The Topical Drug We Apply Every Day

Illustration from pbskids.org

I was putting on antiperspirant one day and I noticed that the label was one of those peel-off kind that says "Drug Facts Inside."  Drug facts?  It's deodorant!  Well, it turns out the active ingredient is aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly 15.4%.  (AZG) This is what causes yellow stains on clothing. It's not the sweat--it's the deodorant, or more specifically, the AZG in the deodorant.

I don't know if it's bad for you or not. I do know that so-called "Natural" deodorants don't use it. We have also found the natural deodorants not to be as effective against odor or sweat, at least not on a healthy, active male body.

However, my husband has an allergic reaction to any kind of aluminum in deodorant, so he just has to put up with sweat. Sometimes the odor of that bothers my sensitive nose, but through trial and error we have learned that a combination of a daily shower, a natural deodorant, and Power Spray seem to do the trick.  Power Spray, not Power Stick. 
Though they are made by the same company, Power Stick is another aluminum-based deodorant. 

We found Power Spray at Dollar Tree, of all places. There is a choice of scents; we bought two different ones that I like. This is not an ad for Power Spray, nor a rant about AZG deodorants. I still wear my lovely powder-fresh antiperspirant, even while wondering about the effects of the AZG on my body. 

Incidentally, the "inactive" ingredients of my particular brand are nearly as scary sounding as AZG:
Elaeis guineensis (palm) kernel oil
Stearyl alcohol
Cyclomethicone
C12-15 alkyl benzoate
PPG-14 butyl ether
Hydrogenated castor oil
Hydrogenated soybean oil
PEG-8 Distearate
Fragrance (made of what???) 
Hydrolized Corn Starch
behenyl alcohol

Where the Driveway Meets the Sidewalk

In late fall, I took a fall. (don't you just love the English language?)

About a month ago, I was leaving the home of a new friend in the dark. As I walked out to my car, I tripped right where the driveway meets the sidewalk.  Down I went, not just flat, but further due to the angle of the driveway going down. All my weight, kaboom!--onto concrete. My left hand and right knee caught the worst of it.

At first my hand felt quite swollen, but x-rays show no bones broken in my wrist. It has settled into a dull ache, unless I twist a certain way or try to use the muscles, like opening a jar lid. Then it really hurts! I still wear a wrist brace the majority of the time.

After about two weeks, my knee kept getting worse, to the point that a slight bump felt like someone was stabbing me from inside my knee. Again, I went to the clinic, and got my knee x-rayed. Nothing is broken, but I do have a preexisting bone spur. The doctor did suggest very little exercise for a couple more weeks to give my knee a chance to heal. So much for getting a jump start on exercise so that it's not a New Year's Resolution!

My has gradually been getting better. Now if I put weight on it, it feels like someone is holding a sharp knife to the inside of my knee, but not the stabbing sensation of before.  I think it's time to see an orthopedic specialist.

A Wake-up Call on the Airplane

Off to vacation--
we would try to travel on the busiest day of the year, only to have bad weather all over the countryside!  After one cancelled flight, and one long-delayed one, we managed to get seat assignments for a plane headed to New York, a quick stop on the way to our actual destination.  The gate attendant asked if we were okay with the emergency exit row, and we said that was fine.

What I didn't know was that in the emergency row, the center armrest does not come up. Not only that, both armrests are solid, allowing no room to sort of spread out from under. I squeezed into the seat, where I sat for a little over an hour, pinched on both sides. The seat belt was a little shorter than usual, and I barely got it buckled without asking for an extender. My husband appreciated that we had a little more leg room, but it did not do me much good since I couldn't move enough to stretch my legs into it and relax.

I vowed to lose weight right then and there, since I can see how much it is affecting my lifestyle.  I also vowed to avoid emergency exit rows until I've gone down at least one size.

I'm Back--Time to Master Fitness once again!

I took some time out to get my master's degree. You know how you always get warned about the "Freshman 15"?  Well, let me tell you the "Master's 40" is worse, especially when you go back to get your degree in your fifties.

So here I am, a newly graduated Master of Arts in Library and Information Science (how's that for a mouthful?) and heavier than I have every been.  I have also not been feeling well, and my whole body is telling me that being overweight is a large part of the cause.

So here I am--and not just because it is January 1--I would have started earlier but for some injuries that I will blog about another day. I'll redo my markers to reflect current weight--the good news is I've lost 5 pounds already.

Healthier a Day at a Time: Goals

The way the program is supposed to work is that you set 5 goals each month, getting a point daily for each goal, with occasional ways to get bonus points along the way.

I joined up, but I am setting my goals one at a time, adding a new one after ten days. I won't win the prize the first two months for sure, but I am winning with better health.

GOALS

Wikimedia Commons

Physical Health Goal: Stop and Drop

At 10 p.m., I stop whatever I'm doing and start my bedtime routine. This usually gets me to bed by about 11-11:15.  At first it was terribly difficult, but it's getting easier.

Photo: Mark Bertrand

Spiritual Health: Read and Write

Get up early enough each day to spend some time writing in my journal and reading scriptures. 

Photo: Everything Changes

Mental Health Goal: Stay on Top

Do homework every day, more on the days I don't have to go to work or class. This will help prevent the stress I had last semester as I fell more and more behind.

I am pondering the next two goals already, and possibly unofficially working on one or two of them...but not stressing over it either.

Healthier a Day at a Time--Friend Support

I've joined a Facebook group started by my niece. It's called "Healthier a Day at a Time."

We each set goals and record our points as we work toward the goals. At the end of a month we will each pitch in for a gift card for the winner. It's only $5 a month, and it sure gives me incentive to keep up on my goals. I adjusted her logo to make a personal goal sheet. A visual record gives me even more incentive.

If any of my few loyal readers are interested, give me your email or find me on Facebook, and I will add you to the group. The more the merrier, apparently. The bigger the group, the harder the challenge and the bigger the prize.

For this first month, I have not set the full five goals. I am setting them one at a time, for ten days each. This means that I will have no chance at the prize the first month or two, but I will have more chance at succeeding at my Health Goals.

I'm Back

Since I've been in grad school, I've hardly had time to post. When I'm not in class, doing homework, or at work, I'm busy with church stuff or goofing off.

Okay, I admit it, too much goofing off, and too much bad eating, rushed eating, whatever-I-can-grab eating. And it shows in my saggy belly, wide load hips, and overall fatigue.

Today I slept off and on until 4:15, with short spells of goofing off in between.  I'm still in my PJ's at 7:15 p.m.

Back to setting goals and trying to get my health back!