Vune Member

I finally started taking a preventative medication a few years ago, when it was obvious the migraines were so severe and frequent that they were interfering with my work (as a stage actress, I would dry heave on the bus to the theater, and even blanked on stage once). I kissed a few frogs (gabapentin, propranolol) until I…

I eat chocolate every day. Right now, I have a bowl of powdered peanut butter reconsituted with coconut milk topped with sliced bananas, walnuts, two toasted marshmallows, and a tablespoon of miniature chocolate chips. The minis are great because you can stretch that tablespoon into every bite. I'll also mash a banana with…

Agreed. Good luck with the doctor!

I find that they work together. I'm eating better and being more active because a healthier body will contribute to a healthier mind. Some of my health problems are also from a genetic disease, but I have to be honest with myself that I don't have to feel as bad as I do. Eating the vast amounts that I did, no matter how…

I actually feel like a good night's rest is a sign of a good workout! When sleep comes to find me as soon as I curl up with my book. And when you're just sore enough the next day to say, " I can't wait to work through these achy muscles!"

I just had my gallbladder removed a week ago after 15 years of trying to figure out what was wrong. Posting here to read about everyone's experiences, so I can remind myself that ice cream is hardly ever the answer.

Good for costumes, ridiculous for fat loss.

Can you graze throughout the day? I prepare small meals to sit down and eat, but I always have a big bowl of fruit sitting next to me at the computer for when the mood hits. I just had a small corn tortilla with mayo and hemp tofu (blech--do not recommend unless you like really bad meatloaf flavored non-meat), and I…

I've been doing a whole lot of corpse pose while healing. It's not really much to post about! I got intensely sad this morning, and realized I was pacing around my tiny bedroom, so I stopped and did mountain pose for some grounding. I think about the past too much.

I'm not veggie, but I'm poor and I effing love tofu. I'll sprinkle a fun seasoning mix (like Moroccan) on it, and throw it on the George Foreman grill while I cut veggies and prep the rest of the meal. It's also super helpful to cook a large pot of rice for the week, then reheat in a skillet with soy sauce, vinegar,…

Hmm... And House Martell will be over here poisoning all your food scales...

There's a killer Cambodian place on the way to Falmouth called Stir Crazy. I know it's not your traditional New England fare, but I dream about that place... As for Boston, the world is your oyster. The last yummy meal I had there was at Genki Ya in Brookline (Asian food is easy on the digestion!) and FoMu in Brighton for…

I never thought I'd be able to meditate. I grew up in a less than happy household, and I've always had racing thoughts. I've even been hospitalized for anxiety attacks, and medications haven't helped. A couple months ago, I decided to stop and focus on my breathing whenever I identified that I was in a negative head space.…

I was on prednisone for a year. I didn't gain more than two pounds, but I got the puffy moon face.

My excuse was hating myself and thinking I didn't deserve good health. I'm not sure how I thought I'd ever have a good life with that attitude.

I'm 5'6" and I started at around 170 lbs (my highest ever) on December 20, 2014. This week, I'm 135. I was lazy from December until mid March when I came back to my fitness pal, but I still lost some weight. Since mid March, I've worked hard. I've been serious about reasonable portion sizes when I have been unable to weigh…

I've been sticking to a lot of deep breathing. I get up every hour or two to walk around, but the four holes in my belly mostly want to be left alone. I finished one mandala, and I'm planning another one to start after my nap. It's a nice little meditation. I can't wait to have enough to fill my walls at home. I am so glad…

If you're having trouble, ask again! Practice in front of your pt, so they can help you. I bet they'll be much happier showing you again than seeing you give up and live in pain. It's their job and you owe it to yourself! You'll probably want to talk to them before taking my advice, too, just to be on the safe side. (And,…

Surgery went well! It looks as though they had to make three little incisions to suck out Bile-y Cyrus (my gallbladder), but they don't hurt as much as an actual gallbladder attack. And I'm stiff and sore from being pumped full of air and fluids. What are everyone's favorite restorative asana and mudras? I'm really into…

Mountain, seated forward fold, bound angle, and half lotus are ones I do every day. My favorite challenges are goddess (oh, my thighs!), frog, camel, and plow.

You didn't mention anything about stretching. Your piriformis muscle tests on top of your sciatic nerve, and if it's too tight, it can cause all sorts of pain. Same goes for all the hip stabilizing muscles. You could Google "beginners yoga hip openers" and find some useful stretches. You have to do them consistently to…

I agree about seeing a therapist. If bad stuff happened and you know you used food as a coping skill, you owe it to yourself to not make that a habit.

I prefer my yoga at night, too. I'll do mountain pose and forward fold throughout the day to stay grounded. That's a big problem of mine. My head is always in the clouds. I'll also sit it half lotus or bound angle at my computer on computer days. I was in a ton of gallbladder pain yesterday. I did a lot of sitting in easy…

That's so awesome! My transplant came from a cadaver kidney, and It changed everything for me. I went on dialysis at 19, and waited on the list until I was 21. Quite the different college career than my peers! Just to reiterate, it changed my life. And the success rate for living donors is so much higher! I hope you stay…

I'm certainly not a doctor, and agree that you should find one who is willing to look at your case from multiple angles, but I'm wondering if maybe you need to strengthen your bones before getting back to high impact exercise.

Practice makes yoga! I just started again after some very bad, stressful years, and I have to remind myself that I practice yoga to DEVELOP better balance and BECOME flexible! In addition to being anemic, I have a kidney transplant, moderately severe hearing loss in both ears (what balance???), a screw in one foot, a…

You probably just need to incorporate more stretching daily. If you're also stressed out, yoga. Your complaints are totally normal. Most people who are stressed out and achy have a simple fix. Low iron makes you tired and dizzy, but the body aches are probably a result of moving less because you're tired. If you think you…

I started my yoga practice a couple months ago while riding the bus. I've been having problems with racing thoughts (for the past 36 years!), and medications are a crapshoot for me. My choices are limited due to a kidney transplant, and my technical diagnosis is bipolar. And I was thinking about that old Daria episode "The…

You can still do yoga, too! I have a tremendously weak wrist, bad hips, a screw in my foot, and a kidney transplant (among other things). I do my fair share of modifications, and I've started noticing that I can definitely do things now that I didn't think my body could do even a month ago. It takes a little extra…

I studied voice for 20 years, and there's a list of foods a mile long that can contribute to excess phlegm and acid reflux. Dairy, wheat, and caffeine are among the top offenders. Eating more slowly can help. Sipping peppermint tea. Eating smaller, more frequent meals. Give yourself some relaxation time after you eat,…