What are you doing now for you?

[Deleted]

Before surgery almost all of my energy went into grad school and work. I did not make a lot of time for myself. I've since learned that I need to take care of ME first. 

-I bought two hour-long massages on groupon. Hoping to find a therapist I like and can see regularly
-Found a place near me that offers combo yoga/deep relaxation/meditation classes. Want to start next week and go 1-2x a week. It's only a block away and they have wonderful reviews. 
-changed up my diet from eating out 6-7 times a week to only once or twice max. And those times are still safe foods (grilled chk and rice)
-eating more whole foods -avacado, banana, cantaloupe, watermelon, sweet potato, skinned red potatoes
-cut out alcohol, caffeine, most processed foods, gluten, milk, non-homemade sweets
-starting remicade and imuran next month
-making more time for family and friends; being present. 

So many changes in just one month but I feel really good about everything. I am so ready to start this new life. Just waiting on my body to heal enough for yoga, the massage (can't lay on my belly), and medicine. 

What are you doing for your health?

[Deleted]

Mar 20, 2013 13:56:11 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

ETA: Actually, I'm going to call my insurance and find out about seeing a dietician. Just b/c you posted this

Yay! 

Also I found out my pretty basic Aetna insurance covers chiropractors (and this includes massage done by chiros). I can do 60 visits a year and copay is only $15. Might be worth looking into if you notice stress is tied to your disease (it is for me). 

[bcv513]

I cut out caffeine and pretty much all junk food. I drink a couple of cups of hot tea a day. I'm planning on getting a massage soon.

I've also started cutting myself some slack. I don't push myself anymore or call myself nasty names. This is how I am, and I'm grateful for every good day I have. That's new for me.

[anna7602]

yoga, yoga and more yoga. I find it really helps me deal with other stressors better and just generally makes me feel good.

I can't give up caffeine. I should make myself get more sleep, both for the health benefits of that and to not feel so dependent on coffee, but I have night owl tendencies.

[anna7602]

Mar 21, 2013 10:31:49 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Mar 21, 2013 7:07:36 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

yoga, yoga and more yoga. I find it really helps me deal with other stressors better and just generally makes me feel good.

I can't give up caffeine. I should make myself get more sleep, both for the health benefits of that and to not feel so dependent on coffee, but I have night owl tendencies.

I love yoga! Any good recommendations for at home DVDs? I really love flow/vinyasa, but with losing 20% of my pay soon I don't think I can afford classes. Unless I can find a kick ass Groupon or something

I try to get to classes because I find it easier to focus (less inclination to go pop some laundry in or notice the dust bunnies under the sofa, etc.) and appreciate getting feedback/corrections from a real teacher. That said, I have sometimes written down particularly good sequences from some classes and then done them again at home, or have looked up poses on Yoga Journal's web site that are designed for specific purposes- helping you sleep better, helping with digestion, increasing flexibility, etc. But I've also been doing yoga for a while, so I have a good sense of my body's limitations and what I can do at home without risking hurting myself. If you're new to yoga, I would absolutely recommend going the actual class or DVD route and not just looking up poses in magazines/online.

[aimeedyan]

I cook! That's my stress relief - cooking and blogging about it. Even the stuff I can't eat

[Deleted]

I'm taking a term off from school and starting a new job on Monday. I think that the stress from my hostile work environment added to the stress of full time classes is a huge part of the reason I've been struggling with a flair up since mid-January. I'm looking forward to actually having time to find things to do for myself. I'm going to try yoga and spend more time snuggled on the couch with a good book and my dog. I'm SO excited.