The snow fell yesterday, followed by the rain and the ice. This afternoon the snow began to fall again and added 6 more inches to the snow/slush mix that was already there. It is beautiful powdery stuff. The stuff that is perfect for sledding...and I would dearly love to go sledding.
Next best thing to sledding: Shoveling! I love, love, LOVE to shovel snow. Erin came out to watch me shovel and said, "Yep, there's my mom, the one who likes to do anything that involves moving things into piles...leaves...snow..." I then reminded her that I would not be fond of raking/shoveling manure.
Shoveling is exhilirating...and I was quite able to convince myself that it wasn't "working out," it's necessary work. Someone has to do it and it might as well be someone who likes it. Sounds like a good argument to me.
We couldn't make it out to church this morning due to icy, untreated roads. The weather was so bad that all evening services were cancelled. That means that Erin's Christmas program is delayed until next weekend. She is singing a couple of duets and we were so excited. We also had to reschedule my father's birthday celebration. Just cake and ice cream, he's not up to much since his fall last week.
~o~
I think I'm on to something with this whole allergy business. I already know that I have a strong reaction to histamines in food. I thought I was a total nutcase because I felt like I was hooked up to intravenous espresso when I ate tuna, salmon or cod. Turns out that those fishes are high in histamine and in sensitive individuals it can cause some nasty effects. WELL, I have been unknowingly eating foods that are either high in histamine or are foods that encourage the release of histamines. Every morning I drink a protein shake made with 1/2 banana, a scoop of whey protein, flaxseed meal, psyllium husk, nonfat plain yogurt and frozen strawberries. Yogurt and strawberries are high in histamines. Apparently tomatoes, wheat and milk all carry very high levels of sulfur which screw with histamine levels. That antibiotic is probably what put my body over the edge.
I read some research that indicates that if you eat a high histamine food and exercise within a few hours that you will likely have an episode of angioedema or urticaria (if you tend to have a problem with histamines). I have *never* had exercise induced hiving before...but I have eaten the wrong foods before exercising, including the other day when I curtailed my workout due to becoming flushed.
Sooooo... I'm cutting out all the high histamine foods until I go back to the allergist. I already cut out wheat because of the nasty lip reaction.
Now...if wildest thoughts came true, I would love to be like those yogis who walk on hot coals and don't even blister because they've learned to control their vagus nerve. Imagine if I could harness that and zen my body into not reacting in crazy ways. Not likely to happen, but it would most definitely be wonderful if mind over matter could work like that.
My dear, sweet Aunt Louise called me earlier today. (She's the amazing woman who at 76 years old walks several miles a day, lifts weights and doesn't look a day over 50). We were talking about allergy problems, of which she has many. Turns out she had nasty anxiety and sweats and stuff from steroids, too. She won't let them give her prednisone any more. She just makes sure she is very, VERY careful about what she eats and is exposed to. Like me, she is also very sensitive to medications, often needing a much lower dosage than anyone else.
~o~
Today's workout: A lazy little stationary bike ride for 45 minutes while watching LOTR. I suppose I should count shoveling snow, but that's "fun" not working out. 40 minutes of it.
