Just worked out with the heaviest weights in 15-20 yrs, twice this week, normal soreness, no pain

Petza- thats a great idea,- "air insurance".

Question- Can you make "health bars" with minimal sugar holding it together........or do you press them?

I noticed some of the more healthy "heath bars" that are gluten and GMO free have natural sugar, but sometimes even more grams of sugar than the gluten and chemical preservative loaded bars. I dont want a lot of sugar.

I suppose its 100-125 miles from a hospital owned chopper in the furthest parts of the BWCA, 200 miles for a paved runway and the closest grass strip airport is now closed. The outer perimeters only have a couple small towns. In the event of emergency, the forest service will help as they are the closest, I cant imagine what that helicopter or float plane ride costs to get out of there. Mostly 40% connected water and dirt forest roads though the forest.

Dates are what hold my bars together. This is my easy recipe, but I rarely follow recipes... I add protein powder to this recipe and ground flax meal. I love maple syrup. Hubby doesn't, so I rotate maple syrup and local honey. I have even made it half and half. Great for a ride but gooey yummy. Also I never add the additional options. We aren't really into sweets in our house. I don't have a food processor - I just chop like heck.

But this is so easy with only 5 ingredients.


Ingredients

1 heaping cup packed (~220 g) dates, pitted (deglet nour or medjool)*
1/4 cup (84 g) maple syrup, agave nectar, or honey if not vegan
1/4 cup (64 g) creamy salted natural peanut butter or almond butter
1 cup (112 g) roasted unsalted almonds*, loosely chopped
1 1/2 cups (135 g) rolled oats (gluten free for GF eaters)
optional additions: chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, vanilla, etc.

Instructions

Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should form a "dough" like consistency. (Mine rolled into a ball.)
Optional step: Toast your oats (and almonds if raw) in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven for 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Otherwise, leave them raw - I prefer the toasted flavor.
Place oats, almonds and dates in a large mixing bowl - set aside.
Warm honey and peanut butter in a small saucepan over low heat. (I use the microwave) Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout.
Once thoroughly mixed, transfer to an 8x8-inch baking dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so they lift out easily. (A loaf pan might work, but will yield thicker bars.)
Press down firmly until uniformly flattened - I use something flat, like a drinking glass, to press down and really pack the bars, which helps them hold together better.
Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let firm up in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes.
Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars (or 9 squares). Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. I kept mine in the freezer to keep them extra fresh, but it isn't necessary.

Notes
*Although not ideal, if your dates don't feel sticky and moist, you can soak them in water for 10 minutes then drain before processing. This will help them blend better and hold the bars together better. But ideally, you can find fresh, sticky moist dates.

Now how I made my cookies or round bars, was I used a 1/4 cup measure to measure each scoop, and piled the mixture on parchment paper. Then with the flat side of the 1/4 c. measuring cup I flattened out the cookie bar. Just press hard and squish them flat. I cooked them but just until they were a little brown, not crispy.

Your area sounds lovely!!! I would love connected water.

astroman said...
I will not eat Monsanto poisoned field corn anymore, thats the same as drinking Roundup Herbicide. I'll decide on the 4th of July if I should try organic corn on the cob or not- but you cant label that, so how do you know- YOU DONT! How does it not get mixed up in the store? Never seen organic corn on the cob at road side farmers hut/pickup sale, even then, how do you know?

Astro, all, good thread. You're way ahead of me on the healing curve, I can only dream of getting back to outdoor adventures at this point.

As for gmo corn, we've given that up over the past couple of years. Once in a while during summer, we get fresh organic corn on the cob from whole foods or a local grocery. Maybe once a month, I'll have restaurant tacos which I'm certain they use gmo corn. I used to eat more tortillas and chips before I got sick.

I've used a bit of Roundup for weed control around the house occasionally. My ND scolded me and we tested my urine for glyphosate; the test did not detect any in the sample fwiw. I wasn't very cautious when I used it. I'm still gonna limit my gmo corn to my monthly al pastor tacos and forego the chips. I'm using vinegar and salt for weed control now in the gravel areas and cement cracks to be on the safe side.

Girlie- good question on what is normal anti-TPO levels

As with other body/system antibodies (there are many as you know) - thay ALL seem to have a limit at which, somehow(?), it was decided that health issues will arise after that limit.

So apparently after the limit for ant-TPO ( >9 IU/ml ) is where the thyroid gland start to "destruct" from antibodies attacking it. Apparently, In people with <9, physical change is not seen on ultra sound.

Yes my thyroid looked funny on all previous U/S imaging compared to what a normal one looks like. I get thyroid U/S every two years, so next year I will find out if it looks better. Its $900!!. I still have elevated TgAb, so I'm not in the free and clear..but the ant-TPO is the worse of the two from what I understand.

The Million $ question: So will a disfigured thyroid previously attacked by antibodies heal, change to normal, after the army was beaten down? Some say yes, I have yet to see 100% documented evidence that this happens. Some on thyroid forums said it did in them, when I or others inquired, they had no proof or did not answer. People can self-assume or say things when thinking very positive but still lacking proof.

Note: If you internally bruise a muscle it usually should heal...........but, you might have adhesions in it. Proof that not all body parts heal correctly on their own all the time.

www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/81765

www.eje-online.org/content/148/3/301.full.pdf

To sum it up, YES some people with normal thyroid hormone production DO have lower anti-TPO antibodies detected, BUT its under 9.

Girlie- high TPO: Hashimoto doesn't cause high TPO, its the other way around. TPO can elevate from infections and just things in the body that dont belong there as viewed by your immune system. Then when they get to a certain point ( >9), that is where it usually alters thyroid hormone production FROM the destruction occurring.

They call it "Hashimoto" once hormone level is lower AND one of the two antibodies is elevated.
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Cool info about bikes in your family blood. Similar here back to the 1950's. I wish they made stuff in North America again. I've worked in the bike industry too along with the M/C industry, so many want to though that it didnt pay me much- like most hobby, specialty interest jobs. Your brother-Real downhill mnt bike racing is nuts! Cool he did that. Not as much safty gear for the crash potential though! I walked away from 40-50 mph dirt bike (motor) crashes sometimes with less injuries than mtn bike crashes, just due to the difference in safety gear. I watch the downhill stuff on U-tube a lot, bouncing / holding onto my chair LOL.

My biggest issue with being sick all these years is how limited I got to pursue all my many outdoor hobby type sports. Life is short enough. I have at least, tried different things that i didnt have the time, $, or health to "dive" into.

If I was 100% healthy, younger and one the lottery,.I'd have a GREAT TIME living how I want to, I'd never be bored. Many of these things are way harder with age, I may be healed 90% (just a guess), but my body is older. Age is a reason for me not to run again, I want to preserve whats left LOL.

Well, yes , in the US its normal to get an ultra sound of thyroid if you have any one of the three elevated antibodies:
tpo, tg, and tsi.

TSI anti-bodies are not found in hashimoto, only Graves (hyper) and not to be confused with the TSH pituitary signal measurement.

Astro -
I didn't read all the comments but I'm thrilled at your progress! Inspirational.

-p

Things are really moving right along for you. I agree that you probably shouldn't run right now. Maybe too much stress on the body? Thrilled for you.

Patty

Yes, your right, I almost forgot, running can = stress. Any endurance type of fitness can make it harder for adrenals to heal, and supposudly, its also found to lower immune strength, studdies back this up. Last part is opposite to what we would think.

Physical stress is also very hard on the adrenals.

Trying not to come off as bragging about these healing "leaps", but when healing happens, its like you just want to put it out there, and this is the only place that could "get it" LOL.

We want to hear these accomplishments, Astro!

You've been at this for awhile...and it's awesome that you keep getting better and better!