Smiphette: Finding a New Normal
smiphette
Posts: 177 Member
I suffered a brain injury several months ago. Extended physical and cognitive rest took a toll on my fitness, which I compounded with large quantities of comfort foods. Things are starting to return to normal, but I am different. I have to be content with what I am capable of on any given day, not focused on what I planned or wanted to able to do.
Before the injury, I always had a plan. I was always busy doing or analyzing something. I got things done. Now, I have times where I do nothing. Seriously, nothing. I sit and stare into space and think about nothing. And I am somehow OK with it.
Before the injury, I was freakishly punctual. Now, some days I am slower than others—sometimes I even forget to be places. And my world doesn't end.
Before the injury, I had a plan and stuck to it. If I was still sore from a previous workout, I would double down and push harder. Now, I can't force things. Each day, I have to assess where I am and make choices that won't cause me to regress. It might take me 10+ days to complete a 5 day fitness challenge. But 20 days before that, I wasn't able to do any of it.
I started making small changes without really tracking intake or exercise, to avoid getting hung up on planned vs. actual. But over the last couple weeks, I decided I needed a record of what is working or not. So I started tracking. I am down a few lbs, getting stronger, and hopeful that I can continue keeping my priorities of balance and self care ahead of weight loss or performance goals.
Before the injury, I always had a plan. I was always busy doing or analyzing something. I got things done. Now, I have times where I do nothing. Seriously, nothing. I sit and stare into space and think about nothing. And I am somehow OK with it.
Before the injury, I was freakishly punctual. Now, some days I am slower than others—sometimes I even forget to be places. And my world doesn't end.
Before the injury, I had a plan and stuck to it. If I was still sore from a previous workout, I would double down and push harder. Now, I can't force things. Each day, I have to assess where I am and make choices that won't cause me to regress. It might take me 10+ days to complete a 5 day fitness challenge. But 20 days before that, I wasn't able to do any of it.
I started making small changes without really tracking intake or exercise, to avoid getting hung up on planned vs. actual. But over the last couple weeks, I decided I needed a record of what is working or not. So I started tracking. I am down a few lbs, getting stronger, and hopeful that I can continue keeping my priorities of balance and self care ahead of weight loss or performance goals.
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Last couple of days have been good. I stepped up my exercise a little with yoga, running, and lifting. I am taking time off or going for easier modifications when I feel too sore or tired.
On the needs improvement side, I need to eat differently. Even though I feel like I am eating all the time, I am eating too little early in the day on weekdays then trying to catch up at night to try to stay between 1200-1400 calories. I have trouble eating in the mornings, so I am going to have to experiment.
Sleep has been a little off due to some early shifts and the late eating. Tomorrow is my last late shift. With a couple of eating adjustments, hopefully I'll be back to 8 hrs a night shortly.0 -
I've had a low-motivation, self-doubty start to the week. I looked back at my exercise and realized I hadn't taken a full rest day in two weeks. I took a day off, tried to get a little extra sleep, and I am mostly back in the right head space.
I am lifting 3 times a week and seeing strength gains. I braved the pullup bar this week--meaning I hung from it attempting to pull while mostly moving my weight with my legs. My back and biceps are sore, so I am counting it as a victory.
Inspired by @kettiecat I am going to weigh myself daily for a bit to see what the data looks like. Maybe it will help me to be a little less hung up on the number on the scale.
I am starting to lose some inches too. Yay! But in a grand joke, my body is losing inches in the smaller parts faster than the bigger parts. My waist (-2 inches) is dropping faster than my gut (-.75 inches), so my gut looks bigger even though it is smaller. Not funny body!0 -
congratulations on the inches starting to drop !
Its great that you had the awareness to notice your motivation dropping and that you connected it with not having had a rest day. I guess working shifts can be draining, both physically and emotionally. Keeping your head in the right space is certainly key to success, and you're doing great !0 -
Congratulations on all the progress you've made so far! I laughed when I read the bit about "not funny body"...I always lose weight in my arms and face first, which is where I need it the least! But, it's also a sign that weight loss is happening, which keeps me determined. Keep up the good work!0
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My nutricianist told me she put a pull-up bar in the doorway to the kitchen. Every time she went to the refrigerator she had to attempt a pull-up. I know if I tried I'd probably hang there too, my arms are really weak.
You are also an inspiration, coming back from a brain injury couldn't be easy.
Keep up the great work.
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Love the pull-up bar idea ! i don't think my arms are strong enough for me to even hang.
Now I'm eyeing my home to see if I can hang off anything to try
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They sell modified pull up bars so you can work your way up to a "real" pull up. My husband bought one weeks ago. This has inspired me to actually install it.0
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Normally, I navigate restaurants just like home meals, attempting to make decent choices on foods I like. But for Valentine's day, the mister is taking me to a restaurant that is having a fixed price menu. They normally have small to reasonable portions, but it is NOT diet food.
I am trying to make a plan for this that doesn't make me crazy. It is likely that guessing at calories will be wildly inaccurate. Crunching the numbers, if meet my calorie goal for the other days in the week, then eat 3 times my normal calorie goal on v-day, my weekly average is under maintenance calories for my current weight.
So, the plan is to
1. Log the day normally, but record the dinner at a generic 4000 calories. It doesn't necessarily reflect reality, but it gives me a recorded spike for history
2. Eat slowly and stop eating when I am full. I don't have to eat half of what is on the plate just because we are sharing.
3. Maintain my current exercise plan
4. Do not take any other action (drastic calorie restrictions or extra exercise)
5. Do not feel guilty -- this could be the hardest one0 -
Wow...you seriously are an inspiration. Congrats on the inches lost. I'm glad you are recovering one step at a time.
Hope you don't mid I'm going to be a super Lurker on your Journal. I find it very motivating. I Hope Valentine's Day is a Good one for you. I told the BF ..actually BEGGED him to not incorporate a meal or sweets in my day. He graciously agreed and blessed me with another tattoo session. That was more awesome than any box of chocolate could have made me. Wait..whom am I kidding..chocolate cures everything. Keep on Pushing!!! You have this!!!0 -
way to go for all the progress you have made. Truly an inspiration. i will be following your posts to keep up to date0
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So tired this week! I worked the late shift, so my sleep has been abysmal. I drank all the coffee, but I didn't eat all the extra food--yay! I kept wanting to eat because I was so tired, but I wasn't actually hungry. Through distraction and hydration, I managed to stave off the worst of it.
I had a couple of great runs this week. One was a normal pace, 2 miles with no walking. I have been working 3.5 mile run/walk for a while. Since that felt so good, I wondered if I could do 3 miles all running if I ran a little slower--yes, I can! I think I will continue to mix it up. It is nice to have options depending on how you feel.
I have also been tracking my weight daily. That has been pretty eye opening. The numbers are all over the place, but generally trending down. That seems like a good reason not to obsess over the number on any given day.
I am down 6.5lbs since I started 4 weeks ago. My goal is to reduce by 10% in 12 weeks, so I am well on track.
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Wow you are doing great on your exercise. I used to mix it up too. I like outdoors and indoors too. Weather hasn't been good so outdoors isn't a good option now. I hope you enjoy your Valentines dinner. I think your plan regarding this is good.0
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Sounds like everything is going so well. You're running well, controlling your eating, and making great progress towards your goals.
Would having a supply of low calories snacks (eg carrot, celery) help you through the night shifts ? I found that for me, finding an eating plan that worked for me and my schedule was a massive breakthrough point. It didn't change how much weight I lost, but it made the whole process a lot easier. It took a fair amount of trial and error to find a plan and I learnt alot about myself in the process. Now I still need discipline, but it is much easier.0 -
Getting through that ":head" hunger is one of the hardest things to do. Good on you for overcoming it0
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Eating and logging are back on track v-day (which was awesome). I am fighting a cold, so napping has been my exercise of choice lately.0
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Hope you feel better! 0
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That's great that you enjoyed the day and were able to get right back on track..
Apparently the body burns more calories when it's fighting illness. Not sure if that's true, but I like to think so. Hope you feel better soon !0 -
@totaldetermination it is true the body burns more when it is sick as it is channelling all of it's rescourses into fighting the bug or infection. That's why it is important to rest when you're sick so your body has the energy to do what it has to do to get better. THat's why you feel so tired when sick because you're body is doing twice the usual work it does just for maintenance0
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I am still trying to healthy. I haven't been tracking or making very good choices for a week. I am pulling it back together and getting back on track.0
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Glad you're back!!! You can do this.0
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Back on the wagon and tracking again consistently. I am finally starting to get over this nasty cold, so I am starting to be able to work out a little. Holding off on cardio for a while, but over all positive. As of today, I am still down 10lbs total since I started.0
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That's great !!! Did you draw your profile picture?0
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I wish. But it looks a lot like me, right down to the bad posture 0
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glad you're starting to feel better. Be kind to your body and ease back into things0
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Way to go on the first 10 pounds! Glad you're feeling better! 0
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It's been a while since I posted. I joined a spring challenge that is a little more social than I am comfortable with, so I've been withdrawing in other areas. I am still on track in spite of challenges.
After I finally kicked the cold, I had a work trip to Las Vegas. Not a place you want to be if you have post-concussion issues with auditory and visual stimuli. I made it through, but not gracefully. I got plenty of exercise, but my eating was a mess.
As I think about this journey so far, I am buoyed by the fact that I am continuing to progress through positive and negative. I am not getting stuck in the manic cycle of thinking I am a lost cause if I am not perfect. Whether it is perfection or a train wreck, one meal, workout, or day does not have to define my self worth.
This week I am starting to notice some new muscle definition. And I have started to pull out some clothes that are designed to flatter, not just cover my shape.0 -
You are way more than just one day in your life. You are awesome and will continue to be awesome wherever this journey leads you. Never forget that my friend.
Also yay for the muscle definition and flattering clothes. You rock0 -
Smiphette,
Great attitude! A TBI can really wreak havoc on your life. Good to see you're working through that.0 -
I think you have learned the key, pushing through the negative and enjoying the positive. I can't wait till I can quit hiding my body. Congrats that you can show yours off
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I am having an issue with a tendon or something in my non-dominant hand. I can barely grip a coffee cup, so weights are out this week.
So I have been running... and it has been awesome. I have been doing the jog 30sec / run 20sec / sprint 10sec intervals for a while slowly increasing my pace for run and sprint. Today I was doing run @ 6.6 mph and sprints @ 7.7 mph, which is a pretty big increase from my starting point of walk @ 3.5/ jog @ 5.5 / run @ 6.0 in Jan.
I am seeing the doc tomorrow about the hand.0
