Apparently I dinged a blade at some point. I’m very careful with my skates, and Larry, who sharpens them, says I could have stepped on one of the threshold screws the hockey teams sometimes expose at the gate—they go out in a huge rush: and they sometimes damage the gate—Though I do watch where I step. I dimly recall at one point last spring doing the dreaded heel-hook with my other blade, and I’m betting on that. Figure skates are open at the back, and if you accidentally, working with your feet too close to each other put the heel of one skate blade through the other blade, you can break your neck. I recall doing it—but I calmly extricated one blade from the other without falling over—being in good form at the time. Right now if I did that I’d kill myself. But I’m pretty sure that’s what dinged the blade. All fixed now. Larry’s the only person I ever let sharpen my skates—which he does as a side business. He’s a skater himself, and he’s the guy the ice shows and the Nationals call on to do skate sharpening when they come through town. He’s very happy: he just got a call from the Nationals people, and he’ll be doing it again this year.
And Jane and I both have nicely sharpened skates in condition fit for Nationals. Lucky us. Now tomorrow we have to remember we’re on newly sharpened blades and watch out for them. It’s curious: when you first start out, the microparticles of metal ground off the blades actually make the skates sluggish for a few turns around the rink, like skating through molasses. Then those wash off, and your blades start behaving like sharp blades. I once ruined a brand new pair of corduroy jeans by setting my skates on my lap—just setting them there while I bent over to snag my skate bag. Cut a couple of three inch slices right through the jeans.
The new shoes are working amazingly. I have pretty strong legs, and can do the skating knee-bend without much stress (you properly skate with bent knees)—but these new Easy-tone Reeboks are supposed to give you a 28% stronger workout if you exercise with them, and to exercise the backs of your legs, your ankles, and your butt while you just walk around. Well, I’ve been wearing these shoes since I got them, but this is the first day I’ve really taken the ice…
And my legs got tired: not sore, just worn out. Having a tired butt is a novel sensation, I’ll tell you, but it is. Exhausted. You don’t detect exercise going on while you wear these shoes, but it must be happening. I have mild sciatica, and a couple of football knees, and I have some real hope that these magic slippers are going to help both. My knee was twinging last week: it isn’t now, and the sciatica seems a little better. A case of ‘use it or lose it’…carried to the fine muscles of the ankles, among others. Walking on these is a little like walking on skate blades with the walking-guards on—you can tip a bit from side to side.
Well, I needed to take about 6 buckets from the kitchen to the fish-area downstairs, and gathered them up in a bouquet of buckets and started down the stairs, sideways, because of the cluster of buckets and the pictures on the walls. Forgot about the tippy-factor in the shoes. No, I didn’t fall, but I had an exciting moment or two. Forward is a lot safer. Except if you squat down and reach for something: you have to hold your balance or you’ll tip right over on your nose. But the muscle workout is real. Somebody who’s really in top condition might not feel it as acutely, but trying to get back on the ice after three months off, as I am, oh, yes, they’re not kidding about the 28% more work.
It’s blustery today, grey and spitting rain, and I ordinarily don’t chill…but when I do, it seems to take forever to build back up. I’m pretty sure it’s being tolerably low-fat as well as low-carb: we’ve been on a diet of roasted chicken, with steamed eggs for breakfast, and that may not contain enough fat in the diet to keep me from chilling. Looks as if I may have to add some butter to those eggs in the morning.
-Looks as if I may have to add some butter to those eggs in the morning.-
Awwww, poor you. You’ll just have to FORCE yourself…
😆 I’m going to be ready for it. I bought the world’s worst chicken at the town’s allegedly best grocery, and I think the poor thing demised of petrification. It was so bad I couldn’t eat it (I don’t like chicken very well at all) and Jane stopped eating it in the theory it could have a problem. She hasn’t died yet. But it was tough beyond belief and didn’t taste good either. So we both had (instead) half a sausage omelet and a piece of cheese. Bummer. I cooked that chicken properly, and went to a great deal of trouble with it, as was. We have one more from that grocery, and so help me we’re going to return it. They charge a dollar more than anybody else (they’re closer to us) and I’m not going to buy meat there again.
I’ve gotten accustomed to wearing Birkenstocks, and loathe closed toe shoes any more, but your rave reviews of the new Reeboks have me curious. When I get around to replacing my present tennis shoes, I may try them, although at the frequency I wear the old tennies, Reebok may have phased them out by that time.
I’m sorry your (probably unreasonably expensive) chicken was a bust — even stewing didn’t help? There are very few things more butter cannot fix!
I think that unfortunate chicken died of fright. A fork could hardly penetrate it.
Butter! Has anyone else noticed that the “No trans fat!” claims are made by those companies whose product
has obviously been hydrolyzed? I have for years maintained that butter is better for you than any of the alternatives. The fact that I love butter has nothing to do with my claims! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!
My opinion? A lot of the ‘helpful’ products actually encourage you to use more to try to get flavor. You want butter? A bit will do, because it’s high-flavor. But look at the person slathering on 3-4 pats of ‘safe’ margarine…I’m wondering whose cholesterol looks better. THat goes for diet drinks, which are still carbonated—and carbonation has been suggested as a culprit in brittle bones; not to mention that diet drinks that use aspartame or the like still cause an insulin reaction (unlike Splenda). We use low fat milk, etc, but drink more of it. DO we end up gorging on substitutes, when a little bit of ‘the real thing’ would satisfy? I’m not sure of this, understand, and people are individuals, for sure—but I’m suspicious that we’ve ‘dieted’ ourselves into over-indulgence.
I spoke with my doctor about sodas and she said that the
phosphate strips calcium from our bodies. I love sharp
cheddar cheese and sour cream. I also use lemon instead of
salt where it works taste wise. I learned a valuable and
heads up lesson when I discovered that the study that did
the “eggs will kill you” research was actually the Cereal
Institute of America….their reason for existing is to
discover ways to increase cereal consumption! I fully agree that we diet our way into trouble. If the body isn’t
getting what it needs it will drive us to consume more as
it’s needs grow. Pretty simple math.
I do ever so much better when I leave soda, diet or otherwise, completely out of the equation. This summer, I tried to economise by going the Captain and diet cola and Lime route rather than my preferred single malt Scotch, and I’m seriously regretting it. The occassional C/D/L when we’re out, cause it’s cheaper and still yummy, but no more at home.
You’re absolutely right about the body telling you. One thing Carolyn hasn’t mentioned…we forgot to take our vitamins! This is NOT a thing to do on a restricted diet like Atkins! We started them back up last night and we’re both doing ever so much better today!
Jane, you might try a good bourbon instead of the single malt. Quality bourbon is very, very good. I suggest Evan Williams Single barrel, it is about $26 for a 750 (EW’s jug stuff is awful, insist on the single barrel). I am a major single malt scotch fan, but drink this more often as it is less than half the cost of the scotch. Other (IMO) good bourbons: Maker’s Mark (a bit vanilla-y), Ridgemont Reserve, Russel’s Reserve, Woodford Reserve.
I wish I knew what drives my computer to make such a mess
of formatting anything I write. It drives me wild!!
I agree with on flavors and satisfaction, CJ. I am a big fan of one third butter to two thirds grape seed oil when I am frying, sauteing etc. gives buttery flavor, raises the burn temp and grape seed oil is good for you……in moderation. I also use well seasoned cast iron which is almost as good as teflon. As for sugar, there are many alternatives to sugar substitutes around….my favorite is agave nectar 20 calories per tsp. but so sweet I use about a third of what I use for sugar…..very low glycemic index and yummy. Has anyone else noticed that portion sizes seem to have grown on labels? Teaspoons appear to have grown to tablespoons. We have sugar in everything. Bread needs sugar for yeast to work…about a teaspoon, not so much that it tastes like a sweet bun. Sugar and salt in moderation enhance flavors, overdo and they drown out flavors.
Climbing down from the soapbox! 😆
P.S Does your diet limit you to chicken? What about turkey and duck?
😆 I can have any meat. Our schedule is too dicey for a stock of salmon: it’s pricey, I hate to waste meat, on ethical grounds—and it’s too apt to go off before I can cook it. To me, ducks are pets, and I detest the taste of turkey. I truly have to disguise the taste of chicken with sauce or curry or whatnot before I can enjoy it. I love venison, but can’t get it commercially. Buffalo is okay, but a lot like liver. I have a limited tolerance for beef—again, heavily peppered. I like almost any cheese, but we’re supposed to stick to hard yellow cheeses.
The other factor we’ve somewhat neglected is vitamins: you HAVE to take vitamins on this diet, and it’s hard to remember to do: both of us are on a thyroid med that requires you NOT take vitamins for 4 hours after you’ve had the pill, which you have to do first thing in the morning, and that just disrupts our whole pill-taking regime. We’ve resolved to start taking them just before supper, and that may help. You can’t lose weight efficiently if you’re short of vitamins, minerals, or water: drinking a lot of water is also mandatory, and I’ve started drinking a glass of water every time I go after a cup of coffee. So I think we will be happier soon, having remedied the vitamin situation.
“I’ve started drinking a glass of water every time I go after a cup of coffee”
REALLY? (Stunned look.) Another miracle!!!! I’m a heavy water drinker at all times, Atkins or not, (longtime dietary necessity) but Carolyn drinking water…I’m seriously proud of her! Please, please please, everyone, encourage this new-found religion.
One of the reasons I like Weight Watchers is that I can eat anything I like as long as I watch portion size and frequency. That way I don’t feel deprived and pig out on favourite foods whenever I see them. Practising “push-aways” from the table is another technique that I have to ensure that I do. Eating only to satisfaction, not to stuffedness is the key.
But then, I like some odd things. Vegemite, Ginger Preserves, fruit cake soaked in brandy and Tim-Tams come to mind.
Oi…Weight Watchers, I could only wish. Great for some people…lots of people. Me…my weight skyrockets along with my cholesterol. Sigh. Although I did try it many years ago, before the current point system, and when meetings were mandatory. But it seriously depressed me. I’d be absolutely legal, go to the meeting, and my weight w/b up. Then I’d have to sit there listening to people droning on in what they considered an encouraging fashion while listening to several seriously overweight people behind me giggling about how they’d done this and that and still lost five pounds. Sigh….I lasted about three months, and ended five pounds heavier than I started. The new style might work much better, but Atkins is just the best way for me to control my cholesterol as well as lose weight.
Sigh…and we’re coming into Cookie-Time. WAH! Ten pounds. Ten pounds by Christmas and we get Russian Teacakes! I’ve been promised!
I do WW online; can’t be bothered with meetings. They have some good tools to help.
OMG Vegemite. I swear its composed of what you wash out of the vegetable bin in the fridge. That is one of the stranger foods I have ever had. Ginger preserves I’m actually quite fond of. I like fruitcake with brandy…but have never had a Tim-Tam, and suspect I couldn’t, at this stage of my diet.
My staunchly Baptist tee-totalling aunt came from the Kentucky hills, where the Baptist doctrine of zero tolerance of alcohol or even anything that imitates or derives from alcohol, even rum flavoring— and the Kentucky enjoyment of having a dram—have an interesting accommodation around the holidays. Medicinal.
Well, my Baptist aunt had a killer fruitcake recipe, and she’d empty so much brandy onto that cake it sat in a perpetual puddle. She had a very dry Baptist neighbor who’d find out she’d baked that cake, and just about once a day without fail she’d come over for coffee and ‘a piece of that wonderful cake.’ For that dour, serious lady, that probably represented the happiest moment of her year.
I used to schlep kilo jars of Vegemite back across the pond. Customs are used to it; they don’t even ask about it when they see it on a form. Occasionally there’s a snide comment. Now I order it online and let someone else in Texas do the schlepping.
Tim-Tam’s are chocolate coated biscuits (cookies) with various fillings, different types of chocolate coatings (milk, dark, etc) and can be unbelievably decadent.
Oh…dear…Tim-Tams sounded deadly. Sort of like high class Pocky! 😀
And Mum was brought up Chapel (mainline Methodist these days) and frowned on drinking but she insisted that good fruit cake HAD to have brandy.
😆 I think fruitcake in general would have a better reputation if everybody dosed them the way my aunt did. Want a soggy treat? Substitute Cointreau.
Why bother with the fruitcake? Just go straight for the brandy and Cointreau! 😀 😀 😀
I actually like fruitcake – so does Better Half…what do you suppose the odds are of that! – but preferably without any additional soaking. Brandy and/or Cointreau taste much better unadulterated by crumbs. 🙂
We use my Nanu’s recipe for YUM YUM CAKE, sort of a depression era fruitcake which I gussy up with extra fruit and nuts. I use a light molasses and honey or agave syrup.
I run into the same problems remembering to take vitamins at noon or dinner; my latest try is to put the packed vitamins by my place at the table. It shouldn’t be this hard! 🙁
I hope, Hope, HOPE all are taking calcium & vitamin D supplements, especially those of us who are of a ‘certain age’. 😆
I will admit that my vitamins are easy to remember (I have them on the sink in the bathroom and take them first thing in the morning). The fun thing I have to remember is the dog’s supplements. Metacam, gabipentin, vitamin E, and cosequin in the morning, and then more vitamin E, cosequin, and fish oil in the evening. I have found that the only way that I can track whether she’s had everything is to dish up her food in the morning, crumble the cosequin in it, then I take out the pills for the day and put them on top of their bottles. Half the food goes in the dish, then the morning supplements, and the rest of the food goes and sits by the rest of the supplements for dinner time. If I can see the pills, I know that the dog hasn’t had them. No pills, we’re done for the day. It also keeps me from over-feeding, since I measure out the food in the morning.
Something similar might work for you. Make the things that you need to take visible, and then you are reminded when you walk by them.
Carolyn, I’ve been meaning to comment on your dinged blade: it could easily have happened that day Hank slammed into the boards then ricocheted into you, taking you down. Hank’s blade may have nicked yours, or you may have nicked your own, in all that flailing steel.
As an aside, when Berkeley was young, she always tended to jump very, very close to the boards — perilously close, despite repeated warnings. One day a jump went awry and she literally jumped in through the Zamboni door at the end of Rink 1, landing/crashing onto the metal grate there.
It must have been truly spectacular as the legend lives on. Berkeley ruined a set of blades on the metal grate. I don’t know how much top-end blades cost then but they now run $460-600. Her parents must have been REALLY unhappy. Oh yeah — it cured her from jumping too close to the boards.
THAT would have been a moment! I can only imagine! (Note: Berkeley is a very good skater who is now a skating coach.)
Actually, Hank didn’t knock me down, and fortunately our blades didn’t hit. I stayed on my feet and he just kind of did a body-slam into my boots…fortunately I was standing at the hockey pit, so I took hold as I saw him coming.
But film of Berkeley landing on the grate would have been amazing!
Larry fell & slid into me once, feet-first. His blades slashed my boot leather and severed brand-new laces. I had to get off the ice & put in a new pair. I was glad it was my boots & laces that sustained the lacerations, and not anything else, such as skin!
I never want to meet Larry at full tilt, that’s for sure!
You missed rink 2 this morning: nobody got the warning there’d be a hockey match on 1, so none of us kitted up for the arctic, and Jane and I got off early, half-frozen. Colleen and Kay were pretty frosty, too—plus there was a woman out there with two children, one of whom was crying nonstop: the three of them occupied a third of the available ice, what with using the pushbars and having a howling beginner and mom in full center ice. Arrrgh.