Allergies!

I am allergic to grass. I just happen to live in the "grass seed capital of the world". Grass is pollinating right now. I am miserable!



I know, I know...I say no excuses when it comes to weight management. Let's just say, I have done the best I could for the past three weeks.



I am not sleeping but three or four hours, then have to get up because I am so stopped up I can't breathe.



It has been hard to go to the gym - one reason, no sleep = no energy, but the other reason is I can't breathe there either. I have gone on the days I could...only twice this past week. Better than no times...given the circumstances.



I HAVE had control of my eating and have continued to eat clean, healthy, organic food. I have been mindful of my dairy allergies and know that if I have any dairy during this time, my allergy symptoms will only be worse. So...not even a morsel of cheese for me during the past three weeks.



What I have been doing for the allergies:



1. Eating a teaspoon of local honey every day. Supposedly, local honey has the local pollens in it (makes sense when you think about it) and a small dose every day helps your immune system to adjust to those pollens. I don't like anything sweet and boy, it that honey sweet! So, I mix it with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. I remember my mom giving me that as a child for coughs.



2. Extra Vitamin C. I drink a cup of hot water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon squeezed in it every morning. In addition to that, I am using the juice of another 1/2 lemon with the honey (see #1). I am also eating lots of delicious local strawberries right now, which have lots of Vitamin C.



3. Stinging Nettle. I found from several sources researched that Stinging Nettle taken in capsule form twice a day will help alleviate allergy symptoms. It helps if you start taking it before the allergens hit you. I already have a note on my calendar to start taking it during the middle of May next year!



Whether it is in my head (no pun intended) or all the home remedies are actually helping, I don't know, but I do feel a tad better. I am ready to be back to "normal", sleep a good night's sleep every night and do my regular workouts.

If you have some other natural remedies for allergies/hay fever that works for you, please let me know. Thanks!

Good Healthy Dinner Last Night

Grilled salmon
Crispy garlic potatoes
Stir-fried cabbage

Indoor grilled salmon seasoned with Cajun seasoning and grilled for 8 minutes.

Crispy garlic potatoes - Garlic, dried thyme, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of olive oil. Mix the ingredients and coat the potato pieces by stirring with a spatula. Bake on baking sheet in oven at 475 for 20 minutes, stirring once at 10 minutes.

Stir-fried cabbage - Cabbage shredded and stir-fried on medium-high until crisp-tender, seasoned with salt, pepper and a sprinkle or two of Mrs. Dash's spicy.

Beaching it for the Weekend

My husband and I went to the beach last weekend for three days and nights. The first night we got there in time to take a long walk on the beach.

Then I ran on the beach every morning...about three miles, I think.

We also took our bikes and did a lot of cycling. Where we live is rather flat so riding around the coastal village was more of a challenge to us.

Running on the beach hardly seems like exercise.