Beautiful Behaviors - June 2017

Today's beautiful behaviors: 1) started the day on time, 2) healthy breakfast AND lunch, 3) went to a counseling session to make sure my head is still screwed on straight!!

I've made a 5 week plan, and calendar reminders weekly to check in. I have only 5 rules, and number 1 is to track on MFP daily. the others: no fast food, strength train 2x each week, if I miss the gym I have to do yoga, get my steps in every day by walking daily. I can go up to 20 minutes, I'll take what I can get at this point.

O.M.G.
Started off my Friday with some weights, and then spent the day with my dad at an auction. It's our thing to do in the summers! I usually don't bid much or find a lot but it's just fun to see whats there and how high it goes. Today was different! My home gym is a step closer to being complete. I was scoping out what was in the garage for the 2nd time, and I couldn't believe I missed seeing an elliptical in the corner! I've been on the prowl for one! Most of the ones I've seen for sale were like 100-200. We waited until the auctioneer reached that corner. Lucky for me, no one was paying attention to the elliptical due to a cedar chest and an antique stove going up soon. I got the elliptical for $2.50! Got it home and it works wonderfully. Truly a blessing of a find today! Also got a like new futon for 25$. Auctions are pure magic!!

@str8bowbabe enjoy your 'me' time!~
@Snocopower Sounds like a successful day! It's so smart that you've planned so far in advance. I love the idea of having nice 'backup' goals for when you miss the gym
@happysherri "We only need to be and look like ourselves. I hate hearing 'I want to look like her'. You are never going to, because you're you." This part of your post really makes me smile! It's an important reminder to me sometimes. I often feel like I don't look like most women. Positive words like this help me to remember that all of us are unique and a world where everyone is the same wouldn't be much of a world at all!

finngirl61 wrote: »

Hi to all of you wonderful, brave women. I need advice on coping with food due to stress in a marriage. I try to have faith and make good choices but it's so difficult. Any suggestions?

My thing that I do when I have marriage trouble is just write it down. I resist the urge to express my feelings on the subject (which are usually not a good idea to write down, since writing lasts longer than feelings do) and just write it down like I would a weather report. It lets me look at the situation with a cooler head, separate from any feelings of being wronged. Weather can be terrible, but it isn't personal. You can't control it, it's not about whether you deserve it, it isn't about you. In the same way, you ultimately can't control another person. "Thunderstorm in Nebraska" and "husband being a jerk this morning" are both things that happen. And I find if I can look at it that way, it's easier to decide what the appropriate response is.

That's separate from the subject of food and stress. When I got my diabetes diagnosis, I was faced with a sudden change of lifestyle, and I realized that food was one of the few pleasures I got out of life, and giving it up sounded just soul crushing. So I did two things: I worked to make my low-calorie and lower-carb diabetes diet even more delicious than what I was used to, and I decided to fix some things that were making me miserable. I had a come to Jesus meeting with my husband and told him that a couple of issues I had been putting up with were now resolved, no more nagging, he would either fix it or that would be that. And I added back some pleasures to my life, like visiting the park, which I had been neglecting, so I wouldn't feel so dependent on food for my happiness.

So, yeah, to summarize: eat good food on your diet. Fix the issues in your marriage if you can. The ones you can't fix right now, write them down and try to get some emotional distance. And add some comforting and pleasant things to your life that aren't food.

@SnocoPower - Great goals!!! I set small weekly goals that help with my large ending goals too. How did you do?
@rheddmobile - Yep, THANKS! The advise you gave about writing things down and letting it go to do the things that make you happy is awesome advise.
@finngirl61 - I am divorced, I went through years of a stressful marriage, I gained weight and then lost weight. Not sure of your issues - not saying divorce is even in there but I can relate to stress. I agree with @rheddmobile - great advise, and I'm glad you journal to organize your thoughts and feelings. I agree, focus on yourself, you can only control how you react or handle things. And learn to make yourself happy, this is hard for me. This will pass and only time and actions will tell. In the end you must do what's best for you.
@str8bowbabe - Wow, sounds like you have a lot of activity going on - and sounds super fun too!!! Great job! Keep going
@aleahurst - Whoa, super job on the water - it does make a big difference. And nice to hear that you are thinking of healthy food and watching your oxygen, keep going.
@katadx - WHOA! Awesome bargains and tools for a healthier you! I have been cut open twice for complicated c-sections *My stomach will never be completely flat due to dead nerves around the scar. Lucky for me it's under my bikini line. (overshare probably) However, I think of it as my warrior scar, I'm a survivor and I continue to become a better "me". Also sounds like you got some quality time with your dad Yay.
@jessiquoi - Visualization is so helpful. I like that you are practicing positive thoughts with food and health. Healthy food can be so delicious, we don't have to feel deprived. So happy to see you doing so well.

Update: BOOM!!!! I kicked this weekends bootay! I completed 114 minutes of legs and abs on Saturday and 107 minutes of lifing shoulders on Sunday. I'm so proud of myself because my energy level the past week and half has been at an all time low so my exercise has suffered. I ate decent, meaning I ate within calories, not super clean yet still got in a lot of veggies and lean protein each day. I had popcorn, ice cream, gummy bears and worms and pasta and still maintained my weight and actually felt flatter. How?! Because I portioned those things out throughout the weekend and I still filled up on fresh veggies and protein. I'm practicing moderation right now. I feel when I restrict myself too much I end up over eating the "cheat" meals or items. So my plan is to continue this way of eating since I am not trying to lose any weight at the moment.
Goals this week - I do have a new goal this week: Get up in the morning and do HIIT cardio before work Tuesday and Thursday. This is HUGE, because I am not a morning person and never can seem to get out of bed early. I will lift at least 4-5 days this week. Spiritual goal - To write in 'my life journey' book or draw in my personal sketch book daily.

Thought for the day: If the plan doesn't work, change the plan but never the goal. ***How many different diets have all of us tried? How many different exercise styles have we tried? How many times have we tried something new in our fit journies? These are not failures!!!!!! They're experiences of us all changing our plan instead of our goal! We still have our goals and are constintently working toward them - different ways, trial and error, slow or fast, set backs and advancing.

Happy Motivation Monday.

@rheddmobile - good luck with the chin ups good to have a goal
@finngirl61 - take it one day at a time with the marriage thing - if you can find other things to take the stress away from your marriage - that would be great - I am so sorry you are going through this - I got divorced over 8 years ago and I lost a lot of weight after - on purpose - it was a big relief to get rid of my ex - make sure you talk to people or a therapist if you need to - abuse comes in many forms other than physical - not saying there is abuse or divorce in the air
@jessiquoi - it sounds like you are doing awesome! good for you!!
@katadx - nice catch on the elliptical
@happysherri - nice job again on the weights and eating - I wish I could get to the weight room like you

I was in Philadelphia on a work trip last week that really messed me up. The combination of lack of sleep, not swimming or working out, and having to be on and socialize all the time exhausted me. I have been afraid to weigh myself, yet I don't think I screwed up my diet too much. I swam Saturday and today and am pretty slow. I laid around most of Saturday and Sunday. Argh! I never realized how introverted I have become.

I hope to pull myself together as I am heading to Louisiana next week with my oldest son for his college orientation. At least I don't have to socialize the entire time with him.

Back to the pool tomorrow and a swim meet on Saturday. I need to pull myself together. This is the first time in a long time I have blamed my MS on dragging me down. One question, is it just me, or does everyone drink a ton at work functions? I hardly ever drink and I felt like the odd man out.

Oh golly! I keep thinking of the movie "The War Room". Dang that was a good movie.

While working for a living, some people caused really bad things to happen to me. I wrote my feelings down. I was afraid of it being read by the wrong people, so I shredded it and put it in the compost bin with all that icky smelly yucky stuff. Now, that letter of hate is feeding my Apple tree.

Today was a bad day. Illness. Sigh. It made me remember what they did to me at work.

My calories are low!

Love to all.

Lea

Hello ladies,

I know I have been missing in action again and for that I am very sorry. I guess all the activity got the best of me on Friday night as I hurt my back really bad during the softball game. I went to the doc on Saturday. They gave me a steroid shot. Then put me on anti - inflammation pills, another steroid, and muscle relaxers so...I have been out most of the weekend. I actually had to take a day off work yesterday. today is the first day back without being able to take anything other than ibuprofen. I am definitely feeling it. So...no exercise much this week. Taking short walks but no lifting and no pickleball today. Hoping to make the softball game on Friday but we will see.

Water intake is still going well and the no caffeine is still doing pretty good. Tried another cup of coffee this morning but could not drink it. Guess I have kicked that habit. Still a soft drink now and then but not more than a couple a week.

Have a good one all!

Well. Today I got out of bed for a while. I had coffee for the first time in three days. Im not sick from it yet! Yay! I ordered a new weed eater and it arrived. I just hope I can have the energy to use it.

Watching my water closely has become a good idea. I'm not calling it a habit yet.

@str8bowbabe - Look at you keeping up with water intake! Woooo! It helps everything.

@jessiquoi - You are doing so well! Sometimes, things just have to click. It's true, and you found it!

@happysherri - YES! Keep going! When you need rest, your body and mind will demand it. Until then, I believe in you too!

Love to all.

Lea

Hello ladies,

I am so far off my mark on exercise and food since I hurt my back. I cant really do much so exercise is out other than light stretching which I was allowed to start today. The meds I am on make me extremely hungry and very moody. So...if I don't eat I am not a nice person. UGH!!!! I do not like this. I do not like at all!!!!!

I am still drinking lots of water but meds make me retain it so...well at least I know that.

I do feel a little better but my feet are now starting to go numb and tingle. Not a good sign so might be calling the doc again tomorrow for some insight on what to do.

Keep posting - reading all the beautiful behaviors is what is saving me right now.

@finngirl61 - so glad to have you here among us! You are right, we each have a unique gift! We each have a unique need. We each have a unique body type. We are so varied with a common goal of wanting to maintain some "beauty" in each and every day.

@str8bowbabe - girl, hang in there. It helps to visualize (imagine) the cells of your body healing, one by one. Imagine that with every inhale, little bitty clean up stars are inhaled, then hold while they work, finally blow out and release all that icky bacteria, fungus, sepsis, or whatever they found to yank out of your cells. I'm sending prayers for your health. Sometimes God works through doctors. I will ask God to give the doctor wisdom.

Today, I will try to get outside barefoot before the rains of ts Cindy begin. I'm feeling a bit better.

Love to all.

Lea

@katadx - I sure do agree with what you are doing with your calorie counting. Life doesn't come with three distinct meals a day that begin and end at specific hours! That's insight!

@jessiquoi - the water challenge was a much needed plan! Thank you!

@wellnesschaser - I love love love the behavior of practicing gratitude. That's one thing that helps us see the silver lining on dark gloomy days. It is such an easy and practical and necessary thing to do! Thank you for that reminder to do it! It's the good ideas such as yours that keep me reading posts!

@woznube7 - Girl are you lurking here? Hi!!!

@happysherri - I'm anxious to hear if you energy level has improved.

Today, I went outside barefoot to do a little yard work and it felt fantastic! The rains from the storm hitting the gulf coast will drift here any minute now. I can see waves of clouds coming this way.

Love to all.

Lea

Hey everyone!

Lea, very pleased to hear you got outside. It's pouring rain here and supposed to last for the next four days. But I did spend some time outside yesterday. The raccoon that lives in our yard is so used to me that she brought her two babies out! They trundled through the yard, up a tree, over the fence, and disappeared. I felt like Snow White sitting outside with all the wild creatures coming over to visit.

My lupus has been acting up - heart keeps throwing pvcs, which is usually a sign of cardiovascular inflammation from the lupus. But I chugged on ahead and worked out anyway. I'm hoping I won't get sidelined by illness, it's so frustrating when that happens. Reading about everyone else's struggles to keep healthy enough to work out makes me feel less alone.

I've been reading about every one else logging water - water is not a problem for me! Even before becoming diabetic (which increases thirst) I have always chugged water like it was going out of style. Neither my husband nor my mother will drink plain water on a bet, which has always seemed so odd to me. There's a restaurant we go to frequently which just brings me my own pitcher since it saves effort for the server.

Practicing gratitude today: I'm grateful for my husband, who enjoys taking care of me in many small, kind ways, such as helping swap out weights when I work out, and making me coffee. The other day he used a cookie cutter to sprinkle cinnamon on my latte in a heart shape. Really!