All I want is to be able to sleep, wake up and have something sweet. But, noooooo…
Have you noticed lately that nothing that’s fun or helpful in your life isn’t on someone’s hit list?
I have chronic insomnia; I often cannot get to sleep and stay that way without some kind of assistance. Melatonin doesn’t help, all of the routines such as no blue light for an hour before bedtime, no food for three hours, etc. don’t work. Believe me, I’ve tried them all. What does work is Ambien. It puts me to sleep (I’m an oddity: It takes about an hour and a half before it kicks in) and lets me go back to sleep after the two or three times I have to get up to pee through the night. I wake up refreshed and ready to go the next day. As far as I’m concerned, this is a Wonder Drug.
But wait: FDA issues warning about risks of Ambien, other sleeping aids
In a nutshell, some people apparently commit egregious acts, such as walking about the house and yard or driving to Taco Bell while under the influence. They note that these incidents are extremely rare, but they feel the need to get their panties in a twist about them, anyway. I’ll take the risk to avoid those days when I’m in a haze all day from lack of sleep, which is more likely to cause me to scream at the cats and trip over the carpet.
In the morning, I like my coffee. Not only does it aid my transition from slumber to sass, but a warm cup in my hand is a comfort. I drink about four 16 oz mugs and that gets me going, not only from the caffeine (another Wonder Drug!), but also the balmy feeling of warmth spreading through my soul.
But, oh hell: There’s a chemical in coffee that may cause cancer
The chemical to which they are referring is acrylamide, which is a byproduct of of the roasting of the beans, and is considered “probably carcinogenic” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, if you read the article, it becomes apparent that this is some typical alarmist bullshit, being trumpeted by killjoys who want you to go through your mornings unhappily half-awake and they can just sit on it.
I have a sweet tooth that hangs down the back of my throat. I know I have to watch it, but I do like the occasional Coke or piece of cake and I like my aforementioned coffee sweetened. I sometimes use Sucralose, sometimes sugar. I also like a glass of orange juice in the morning and maybe some of my home-made pink lemonade with dinner. But Science doesn’t want you to enjoy life, hence these:
Artificial sweeteners: Where do we stand?
‘Don’t drink fruit juice’, consumers told
The sweet danger of sugar
By the sweet teats of Tuchulcha! Even my morning Minute Maid medium pulp is poisoning me? Who knew?
But here’s the thing: Sure, overindulgence will probably cause you some issues. But tip-toeing through the minefields of life might cause you more misery than it’s worth. Get some exercise every day. Stay active: Do some gardening, paint that wall, build those shelves, fix that leaky whatever is leaking. Take a hike through those woods, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do have some fun that makes you sweat and gets your blood rushing.
You can moderate your diet without worrying about every calorie. (I had a guilt-free Wendy’s Bacon Cheeseburger, fries and a small chocolate Frosty yesterday and I don’t regret it, as sometimes you just have to indulge yourself.) You don’t have to count calories, just use some common sense; if you’re constantly stuffing yourself with junk food…well, you should know better. Avoid the trendy diets, they do not work for most people.
Enjoy life. It’s the only one you get.