ADVICE & PUZZLES
Daily Chronicle / Daily-Chronicle.com
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 • Page B5
Program gives compulsive eaters new outlook Dear Abby: I’d like to tell your readers about a wonderful program I discovered about a year ago. It’s called Overeaters Anonymous (OA). The program is similar to AA, but it’s for people with an eating problem. For years, I struggled to lose weight. I tried dozens of diets, pills and saw several doctors. I would lose some weight, but I could never stick with a program, so I gained back more than I lost. I felt like a loser. I was a food junkie. I ate when I was happy, sad, depressed, bored or lonely. I would buy candy at the checkout counter at the market and
DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips eat it on the way home. Then I’d hide the wrapper in the garage so my family wouldn’t know I ate it. I hid candy in the kitchen cabinets so no one would find it, then I’d sneak in and eat it later. I could never have only one serving size of chips or cookies. I would consume half a bag before I stopped. Since joining OA, I have lost more than 50 pounds and feel like a new person.
I have a new outlook on life and no longer have to rely on food. It’s good to be able to talk with people who have the same problems I do. It’s a daily struggle, but I have a sponsor and others to talk to when I’m tempted to return to my old life. Compulsive eating is a disease, Abby. And unless people have it, they don’t understand. I hope this letter will help someone who is also struggling. – Grateful O.A. Member in Illinois Dear Grateful: I’m glad you found OA. It’s a wonderful organization that has been around for many years. About 20 years ago, I was
fortunate to meet the woman who founded it – and she was a doll – and I know the program has helped many thousands of people. Often when a person has weight issues, it is less about what he or she is eating than it is what is eating the PERSON. Readers, OA has about 6,500 groups in more than 75 countries. There are no requirements for membership except a sincere desire to stop eating compulsively. Everyone is there to offer mutual support. I have attended some of the meetings, and there is no weighing and no embarrassment. There is only a fellowship of compassionate
people who share a common problem. There are OA chapters everywhere, but if you have trouble locating one, go to www.oa.org, or send a long, self-addressed stamped envelope to Overeaters Anonymous World Service, P.O. Box 44020, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4020. The email address is info(at)oa.org.
• Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Regular eye exams can catch diseases early Dear Dr. K: How often should I have my eyes examined? What will the doctor check for during the exam? Dear Reader: Routine examinations in people without known eye diseases, and who don’t have hereditary eye diseases in their families, usually are done by optometrists. They also can be done by ophthalmologists (doctors who specialize in eye diseases). You should have your eyes examined every two to four years between the ages of 40 and 64, and then every one to two years after that. But this is just a general recommendation, as no one size fits all. You may need more frequent eye exams depending on your personal or
ASK DR. K Anthony L. Komaroff family medical history. (On my website, I’ve put a table showing how often you should see an eye doctor.) The exam usually starts with vision tests. First, you’re asked to look at rows of letters and numbers that keep getting smaller until you can no longer see them clearly. If you do not have optimal vision (20/20), the doctor will test whether different lenses can sharpen your vision and make it 20/20. That’s the basis for fitting you with corrective lenses (normal glasses or
contact lenses). The doctor will also evaluate your peripheral, or side, vision. Your color vision and depth perception may also be evaluated. After testing how well you see, the doctor will begin to examine your eyes themselves. First comes an examination of your outer eye. The doctor will look for signs of any underlying problems, such as infections, sties, cysts, tumors or lid muscle weakness. Do your pupils react normally to light? Do your two eyes move together in a coordinated fashion? Then comes an examination of the inside of your eye as seen through your pupil. The more wide open the pupil
is, the easier it is to see inside the eye. For that reason, the doctor will apply eye drops to dilate your pupils. First, the doctor examines the lens, which sits just behind the pupil. Is it crystal clear or does it have areas that are cloudy or opaque – called cataracts? Then there’s the fluid inside the eye. Does it have foreign particles or floaters? Next comes the retina, a flat layer of cells in the back of the eye. The image formed as light enters your eye is focused on the retina. Does it have deposits or hemorrhages? Does it have abnormal fragile young blood vessels? Is the nerve that connects the retina to the brain normal?
Finally, eye pressure is measured to detect signs of glaucoma. This can be done with an “air puff” test. Alternatively, after your eye is numbed with anesthetic drops, the doctor will gently touch your cornea with an instrument to measure the eye’s internal pressure. A regular eye exam is simple and painless. It can protect your sight by improving your vision through prescription lenses and by catching eye diseases early.
• Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Visit www. AskDoctorK.com to send questions and get additional information.
Drama is an important part of your education Dr. Wallace: I have a good part in the upcoming play. I really like acting, and my teacher says I’m very good. My problem is that my mother keeps threatening to make me quit the play whenever I do the slightest thing wrong. For example, I forgot to stop at the convenience store to buy her some ice cream and she got mad and said, “I ought to pull you out of the play for being so stupid.” I’m a nervous wreck. I would just die if she stopped me from performing. What would I do if she made me quit the play on opening night? It would be a disaster for the entire cast and the school itself. Please tell me what to do. I do my very best to please my mother, but at
’TWEEN 12 & 20 Robert Wallace times, my best just isn’t good enough. – Nameless, Kansas City, Mo. Nameless: Tell your drama teacher what’s happening at home. Ask the teacher to call your mother, or better yet, invite her to school to let her know not only that you are a talented actor, but that everyone else in the production is depending on you. It’s imperative you be allowed to perform your part without threat of being pulled out over minor issues at home. Drama is an important part of your education, just as important as history, math
8ASTROGRAPH By BERNICE BEDE OSOL Newspaper Enterprise Association
TODAY – This is a great year for self-improvement. Your energy and intensity will surprise everyone. You will be able to summon the diligence and concentration required to manage any contractual dealings or legal issues. Taking the initiative will result in a new partnership. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) – You should use discretion when dealing with others today. Many people respect your opinions and will look to you for guidance and advice. Your empathy and compassion will help them find the answers they are looking for. ARIES (March 21-April 19) – Keep your opinions and ideas to yourself. It is not necessary to reveal your secrets to others. A conversation with an old friend may provide inspiration for a new project. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) – Information you have recently received may have had a negative effect on your life. Dwelling on the issue is not productive. Swallow your disappointment. Keeping busy will help to avoid emotional outbursts. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) – You may be tempted by an appealing investment offer. Do your research thoroughly before you commit to anything in writing. You have an innovative idea that can benefit your friends and family. CANCER (June 21-July 22) – Have a heart-to-heart discussion with someone who concerns you. Take care to avoid criticism, and offer helpful ideas that will bring you closer to an agreement. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) – Prepare to focus on business matters today. There is opportunity for advancement if you exceed your employer’s expectations. Being industrious and persistent will enable you to work toward fulfilling your career goals. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Be assertive, and direct your efforts into socializing and networking. Your personal and business relationships will improve if you make new acquaintances that could have a positive influence on your future. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) – Family and friends may not be totally honest with you. Find someone impartial to provide the answers to your questions. A self-improvement project will turn out better than you expected. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) – Your commitment and determination will provide you the necessary ingredients to get ahead. Fulfill your obligations in a conscientious manner in order to realize your expectations. A strong and steady focus is the key to success. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) – You should consider previous outcomes before taking action. If your tried-and- true methods have worked in the past, there’s no need to change your approach. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – Formulate a concrete plan for an important discussion. Have a clear idea of your own responsibilities, and consider the expectations of others. You can be outspoken without being argumentative. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) – Your compassion and understanding will help others accomplish worthwhile goals. Your good deeds will be reciprocated in an unusual manner. Favorable changes to your personal life will occur.
or any other subject. Your mother must be made to understand this. Teens: About 2 million young people have a condition called impaired fasting glucose, which is linked to obesity and lack of proper exercise. That puts them at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular problems, according to research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. This may account for the dramatic rise doctors are seeing in teens suffering from adult-onset diabetes. The researchers found that 1 in 14 teens in a nationally representative sample of young people of both sexes had the pre-diabetic condition, which is manifested by
8SUDOKU
the prevalence of abnormally high blood-sugar levels after several hours without eating. Among overweight teens, 1 in 6 had the pre-diabetic condition. Americans have diabetes, most of them adults with type 2 diabetes, which impairs the body’s ability to properly use the blood sugar-relating hormone, insulin. This form of the disease is strongly linked to being overweight and inactivity. Almost 200,000 Americans, age 19 and younger, have type 1 (juvenile-onset) diabetes, in which the body produces little or no insulin. But type 2 diabetes among those 19 and younger has increased. Dr. Francine Kaufman, head of the Diabetes Center at Children’s
BRIDGE Phillip Alder
Hospital in Los Angeles, stated that 25 percent of diabetic young people treated there have type 2 diabetes, compared with only 4 percent a decade ago. Teens, this is an alarming statistic. You are responsible for your bodies and your lives. Remember, obesity and inactivity trigger diabetes! This is a preventable condition. Don’t allow this to happen to you!
• Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web site at www.creators.com.
8CROSSWORD
Misconstruing the deal for west Stonewall Jackson, the Confederate general who died of pneumonia at only 39, said, “Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy if possible.” That certainly applies to bridge players, especially when the declarer. (It is usually dangerous for a defender to mislead his partner.) In this deal, South is in four hearts. Which card should declarer play at trick one after West leads the spade ace and East drops the four? South knows that East has just played a singleton (unless West made an unusual overcall in a four-card suit). But West does not know that. Suppose South plays his spade seven. Then West will know it is safe to cash his spade king, because East would not have dropped the four from 10-4-2. And the same applies if South follows suit with his 10. Instead, South must play his two. Then West will wonder if East started with 10-7-4. Yes, West might still get it right, thinking that East would have raised to two spades with three trumps and forgetting that the auction suggests East has a very weak hand. But West will be nervous about leading the spade king at trick two, lest South ruff it and later get a critical discard on dummy’s spade queen. As you can see, if West continues spades, the defenders take two spades, one spade ruff and the club king to defeat the contract. If West does anything else, the contract makes. If declarer is trying to disrupt the opponents’ signals, he should copy their methods. He should play low to try to discourage a continuation, or vice versa.