{"id":2092,"date":"2011-11-14T01:55:57","date_gmt":"2011-11-14T06:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2092"},"modified":"2011-11-16T09:55:35","modified_gmt":"2011-11-16T14:55:35","slug":"11-ways-to-benefit-from-interruptions-in-your-life-and-your-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/11\/11-ways-to-benefit-from-interruptions-in-your-life-and-your-health.html","title":{"rendered":"11 ways to benefit from Interruptions in your life and your health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perhaps one of the hardest things to keep in balance when you are faced with interruptions in your life are your healthy and eating habits. \u00a0Susan Brown, BeliefNet author, recently went through such a time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ms. Brown spent days at the bedside of a relative. \u00a0Her blog, “What to do when you can’t H.A.L.T.” <\/a>will help to keep you in that balance.<\/p>\n

Most parents of children with disabilities know the rigors of a hospital stay. \u00a0As their pastor, I’ve spent large amounts of \u00a0time in hospitals and other waiting events. \u00a0Therefore, I’ve gathered a great deal of experience in this area. \u00a0Here are a couple of hints I’ve garnered through my time in waiting.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>When you are having to kill time during an emergency event of when a loved one is in the hosptial, it’s may seem like a great time to “treat yourself. \u00a0However, this is the best time to eliminate sugar.<\/strong> \u00a0As wonderful as sweets are during these times, they will only add to the stress of the time waiting. \u00a0You will not be able to eliminate all sugar, of course, because so many things contain fructose and cane sugar. \u00a0But you can be deliberate about not using this as a time to “treat” yourself to that extra cookie or extra large piece of cake.<\/p>\n

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Waiting can be stressful when you are in the hospital with a loved one. \u00a0To help with the stress, substitute nuts for sweets.<\/strong> \u00a0Every snack shop will have almonds and other nuts that are superb for snacking. \u00a0They will give you protein and help to relieve the stress. \u00a0While nuts have gotten a bad rap because of the high fat content, this fat is beneficial to our bodies, especially during times of stress.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Do you feel you need to stay awake to care for sick relative or friend? \u00a0Here is an easy and healthy trick. \u00a0Eat crunchy vegetables and fruits.<\/strong> \u00a0They will keep you awake. \u00a0I learned this from a professional driver. \u00a0She told me that there is something about the sound of crunching that helps keep us awake. \u00a0I tried it and she was correct. \u00a0During stressful times, we may need to stay awake. \u00a0If that is true stock up on celery, carrots and other crunchy vegetables that will help you stay away and add to your nutritional needs.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Are you spending hours during an emergency event or caring for the needs of an ailing person you love? \u00a0Have a good book available to read.<\/strong> \u00a0Catch up with your Bible reading. \u00a0I would not bring in a book that involves tragedies, guts and gore, occult or witchcraft. \u00a0However, mystery novels and other light reading will make those long hours evaporate. \u00a0This suggestion may not sound appetizing but it is one way to keep your mind off food. \u00a0Additionally, you can remain alert while this set-apart time is enriching your brain.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Want to stay fit and trim during an extended hospital visit as you spend long hours sitting? \u00a0Be sure that you aren’t “drinking your calories.”<\/strong> \u00a0This could be a good opportunity to find the joy of drinks like herbal teas and decaf, flavored coffee that have no calories if you don’t add sugar.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>As you wait in a hospital waiting room or at the side of a dear person who is ill, you may feel you need an extra boost of energy. You may try to eliminate caffeine.<\/strong> \u00a0This stimulant is great for keeping us awake but counterproductive if it becomes a habit. \u00a0There will be a headache the first day you take away the drug but the surge of energy you will receive after the caffeine has made its way out of your body is worth it.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Treat yourself to a healthy, energy booster that will help void weight gain. \u00a0Drinking water is great during stressful times<\/strong>. \u00a0Treat yourself to that bottled water that you may not allow yourself to have because of the high costs. \u00a0Of course, it tastes exactly like your tap water; but you will feel as though you are having something special.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Meal time at the hospital can add to your stress because of the menu selections offered. \u00a0Choose a salad<\/strong> along with that high carb and high calorie entree they will be serving at the hospital cafeteria. \u00a0You won’t eat as much of the main course; and you will be supplementing your diet with the good things you need to have.<\/p>\n

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Hours of sitting at the bedside of a people you love can be stressful and break up you exercise routine. \u00a0Therefore,\u00a0use the stairs instead of the elevator while in the hospital.<\/strong> \u00a0This added effort will burn the calories that you aren’t using when you are sitting. \u00a0My sister actually lost weight when her husband was in the hospital because she never used the elevator. \u00a0She walked the stairs to the 10th floor each time she had to go anywhere.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>While waiting for the doctor or merely sitting during those long, quiet afternoons. Try to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family<\/strong> who gather at the hospital. \u00a0During the months my husband was critically ill, I was able to make many new friends. \u00a0Acquaintances who came to visit often lingered and we were able to chat about things that we had wanted to know about each other.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Hospital time can be a beneficial time. \u00a0Relearn to appreciate the small things in your life.<\/strong> \u00a0When my husband was in the hospital for over a month, for many reason, I could not leave him. \u00a0If you feel you cannot leave the hospital, find a window and spend time looking outside. \u00a0Play mind games by making up stories about the people who are entering or leaving the hospital. \u00a0Sit in the sunshine that pours through a window.<\/p>\n

These are only a few things. \u00a0There are others. \u00a0What would you suggest?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Perhaps one of the hardest things to keep in balance when you are faced with interruptions in your life are your healthy and eating habits. \u00a0Susan Brown, BeliefNet author, recently went through such a time. Ms. Brown spent days at the bedside of a relative. \u00a0Her blog, “What to do when you can’t H.A.L.T.” will…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8],"tags":[21,688,7,689,57,692,6,700,327],"class_list":["post-2092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-prayer","tag-religion","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-spirituality","tag-susan-brown"],"yoast_head":"\n11 ways to benefit from Interruptions in your life and your health - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/11\/11-ways-to-benefit-from-interruptions-in-your-life-and-your-health.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"11 ways to benefit from Interruptions in your life and your health - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Perhaps one of the hardest things to keep in balance when you are faced with interruptions in your life are your healthy and eating habits. \u00a0Susan Brown, BeliefNet author, recently went through such a time. 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