be healthier

I can find a few positives to report for the year so far – my weight has slowly crept down a few pounds, and, well, I’m sure there’s something else that has been good. But, the year hasn’t been great overall. I tore a muscle in late May, which kept me out of work for 2 weeks and took 6-8 weeks to completely heal. Wow, what pain! The many scans I had to diagnose that also turned up another problem that resulted in major surgery 2 weeks ago. I know many people who have more serious problems, but these are my problems.

The muscle tear has me worrying the most because I do feel responsible. It felt like nature’s way of saying your core is not strong enough, your flexibility isn’t what it should be, and your posture and ergonomics are bad, too.

My plan is to make the most of the next 3 weeks that I’ll be out of work and get a fresh start this fall. I can’t go back and have a “do over” for the first 8 months of the year, so that seems my best option.

My year is not off to a good start. A situation came up at work in early January which greatly increased my stress level. I think that is the root of my problems. I’ve been acutely aware that I’m stress eating and I’ve gained about 2 pounds. Fortunately, it’s affected my sleeping somewhat, but not terribly. But I have let myself fall into a little of a downward spiral. I’m not exercising enough, not getting things done as I’d like, and generally feeling irritable and crabby. So, of course, all that just increases my stress even more and adds guilt, too. Well, I’ve got to break out of it!

I think I’ll not worry about the stress directly, but just focus on the things that I can do with will power (at least theoretically) like eat better, get some exercise, and try to get some things done around my house. Then when I feel better psychologically and physically, I won’t be fat and my house will be cleaner.

What a crappy week it’s been! I’ve been sick, probably just a cold, but nevertheless I’ve felt awful. Then I fell into a bit of a depression. But next week will be better! I’m feeling better psychologically and how long can a cold last?

On a positive note, the vegetarian attempt is going well. I’m not missing meat at all and my weight is the lowest it’s been in a few years – only by a couple of pounds, but it’s going in the right direction.

Hope everyone has a good week.

I’m doing fairly well overall. It’s wonderful just not to be sick after the awful crud I had at the beginning of March. It was about 3 weeks before I stopped coughing. So, here’s what I’m doing well:

• outdoor exercise (gardening)
• eating well most of the time
• doing lots of things with friends (good for stress)

The main thing I’d like to work on is sleeping better. I go to sleep right away, but wake up around 4:00 AM and frequently can’t get back to sleep. The result is that I’m tired much of the time. Tylenol PM is not working. Suggestions, anyone?

I think Sunday is the “official” check-in day, but I wanna whine and complain now. I’ve been home sick since Tuesday and I’m about to go crazy. I don’t have a diagnosis because when I told my doctor I was too sick to go into his office, he called in antibiotics for me. God bless him. Anyway, it feels like a sinus infection, bronchitis, and the flu all together. So, I don’t have any positives to report for the week. Oh, wait, I lost 3 pounds. But not much chance that’s fat, huh?

My goal for the weekend is to ease back into being normal – eat, do some laundry, etc. This phase is so hard. I’m not still so sick that I can’t get up, but I sure don’t feel like doing anything. And I really need to go back to work on Monday.

Prompted by a comment of Ellie’s, I decided that I should check in. I’ve continued to struggle with stress and over-eating the last couple of weeks. I hate being negative and feeling so blah, so I’ve missed a couple of weekly check-ins. But that’s what teams are for – sharing regardless of how we’re doing.

I did do one really good thing last night, though. I got home before dark (first time in a week) so I went for a walk by myself (my walking buddy had a night out with his wife and friends). Well, after I’d walked over a mile, I ran into a neighbor. She asked if she could join me and we walked more than another mile. So, I got in almost 3 miles and had a little fun catching up with a friend I hadn’t seen for a while.

For my teammates who are behind with posting on this goal, please try to write something this weekend. This is a wonderful team. We’ll cheer victories and encourage those who are struggling.

I’m so tired that I don’t even really feel like writing this update. I had a hard week at work, then yesterday a family matter arose that significantly increased my stress level.

So, good things this week: 1) I walked 4 or 5 times! That is the most consistent exercise week I’ve had in quite a while. Will try to keep it up if it doesn’t get too cold. 2) Didn’t start any new bad habits. 3) Still have my sense of humor.

My focus the coming week will be to control my stress. It’s all too easy for me to spiral downward into “My life sucks. I must have done something awful to deserve this.” Gosh, am I digressing too far from “be healthier”? The mind and the body are so connected, though. I will try to be aware of my mental, physical, and emotional health this week, and be kind to myself.

I’ve been concerned about cooking food in the microwave ever since that study came out saying that it destroyed virtually all the antioxidants in broccoli. It just seemed logical that other foods would be affected also. This article To Microwave or Not? is on the side of minimizing microwave use.

I’m wondering if lower microwave power settings are safer. Also, if just reheating does not do as much damage to food as cooking. Anyone have comments to share on microwave use?

Maybe I even have a mild to moderate case of SAD. I’m so tired all the time and I’m eating way too much. I’ve gained about 3 pounds since before Thanksgiving. While that might not sound like much, it’s very hard for me to take off excess weight. So I try not to gain too much.

On the positive side, while I’ve eaten too much, most of it has been really healthy foods. I’m getting some exercise every week. And I’m managing to keep my stress from getting out of control.

My goals for the coming week are to focus on discipline – with eating as well as being more productive. Specifically, I’m going to try to stop eating when I’m not really hungry. And if I can come home from work and actually get something done, that’s got to make me feel better.

The following comes from my local newspaper.

Consumer Reports points out that some conventional fruits and vegetables rarely have multiple pesticide residues, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy group based in Washington. These are asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples and sweet peas. Even organic produce can sometimes have low levels of pesticide residue because of the “pervasive” presence in rain and groundwater. Thus, organic versions don’t seem worth the extra cost.

Here are organic foods that are worth paying for, according to Consumer Reports:

• Baby food, because exposure to toxins may pose greater risk to children, and the condensed fruits and vegetables in baby food may concentrate pesticide residues.

• Dairy, eggs, poultry and meat, because of potential toxins in nonorganic feed, greater risk of mad-cow disease in conventional beef, and the use of hormones and antiobiotics associated “with increased antibacterial resistance in humans.”

• The “dirty dozen” of fruits and vegetables, named by the EWG, that when conventionally grown have the most pesticides, based on U.S. government tests. These are apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.