FLUCK! Congestive Heart Failure!

[PigsnieLite]

Pigsnortle diagnosed wid congestive heart failure! FLUCK FLUCK FLUCK! He just threw away a bag of truffles and all my Polish sausages! Whut does this mean? Besides Everyone going on a hideous turkey diet!

[Avril]

So sorry to hear this, Arch.

A diet less rich in fat helps, but reducing stress and increasing restful fun and gentle exercise is better.

Anything to do with the heart (physical and emotional) is also helped by, dare I say it, psychotherapy.

[sunfrog]

Holy crepes! Pigsnie had a heart attack??
Is he okay? I thought he was as strong as a horse and as fit as a fiddle. Eek!!

[PigsnieLite]

No, not a heart attack. But he had had difficulty breathing for a couple of weeks, he couldn't sleep, so he went to the doctor, and they drained his lungs of 4 pounds of fluid. YIKES! So now he has to monitor his weight everyday (he also has high blood pressure) and he can eat no more salty goodness. Waaahhhh! No more bacon! No more Eggs Benedictine! No more icky pate or whatever that thing is that look like bits of meatloaf. No more smokes, for ANY Reason! And its not like I can eat whatever I want in front of him. We'll all eat whut he eats although that doesn't bother my dad who never wuz that picky. Waaahhhh! Grilled chicken breast everyday! Whut the fluck!

[sunfrog]

How much does Pigsnie weigh?

[PigsnieLite]

Almost 170 pounds, I guess. He looks fit as a fiddle really. Oooof, now Im healthier than he is! He should haf done my special diet -- the Cheez Doodles on the Carpit Diet.

[Avril]

Quite often this kind of crisis means men change their lifestyle completely, and get healthier and happier. If they don't die, that is. It's a warning, I guess. And it's great that you might also change your diet and get healthier.

A client of mine got Meuniere's disease. It's incurable, but she changed her diet: no more sugar, salt, alcohol or fat. That's far more radical than a heart-fit diet but she did it. She now looks amazing and is happier than she's ever been. Where she was looking at not being able to drive or ride her bike, or even walk around without falling over, she's perfectly fine. Mind you, she didn't stop her weekly therapy.

Giving up all that stuff, especially cigarettes, will mean huge psychological and emotional strain, as things that were deflected by smoking or eating indulgent foods come to the surface. I hope Pigsnie finds a good therapist to help with all that.

[PigsnieLite]

How come I cant fine Meuniere's disease? I found something called Meniere but its an ear thing.

I don't think Pigsnit is in the mood right now for a therapist. He didn't see anything wrong wid his lifestyle. Can he still eat eggs? Ughhhh.

[Avril]

You're right. It's Ménière's. Nothing to do with the heart, but requiring radical lifestyle and diet change to manage, similar to heart disease.

Egg whites. Full of protein and no fat. I have breakfast omelettes with one egg yolk, water or soya milk and two egg whites, mushies and garlic, on a bed of fresh rocket. Yum.

Therapists are FOR when you're not in the right mood.

Funny. It's like saying I'm too sick to go to a doctor. I'll wait till I'm better

[sunfrog]

I thought you hated soya. Is soya different from soy?
Maybe Pigsnie will start a veg garden to relive stress and provide a veggie diet.

[PigsnieLite]

Knowing Pigsnort, he will probably move to Thailand and hire a chef who will cook all sorts of spicy stoof for him. Can one use spices instead of salt to flavor boring unfried foods?

PS. How on earth do you separate egg whites from yolks? Wont the omelet be thin & runny?

[Avril]

You don't watch Masterchef, do you.

Thin and runny or thick, souffle and bouffant, or like a crepe - it depends on the relative quantities and how much you beat them.

Here's how to separate egg whites from yolks:

There are lots of tasty spices that are good for the heart: Sage, rosemary, turmeric, chili, ginger, cinnamon, saffron and parsley.

Salt and fat are overrated.

www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/8_of_the_worlds_healthiest_spices

[PigsnieLite]

How do you make your omelet tasty if it doesn't haf salt or butter? If it weren't for Da, Pigsnort would haf tossed all the salt & butter in this house.

[sunfrog]

[Avril]

There are other interesting and pleasurable tastes, more subtle, which emerge when not drowned in salt and fat.

I don't use butter to cook with. I use coconut oil which doesn't turn to trans fats.

Perhaps Pigsnie will hire a cook who can start him exploring healthy cooking and eating. Giving up the fags will make things taste better, too. Within a few days he'll be able to discern different tastes.

Some restrictions are actually expansions into whole new areas of exploration.