there is a general awakening among the American public to the impact that the Affordable Care Act is, or will be having, on their need for healthy living.  When it affects you personally, it becomes very real.  Today, millions of people are receiving letters from their insurance carriers informing them that their policies do not meet the A.C.A. guidelines/requirements and are being dropped.  Millions are wondering what they will do.....and this is just the beginning.

Let's step back for a moment and look at some key facts behind the A.C.A.

• It was pushed through Congress on a 100% partisan vote - without one Republican vote
• Voting rules were modified by the Democrat majority in advance of Scott Brown entering the Senate as the 41st vote against passage - to ensure the bill's passage. 
• The president's re-election was predicated in large part on his assurance that Americans could keep their doctors and policies; since proven a false promise.  
• The lynch pin of A.C.A. success is to sign up young, healthy people in large numbers to pay for older, sicker people.  
• Within the first six weeks of implementation of the A.C.A. sign-up site, it is reported that approximately 80% of enrollees in many participating states were signing up for Medicaid - which brings no income to the program.
• Young people are not signing up anywhere near the numbers needed to support the program due to high premiums, high deductibles, and concerns about site security.
• Recent reports state that more than 5 million Americans are losing their current health coverage while less than 120 thousand nationwide have signed up for Obamacare.
• Company policies will begin to be affected in early 2014 with estimates ranging between 50 and 100 million additional Americans will lose their current health care policies.  Many could be dumped by their companies into state exchanges.  

When considering the above facts, it becomes clear that the prospects for the A.C.A. are dim.  In fact, I would suggest that the creators of Obamacare might well have known that it couldn't work in the real world and was orchestrated as a simple stepping stone to a long-desired single-payer system.  

Whatever you think about Obamacare, you owe it to yourself and your search for healthy living to get up to speed with what is happening.  Read and watch the news and stay informed - it may have a big impact on you, your family, and your future.  Current polls are beginning to show that many Americans are waking up and they don't like what they are seeing.   

Let me know what you think of the A.C.A. and what you see for the future of the bill.  Meanwhile, stay true to your pursuit of healthy living.  

Healthy Living: All This Political Chicanery Is Giving Me a Weak Constitution

Alright folks, it's time once again for the political corner of the Healthy Living blog site.  With all the trickery and disingenuous blather coming from the White House and it's administration these days it's hard to turn a deaf ear.  Believe it or not, the president is now floating a trial balloon that Republicans share in the blame for a failing Obamacare,  What??  He must truly believe that the American people are a nation of morons to believe this.  Only his rigidly-partisan kool-aid drinkers will swallow this one.  No Republican voted for the A.C.A. and none have any fingerprints on the bill.  Period.

If Mr. Obama and his minions want to continue in their disillusion that Republicans have any blame for Obamacare, let them.  The American people are smart, are tuning in, and understand political desperation when they see it.  When examined more closely, the administration becomes an interesting and dangerous study in deception with Obamacare being only the tip of the iceberg.

Consider the other "scandals" that have surfaced over the past year or so, and a pattern begins to emerge with this administration.  It is now being reported in the media that the drop in the nation's unemployment from 8.1% to 7.8% reported between August and September of 2012 (curiously right before the presidential election) may have been faked.  This story is developing as I write, however, if found to be accurate, it is another piece in the fabric of deceptive manipulation of the facts meant to protect and abet the president's re-election.  Consider the following:

• Possible manipulation of unemployment figures right before the 2012 elections
• Suppression of the facts behind the Benghazi attack on our embassy right before the 2012 elections.
• The IRS targeting of Tea Party and other Conservative groups to slow down their tax exempt status, affecting their ability to raise money- right before the 2012 elections.
• Suppression of the true intentions behind Obamacare (you can keep your doctor, you can keep your current policy. period) right before the 2012 elections.

Taken in totality, these suppressions and manipulations of the truth (it was a video that was responsible for the attack in Benghazi) are chilling and point to the tactics and ideology of a Chicago-style political mentality where the ends justify the means...not to mention their blatant disregard for the Constitution.  The real question is; how long will the majority of the American people put up with this radical "win-at-any-cost" agenda?  We are better than that, and this country certainly was not built on the backs of those that promote suppression and manipulation of the facts for their self-serving benefit.  

In fact, this country was built on the backs of those that have given their lives to protect and defend the liberties that we all enjoy in this great country.  Their sacrifice is the real truth that has strengthened the fabric of America.  I believe that the vast majority of Americans understand this truth and that polls will bear this out in the coming months. 

I'll get back to healthy living and healthy eating tips and secrets in my next blog.  Just wanted to share what I believe is emerging as a real threat to the American way of life.  Hopefully, we as a people, can turn this around.  

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating - Seeing Fruits and Veggies In a New Light.

Ever since I was a kid all I heard was "eat your vegetables".  I knew, even back in the day, that healthy eating was based on the amount of fruits and vegetables you ate every day.  Still is.  And I don't argue that the health benefits offered by fruits and vegetables are substantial.  Lots of fiber and all those antioxidants.  Of course, we didn't  know anything about antioxidants years ago; we only knew that our parents would probably make our lives miserable if we didn't eat our vegetables.

Today we have a lot more healthy eating choices that incorporate clever ways that we can get our daily need of fruits and vegetables.  One of them is brought to you by those wonderful folks that bring you V8 vegetable juice.  I couldn't drink V8 juice years ago, and I can't drink it to this day.  I know it's a good way to get your daily vegetables, but I just can't do it. Until now.

Cruising down the juice aisle recently I looked guiltily at the vegetable juice section and just as I was about to move along to the safer soda section, a new colorful juice bottle caught my eye.  "Hey, what is this?" I thought.  There was a new bottle of V8, but it was a strawberry banana smoothie.  Almost too good to be true, as I love smoothies.

So, I bought it, with some reservations about what it might taste like, and returned to my place to check it out.  After refrigerating the smoothie for several hours, I poured it out and tasted it.  It tasted just like a great strawberry banana smoothie should taste.  Thick and smooth, with only a hint of the beneficial fruits and vegetables that back up it's punch.  The company touts that every 8 ounces of juice contains a half cup of fruits and a half cup of vegetables while they state on the bottle that "the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 2- 1/2 cups of a variety of vegetables and 2 cups fruit per day for a 2,000 calorie diet".  The bottle holds 36 ounces, so it can give you an excellent boost in reaching your daily need of fruits and vegetables and achieving healthy eating.

While I remain a protein eater at heart, it is good to know that there are more and more choices out there that can help us get the fruits and vegetables we need every day.  Though I will never even approach becoming a Vegan, I do know that fruits and vegetables are an important part of a heart healthy diet and I'll continue to look acceptable ways to get them into my diet every day.

Hopefully you can find ways to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet.  If you have some great ways, let me know and I'll share them with our readers.  Here's to healthy living and healthy eating.

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating - Olive Oil Isn't Just The Favorite of Popeye Anymore.

It's pretty much common knowledge that olive oil is good for you.  We put it in our salads, on our pizzas, and in our general cooking.  But did you know why it's so good for you?  It's all in the fat.
The secret is that olives naturally have fat that is deemed "good fat" because it is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs).

These monounsaturated fatty acids pack all sorts of good benefits for our hearts and can help in our quest for healthy eating.  In numerous studies, a diet like that of the Mediterranean region that is high in olive oil consumption have shown reduced rates of heart disease along with lower levels of cholesterol.  It turns out that olive oil consumption has a positive affect on reducing LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and helping to raise HDL (good cholesterol) levels.  Anyone who is fighting the good fight to get his or her cholesterol levels under control will appreciate the helping hand offered by the olive.

Here's a tip on getting your daily share of MUFAs.  You don't have to always have to have a salad with olive oil to get this heart goodness, or grab a slice of pizza.  How about simply stocking up on plain old olives for a quick, easy heart healthy snack.  A handful of green or black olives eaten as snacks taste great and will do daily wonders for your heart.

I went to my local supermarket recently and there in the deli aisle was an "olive bar" (I guess it had to happen, after all we have salad bars, sushi bars, why not an olive bar?)  Who'd a thunk?  Eight to ten different types of olives from all over the Mediterranean area from Greece to Italy to Northern Africa. What a smorgasbord of olive goodness for every taste.  There were green olives and black olives in various mixes as well as olives in a hot Moroccan seasoning.  Great, healthy eating choices for every taste bud.

Check out your local supermarket or specialty market and see if they have an olive bar.  If they don't have one, suggest it.  About 10 years ago I noticed that our local village market didn't offer any sushi.  I went to the owner and suggested they look into putting in a sushi counter.  They took up that idea and today they have a very successful sushi counter that is an important profit center to their grocery business.  The supermarket business today ain't what it used to be in your grandfather's day.  And now, the olive bar!  It doesn't get any better.

If you've got any new, healthy "bar" concepts in your neighborhood, let me know.  We'll share it and we'll all be better off in striving for healthy living and healthy eating.  Eat healthy and stay well my friends.

Healthy Living: Healthy Eating - OK You Guys, I'll Take The First Watch

What better thing to do on a lazy Sunday morning than head for your favorite breakfast/brunch place for some great mid-day food to round out the weekend.  That's what I was up to yesterday on my way from here to there just looking for a place to cool my heels, read a paper, and plan for the upcoming week's schedule.

So there I am, cruising down the road looking for a place to stop when I see a familiar sign for a chain of restaurants I like a lot.  It's a safe haven for good, honest comfort food for breakfast and lunch (they don't do dinner) and I'm thinking breakfast.  Only problem is; it's really too late for breakfast and I want to see what they offer for brunch.

The place is First Watch (www.firstwatch.com) and they only do breakfast and lunch- and they do it really well.  The menu is extensive and the prices are very reasonable.  To date they only have around 100 restaurants in about 13 states with most, I'm told. in Ohio and Florida.  You may not have heard of them, but my guess is you will before too long.

I'm scanning the menu and I'm seeing some entrees that are twanging my health strings.  Here's the one I decided to have- The Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl.  Wow, mounds of quinoa mixed in with large pieces of kale, shredded carrots, and house-roasted tomatoes.  All of this goodness is topped off with slices of all-natural lemon chicken breast and finished with a basil pesto sauce along with feta crumbles and fresh herbs.  A great, healthy eating bonanza.  I left feeling satisfied, healthy, and energized; and ready to come back to try more healthy entrees.  I will soon.

Having just completed a long road trip (1,000 miles) last week.  I can attest to the fact that there are not a lot of healthy eating choices along our interstate highways.  There are more than there were 10 years ago, but still not enough for consistent healthy eating.  So finding a family of restaurants that is trying hard to develop and expand a whole section of their menu dedicated to healthy eating and healthy choices should be applauded.  We need more of them.

I will go back soon to try other of their healthy entrees, and it's nice to know that they are right around the corner.  If you have tried other restaurants or restaurant chains that offer healthy eating options, let me know.  It would be nice to pass that info along to others that are cruising the highways and byways of this great nation.  Stay hungry my friends.

Healthy Living: The Knee Joint's Connected to The Leg Joint

This may be somewhat of a departure from my normal subjects on healthy eating and healthy sleeping, but, nonetheless it has a direct bearing one's quality of life and his or her enjoyment of healthy living.  I'm talking about the active lifestyle most of us enjoy well into our senior years and the toll that vibrant activity can take on our joints. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't be active until late in life, only that modern day technology and increasing lifespans may be putting stress on joints that were designed for shorter durations of use.  Add complicators like arthritis, and it's a miracle we can function at all.  Modern orthopaedic surgical techniques to the rescue.

In the 21st Century we can have our knees, hips, and shoulders replaced as they wear out and we're good for another 20 to 30 years.  My mother is 92.  She had complete knee replacements done (both at the same time- she doesn't recommend that) almost 19 years ago.  Today, her knees are the "youngest" part of her body and she still takes daily walks that would tire out many younger folk.  Others are routinely having joints replaced that give them back their quality of life and put them back "in the game".

In 2011 I had my left knee replaced.  Not the whole knee, since only one of my knee joints was damaged and needed replacement.  Yes, they can do what is generally referred to as a "half knee" replacement.  Without getting into any arcane medical terminology, I had the inside joint of my left knee (you have two joints in each knee-one inside and one outside with the knee cap in the middle) replaced with a floating bearing which is supposed to give added life to the joint as the bearing can move, thereby not wearing it in only one spot, as would a fixed bearing.  

Since having knee surgery over two and a half years ago, I have lived a normal life and have been able to regain my normal activities including golf, boating, and lap swimming.  My point here is that modern surgical techniques offer options unheard of only 25 or 30 years ago.  In my grandparents' day if you had bad hip or knee joints, you were essentially lame for the rest of your life.  How times have changed.

Modern joint replacements are becoming more and more common and routine while the techniques are increasingly less invasive and recoveries are generally faster.  Credit surely goes to society's increased emphasis on healthy lifestyles and the advancement in general health and well-being afforded by modern medicines.  

If you know someone that is suffering from joint problems, have them check out the various techniques that are available to help give them relief.  In my case, it gave me my life(style) back.  And that's worth everything.  Stay healthy my friends.