how vitamins will save my life...and the world at large

november 5

So I'm on a new health kick. Again. I do this several times a year but as soon as something throws my schedule off, like a big project or some emotional set-back, it all goes to hell. I'm not overweight, just really, really malnourished.

After my appointment with my doctor where we determined that I probably have the beginnings of arthritis, that my bones would probably disintegrate if I ever got pregnant (and surely will be the time I'm 50 if I don't do something now), and that all these weird skin abrasions and infections I've been having are surely from bad diet, I decided I have to make a change.

I grew up with a healthful diet. I mean, we ate meat and dairy, and even mac and cheese and fish sticks, but in general it was all very balanced and nutritional. Slowly, over the last 5 years, due to my workaholism, my diet has become abysmal. Too many carbs and sugar, too much coffee, not enough fresh veggies.

So on Saturday, after an invigorating hike in Forest Park (fall colors!) with Eve, a new friend, and Trudy-dog, who used to belong to Erin, my neighbor and I'll get to that whole thing one of these days, I bought real-live food that I can make real meals with. And supplements. My doctor told me to get on pre-natals, but they cost ridiculous amounts of money and they really aren't that different from regular vitamins. And since I really only need the extra iron, calcium and folate, I decided to buy those supplements separately. Anyway, I'm convinced that you pee out 90% of those multivitamins.

I also got glucosamine because it's supposed to help rebuild the practically non-existent cartilage in my hips. And I just remember I forgot to take it this morning. Damn. But I did remember the calcium-magnesium-zinc pill last night. Did you know that you should take calcium at night, because that's when your body uses it to rebuild your bones? And that you should never take calcium with protein because the protein blocks its absorption? Which is why it's useless to try to get all your calcium from dairy. Fascinating, eh?

On top of that I stocked up on the Ultra soymilk; my savior, Knudson's Vita Juice (almost like a multivitamin only it taste's good), carrot-orange juice, and V-8. Also got green tea, but could not find St. John's Wort tea, which I really need. I'll have to buy that online, I'm sure.

In addition to this big nutritional kick I have to start exercising more. I did have my alarm set to go running this morning but the stupid cat woke me up at 4:15 with her bratty whining and I couldn't get back to sleep for awhile and decided I really did need more than 4 hours of sleep to start my week. So I'll go after work. I will. Yes, I will.

The big picture here is: I do not want to be the person I've been these last 2 months. I have lived through and overcome a dozen serious personal challenges in the last 15 years and did so with determination, conviction and confidence. And success. Yes, the world at large is fucked right now. But there is a lot I can do to keep myself healthy and up for whatever comes my way.

Leave it to me to find a connection between vitamins and patriotism.

- november 5