Physical Check-In #2

I see. I don't particularly like sour foods, so I hope if I make cauliflower pizza that it doesn't taste sour. I am sure I can add tons of stuff to the "dough" to make it fine, though. But if you're buying it premade from a store, I guess there isn't much you can do about it.

Thanks for the recipe and links. I don't know if I'd want to fry the polenta though, only because I think fried foods exacerbate my reflux problem (hence I typically stay away from fast food). I guess I could just bake it instead.

I am a huge pizza addict, so anything that could reduce the acidity would be great... although I know that tomatoes themselves are acidic.

I like cauliflower crust pizza. We have a place here who make pizzas with it so I've never tried to make it myself. I don't like their sauce much but I do like their pizza. We have bought a prepared frozen cauliflower crust but haven't used it yet.

That's cool you have a local place that makes cauliflower pizza. I don't know of any around here who do that. We mostly just have Domino's, Papa Johns, etc., and those places give me BAD heartburn!!

I hope you enjoy your frozen cauliflower crust.

So I added weight training to my wprkouts and i lost 3lbs over 2 weeks. then I didn't lift and ate cookies for a week. I'm back up those 3lbs. Weight loss is hard man!

Truth. The cookies are always a challenge. What kind of long term weight loss goal do you have for yourself? I did my best when I followed circuit training and paired it with a 1400/day calorie limit.

I'm in maintenance mode at the moment and have a range of about 10 lbs I stay within. I kick things back into high gear when I'm at the high end and relax a bit when on the lower side.

I've done well with my physical goals this week so far. I've been able to exercise every day and my eating has been on track for then most part.

I am planning to make some cookies today with my kids to surprise my husband with when he comes home. He has been working hard this week and I want him to feel appreciated. Luckily his favorite flavor isn't mine, so I won't be eating a bunch of them

I know this seems like doomsday prepping, but I will go to the grocery store and buy tons of canned goods, pasta, rice, etc. before coronavirus strikes... because it will. The infected man in California probably infected tons of other people because he waited until the last minute to seek help. I know you can spread it without being symptomatic, but I am sure if he sought help earlier that less people would be infected. But besides that, Italy is overrun with coronavirus and there are flights to/from Italy.

Probably not good to eat all these carbs, but I don't want to be the last one to the grocery store when coronavirus hits. People will be spreading it when it hits, so I want to stay AWAY from the grocery store. Plus, the grocery store will be bare because everyone will have bought everything in doomsday prepping. And who knows what businesses will be open. My workplace has already cancelled a bunch of conferences in California and telling people not to go into the office!!

Hey Blue! Maybe not a bad idea? It's most likely going to spread. Due to our rapid modes of transportation, it can spread fast.

Wasn't SARS a coronavirus which was rampant overseas. yet no so much here in the U.S.
We've made it through yet another coronavirus; I forget its name, but we'll all recognize it.

Is this corona virus more virulent?

I've had 2 doctors voice disappointment in the CDC for not yet having developed a vaccine for coronavirus .

I've gained weight since the separation. Rheumy says most of it is from combining prednisone and Enbrel together. We have started to taper the prednisone.
I don't feel so bad knowing H has gained weight, too. Lol! I have not seen him since asking him to leave last May. We do talk and we both have input on projects. For instance, we have been renovating a property. I will pick out the flooring and he will pick it up and install it. We will have to see each other soon. I need for him to pick up the rest of his belongings here, etc.

I need to buckle down and lose weight! Exercise is a bit of a problem. I have at least one hip with severe arthritis, needing a replacement. I have an injured knee on the same side. Doctor failed to order enough x-rays of the other side. I do have a recumbent bike in the den. One doctor told me that will put too much stress on my hip and knee. Ortho appt still a month away.

Congrats to all losing weight and to those improving their health in any way.

This coronavirus is very different. Even the n95 respirator masks (which medical personnel are using in hospitals etc.) aren't perfect protectors against the virus. Supposedly the virus particles are between 0.05 and 0.20 microns in size, while the most "advanced" respirator masks only filter out particles that are 0.30 microns and larger. Still, I am sure it is better than nothing. Like if someone were to spit on your face, for example, I would assume the droplets are larger than 0.30 microns. But if someone coughs in the air and the virus particles separate from the saliva, then you're at high risk for breathing it in if the virus particles are smaller than 0.30 microns. The virus particles can cling to air particles and thus "float" in the air for a while.

Another thing... If someone coughs in the air, it can infect you through your eyes. That's why a lot of medical professionals are recommending people to wear goggles as well. I mean, even if the respirator did a perfect job of filtering out the virus particles, there is still nothing protecting your eyes. Supposedly lots of people have been infected through the eyes alone.

Me personally? I am just going to stay home and not leave the apartment!! I will have stocked up on all the goods anyways, so I will be fine when it hits.

@Fern goals are to lose about 10lbs (realistic) and 35-40lbs (ideal). I had already lost 5 total (i think now), but as I said, gained back the 3lbs. My realistic goal is to get back down to the weight I was before meds. Not really any other goals besides trimming down, except I guess to keep consistent, like exercise most days of the week, if not all (just doing something) because I'm pretty inactive for the rest of the day these days.
PLUS-gaining flexibility so that I can do splits fully (center and left and right splits) as well as this pose called the pancake. (it's kinda like middle splits only you lean your torso forward over a seated split)

Tonight's update. Did bis, tris, and shoulders strengthening for 20 min (i'm counting/tracking weight amount and reps/sets, but was also curious of the time spent). And warmed up with 20min of yoga/stretching. I love stretching! Oh! I suppose that's another goal...I'll post above.

It will ebb and flow. I go up and down all the time. I was overweight after I had my kids. I lost about 30 pounds over the course of a year. I got to my 'ideal weight' and stopped there because it was the most I could imagine for myself. Later I started exercising formally and dropped another 15 while also eating well. I've been at that new weight range for about 3 years now.

I went on meds for the first time a little over a year ago. I started gaining weight fast. I tried eating a little less at first. That didn't help. I tried moving more next. That didn't help. I ended up needing to track my food and stick to a strict calorie intake. I also did a circuit training program 5-6 days a week that was 30 minutes and included cardio and strength training.

That worked for me and the 10 lbs I gained on meds came off over a couple of months. I think the magic mix is probably different for everyone. It sounds like you're off to a really great start. I'm sending you supoort and well wishes on your journey.

hurting because I had a shower today.

my whole body aches..

Went to the doctor today for my Abilify injection - I've dropped 12 lbs.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I have another appt. with my podiatrist on Wednesday so he can check out the achilles tendon/bone spur problem that has me climbing the walls with pain.

I've been off Seroquel for about 3 months - eating the same (I don't overeat or eat junk), hardly exercising because of the foot pain - and I've lost 10lbs.

oh, I am sorry you are in so much pain.
I hope you can get relief asap.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

I am very sorry you go through so much pain when you are simply attending to hygiene.

If I am recalling correctly, you are challenged with fibromyalgia?

Does the water hitting your skin cause pain?
If so, maybe consider an adjustable showerhead?

Some people enjoy attachments to the pipe that feeds the showerhead. These have flexible tubing and a "wand" at the end where the water comes out. This allows more control of the water and stops the "pelting" sensation you might be feeling from the current showerhead.

There are many styles. You can take the wand out of the holder at the top and hold it in your hand, self-directing the water flow. Can usually also choose from a variety of levels from softer water flow to a stronger flow.

Just one example:

Waterpik 9-Spray 4.5 in. Single Wall Mount Low Flow Handheld Rain Shower Head in Chrome-YAT-963ME - The Home Depot

It's quite possible the shower causes you pain for a different reason.
I truly hate to see you suffering from a shower.

Congratulations to those who've lost the weight!

BethRags, I hope the podiatrist can help ease your foot pain. I wish my Seroquel XR dose could be lowered. I know that would help me lose weight, too, but this is definitely not the right time for me to take less. It tends to be a lot more weight neutral when I can get down to doses of 450 or 500 mg, or less. I haven't been able to take that little for about two years now.

I now know for sure that I have started my spring mood upswing, a little earlier than usual. Hubby, pdoc, and tdoc have noticed, and so have I. I'm zipping around a lot, a lot more productive than usual, and loud, even more talkative than usual, quick quick quick, and slightly impulsive. I try to curb all this, but can't fully. Physically, I find myself sweating a lot. My body seems to turn into a furnace. I have slept OK, thanks to my Seroquel XR, but in the mornings I start to accelerate, usually reaching a peak at around 4 pm.

That's impressively insightful BirdDancer. How do you typically handle it? Do you take countermeasures or just enjoy it until it reaches a certain point?

I confess that when my hypomania is mild, I do allow myself to enjoy the ride a bit. But as I wrote, some less than ideal symptoms show themselves. When I struggle to curb them sufficiently, or if the mania level rises, I start to take prn Seroquel and/or my psychiatrist raises my Seroquel XR dose. I prefer the former rather than the latter, of course. Sometimes the prns keep the beast at bay as long as other factors are not at play, such as stress or over-excitement.

Speaking of stress/over-excitement, another strategy is for me to "lay low" as I call it. Sometimes even a trip to the grocery store can be enough to accelerate the beast. It may still live, though, but it is better for me to "write some of it out" at home, perhaps not always on forums. The writing transfers some of the racing thoughts from my brain through my arms and then fingers to my laptop keyboard. Part of the benefit is that my fingers dance and bang on the keys. Boom, boom, ba ba, boom, tala ha ha phooey chick, bada bing louie. It's an exhaling of sorts, a type of release. Pleasurable and yet at the same time relieving.

I really don't want my Seroquel XR dose to go up to 650 or 700 mg. I've found over the years that my base dose is increasing. It's frustrating, and yet it's necessary, sometimes. I've got to be honest and say that I would not be among those who could quit my medications. After 34 years with bipolar illness, that is not likely an option for me. That's not to say I don't wish my Seroquel XR dose to be lower. But gone? That would be a pipe dream. Thirty four years having bipolar disorder. Fifteen years of being told I had bipolar disorder by likely 10 different psychiatrists and 15 different therapists. More times than I can remember that the illness proved itself again and again. It's not a joke. It's not something I can wish or think away. The course has worsened over the years. Though I have gained great insight and coping skills, that help greatly, my medication proves its necessity. Again and again. I can't just make the same mistakes and expect a different result. Einstein was right, at least for me.

The last time I reached full blown manic with psychosis was in May of 2018. It was hard to stop since my husband and I were traveling in Portugal. Too many stressors overwhelmed me. We do plan to return to Europe for a vacation this year, but hubby and I agreed that the autumn is better. Spring is too dangerous for me. Even in the fall, I now know what to avoid. I feel that I have learned a lifetime of lessons. I'm excited to learn even more. That motivates me.

Those all seem like good strategies. I like how you approach it from so many angles. I agree about having outlets for the excess energy. Allowing it to build and build without a pressure release seems risky.

I hope things go well for you this spring. Let us know if there's anything specific we can do to support you.

I got on the scale and I’ve reached my February goals and am a good way to my March goals. Yay! I had a wellness consultation at a Nutrition Store and the consultant was pleased with my eating habits and supplementation except for protein intake. He recommended I increase it since I eat meatless a lot. Most of my protein comes from 30 grams of protein added to a green morning smoothie.

I’m currently working on consistency in working out. On a good week I work out three times. Would like to get that up to 5 times consistently.

I have several pounds to lose and and many months to go so I choose to celebrate each small victory.

I echo birddancer's sentiment, congrats to those of you losing weight.

Unfortunately the number on the scale has been going up again for me. Sigh! I haven't exactly been motivated to work out lately, probably because I want to go visit the kitties and watch Netflix and just don't get time plus energy to work out later. This is only temporary though, but still, I feel guilty and I can feel my body craving to maintain healthier habits. :/

Hugs and love to everyone in physical pain