Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 05, 2020, 01:59:52 PM
I want this thread to be comfortable for as many people as possible. With that in mind, I have two boundaries to suggest:
No unsolicited advice--please ask for ideas if you want advice and hold your tongue (er, keyboard?) if no one asked
No calorie counts or specific weight talk--there's usually a weight loss thread for that kind of thing
What do y'all think of those? Are there other boundaries I've missed? What are you working on in 2020--better sleep, more consistent exercise, more nourishing food choices?
Post by: ysette9 on January 05, 2020, 02:25:10 PM
Post by: chaskavitch on January 05, 2020, 04:09:02 PM
Also, I am trying to floss every night :)
Our 9 month old is still bad at sleeping, so my sleep is completely borked right now and I feel terrible, but these are things I have control over.
I've already posted in the Fitness thread with specific health things, so I'll leave those alone.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 05, 2020, 04:30:07 PM
Sorry about the sleep :-(.
Good thread. I hadn’t thought of formally making a goal for the year but this is a good way to frame it. I need to exercise every day or nearly so for my mental health maintenance regime.
Me, too!
Post by: SquashingDebt on January 05, 2020, 08:19:49 PM
It's $70 for the year, but for me that's money well spent.
Post by: Luz on January 05, 2020, 08:29:01 PM
2020 health goals:
-drink at least 1/2 gallon of water per day
-wear sunscreen on my hands and get lip balm with spf
-floss after every meal (I'm genetically predisposed to gum disease, so my dental hygienist suggested more frequent flossings- it's also cheap, takes very little time, and makes my teeth look much better)
-somehow remind myself throughout the day to improve my posture: shoulders back, tailbone tucked (I'd love feedback on how to go about remembering this, because how I hold my body is so subconscious at present)
-consistently (most days of the month) go to bed at least 7.5 hours, but ideally 8 hours before I have to wake up
-think of 1 big and 2 small things I'm grateful for while doing some other daily routine task (like showering or brushing teeth)
I'll post again with possible strategies for how I'm going to accomplish these things.
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 05, 2020, 08:38:10 PM
-I wear sunblock on my face regularly, but want to wear sunblock whenever I'm working out outside. I had a mole removed on my leg, and it was a really not fun process. I want to avoid future occurrences.
-Meditation. I'm a dabbler, and want to make it more consistent.
-Reduce alcohol consumption. I'm a Friday-Sunday, 2 glasses of wine kind of a drinker. So, nothing crazy. However, when I travel for work, or am on vacation, I also have wine. It's more of a calorie & financial consideration, but am interested in just reducing my consumption overall in 2020.
-Reduce stress. (See meditation above). Work out consistently, which like @ysette9 helps me maintain my mental & physical health
I have a few more: using lotion, flossing my teeth EVERY day, etc.
Post by: oneday on January 05, 2020, 08:46:43 PM
Post by: Frugal Lizard on January 05, 2020, 08:50:09 PM
Post by: Tess on January 06, 2020, 09:44:10 AM
* yoga 2-3 x/week
* run 3x/week
* walk 1-2 x/week
* 12 step meetings (AA and/or Al Anon) 3x/week
* eat meat free 3x/week
* lower sugar consumption (one small treat/day)
* be mindful about eating (eat when hungry not to change the way I feel)
* avoid all recreational shopping for 2020 (joined the "buy NO clothes in 2020" group
* stay clean and sober
* read at least 26 books
Post by: ysette9 on January 06, 2020, 10:45:03 AM
* Go to dermatologist to have moles checkedThis are great goals. It also seems like you are signing yourself up for a lot and our self control is limited. Your not overextending yourself, right?
* yoga 2-3 x/week
* run 3x/week
* walk 1-2 x/week
* 12 step meetings (AA and/or Al Anon) 3x/week
* eat meat free 3x/week
* lower sugar consumption (one small treat/day)
* be mindful about eating (eat when hungry not to change the way I feel)
* avoid all recreational shopping for 2020 (joined the "buy NO clothes in 2020" group
* stay clean and sober
* read at least 26 books
Post by: chaskavitch on January 06, 2020, 10:49:17 AM
* Go to dermatologist to have moles checked
* yoga 2-3 x/week
* run 3x/week
* walk 1-2 x/week
* 12 step meetings (AA and/or Al Anon) 3x/week
* eat meat free 3x/week
* lower sugar consumption (one small treat/day)
* be mindful about eating (eat when hungry not to change the way I feel)
* avoid all recreational shopping for 2020 (joined the "buy NO clothes in 2020" group
* stay clean and sober
* read at least 26 books
Thanks for reminding me that I need to go see a dermatologist for a baseline exam! I'm turning 35 this year and it seems like a very good idea - I'm fair skinned and have had many, many sunburns over my life.
Post by: Raenia on January 07, 2020, 09:37:18 AM
- Meditate every day, at least 5 minutes. I've been doing 15 min most days.
- Establish a bedtime routine to get more/better sleep. So far I had DH pick our lights-out time and our screens-off time, because I'm more likely to succeed if I have his buy-in. I'm also going to move my evening reading from the bed to the living room, to improve sleep hygiene.
Continuing goal from last year:
- Drink more water. I'm up to about 80oz per day, and that feels pretty good. I'm pretty good about it on work days, less so on weekends.
Other goals for the year:
- Starting in Feb, take a walk every day.
- Catch up on medical appointments: primary care, gyno, dentist, vision, and dermatologist
Post by: Frugal Lizard on January 07, 2020, 11:00:54 AM
Post by: ysette9 on January 07, 2020, 11:37:11 AM
Some of the recommendations spurred me to make a whack of appointments. Dental appointment was at 11:30 and I am going back Thursday am for replacing two fillings that appear to be "leaking". Family doc is Monday morning for a referral to dermatologist. Eye doc for updated prescriptions is next Thursday.You are so good. I need to do exactly the same
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 07, 2020, 01:15:20 PM
Some of the recommendations spurred me to make a whack of appointments. Dental appointment was at 11:30 and I am going back Thursday am for replacing two fillings that appear to be "leaking". Family doc is Monday morning for a referral to dermatologist. Eye doc for updated prescriptions is next Thursday.
Well done!
Does anyone have suggestions for a (preferably) free, low-barrier-to-entry way to start meditating? I don't have a lot of intellectual energy to devote to learning how to do a new thing but I think it would be helpful.
I have been owning my "problematic" feelings lately and asking for the support I need! I am very fortunate to have a partner who is good with feelings. He just hugs me. Even if I was doing something and I'm like, can you put your computer away and come hug me for a while because something sad happened in the book I'm reading and now I have Feelings?
All this talk of appointments is reminding me I need to make an appointment with a NEW dentist. I am in a new part of town and the first new dentist I tried, I didn't care for, so... on to the next!
Post by: mspym on January 07, 2020, 01:42:09 PM
- using my train commute to meditate (to work) and practise Spanish (from work)
- continue to reduce my animal product consumption, specifically dairy which my body HATES and which I am soooooo close to completely removing. I am not going Full Vegan just yet - I find that any 100% goal triggers a lot of anxiety/perfectionism - but we have enormously reduced our meat consumption over the last few months and I am loving it.
- keep doing the mobility exercises my physio gave me for my sprained ankle with the goal of getting back to running.
Post by: ysette9 on January 07, 2020, 01:45:15 PM
I’m no expert. I did YouTube guided meditation videos that I would just listen to with my eyes closed in bed. People have recommended various apps in the past but naturally I can’t remember the names of any of them.Some of the recommendations spurred me to make a whack of appointments. Dental appointment was at 11:30 and I am going back Thursday am for replacing two fillings that appear to be "leaking". Family doc is Monday morning for a referral to dermatologist. Eye doc for updated prescriptions is next Thursday.
Well done!
Does anyone have suggestions for a (preferably) free, low-barrier-to-entry way to start meditating? I don't have a lot of intellectual energy to devote to learning how to do a new thing but I think it would be helpful.
I have been owning my "problematic" feelings lately and asking for the support I need! I am very fortunate to have a partner who is good with feelings. He just hugs me. Even if I was doing something and I'm like, can you put your computer away and come hug me for a while because something sad happened in the book I'm reading and now I have Feelings?
All this talk of appointments is reminding me I need to make an appointment with a NEW dentist. I am in a new part of town and the first new dentist I tried, I didn't care for, so... on to the next!
Post by: mspym on January 07, 2020, 02:46:50 PM
- I like the free Smiling Mind ones but if you find the Australian accent off-putting then David Cain (Raptitude) has a Camp Calm program which I have tried and found both his voice and approach excellent. Specific program I tried was his Camp Calm Relax, which was about meditating on bodily sensation to calm down the mind.
Post by: Tris Prior on January 08, 2020, 08:48:46 AM
My goals are:
- gym 2x a week
- Doing a no-grains January. Though I've already fallen off the wagon a couple times. With oatmeal, because the egg casserole I made was disgusting and slimy. I guess it could be worse.
- Booze only on weekends.
- Get health stuff sorted. I have to do a $3k minimum spend by end of March to get a big airline miles card bonus; I am ashamed that this has convinced me to finally make a dentist appointment (I need MANY thousands of dollars of work that I've been putting off because $) and an eye doctor appointment (same; I need progressives and I don't know anyone who's paid less than $800 for them even with insurance).
- I also need to find and go to a primary care doctor. I don't have one. Yes, I KNOW. I do have a gyno and was just there last week, so it's not like I'm getting zero medical care.... but, yeah. I'm in my late 40s and shit is probably going to start breaking.
My therapist says I should meditate, but when I try it makes me panic. My gym has yoga nidra classes, which I've gone to now a couple of times in hopes that would ease me into regular meditation, they're about half yoga and half guided meditation. But it is so ice cold in the studio that I couldn't concentrate on relaxing and quieting my mind. Too busy shivering. Under 2 blankets. Maybe I will bundle up to a ridiculous level and try it again? Dunno.
Post by: Moonwaves on January 09, 2020, 02:53:42 AM
...I find that any 100% goal triggers a lot of anxiety/perfectionism...I can identify. And I have the annoying kind of perfectionism that doesn't lead me to doing something until it is perfect but rather the kind that tells me I'll never be able to do it perfectly so why even bother trying. Working on that. I also have the perverse kind of brain that often treats setting a goal as a reason to rebel and immediately do everything except what will lead to that goal being achieved. As if setting a goal is daring myself to give up that target immediately. Working on that (in therapy) a lot, too.
Having said that, what I am now trying to do is not give myself goals but instead to be better about just doing things and then actually acknowledging that I'm doing them. So far this week that has meant:
- Following the organised mum method (https://www.theorganisedmum.blog/) for dealing with housework - falls under healty choices for me because if
- Bringing fixings for sandwiches to work for lunches (and actually having those sandwiches for lunch every day)
- Actually cooking dinner last night, even though I was tired and really didn't want to (helped by having taken something out of the freezer in the morning that I had to use or throw out)
- Moving in the office - getting up three or four times a day and doing some exercises. Only doing a very small amount, literally just something like five push-ups against the windowsill or wall but basically anything that will get me out of my chair on a regular basis.
- Arranging with the colleague who is taking a chair from me that as payment she will bring the exercise bike I just bought from another colleague. She brings the bike to me and takes away the armchair I love but just do not have space for or need.
- Signing up for the obesity clinic at my local hospital.
Post by: Metalcat on January 09, 2020, 04:48:57 AM
Some of the recommendations spurred me to make a whack of appointments. Dental appointment was at 11:30 and I am going back Thursday am for replacing two fillings that appear to be "leaking". Family doc is Monday morning for a referral to dermatologist. Eye doc for updated prescriptions is next Thursday.
Well done!
Does anyone have suggestions for a (preferably) free, low-barrier-to-entry way to start meditating? I don't have a lot of intellectual energy to devote to learning how to do a new thing but I think it would be helpful.
I have been owning my "problematic" feelings lately and asking for the support I need! I am very fortunate to have a partner who is good with feelings. He just hugs me. Even if I was doing something and I'm like, can you put your computer away and come hug me for a while because something sad happened in the book I'm reading and now I have Feelings?
All this talk of appointments is reminding me I need to make an appointment with a NEW dentist. I am in a new part of town and the first new dentist I tried, I didn't care for, so... on to the next!
The Headspace app is a great starter for mindfulness meditation. I've gotten at least a hundred people into meditation through that app even though I don't use it myself.
Post by: Metalcat on January 09, 2020, 04:52:20 AM
I've been trying to make a few things habit, but am spinning my wheels. I've been intending on making these changes for years.
2020 health goals:
-drink at least 1/2 gallon of water per day
-wear sunscreen on my hands and get lip balm with spf
-floss after every meal (I'm genetically predisposed to gum disease, so my dental hygienist suggested more frequent flossings- it's also cheap, takes very little time, and makes my teeth look much better)
-somehow remind myself throughout the day to improve my posture: shoulders back, tailbone tucked (I'd love feedback on how to go about remembering this, because how I hold my body is so subconscious at present)
-consistently (most days of the month) go to bed at least 7.5 hours, but ideally 8 hours before I have to wake up
-think of 1 big and 2 small things I'm grateful for while doing some other daily routine task (like showering or brushing teeth)
I'll post again with possible strategies for how I'm going to accomplish these things.
Not for posture, but for other muscular habits, I tell my patients to find a repetitive occurence to check their body, as in every time they check the time, or every time they check their email, or whatever you do frequently all day, just take a few milliseconds to also check your posture. It will make your brain more aware of your body position.
On top of that, mindfulness is actually amazing for being aware of what your body is doing.
Lastly, Pilates is crazy for posture. When I got into Pilates, I gained a full 3/4 inch in height and I just couldn't slouch.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 09, 2020, 01:46:38 PM
I am trying to get down on added sugar and today I didn't have any sugar in my coffee! Just cream. I am not a black coffee drinker. Cream is a food, as opposed to the flavored Oreo creamer I used most of last year.
Post by: mspym on January 09, 2020, 02:06:52 PM
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 09, 2020, 02:14:43 PM
- Doing a sportive activity multiple times a week. I would like to say every day, but I like to have the option to skip some days when the weather sucks. This week has been good.
- Regular yoga or meditation. I did the Palouse mindfulness 8 week course before the summer and liked it. In December I started again with yoga. I find meditation more difficult to start with. I tried a 30 minute sitting meditation recently and quit after 25 minutes.
- Get enough sleep. This is going quite well so far.
- Reading lots of books.
- Seeing friends.
- Healthy eating, but we do that practically every day. It is a habit.
Post by: Tess on January 11, 2020, 07:16:35 AM
*2 x yoga
*2 x running
*1/2 book read
*4 x AA meeting
*no recreational shopping
*sober but took a sleep aid 1x that should be avoided going forward (gives a warm floaty feeling which is a dangerous thing for this addict/alcoholic!)
Post by: MaybeBabyMustache on January 11, 2020, 02:34:06 PM
Goals for me for the year:
-I wear sunblock on my face regularly, but want to wear sunblock whenever I'm working out outside. I had a mole removed on my leg, and it was a really not fun process. I want to avoid future occurrences. - haven't worked out outside
-Meditation. I'm a dabbler, and want to make it more consistent. - x2
-Reduce alcohol consumption. I'm a Friday-Sunday, 2 glasses of wine kind of a drinker. So, nothing crazy. However, when I travel for work, or am on vacation, I also have wine. It's more of a calorie & financial consideration, but am interested in just reducing my consumption overall in 2020. - no week day alcohol. Had a single drink yesterday, vs my standard 2.
-Reduce stress. (See meditation above). Work out consistently, which like @ysette9 helps me maintain my mental & physical health - I ran 2x, 1 stretching workout, & 2 strength workouts
I have a few more: using lotion, flossing my teeth EVERY day, etc. - I've been using the evenings (getting off all electronics by 7:30 is another one of my goals) for a bit of self care. Taking a hot shower, using lotion (hit or miss with this one) & flossing. I have consistently flossed every day. Woohoo!
Post by: ysette9 on January 11, 2020, 03:18:41 PM
Post by: Luz on January 12, 2020, 08:27:55 PM
First up:
-flossing after breakfast and lunch
-going to bed 7.5 hours before it's time to wake up
I'm going to stick my floss in the toothbrush holder as a reminder for the post-breakfast session. After lunch I do paperwork, so this week I'll look for a way to somehow attach flossing to that.
For going to bed, I've found it much easier to turn in on time if I brush/floss my teeth and wash my face earlier in the evening. If I save it for the last thing before going to sleep, it feels like such a huge task and I end up procrastinating. So this week I'll try washing my face before I read.
I'll check in with progress every week.
Post by: Tris Prior on January 13, 2020, 07:57:45 AM
I know this habit has to change but I don't know what to do about the anxiety. I don't want to take meds for it, or to take sleeping pills. (and honestly, unless Boyfriend and our two young cats are both SILENT, even if I fell asleep in a reasonable amount of time, I'd be awakened constantly. I cannot sleep through the tiniest noise even with the white noise fan on as high as it goes. Thanks, perimenopause, for robbing me of my ability to sleep like the dead through anything!)
Has anyone broken this habit? I know part of it too is being resentful that really my body wants to be asleep at like 9 p.m. and sometimes I don't get home from work until 7. So having only 2 hours to eat dinner, tend to the cats, come down from the stress of the day, and spend a little time with my partner is very unappealing. Jobs are stupid.
Post by: Metalcat on January 13, 2020, 10:01:50 AM
I consistently - I mean, EVERY night unless we are at plans outside our home - fall asleep in front of the TV. I know this isn't healthy, but I hate going to bed by myself (it makes me very anxious and then I just lie there anyway wide awake and freaking out so that's not great either). Boyfriend likes to stay up late so he never goes to bed before 12:30 or 1.
I know this habit has to change but I don't know what to do about the anxiety. I don't want to take meds for it, or to take sleeping pills. (and honestly, unless Boyfriend and our two young cats are both SILENT, even if I fell asleep in a reasonable amount of time, I'd be awakened constantly. I cannot sleep through the tiniest noise even with the white noise fan on as high as it goes. Thanks, perimenopause, for robbing me of my ability to sleep like the dead through anything!)
Has anyone broken this habit? I know part of it too is being resentful that really my body wants to be asleep at like 9 p.m. and sometimes I don't get home from work until 7. So having only 2 hours to eat dinner, tend to the cats, come down from the stress of the day, and spend a little time with my partner is very unappealing. Jobs are stupid.
I would work on tackling what it is that makes you dislike going to bed alone, and perhaps look into some mindfulness meditation and/or CBT to resolve that barrier to going to bed.
Post by: Tris Prior on January 13, 2020, 10:36:05 AM
I would work on tackling what it is that makes you dislike going to bed alone, and perhaps look into some mindfulness meditation and/or CBT to resolve that barrier to going to bed.
Mostly it's that Boyfriend and I have disparate amounts of downtime/mental recharge time simply by virtue of the fact that he needs less sleep than I do, and that we don't get much couple time except on weekends because I cannot stay awake. I would like to spend time reading or watching a favorite show with him or just *talking* after work. I do not want my evenings to look like arrive home--> tend to cats --> feed self --> exercise if it is a night that I have a class at my gym --> do necessary chores and/or pack orders if I've had sales on my side business --> maybe have a brief conversation with boyfriend if time --> go immediately to bed. And that's what my evenings would need to look like. We live in a fairly small apartment, and I also feel like there's no point in going to bed super early because Boyfriend shouldn't have to tiptoe around the house or be constantly shushing the cats simply because the tiniest noise will jolt me awake. That's not his fault.
Part of it is also a sense that Something Bad will happen if I go to sleep alone. Not certain what the origin of that is. Probably worth mentioning in therapy. Meditation has never resulted in anything other than a panic attack for me; I'm not certain what I am doing wrong.
I think a lot of the problem is dreading the constant repeated wakeups in the middle of the night so, perversely, that makes me not want to go to bed and deal with yet another night of that. So I put it off until my body makes the decision for me wherever I happen to be. I have a really hard time staying asleep. Sleep meds don't tend to agree with me. We just got legal MJ in our state as of Jan. 1 and I'm told that can help so I'm thinking of giving edibles a try once all the hype calms down (currently all dispensaries are constantly out of stock and there are 4-6-hour waits in line to get anything).
Post by: Metalcat on January 13, 2020, 01:59:57 PM
I would work on tackling what it is that makes you dislike going to bed alone, and perhaps look into some mindfulness meditation and/or CBT to resolve that barrier to going to bed.
Mostly it's that Boyfriend and I have disparate amounts of downtime/mental recharge time simply by virtue of the fact that he needs less sleep than I do, and that we don't get much couple time except on weekends because I cannot stay awake. I would like to spend time reading or watching a favorite show with him or just *talking* after work. I do not want my evenings to look like arrive home--> tend to cats --> feed self --> exercise if it is a night that I have a class at my gym --> do necessary chores and/or pack orders if I've had sales on my side business --> maybe have a brief conversation with boyfriend if time --> go immediately to bed. And that's what my evenings would need to look like. We live in a fairly small apartment, and I also feel like there's no point in going to bed super early because Boyfriend shouldn't have to tiptoe around the house or be constantly shushing the cats simply because the tiniest noise will jolt me awake. That's not his fault.
Part of it is also a sense that Something Bad will happen if I go to sleep alone. Not certain what the origin of that is. Probably worth mentioning in therapy. Meditation has never resulted in anything other than a panic attack for me; I'm not certain what I am doing wrong.
I think a lot of the problem is dreading the constant repeated wakeups in the middle of the night so, perversely, that makes me not want to go to bed and deal with yet another night of that. So I put it off until my body makes the decision for me wherever I happen to be. I have a really hard time staying asleep. Sleep meds don't tend to agree with me. We just got legal MJ in our state as of Jan. 1 and I'm told that can help so I'm thinking of giving edibles a try once all the hype calms down (currently all dispensaries are constantly out of stock and there are 4-6-hour waits in line to get anything).
So...what *do* you actually aim to accomplish? A middle ground between going to bed very early and staying up late until BF decides to go to bed?
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 13, 2020, 02:32:00 PM
Post by: Tris Prior on January 13, 2020, 03:07:53 PM
So...what *do* you actually aim to accomplish? A middle ground between going to bed very early and staying up late until BF decides to go to bed?
That's a great question! Yes, a middle ground. I think my ideal outcome would be go to bed at a reasonable hour - like, 11 or 12, I get up for work at 7, so that seems sufficient. And - the key - *sleeping through the night.* Not waking up every hour in a panic. I feel like if I solved that bit, and was getting quality sleep, maybe my body would be less likely to randomly fall asleep any time I am not moving or doing something active. Maybe that is unrealistic for a woman of my age? From what I've read this seems pretty common for perimenopausal women.
Mainly I want to stop falling asleep in front of the TV and actually be able to finish a show sometimes. Maybe the sitting is what's the problem. Maybe some light stretching or whatever instead while I am watching. Probably would help relieve stress and wind down too.
I personally kind of doubt that Boyfriend is functioning as well as he says he is on 4-5 hours sleep, but, well, it's his body and not my problem to solve. I think both of us resist going to bed because we haven't had enough downtime to decompress from our stressful jobs. He just doesn't doze off at the drop of a hat like I do.
@Tris Prior, I so empathize! I have more like 3 1/2 hours between coming home and my ideal bedtime (10), at least most nights. But I have kids, and that breaks up the night. So I get in and it's immediately dinner time (shout out to the Boy for making it!), then it's time for the kids to be getting ready for bed while we do the dishes and hustle them along, then it's time to read to them, etc. Generally I get home around 6:30/6:45 and the boys are down for the night by 8:30/8:40. Not much time to spend together as a couple, work on our individual projects, etc.
It sucks, doesn't it! And I don't even have kids! Just needy cats who need attention and playtime or else they will be partying loudly at 3 a.m., haha. Also no time to actively work on reducing stress.
Post by: TheFrenchCat on January 14, 2020, 08:54:31 AM
-Add in exercise. My first goal is 5 push ups a day. (I need to start super slow, time wise.) Second goal is to add 15 minutes of cardio. I'll probably add this after a month or two of the push ups.
-Find a healthy and cheap (if possible) snack that I actually like eating. Going to try raisins first, but I'd love any suggestions you have!
Post by: mm1970 on January 14, 2020, 11:20:54 AM
same. My husband's doc recommended a meditation app. Looking for more recommendations.Some of the recommendations spurred me to make a whack of appointments. Dental appointment was at 11:30 and I am going back Thursday am for replacing two fillings that appear to be "leaking". Family doc is Monday morning for a referral to dermatologist. Eye doc for updated prescriptions is next Thursday.
Well done!
Does anyone have suggestions for a (preferably) free, low-barrier-to-entry way to start meditating? I don't have a lot of intellectual energy to devote to learning how to do a new thing but I think it would be helpful.
I have been owning my "problematic" feelings lately and asking for the support I need! I am very fortunate to have a partner who is good with feelings. He just hugs me. Even if I was doing something and I'm like, can you put your computer away and come hug me for a while because something sad happened in the book I'm reading and now I have Feelings?
All this talk of appointments is reminding me I need to make an appointment with a NEW dentist. I am in a new part of town and the first new dentist I tried, I didn't care for, so... on to the next!
Post by: imadandylion on January 14, 2020, 11:24:25 AM
Post by: mm1970 on January 14, 2020, 11:26:54 AM
I can sympathize. I'm peri-menopausal, and I have kids, and my husband and I have vastly different schedules. We don't talk as much as we'd like. I basically have a schedule where I'm asleep by 9 and up by 5. I cannot break this schedule for my own mental health. That means my kids are awake later than I am. My spouse goes to bed much later (11:30 ish) and gets up around 6. I also doubt that he's functioning well on less sleep, but it's his body.
So...what *do* you actually aim to accomplish? A middle ground between going to bed very early and staying up late until BF decides to go to bed?
That's a great question! Yes, a middle ground. I think my ideal outcome would be go to bed at a reasonable hour - like, 11 or 12, I get up for work at 7, so that seems sufficient. And - the key - *sleeping through the night.* Not waking up every hour in a panic. I feel like if I solved that bit, and was getting quality sleep, maybe my body would be less likely to randomly fall asleep any time I am not moving or doing something active. Maybe that is unrealistic for a woman of my age? From what I've read this seems pretty common for perimenopausal women.
Mainly I want to stop falling asleep in front of the TV and actually be able to finish a show sometimes. Maybe the sitting is what's the problem. Maybe some light stretching or whatever instead while I am watching. Probably would help relieve stress and wind down too.
I personally kind of doubt that Boyfriend is functioning as well as he says he is on 4-5 hours sleep, but, well, it's his body and not my problem to solve. I think both of us resist going to bed because we haven't had enough downtime to decompress from our stressful jobs. He just doesn't doze off at the drop of a hat like I do.@Tris Prior, I so empathize! I have more like 3 1/2 hours between coming home and my ideal bedtime (10), at least most nights. But I have kids, and that breaks up the night. So I get in and it's immediately dinner time (shout out to the Boy for making it!), then it's time for the kids to be getting ready for bed while we do the dishes and hustle them along, then it's time to read to them, etc. Generally I get home around 6:30/6:45 and the boys are down for the night by 8:30/8:40. Not much time to spend together as a couple, work on our individual projects, etc.
It sucks, doesn't it! And I don't even have kids! Just needy cats who need attention and playtime or else they will be partying loudly at 3 a.m., haha. Also no time to actively work on reducing stress.
I do struggle with sleep - little things wake me up and his snoring does not help. I use Unisom every night, which ensures that I go BACK to sleep more easily if I get up to pee or his snoring wakes me up. I have been focusing strongly on sleep for 2-3 years - I get 8:20 on average every night (some nights 8, some nights 9), and it's been amazing. It's totally worth it.
Post by: Luz on January 14, 2020, 12:26:17 PM
I thought it best to go for the low hanging fruit: flossing, sunscreen on hands, more gratitude in my day.
But I think sleep, hydration, and posture are what I want to focus on this year. I usually break my year into semesters (spring, summer, fall) and will focus on 1 thing each semester, starting with sleep.
I'm doing the 50 Books and Internet Use challenges on the MMM forum, so a focus on sleep fits in seamlessly. Logging off my computer an hour before bed gives me time to unwind by reading while still getting to bed at a decent hour.
After the toddler is in bed and on the days I'm not spending the evening out/doing something with my husband, my evening routine is: catch up with my husband, do an hour of side hustle, do an hour of surfing or projects, then 30-45 minutes of reading before it's time to sleep (at 9:30pm because I wake up at 5am).
My goal is to go to bed at 9:30pm 28 days of the month, January-April.
My strategy is 1) do my side hustle before using the computer and reading so I'm not tempted to use the latter two to procrastinate getting my work done, and 2) do my bedtime routine after I log off the computer and before I start reading, since it's infinitely easier to just close my book and go to sleep than to get out of bed and do all my day-end tasks.
I expect that I'll get less than 28 days per month at first, but hope to get there by April. I'll check in here with the times I don't make 9:30pm to investigate what went wrong and what to do about it.
I have a good feeling about some serious forward movement this year!
Post by: Luz on January 14, 2020, 12:59:58 PM
...I find that any 100% goal triggers a lot of anxiety/perfectionism...I can identify. And I have the annoying kind of perfectionism that doesn't lead me to doing something until it is perfect but rather the kind that tells me I'll never be able to do it perfectly so why even bother trying. Working on that. I also have the perverse kind of brain that often treats setting a goal as a reason to rebel and immediately do everything except what will lead to that goal being achieved. As if setting a goal is daring myself to give up that target immediately. Working on that (in therapy) a lot, too.
Having said that, what I am now trying to do is not give myself goals but instead to be better about just doing things and then actually acknowledging that I'm doing them. So far this week that has meant:
- Following the organised mum method (https://www.theorganisedmum.blog/) for dealing with housework - falls under healty choices for me because ifmy kitchen is cleanthe washing-up is done there is more chance I will actually cook.
- Bringing fixings for sandwiches to work for lunches (and actually having those sandwiches for lunch every day)
- Actually cooking dinner last night, even though I was tired and really didn't want to (helped by having taken something out of the freezer in the morning that I had to use or throw out)
- Moving in the office - getting up three or four times a day and doing some exercises. Only doing a very small amount, literally just something like five push-ups against the windowsill or wall but basically anything that will get me out of my chair on a regular basis.
- Arranging with the colleague who is taking a chair from me that as payment she will bring the exercise bike I just bought from another colleague. She brings the bike to me and takes away the armchair I love but just do not have space for or need.
- Signing up for the obesity clinic at my local hospital.
I have that second kind of perfectionism too! I have to give myself a stern talking to in order to start anything. I always wondered what the first kind would be like.
I recently read something about goals that I really liked. It was about rewording how you describe them. Goals are simply something you want for your life that you're not currently doing for whatever reason.
That works so much better for me because I have an aversion to things that feel like a task. If I know I should do it, I find reasons not to.
So in my case, I want to go to bed 7.5 hours before I get up most nights because a good night's sleep has a positive effect on everything else in my life. And I want that extra sparkle. The work in forming this habit is all about figuring out what's getting in the way of my desire and removing as many barriers as possible (like your mention of making dinner even though you didn't want to in the moment, because you had defrosted food that would otherwise go bad).
I'm finding that it's those simple moments and not the big intention I start with, that make or break a life change.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 14, 2020, 05:24:32 PM
@mm1970 @La Bibliotecaria Feroz I've been using the app "Let's Meditate." It's free, although you can give a donation if you want. I like that they keep things fresh by adding in new meditations on a regular basis at no cost, and you can choose between male and female voices if you care.
Thanks for this suggestion! Will try! I have done 2 meditations 2 days in a row so far with Headspace. Not sure yet if I like it--I think it takes more than a couple of days at 5 minutes a day to notice a difference :-).
-Switching alcohol for seltzer. I've done this before, so I know it's one I have a good chance of maintaining. My goal is to only drink alcohol socially this year (less than once a month).
-Add in exercise. My first goal is 5 push ups a day. (I need to start super slow, time wise.) Second goal is to add 15 minutes of cardio. I'll probably add this after a month or two of the push ups.
-Find a healthy and cheap (if possible) snack that I actually like eating. Going to try raisins first, but I'd love any suggestions you have!
My go-to is fresh fruit and cashews from Costco.
Post by: Moonwaves on January 15, 2020, 01:17:14 AM
@Moonwaves, she sounds a little like The Fly Lady, who I used to follow. Maybe I should get back into it for cleaning. My husband does the laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking most night (he gets off work early to be the after-school parent) but cleaning is not really his thing, so I do more of it. But the house is never cleaning enough for me :-).I remember reading Flylady a bit back in the day but although I liked the idea of the clean sink every evening, I never really did anything else and that's the only thing I remember of it. So it was more of a reading than a doing thing for me. That was at the start of my blogging/online life days, when I was really ramping up on finding ways to everything in an environmentally-friendly way and I remembering disliking the FL method of shining the sink, even if I appreciated the idea of it. It just put me off. The same way I wanted to love the Curly Girl book but it was all just so much more effort and product than I normally used (even though it was much less effort and product for most people).
Anyway, I was away for Sunday and Monday, came back just in time to go to an extra choir rehearsal on Monday, was in work all day yesterday and then had normal choir rehearsal after that. So, the only thing approaching housework or tidying I have done this week is to put away the dishes that I left drying on Sunday morning. But I also have only been home to sleep, so that's just the way life is. Back to it this evening.
Last Saturday my colleague brought me my new-to-me exercise bike and took away the chair and footstool that was taking up too much space in my apartment. I cleaned up the bike and just did five minutes on it on Saturday. This evening I want to do half-an-hour and then, for my cool down, I will hoover my apartment and maybe even mop the floors, too. That will catch me up on most of the TOMM stuff.
Thanks for the meditation app recommendations from me, too. I tried headspace once when it first came out but found the guy's voice (more his accent, I think) really irritating, which was not very relaxing. So, I should probably try out a bunch of them until I find one with a voice I like.
This morning, I very nearly gave in to the thought of going to the canteen and getting a big plate of chips for lunch but at the last minute grabbed my last portion of slow cooker chicken and chorizo with lentils out of the fridge. So that will be lunch today. And now, I'm going to get up and do my five fake push-ups, and some leg movements.
Post by: Moonwaves on January 15, 2020, 01:55:51 AM
...My current therapist has been really good in this respect, either through her insights or helping me to reach my own. It really is incredible how wording something differently can make a huge difference sometimes. My latest big revelation was realising how much I was internally rebelling against the idea that I might need help (this was in relation specifically to housework and hiring a cleaner) but when I reframed it to myself as needing some support, I began to see it in an entirely different light. Just a different word for essentially the same thing but it happened to click in this time and place for me. Words can be so powerful.
I recently read something about goals that I really liked. It was about rewording how you describe them. Goals are simply something you want for your life that you're not currently doing for whatever reason.
That works so much better for me because I have an aversion to things that feel like a task. If I know I should do it, I find reasons not to.
So in my case, I want to go to bed 7.5 hours before I get up most nights because a good night's sleep has a positive effect on everything else in my life. And I want that extra sparkle. The work in forming this habit is all about figuring out what's getting in the way of my desire and removing as many barriers as possible (like your mention of making dinner even though you didn't want to in the moment, because you had defrosted food that would otherwise go bad).
I'm finding that it's those simple moments and not the big intention I start with, that make or break a life change.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on January 15, 2020, 07:00:28 AM
Hmmm. Pondering this. It once occurred to me looking at the GD bathroom sink full of toothpaste spats again - I had cleaned the sink three times in 30 hours- That my kids were brushing their teeth a lot. Toothpaste splats in a sink transformed from something that made my head explode to mere archeological evidence of good oral hygiene. My life improved....My current therapist has been really good in this respect, either through her insights or helping me to reach my own. It really is incredible how wording something differently can make a huge difference sometimes. My latest big revelation was realising how much I was internally rebelling against the idea that I might need help (this was in relation specifically to housework and hiring a cleaner) but when I reframed it to myself as needing some support, I began to see it in an entirely different light. Just a different word for essentially the same thing but it happened to click in this time and place for me. Words can be so powerful.
I recently read something about goals that I really liked. It was about rewording how you describe them. Goals are simply something you want for your life that you're not currently doing for whatever reason.
That works so much better for me because I have an aversion to things that feel like a task. If I know I should do it, I find reasons not to.
So in my case, I want to go to bed 7.5 hours before I get up most nights because a good night's sleep has a positive effect on everything else in my life. And I want that extra sparkle. The work in forming this habit is all about figuring out what's getting in the way of my desire and removing as many barriers as possible (like your mention of making dinner even though you didn't want to in the moment, because you had defrosted food that would otherwise go bad).
I'm finding that it's those simple moments and not the big intention I start with, that make or break a life change.
So hmmm, what other changes in labeling could I make......hmmmm
Post by: OtherJen on January 15, 2020, 06:12:22 PM
Wine and cider only, I think, except for a rare single pour of very good whiskey. And more alcohol-free days.
Post by: Luz on January 18, 2020, 01:20:47 PM
Hmmm. Pondering this. It once occurred to me looking at the GD bathroom sink full of toothpaste spats again - I had cleaned the sink three times in 30 hours- That my kids were brushing their teeth a lot. Toothpaste splats in a sink transformed from something that made my head explode to mere archeological evidence of good oral hygiene. My life improved....My current therapist has been really good in this respect, either through her insights or helping me to reach my own. It really is incredible how wording something differently can make a huge difference sometimes. My latest big revelation was realising how much I was internally rebelling against the idea that I might need help (this was in relation specifically to housework and hiring a cleaner) but when I reframed it to myself as needing some support, I began to see it in an entirely different light. Just a different word for essentially the same thing but it happened to click in this time and place for me. Words can be so powerful.
I recently read something about goals that I really liked. It was about rewording how you describe them. Goals are simply something you want for your life that you're not currently doing for whatever reason.
That works so much better for me because I have an aversion to things that feel like a task. If I know I should do it, I find reasons not to.
So in my case, I want to go to bed 7.5 hours before I get up most nights because a good night's sleep has a positive effect on everything else in my life. And I want that extra sparkle. The work in forming this habit is all about figuring out what's getting in the way of my desire and removing as many barriers as possible (like your mention of making dinner even though you didn't want to in the moment, because you had defrosted food that would otherwise go bad).
I'm finding that it's those simple moments and not the big intention I start with, that make or break a life change.
So hmmm, what other changes in labeling could I make......hmmmm
I recently read that the Danes are masters in reframing their thoughts. There are a number of external factors that help them consistently rank among the world's happiest nations. But I think their ability to keep perspective plays a huge part. It's a skill I'm working on and trying to teach my daughter.
We have plenty of evidence of good oral hygiene in our home too. It'll be hard to think of it any other way now, thanks!
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 18, 2020, 01:55:00 PM
AND I have been drinking it with only half and half, no sugar. I was using flavored fake creamer.
Been going easy on myself this week, because of the sinus infection and I also seem to have some tendinitis in my hips. No biking to work or gym. Which is sad, but I think it's what my body needs right now.
Post by: oneday on January 18, 2020, 02:18:53 PM
To reduce stress, I'm aiming to have a less packed schedule. Today I successfully moved a regular appointment from a normally busy day day to a completely open day! Now I just need to be sure not to fill that newly opened time...
Post by: PacificaFog on January 18, 2020, 08:46:05 PM
Post by: Trudie on January 19, 2020, 12:07:24 AM
I have overarching health and fitness goals for 2020, but two specific ones that I hope will help are to mindfully, intentionally increase soluble fiber in my diet. The other is to engage a personal trainer to help set up and stick to a well-rounded fitness regimen.
I think if I consistently do these two things I can impact my health positively.
Post by: Luz on January 22, 2020, 09:43:55 AM
It's good timing too, because my toddler is waking up at 4-4:30am with teething. I'm not dragging through my day despite the early wakeups. I feel pretty good.
I also flossed 2x daily the whole week and put sunscreen on my hands whenever I was in the car, simply because I put the floss by my toothbrush and the sunscreen in the car.
I will continue to wash my face before reading in the evening and get my side hustle done before anything else. And check in here anytime I go to bed (or try to talk myself into going to bed) later than 9:30pm. I'll also do periodic progress updates.
Post by: Mmm_Donuts on January 23, 2020, 08:33:29 AM
I don't like to set up too many goals at a time, so here is my breakdown of current and potential future goals.
Currently:
• meditate daily (I just started using the Ten Percent Happier app and love it. The podcast is excellent too.)
• cut out alcohol completely. I have joined the Give Up Hooch thread here: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/give-up-the-hooch-booze-free-for-as-long-as-you-please!
• sleep better. My main reason for giving up alcohol is to test out if it was affecting my sleep and anxiety levels. I have always been an anxious person and as a mild drinker I think it may have exacerbated the issue.
• more weightlifting and yoga - 3-4x a week
Future goals:
• experiment with cutting coffee (for now I am down to 1 strong cup/day)
• experiment with cutting sugar
• learn how to bake gluten free (especially sourdough)
• learn how to make bitters and alcohol free herbal tonics
• experiment with fermented drinks like kombucha and shrubs
Post by: Frugal Lizard on January 24, 2020, 08:50:08 AM
I am also making some music every day and almost every day I have painted or done some sort of art making.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on January 24, 2020, 11:19:44 AM
@Frugal Lizard, that sounds great! Love that you're thinking about injury prevention and making time for creativity, too!
@Luz, awesome job on the sleep! It's much easier now that my kids are older but I still find that going to bed early is great insurance against them getting up early and stomping around.
I've been doing pretty well at getting to bed close to 10 and spending some time reading a hard-copy book before bed (helps me wind down).
Tried meditating but setting aside the time was doing more harm than good, so I think I'm gonna drop it. I have almost-daily walks and bike rides that offer time to reflect in a way that maybe works better for me anyway.
Post by: Raenia on January 24, 2020, 12:03:31 PM
After the chat, we agreed that it isn't working for him to go to bed the same time every day, but it is working for me (I feel much more rested now than before we started), so we are moving the evening computer and reading time downstairs. It is not as comfortable or warm, but this way I can keep track of time and go to bed when I need to, without nagging or interrupting his flow. We'll try this for a few weeks and see how it goes.
Post by: Luz on January 24, 2020, 01:09:52 PM
@La Bibliotecaria Feroz, I've never had the discipline to meditate in the traditional sense, but writing is my way to empty my mind/get centered. And then once my mind is empty, I try to list things I'm grateful for that fill my mind in a good way. I read an article on WebMD that listed the following as further ways to quiet one's mind: breathe, exercise, listen to music, get out in nature, hang out with a pet, garden, and do a creative activity like color/knit/throw pottery/cook, among other things. I thought it was a really practical and doable list.
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 25, 2020, 06:20:32 AM
Had a good talk with DH this week about why we were having so much trouble keeping the screens-off time and lights-out time we had picked (I actually had him pick the times, in the hope of more buy-in). I was frequently closing my computer and switching to a book well before him, and having to remind him when he tried to show me something that it was past screens-off time. Same for lights-out, I would get up from reading 15-20 mins before and get ready for bed, get a glass of water, set up things for morning, and come to bed, only to have to remind him that it is lights out time and then he would want to finish the chapter before going and getting ready, and we actually go to bed half an hour after the proper time.
After the chat, we agreed that it isn't working for him to go to bed the same time every day, but it is working for me (I feel much more rested now than before we started), so we are moving the evening computer and reading time downstairs. It is not as comfortable or warm, but this way I can keep track of time and go to bed when I need to, without nagging or interrupting his flow. We'll try this for a few weeks and see how it goes.
My DH often wants to stay up longer than I do. Then I just go to bed before him and when he comes, he tries to be really quiet. That works well most of the time, especially when I have managed to fall asleep when he comes.
Post by: Money Badger on January 25, 2020, 08:20:13 AM
Post by: Raenia on January 25, 2020, 10:08:23 AM
Had a good talk with DH this week about why we were having so much trouble keeping the screens-off time and lights-out time we had picked (I actually had him pick the times, in the hope of more buy-in). I was frequently closing my computer and switching to a book well before him, and having to remind him when he tried to show me something that it was past screens-off time. Same for lights-out, I would get up from reading 15-20 mins before and get ready for bed, get a glass of water, set up things for morning, and come to bed, only to have to remind him that it is lights out time and then he would want to finish the chapter before going and getting ready, and we actually go to bed half an hour after the proper time.
After the chat, we agreed that it isn't working for him to go to bed the same time every day, but it is working for me (I feel much more rested now than before we started), so we are moving the evening computer and reading time downstairs. It is not as comfortable or warm, but this way I can keep track of time and go to bed when I need to, without nagging or interrupting his flow. We'll try this for a few weeks and see how it goes.
My DH often wants to stay up longer than I do. Then I just go to bed before him and when he comes, he tries to be really quiet. That works well most of the time, especially when I have managed to fall asleep when he comes.
Yes, that way is much better. Before, DH was reading in bed until he was tired, so I couldn't turn the lights out and go to sleep without interrupting and making him leave. In the few days we've been reading downstairs instead, I've been going to bed before him, it works just fine, and he hasn't woken me up when he does come to bed. Much better for both of us!
Post by: oneday on January 25, 2020, 10:52:40 PM
To reduce stress, I'm aiming to have a less packed schedule. Today I successfully moved a regular appointment from a normally busy day day to a completely open day! Now I just need to be sure not to fill that newly opened time...
Stress reduction fail! Turned out the "open day" was actually not open and I'd double booked myself. Oopsie. However, it was worked out, and it also prompted me to track my calendar in a new way that might work even better. The last week of Jan is about nailing down the Feb calendar (as much as possible). Progress, not perfection.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on January 29, 2020, 07:39:45 AM
I have been doing a lot of cooking and now our fridge is full of leftovers. I love the feeling of not having to worry about food.
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 31, 2020, 12:26:39 AM
I have now done four work outs and today I am supposed to do another one but my neck and back are in so much pain. I am going to switch to a walk outside and some stretching to see if I can't get rid of the tightness everywhere.
I have been doing a lot of cooking and now our fridge is full of leftovers. I love the feeling of not having to worry about food.
A lot of pain is a sign to take a break and heal first.
Could you be do8ng something wrong with the exercises? Or maybe doung them without warming up?
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 31, 2020, 12:28:42 AM
I hope that this program will improve my fitness while we don't have the weather to train outside.
Post by: oneday on January 31, 2020, 12:44:47 AM
Operation Stress Reduction Through Obsessive Planning Of My Calendar is working well. I had hoped to have February's schedule nailed down by now, but there are a few open questions that won't be answered until the weekend. Once that info is available, I'll be able to decide what to do on each day. Currently only Saturdays schedules are nailed down.
The next healthy choice will be to start my at-home physical therapy exercises again. Hmm, this should be on the calendar!!!
Post by: Linea_Norway on January 31, 2020, 12:53:12 AM
@Linea_Norway If you want variety, you might try a tabata workout. I found it to be fun and hard-hitting.
Operation Stress Reduction Through Obsessive Planning Of My Calendar is working well. I had hoped to have February's schedule nailed down by now, but there are a few open questions that won't be answered until the weekend. Once that info is available, I'll be able to decide what to do on each day. Currently only Saturdays schedules are nailed down.
The next healthy choice will be to start my at-home physical therapy exercises again. Hmm, this should be on the calendar!!!
My HIIT program is quite diverse. If I look at Tabata exercises, I see overlap. Also the time intervals are similar. Today I did high knees for 20 sec, squats for 20 sec and sort of burpies for 20 sec, 1 minute rest and repeat twice. The rest of the program has also different exercises.
Calender planning is a good idea. I also love having a calender with a good overview of obligations/trips. It shouldn't be too crowded on the calender.
Post by: Luz on January 31, 2020, 01:49:26 PM
Post by: mm1970 on January 31, 2020, 02:17:51 PM
Today I started with a HIIT program. Found out that I can't do burpies the way you are supposed to. But never mind, I just crawl into the position. At least my heart rate went up a lot.Long ago and far away I started doing burpees, and I couldn't come close to a real one.
I hope that this program will improve my fitness while we don't have the weather to train outside.
I would get down with my hands on the ground, step back one foot at a time, skip the pushup part, step back in one foot at a time, and stand up (no jump).
Still really hard. Still a great workout!
Post by: Raenia on February 04, 2020, 03:20:43 PM
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on February 04, 2020, 03:53:11 PM
Today I took the first step toward my goal to get caught up on medical appointments - I scheduled an eye exam. They were unfortunately booked up for February, but I've got an appointment for the first week of March.
Awesome job!
My husband and I are considering whether to have fertility treatment or not, so this is a super fraught time for my mental health. Trying to be chill and kind to myself.
Also, it is MY BIRTHDAY. I ate vegetables for an afternoon snack. In between also consuming like every delicious thing I can think of, including both Starbucks and hot cocoa coffee and a leftover sesame bun. It is glorious.
Post by: oneday on February 04, 2020, 11:29:21 PM
Operation: SRTOPOMC* is turning out to be more difficult than anticipated. The trouble is deciding which of my "elective" activities to do on any given day (analysis paralysis). Tomorrow I shall run, as I kind of miss doing that, and also inflate the tires of my bike so there is no barrier to a short bike ride. Maybe taking it one day at a time will work better than planning out the whole month.
*Stress Reduction Through Obsessive Planning Of My Calendar
Post by: Moonwaves on February 05, 2020, 02:21:06 AM
Also, it is MY BIRTHDAY. I ate vegetables for an afternoon snack. In between also consuming like every delicious thing I can think of, including both Starbucks and hot cocoa coffee and a leftover sesame bun. It is glorious.That sounds pretty delightful. Happy belated birthday!
On topic: I am struggling to keep up with my movement in the office plan. I keep forgetting. I'm currently working on a new routine for some work stuff so I think I'll have to add it in to that routine at some fixed times until it becomes a proper habit.
Post by: Raenia on February 05, 2020, 06:03:52 AM
Also, it is MY BIRTHDAY. I ate vegetables for an afternoon snack. In between also consuming like every delicious thing I can think of, including both Starbucks and hot cocoa coffee and a leftover sesame bun. It is glorious.
Happy birthday! I hope you had a lovely relaxing day.
Post by: Luz on February 11, 2020, 01:57:16 PM
I went to bed at 9:40pm last night and 9:35pm a few nights before.
I waited until the last thing to wash my face.
I'll be focusing again on washing my face before reading.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on February 11, 2020, 02:45:25 PM
I went to the doctor yesterday. New doc I haven't seen before. She referred me to bladder class, which is apparently a thing, and suggested I have a pneumonia vaccine because I have a touch of asthma (normally they give it at 65, and I am 39).
I let them poke me with the vaccine. Yay wellness. I have good intentions about taking the bladder class as the issue is becoming distressing to me... but whether I will or not remains to be seen!
Post by: oneday on February 12, 2020, 12:39:23 AM
Operation: SRTOPOMC* is turning out to be more difficult than anticipated. The trouble is deciding which of my "elective" activities to do on any given day (analysis paralysis). Tomorrow I shall run, as I kind of miss doing that, and also inflate the tires of my bike so there is no barrier to a short bike ride. Maybe taking it one day at a time will work better than planning out the whole month.
*Stress Reduction Through Obsessive Planning Of My Calendar
After going back & forth with how to carry out Operation: SRTOPOMC, I've settled on a middle ground, where certain things are scheduled ahead of time and then on other days I decide on that particular day to do something, or nothing. Seems to be working for the moment, so I'll stick to that.
The other healthy choice I've been working on is hydration. This month my goal is to drink 8 8-oz cups (or 4 16-oz bottles) of water per day. Have achieved that a few times, yay. Today I found my clicking owl shaped counter, which should make it easier to track and a bit of fun, too. Gonna keep that thing handy.
Post by: Metalcat on February 12, 2020, 05:15:50 AM
Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone!
I went to the doctor yesterday. New doc I haven't seen before. She referred me to bladder class, which is apparently a thing, and suggested I have a pneumonia vaccine because I have a touch of asthma (normally they give it at 65, and I am 39).
I let them poke me with the vaccine. Yay wellness. I have good intentions about taking the bladder class as the issue is becoming distressing to me... but whether I will or not remains to be seen!
What's the rationale for not taking the class?
Post by: chaskavitch on February 12, 2020, 06:45:36 AM
I was inspired by others on this thread to make myself a dermatology appointment for a baseline skin check, so thanks for that :) It's next Wednesday. I don't think she'll find anything worrying, but I'm glad to get it out of the way sooner rather than later.
Meditation is intermittent, but I'm working on it. I do like it so far, so I'm glad I'm trying.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on February 12, 2020, 07:12:22 AM
Dentist - two old fillings removed and new ones in. It was a long stint in the chair - nearly 100 minutes. My back teeth need a whack of freezing to get to numbness but this dentist was really great and totally believed me. And the one hiccup was just as she was starting to fill, she thought she saw another crack. And went back in with the drill and sure enough it was a crack and then that whole corner of my tooth broke off. So the filling is way bigger. And it is the hardest place to work in my mouth. My jaw was so sore for almost a week. But the good news is that it has been caught in time and I am good to go for a while yet. Root canal avoided.
Doctor - waiting for a referral to dermatologist. Family Dr. does not like the freckle by my eye. She is less concerned about the four on my shoulders. I need to follow up with the dermatologist as they should have called me already.
Eye Doctor - new prescription - my readers aren't strong enough but my distance are too strong. We talked about getting a special set of glasses for computer work. I sit back from my screen because I use 2 - 22" for CAD work. But then I also can't see text on my desk. I realized last week I was getting a sore neck from looking down over my readers to see the bottom of the screen. Apparently a specially calculated lens for my prescription can be calculated by measuring from my eye to the edges of each screen when in my typical seating position. And then get a bifocal lens in the bottom for reading close up text. I just have to get someone to take the measurements and call them in. I have a nearly new old distance set of glasses with large frames so I think I am going to get new lenses for them that will live on my desk. Hopefully this will resolve my neck and headache issues.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on February 12, 2020, 11:25:44 AM
Thanks for the birthday wishes, everyone!
I went to the doctor yesterday. New doc I haven't seen before. She referred me to bladder class, which is apparently a thing, and suggested I have a pneumonia vaccine because I have a touch of asthma (normally they give it at 65, and I am 39).
I let them poke me with the vaccine. Yay wellness. I have good intentions about taking the bladder class as the issue is becoming distressing to me... but whether I will or not remains to be seen!
What's the rationale for not taking the class?
There is not one. It is just a question of will i get around to making it happen. I probably will. I am generally a very compliant patient. But I've been missing a lot of work for little things lately AND my grandfather just died, so it may not be immediate.
Good job @chaskavitch and @Frugal Lizard! The new glasses sound very promising.
Post by: Moonwaves on February 13, 2020, 12:11:19 AM
As it turns out, that was probably a good thing because two weeks ago, while flossing, I managed to do something that made it impossible to get between two teeth with the floss again. One of those teeth has a very big, very old (like probably about 30 years old) filling so I thought perhaps a piece of that had broken off. Turns out, the adjoining tooth decided it wanted a cavity and it was a piece of that tooth that had broken off. And those two teeth are beside the one the dentist has been keeping an eye on for the last couple of years anyway. So I get to go back and have three inlays done at the same time. Which is to say, Frugal Lizard, that you have my fullest sympathies. Jaw pain after long dental procedures is yucky. Anything dental is really. And the bills that come with it always just feel like adding insult to injury.
On the plus side, current me is very, very glad that past me signed up for supplementary dental insurance a few years ago.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on February 14, 2020, 07:23:57 AM
Having gone many years without dental benefits, I remain grateful for whatever....
I used the treadmill last night until my legs were jelly. Since it is in our basement, I use it bare foot. I decided just go by time and not do any of the programs. I have it set pretty slow for walking but have it inclined fairly steep. I want to be able to hike and my knees and toes and ankles are not really up to running yet. I get sweaty and tired and need to sit down after but then I am fine. So I think it is good enough.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on February 15, 2020, 03:42:24 PM
I seem to have been very fragile this year. I have been sick/or injured what seems like almost nonstop. The new thing is an ankle injury. I have no idea what I did to it. It just started up yesterday and I didn't immediately rest it--as I should have done--and it is worse today. And I biked to work like a goofball and have to bike home.
BUT. I did take these steps:
-Wore tennis shoes to work, because no one here actually cares.
-Did not take after-lunch walk. Substituted sitting on enclosed patio. It was like 38F but very sunny, so I was warm enough in a jacket with hot coffee and no gloves (because reading).
-Elevated foot for about 20 minutes on break. We have a long bench in the breakroom and I lay down on it with my head on a sweater and my foot on a table. No one commented or asked why. We are a strange workplace.
-Had husband purchase frozen peas and Ace bandage so I can ice and compress (alternately, not at same time) when I get home.
Post by: Cassie on February 16, 2020, 03:30:06 PM
Post by: chaskavitch on February 17, 2020, 08:00:01 AM
I am sorry about the teeth, @Moonwaves and @Frugal Lizard! Such ouch!
I seem to have been very fragile this year. I have been sick/or injured what seems like almost nonstop. The new thing is an ankle injury. I have no idea what I did to it. It just started up yesterday and I didn't immediately rest it--as I should have done--and it is worse today. And I biked to work like a goofball and have to bike home.
BUT. I did take these steps:
-Wore tennis shoes to work, because no one here actually cares.
-Did not take after-lunch walk. Substituted sitting on enclosed patio. It was like 38F but very sunny, so I was warm enough in a jacket with hot coffee and no gloves (because reading).
-Elevated foot for about 20 minutes on break. We have a long bench in the breakroom and I lay down on it with my head on a sweater and my foot on a table. No one commented or asked why. We are a strange workplace.
-Had husband purchase frozen peas and Ace bandage so I can ice and compress (alternately, not at same time) when I get home.
I feel like this is one of the best parts of living in Colorado. On Thursday or Friday, my 3.5 year old wanted to go swing in shorts, a long sleeved shirt, and cowboy boots. I was like "dude, it's 40 degrees out, you sure?", but the sun made it AMAZING out, and he was totally fine until some clouds got in the way.
I'm glad you got to enjoy your outdoor time, even if you didn't get to take a walk.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on February 20, 2020, 01:59:20 PM
Today is the day I drank green tea after lunch instead of more coffee. I am hoping this will reduce my anxiety, help with my bladder issues, and generally be healthier, while not totally depriving me of a caffeine boost :-).
A guy came and fixed our adjustable shared workstations today! I have this desk shoved waaaay down so that my tiny legs can reach the floor. And the other desk we'll be able to use as a standing desk again. Woo hoo!
Post by: mspym on February 20, 2020, 02:58:39 PM
Post by: Frugal Lizard on February 21, 2020, 11:12:06 AM
Have not heard anything from the referral to a dermatologist - so I will follow up on that too!
Post by: Luz on February 22, 2020, 12:03:30 PM
Last night I went to a play with friends and got to bed at 10:30pm.
A few nights before that I stayed up talking to my husband until 10pm. I try to spend ~30 minutes every night catching up with him. If it's the last thing I do before bed, it always goes over. He's a man of few words when it comes to most things. But anything related to his field he'll go on and on about. It's great to hear what's on his mind, but better to hear what's on his mind before 9:30pm.
The third and fourth late bedtimes were evenings when I didn't do my computer work and read for a few hours instead. Usually I do my computer stuff, wash my face, then read. But since I skipped the computer, I decided to start reading and pause halfway in order to wash up. But it was too hard to pull away. So I did my bed routine around 9:30pm, which pushed it all back a bit.
I'm fine with staying up late for an event once in awhile.
Even if I don't do my usual evening rhythm, I will make it a point to wash my face the second to last thing I do.
I'll try to also connect with my husband either right when we put the toddler to bed or right when he gets home from his evening classes. In order that there's a bit more time buffer there.
Post by: Moonwaves on February 25, 2020, 03:33:12 AM
I also took some anti-inflammatories on Saturday and between that and the walking and going aqua-jogging in the afternoon (so proud of myself for finding the swimming pool and doing it instead of just going back to the hotel for a lie-down), my hip is feeling so much better than it has for weeks. Definitely going to
Really need to focus on healthy food this week. I keep having a good week (or two) followed by a terrible week (or two). Since I was away at the weekend, it's too easy to let it stray into being a terrible week just because I'm unorganised. So, I'm going to take some time at lunch to do quick meal plan for the rest of this week and will call in to the shops this evening on the way home from work.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on February 25, 2020, 09:18:48 AM
I am getting a mammogram tomorrow. Apparently it will take about 20 minutes.
Thursday I have an appointment with the trauma therapist I saw eight times last spring. I am just not sure what we will be talking about. Maybe I don't need a trauma specialist; maybe just a regular" too much grief and narcissistic family members type" counselor. But I felt immensely better just having the appointment on my calendar.
Next week I am paying for a skin mapping with a dermatologist (175$). Never heard back from the family doctor for a referral. I went ahead and booked it online without a referral.
Yesterday I took all my spare glasses frames to the optician for my new prescription. She is turning an old distance pair into a special computer glasses with a little straight bifocal for my new stronger reader prescription in the very bottom of the lens. The optometrist had me measure the distance between my eyes and my two side by side large computer screens. Apparently this will help improve my productivity and save my neck. They will live on my desk. Next she is adding a bifocal lens to my sunglasses. I could barely use them because I kept needing to read things with them. And my distance prescription is so much less than it was when I got them made 8 years ago. Since they are dark sunglasses, she is not going to make them progressives but instead a bifocal. This way I can save some money and more of the lens is my exact distance prescription. Some old glasses are getting new straight reading prescription. They will live in the kitchen and dining room for cooking and reading the paper. I also went through the discount bin and found a pair of frames for 49$ that will be fine for another set of readers that can live by the bed. I am hoping this makes reading more enjoyable again because I am thinking of giving up Netflix, Facebook and Twitter for Lent.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on February 25, 2020, 12:53:41 PM
Today I drank 2-3 cups of coffee (one was a travel mug...) because I am working 9am to 8 pm. But other days, I have been really good about having just the morning cup when I get to work, and then green tea after lunch.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 02, 2020, 12:13:03 PM
I have been to a dermatologist for skin mapping. I have no skin cancer. Dr. was concerned about how dry my feet are. I now have a fancy cream and a promise that if I use this cream every night for two weeks my cracked heels will be healed and walking will not hurt so much. He was surprised that I could actually walk on them. I thought I was doing great this year because they haven't been bleeding. I also have some cream for my back. I woke up at 3:55 itchy this morning. Today is going to be a long day but not having skin cancer beside my right eye has lifted a worry from my shoulders.
I had the mammogram last week - and whoa - does that ever hurt. Cancer care Ontario would like me to do that every year until I am 74. NFW. Maybe third year. I will talk to my family doctor about the risk factors. But the top two risk factors - Female - check, over 50, check, I can't do anything about.
I am hoping my glasses come in soon. I am really noticing the difficulty reading.
Post by: chaskavitch on March 02, 2020, 12:43:26 PM
I've made it almost a month and a half brushing and flossing every night, yay! Such a simple thing, but it's satisfying to have such a long streak of success, and it's so good for me!
I was inspired by others on this thread to make myself a dermatology appointment for a baseline skin check, so thanks for that :) It's next Wednesday. I don't think she'll find anything worrying, but I'm glad to get it out of the way sooner rather than later.
Meditation is intermittent, but I'm working on it. I do like it so far, so I'm glad I'm trying.
They removed two moles on my thigh during the appointment. One of them came back as having some abnormal cells, so I'm scheduled next Wednesday for further excision. I didn't get a lot of info over the phone when they called with the results, because my 3 year old was trying to tell me something. I need to call back and get some more detail, and ask for pricing. I have a HDHP - it cost $125 for the baseline exam, $95 each for "surgery" to remove the moles, and the biopsy rounded it up to like $450 total. I mean, removing precancerous cells is absolutely more important than having my HSA full, but I'd still like to be prepared.
I'm still on top of flossing my teeth, woo!
I've also been trying to get at least 500g of fruits/veggies/plants a day. That is way more difficult than I expected, but I'm trying, and it's going ok.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on March 02, 2020, 02:41:23 PM
I have been wondering about my HSA, too, because apparently the market is down? I don't pay much attention but that much has infiltrated my consciousness. If I want to take some out,* I am not sure if it has to come out of the invested amount.
*I expect to be spending several thousand on fertility treatment and am not sure whether I should cash flow it or use HSA dollars--which would essentially wind up being transferred to other things.
@Frugal Lizard--does anyone eat enough vegetables?? I am trying to do better but damn, the recommendation is for a LOT of veggies! Good luck!
Post by: oneday on March 03, 2020, 08:22:50 AM
After going back & forth with how to carry out Operation: SRTOPOMC*, I've settled on a middle ground, where certain things are scheduled ahead of time and then on other days I decide on that particular day to do something, or nothing. Seems to be working for the moment, so I'll stick to that.
The other healthy choice I've been working on is hydration. This month my goal is to drink 8 8-oz cups (or 4 16-oz bottles) of water per day. Have achieved that a few times, yay. Today I found my clicking owl shaped counter, which should make it easier to track and a bit of fun, too. Gonna keep that thing handy.
*Stress Reduction Through Obsessive Planning Of My Calendar
Both these things seemed to be kinda working, then I went on a 2-week road trip. I'm here to re-commit.
And also to add a bit about mapping out food intake better. I've been eating a small breakfast (OK), but then not being hungry & not eating for hours & hours, at which point I eat everything in sight, and not much of that is veggies. When I work in an office, it's easy to follow a more sane eating routine, so I'm going to try to emulate that at home.
Edit: Frugal Lizard, if it helps, the American Cancer Society recommends fewer mammograms:
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/cancer-screening-guidelines/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer.html
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 03, 2020, 09:18:04 AM
Post by: oneday on March 03, 2020, 10:06:56 AM
Post by: mspym on March 03, 2020, 12:33:30 PM
Post by: Luz on March 03, 2020, 04:33:28 PM
My main barriers are waiting until the last thing to catch up with my husband or do my bed routine. I'm on vacation (without my husband) and am remembering the habit of washing my face before my final thing of the night (other than when I go visit friends and get home in time to wash my face and go to bed).
Post by: Raenia on March 04, 2020, 07:55:57 AM
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 06, 2020, 08:54:43 AM
I have been having trouble settling down to sleep. Not sure why. But once asleep, I have been getting a nice long and restful sleep with only one wakeup and then immediately back to sleep. I have been wearing pj's so the middle of the night bathroom break doesn't result in me getting as cold. That is probably helping with getting back to sleep quickly. I have cut back on the blankets so I can tolerate pj's
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 10, 2020, 09:37:48 AM
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on March 10, 2020, 01:07:05 PM
Did not pursue an RFP. Yeah - less stressed immediately.
Ha ha, good job!
I am supposed to go to a conference Friday but I am having virus-related doubts. There are a handful of cases in my major city... so far...
Post by: Luz on March 15, 2020, 10:23:00 PM
I didn't floss 2 of the mornings and noticed that my gums were more sensitive. Good to know that it makes a difference.
Post by: mm1970 on March 16, 2020, 09:19:59 AM
Okay I opened a bottle of wine on Friday. But hope to not open another.
- Daily exercise (it's been raining, so working out to Beachbody and you-tube videos with kids)
- Sleep (I can sleep in until 5:45 or 6 if I'm not driving to the gym)
- Reading time
- Lots of vegetables and lentils!
- Keep the kids on a schedule
- Teach the kids to clean! We are canceling the cleaning ladies for the next 2 sessions, but paying them anyway
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 23, 2020, 03:04:43 PM
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on March 23, 2020, 09:11:31 PM
being realistic with my expectations for what we can achieve during this 14-day isolation.
Ha! Me, too!
I am really concerned about losing muscle mass with my gym closed. And of course I am not biking to work. So I ordered some cheap running shoes from Zappos! (Cheap is fine because I won't be doing more than about 20-30 minutes at a time.) Will also be doing some suspension system strength training.
There is a stay-at-home order for Denver. Reading the fine print, it seems like you are still allowed to visit people in their homes, and I do have a friend with a garage gym... but it still seems like an unnecessary risk? I dunno. Thoughts welcome.
I have been reasonably successful at keeping a loose schedule with the kids, less successful at making productive activities happen! Tomorrow I think I'll give meditation another go but see if I can get the kids to do it with me. There must be a family meditation app/YouTuber of some kind.
Post by: mspym on March 24, 2020, 01:11:22 AM
We have also come up with a plan for managing two adults working and two teens schooling from home, which involves strategic use of their other house.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 24, 2020, 07:51:07 AM
I am coping by:
keeping the island in the kitchen pristine,
my desk is also pristine and all the clutter is behind me and I am keeping the bird feeders just outside the window full,
the 'girls' bathroom upstairs is also pristine.
I retreat to these spaces whenever I start to feel it pressing in on me.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on March 25, 2020, 10:40:25 AM
I found an app called "ninja focus" so the children and I can meditate together. Isn't that a great theme?
Post by: Frugal Lizard on March 25, 2020, 11:49:25 AM
@Frugal Lizard, your coping strategies sound great! It's so important to have little zones of order, if that is a thing one thrives on.thank you
I found an app called "ninja focus" so the children and I can meditate together. Isn't that a great theme?
The old me would have been hissy fitting every shift.
Love the app name.
Post by: oneday on March 26, 2020, 01:22:14 AM
being realistic with my expectations for what we can achieve during this 14-day isolation.
Ha! Me, too!
I am really concerned about losing muscle mass with my gym closed. And of course I am not biking to work. So I ordered some cheap running shoes from Zappos! (Cheap is fine because I won't be doing more than about 20-30 minutes at a time.) Will also be doing some suspension system strength training.
There is a stay-at-home order for Denver. Reading the fine print, it seems like you are still allowed to visit people in their homes, and I do have a friend with a garage gym... but it still seems like an unnecessary risk? I dunno. Thoughts welcome.
I have been reasonably successful at keeping a loose schedule with the kids, less successful at making productive activities happen! Tomorrow I think I'll give meditation another go but see if I can get the kids to do it with me. There must be a family meditation app/YouTuber of some kind.
Listen to your gut: it is unnecessary. The more people one comes in contact with, the larger the possibility of coming in contact with one of those people who have the virus. This protects not just that you, but your family...and also your friend and anyone in their household.
Do I recall correctly that you have asthma?
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on March 26, 2020, 02:25:24 PM
being realistic with my expectations for what we can achieve during this 14-day isolation.
Ha! Me, too!
I am really concerned about losing muscle mass with my gym closed. And of course I am not biking to work. So I ordered some cheap running shoes from Zappos! (Cheap is fine because I won't be doing more than about 20-30 minutes at a time.) Will also be doing some suspension system strength training.
There is a stay-at-home order for Denver. Reading the fine print, it seems like you are still allowed to visit people in their homes, and I do have a friend with a garage gym... but it still seems like an unnecessary risk? I dunno. Thoughts welcome.
I have been reasonably successful at keeping a loose schedule with the kids, less successful at making productive activities happen! Tomorrow I think I'll give meditation another go but see if I can get the kids to do it with me. There must be a family meditation app/YouTuber of some kind.
Listen to your gut: it is unnecessary. The more people one comes in contact with, the larger the possibility of coming in contact with one of those people who have the virus. This protects not just that you, but your family...and also your friend and anyone in their household.
Do I recall correctly that you have asthma?
I do. I have started wearing a homemade fabric mask when I go out in public (ie, groceries). Probably doesn't help me personally that much, might help protect cashiers, can't hurt, provides a visual signal that people should be taking this shit seriously.
My asthma is mild and well-controlled but I do sometimes suck on my albuterol when I get a cold. Not sure if I can be any more cautious than I already am, though :-). I mean, I could send the Boy out shopping instead of me, but he sleeps in my bed, so not sure it really matters.
Post by: Luz on April 03, 2020, 09:57:25 PM
Post by: oneday on April 04, 2020, 02:54:56 AM
Hydration is OK, I reach my goal at least half the time, and get at least half way there the rest of the time, so on average I'm reaching 75% of the goal. That's not too bad, and I'll keep that as a focus.
Looking at food has been working, outside of the last few days when I've turned to comfort food (sugar) a bit too much. Veggies are getting harder, particularly non-starchy veggies. Not sure if it's the pandemic stress, but all veggies in the house now are starchies. I'm leaning towards being OK with this given the current circumstances. Will stock up on canned & frozen green veggies at the next shopping day.
Sleep is...well I'm posting this at 2 am, you draw the conclusion :)
Post by: mspym on April 04, 2020, 05:14:31 AM
Post by: Raenia on April 04, 2020, 08:56:45 AM
I haven't been great about turning the screens off at the proper time, but I have been getting to bed on time regardless, so that's something. I've also recommitted to my meditation habit - I had started slacking off in March, but April is a new chance to build the habit.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on April 04, 2020, 08:59:36 AM
These are weird times. I am also dealing with family stuff--my brother is in the ICU (not for the virus!)--and I just can't concentrate. This week, though, I am trying to recommit to bedtime. With the time I am usually waking up, between 10:30 and 11 is fine, but it needs to be consistent, and not include these 11:45 type nights that have been creeping in.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on April 07, 2020, 02:20:28 PM
I was supposed to have an in-person ultrasound for a monitored timed intercourse cycle for fertility treatment. I cancelled the ultrasound. I can self-monitor with the meds I'm on, and timed intercourse is not really a great treatment for male factor infertility anyway! They can't do IUI this month for obvious reasons. I didn't feel safe going to extra places, so I noped out.
BUT. Guess what my husband found in a corner of the basement? An open box with a couple of N-95 masks. We can't donate because the box is open, so we can save them for our personal use with a clear conscience. I can wear one if I go out, on account of being high risk, and I think there is another that the Boy can wear in case, God forbid, one of us gets sick. Our existing masks might work as covers but if not I will make more.
Post by: Raenia on April 07, 2020, 02:39:11 PM
It's been a hell of a week. My younger brother suddenly went from "dude doesn't look good" to "critically ill" and died yesterday at the age of 36 from, primarily, cirrhosis.
I was supposed to have an in-person ultrasound for a monitored timed intercourse cycle for fertility treatment. I cancelled the ultrasound. I can self-monitor with the meds I'm on, and timed intercourse is not really a great treatment for male factor infertility anyway! They can't do IUI this month for obvious reasons. I didn't feel safe going to extra places, so I noped out.
BUT. Guess what my husband found in a corner of the basement? An open box with a couple of N-95 masks. We can't donate because the box is open, so we can save them for our personal use with a clear conscience. I can wear one if I go out, on account of being high risk, and I think there is another that the Boy can wear in case, God forbid, one of us gets sick. Our existing masks might work as covers but if not I will make more.
Oh my goodness, what a shock! I'm so sorry for your loss, and all your family. How are you holding up?
Post by: oneday on April 08, 2020, 09:19:02 PM
I may have solved the no-sleeping problem. Today went for a very long bike ride; I'm sure to drop right off tonight.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on April 08, 2020, 09:48:04 PM
La Bibliotecaria Feroz, I am so sorry for your loss. Words fail me. It's important to keep taking care of yourself during and it seems like you are, so...good job.
I may have solved the no-sleeping problem. Today went for a very long bike ride; I'm sure to drop right off tonight.
Gardening has been doing the same thing for me!
Post by: Frugal Lizard on April 09, 2020, 06:32:31 AM
Post by: Luz on May 11, 2020, 06:14:55 PM
Jan-April was sleep. I tried to go to bed at 9:30 every night. I went to bed later than 9:30 about once a week January and February. March and April, it was more like half the week (due to all the upheaval). The main thing I learned was that I have a MUCH higher chance of going to bed on time if I connect with my husband first thing in the evening (so we don't stay up talking) and if I brush my teeth the second-to-last thing at night (if it's the last thing I have to do, I procrastinate doing it). So now my goal is not to go bed at 9:30pm, but to connect with my husband first thing and to brush my teeth second-to-last thing. I guess even though I still sometimes go to bed late, making my goal more actionable helped a ton.
Focus habit for May-August is to drink more water. I'll post soon with more definition.
Post by: oneday on May 11, 2020, 08:23:54 PM
Post by: Luz on May 11, 2020, 09:05:06 PM
Drink 4 water bottles (20 oz) per day during winter
Drink 5 water bottles (20 oz) per day during summer or while breastfeeding
Strategy:
Fill up my water bottle in the morning and put 5 rubber bands around it
Once bottle is empty, remove 1 band and fill back up
By end of the day, try to have all 5 bands removed
Possible barriers:
We use a pitcher for filtration. It's a pain to fill back up. I may need a hack for keeping it full
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on May 11, 2020, 10:12:14 PM
@Luz, I love how you thought about your sleep triggers and your routine and found something that feels good to you.
I worry I am losing muscle mass with the gym shutdown and all, but I am getting tons of steps (two weeks in a row over 90K, this week still over 80K) and doing lots of gardening. Not as much strength training as I would otherwise do because it interferes with my busy schedule of "moving rocks so I can grow food."
So jealous of people who started their seeds indoors and already have edible greens. Here, I do not.
I have been making OK quarantine food choices! We are eating so many homemade baked goods, but at least I taught my son to use half whole-wheat flour when he makes pancakes :-).
Post by: mspym on May 11, 2020, 11:42:55 PM
So my focus until 30 June is going to be cutting back on eating between meals. I was doing great initially due to the absence of the work chocolate box but this last month has been baked goods extravaganza. (no regrets! They are delicious but should stay in the sometimes food category!)
Post by: mm1970 on May 12, 2020, 02:59:37 PM
Goal:Maybe get into a habit of doing it right before bed? We have similar issues. There are 4 of us. I CANNOT get the teen to drink enough water. Almost at my wit's end.
Drink 4 water bottles (20 oz) per day during winter
Drink 5 water bottles (20 oz) per day during summer or while breastfeeding
Strategy:
Fill up my water bottle in the morning and put 5 rubber bands around it
Once bottle is empty, remove 1 band and fill back up
By end of the day, try to have all 5 bands removed
Possible barriers:
We use a pitcher for filtration. It's a pain to fill back up. I may need a hack for keeping it full
We have a reverse osmosis filter, but 4 people drinking water. What I *try* to do (and manage about 1/2 the time):
- Go to bed with the pitcher full and 4 water bottles full, all in the fridge. I fill my water bottle, usually the kids' (my husband has been better than me), and a spare. Plus the full pitcher.
- I drink 3 bottles of water a day (plus I drink one large glass of soda stream water with dinner). I drink my first bottle, then refill it and put it in the fridge. Then I drink my 2 cups of tea.
- Before/ during lunch, I start on my second bottle of water.
- When I hit the afternoon 3rd bottle, I fill my bottle with the "spare" bottle of water.
With husband drinking water and me filling my bottle the second time, the pitcher is usually half empty. At this point, I often use the pitcher to refill smaller water bottles, then fill the pitcher.
Basically, always go to bed with a full pitcher and a few spares in the fridge.
Post by: Moonwaves on May 13, 2020, 12:52:59 AM
I currently live in a 50sqm (538sqft) apartment. It was advertised as 55 (592) but normally that includes the balcony being counted as half (i.e. my 5sqm balcony would count as 2.5sqm towards to total area), which would have meant my place was 52.5 (565). I had moved from a 58sqm (624) place and gotten rid of a few pieces of furniture and a goodly amount of stuff before moving but even four years later, I have still not reached a place where I can get everything to fit. Having seen the actual blueprints of the place, though, I discovered that they included the full size of the balcony, so it is only actually 50 after all.
Last week I found out that a studio across the hall from me was available and it is not as expensive as I thought it might be.* So, for what I think will be a massive boost to my mental health - hence, healthy choice - I have raided my savings for the deposit and increased my monthly spending but gained another 20sqm (212sqft) of space. And a second balcony, this time east-facing instead of west. Technically speaking, the apartment is actually 29sqm (312) but those 9sqm are the space the kitchen and bathroom take up and since I already have a kitchen and bathroom, I probably won't use them much, if at all.
My one strict rule is that I am not buying anything new for the studio - it's supposed to take what makes my current place feel cramped and not just get filled up with more new stuff. Apart from a couple of plants - and I'll now have space in my main living space for a larger plant or two. And over time, I may save up and allow myself a new bookshelf/filing cabinet/cupboard (after a year or so, once I know if the financial side really is working out the way I think it will).
And after a few weeks of not paying attention, I am back to drinking enough water at work and starting to feel the difference already.
* I did, however, go through numbers with my sister, who is an accountant, and with my tax adviser. On paper, I will not be bankrupting myself by doing this. In fact, I can cover it with my day-job salary, still meet my general savings goals, and only need to be careful with money (as opposed to stressing about every penny). I will set the studio up as my office space, which means I can claim most of the expenses on my taxes and that, coupled with my side-income earnings, mean that I am not overstretching at all.
Post by: Moonwaves on May 13, 2020, 01:37:21 AM
Post by: Linea_Norway on May 13, 2020, 06:47:39 AM
My first reaction to seeing this thread again, I hate to admit, was a bit of a snort and a sarcastic sotto voce "what's a healthy choice again?", but then I decided that the very unMustachian thing I did last week might actually count as a healthy choice. So, on Friday this week, I will get the keys to my second apartment, which sounds so extravagant.
I currently live in a 50sqm (538sqft) apartment. It was advertised as 55 (592) but normally that includes the balcony being counted as half (i.e. my 5sqm balcony would count as 2.5sqm towards to total area), which would have meant my place was 52.5 (565). I had moved from a 58sqm (624) place and gotten rid of a few pieces of furniture and a goodly amount of stuff before moving but even four years later, I have still not reached a place where I can get everything to fit. Having seen the actual blueprints of the place, though, I discovered that they included the full size of the balcony, so it is only actually 50 after all.
Last week I found out that a studio across the hall from me was available and it is not as expensive as I thought it might be.* So, for what I think will be a massive boost to my mental health - hence, healthy choice - I have raided my savings for the deposit and increased my monthly spending but gained another 20sqm (212sqft) of space. And a second balcony, this time east-facing instead of west. Technically speaking, the apartment is actually 29sqm (312) but those 9sqm are the space the kitchen and bathroom take up and since I already have a kitchen and bathroom, I probably won't use them much, if at all.
My one strict rule is that I am not buying anything new for the studio - it's supposed to take what makes my current place feel cramped and not just get filled up with more new stuff. Apart from a couple of plants - and I'll now have space in my main living space for a larger plant or two. And over time, I may save up and allow myself a new bookshelf/filing cabinet/cupboard (after a year or so, once I know if the financial side really is working out the way I think it will).
And after a few weeks of not paying attention, I am back to drinking enough water at work and starting to feel the difference already.
* I did, however, go through numbers with my sister, who is an accountant, and with my tax adviser. On paper, I will not be bankrupting myself by doing this. In fact, I can cover it with my day-job salary, still meet my general savings goals, and only need to be careful with money (as opposed to stressing about every penny). I will set the studio up as my office space, which means I can claim most of the expenses on my taxes and that, coupled with my side-income earnings, mean that I am not overstretching at all.
Maybe if you need an additional piece of furniture, you can get it second hand. It is amazing what you can get for about 20% of the new price. We just sold our very large dining table that was bought second hand and will after moving, buy a smaller one second hand.
Post by: Moonwaves on May 13, 2020, 07:06:27 AM
Maybe if you need an additional piece of furniture, you can get it second hand. It is amazing what you can get for about 20% of the new price. We just sold our very large dining table that was bought second hand and will after moving, buy a smaller one second hand.I probably should have said "new-to-me" bookshelf/filing cabinet/cupboard - I just sort of assume that's what everyone here means. LOL
Post by: Frugal Lizard on May 13, 2020, 12:55:10 PM
Post by: myobjectivism on May 13, 2020, 01:30:05 PM
I'm trying out some meditation apps to attempt to increase my productivity at work and my attentiveness to my kids at home. Right now I'm starting with Smiling Mind, but does anyone have recommendations?
Also, I am trying to floss every night :)
Our 9 month old is still bad at sleeping, so my sleep is completely borked right now and I feel terrible, but these are things I have control over.
I've already posted in the Fitness thread with specific health things, so I'll leave those alone.
About me.. getting retired in next few days at the age of 43 to spend more quality life and spending more time on spirituality.
Daily workout, Yoga and more healthy eating are in my list to focus on moving forward.
@chaskavitch.. I am a spiritual trainer and you can try Heartfulness meditation. And it is free of cost. We can discuss and can guide you initially if required and clarify any queries.
Post by: oneday on May 13, 2020, 03:39:09 PM
My head is so full of the studio I actually forgot about the other big healthy choice I actioned this week. I officially signed up for the year-long OptiFast programme at the obesity clinic of my local hospital. While I'm not entirely convinced that the three-month shakes/soups it starts with is a good fit for me, I think I will be able to make it through that and the year-long support from doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and personal trainers will hopefully make the difference in me actually getting somewhere with losing weight. Due to the pandemic, they may not be able to start the next session in August, but I'm signed up and will start whenever they can facilitate it again.
Hi @Moonwaves I did a very similar program starting in Fall 2018 and lost 70 lbs. While I realize the shakes are not for everyone, they really do the trick. I'm actually jealous of your program, we did not get psychologist or personal trainers. Anyway, it was life changing for me and the healthiest choice I could have ever made. PM me if you want to chat about it.
Post by: chaskavitch on May 13, 2020, 03:53:10 PM
I'm trying out some meditation apps to attempt to increase my productivity at work and my attentiveness to my kids at home. Right now I'm starting with Smiling Mind, but does anyone have recommendations?
Also, I am trying to floss every night :)
Our 9 month old is still bad at sleeping, so my sleep is completely borked right now and I feel terrible, but these are things I have control over.
I've already posted in the Fitness thread with specific health things, so I'll leave those alone.
About me.. getting retired in next few days at the age of 43 to spend more quality life and spending more time on spirituality.
Daily workout, Yoga and more healthy eating are in my list to focus on moving forward.
@chaskavitch.. I am a spiritual trainer and you can try Heartfulness meditation. And it is free of cost. We can discuss and can guide you initially if required and clarify any queries.
Thanks for the offer. I've tried a few meditation apps, and honestly, I think I've realized that a good yoga practice feels more right for me. I've been trying to do yoga (almost) every day when my kids are napping or after they go to bed, and it's made a big difference in how I feel overall - it's helped a lot with my upper back/shoulder pain from bad posture at my desk, and also has helped my mood.
I missed a few days in a row this last week, and I kind of feel like I'm falling apart, haha. I'm extra snappy at our 4 year old, I just sit around at night instead of working out or cleaning or even finding a new book to read, I don't go to bed early enough even though I have nothing good to do, and I've been snacking a LOT, even though it makes me feel like crap.
I'm starting over today, though! My terrible eating and late bedtime yesterday are irrelevant. I'm tracking my food and chopping up an entire 5 lbs of carrots to keep the snacking a little under control, trying to deep breathe when my kids are LITERALLY KILLING MY SOUL with all of their questions and adorable grabby hands, doing some yoga during nap time in a few minutes, baking some delicious bread for dinner and making my house smell good. Whew.
Post by: Moonwaves on May 14, 2020, 12:39:57 AM
Thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it at a later date. I've just gotten off the phone to my health insurance provider and am very disappointed to learn that they will not even part-finance the programme. I find things like that so frustrating - millions spent on homeopathy but a clinically-run, well-studied over more than 20 years, programme and they've got nothing for you. I'm frustrated enough that I've told them I'm going to write a strongly worded letter to the association that controls what they're allowed pay for. I can at least perhaps pave the way for someone in the future to have a better chance of getting it funded. In the meantime, at €3,400 it is not cheap but it is also not the most expensive programme in the world, especially if it really helps. That's about €285 per month - I always bring things like that back to car costs. If I had a car, between runnings costs and saving to be able to replace it (after it died) I could easily get to €285 a month. It's looking very like my planned holiday in June won't be able to happen anyway, and hopefully I will get most of it refunded, which will more than cover the first couple of months.My head is so full of the studio I actually forgot about the other big healthy choice I actioned this week. I officially signed up for the year-long OptiFast programme at the obesity clinic of my local hospital. While I'm not entirely convinced that the three-month shakes/soups it starts with is a good fit for me, I think I will be able to make it through that and the year-long support from doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and personal trainers will hopefully make the difference in me actually getting somewhere with losing weight. Due to the pandemic, they may not be able to start the next session in August, but I'm signed up and will start whenever they can facilitate it again.
Hi @Moonwaves I did a very similar program starting in Fall 2018 and lost 70 lbs. While I realize the shakes are not for everyone, they really do the trick. I'm actually jealous of your program, we did not get psychologist or personal trainers. Anyway, it was life changing for me and the healthiest choice I could have ever made. PM me if you want to chat about it.
Post by: oneday on May 14, 2020, 12:24:32 PM
Post by: Luz on May 16, 2020, 06:15:56 PM
Goal:Maybe get into a habit of doing it right before bed? We have similar issues. There are 4 of us. I CANNOT get the teen to drink enough water. Almost at my wit's end.
Drink 4 water bottles (20 oz) per day during winter
Drink 5 water bottles (20 oz) per day during summer or while breastfeeding
Strategy:
Fill up my water bottle in the morning and put 5 rubber bands around it
Once bottle is empty, remove 1 band and fill back up
By end of the day, try to have all 5 bands removed
Possible barriers:
We use a pitcher for filtration. It's a pain to fill back up. I may need a hack for keeping it full
We have a reverse osmosis filter, but 4 people drinking water. What I *try* to do (and manage about 1/2 the time):
- Go to bed with the pitcher full and 4 water bottles full, all in the fridge. I fill my water bottle, usually the kids' (my husband has been better than me), and a spare. Plus the full pitcher.
- I drink 3 bottles of water a day (plus I drink one large glass of soda stream water with dinner). I drink my first bottle, then refill it and put it in the fridge. Then I drink my 2 cups of tea.
- Before/ during lunch, I start on my second bottle of water.
- When I hit the afternoon 3rd bottle, I fill my bottle with the "spare" bottle of water.
With husband drinking water and me filling my bottle the second time, the pitcher is usually half empty. At this point, I often use the pitcher to refill smaller water bottles, then fill the pitcher.
Basically, always go to bed with a full pitcher and a few spares in the fridge.
Thanks for the tip! It worked like a charm. I do an evening tidy routine and just added the refill to my list.
Post by: Luz on May 16, 2020, 06:26:58 PM
I love the rubber band system on my water bottle. It's such a cheap thrill to remove a rubber band after drinking 20 ounces.
I also have regularly flossed after my morning teethbrushing this whole year. It's cheap and easy and getting out my toothbrush was an easy reminder. I went to the dentist in February and my hygienist complimented me on my gum health. I had sore and bleeding gums with my first pregnancy but have had no problems at all with this one. It looks like an extra flossing session did the trick. I'm quite happy.
Post by: oneday on May 16, 2020, 10:25:13 PM
Hydration is great and food is doing OK. Time to start tracking sleep/wake times, get a baseline and then maybe think about improvement in the future.
Eh. I have not tracked, but at least been more mindful of the times I have been up later. Added a column to my tracker today and will begin to note bed times.
I gotta give myself credit for hydration, though. I am hitting my goals like a boss!
Post by: Frugal Lizard on May 17, 2020, 04:06:20 PM
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on May 18, 2020, 05:59:38 PM
@Luz--Yowza, that does seem like a lot! Here's finding a happy medium. I drank so much water when I was pregnant, I ha to pee just all the time. My second baby, I had tons of contractions, and the standard advice is to drink a quart of water and lie down for a while to get them to stop. I was like, I don't think you understand how hydrated I already am. If I add another quart, I won't be able to lie down for more than five minutes :-).
Sooo the big news here is that I've decided to undergo IVF this summer, God willing and the creek don't rise. AFAIK I am not personally infertile (my husband is), although I am, as my father put it, "getting kind of old" (39). Fingers crossed!
Which means I will be doing some interesting health things. Not giving up all alcohol, but ditching the daily glass of wine, and I bought water-processed decaf coffee to mix with and possibly eventually replace my regular coffee. The Boy doesn't drink either, which helps!
Also trying to cut back on SWEETS. Man, I love sweets. So much. But my children are away so I won't always be tempted to ask if they want to bake a cake, and the Boy is not into sweets. So it's a good time to make this change.
Post by: mm1970 on May 19, 2020, 10:17:55 AM
Post by: Luz on May 19, 2020, 09:12:47 PM
I think my goal to drink more water has been reached! I may be getting ahead of myself, but it's been 3 days and it's already automatic. I make sure the filter pitcher is full in the evening and use the rubber band system to track my 4 bottles during the day. Easy peasy. I'm kicking myself because I've intended to drink more water for probably 10 years. It was just a matter of sticking 4 rubber bands around my water bottle! I'll give it another week to see if anything comes up. If not, I'll move on to the next thing: posture.
Post by: chaskavitch on May 20, 2020, 01:34:33 PM
I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old, and I'm working from home splitting childcare with my husband. He works in the morning, I work in the afternoon. I'm also doing one 10 hr day at the lab on Sunday, and a half day in the lab on Tuesday morning (6 am - 11 am). I'm usually trying to do laundry or tidy or vacuum or bake when I'm with the kids, instead of giving them more attention, so I always feel a little guilty about that.
My problem is that I'm going to bed WAY too late, because I stay up to read a book or watch a show. I'm neglecting catching up on house cleaning, working out, projects, etc., because I'm getting stuck doing "leisure" activities that I enjoy, but that are also tinged with my brain saying "oh hey, you should be doing X", "oh, you're going to be so tired tomorrow if you don't go to bed now." So the next day I'm tired, regretful, more short with the kids, more likely to snack on sweet things to excess, and behind on everything except reading Wheel of Time for the 4th time.
How can I stop my lizard brain from freaking out and telling my body that I'll never have any free time to myself ever again, so I need to keep "relaxing" to the detriment of everything else? I'm running on an average of like 6 hrs of sleep right now, and it's just not great, and it's totally my own fault. Why do I just keep going? It doesn't make any sense, and I feel like I'm just totally lacking in willpower or something. I know it's the end of the day, and I'm tired of making all of the other decisions I've made all day, but I'm SO BAD at just going to sleep.
This is like 75% rant at myself and 25% actual desire for help. I know I just need to do it (go to bed, stop snacking, just get my dang chores done and spend the rest of my time with the kids), but it feels much harder than it should be. Boo.
Post by: mspym on May 20, 2020, 03:01:35 PM
Right now you have heaps of stressors and you are contemplating removing relaxation from your schedule. I would sit down with your husband, map out the respective work, housework, childcare and block out time for each of you to have downtime. Don't push it to the end of the day or your to-do list because you will never get to it. Bring it forward and schedule it because it's a legit human need, and so is a reasonable bedtime.
If you are saying "there is nowhere in my day I can dip into an escapist novel for 30", what can you remove from the other activities? Downgrade meal complexity, tag off on the dishes, laundry happens on the weekend, forget vacuum ing exists. I am not saying live in squalor, I am saying *do less* and allot yourself some time.
Post by: chaskavitch on May 20, 2020, 03:13:03 PM
@chaskavitch no no don't remove the leisure activities! That will only make the part of you that feels neglected push back harder. Any time I have attempted to remove JOY from my life, so I can be a better more productive machine, I can "succeed" for a short time before I crack. It is human nature.
Right now you have heaps of stressors and you are contemplating removing relaxation from your schedule. I would sit down with your husband, map out the respective work, housework, childcare and block out time for each of you to have downtime. Don't push it to the end of the day or your to-do list because you will never get to it. Bring it forward and schedule it because it's a legit human need, and so is a reasonable bedtime.
If you are saying "there is nowhere in my day I can dip into an escapist novel for 30", what can you remove from the other activities? Downgrade meal complexity, tag off on the dishes, laundry happens on the weekend, forget vacuum ing exists. I am not saying live in squalor, I am saying *do less* and allot yourself some time.
It's not that I want to completely remove my leisure activities, it's that when they're placed at the end of the day, I always stretch them out to an unhealthy length of time that's affecting my sleep.
If we put the kids to bed and stop answering "Mom I need to tell you something, but only in my bedroom!" by 8:30ish, then sweep or finish dishes or something by 9, I still have an hour or maybe 2 to read or watch tv or do yoga before I really ought to be asleep. Two hours isn't that bad! But I keep reading until 11:30 or midnight, and then baby girl wakes up once sometime in the middle of the night, and then we're up at 7, and I still haven't taken time to work out, lol.
Post by: mspym on May 20, 2020, 03:24:37 PM
For example, I have an imaginary commute time booked in between when I log off work and when I go downstairs and engage in household tasks. This is my time to myself to read, or watch stupid YT videos, or catch up on the forums. It's 30 min for me to fritter as I choose.
Post by: chaskavitch on May 20, 2020, 03:44:33 PM
@chaskavitch which is why I am saying pull them forward in the day and legitimise them in your mind so then it's no longer a "but if I put the book down now I will never read agaaaaaain" situation. Also when it comes to scheduling, having a thing planned after stops the first one from spilling over. Sleep isn't a hard limit for you so maybe another activity would be.
For example, I have an imaginary commute time booked in between when I log off work and when I go downstairs and engage in household tasks. This is my time to myself to read, or watch stupid YT videos, or catch up on the forums. It's 30 min for me to fritter as I choose.
Ah, that makes sense. I like the idea of taking a little time between work and going down for the evening. Our kids usually have a nap/rest time for 45 minutes or so in the afternoon. Maybe I'll use that time, so I won't feel guilty letting my husband watch the kids while I do fun things.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on May 20, 2020, 03:53:38 PM
If Mama's not happy, nobody is happy. You are the sun in the family solar system. So you are being a better Mama being happy. And it is very good for kids to see chores being done. If you are talking to them or singing to them while you do whatever you are doing and getting them to help or amuse themselves while you take care of their needs...you are doing excellent parenting.
And FYI - literature seems to indicate that children really need "just good enough parents".
Post by: mspym on May 20, 2020, 04:22:37 PM
It is also good for kids to see you having some downtime while dad does some housework, and vice versa. It demonstrates that chores are a thing everyone does and leisure is a thing everyone has.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on May 20, 2020, 08:59:04 PM
Switching out most of the regular coffee is going swimmingly. It probably helps that I bought thirteen dollar a pound water processed decaf, which is like three times as expensive as my usual coffee, so it is probably, y'know, better.
Post by: mm1970 on May 21, 2020, 11:38:14 AM
My husband is much like you - he likes down time, it doesn't start until big kid is in bed (9:30? 10?) so he stays up until 11:30 often. The dog wakes us up at 5:45 or 6, so he doesn't get enough sleep.
I used to stay awake later, to get down time after the kids were in bed, but it got to be too much. I'm a morning person anyway, so I said fuck it several years ago. I go to bed around 8:15 or 8:30, read for 20-30 minutes. I'm usually asleep by 9, sometimes 9:30, usually before the 7 yo and always before the teen. I get 8.5 hours of sleep that way.
Your kids are young, it's gonna suck because they need you. There's no way around that.
Post by: Luz on June 13, 2020, 02:37:20 PM
@chaskavitch no no don't remove the leisure activities! That will only make the part of you that feels neglected push back harder. Any time I have attempted to remove JOY from my life, so I can be a better more productive machine, I can "succeed" for a short time before I crack. It is human nature.
Right now you have heaps of stressors and you are contemplating removing relaxation from your schedule. I would sit down with your husband, map out the respective work, housework, childcare and block out time for each of you to have downtime. Don't push it to the end of the day or your to-do list because you will never get to it. Bring it forward and schedule it because it's a legit human need, and so is a reasonable bedtime.
If you are saying "there is nowhere in my day I can dip into an escapist novel for 30", what can you remove from the other activities? Downgrade meal complexity, tag off on the dishes, laundry happens on the weekend, forget vacuum ing exists. I am not saying live in squalor, I am saying *do less* and allot yourself some time.
It's not that I want to completely remove my leisure activities, it's that when they're placed at the end of the day, I always stretch them out to an unhealthy length of time that's affecting my sleep.
If we put the kids to bed and stop answering "Mom I need to tell you something, but only in my bedroom!" by 8:30ish, then sweep or finish dishes or something by 9, I still have an hour or maybe 2 to read or watch tv or do yoga before I really ought to be asleep. Two hours isn't that bad! But I keep reading until 11:30 or midnight, and then baby girl wakes up once sometime in the middle of the night, and then we're up at 7, and I still haven't taken time to work out, lol.
How have things been lately?
I struggle with this too since leisure time feels so scarce during the preschool years. What's helped me is to do chores with my kid underfoot even though it takes a little longer. I try to give my daughter slots of my undivided attention in the morning, but otherwise I think it's good for her to be left to her own devices a bit. I'm still present and not distracted (as in on my phone) but I'm not focused completely on her.
I also asked my partner to do the bedtime routine while I finish up the dishes. That way once our daughter is in bed, I can switch gears to leisure and hanging out with him or friends (pre-COVID) and that precious time isn't eaten away by responsibilities. It's been my favorite lifestyle change since having a baby.
I also kind've deposit my daughter in bed after the bed routine and am strict about not dragging the evening out. I need that time to recharge so I can have something to give her the next day.
I figured out that my main barrier to going to bed at a decent hour is if I leave my teeth brushing as my last task because I'll just procrastinate doing it and read "one more page". So I try to do it the second-to-last thing and have the last thing be something luxurious, like reading.
Finally, I try to give myself more leisure than what seems reasonable (in terms of everything else I want to fit in) as I'm scheduling my week. I find I'm way less clingy if I can tell myself that I can pick up where I left off with my leisure the next day. If I don't give myself ample leisure, I end up taking it (and more) anyway.
All of these things don't completely override the lizard brain, but they've helped me not always be in lizard brain mode.
Hope you find some good hacks that work for you!
Post by: Luz on June 13, 2020, 02:40:50 PM
I think I'll rest on my laurels for the rest of the summer because the baby is a few weeks away from arrival and my next goal is posture (Sept-Dec 2020), which I'm sure will kick my butt.
Post by: oneday on June 13, 2020, 03:38:18 PM
It's been a few weeks now and I've had 4 water bottles a day since I started my hydration goal! Woot, woot! Slapping on those 4 rubber bands was the ticket!
I think I'll rest on my laurels for the rest of the summer because the baby is a few weeks away from arrival and my next goal is posture (Sept-Dec 2020), which I'm sure will kick my butt.
Well done with the water!
My healthy choice this week was to discuss Covid prevention measures with the company I'm temping for. I may not have a job next week
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on June 14, 2020, 12:32:55 PM
@oneday, good luck! I hope it goes well. I feel very fortunate that my employer is taking the whole thing very seriously. I am really dreading working a full day in a mask, which I think is coming--I got really tired when I just, like, spent too long at Home Depot in one yesterday. But I could always take out the filter (it is a piece of an HVAC filter, interestingly enough) if I need to pull more air, although that wouldn't be as protective.
I have a weirder than usual relationship to my body right now because of prepping for IVF. I'm starting by taking birth control pills to create a sort of blank canvas to start from--and I haven't been on HBC in a long time! Really takes me back to the aughts. And then thinking about all the meds I will be taking for stimulation (*shudders*). It's very unnatural, and egg retrieval is surgery. But I think I am going to frame it as an interesting challenge for my body. My two living children were conceived the old-fashioned way, so this is very different for me!
Post by: oneday on June 14, 2020, 06:55:27 PM
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on July 27, 2020, 03:32:48 PM
I finally found a way to meditate that I like! I set my white noise app to play five minutes of ocean sounds and I just relax and listen to them and think about my breathing. Sometimes I do box breathing.
Times don't seem to be getting any less stressful. How is everyone holding up? How are you caring for yourself?
Post by: mspym on July 27, 2020, 03:42:41 PM
I have hit the mid-winter, mid-project valley of despair slump, not helped by 3 days of torrential rain meaning I can't get out of the house for my midday sanity walk. But! I have picked up my embroidery again and it gives my hands something to do when I am on 2 hour work calls AND I have been plugging away at Spanish AND I have been getting to do the fun design work in my job so it does feel like progress is being made, which is satisfying.
Other healthy choices - keeping up my ankle exercises to try stop this sequence of repeated sprains, and drastically reducing the amount of animal protein in our diet.
Post by: mm1970 on July 27, 2020, 04:13:12 PM
Well, it turns out, I kind of like just doing jack shit on Sundays, except for maybe a longer dog walk or some yoga. So, I'm dropping the Sunday weight lifting. So, 3 days of lifting, 2 days of running, a couple of days of walking (plus extra walks during the week if I need the sunshine). And...taking days off when I want to, not just when my body rebels.
I've also dug out my 21 day fix containers to help with meal planning. My digestion has gotten more and more finicky (I think partially due to peri-menopause). I really have to eat mostly healthfully and I have to keep my volume of food down to 2 to 2.5 cups at a time to keep my stomach happy.
Post by: oneday on July 28, 2020, 01:34:58 AM
This is definitely turning into an ultra-marathon, not a sprint.
You got that right!
Something changed in the last few days and I've found it easier to do the healthy things (eat, exercise, reflect, self-kindness). Wish I knew what! But one measure is the number of long walks: about every other day recently. It's a virtuous cycle that I'll try to keep spinning.
Post by: Moonwaves on July 28, 2020, 02:48:53 AM
My head is so full of the studio I actually forgot about the other big healthy choice I actioned this week. I officially signed up for the year-long OptiFast programme at the obesity clinic of my local hospital. While I'm not entirely convinced that the three-month shakes/soups it starts with is a good fit for me, I think I will be able to make it through that and the year-long support from doctors, psychologists, dieticians, and personal trainers will hopefully make the difference in me actually getting somewhere with losing weight. Due to the pandemic, they may not be able to start the next session in August, but I'm signed up and will start whenever they can facilitate it again.
Hi @Moonwaves I did a very similar program starting in Fall 2018 and lost 70 lbs. While I realize the shakes are not for everyone, they really do the trick. I'm actually jealous of your program, we did not get psychologist or personal trainers. Anyway, it was life changing for me and the healthiest choice I could have ever made. PM me if you want to chat about it.
Well, it looks like this programme won't actually start until October. In the meantime, I am trying to cut down on the massive amount of sweets and crisps I consumed during the start of this whole COVID thing. I wasn't even under lockdown but I still stress-ate a LOT. Actually, have been doing ok with that for the last six or seven weeks. Still, on balance, a bit too much chocolate some days but last week, I even had a couple of days where I ate only my meals. My goals for now are to have at least three or four days with no chocoloate/crisps a week by October and to use up all of the food I have in the house by then. Since I live alone, I won't have to go food shopping for three months and actually, I'm kind of looking forward to that.
In the past three weeks I have been
Does anyone have any recommendations for short (15-20 mins) guided meditations in either English, German or French? I am finding myself extremely fussy in this regard and would like to find one where I don't mind either the accent or the tone/timbre of the voice.
Post by: chaskavitch on July 28, 2020, 06:51:42 AM
Lately I've been doing a little bit better getting up at 6:15 in the morning 3 days a week to work out, and fitting in some more yoga instead of snacking in the evenings after the kids go to bed. My sleep time hasn't been great, but I really am working on it, because it's catching up to me more and more.
My poor husband, though, is home all the time with the kids, and he's going a little crazy. We split the day for work time - he works until 1 pm, then it's my turn until 5ish, and I'm at the office on Sundays - but he's ended up working evenings and some weekends and has decided we need to steal an au pair from someone, since there are no new ones coming into the country right now. We're still paying to hold our spot at daycare, but neither of us actually want to put the kids back in, since school is starting soon and almost all of the kids or teachers there have siblings/kids in elementary school. My mom works at an elementary school too, and she's torn between not wanting to leave her coworkers in the lurch and absolutely freaking out about going back to work and never seeing us again because it's not safe. I just hate not knowing what's going to happen.
On the bright side, other than a few questions about "when will (the zoo/museum/library/park) be open again?", our kids are doing great at home. They are young enough that they don't have any REALLY close friends to miss, and we're lucky enough to have an enormous yard to help keep them occupied, even if it is hot AF most of the day.
Post by: oneday on July 28, 2020, 05:31:37 PM
Does anyone have any recommendations for short (15-20 mins) guided meditations in either English, German or French? I am finding myself extremely fussy in this regard and would like to find one where I don't mind either the accent or the tone/timbre of the voice.
https://www.calm.com/ has a lot of stuff in English, not sure about other languages. They also have an app for the smart phone if that works better for you. There is free content, and even more content if you pay for the premium version.
I don't have any particular recommendation, as it sounds like you are looking for something that you'll know when you hear it.
Post by: Moonwaves on July 29, 2020, 12:12:30 AM
Post by: oneday on July 29, 2020, 11:57:07 PM
I might give Calm another go. I did take a look at it but got a bit frustrated when everything I wanted to listen to was part of the paid part and generally, if the free content is not good enough, I have no interest in paying for more. Maybe I should look to see if there's a reliable way to filter out all of the paid content.
Oh, another idea. Due to the Pandemic, my health care provider gave me free access to Calm for a year. Does your health care provider have any resources?
Post by: mm1970 on July 31, 2020, 03:33:36 PM
Years ago, pre-kid, we worked out together. At first, after work. But then we realized we were more likely to be "too tired", so we started going early morning.
Enter: kids. For many years after kids, we took turns on days. I'd get Tue/Thu/Sat, he'd get Mon/Wed/Fri, or vice versa.
Then a few years ago, he just stopped going. We both work hard, and are stressed out. He would go to bed at 11:30 pm (still does) and would have SUCH a hard time getting up at 5:30 am (duh). I told him that sleep is more important. You need more sleep! So, he stopped setting the alarm. And he stopped working out. For ... 3 years. 4 years? I don't know. I lost count.
As the years went on, I just slowly started working out every day, because, well, he wasn't. At some point the doc suggested he lose a bit of weight, so he walked on his lunch break for an hour for a couple of months. But then stopped again. Then the kids got older, which made it easier for me - I could work out even if he was traveling, because: teenager.
So...we adopt a dog in November, and that's great because he takes her for 2 walks a day, totaling about 1.5 miles.
And then COVID happens. A week before the gym closes, I stop going. I start doing LIIFT4 from Beachbody (had done it before) instead of BodyPump at the gym, and continued my running. Months of all 4 of us being stuck at home 24/7 with a dog that wakes up at 6:15 am... He spends 2 months or so watching me do LIIFT4 (it's an 8 week program, but took me longer to finish). Then, he decides to start it himself (even got the teen to join him for 5 weeks).
He just finished! The full 8 week program, 4 days a week. I'm so proud. Sometimes he works out in the morning. Sometimes, he has meetings and has to sneak it in later.
He's going to start all over again in a week. Go hubby! Plus, a month or two ago we started doing long walks together on weekends. Every other week, we go with the dog on a hilly, mostly dog-free walk (she's not good with other dogs). Aim for 5-6 miles. On alternate weeks, we hike with the boys, which is 2-3 miles of almost constant whining.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on July 31, 2020, 03:38:00 PM
I have been doing Jazzercise on Demand. Hopefully it is enough to help me keep some muscle mass. I think my waist is expanding because of the lack of sufficient strength training--not that 8 lbs weights are a substitute for barbell training, but it does get some muscle activation going more than it seems like it would.
Although I have been so busy painting and/or gardening, I've only been doing it once a week! And usually another day I do yoga.
Post by: Moonwaves on August 08, 2020, 11:18:16 PM
I did actuallycheck thisout but they don't coverany online stuff. Ifwe end upgoing into lockdown again perhaps they will. While searching, I actually realised that work has put up a whole load of short exercise videos, stretching etc. So that was something good to find, too. And now that I'vefound the insight timer app, I'm sorted for meditations for a while. Funny how I like to think of myself as easygoing and then I get so fussy about something like that. Oh well, there are probably worse things in the world to be.I might give Calm another go. I did take a look at it but got a bit frustrated when everything I wanted to listen to was part of the paid part and generally, if the free content is not good enough, I have no interest in paying for more. Maybe I should look to see if there's a reliable way to filter out all of the paid content.
Oh, another idea. Due to the Pandemic, my health care provider gave me free access to Calm for a year. Does your health care provider have any resources?
In today's healthy choices, I got up by six, had a quick wash, got dressed, brought the first of two washes down to the cellar and then unlocked mega Hausfrau level and opened all the doors and windows wide open to air the place out a bit while it's still 'only' 21°.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on August 15, 2020, 01:01:57 PM
So I am experimenting with just, doing some exercise sometimes, especially if I've been for a walk and am reasonably loose. No changing clothes, no warm-up and cool-down (maybe a quick stretch), just a couple of quick exercises for those muscles that I'm missing.
How's everyone else holding up?
Post by: oneday on August 15, 2020, 08:32:37 PM
Doing surprisingly well in the recent past (like 3 weeks or so). I think this means my stress level has fallen off...a good thing, but also I wish I knew WHY.
Sleep is getting under control; not where I want to be quite yet, but good headway recently.
Exercise/cardio/physical therapy - spotty
Food/eating - still not getting enough veggies, but need to focus on the prior two areas, I only have so much focus at a time.
Hydration is good.
Post by: mspym on August 15, 2020, 09:29:43 PM
Post by: Moonwaves on August 17, 2020, 04:42:05 AM
So I am experimenting with just, doing some exercise sometimes, especially if I've been for a walk and am reasonably loose. No changing clothes, no warm-up and cool-down (maybe a quick stretch), just a couple of quick exercises for those muscles that I'm missing.This is something I want to try incorporating into my life. It sounds like something MMM mentioned years ago in a blog post - something like having weights or whatever easily accessible so when you're passing by and have a couple of minutes free, you can just go for it.
My recent most healthy choice was to actually go to the doctor about the pain in my back/hip and stop assuming it was just because I'm fat and decrepit and getting old (honestly just didn't have the energy to have another conversation that came down to "lose weight"). He somewhat begrudgingly prescribed me 6 x 15 minutes of massage, which the physio asked me to take as 3 x 30 minutes so that they would have enough time to actually achieve something considering I had "only" had massage prescribed and not general physio.
Even when I was telling the physio what was wrong, where it hurt, etc., there was a bit of "well, you're overweight and your musculature is probably weakened" but once she actually started working on my back, she stopped that straightaway. At the end she said that even if I had had a prescription for general physio, it was bad enough that massage was the right thing for now. She reckons I will probably have to do one more set of massage after this one, and only then might be able to start physio that would actually strengthen things at a more basic level. Even after that one session I have had so much less pain I am astonished. I hadn't realised the extent to which I had just begun accepting it as normal. I still have a fair amount of pain but keep finding myself doing certain movements very slowly and then realising I don't need to any more because it doesn't hurt the way it was.
Post by: mm1970 on August 17, 2020, 02:17:48 PM
I'm trying a new way to get my big muscle groups worked. History shows that I will not make myself do a 40 minute strength training routine. But I will do yoga and Jazzercise and walking. Jazzercise is good for legs but I don't really like their upper body stuff and the abs are all crunches--I still need pushups, chin ups, and planks.
So I am experimenting with just, doing some exercise sometimes, especially if I've been for a walk and am reasonably loose. No changing clothes, no warm-up and cool-down (maybe a quick stretch), just a couple of quick exercises for those muscles that I'm missing.
How's everyone else holding up?
I like this. I think Mark's Daily Apple had a thing on that recently "micro workouts". If you walk past your pullup bar, do pullups. That sort of thing. It also keeps your body primed for exercise.
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/benefits-of-microworkouts/
I think my kids ONLY do micro workouts, ha!
I've been sticking to my workouts. I run Tues (speed work), Thurs (something else). I lift MWF (I am doing beach body "Hammer and Chisel" and the workouts are very challenging. Lots of balance work, and boy do they love Bulgarian split squats. It's very different from my last program that I finished. I've been using my two 10kg kettle bells for squats. Most of the workouts are 35-40 minutes. I do them in the morning, and I try not to focus on the fact that they are 40 minutes. I just work my way through them.
Saturday long walk and Sunday, miscellaneous. I want to incorporate more yoga. Some day.
Kids start school (virtual) tomorrow. So they have a "PE" schedule that I made them make themselves. (for their breaks). I've cut up a bunch of veggies, and we have some healthy-ish snacks. I miss free school lunch. We picked up lunch for the 8 yo today because we picked up his class packet. They gave us a sheet to tell us how lunches will go in the school year. Namely, no free school lunch. Or more accurate - only if you qualify. During school AT school last year, my kids both attended schools where 70-90% of the students were eligible, so everyone got free lunch.
Now that we are virtual (and big kid starts High school, so he aged out anyway), it's back to adding $ to the accounts. It's just easier to cook at home.
I've been aiming to get enough veggies. I'm pretty good, but it's hard. I can't really fit enough in the fridge to last a week for all of us.
Post by: pdxvandal on August 17, 2020, 03:48:52 PM
I like hiking and outdoor activities like kayaking, but these options are now so overcrowded, anything decent within a 45-min drive, it seems. It being harder and harder to find an easy to reach, true nature escape sucks.
I generally dislike running, although on a 2.5-mile walk today, I decided to run the last 1.5 miles or so, and made it without stopping. I would probably be a good runner with my body type, but I just have never been smitten by the activity unless it involves a sport.
Small victories, but I need more opportunities to sweat and drop 10-15 lbs. Good luck to everyone. It would seem easy being WFH and no commmuting, but it's just not for me.
Post by: oneday on August 19, 2020, 12:13:18 AM
@mm1970 I've relaxed my standards on what constitutes a veggie during the pandemic because fresh just doesn't keep long enough and I'm shopping less often. I'm now sometimes counting starchy veggies (such as corn) as "veggies" rather than starches. Also eating more canned veggies, canned soup and frozen veggies. Yesterday was canned creamy broccoli with extra frozen broccoli added. And this is really cheating, but I found Harvest Snaps Green Pea Snack Crisps at Costco and I'm even counting those sometimes! They keep fairly well in a ziploc.
Post by: mspym on August 22, 2020, 03:36:23 PM
Post by: chaskavitch on August 23, 2020, 07:08:27 AM
Currently it seems the key is to not watch TV OR have a good book series to read, and just do a nice yoga practice after the kids go to bed :) I can't snack while I'm doing yoga, and then afterwards I'm relaxed, comfortable, and slightly bored, so I go to bed. I snack less during the day when I'm not exhausted and crappy feeling, so it's a wonderful cycle. It makes it easier to wake up to lift in the morning, and that seems to help my mood with the kids during the day, too.
My husband is still working a bunch at night, but he's trying to get to bed at a decent hour too (before midnight is pretty good for him). It's amazing how much less snappy we both are when we get enough sleep.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on September 04, 2020, 09:42:00 AM
I have been playing video games too late at night, but I am working on being more cognizant of the time and trying tricks to make me stop sooner. Last night I didn't need to wash my hair (I wash at night early in the evening so it can air dry), so I waited to take a shower until AFTER I had played my game. That way I wasn't too comfortable to get up and I had the shower time to start relaxing for bed. I shower by a night-light.
I am also trying to have a slightly dull or already-read book to read at bedtime. I finished Weird Al: Seriously and am on to a third reading of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
Microworkouts are going well but adjusting to the metabolism of lockdown remains a challenge. I ordered some jeans in a larger size, because there is a nip in the air in the mornings and pants season is coming and I deserve to have pants that fit. And I also got yoga pants to be prepared for my next IVF cycle in October.
I had to go off caffeine for 3 days for a test preparatory to the IVF cycle and... it wasn't that bad! I mean, I was sucking down decaf like there was no tomorrow and I had a couple headaches, but not so bad. But now I wonder if I should try making a permanent switch when the caffeinated coffee runs out (I normally brew half regular and half decaf).
Post by: Cassie on September 04, 2020, 02:21:25 PM
Post by: Frugal Lizard on September 04, 2020, 03:02:46 PM
My healthy choice has been to take some vacation. As soon as I finish a couple more tasks. But I am currently converting a meeting recording and daren't do anything but surf MMM.
Post by: oneday on September 04, 2020, 03:15:25 PM
Exercise - just joined a new online group, so good motivation for the moment.
Eating is still terrible. Just trying to get 5 servings of friut/veg every day is a struggle, but one I have a little more capacity to deal with these days.
@Cassie That's a lot. Are you well?
Post by: Cassie on September 04, 2020, 03:59:53 PM
Post by: oneday on September 04, 2020, 04:27:08 PM
Yes I decided that I wasn’t going to drink anything with calories except for one cup of coffee. I drink water the rest of the time.
Wow, what a difference that has made for you!!!!
Post by: Cassie on September 04, 2020, 04:37:55 PM
Post by: mspym on September 04, 2020, 06:02:45 PM
- I bought an activity tracker (Withings Steel HR) because it does spur me to get out of my seat on a regular basis AND it has a nice watch face that helps me reduce the number of times I pick up my phone to check the time only to be sucked into Doomscrolling however now I am raising multiple tickets to try get the stupid thing to stop thinking my stride length is >1m because it messes up my distance calculations. [Now I have data but it's wrong data? Is that better than No Data?]
- My sleep is a bit messed up at the moment from a delicious combination of Reading Too Late + pre-DST Early Morning Wake-ups but at least we are heading into Spring so maybe things are looking up.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on September 15, 2020, 02:30:08 PM
But I can tell they're helping--I got my third chin up back today!*
*Technically it's two, since I start from a full extension but with my feet down, but then I do two more without touching, then I put my feet back down to do a couple of assisted chin ups.
I also got some exercise bands to add interest and variety to my at-home strength training. Jazzercise On Demand includes some band videos.
Post by: mm1970 on September 15, 2020, 03:02:47 PM
Great job on the chinups. I've never ever managed one. Ever.
The terrible air quality means allll the mini-workouts right now. I skipped my morning run, and instead did a Leslie Sansone "15 minute mile" walk in the morning with the 8 yo, and then another one at lunch because I was exhausted and needed a pick me up. If I do one after dinner, then it's almost the same as running my 3 miles, right?
Post by: Moonwaves on September 16, 2020, 12:29:52 AM
My recent healthy choices have been going to the pool every week for the past four weeks and doing an hour of aquajogging. Ok, this week was only half-an-hour because I went yesterday at lunchtime but I tried to move faster to get a good workout. They've just announced that they will be opening the indoor pools again after all, so that's great. The outdoor pool near work is only open until the end of this week. Might try to go again after work on Friday - I'm really loving being in the water again.
And following a suggestion from someone's journal I have now done a guided meditation a couple of time immediately upon arriving home after work. It has really helped in terms of refreshing me and making me feel like it may actually be possible to do something other than sit and read/watch netflix in the evening. I choose one of the longer 30-40 minute ones and sit on the balcony, enjoying the view and breathing deeply.
Finally, I was frustrated to not be receiving a reply to my query at the obesity clinic as to whether the OptiFast programme is actually starting in October and if so, when. Yesterday, I saw that a local pharmacy had OptiFast on speical offer and so I went in and bought myself two boxes, thinking that maybe I could at least do a few weeks on my own. Less than ten minutes later, the clinic phoned me to say that the programme would be starting in mid-November. Presumably I triggered some variant of Murphy's law. Glad to have a date and, more importantly, the day of the week fixed so that when I'm trying to make plans, I know what day to keep free.
Post by: oneday on September 16, 2020, 05:03:53 PM
@La Bibliotecaria Feroz , way to go! My current quest is to do AN pushup. Once I conquer that, it will be time for chin ups. My dad tried to tell me that "girls can't do those kinds of things, they don't have the upper body strength." Bah.
@mm1970 3 mini workouts are definitely just as good! Air quality is massively better here, hope it's clearing for you as well!
@Moonwaves I think they try to get a certain amount of people enrolled before they start a new "class". Mine was also delayed by a month.
In the last two weeks, some things have clicked into place and I'm back on top of my health game. Some intangible/internal things that I don't always understand or have control over. But, notably, one "click" was having my room mate travel for a couple weeks. When she's back, I'll have to have a talk with her about our combined grocery & cooking situation. It feels scary to me, because I dislike setting (or re-setting) boundaries (especially when I have to "ask" or "take back" something), but I'm sure from her side it will be no big deal. Right? 😬
Post by: mspym on September 16, 2020, 06:46:01 PM
Activity tracker - ongoing back and forth trying to get them to realise that in no world does a 1.6m woman take strides >1m. The most maddening part is they keep falling back on canned answers when the standard calculations for height to stride length (and vice versa) are easily accessible on the internet so it's not even that it's just me Being Wrong. I have never felt more like they have just filed me under "weird hysterical customer" than when I get their canned "our calculations work for most people" pablum. THAT IS WHAT I AM SAYING I AM DEEPLY AVERAGE SO I SHOULDN'T BE GASLIT BY A EFFING WATCH NUMBNUTS. And that is how they win.
So yeah, going rurl well.
Post by: Luz on September 16, 2020, 08:33:11 PM
Sleep has been meh.
Water intake has been a consistent 80 oz per day with my rubber band system.
Flossing happens 2x daily without fail.
I don't think I'll tackle posture this year.
I'm going to try to tackle 1 health habit a year. To make it easy on myself I'll say that for this year, water was the habit :)
I did figure out where my third flossing can fit in though. Both kids nap in the afternoon after lunch. When they're down, I grab a handful of chocolate chips (to motivate myself) and start my exercise routine (clearly, it's not high impact). I pace the living room for 20 minutes (while eating my dessert), then do strength and flexibility exercises. I'm going to floss after the chocolate chips are finished. I think making it a habit is just a matter of getting used to grabbing the floss container along with the chocolate. I'll try it out tomorrow.
Post by: Moonwaves on September 17, 2020, 12:15:23 AM
@Moonwaves I think they try to get a certain amount of people enrolled before they start a new "class". Mine was also delayed by a month.They do the same here. This one was supposed to start in August but was moved to October because of Corona. This time it has been moved because there are new materials available and they want to start with the new materials instead of starting with the old materials and then having to give us all new material three weeks later. At least now I know. I spent so much time psyching myself up to even register that I've been nervous that that feeling would fade before I even got to start. I'm still feeling pretty positive about it though. For September I've been trying to cut down on sugar - so at least I feel like I'm doing something, if you know what I mean.
@Moonwaves I think they try to get a certain amount of people enrolled before they start a new "class". Mine was also delayed by a month.This will definitely be worth it. She may even be grateful that you've brought it up because she came to similar conclusions while she was away but wasn't sure how to bring it up.
In the last two weeks, some things have clicked into place and I'm back on top of my health game. Some intangible/internal things that I don't always understand or have control over. But, notably, one "click" was having my room mate travel for a couple weeks. When she's back, I'll have to have a talk with her about our combined grocery & cooking situation. It feels scary to me, because I dislike setting (or re-setting) boundaries (especially when I have to "ask" or "take back" something), but I'm sure from her side it will be no big deal. Right? 😬
Post by: mspym on September 17, 2020, 01:46:01 AM
Also. Ofpym asked me how could the watch situation be "resolved" in a way that left me happy and it's really got me thinking. Honestly, I think if they had just said upfront "woah that is weird, let's look into it" and I dunno quietly tweaked my data in the back end I would have been perfectly happy. So maybe I take the Walkaway Victory and just use it as a goodlooking watch and step counter and that's enough.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on September 17, 2020, 09:12:02 AM
FWIW I was like 35 when I did my first chin-up. I didn't have the grit earlier, I don't think.
I am continuing to meditate most days. I tried the Calm app but turns out I would rather just listen to white noise and breath without someone talking to me.
Good luck with your new class, @Moonwaves! @mspym, I hope your evening is lovely.
Post by: Moonwaves on September 17, 2020, 09:39:18 AM
Today's healthy choice: since the indoor pools are opening up again, I finally got an email today that aquajogging is also starting up again. Signed up immediately for the Saturday morning class in the pool near where I live and have sent an email to a pool closer to work to find out if an evening class during the week will be on offer.
Post by: Cassie on September 17, 2020, 09:48:11 AM
Post by: Moonwaves on September 17, 2020, 10:50:59 AM
In the meantime, aquajogging is the first sport I have ever done that I have actually enjoyed so I think I'll keep going with it.
Post by: mspym on September 17, 2020, 02:14:07 PM
This is to say that yoga with a friend was exactly what I needed. I am also contemplating buying the app she uses because $60 for a year is pretty good. (I know I should stick with what I already have access to now, which is a lot)
Post by: oneday on September 17, 2020, 10:57:01 PM
mspym, that sucks. 1m seems like an unreasonably long stride. But yoga with friend sounds very nice. I miss my in-person yoga class.
@La Bibliotecaria Feroz thanks for the tips on pushups! I've progressed from wall pushups to countertop pushups. Now that I have a coffee table, I will try that.
@Luz well done with the water! I have found it's been a big help to me to increase water, and now it's just something I do.
Moonwaves, you seem to have a good mindset for this program. Taking proactive steps during the delay is great! I found that aqua aerobics (Butts & Guts class) didn't really do much for weight loss, but did contribute to toning. Of course, I only did it once a week for 8 weeks. Maybe more time in the water would have made a difference. But regardless, it just made me happy to be in the water, so it was worth it for that alone. Google suggests it can also help balance, flexibility and cardio fitness.
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on September 29, 2020, 09:50:50 AM
I was forgiving of myself this week when I ordered a dress and it was too small. (Loss of access to heavy weights has probably made my metabolism take a dive.)
Gearing up for another IVF cycle and I am almost off of caffeinated coffee altogether! I have a little cold brew in the fridge that is the last of the caffeinated, which was about 1/3. All I have left to make in the French press is decaf. Wish me luck!
I told my other half that the weekly takeout isn't really working for me. It costs more than I want to spend and it causes me to overeat. He is mulling it over - he really enjoys it as a bright spot. If he just doesn't want to give it up, then it's on me to moderate! I only ate 1 fajita yesterday, for instance, even though there were 2 tortillas, because I was full.
Post by: chaskavitch on September 29, 2020, 10:47:07 AM
So now I'm starting over again, haha. At least I know how to move forward!
Post by: mspym on September 29, 2020, 03:50:38 PM
Post by: oneday on September 29, 2020, 06:38:33 PM
I tried pushups on the coffee table, but it's still too hard. Will continue on the counter, but now with a goal to get to the low table! I love having goals, so thanks for that.
My healthy choice is not giving up. A road trip last week for fun & to handle family business meant eating out 100% and mostly at places I didn't choose. I am bugered & pizza'd out. Today was a new day with challenges (the pantry is bare), but in a few days I'll be back to the eating pattern I'm comfortable with.
Post by: Frugal Lizard on September 30, 2020, 08:26:30 AM
Post by: La Bibliotecaria Feroz on September 30, 2020, 09:33:16 AM
turning off the debate last night was a healthly choice. I worked on a painting and sewing some masks. Much better use of my time.
We watched the last 5 minutes after we put the kids to bed, decided we'd seen enough, and played video games. I conquered Canberra with my Byzantine Dromons, which I think was definitely a better use of my time. (Civilization VI)
@oneday - Yuck! I get so sick when I travel for that reason. Good luck with the detox :-).
Post by: Cassie on September 30, 2020, 10:06:59 AM
Post by: oneday on November 11, 2020, 07:11:25 PM
Why it's not possible at other times:
1. Because of Covid restrictions, only one household may occupy the tiny gym at any given time. So the leasing office set up a reservation system. Prior to last week, the gym was closed altogether.
2. Being unemployed, I can take the time slots that are less popular. Might also work with WFH, maybe not quite as well.
Bonus, it's free!
How is everyone else doing? Any healthy choices related to upcoming holidays?