When I started BTD back in mid Sept., I was very, very ill.  It took me about three weeks on BTD before I could get to the computer for any length of time to participate on the forum.  I had had to withdrawl from a second Masters program, and was fairly certain, as were my friends and family, that I was in for the six month count-down.

I am now much better, and drum roll please!!  I have enrolled for 9 hours this semester.  As a lot of you know I live in Wichita, KS.  The seminary I attend is in the Kansas City area--about two hundred miles from Wichita.  My class schedule is a couple of two full day week-end classes a month, and an on-line class.  This past week-end I was in class from 6-9 pm/Fri and 8am-2pm/Sat.  This week-end I will be in class from 8-5/Fri & Sat.  Won't go back for a couple of weeks.

Last week-end I got dehydrated--I was scared to eat or drink becasue there was no accesible restroom at the location I was at--but that's another story!  This week-end that will not be problem.  But I still had to go without O2 for an extended period of time--thinkin' I may have to give-in and take portable O2 to class--even tho I hate to seem "different" or infirm.  

This is what my food box looked like--Olive Oil packed Sardines, Bananas, Black Cherry Juice, Walnuts, Baby Carrotts, Organnic Brown Rice Cakes (I know! I know!).  Any other packable, yummy ideas?  There is a refrig and microwave available, even an electric range and oven--but I don't want to 1. Make a mess to clean up and 2. not be able to rest on my lunch break.

Also, can we talk about my concerns about leaving the O2 off during the day while in class?  I guess I just need to hear some "it'll be OK--and its only temporary--because you are getting so much healthier--everyday!"  When at home I stay on O2 at least 2/3 of each day, if not more.  It makes a big difference in how I feel.

Also, I'm up to walking about 80-100 feet a day--but this last week-end has set me back--fatigue and dehydration, mostly, I think. (wasn't walking more than 1-2 steps before BTD)

Love,

Myra.

excellent progress!!
http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=GC,m=1163187123
http://www.dadamo.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b=GC,m=1166053444


perhaps you find more ideas in these threads.

MyraBee,

I'm so happy to hear about your steps forward!  This is wonderful!  I think you have some great snacks there.  Can you handle cold cooked onions?  I often make a batch so I have some in the fridge.

I think you should take the portable O2, to save yourself further setbacks.

Hi Myra,

In my lunches I usually take a small portion of meat that is precooked, like beef meatballs or cooked rotisserie chicken (can be bought at most supermarkets) cut into bite-sized pieces.  I pack it in a glass food storage container and then reheat it at school.  I also eat carrots, celery sticks, and some sort of salad made with kale (that I blanch in batches on the weekend).  

For snacks, I take raisins or figs or dried cherries and almonds or pumpkin seeds.  Sometimes I treat myself to a Unibar.

Quoted from Whimsical

Hi Myra,

In my lunches I usually take a small portion of meat that is precooked, like beef meatballs or cooked rotisserie chicken (can be bought at most supermarkets)...

Kate, brace yourself:  the rotisserie chicken from most supermarkets is injected with corn syrup.  Seriously, ask to read the ingredients (which you would never think you would have to with something as seemingly straightforward as rotisserie chicken, but alas, you do have to).  There are usually corn sugars injected into the bird, among other things.  If you are going to get rotisserie chicken, if you live somewhere with a Whole Foods Market near you, I think they have rotisserie chicken that is just chicken (what a concept), with herbs and spices on the skin, of course.

Edited to add:  here are the ingredients of the Boston Market rotisserie chicken, from their site (baddies and questionablies bolded by moi...and I'm being generous, I didn't highlight the soy ingredients or plain sugar, for example):

"1/4 White Original Rotisserie Chicken: CHICKEN (BREAST AND WING PORTIONS CONTAINING UP TO 17% OF A SOLUTION OF WATER, SEASONING [SALT, SUGAR, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CHICKEN BROTH, AUTOLYZED YEAST, SOY LECITHIN, GELATIN], SODIUM PHOSPHATE), SWEET GARLIC MARINADE (APPLE CIDER VINEGAR MARINADE (SORBITOL, SUGAR, GARLIC POWDER, XANTHAN GUM AND NATURAL FLAVOR). Contains: SOY."

Source:  http://www.bostonmarket.com/restaurant?page=nutritionSub&id=1&name=Make%20Your%20Meal#3

no no no a thousand times no!
PT, thanks for the info but now I must toss my lunch (at least it wasn't ingested, yet).
You can find me at Whole Foods today during lunch
I really must be more carefull to read the small print ... drats!

Myra, glad you are doing so well!

Quoted from slee

no no no a thousand times no!
PT, thanks for the info but now I must toss my lunch

Isn't it just infuriating that they inject corn syrup and corn starch, as well as countless other un-needed and unwelcome baddies into an otherwise perfectly good chicken?  Stop the madness!

What gets me is that my family always suggests Boston Market as a place we should go together because "you can have chicken, right?"  And it is just too bizarre to try to explain to people who already think you are a diet flake that the chicken is infused with all manner of junk.  If it makes us jaded "health food nuts" incredulous, think how your typical American would react.  So, I just meekly answer, yeah, I can have chicken.  But really there is nothing I can have at Boston Market, or the typical supermarket deli counter.  The only item I buy at the supermarket deli is Boar's Head brand roast beef.  Even the other Boar's Head items like turkey, etc., are shot through with corn syrup.

Maddening.  Absolutely maddenly.

Yep - I just realized that too about the rotisserie chickens that they're injected with corn syrup.  That may be why I'm struggling lately because I've been getting those off and on lately.  
I just don't understand why corn syrup would even need to be injected into a chicken???

I was very upset when I read that even Boar's Head was injected with that stuff just last week. I mean really! What isn't these days?
I'm with you ... stop the madness!!!

Yes MyraBee...you are doing very well.  Your food box looks alot like my packsack for travelling anywhere.  Along with the other suggestions for foods...can  you get hold or make some compliant jerky.  That is so handy.  Also...boiled eggs.  I slip a couple of ice packs in my bag to help keep the things I need kept cool.  Are you driving...I bring a cooler along for longer trips.  And yes...unibars are very handy.  Lots of very good ideas in the links that Lola put up.

And...yes...bring some portable O2...so important.  You can always mix some ahead of time with black cherry or some other compliant juice.  POM makes a good one with blueberry, cherry, mango all with pomegranate juice.   Don't forget to add a wee wee bit of sea salt to the water.  that will keep you from dehydrating also.  

Good luck with your trip.

Debra

Quoted from Edna

Kate, brace yourself:  the rotisserie chicken from most supermarkets is injected with corn syrup.  Seriously, ask to read the ingredients (which you would never think you would have to with something as seemingly straightforward as rotisserie chicken, but alas, you do have to).  There are usually corn sugars injected into the bird, among other things.  If you are going to get rotisserie chicken, if you live somewhere with a Whole Foods Market near you, I think they have rotisserie chicken that is just chicken (what a concept), with herbs and spices on the skin, of course.

Edited to add:  here are the ingredients of the Boston Market rotisserie chicken, from their site (baddies and questionablies bolded by moi...and I'm being generous, I didn't highlight the soy ingredients or plain sugar, for example):

"1/4 White Original Rotisserie Chicken: CHICKEN (BREAST AND WING PORTIONS CONTAINING UP TO 17% OF A SOLUTION OF WATER, SEASONING [SALT, SUGAR, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CHICKEN BROTH, AUTOLYZED YEAST, SOY LECITHIN, GELATIN], SODIUM PHOSPHATE), SWEET GARLIC MARINADE (APPLE CIDER VINEGAR MARINADE (SORBITOL, SUGAR, GARLIC POWDER, XANTHAN GUM AND NATURAL FLAVOR). Contains: SOY."

Source:  http://www.bostonmarket.com/restaurant?page=nutritionSub&id=1&name=Make%20Your%20Meal#3

Yeeeessssss....now I know why I didn't feel good after I used to eat one of those from the supermarket.  Geez...I miss my dad's homegrown chickens.

Debra

Quoted from Edna

If you are going to get rotisserie chicken, if you live somewhere with a Whole Foods Market near you, I think they have rotisserie chicken that is just chicken (what a concept), with herbs and spices on the skin, of course.

Yuppers, this is where I get my chicken...  And I do believe that it is just chicken and spices, but I don't know if it is organic (doesn't say), which probably means it is not!    

Myra,
So glad to hear that you are doing so much better.  It's a wonderful tribute to both you and to the wonders of the BTD.  If you need the oxygen, take it.  Your health is so much more important than appearances.
It's really upsetting to hear about what's injected into our food supply these days, isn't it?
Jane

Quoted from debra

And...yes...bring some portable O2...so important.  You can always mix some ahead of time with black cherry or some other compliant juice.Debra

Whoa, wait a minute:  what exactly is "O2"?  Like Jane, I thought it was oxygen.  But apparently it is referring to something else?

I think it's oxygen.  I'm not sure how to mix fruit juice in it, Debra!  

Myra,
That's great news about your progress, and isn't the BTD wonderful!!!??  The proof is in the progress!

I want to also add, be sure to get in bed early enough at night so that you can be in bed at least 9 hours.  That extra exercise and stimulation can be more tiring than you realize and the sufficient sleep will give your adrenals time to recover.  You need the nighttime sleep, even if you rest a lot after school at home.

If you don't take the O2 to class, can you at least leave it in your car to use on the way home??

Avocados, almonds, almond butter, celery, dried cherries that don't have added sugar if you can find them, cut up brocolli, a thermos full of soup, baked sweet potatoes, roasted turkey legs, kumquats, etc.

Quoted from Victoria

I think it's oxygen.  I'm not sure how to mix fruit juice in it, Debra!  

That was my question, too!

Twist    
 Thanks for the heads up about the chicken. We will be getting a Whole Foods store next year, can't wait.  For now - I wonder if Trader Joe's has eatible chicken?

I'm also curious about the O2.  
I do have a product I got from Garden of Life called Spring of life that is a "H2O Enhancer" . "a combination of enzymes, minerals, and trace elements to be added to drinking water to refresh and hydrate."

Myra so glad your doing so much better. Don't know what kind of seminars you go to, but I do know you will get a lot more out of it if your taking care of yourself.

PS I think she meant H2O which is the chemical designation for water(2 hydrogen atoms attached to 1 oxygen atom) although I vaguely remember seeing one of those designer vitamin fortified waters labeled O2.

Thanks for all of your support!  I can't stay on line nearly as much as I used to--got so much homework!  I'm going to have to figure out how to juggle my time--I Need Each and Every One of You!  One of these days when Dr. D and I are on Oprah because I've lost 400 pounds (Only 320 to go!!!), you'll get to "see" just how much love and healing you have brought into my life.

First about the O2--yes, its Oxygen--I stay on it a lot of the time when I'm at home--but think I'm going to have to "give-in" and take portable to Seminary with me--just need it for muscle fatigue and brain function--imagine that?!

purlgurl asked about seminary.  Seminary is a graduate school for pastors and theologians.  I'm working on my second graduate degree--and seriously begining to think about a PhD. Oh!  I Can't believe I'm actually saying that out loud!!

Debra mentioned sea salt.  Pre-BTD I never used salt, but since BTD I crave sea salt--and I really don't limit myself--very much.  It seems to make me feel tons better--and I don't seem to retain water--unless I don't drink enough...It actually seems to make me drink more water.

Victoria commented on sleep.  I'm really, really going to have to work hard on that.  We'll be staying in motel/hotel (probably Hampton Inn close to seminary) and I just hate staying in Any motel/hotel.  I've seen all those Dateline exposes'!!!  ugh.  The key is going to be to find the cleanest nicest motel/hotel in my budget, and then try not to worry about it!!

One of my class is Spiritual Formation, and during this semester we are practicing different "spirtual disciplines" as outlined in a book called "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster.  One of the disciplines is fasting.  I think most of my classmates are thinking about food fasting, but I'm definitely not.  Instead, I am totally fasting from television.  I began this when I got home from Kansas City last Saturday night, and am hoping to continue it well beyond this end of this semester.  I am now able to get to sleep, and wake up, so much easier, just in these few days.  I'm a complete and constant channel surfer, and I think it is just too much brain stimulation for this gal!

Thanks for the food suggestions.  Good to know about store-bought chicken!  Kate mentioned taking pre-cooked meals.  I'm going to try to try to do that!  I'm good to go with sardines etc. for breakfast, but I'm going to try to bring my meals to heat--its a challenge, but from my experience last week-end I can really see where I have to pay close attention to water, sleep, food, rest, and oxygen needs.  Today is Tuesday, and I'm just now starting to recover from last week-end--and it was a short one compared to this coming one.

Must run for now--the World Religions are calling my name!  

Love,

Myra.

Congratulations Myra on your progress over the past few months.

Portable snack and travels ideas: homemade jerky, 'commercial' compliant jerky, nut butters, various bags of nuts and seeds, homemade trail mixes, prewashed bags of romain and spinach, sturdy vegetables that keep for awhile such as carrots, turnips, parsnips, sweet potatoes; sturdy fruits that don't need refrigeration such as apples and pears, dried organic fruit, canned organic beans/legumes, various teas including one variety of green tea; pineapple juice and black cherry juice, various varieties of seaweed, compliant flax or rice crackers, bottles of drinking water or purchase a stainless steel or glass drinking canister for filling water.

Alia

Thanls Alia--

I learned of seaweed from MoDon on another thread--I'm thinking about "taking the plunge"--not into the ocean--but to the Asian market, and trying some!

Thanks for your other suggestions--I'm copying and pasting this thread to a word document for future, long-term use!

Thanks--

My.

And Myra,
Have a Wonderful!!! time!!  

Myra, I can't think of a better person to be going into some sort of ministry than you.  Your caring, supportiveness, acceptance and kindness really comes through on the internet.  Anyone you minister to will be blessed indeed.  So, keep on truckin' (did I just write "keep on truckin'?"  *child of the 70's ALERT!*) in school because you are on the right path.  Someone with so much caring, kindness, life experience and wisdom should share all four with others, and going along the path of studies you are going along will enable you to do so.  Keep up the good work!!!