The Balancing Act Continues...

I Find Myself at a Fulcrum

My mother's garage full of memories and red jeans for energy.

When our big kids flew the coop, the house dynamics completely changed. We used to set the table every night for a well-balanced, home-cooked meal. Roundtable discussions were encouraged and boisterous. Our whole schedule was routine...dinner at six, baths at seven, and bedtime at eight. These days I'm lucky to deliver soup and sandwich, for one, on a little placemat, at the counter. Our youngest is in middle school, so conversations are over quickly. She yearns for independence but still wants her mom close at hand.

The Big Kids? They'll always come by...and when they leave, I worry more than when they lived here. They neeeeed guidance (and cash) through their formidable 20's. 

Los Angeles.........just sayin'.

Here's where I find myself.... in the middle. My 80-year-old mother and her husband are downsizing from a large 4 bedroom home, with a garage, to a two bedroom apartment, 900 square feet...no garage! They need assistance! As we sort through closets, there are items, lots of them, that have been pushed to the back and forgotten. This isn't going to be a leisurely or easy move and it all has to happen in one month...this month. The home staging is scheduled for the first of April and their home is packed with 25 years of memories. I am helping where I can.

Where does that leave me? I am a simple girl with a dream.

As I came home from work the other day, our neighbor was outside...distraught. Their house had been robbed. We have a security camera recording motion that faces out toward our driveway and also captures their home across the street. Maybe, I could be of some assistance in fingering the perps?! Unfortunately, had I noticed that the security camera was dead, I could have recharged the battery...two weeks ago. I failed.

"Time, time, time. See what's become of me. While I looked around for my possibilities..."  A Hazy Shade of Winter lyrics by Paul Simon

And I'm not running around back and forth from set to set anymore...my hips are shot. The stress from being pulled in so many directions as a mother, wife, and daughter, the responsibility as a boss to keep people employed, and the inescapable longing to express myself as an individual has me completely overwhelmed. I can't be the only one.

My plan for the Emotional Support Therapy Dog wasn't the best.

Ryder is a 70 lb. fur covered heart.

Next week: When siblings get involved.

The Balancing Act

After 50 and in High Heels

(Supplements and heels not to scale)

Recently, I received the little gold 25-year anniversary pin for my contribution to the Motion Picture Industry, and for almost every day of those past 25 years, I have enjoyed wearing high heels. I am known for my high heels, I love the way they elevate my short frame and there is validation for an insecure boss babe in being eye-level with her male counterparts.

Ginger Rogers did everything that her partner Fred Astaire did,

but backward and in high heels.

Unfortunately for Ginger Rogers, supplements had yet to become mainstream. 

This year, I turned 55 and running around in high heels is pretty much slowing me down! 

I ask myself, "Is it more important to look good or to feel good?"

 Okay, there has to be a balance, right?!? That journey has led me to supplements. 

Do they work? Who needs them? Which ones do I need?

Of course, anything to do with your health, consult with your health care professional!

I sat with my doctors, discussed my health care needs, and generated a list of supplements that I am taking. So far, they are working. But this is key:

They have to be taken consistently, and taken as directed, to feel the full effects. 

In order to find balance in my heels, practice being vegan, and stay on my toes after 50, 

I'm gonna need a little help.

The list of supplements ("the rainbow" as my daughter calls it) I take:

Fish Oil

It is known that the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are nutrients proven to prevent and manage heart disease. There is strong evidence that taking

 three grams of fish oil a day contain enough nutrients in the Omega-3 fatty acids to help to reduce inflammation in joints, thereby reducing the intensity of joint trouble like stiffness, tenderness, and swelling! That claim has not been evaluated by the FDA, but so far, it's working for me. Again, talk to your doctor. I was cleared by my physician, but there is a nice warning label for folks with coagulopathy...

maybe be tested first?

Turmeric

Turmeric has long been used as an effective supplement for inflammation and arthritis, but there are also lots of other claims to what conditions turmeric can treat. Lots of claims. That lead me to WebMD, so very helpful in explaining what was LIKELY a cure for many conditions or not. Currently, I am only interested in reducing joint pain, specifically in my hips, and this is what WebMD had to say, 

"Tumeric contains the chemical curcumin, which might decrease swelling (inflammation).

Because of this, turmeric might be beneficial for treating conditions that involve inflammation." 

This brand's formula, with its amazing ratings, includes black pepper (when taken in conjunction with curcumin, apparently super-charges the anti-inflammatory effects). This must be taken with fatty food (think avocado) to properly absorb into your body. Oh and WebMD has a host of warnings about taking too much for too long, so check with your doctor about supplements.

Glucosamine

This is what started it all for me. I heard Glucosamine was as good as Advil (ibuprofen), but heard it took a lot longer to feel effects. At the time, I was taking enormous amounts of ibuprofen for pain and knew it wasn't good. Glucosamine is an amino sugar that your body produces naturally and is found in and around the fluid and tissues that cushion your joints.

This tissue is called cartilage. 

The breakdown of cartilage as you get older is called osteoarthritis.

 Chondroitin is found in human cartilage and is a component of human connective tissue. Chondroitin supplements are intended to enhance shock absorbing characteristics of collagen and together with Glucosamine, they seem to help block enzymes that break down cartilage, helping to retain water and reversing cartilage loss. Got it? Doesn't squishy, well-lubricated joints sound better than bone on bone? It's working for me, but it took a lot longer than I anticipated (three times a day, every day, for about two months) for the effects to fully register. By reducing the inflammation, reducing the loss of cartilage surrounding the joints, the pain was also significantly reduced as well.

Green Tea

Studies show that green tea drinkers are likely to live longer than non-green tea drinkers. Given that information, why not incorporate green tea into your routine? Of course, the tea drinkers probably have a healthier lifestyle, but think about it. Coffee is an acid and inflames the body. Green tea is anti-inflammatory. Green tea is a powerful source of anti-oxidants, which may help reduce the risk of cancer and lower cholesterol. And......green tea can increase your metabolic rate, burning up to 100 more calories a day, promoting weight loss.

Naproxen

I know, it's not a supplement, but I want full disclosure here. I brought my concerns to my doctor since I was starting to take supplements and didn't want any adverse interactions. She said it was okay to take, if needed, to continue moving. Naproxen is the generic name for Aleve and provides quick pain relief and is safer to take more for longer periods if your symptoms last. Since starting my journey over 90 days ago, I am so pleased to report that I still have a bottle naproxen, but it's the same one.

It's important to mention that supplements are just that, supplements, and can not replace a  colorful diet of high water content fruits and vegetables, picking an exercise that will stick, and choosing to get a good night's sleep.

Well, that's all I know. Drink lots of water and I hope this finds you well. -julie