Karebear Central

It’s been over a month now, and I am still not drinking caffinated soda. I am so proud of myself. I know caffine addictation is not as bad as some other addications I could have, but it is still an addication. I have had my moments of wanting some, especially when my hubby blows the smell in my face, but I have resisted. But I have found it makes me munch a lot more on chocolate. So I am gettting a little bit of caffine that way–but right now that doesn’t count. It is making me dig out my acne treatment! I did lose about 5 pounds by quitting soda. I think the next thing we have to work on is our meal portions.

So, I want to lose weight. I really do, but I do not want to really diet much or exercise much. I have learned that in order for me to really lose weight I am going to have to do both. So I was looking around the internet for some diets, and found out that Oprah is having a 21 day cleanse.   See is cutting out alcohol (oh no), sugar, caffine and more.   I started looking at the recipe plans and got really discouraged looking at the recipe plans.  Because really in order to do the recipe plans, you have to be rich.  I know eating healthy is more expensive than eating unhealthy, but the meal plans have ingredients I know that are not available at our grocery store, like San-J wheat-free tamari, and kombu. It would be helpful if they had normal meals that the whole family would be able to eat.  I just get annoyed with celebrity diets that normal people with families cannot follow.  I have read Dr. Oz’s books, so I know in their they have good recipes.  I want to lose 30 pounds by November, right now I have lost 3, so hopefully, I am able to change something soon to lose more. 

I was/am addicted to caffine. I have done something I never thought possible, though. I have not had caffinated soda in over 2 weeks. I used to have at least two Diet Mountain Dews a day, 5 days a week. Now, I am only drinking non-caffinated soda–root beer and Sprite. I hopefully will get to the point where I am not even drinking that.

I have seen a couple of advantages to doing this. One, this is making me feel so much better. I feel refreshed, more aware, and a bit healthly. I think this is because the less soda I drink, the more water I drink and the more water I drink, the more walking to the bathroom. So its all good for me! Also, this is going to save us money. Soda is about $1.50 so 2 a day for 5 days a week for 4 weeks is $60 (that was without a calculator–I’m proud of myself.) So in a year that gives us $720 more to save for new furniture. Now all I need to do is get my husband off his Havana Mocha Cappacino drinks. He gets 2 every morning 5-6 days a week. I figure I have to give up something if I expect him to. It’s only fair. So when is he starting to quit? Who knows!

I had to make a choice this last month.  Sacrifice the $25.00 for 30000 step per day or working overtime and sleeping.  I choose the latter of course, so in these last few days of the challenge, I am trying to hoof it.  It will be a miracle if I actually land in the top 250.  The sad thing is, I got 7000+ each day and I am at 305.  What are all the people before me doing?  There are like 2800 people in this challenge.  I guess some people just don’t have the time.  But if you do not have the time, do not sign up for the challenge. 

Andy’s friend called tonight to vent.  He is getting married in about 6 months and he stuck his foot in his mouth again.  The bride is trying to lose weight for the wedding.  I have told the groom regardless of what he thinks, he needs to keep his mouth shut.  They were out to eat and she wanted to order chocolate cake.  He said I don’t think that’s a good idea.  She obviously was upset by this comment.  At least Andy knows when to say something and when to totally agree with me. 

I work for an insurance company on the medical side.  My company does offer dental insurance, but the most basic plan really only covers preventative services.  If I would need anything done, it could become quite costly to me and my pocketbook.  I can not even begin to imagine what it would cost without having insurance and needing to go to the dentist.  I have yet to use it because I am afraid of much it will cost me.

That is why there are discount dental plans.  These plans are designed to help the engaged consumer and may be more cost effective than a traditional dental insurance plan.  Part of the problem with going through an insurance company is it is sometimes really hard to find a dentist in your network that you like.  If you choose a dentist out of network, that usually means a higher out of pocket amount for the you.  This site offers providers in over 30 states with a list of about 100,000 dentists.  It seems like it should be easy enough to find a dentist that suits your needs for the price you can afford.   

The other problem with dental plans is that not all companies offer them.  If the companies do offer dental plans, they are not at a very affordable price.  The premiums are more than some of the simple procedures the dentists do everyday.  So not only would you be paying the premium, you would also be paying the deductibles and copays.  Plus the plans may have limitations such as pre-existing clauses or waiting periods.    Discount dental plans seem to be the easy way to cut the middleman out. 

Really in the end, its how much are you willing to spend on your teeth?  Its how much research are you willing to do and save on your pearly whites.   

This week, I have been sick. At work on Tuesday, I had the worst headache, so I decided to try to take something for it. The headache felt like a sinus Headache, so I went to the company store and purchased some. I took the recommended 2 pills and about ten minutes that’s when I started to feel nauseous, sweaty and totally out of it. Plus, on top of that, I still had my headache. So I do not recommend Excedrin Sinus Headache, but it could just be me. I have always had a weird reaction to medicine. Non Drowsy makes me drowsy and giddy, Drowsy always knocks me out with me waking immediately after the dose expires.
At least I never have had a reaction like my mother did when the doctor told her to use nose spray when she had a really bad sinus infection. She told the doctor she never has been able to take cold medicine or anything because it makes her heart race. I guess he ignored her and thought she knew better. She used the nose spray and was awake, unable to sleep, for 3 days. Lets just say the nose spray was properly disposed of!

One of the new wellness progrmas they are offering for the month of August at work is to track our sleeping habits and energy levels.  For doing this for just 15 days, we have the potential of making $55.  It seems so odd they would give you money for this, but studies have shown that if you get 8 hours a sleep a night, you are a healthier person.  The money has to be used on something fitness related, but that includes clothing.  Last year, Andy and I used our money for a treadmill.   

When I was on the phones at work ( I work for an insurance company), one of the more frequent questions to ask was “Why did my lab charges go towards deductible?  My doctor referred me to the hospital?”   First we try to stress the consumer needs to be engaged and know their benefits.  Most PPO plans we offer, any services done in a hospital lab take deductible, for use of the laboratories.   Using a private MD lab would save consumers a lot of money. 

 Online Lab Tests are starting to become more common and social accepted way to have lab test done.  The company makes sure handle confidentiality like any other lab service.  They send the lab results in an secure email.  Only lab MD and your self (barring any communicable diseases that must be reported) will see your results.   Labs done online will not be in your permanent medical history.  Some tests for insurances require a certain cholesterol level.  If you have this test done with Online Lab MD, cholesterol is something you can change before applying for the insurance to ensure that you will qualify. 

In order to keep health care costs lower, experts suggest getting routine labs to keep tabs on your health.  If you have a family history of a certain disease, getting regularly tested can either help prevent it or catch it before it gets too bad.   Just remember, you are the first step to creating a healthier you.

For about a year now, I have been buying 100 Calorie snack packs of oreos and chips ahoy cookies.  They are okay. I would rather have the real thing, but I guess since these are better for me I can handle it.  They have a bit of the normal taste, but they also kind of taste that they are good for you which maybe what scares me!  Hopefully if I can only snack on these instead of chips or Hershey bars, maybe it will help me lose some weight.