10-days to a lifetime

My husband, just back from Unleashing the Power Within, was armed with terrific life-altering information, one being about nutrition, covered on one of the final days.  A new way of looking at health is not to measure it by how many pounds is on your scale, but by how much energy you have.  Given this way of measure, I had been heading for trouble for years.  Even though I sweated it out at the gym, I was constantly fighting fatigue and struggling (and failing to conquer) The Cravings and you know of what I speak and I think you do.  I thought it was due to my rigorous and sometimes tortuous workouts coupled with my rehearsal and work schedules.  But in actuality, my overwhelming desire to lay down on a commuter train seat during my commutes, may have been caused by a diet creating more acidity in the body.  Highly acidic foods include all of my personal favorites, (see Naked Chocolate).  So, to balance this out, I needed more alkaline foods (eat your vegetables!).  For example, on your plate, you don’t put down a fish, a starch and a veggie, but a fish and veggies only.  We also started drinking a lemon wedge in our water.  I committed myself to trying these adjustments for 10 days to see how I would feel.  I eliminated my sugars and my afternoon cup (two) of coffee, a habit that had recently awarded me the Starbucks Gold Card, ironically arriving in the mail on day 6.  Within 48 hours, Energy, a long-lost friend that I hadn’t seen in years, came back to claim me.  When I went 72 hours without being ravished by cravings, I knew that we were on to something.  I felt like I did 20 years ago.  I would come home from rehearsal at nearly midnight with energy to spare.  It is weird, it is amazing, and it is easy, which is….amazing.  Now, don’t get me wrong, we will go out to eat, we will have coffee after dinner and dessert, but on occasion when we want to make it count.  I may head around the corner to grab a cupcake and coffee when I’m feeling frisky.  However, I have this weird feeling that when the cake and coffee is put in front of me again, I may wince and push it away.  I’m too busy for fatigue and food-pining.  I need my energy.  Lastly, and I meant to put it lastly, I dropped six unexpected pounds.  This is the start of something big.

Singer’s “Lent” – the Sequel

Well - with The Light in the Piazza staging rehearsals starting, and knowing (big time) how demanding this role is going to be in all things physical, I’ve decided once again to enforce Singers’ ‘Lent.  If you’ve been here through Carousel, you have witnessed my singers “lent” lament.  I discovered in the last go-around that I didn’t discover much AT ALL if the cutting of the caffeine helped me vocally but noticed a vast improvement in my quality of sleep (which probably DID help improve vocal stamina) and is contributing to my decision to do it all again.  This is not going to be easy, especially since I’ve discovered the French Press and have been drinking fully leaded coffee (with extra lead) for weeks now.

“Lent” will be enforced in a week and will NOT happen cold turkey like last time, which made me want to rip my eyeballs out (I like learning the hard way).  This time, there will be a weaning process.

Stay tuned (if you dare!)

Why caffeine withdrawal is not a sacrifice

I didn’t realize how much caffeine I was consuming until A) I started getting severe withdrawal symptoms which I wasn’t aware I would have until B) I went to google and read how high my consumption was and the host of symptoms I would enjoy for the next 4 or 5 days. Coffee isn’t bad for you. It’s full of antioxidants and (in moderation) helps brain function. The caffeine, however dehydrates. And one can’t have that when one is singing one of the leads. So, while I suffer for the next week from what feels exactly like a hangover, I’ll remember that it isn’t a sacrifice. A sacrifice is giving up something of greater value for something of lesser value. Being physically uncomfortable is worth it to have hydrated vocal folds and strong performances in March. A sacrifice would, of course, be the opposite practice of deciding to choose the caffeine at the expense of the voice.

Singer’s “Lent” Kick-off

So, these last few weeks, I have been researching vocal issues that a lot of singers struggle with such as GERD or acid reflux,etc. I have really been fighting my own issues with thick cords, wanting to clear my throat a lot, nasal drip, dry hack, you name it. I first started my quest by introducing my nose with the nedi-pot system, which I love and has been a great start but hasn’t helped all of my issues. As I continued to research, I regretably kept seeing words such as “coffee” and “sugar” and other words that were a few of my favorite things. I quickly realized that the Starbucks I was ordering JUST before each rehearsal might be a culprit (am I stupid?). Coffee the way I take it delivers a triple punch with caffeine and its moisture robbing quality to milk and sugar which layers my chords in phlegm and hits my stomach with acid. So, naturally (deep breath), eliminating my morning, afternoon, and pre-rehearsal coffee would be a great start, damn it. Next comes chocolate, also acidic and phlegm producing so that’s going too. Oh, and booze. No wine until the closing night cast party! So, tomorrow is the first day. I will track my progress here AND on Facebook to help with motivation and accountability. I hope these changes will eliminate some of these problems I’m having. Three weeks until opening night. Wish me luck!