Slow Death by Rubber Duck

My determination to increase my health and fitness continues.

I've always been an all or nothing kind of gal, so amongst other things I have decided to investigate organic fruit and vegetables suppliers, free range meat / chicken suppliers and stop buying processed foods.

I've been reading Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie's book "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" It makes interesting if rather scary reading. My kitchen is now also a non-stick cookware free zone. I've always been worried about plastics in the microwave and have used glass for cooking / reheating / defrosting etc., but now I've also decided to store all food in glass instead of plastic.

I haven't decided how I'll make the change to less toxic hair and skin care products but I'm working on it.

I've always washed my patchwork fabrics before using, mostly to get rid of the chemicals used in the manufacturing process and secondly of course to take care of shrinkage and colour runs. I'm a bit asthmatic and have a sensitive skin, so I don't want to inhale any chemicals when I'm pressing fabric or absorb them through my skin while sewing. Reading the rubber duck book has only served to strengthened my resolve to wash before use.

Is all of this over the top? My attitude is that any changes I make to my lifestyle won't do any harm and might do a lot of good. I'll try to not become obsessed and just make a few easy to manage changes. I feel better already.

My advice - Read the book.

That certain age

I had what my mother would call "a funny turn" on New Years Eve, I thought I was having a heart attack. I didn't get much sympathy from hubby or friends. I just got a glass of cold water and a chair out on the balcony, while I was convinced I was breathing my last and needed an ambulance. When I recovered the general gist of the comments from those present amounted to "well that was a good way to get attention!"

To cut a long story short, Robyn, my doctor was more concerned and supportive and I saw a Cardiologist today and had a stress test. The good news is that my heart is in pretty good shape, so the "Funny Turn" remains a mystery.

All of this has had an effect on me. I had started to feel old and worried that I wouldn't live long enough to use up my stash, or to explore all of the creative ideas in my head, so in the past month I've really cleaned up my act. I now go to the gym for an aquafit class every day and walk every evening. I've cleaned up my diet and have started to lose the extra weight I've been in denial about.

I've had every ultrasound and blood test know to man in the last few weeks and have even brought myself up to date with visits to the Dentist, Skin Cancer Clinic, Breast Screen, and Optometrist. I've felt a bit like a car going over the pits for a thorough mechanical check up. The result is that I'm now reassured I haven't been too absorbed in my creative pursuits at the expense of my health and that my goal of living a healthy, active and creative life to 100 years plus, is back on track and I'll be able to use up my fabric/thread stash after all.

Now enough of all of this, it's time to go back to messing around with fabric and if I work hard I'll make the deadline for the Australian Quilt Convention annual challenge. It's still very much a work in progress as you can plainly see and I've only got 9 days, but I always did work better under pressure.

Something occured to me today - I've reached that certain age. Yes, I'm on the down hill run to 60 and it's certainly time to get serious about my health, but it's more than that. It's the age when Doctors start to look like kids, I'll swear the cardio man I saw today hasn't yet had his 21st birthday! I guess he must have been late 20's or early 30's to be practising as a cardiologist, but he did look so young. It's definately a sign of my reaching "that certain age". Bless him for being so nice and reassuring to such an old lady.