I remember going to school in May and/or June (depending on the weather) with a little white pill wrapped in wax paper inside my lunch box - it sat next to my sandwich, snack and piece of fruit (usually an apple). My mom told us that we needed to take them in the summertime to replenish our salts from sweating.
I don't remember being a particular sweaty kid, nor were my brothers but we did as mother told us to. I never hear about salt pills now and don't even know if you can still buy them. Our food has changed an awful lot (and I mean awful) since I was a kid and now it seems 1/4 of the products being sold are "sodium reduced" - perhaps that's another reason why these pills slowly faded away.
I've asked around and it seems people of my mom's generation remember them (and some of their kids of course) but not many others - in fact many gave me the strangest looks like I asked them if they'd met an alien or something (which they probably have but just didn't know it).
I think we've also just rebranded this concept - by replenishing salts and electrolytes with drinks like Gatorade and such. Here's on article on salt pills.
Do you remember taking them?
Showing posts with label Aging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aging. Show all posts
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Getting better with age?
When I was in my late teens, I was in pretty good shape. I was on the high school track team, tennis team and grass hockey team. I also did some bodybuilding and even worked at Gold's Gym for several years. In my 20's I worked in offices and believed I could climb the corporate ladder. I gave up fitness and spent my days working overtime and on weekends and traveling for work for extended periods of time. I lost all that muscle definition I had in my teens and even went to doctors for sore knees and back. I couldn't wash my face without holding onto the counter, and bending over to brush my teeth also hurt. I was quite thin because I never had time to eat. I lived on several cups of coffee and some cigarettes.
In my early 30's I experienced three significant life changing situations and lost who I was. I gained weight and had trouble going up and down stairs - we'd take the elevator at the shopping mall because my knees hurt so much.
But by the end of my 30's things changed - I got myself together. I regularly did pilates and then yoga, and then I started dancing. And once I got a labrador puppy I committed to walking every day - every day except if one of us is hurt or injured.
Now I feel like I am in really good shape. I'm not skinny but I'm healthy. I have energy. I feel strong. I can run up and down stairs without knee pain, my back rarely hurts (usually only following something silly in the garden).
And minor issues seem to have subsided as well - I was diagnosed with a heel spur and was told it would never go away. I bought orthotics and wore them daily for a year. Now I only wear them during my dog walks and don't feel that pain. And, for years I suffered with sore throats and mouth ulcers. A diagnosis told me that they were caused by a reaction to things I've eaten - not an allergy, so not to bother with allergy pills for this symptom. I decided I'd notice the pain but I would also ignore it. And also not bacterial. I haven't gone to the doctor or antibiotics for my throat in several years.
I thought the best health in our lives was our twenties, but for me it seems like now is pretty good. Is that what they mean by middle age? Am I at my peak now and will I decline from here on out?
There are lots of inspirational stories on the internet about people that are in fantastic shape and going strong in their 70s and 80s and even nineties. Can we get better with age? If we put our minds to it, how much control do we really have? If we don't go 'overboard' and wear ourselves out how much illness can we prevent? What do you think?
In my early 30's I experienced three significant life changing situations and lost who I was. I gained weight and had trouble going up and down stairs - we'd take the elevator at the shopping mall because my knees hurt so much.
But by the end of my 30's things changed - I got myself together. I regularly did pilates and then yoga, and then I started dancing. And once I got a labrador puppy I committed to walking every day - every day except if one of us is hurt or injured.
Now I feel like I am in really good shape. I'm not skinny but I'm healthy. I have energy. I feel strong. I can run up and down stairs without knee pain, my back rarely hurts (usually only following something silly in the garden).
And minor issues seem to have subsided as well - I was diagnosed with a heel spur and was told it would never go away. I bought orthotics and wore them daily for a year. Now I only wear them during my dog walks and don't feel that pain. And, for years I suffered with sore throats and mouth ulcers. A diagnosis told me that they were caused by a reaction to things I've eaten - not an allergy, so not to bother with allergy pills for this symptom. I decided I'd notice the pain but I would also ignore it. And also not bacterial. I haven't gone to the doctor or antibiotics for my throat in several years.
I thought the best health in our lives was our twenties, but for me it seems like now is pretty good. Is that what they mean by middle age? Am I at my peak now and will I decline from here on out?
There are lots of inspirational stories on the internet about people that are in fantastic shape and going strong in their 70s and 80s and even nineties. Can we get better with age? If we put our minds to it, how much control do we really have? If we don't go 'overboard' and wear ourselves out how much illness can we prevent? What do you think?
Labels:
Aging,
Dance,
Health,
Inspiration,
Life Questions,
Sports,
Yoga
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Friends be careful
Sheesh, first there was Monday's incident, and then yesterday my mom fell on some ice and broke her arm! And the other arm she cracked her wrist. Two big thing in two days, I was scared for all my friends and family, afraid something would happen today - so far the phone's been quiet so maybe we're all good.
My mom lives alone and will have trouble getting through her day without the use of both hands. She's a stubborn bird who's not used to asking for help, but she's going to have to start asking especially when she can barely feed herself. Luckily my brother lives near and I'm counting on him to bring her food and stuff (he's a fabulous cook so my mom should enjoy that) but I'm too far away and don't think I can get the time off work to fly out there right now. I do wish she lived closer but it's just not possible for now.
Get well soon mom, and friends I'll be checking your blogs and stuff to make sure you'll all doing okay!
My mom lives alone and will have trouble getting through her day without the use of both hands. She's a stubborn bird who's not used to asking for help, but she's going to have to start asking especially when she can barely feed herself. Luckily my brother lives near and I'm counting on him to bring her food and stuff (he's a fabulous cook so my mom should enjoy that) but I'm too far away and don't think I can get the time off work to fly out there right now. I do wish she lived closer but it's just not possible for now.
Get well soon mom, and friends I'll be checking your blogs and stuff to make sure you'll all doing okay!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
I'm a little tired
Yesterday I took part in a dance intensive - it was about 6 hours of training with Sharon Kihara - an instructor who came up from San Franscisco. Wow, it was amazing. She was amazing- love her personality and humour and teaching style and immensely admire her talent. She made a good point, that for the audience they may view slow, graceful moves that look easy but really there are so many muscles that the dancer is required to engage that it's fascinating just how hard the body is really working. Not only did I learn technique and moves from her, I was also reminded how out of shape I am. I must get back to yoga!
In our first 3 hour session, the first hour was yoga. Intense yoga. Moves that I should've been able to do better, moves that I used to be able to do better but no longer can since I quit yoga about a year ago. She also mentioned that we should all be doing Pilates as it's extremely beneficial for our style of dancing as well. Looks like I got me some homework! (Well I always had homework but now I've been reminded that I'd better make this a regular part of life!)
I'm glad that 1 only took the one day workshop as I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to make it through the 8 hours today, but I made a promise to myself that I will get back to yoga/pilates and the next time one of the famous instructors comes to town, I'm signing up for the whole weekend. So far the next BIG BIG one is in 2014 so I have about a year to prepare - it's almost like training for a marathon.
Eco and I already went for a big walk this morning and I'm just going to take it a little easy today, I definitely have a FULL BODY ache happening - but each move I make, each time my muscles yelp, I'm reminded of what I need to do for my body. Especially now that I'm "middle aged", I feel it's important to keep my body moving well - I don't like the proclamation that says "that the average person spends the last 10 years of their life in pain. " I don't want to go through that - even if that phrase is just some advertiser's mumbo jumbo, I don't want to prove them right if I can help it.
How tired was I? I slept 10 hours straight! I can't even remember the last time I did that!
How tired was I? I slept 10 hours straight! I can't even remember the last time I did that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)