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Post by cathygeha on Jan 17, 2019 8:21:01 GMT
This round began January 10 - February 20. It’s not too late. If you ‘d like to join us, respond on today’s thread with your board name/first name and your goal for this round. The hostess will add you to the challengers list the following day. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Challengers:
bmazzo/Beverly - to actually accomplish some of the projects I’ve been putting off
cathygeha/Cathy - journal every day/veganuary
cherryt38/Cherry - be more active
jalibmu/Jan - focus on good health guidelines
jasimons/Judy - snack planned for after work and prepped ahead if possible
pamthomas46/Pam - continue to collect blue dot days and enter a new decade
Hostes Schedule:
January 10 - 16 Pam
January 17 - 23 Cathy
January 24 - 30 Judy
January 31 - February 6 Jan
February 7 - 13 Cherry
February 14 - 20 Beverly
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Post by cathygeha on Jan 17, 2019 8:39:16 GMT
I found a couple of articles about cold weather...some positive and some negative but perhaps all good to know...will start with the bad and leave the good till later 
How Cold Weather Affects Health
Cold weather affects your health in a variety of ways. From weight gain, to cold and flu, to frostbite, cold weather can wreak havoc on your body. Learn how to keep warm, prevent weight gain, and stay in good health during these cold winter months.
Cold Effects
Have you noticed that you crave warm comfort foods when it gets colder out? That’s because your body requires extra fuel to keep warm. To get that extra fuel, you tend to eat more. This allows your body to store extra fat to better insulate your body and keep you warm. You can lose weight during the winter months by watching what you eat and staying active. Rather than packing on the pounds to keep warm, try layering clothes to insulate your body temperature. Wear a close fitting base layer first, then an insulating mid-layer, and last, a looser fitting wind or waterproof layer such as a jacket.
Physical Risks from Direct Cold
• Slips and trips increase during the winter months due to wearing worn down shoes or improper shoes on slick surfaces. Try to wear boots or shoes with good tread. Salt your sidewalks and driveways with ice melt salt to prevent slipping and falling when walking out to your car.
• Heart attacks increase in the winter because the drop in temperature concentrates your blood at the core of your body, which in turn increases blood pressure and puts more strain on your heart. The cold also makes your body work harder, thus putting stress on your heart to ensure you stay warm.
• If you have high blood pressure or an existing heart condition, be sure to talk with your doctor due to an increased risk for heart attack.
• Frostbite and frostnip are also major risks when exposed to cold temperatures. These are caused by lack of blood to a part of the body. Your body will want to concentrate your blood around your core to preserve your heart, lungs, and brain. This leaves your fingers, toes, arms, and legs at risk for frostbite and frostnip. Frostbite or frostnip can cause permanent damage, loss of limb, or in severe cases death.
• Hypothermia is another risk when exposed to direct cold. This happens when you lose body heat faster than your body can make it. Your core body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If your core drops to or below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, hypothermia will set in. Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, numb extremities, loss of dexterity, and feeling extremely cold. If hypothermia is left untreated, it will lead to complete failure of your heart and lungs, causing death.
QUESTIONS 1. Comments on any of the above? 2. FUN: What "comfort food" did your mother/father serve you when you were sick? Do you still eat it now when ill?
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Post by cathygeha on Jan 17, 2019 8:41:22 GMT
I have heard of a lot of these...the weight gain, comfort food, slips, trips, heart attacks when shoveling snow...etc. I think the idea of staying warm instead of eating makes sense but...don't always follow through
As for comfort food...remember mom used to toast white bread, butter it, sprinkle with salt then pour hot milk over it all...I loved it but don't buy white bread and haven't had this since maybe I made it once for my own children decades ago.
Thank you, Pam, for getting this organized and taking the first week AND than you all for helping make this group what it is!
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Post by bmazzo on Jan 17, 2019 14:05:42 GMT
I have read that our bodies really need more food in cold weather. We supposedly need extra calories to keep us warm? I don't know if this is true, I think the fact that we are usually less active in the winter makes up for the difference. But I think we do crave comfort foods & something warm in cold weather.
At our age, we have to really be careful about the slips & falls, We try to stay in when there is any danger of slipping on ice. Thank goodness, we live in the south & this is not often a problem.
My mother made the best chicken soup, also chicken & dumplings. I still make the chicken soup, but I steer away from the dumplings because of my weight issues.
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Post by cherryt38 on Jan 17, 2019 14:51:42 GMT
My mother also used to give me milk toast when I wasn't feeling well. I think she made it the same way your mother did, Cathy, except she used her homemade white bread. I liked it too, but haven't eaten it in years.
Having lived most of my life in North Dakota, I'm well aware of the bad things about the cold. I don't like it all that much but now I don't have to be out in it as I did when I was younger. I still shovel snow but not as vigorously as I did a few years back. The last several years we haven't had a lot of snow during the winter. It totally depends on the year, with possibly some effects from the El Nino or La Nina.
I do eat more chili and stews in the winter but I haven't noticed all that much weight gain from it.
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Post by jasimons on Jan 17, 2019 21:00:52 GMT
I'm usually cold no matter what time of year! Layering is second nature. I tend to think any difference for me in eating during cold weather is more mental than physical. It just seems more appealing to eat hearty, warm dishes in cold weather rather than a crisp, cool salad. Plus, it's tough to be motivated to do things - anything - when sunset comes early. (but...the days are getting longer now!)
Usually, I shouldn't need to be out in cold where I could suffer from any of the negative concerns. I still have winter gear in my vehicle, just in case, even though I now live in town, not out in the country.
Like Cherry, we haven't had as much snow in recent years either and so far this winter, any cold snaps have been just a day or two, nothing more. We are forecast for below zero wind chills and around 5" snow tomorrow with the below zero wind chills lasting through Sunday.
*edit* I honestly don't remember any particular foods or meals for when I was ill as a child.
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Post by jan on Jan 17, 2019 22:14:23 GMT
I grew up on a farm in Montana, and remember bundling up to feed the horses or to shovel/snowblow the driveway. Out here in Oregon, there are people who wear shorts year round and no coat. Today it is not really that cold- maybe mid to high 40s but the wind is blowing, so walking outside to where the restrooms are is an experience, to say the least.
I am a big believer in the layered look. During the winter, I usually have at least 2, maybe 3 layers.
I agree that some of the big problems with being outside this time of the year is also the slipperiness of sidewalks and steps. When we walk in the mornings, we cross a bridge and between ice and mossy slime, we hold on to the rails and take small steps.
I don't really remember any comfort foods from when I was a kid. Seems like maybe Campbells chicken noodle soup ?
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Post by pamthomas46 on Jan 18, 2019 0:18:58 GMT
Layering is key for me. I get warm easily as well as chilly. Being able to take off or add layers works best for me. No special comfort food comes to mind growing up.
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