Wellness Thread Feb 2020

[atexan]

Feb 8, 2020 23:16:53 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Feb 8, 2020 3:29:13 GMT -5 atexan said:

I can't work out at night because @.

Are you working out at home? I’m happy to be work out buddies on weeks DH is home!

I run. (Well, run/walk, lol.)

[eddy]

I had a January goal of sticking with my intermittent fasting, hitting 20 workouts and confining alcohol only to the weekend.

I am really happy with how I stuck to my goals. The only challenge is it is super depressing to not be able to eat in the evenings in January lol.  I have done IF for awhile and I find it really easy. But a dark depressing month did challenge me.

anyways energy and body wise I feel great. So that is the energy I need to carry the habits into Feb.

[cville]

Feb 8, 2020 23:19:05 GMT -5 namasteak said:

cville have you thought about joining a masters swim team? I’m a former college swimmer and loved my masters team in Houston.

Maybe one day. Right now, for me it needs to be about swimming for health when I can and not about competition or teams or scheduled practices or anyone else.

[msmerymac]

I’ve been working on getting away from intentional weight loss (which conflicts with other health issues and goals at the moment) and towards nourishing myself.

Meal prepping for breakfast doesn’t really work for me - and then I end up stopping and getting fast food breakfast. So I’ve started buying preprepped breakfast, essentially - Purely Elizabeth brand oatmeal cups (and cauli cereal cups), “just crack an egg” scramble cups, or Daily Harvest smoothies. Could I make my own oatmeal, scrambled, or smoothies cheaper? Sure, but I won’t. It’s easy to just grab and go.

I make a smoothie and drink it on the way to work (with my metal straw) and bring either the scramble cup and an egg or an oatmeal cup with me to eat about 90 minutes to 2 hours later. I eat lunch about 3 hours after that, and that I DO batch prep.

The smoothies I especially like because I feel like I’m getting a lot more fruit and vegetables in an easy way. I love vegetables, but fruit is hard for me and in tends to go bad before I get around to it, so frozen smoothies work for me.

[secretlyevil]

msmerymac - easy and pretty nutritious breakfast suggestion, Special K's frozen crustless quiches are tasty and really filling. www.specialk.com/en_US/products/frozen.html. I tend to get incredibly bored with nothing but protein shakes for breakfast so I have started eating these on days I WFH for a little variety. I was pleasantly surprised how good they were since they are microwaveable.

And now I curious about the cauli cereal cups.

[wildrice]

I feel like it's pretty rare that I feel good anymore. I keep assuming that some of it is related to my diet (of basically trying to eat some healthy foods but not really tracking or balancing anything) and lack of exercise. I was hoping when we got back from our vacation (3 weeks ago) to get into a better routine with those things and see how I feel, then maybe in a few months pursue some bloodwork or something if it turns out that taking better care of myself doesn't make me feel better.

However, I came back from our trip with a cough and I'm still sick. Coughing a lot, feeling run down, now I'm feeling a little more nasal congestion and sneezing. I went to the doctor last week and she thought it was either a virus that needed to work its way out, or allergies. I feel like if anything it's getting worse and I'm honestly just really frustrated. I started school the week after this started, and I'm trying to get my shit together at work, and that's a struggle enough on its own with my ADHD but adding in constant coughing and sleep interruption and feeling worn out and I'm just feeling defeated. All I really want to do is lay around and nap at home. We are supposed to visit friends next weekend and as of right now the idea of driving to another state and then being social all weekend just sounds exhausting.

[TR]

wildrice - how is your calf? Am I remembering correctly that you were having pain?

[msmerymac]

secretlyevil, the oat cups they sell are good too, but I'd barely know these cauli cups are grain-free, and I certainly get enough carbs from other sources, so I figure more veggies in lieu of oats isn't a bad thing: purelyelizabeth.com/products/cinnamon-almond-1

[wildrice]

Feb 10, 2020 9:49:24 GMT -5 TR said:

wildrice - how is your calf? Am I remembering correctly that you were having pain?

Yes, I am falling apart lol. Or a hypochondriac - hard to say. Thanks for asking!

I actually got it checked out and they didn't find anything, so that's good. The pain went away, but suddenly came back yesterday. I do feel a knot when I rub it so I'm not sure what that's about. I haven't done anything to it so there is no reason for it to be bothering me. 

[secretlyevil]

I just pulled a 12 week half marathon training plan and did  training pace calculations for some guidance. I may still go back on plan with my coach but I am afraid to get into a negative head space for whatever reason. I want to enjoy my runs. I also want to do the work I need to in order to have a good race. There has to be a balance. I am 18 weeks out, will see how things go for the next month and then make a final decision about to coach or not to coach.

ETA: Also, I am really, really struggling with IE. I really want to wipe out any negative morality I associate with food but dang it is hard. Also, I have a friend doing IF and I want to be supportive because she is looking to lose weight for overall health benefits (some knee problems). Every time she says something like I lost .2 lbs (like this morning), I get very negative and frustrated. Then I mentally go over my food and get even more frustrated. Vicious cycle I need to break but I don't want to hurt her feelings. I have even talked about IE with her way back when we first started these discussions. I discussed how I am trying to change how I look at food to help with my overall mental and physical well being. It hasn't stuck with her.

[eponinepontmercy]

I've been off my workout/ eating game for a while. I saw my doctor today to talk about the fatigue and insomnia and weird body temp issues, and we are starting with a TON of bloodwork. I'm guessing it's thyroid related, based on past issues and such, but I'm trying not to google.

Thanks to this thread, I asked to not see the number on the scale when they weighed me. Of course, it was on the sheet they gave me when I checked out, but baby steps. LOL

[mrsukyankee]

secretlyevil, it sounds like it's time to take care of yourself and not your friend.

[pugz]

secretlyevil it takes a lot of time for the IE stuff to sink in. You are trying to unlearn and undo a lifetime of messaging from diet culture, so do not beat yourself up about it! Most helpful for me is following IG accounts that are in alignment with IE/HAES because seeing them daily is a great reminder and encouragement for me. And I don't engage in diet talk with friends, I change the subject.

[lightbulbsun]

I've started a healthy eating/lifestyle change at the beginning of January. I haven't cut any foods out, but I've drastically reduced my processed food, sugar, and alcohol consumption. After some crazy headaches and stomach discomfort the first week, I'm feeling pretty good.

I've also been getting more active, and finally convinced H to invest in some gym equipment for our house. We got a barbell and plate weight set, a bench, and I just ordered some resistance bands. I really like strength training, and I'm excited that I'll be able to work out at home versus in a gym.

[cattledogkisses]

secretlyevil, I feel you. I’m in a group chat with my three BFFs, and since the new year it’s been a lot of diet talk. I’m not even trying to lose weight but it makes me feel weirdly bad about myself when I’m sitting on the couch enjoying a piece of coconut cream pie and suddenly our chat pops up talking about everyone’s diet plans. And then I feel guilty about the pie.

It really is a mindfuck, how much morality gets attached to food.

[secretlyevil]

Feb 10, 2020 10:57:45 GMT -5 pugz said:

 I don't engage in diet talk with friends, I change the subject.

This is probably the best approach. I will keep this in mind.

[wambam]

I have wellness on the brain right now because I am doing a 40 day program with my yoga studio that involves meditation twice a day and yoga six times a week, as well as journaling questions based on a weekly theme. I am so conflicted on the "diet" portion. Almost everything is focused on mindfulness and tracking how foods make you feel and making choices based on that knowledge. Then in the middle of the program there's a fucking fruit cleanse. WTF? I will obviously not be participating in that part.

I am doing this program while training for a half marathon which is...a lot. But I talked about this in therapy and my goal is to maintain mental flexibility with both. I will aim to complete all the tasks but if I don't or can only partially complete them, I am going to try to be more okay with that.

I didn't realize until very recently that the second season of The Dream was about the wellness industry so I started it this morning!

[foundmylazybum]

Feb 10, 2020 10:34:36 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

I just pulled a 12 week half marathon training plan and did  training pace calculations for some guidance. I may still go back on plan with my coach but I am afraid to get into a negative head space for whatever reason. I want to enjoy my runs. I also want to do the work I need to in order to have a good race. There has to be a balance. I am 18 weeks out, will see how things go for the next month and then make a final decision about to coach or not to coach.

ETA: Also, I am really, really struggling with IE. I really want to wipe out any negative morality I associate with food but dang it is hard. Also, I have a friend doing IF and I want to be supportive because she is looking to lose weight for overall health benefits (some knee problems). Every time she says something like I lost .2 lbs (like this morning), I get very negative and frustrated. Then I mentally go over my food and get even more frustrated. Vicious cycle I need to break but I don't want to hurt her feelings. I have even talked about IE with her way back when we first started these discussions. I discussed how I am trying to change how I look at food to help with my overall mental and physical well being. It hasn't stuck with her.

I work with my athletes on what defines "good" and sometimes (this working with mindful sport and performance constructs in mind)
Actually letting the concepts of "good" and "bad" go and rather just being in the moment to experience the run (s) then eventually the race.

This..is admittedly kind of a mindfuck bc western society LOVES to define and evaluate progress!

But if you want to do half marathon training, one new way to consider it is to allow some of your runs to happen.

You can even set out with a certain goal or pace in mind, and if its happening then go with it in that breath, second, minute, mile...and if it's not, accept it in that breath, second minute, mile and realize that things can change in the next breath, second, minute, mile...
Not every run will be this way but allow some to be and see what happens 💙

[Deleted]

I’m so sorry to hear that, foundmylazybum. I’m sending you all the healing thoughts.

[Pibs]

I was doing really well on Zoloft, but I live in Oregon and I think the grayness is getting to me because I've been in a funk for a few weeks. My 2020 started off great, but I've been sick with colds for the past 4 weeks and I'm over it. My PCP left and so I was reassigned to someone new that I haven't met yet. I need to go see her and see about adding on Wellbutrin per my discussion with my previous PCP -- she thought it would be a really good option for me, but due to my anxiety we wanted to give Zoloft a try then add on Wellbutrin if I was still having problems or had sexual side effects. I'm not doing very well with self care and can't even make myself call or schedule online. Plus I need to reschedule my dental cleaning and schedule an eye exam, annual derm and waxing appointments. I mostly just want to stay in bed under my weighted blanket.

I'm doing my nails now and then my goal is to pay off my ED visit and schedule my PCP followup today and my eye doctor & waxing appts because I can do those online. And tomorrow I'll make myself call my dentist.

[kadams767]

I am struggling with balance and how to not let the annoying/bad parts of my life overshadow the good, if that makes any sense. I am having some career and work-oriented issues that aren't really likely to go away anytime soon, but I am feeling so good about other parts of my life. How do I not let the work stress leach into the rest of my stuff so that I can actually enjoy it? I've been working hard at appreciating the moments and being present, making sure I take time for the good stuff every day, but the work dread feels so all-encompassing sometimes that it's suffocating.

[rubytue]

On the theme of wellness and doctors... my medical oncologist quit practicing at the end of January. My love for him is high and I was beside myself. But, I have an appointment set up with a new one this week.

But then, to add insult to injury, I had my follow up with radiation oncology today and he told me he is leave for Florida. What’s a girl gotta do to keep an oncologist?!?!

On top of that, his assessment was not as positive as my med onc’s last one. And that’s got me down. So we shall see what the new guy says. I didn’t really get into much on the next steps with my previous guy, bc we both knew he wasn’t the one who would be deciding. That was the weirdest appointment. Lots of silence with the understanding this was goodbye.

And to bring it full circle, the new place I’m going is affiliated with the medical school, and is an NCI comprehensive cancer center. So I’m really hoping I can finally get some of those integrated services I hear about. Namely a counselor/therapist. I know I need one. But I’m not one to ever ask for help. I was offered one one back in April, before my biopsy surgery. I turned it down then bc I didn’t need a cancer social worker... I didn’t have cancer (yet). And I never figured out how to get that offer again.

[notsopicky]

heliocentric , I am digging your yoga thing--maybe I could get H to join me. We could do it in the evenings. Do you use YouTube on your TV?

pugz , secretlyevil, I struggled with IE. I have a problem w/ boredom eating and portion control--after years of a f-ed up relationship with food and having really no idea what my body's cues about hunger are, I just couldn't manage it.

[just]

I'm paralyzed with depression right now. I need to get some meds, that's first on my list. I know how to feel better, but my depression is like being in a full-body cast when it comes to moving and making the right decisions.

On a weird note. I love swimming, but grooming decisions are making it not an option for me. When I was younger it wasn't an issue (just lighter thinner hair) so I don't know how to deal with it now. I won't wax, and shaving is so much of an issue with razor burn. Chemical options seem like a bad choice. Do y'all just wax? Should I just try to desensitize my bikini area to shaving?

[pugz]

Feb 10, 2020 22:10:24 GMT -5 just said:

I'm paralyzed with depression right now. I need to get some meds, that's first on my list. I know how to feel better, but my depression is like being in a full-body cast when it comes to moving and making the right decisions.

On a weird note. I love swimming, but grooming decisions are making it not an option for me. When I was younger it wasn't an issue (just lighter thinner hair) so I don't know how to deal with it now. I won't wax, and shaving is so much of an issue with razor burn. Chemical options seem like a bad choice. Do y'all just wax? Should I just try to desensitize my bikini area to shaving?

skirted swimsuit bottoms? 

[rubytue]

My swimsuit solution isn’t very cool, but I’m ok with it. My one piece lap suit is a unitard type, Mid-thigh and up. And then my beach suit is leggings.

www.swimoutlet.com/p/sporti-lia-chlorine-resistant-scoop-back-unitard-one-piece-swimsuit-8176122/?color=30078

modli.co/barbados-blue-adele-two-piece-with-midi-skort-mix-match-sizing.html?refSrc=87332&nosto=product-page-vertical-b

Clearly, I’ve given up looking super cute, or shaving

[foundmylazybum]

rubytue is it possible to ask your previous or new doctor if they have a counselor or social worker referral?

I feel a lot like you..I guess I generally like to work it out on my own, but the place I go is integrated and I have a social worker. I can only say that I highly recommend trying to get connected to someone. They are just really supportive of..everything.

I'm sorry you have to change doctors! That would feel upsetting to me too.

[foundmylazybum]

I would try boyshort style bottoms.

www.macys.com/shop/b/womens-swim-shorts?id=72487

[pugz]

I just looked at the 10 day forecast and saw that a warming trend is coming and my mood just improved 300%.


fuck winter! Groundhog was right!

[rubytue]

foundmylazybum, possible yes. Likely, no. I need to get over myself and ask for help. My inability to ask for help in what got me in this situation... I’m hoping the new place has an intake type session with a nurse that will help with that. And my H is coming. He’ll say something, even when I don’t. I suffer from “good patient” syndrome, where you tend to make th8ngs sound better than they are in hopes of making those around you less uncomfortable, and it extends to doctors.

As far as my previous doctor... he knows. He follows me on twitter, which is where most of it comes out. And I know he sees it. But he’s having enough issues adjusting to his new position - to the point I’m talking him through that (yes, that what the hell have I done feeling is normal...). To say we have a unique doctor-patient relationship is an understatement LOL