#abangnotawhimper

[shananotshanna]

Sunshine then 3:10 to Yuma

Thanks Jessica and Chris. 

[sarkastickunt]

because Jessica inspired me...

Things I cannot eat because of my hypertension

Chinese food or any food containing MSG...like any kind of jerky or salted snack.

Did you know an order of General Tso's chicken has over 3000 mg of sodium in it? And that your recommended daily allowance of sodium should be UNDER 2500 even if you have NO issue with blood pressure?

I cannot have potato chips. They have unsalted varieties but they aren't very good. or half as pretty as a shiny bag of Doritos looks sitting next to you on the couch when your soaps are on.

Although I do like salt free buttered popcorn with Mrs. Dash and garlic powder.

I cannot eat cheese.

This makes it really hard to love pizza as much as I do.

I cannot have pancakes or waffles.

Sure I treat myself every once in a while, but a serving of pancakes has over 600 mg of sodium.

That means I can't eat anything in IHOP either.

No, seriously..look at their caloric content and nutritional breakdown..no one should ever eat there.

I cannot have sausage or bacon. 

I can't have hot dogs. Living in NYC, this is a cruel, cruel joke. I do so love dirty water dogs.

I use a sodium free ketchup. It tastes like sadness.

I cannot have hot sauce.

I miss that mother fucker most of all.

I cannot have bread crumbs or too much bread.

A slice of bread has over 250 mg, add another slice and put some cured meats inside and it's a fuck ton of head aches for me.

I cannot have ham, salami, pepperoni or cold cuts in general.

I cannot have TV dinners. That means, no pizza rolls, no hot pockets, no microwave burritos. That makes watching tv late at night when I am depressed my social life is garbage almost impossible to do.

I cannot have salad dressing. One Tablespoon of ranch dressing has 330 mg of sodium. I now use plain red wine/balsamic vinegar and oil. 

I fucking hate even typing that. Lettuce is sad enough by itself, you add a slimy coat of blah to it and it's nothing but wet limp misery on a plate.

I can't have soda. There are sodium free products but HOLY SHIT DO THEY TASTE LIKE OLD LADIES IN A CAN.

I have learned to make little sacrifices and switch certain things for less salty, tastier items.

I buy sodium free bread crumbs. I look at labels. ON EVERYTHING.

I get the sauce on the side. 

I eat things because I CAN, not because I want to.

I count milligrams with a calculator.

I drink water by the boat load.

I do anything and everything I can to keep my arteries healthy and happy. Even if it means I have to go without.

This has changed my life. Not always for the better. And it is difficult to have to deal with when you have kids who want and love to eat meals that are unhealthy for you. It is hard  to live with but once you start doing it, it becomes second nature and it transforms itself from a diet into a lifestyle.

This has been the best and the worst thing that has ever happened to me.

I am grateful that I have options and choices and that I can add years to my life by simply making better decisions however OMG I WOULD SELL ALL MY KIDS INTO SLAVERY JUST SO THAT I COULD EAT A BIG MAC WITH CHEESE AGAIN.

What I mean is...If I can do this...so can anyone.