Physical Check-In

Another study that proposes eating dark chocolate is a helpful tool for our health.

Dark Chocolate Tied to Better Mood, Fewer Depressive Symptoms

I've decided to report here rather than the daily check-in thread. I've been pretty dedicated to cycling over the last two or three weeks. The loop I ride is a descent and climb which initially took me an hour and fifteen minutes. Today I timed myself and I was only on the road for an hour. I am progressing! It makes me feel good. It was an especially good ride today since I caught a truck on the descent and so was slowed by him over the remainder of the descent. So I really made some time up on the climb.

That's really awesome progress and such great exercise. Are you finding that the vigorous exercise lifts your mood?

I feel like I would freak out riding on an incline like that. You're so brave!

Rather than "brave" I think I should call it foolish.
The whole ride lifts my mood in a number of ways. First, the descent is a serious adrenaline rush. Then the workout of the climb generates serotonin so it's good for me, too. There's another endorphin released, but I can't recall it now.


To give you a sense of how steep and curvy the descent is, I have in the past overtaken cars because the car has to slow down for the curves but a bike can lean into them and keep a higher speed. I have done this more than once. Not smart. Today it was a conscious choice to stay behind the truck despite the fact that he was slowing me down.

Maybe it is foolish, but it made me smile to think of you enjoying your ride. I'm sure you can find a way to continue to engage in this positive behavior while keeping things relatively safe. I find your story inspiring and hope you keep updating us.

Today is my rest day where I just focus on relaxing and I don't worry about exercising. I will still get plenty of activity in, but I don't plan to do my circuit training today. My muscles need a break at least once a week.

I had a friend let me know yesterday she was inspired by my progress and she started the same training program I'm on this week. She's also starting to log her food in MyFitnessPal. The app allows your friends to see your progress which is another cool feature. I'm excited for her and glad to have another friend along for the ride. She's super sore after the first week, but I was able to assure her that part will get better. It feels good to have inspired someone to invest in their health and to support them along the way.

A rest day is a good idea. I need to take a break, too. My ride today was the same loop but took several minutes longer and my legs feel significantly more rubbery.

I worked my tail off today, physically, and yet I didn't really sweat that much. I wonder if it was because the weather was so much milder, because I'm getting used to more physical work, or a combo of the two? I was working in the house in AC, though. I've worked this hard in the AC before and sweat tons.

I couldn't believe that hubby wanted to go to Burger King for dinner. He never ever wants to go to a fast food restaurant. I always cook, or we go to a nicer place. He wanted to try their new promotional "Impossible Whopper" that is meatless. It was actually quite tasty, for a fast food burger, but not low in calories. It was bigger than I needed, too. I usually order the lower calorie Whopper Jr. with no cheese and it's plenty, with just a small fry or onion ring and diet Coke. I only go there occasionally.

currently manic but physically, feeling great, but I know that's the mania speaking. I'm afraid of crashing. doesn't feel that hot when it happens.

Oh no! Its great you have insight while in that state though. What helps you the most while in mania? I was thinking maybe exercise to help burn off some of the extra energy, but then so considered that might amp you up further.

I try to give myself productive tasks to do around the house or back yard. I also try to do some meditation and deep measured breathing. A nice long shower helps, too. I listen to mental health podcasts or music and that usually settles me down. Today I'm going to ride our bike for a bit, then watch a movie after I take my daughter to work. Hope I can stay still for it lol. Key thing for me is being aware of what's going on and possibly tracking down triggers.

Hope all is well, fern46! Thanks!

How are you feeling today? I think it is impressive how hard you work to manage your mania on your own. I hope things are slowing a bit for you.

I weighed myself today and I'm only .4 lbs away from my goal. Yay! I plan to lose a few more once I make it so that I can have some room to fluctuate while in maintenance mode.

Fern !!!

This is so great you hard work has indeed been paying off , I need your motivation for sure !!

Do something nice for yourself !

Thanks Christina!

Good call. A bit of celebration is in order.

that's awesome! you can do it! Congrats

I'm crashing now. flip side now. depressed, low energy, loss of interest etc etc some anxiety so I took a klonopin, but I knew this was coming and I prepared myself for it. about to watch a movie which is a go to for me as a coping skill. it comforts me. thanks for asking, fern! hope all is well

feeling ok today. just some bad knee pain. it's my IT band. hurts to step down and put weight on my left leg. took some advil, but I need shots for it soon. slept much better last night so my mood is better today. also, lingering neck pain. it's usually tension but I think it's my myofascial pain syndrome acting up. I also get trigger point injections for this. hope it doesn't last because being in pain constantly triggers me. hope everyone is well!

I've been active all week. I stepped up a level on my workouts. That has put some extra stress on my body which I needed to keep progressing. It took me a while to get comfortable with the routine, but I have the hang of it now.

I developed a bit of hip pain. I went to stand from sitting position the other day and my leg slipped out of joint for a second. It has been sore ever since. Thankfully it doesn't hurt when I exercise. It typically only hurts when I lift my leg or swing it around. I hope it improves soon. My husband tells me all the time my body will start hurting randomly all over as I age. I am trying to avoid that, but I can accept a little pain here and there.

I am still doing well on my eating plan. I haven't had much trouble sticking to 1400 calories per day. I use my exercise calories every now and again, so that allows me to have an extra dessert or some junk food here and there. I've noticed my sodium intake is higher than I would like some days, so I plan to keep a better eye on that going forward.

I hope everyone is having a good week and I wish everyone a healthy weekend. We haven't heard from a lot of folks in a while, so I'd love to hear how everyone else is doing. Blessings.

I'm so sorry about the knee pain. I tore my meniscus a few years back and I remember the feeling. I hope the injections help. Wishing you a peaceful and relaxing weekend Jedi!

you as well, fern46! have a great weekend. blessings! (I have a knee brace on, so it's not too bad right now)

Hi fern. When do you plan to weigh yourself next? That's so exciting that you're only 0.4 lbs from your personal weight goal.

I got on the scale today. I actually lost a pound after maintaining my weight for about a month or so. That is actually pure luck considering that I had been eating a lot of not so low cal stuff. I am sure I maintained because I had a mild mood upswing for about three or more weeks. I lost the pound this week because I was even higher in the upswing, albeit with mixed features, and barely eating the last day and a half. I feel really good and level today, though.

It sure would be nice to lose another four pounds soon. That would mean getting back to lowest weight I've been in recent years. Plus, that would take me to only 10 pounds overweight. If I could really get back on track again, reaching my normal BMI again wouldn't be that big of a feat. It sure would be nice to have a normal BMI before the holidays begin. Hubby and I usually go to Florida over Thanksgiving. I'd love to look really HOT in a bathing suit by then ! Also, I have tons of nice clothes that would fit me again, if I could lose just 10 pounds. It can be done!

My next round of blood tests are in February, I believe. I'm pretty sure I can have normal triglycerides, glucose level, and blood pressure by then...if nothing bad happens. I really want my cholesterol to be much lower. I won't aim for normal, just a lot lower. That can be done!

Probably on Wednesday. I actually gained a pound back this week, but I haven't really changed anything so I figured it is probably just water weight. That's why I want to keep a closer eye on my sodium intake.

You are really close to all of your goals. Every one of them is well within reach. That's exciting! It is also great you are down a pound. It sounds like you eat fairly healthy most of the time anyway, so I imagine it would take a while to really tip the scale in a bad way. Go get your beach body!

I've adopted the 'no excuses' mantra. Every time I want to just skip my workout I remind myself there is no excuse more important than my health. Every time I want to trash my meal plan and order take out I tell myself to put away my excuses and I suck it up and make a healthier meal. It works a majority of the time. Sometimes the excuses win. I'm ok with that as long as the general trend is a positive one.

As many of you know I live between 2 very rural towns. So we have very little choices whenit comes to dining out and we are way to far out for delivery of course ( thankfully) So generally I cook all but maybe once or twice a month.

But here ..... in a big city there are loads of choices so we have been going out nightly and well I’m just not being careful to order healthy foods. I have zero regret !

Tomorrow I’m taking my daughter to get a delicious pizza and Greek salad at Mellow Mushroom !

We head to our friends on Monday and they honestly don’t know what healthy food is , I mean they know but they are early 70’s and grew up on meat and potatoes meals.

Once back home I can get us back on track easily enough.

I had a big amount of weight to lose and I’ll get there, quicker if my pain would drop so I’m capable to adding exercise, I’m at a loss as to when I’ll ever feel half way decent again. Time will tell.

Fern I’m so happy for you ! Your pushing yourself to exercise no matter what is so amazing !!! Be damn proud of yourself !!

Mellow Mushroom is one of my favorites. So many great pizzas and I love their crust. Enjoy!

It is so hard to control your food while travelling. You'll have plenty of opportunity to eat healthy when you return home and can prepare your own foods. We go on vacation in a few weeks and I'm already mentally preparing myself to relax and enjoy. We can cook while we are there, but we go out about half the time. Part of the fun is exploring the food, so I plan to eat whatever I want.

Thanks for the words of encouragement! They are much appreciated.