Attention All Smokers

On arrival to Ajijic, Lake Chapala there were no such restrictions in place and one could smoke freely anywhere as it were. Of course, you might run into the odd rabid anti-smoker but that was to be expected.

Now it would seem that last week-end federal officials closed several restaurants and bars in Guadalajara for not adhering to the General Law for Tobacco Control.

Many of these establishments in Jalisco still allow their patrons to smoke ever though the law states they must have separate smoking areas.

Although the details are still sketchy, a team from the Federal Sanitation Protection Commission ( Cofepris) is thought to have visited approximately 40 restaurants in the city.

To reopen, owners of the closed restaurants need to make their establishments 80% smoke-free with outdoor or enclosed smoking areas only and put up the appropriate signs or outlaw smoking altogether.

On the other side of the argument the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Food Industry (Canirac) is furious about the raids and suggests that closure over smoking are hurting an industry already badly affected last year by the H1N1 crises. They went on to say that they are victims of a very severe law that citizens still don’t fully understand.

Actually, the federal anti-tobacco law is quite clear:

- Public areas must be 100% free of smoke. (These include restaurants, bars, schools and public buildings.)

- Owners of bars and restaurants can construct outside areas for smokers, but they must also be isolated.

- Owners can be fined between around 5,500 and 550,000 pesos.

- Other punishments include a warning, temporary or permanent closure or up to 36 hours in jail.

Perhaps the problem with the law is nobody really knows who is responsible for enforcing it.

Jalisco Health Minister, Afonso Petersen, explained that until a Jalisco state commission for the protection of sanitation is set up, it will be the responsibility of the federal government to enforce the no-smoking law.

It would appear to me that this might be a swell time to consider quitting or stopping (no one likes a quitter) smoking.

It is becoming very difficult to smoke comfortably anywhere other than your own home (and even that can be difficult depending on your non-smoking family members) and no one wishes to put our restaurants or bars in jeopardy.

There are many ways to stop smoking but the latest and most successful method for some seems to be Chantix (or Champix here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala). This process allows you to gradually stop and even pick the day you wish to stop smoking.

So if someone in a bar or restaurant asks you to please not smoke or to go outside to do so please listen to them and put out your cigarette or move to the designated area.

We all want a healthy life here in our paradise of Ajijic, Lake Chapala and not smoking is a very positive step towards that healthy life.

Mexican Medicine

To being with we were able to get an appointment in 15 minutes – the same day!

Next, on arrival the patient was weighed and vital signs duly noted and within minutes we were in the doctor’s office and the consultation had begun. As this was a new patient he asked tons of questions compiling a very comprehensive dossier going back almost to birth. How many doctors have asked you if you have had dengue fever now or when you were three?

After a brief but thorough examination some tests were ordered. These immediately took place at the clinic and at the lab next door. Results will be ready on Tuesday and a follow up consultation will take place free of charge to ascertain the problem and subsequent course of treatment.

All of this was painless, pleasant and extremely efficient.

Now had we been in Canada a doctor’s appointment could have taken weeks to set up.
Any necessary tests would have scheduled for sometime in the distant future. The amount of time taken for the consultation would be the barest minimum and any diagnosing and treating of the problem may or may not occur in the same calendar year.

Also any questions are welcomed and dealt with most satisfactory as doctors in this country or certainly, Dr. Garcia, seem to grasp that is it your body that we are talking about and, therefore, any questions by the patient are not intrusive.

The cost of this total procedure was approx. $100.00 US including all tests, lab work and follow up consultation.

As the American government try to hammer out a new health plan that will better serve its population I feel very lucky that we are so well looked after here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala and at such a reasonable price.

Our health is our most important asset and it is very refreshing to deal with medical personel who share that view.

I wish you all a very, Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

I was at an ideal weight when I first came to Mexico 15 years ago but soon put on 40 pounds. That’s right I said 40 pounds.

I was golfing and playing tennis and finally got it off using the, then very popular, Cabbage Soup Diet.

Over the years it slowly came back even though I was walking five times a week. I have tried all the diets from Fit for Life to Atkins and, although, they did work in the short term these diets were hard to maintain over time.

The last five years or so I have been very unhappy with my weight but seemed unable to find the motivation to do anything long lasting about it.

When we move to Mexico from the frozen north, in particular, it is like living in endless summer and some of us let ourselves go as if we were on permanent vacation. By the time we realize this wonderful weather and relaxed culture we now live in is a fact of life we have gained more weight that we would like.

I am very disciplined about going to my doctor (Dr. Carlos Garcia at Maskaras Clinic) regularly and he always suggested I should love some weight as I now suffered from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and all the other wonderful symptoms that come with carrying too much weight. Still nothing was working for me.

At my last complete check up mid October all my tests were fine except that he told me that I was pre-diabetic. The thought of getting diabetes was devastating to me and for me this was all I needed to do something positive for myself and my health.

I immediately went online to find out what I could do so that I would not get diabetes and the recurring theme was to lose 15-20% of your body weight.

I am a great lover of desserts, chocolate and sugar in any form as many of us are. The thought of a sugar-free and salt free diet was not particularly enticing but I made the decision if this is what I needed to do to avoid diabetes so be it.

I have stopped eating desserts altogether and if I cannot resist the temptation of some delightful sugary concoction I will have one bite as opposed to two pieces with whipped cream, of course. I have stopped cooking with salt and use other spices instead such at Spike. There are other salt-free combinations of spices available too.

I do not miss sugar as much as I thought I would and still have such treats as sugar-free cookies, sugar-free chocolate pudding etc. There are many sugar-free options available if you look for them.

I have lot 25 pounds so far and my goal is another five so I have a buffer as we have entered the holiday season of overeating and partaking of the odd cordial.

I have changed from white wine to red wine as it is lower in sugar and contains lots of lovely polyphenols which are an excellent anti-oxidant source. Anti-oxidants are vitamins that stabilize free radicals in our body and we now know free radicals cause all disease.

When I was much younger and wanted to shed a few pounds my mantra was “no bread, no potatoes and no goodies”. This always worked for me and so it does today.

Another change I have made is from white bread, bagels, pasta, tortillas to multi-grain products and I consume them a lot less frequently. I may have a multi-grain bagel once a week instead of once a day.

I have always had a love affair with all carbs but now I will have spoonful of mashed potatoes instead of two ladlesful.

As we get older, as many of us are in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, the best defense is prevention and, although I do not wish any of you to hear the words from your doctor “pre-diabetic” I want you to find whatever it is to motivate you to a healthier, happier and longer life.

It is a question of a simple change of focus from “what will I have for breakfast?” to how much weight have I lost today when I step on the scale.

The compliments you will receive far outweighs (no pun intended) any sense of depriving yourself of the foods you love and soon you will not even miss sugar.

Health Care Reform Debate

Coming from Canada we enjoy wonderful health care and even though I know things have changed a little in 15 years getting timely and appropriate care is still the norm.
When my mother was sick we had 2 – 8 hour shifts of caring homecare workers coming to the house to help us care for her at home. All visits from doctors and nurses were paid for along with all equipment, supplies and drugs. We also had emotional support from our hospital (Sunnybrook in Toronto) that, in fact, put us in touch with all the services available at no cost to us.

My sister also had wonderful care at Sunnybrook for her lung and subsequent brain cancer and I am happy to report is still alive 20 years later. I, too had very positive experiences with Sunnybrook and have an association with them to this day.

We hear comments that the US is heading towards Canadian Health Care and for the life of me I do not understand why this would be a problem.

When I had an issue here in Ajijic,Lake Chapala I contacted Sunnybrook and they not only found the best doctor in his field for my special needs they also faxed him all my records from Toronto at no charge.

I am also very happy with the health care here in Ajiic, Lake Chapala. We use Clinica Maskaras on the carretera between Ajijic and Chapala. In the early days whenever I received a diagnosis from Dr. Carlos Garciam who heads up Maskaras, I would run it by my Sunnybrook team and they were always in agreement with Dr. Garcia’s findings. I have also used Dr. Gonzalez, the bone man, Dr. Don Olivera, the dentist and Dr. Martha Ballesteros, the dermatologist. I have been happy with all of these doctors and now trust them completely.

Another thing I like about health care here is when you do have a test here or in Guadalajara they give you the results as soon as possible verbally and in writing. I find it very refreshing that doctors and technicians here seem to grasp that it is your body and, therefore, are entitled to know the results of any test performed on you.

I find the CARE laboratorio connected with Clinica Maskaras very professional and the technicians are very kind. This is the same with Victor who does all the x-rays and other tests such as mammograms at Clinica Maskaras.

There is a plan whereby you pay approx. $2,500.00 pesos per year for unlimited visits with Dr. Carlos Garcia and this plan also offers discounts on any lab work and x-rays.

Dr. Garcia will also make house calls which is something from the distant past in Canada.

When a friend of ours had to have surgery in Guadalajara and had a 2 day hospital visit the total cost including the surgeon, support staff, hospital and all drugs was $5,000.00 US. The hospital was very clean and professional and they treat their patients with kindness and concern. This too seems to be a lost art up north.

There is also a Mexican health care option called IMSS and for more information on this service you can check it out at Lake Chapala Society on Independencia.

The only thing I can think of that would make me leave Mexico and return to Canada is ill health but for the time being I am very happy with the health care here.

Swine Flu Hearing in Jalisco, Mexico

If there is a positive to this outbreak it is the cost of flying to Mexico on many airlines has been reduced by up to 50%.

For those of you considering buying property in Ajijic, Lake Chapala or looking into retiring here this would be a very good time to come and see if this is the place for you.

Although we have been affected by the global economic crisis we are still better off than most and very good deals are available to the discerning buyer.

Many people choose to “shop: online for real estate as well as many other things but it is important to come in person to get the true flavor and experience first hand the multiple benefits of living in Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

Our climate is the best in the world and the Mexican people are warm and welcoming. The area of Ajijic, Lake Chapala is incredibly beautiful as we are nestled between Lake Chapala and the Sierra Madre Mountains. We are only 40 minutes or less from the large city of Guadalajara and 18 minutes from an international airport,

The way of life is slower here with a large community spirit that believes in giving back and there is a return to kinder, gentler times.

When we first came here 15 years ago there was not much opportunity here for younger people but that too has changed. Many people have brought their families here to go to school, learn a new language and find their place among those making a very decent living upon graduation. If they wish to go to colleges or universities up north their education here allows them to do that too. Both our children were schooled in Ajijic and both attended universities in Canada and in the case of our son the US too.

Now you are able to check out Ajijic, Lake Chapala for a very reasonable airfare so why not come on down and experience for yourself our little slice of paradise?

The rainy season (June 15-October 15) is almost upon us and there is no better time to visit Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

Monte Coxala in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

For many years Monte Coxala was left untouched, uncompleted. It wasn’t until about 6 years ago that the grounds were finished and turned into a spa. Monte Coxala is now fulfilling its purpose as a spa, where you have several different kinds of massages to choose from, various outdoor, thermal baths or Jacuzzi’s, A gigantic two storey palapa restaurant called Chac-Lan, and is often reserved for weddings, social gatherings, baptisms, and anniversaries. Many people choose to spend there special moments here because of the amazing views of Lake Chapala, the mountains, and the beautiful landscaping of the grounds. It is truly a sight to see.

Have you ever thought you might like to try something new and exciting! Along with the spa, Monte Coxala is now offering paragliding tours, rock climbing, repelling, and kayaking. It wasn’t until I moved to Mexico 8 years ago that I realized, “I love extreme sports!” Rock Climbing was one of the first activities I tried, and it’s unbelievable how liberating it felt to be 30 feet off the ground with no sounds but the birds and your own thoughts. All of the sudden, you forget that you’re hanging off the side of a mountain, and focus only on your ultimate goal…Reaching the top! Now, I realize that rock climbing may not be for everyone, but there are so many activities around Lake Chapala, for all ages, and Monte Coxala is a great place to get your feet wet.

Also don’t miss out on the Vita Bella a charming new restaurant directly beside the Monte Coxala Spa in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico.

Lifepak in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico

Pharmanex a division of this company distributes Lifepak which is the #1 selling vitamin supplement in the world. You can go to Supplement Watch, which is an independent web site, and it will show that Lifepak is # 1 while Usana, for example, is #8.

There is a reason why Lifepak is #1. In addition to the finest anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals our product includes comprehensive phytonutrients such as: Green Tea Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grape Seed Extract, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Quercetin, Soy Isoflavones, Lycopene, Luetin and Tocotrienls.

Many informed doctors are now supporting preventative measures and anti-oxidant vitamins are the best way to stabilize free-radicals in our body which we now know cause all disease.

Many people in Ajijic, Lake Chapala are now enjoying the benefits of Lifepak. The first of which is increased energy. This product can be drop shipped to your house once a month by Esta Feta and paid for on your credit card.

People will tell you that all you need is fresh fruits and vegetable and ,of course, this is true. But you would have to eat a mountain of fruits and vegetables daily to get the amounts of anti-oxidants one needs to stabilize the free-radicals.. Also so much selenium has been mined out of the soil that you can have an orange with absolutely no Vitamin C in it.

The prestigious AMA Journal now agrees that supplementation is necessary to optimal health along with diet and exercise.

If you are interested to adding Lifepak to your daily health regimen contact this web site and someone will get back to you with sales and service information for Ajijic, Lake Chapala.

IMSS vs Private Health Care

A young woman went to a doctor in Chapala and had a sonogram which showed a large cyst on her ovary.

As she had IMSS she contacted them that day, a Wednesday, and was told to go to the Chapala IMSS office to get the proper paperwork at 6:00 am Thursday morning. She did but it took another day to get everything into place and she was to meet the IMSS person on the following Monday. When she met the person on that following Monday she was told they would call her with an appointment asap for Clinic 89 in Guadalajara. The doctor in Chapala had told her that there was a risk of rupture or torsion so speed was of the essence as the ability for her to have children in the future could be at stake which she had told IMSS from the outset.

In the meantime, following the appointment with IMSS on Monday, she sought a second opinion from a recommended private doctor in Guadalajara as she could find nothing about Clinic 89 on the internet which did not give her confidence. She saw the private doctor later that Monday and was given her cell phone number to call day or night. Further tests were done at a wonderful lab in Guadalajara in the evening as this doctor seemed to grasp the urgency of the situation and called the lab to have the tests done at once as the doctor wanted to operate as early as the week-end pending results.

About 11:00 p.m. that same night she was in agony. Fortunately, she had the cell phone number of the private doctor in Guadalajara and was instructed to meet her for emergency surgery at Santa Maria Chapalita Hospital.

At midnight she underwent a 2 hour emergency surgery to remove the ruptured cyst and everything went well.

The hospital were she spent 2 days took wonderful care of her and staff were very kind and considerate. Family members were welcome to stay with her in her room and every consideration was taken for her care and comfort. From the time she arrived at the emergency room to the time she was wheeled and assisted into her car she was treated with caring and respect.

The private doctor kept her very well informed every step of the way and she left the hospital with notes for her medications and care and a follow up appointment.

She is now recovering comfortably at home.

The entire procedure and hospital stay cost under $5,000.00US.

She doesn’t know what would have happened with IMSS because by the time it took her to have all the necessary paperwork in place it would have been too late for a successful surgery.

During the time she was waiting for IMSS to respond to her situation she had communicated with her aunt in the US who is in the medical profession and had sent her an email from a doctor friend of hers giving her all the information on ovarian cysts and all possible treatments and complications. The private doctor in Guadalajara responded perfectly and in total agreement with all the information she had received from her aunt.

So for those of you that think the only solution would be to get to the US or Canada for a medical emergency we now know excellent doctors and hospitals are available right here minutes away from our beautiful village in the sun.

The Tlatelolco Massacre

The massacre began at sunset when police and military forces—equipped with armored cars and tanks—surrounded the square and began firing live rounds into the crowd, hitting not only the protestors, but also other people who were present for reasons unrelated to the demonstration. Demonstrators and passersby alike, including children, were hit by bullets and mounds of bodies soon lay on the ground. The killing continued throughout the night, with soldiers operating on a house-to-house basis in the apartment buildings adjacent to the square. Witnesses to the event claim that the bodies were later removed in garbage trucks.

The official government explanation of the incident was that armed provocateurs among the demonstrators, stationed in buildings overlooking the crowd, had begun the firefight. Suddenly finding themselves sniper targets, the security forces had simply returned the shooting in self-defense.

We here at LivingLakeChapala.com sympathize with those who lost their lives that day and their families.

Information provided by Wikipedia

Medical Facilities in Lake Chapala, Ajijic, Mexico

Many people worry about leaving home and moving to another country because of medical considerations. Let me assure you that here in Ajijic/Lake Chapala we have world class medical care available.

The Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic offers many free services such as blood pressure testing, diabetes testing, eye exams, hearing testing, skin cancer testing, osteoporosis testing etc.  They also invite insurance companies to come and present to lakeside residents the benefits of their specific coverage.

Clinica Maskaras on the carretera between Ajijic and Chapala, headed by Dr. Carlos Garcia, has doctors from Guadalajara covering all disciplines coming regularly to lakeside. Clinica Maskaras offers unlimited visits and discounts on lab and radiology for a very reasonable flat fee of approx. $250.00US. There is also an excellent dentist, Dr. Don Olivera, on site. Of course, English is spoken.

Guadalajara has people coming from all over the world to their medical universities and there are many excellent hospitals.  San Javier and Del Carmen are two of the best. Foreign insurance is accepted and there are wonderful specialists covering everything from cardiology and oncology to lasik eye surgery and all forms of plastic surgery for a fraction of the costs up north. The facilities and care are superb.

We also have a national insurance coverage called IMSS which is very affordable and readily available.

So if medical care is one of your concerns you can check this off your clipboard.  You will be very well looked after if you take ill. Should you wish to go home for any further treatment required medivac insurance is also available.

If your older relaltives wish to join you here in paradise there are many assisted living facilities to choose from.  The Mexicans are a very caring people who will take excellent care of you and your loved ones.