Physical Check-In

Feeling much better tonight after a day and a-half of pretty marked soreness following my, in retrospect, somewhat crazy decision to tackle Mt. Scott on my bike the other day. I thought I was in pretty good shape. Ha! I guess everything's relative.

Another busy day today, but I just got my workout in. I considered skipping and I'm glad I went ahead and worked it in even though I might not get through all of my chores today. I feel like exercising is a huge part of what helps to keep me stable and I want to stick with it.

Well wishes for holistic health for everyone today.

It's so helpful to all of us to discover what helps us to remain stable. This is usually more than meds and/or therapy.

Before meeting up with some very physically disabling medical conditions, I did manage stress and mood through a very athletic life. I lived to play sports, to run, to bike, to ski, etc. Ever since i have had physical limitations so severely, I have not been able to return to that level of activity.

I have really struggled to find alternatives which work as well for me as did exercise. I still try new things and/or try older approaches with new variations, etc.

I want to thank Fern for setting up this thread to help each of us to become more cognizant of our mind-body connection. and of the important role this balance may play in our becoming less stressed and potentially more stabile. This approach has reminded many of us that we do, indeed, have physical bodies, that we can master "grounding" and we can have a positive effect on body image.

I, for one, am grateful to fern . I am very appreciative of her taking the time to share her insights . She freely offers these insights and compassionately raises consciousness on creative and healthy ways of managing many seemingly difficult challenges..

With Love and Gratitude ~

Had to give up my virtually every-morning workout this AM due to exhaustion. Just never got it going today. Felt like a truck hit me. Like the bad old days. Trauma. Oh well. Took a nap and feel better now. We'll see how it goes.

I you too!!!

I hope it is just a fluke. I try to work out 5-6 times a week and I have a day like this every now and again. Some days I can push through and some I just choose to give my body what it is asking me for. There is a lot of junk going around right now too. Your body might just be fighting something off. Lots of relaxation and self care today, ok?

Thanks a lot, fern. I am trying to push through it..

Life has been really busy the past few days with family visits, sporting events, shopping, projects and family time. I have been active, but I have missed my workout several days in a row. I feel the difference and plan to get back on track today. It is a nice day out, so I also plan to spend some time being active outdoors as well.

I hope everyone had a healthy and happy weekend. I know several of you are really struggling physically at the moment and I'm sending vibes of healing and future wellness your way. Love to all!

HI, Still with you all, in Spirit!
I am being challenged with a lot of discomfort, on all levels.
I have not been able to do more physically., yet.
I am happy to report the Enbrel is helping with some types of pain/discomfort. I will test it awhile longer. If it continues to work, I will have to seriously make a decision as to whether or not to remain on this med therapy. (The idea being, if it did not work, the decision would be made for me.)

Much Love to ALL!

I'm so glad to hear the Embrel is potentially helping. Any relief at all seems like a huge blessing as you have been in so much pain for an extended period of time. You're doing all you can and you keep pushing through one day at a time.

I’m so glad your noticing that Enbrel is helping. Every little bit counts !

I finally weighed myself and actually recorded the weight in MyFitnessPal. I seem to be up 1 lb since last week, but I won't sweat it. At least I am starting to track my eating again. I did eat more than planned these past few days of tracking, but it could've been worse. I want to improve.

I noticed that I am 4 lbs more than I was at the end of June, according to MyFitnessPal tracking.

My Seroquel XR dose has been back up to 600 mg for over a week. I consider 550 + as weight unfriendly. An issue I'm having is hunger an hour after taking it. Also, lately I have been waking up in the middle of the night famished, snacking, while normally I sleep through and am famished at breakfast. Daytime eating, up until dinner, is usually not as much of a struggle/splurge. I need to:

a) Prep lower cal snacks ahead of time for midnight snacking.

b) Prep more healthful, filling, and/or lower cal breakfasts than I have been eating.

I am still having heartburn issues much of the time. Another Nexium down the hatch. Nexium does help.

I was feeling a little sloth like. I ate horribly yesterday and wasn't very active. This was fitting because Alexa wished me a happy National Sloths Day last night. Somehow she always knows...

I've eaten well so far today and I've been active. I rocked out a bunch of chores this morning and I completed my workout. I feel much better already!

That is funny! I only heard of National Sloth's Day earlier this morning. You know, it's not good to be inactive, but sloths seem like pleasant enough creatures, to me. Ever seen a baby sloth? They're cute!

Yes, super cute!

Went out for a brief walk. it's just gorgeous here! Colors popping! Cool breeze!

I am still "recovering" from yesterday's migraine. I was having symptoms of one again this morning, but stepped outside into the cooler air, often. The heat was givng my brain cramps. I am very sensitive to the heat. I am claiming the "office," where I can open all of the windows! I am grateful for the "office" space here!

I can look out and can see the neighbors going by on their daily walks. Hopefully, witnessing their walks will motivate me.

Service Animals/Companion Animals and Exercise -

When I had a dog, I had walked her several times a day. She was good for me in so many ways! I miss her; yet, am so grateful for the time we'd had together.

Pdoc and PC want me to get another dog. I definitely cannot until I move. This place has white... yes, white.... carpeting!
I have some reservations about getting another dog/service animal. I feel it is only fair that service animals get breaks and plenty of exercise and play. Many service animals hang out with people in chronic pain, people deeply frustrated, people deeply depressed etc. (I agree this is not always the case;however it is the case often enough for this to be a concern.) I believe these service/companion animals need scheduled breaks, enough exercise and play times. While some human companions can offer their animal companion these activities, many cannot. It would be great if someone would step up and run the dog for them, etc. This rarely occurs.

In my own case, I am not convinced I can do the dog justice. I was "better" off then, medically. I continue to deteriorate a bit each year.I'd had someone else in the house to exercise the dog on days I could not do so. If I cannot offer an animal companion a balanced, healthy life, I will do without one. Just my own opinion on this. ( I am/have been an advocate for service/companion animals for many years now.)

I need to dedicate some of my energy to getting an increasing amount of exercise each day. I have started today.

Love to All!

Wild Coyote, I really wish you had some animal friend. It's hard to always know what we are capable of handling at certain times. I don't know if your area has such a place, but my area has a wonderful animal shelter that is a no-kill shelter. They have numerous volunteers that come and help with the animals, which of course includes walking the dogs. I know that many of the volunteers end up adopting a pet.

I can certainly understand the concern about a white carpet. Frankly, a white carpet would be in extreme danger even with my presence. I'm so clumsy and dropping things all of the time! Perhaps if/when you move you can revisit the idea of a new animal companion. There are so many animals that just plain need a home and someone to love them. To many animals, a depressed owner that loves them and feeds them and does their best, is better than no owner at all. Or being put down. Of course we never want there to be any form of neglect (or of course worse), but as I wrote, to be loved goes a long way, even with basic care. I don't know. That's just my view on things. I could say that my husband should have left me a long time ago, but he wouldn't think that in a million years. I couldn't leave him, either, if he was in a long-term distress.

BirdDancer

You make some excellent points. I had not thought of the animals needing help, too. You are right, LOVE goes a long way.
You and I have shared about the importance of our companion/service animals with one another. I am grateful for those exchanges, just as I am for this one!

Thanks so much for reminding me!

I'm going out for another walk!
It surely helps to be able to look out these windows, facing the street, watching the neighbors walking by!
I usually know their dogs' names long before I know their names!
Gotta go!

Cold front has my head ready to explode today. I feel like I’ve been beaten by a bat for hours.

Tomorrow will be better , it has to be.

enjoy.

and if you do see any doggies, make sure to give them a stroke for me (I loooove dogs). when I go on walks I always stop to stroke the dogs who have been left outside the shop or are walking with their owners

dogs are cuuuuute!

fibro pain.

no worse than yesterday's but no better either

I found a cool online calculator that allows you to put in info that generates recommended daily calorie intake for losing weight fast, losing weight at a more moderate rate, and maintaining weight. If anyone is interested, it's at How Many Calories Should You Eat Per Day to Lose Weight?

I mentioned the other day that I'm tracking my eating. My ideal daily calorie limit would be 1,200, but I am struggling to stay at or below that with my increased Seroquel XR dose. Instead, I am aiming to not exceed what the above website labels as my "moderate weight loss" calorie goal, which is likely a 1 lb per week loss rate. More doable. I figure there is no need beating myself up that I can't lose weight fast. I think that even days when I don't exceed the "maintaining weight" amounts are good.

Thanks for the site/info.!

Congrats on organizing your plan!

I have found that I can follow through once I devise a plan, get organized and form a strong intention. Sometimes, I post my written intention on the refrigerator or on a cupboard door (one i use a lot).

I need to get very serious, organized and need to clarify my intention.

It seems like i often start or re-start a weigh reducing strategy just before the holidays. i usually lose weight over the holiday season this way.

Good Health and Love to All!

This is cool. Thanks for sharing!