How are you today?

[blue]

Sympathise with the foot, Dave - I've never had the exotic Latin flower condition, but a few years ago I hurt my Achilles tendon and every step was agony for weeks on end. You don't realise how essential pain-free feet are to a happy life until you ain't got them no more. [b)]

On the subject of health, I've recently been told by my GP to give up my vegan diet. I asked her to test my hormone levels because I've had 'women's troubles' for a few months now, I assumed I was going into the menopause but no, apparently I have a calcium and protein deficiency, I've had various symptoms of it for months without realising they were symptoms. I can sort of understand the calcium deficiency, but I'm amazed at the protein deficiency. I don't know what to do, obviously my body is not getting all the nutrition it needs from the vegan diet but I feel ill at the thought of eating dairy and eggs again.

Bodies are so annoying.

[blue]

Five years ago they were telling me it was 'Aquinas'-which also sounds rather mediaeval and important, doesn't it? Except I think I misheard it and it's actually 'Equinus', which means I have a foot like a horse rather than a famous philosopher.

I remember you telling me about Aquinus, I tried to look it up on the 'net and just kept getting stuff about the saint, Thomas Aquinus I think it was.

Equinus is a rather poetic name for something that gives you so much grief.

[paul-pgss]

On the subject of health, I've recently been told by my GP to give up my vegan diet. I asked her to test my hormone levels because I've had 'women's troubles' for a few months now, I assumed I was going into the menopause but no, apparently I have a calcium and protein deficiency, I've had various symptoms of it for months without realising they were symptoms. I can sort of understand the calcium deficiency, but I'm amazed at the protein deficiency. I don't know what to do, obviously my body is not getting all the nutrition it needs from the vegan diet but I feel ill at the thought of eating dairy and eggs again.

Bodies are so annoying.

I'm sorry to hear that Beth! I tried to be vegan once and stopped eating eggs and drinking milk for a month or so. I ended up feeling really weak and since then I've settled for being a plain vegetarian. It makes me feel healthier and at least I only contribute to the bio-industry in a small way.

[blue]

I'm sorry to hear that Beth! I tried to be vegan once and stopped eating eggs and drinking milk for a month or so. I ended up feeling really weak and since then I've settled for being a plain vegetarian. It makes me feel healthier and at least I only contribute to the bio-industry in a small way.

Ah that's interesting Paul because my GP said to me that some people's bodies just do not thrive when food groups are cut out, even though they're eating well. Some people can't even go vegetarian because their bodies just get sick if they cut out meat and fish.

It's all a bit frustrating, particularly as I've felt well and thought I was eating extremely healthily. The vegan diet really suits me in terms of how I like to eat (not to mention being great for someone with very little money for food! ), but if the protein/calcium deficiency is messing with my hormones and other aspects of my physical health I guess I don't have much choice in the matter. I definitely can't go back to having milk though, just the thought makes me feel sick. Maybe some organic yogurt would be a better option.

[RobB]

Beth, are you able to take any suppliments to compensate for the calcium/protein deficiency?

For added protein, have you considered eating more nuts?

http://www.brighthub.com/health/diet-nu ... 36298.aspx

Although i'm not a great meat eater (especially disliking red meat), i do like white meat / fish and i drink plenty of milk.
At the same time i eat four salads a week as a main meal, every week of the year.

I try and eat a healthy balanced diet and i think its really a case of 'everything in moderation' for me.

[blue]

Beth, are you able to take any suppliments to compensate for the calcium/protein deficiency?

For added protein, have you considered eating more nuts?

http://www.brighthub.com/health/diet-nu ... 36298.aspx

I've actually been taking a supplement the whole time Rob, and I started eating nuts even though I don't like them. I also eat lots of pulses which are supposed to be a good source of protein. This is why I'm so surprised, I did mention that to my GP but as I said, she told me it's quite an individual thing how our bodies respond to a diet with food groups cut out - some people thrive and some don't. Calcium from supplements doesn't work quite the same way as calcium from food, apparently.

I'm going to try just having some yogurt every day, and quorn for protein. I'll see how I get on with that, hopefully it will sort out the hormones, blurred vision and ridged nails!

Although i'm not a great meat eater (especially disliking red meat), i do like white meat / fish and i drink plenty of milk.
At the same time i eat four salads a week as a main meal, every week of the year.

That's a pretty ideal diet for a carnivore, red meat should only ever be eaten in very small quantities and not more than once a week. Lean white meat and fish are far healthier for you, and they reckon about three meals a week should be vegetable-based.

I do love a salad, but only with homemade chips baked in chilli flavoured olive oil. I couldn't eat a salad on its own.

[blue]

I'm going to spend this afternoon with an old friend whom I hadn't seen for 27 years, until she came into the shop I work in the other day. Last time she saw me I was 16 years old and had just had my baby - now I'm a grandmother, she couldn't believe it. She recognised me straight away (unsurprising as I have a very, um, distinctive face shall we say ), but it took me a minute to realise who she was. I'm really looking forward to spending some time with her again because she was a life-saver for me when I was a troubled teenager, she meant a great deal to me. We lost touch when I went into care at 16 and she moved with her husband and two young children to Spain. Now she's back in England having lost pretty much everything - husband, kids, home, job. Life is really unfathomable sometimes, the worst things seem to happen to the best people.

Anyway I'm anticipating some serious catching up, should be interesting.

[RobB]

I do love a salad, but only with homemade chips baked in chilli flavoured olive oil. I couldn't eat a salad on its own.

You'd get use to it. I use to have a salad cream on top of mine until i realised it was being counter productive health wise so i gave it up. It was strange at first,just using vinegar and pepper, but i soon got use to it.

[RobB]

Last time she saw me I was 16 years old and had just had my baby -

blimey, you didn't hang about did you?

She recognised me straight away (unsurprising as I have a very, um, distinctive face shall we say )

well yes, i guess having a green face is pretty distinctive!

Have fun catching up with your friend......and hopefully some of it will cheer your friend up as it sounds as if she's had a pretty rough time of it lately.

[blue]

Well that was rather a long lunch! Just back in from seeing my old friend, the hours have simply flown by and all we've done is talk. It's been so wonderful to spend that time just talking about our lives and all the various dramas we've somehow managed to survive. She really is an amazing person. She's become a Buddhist in the last couple of years, which is helping her to deal with everything that's happened recently.

Now I need to take Kate and Rocco over to see her - last time she saw Kate, she was about the same age as Rocco is now, six weeks old.

[blue]

Last time she saw me I was 16 years old and had just had my baby -

blimey, you didn't hang about did you?

I have a 27 year old daughter Rob, how old did you think I was?

[RobB]

I have a 27 year old daughter Rob, how old did you think I was?

21?

[blue]

I have a 27 year old daughter Rob, how old did you think I was?

21?

Nicely done.

[RobB]

Last evening i attended my brothers 50th birthday party where i slightly over-indulged in the food department, shouted myself hoarse whilst trying to converse with people over the racket and got beaten up by a 7 & a 2 year old in a balloon fight.
Otherwise it was a lovely do.

[blue]

Pah, you couldn't even beat a couple of kids in a balloon fight?!

Sounds like you enjoyed it anyway Rob, just practice your martial arts balloon moves for next time.