Author: leahbisrael

Licensed Menopause Champion and MenoChef and getting certified as a Women’s Coach Specialist. No Coast Menopause Coach will be open for clients and presentations beginning October 1st, 2023 both in-person and remotely. My journey of surgical menopause created a desire to learn more and help others. I am also a proud autism mom diagnosed with autism herself. In addition, I am experienced Knowledge Management Specialist who is able to multi-task and meet deadlines. Self motivated, detail oriented with strong verbal communication skills. Highly organized and skilled in all aspects of Microsoft Word. I have excellent follow through ability which makes me an asset. Skilled in the use of a wide range of legal software programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook & Internet Explorer.

The Move Towards Balance

Now that my allergies seem to be subsiding – thank you Summer – I feel like I can start doing more during my lunch break and after work. I no longer need to be comatose on the couch feeling like I’ve been mowed down. I can actually check off items from my to-do list.

If you know me well, you know that I love lists. I also love schedules. “What is on my schedule and lists?” you may ask. Well, to begin with, work, of course. Work has been incredibly busy and stressful but moves quickly. Other items on my list include: exercising, cleaning, laundry, vacuuming, reading, blogging, reaching out to friends, and cleaning up the yard. NOT necessarily in that order!

A lot of those items may not seem very enjoyable. However, I thrive in cleanliness and order. Also, those items help reduce my stress levels. I am hoping with lower stress and more movement I will be healthier and stronger.

I don’t plan on setting myself up for failure by putting too much on my plate. If I only accomplish work for the day, that is enough. I can only do my best. Now I am off to clean the upstairs bathroom. Cheers!

The Move a LONG Time in the Making

We finally got our asses out of TX and into CO!

My husband and I (mainly I) have been talking about moving to Colorado since I met him in December of 2001. I lived here when I was much younger and in a much different place in my life. I have lost touch with most of the people I knew here and need to start anew.

We have been here almost 3 months and I am starting to feel settled. Our house is put together for the most part (except the dreaded storage room that we should venture into and start deciding what should be kept, displayed, donated or tossed). Maybe I will add that to my daily schedule that I have not yet been following!

It’s very strange being back. I have dreamt about the backdrop of the mountains and have felt like I was on vacation seeing them daily. However, work stress kinda ends that vacation feel. I have hardly driven which also makes me feel like I do not really live here (Rob tends to drive more often when we are on vacation in a new place). Plus, we are still a bit isolated socially. We have done a few social things since being here and have been venturing all over Denver Metro but that aspect does not feel like home yet.

I had in my mind that once we moved here my motivation to live a healthier lifestyle would suddenly emerge. However, my allergies are still getting adjusted (it is still MUCH better than my allergies were in TX). Yesterday when we went to Ruby Hill Park (which has a mountain view, a view of downtown Denver, and a view of dirt bikers doing tricks). Of course, my allergies started acting up. Thankfully, when we switched locale to the Santa Fe Art District, they were back in check.

Besides our adventures in Capitol Hill, which is where I lived many moons ago, I think yesterday’s trip exposed me to a new area that I really enjoyed and felt more “at home” in. I hope to go there again sans the little man (who got bored).

Well, writing on this blog has been on my to-do list for many weeks. I am glad I finally bit the bullet and typed up a little something.

Hope to be back more regularly, but I make no promises!

Boundless Energy

How do I become a person with boundless energy? I wake up and exercise and am still tired. I work 6:30 – 3 and by noon, any little energy I had is completely wiped out. By the time I am done with work, I just want to sleep. BUT there is so much to do. Take today for an example, I need to help my son with two Social Studies projects and Science homework when I am done with work. This sounds so painful.

I drink my first two cups of coffee in the morning and my third around 1 or 2 pm. However, that still does not help much. I always hope to clean up the house or organize areas when I am off of work. Yesterday, I barely dusted one room.

I eat healthy (at least during the workweek) and eat small meals more frequently instead of large meals. As I said, I exercise. I try to get 7 hours of sleep (but been getting 6.5 lately). I know allergies may be adding to my daily fatigue…Besides taking speed, does anyone have any suggestions for energy?

Pellets

Yesterday, I got my hormone pellet inserted. This has been the best form of hormone therapy post-hysterectomy. I had my hysterectomy in 2013 a month before my 40th birthday. Since having my hysterectomy, I have been in a constant state of fatigue, brain fog, and extreme mood swings. The pellet helps me feel a tad more normal. If I am not on hormones, my estrogen and testosterone fall to zero and getting out of bed becomes a exhausting process.

I still am tired most of the time. I still cannot remember things moving from one room to the next. And I still have mood swings. My mood swings have lessened with the help of pellets and the meds my psychiatrist prescribes. One of those meds are supposed to give me more energy. I would prefer to say that it heightens my motivation vs. actually giving me energy. My exhaustion now depends mainly on sleep. Unfortunately, I am also a crappy sleeper.

In the midst of all this, I have gained an awful 40 pounds (40!!!!!!) over the past 12 years of being on and off hormones and on and off all types of psychiatric medications (also a few known to promote weight gain). This year I have been trying to focus on health. I may not be the best everyday. Actually the weekends/days off are the worst. I cave in to the sweets and during downtime I tend to eat more.

Monday through Thursday/sometimes Friday I am pretty good with good choices and behaviors. Today is Tuesday (my Monday, since I took yesterday off for my pellet appointment – it initially exhausts me for about 24 hours) and I am back on track.

Unfortunately, I cannot exercise or clean until Thursday afternoon due to the pellet. BUT this Friday may be my first tennis lesson in “oh so many” years. The weather looks promising. YAY! AND this weekend I am planning to try out my new bike (again I learned when I turned 37 and only rode a few months before I became pregnant). Roger hated the trailer, so we never rode bikes again. Now, 10 years later, I am taking the plunge.

YAY ME!

Insomnia

A few weeks ago my doctor prescribed a new medication to aide with my depression and lack of motivation. This medication would help “bump” up the effectiveness of my current depression and anxiety medication. It is working wonders on my motivation and energy (energy when I get enough sleep). However, one of the side effects is insomnia. My psychiatrist warned me but said to take melatonin. I was already taking melatonin. EVERY night I wake up between 1 and 3 and stay awake for hours before being able to fall back asleep. Monday – Thursday I wake up for work between 5:15 and 5:45 (depending if I exercise). This week, since my sleep has been between 4 and 5 hours, I opted to sleep the extra 30 minutes in the morning. Last night was the first night I got 7 hours of sleep (despite waking up for a bit of time around 2 am).

Today I have my virtual follow-up appointment. I hope she has a better suggestion than melatonin for the future. I want to stay on this medication but need my sleep. I was already a poor sleeper and I am getting worse. I hope I have not inherited my father’s curse of insomnia!

Wednesday’s

My favorite day of the week is turning into Wednesday. After work and school, Roger and I listen to music for about 3-4 hours. I let him choose what albums he wants to play. He has even learned how to put the vinyl on and use a manual record player.

He has such eclectic taste with everything from The Beatles to Anthrax to DEVO. Yesterday, we listened to Motörhead, Iggy and the Stooges, and U2. He knows so much more about the bands than I do and always teaches me something new.

I am so curious what type of teenager he will be. No, I do not want to speed up time. I wonder if he will find his people in middle school or if it will take til high school. He has friends his age but none share his musical tastes. I guess Frank Zappa is not cool in the circles of 10 year olds!

Roger is just so amazing and I’m so lucky to have this special time with him each Wednesday.

Quarterly Blog

Looking back at the date of my previous blog and all my great intentions that I have neglected… I guess this has turned into a quarterly blog by consequence. But enough about that.

This year I have started taking care of all those appointments I put on hold last year – dentist, annual physical, annual dermatology check. In addition, this year I am fortunate enough to have my every 3 year colonoscopy too! I am focusing on my health. The beginning of this year my motivation was nil. However, I discussed this with my psychiatrist. For the past few weeks, I have started taking a new prescription and, I think, it is doing the trick.

This past year life was on hold but I am feeling slightly more “normal” since being fully vaccinated. We have been trying to make the weekends better for Roger – going to the zoo, heading to Dallas and Fort Worth. Yesterday, Easter, we went to the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art. It was empty and so enjoyable!

There is so much I still have on my “to-do” list but enjoying crossing off last year’s rollovers and taking the time to enjoy the simple things with my husband and son.

For now I say adieu – Fingers crossed it will not be another 3 months!

January 2, 2021

Yesterday was the day that the world would reset and joy would return. Well, maybe not quite that BUT I think a lot of people view January 1st as the day to reset and refocus on goals, projects, life. In the weeks leading up to January 1st, I envisioned the day filled with journaling, self betterment routines being discovered and written down, leaving the house and going for a walk. I let myself down. I woke up in so much pain (from my head down through my legs). No, I was not hungover – over 5 hours I had 2 beers and a glass of champagne accompanied by food and water. I was super congested (as most days have been due to my allergies/sinuses) which have been causing super headaches. My husband thought maybe I slept wrong. That usually is accompanied by a specific pain: neck pain or arm pain from laying on it oddly, etc. I was awake for a long time but unmotivated to get out of bed, even not wanting to open my eyes and look at my phone (which does not take any motivation). Much later in the day, I did spend some time alone upstairs trying to get things squared away. However, it was not what I had planned in my head. I thought, “Tomorrow will be different. I will wake up, feel motivated, get things done, and go for that walk!”

Today arrived. I awoke with the same congestion and headache. Thankfully, I did not wake with the same body aches as the day before. I told my son later we would go to the park so he could use his new scooter. After hours of watching “Cobra Kai”, we asked my son what he wanted to do the rest of the day. He did not want to leave the house today. He went back into the bedroom to play Pokémon Go and watch or make some videos on YouTube. I mustered up the motivation to pack away some of the holiday decorations – all but the tree and what is on the tree. “I should do more, ” I thought to myself but the lazy feeling continued. My husband asked about laundry and I decided to start the first of 3 loads.

Eventually my son did ask to work on some gifts from the holidays – Crystal Growing and Candy Making kits. Of course, we lacked the ingredients for the candy but we did start the crystals. My husband is out getting ingredients for those recipes while my son plays more games on his iPad.

I came up to my office to see if inspiration would hit. Did it? No. I just keep perpetuating the thought that I have let myself down. There is so much that needs to be done around the house – so many drawers of crap to go through, so many closets needing to be cleaned up, so many exercises I could be doing, so much dust around the house from the holiday decor being put away. My husband or son do not care about me accomplishing any of those. They love me as much whether I do them or not. I wish I could give myself the same love.

Chills

Today was a pretty ordinary day – work and school. However, the mood of the day changed when a mother I know reported that her husband tested positive for Covid. He was going to take a flight and first had to take a rapid test. She said he was positive around 11:30 this morning. It was worrisome and I was concerned for her and her son. However, we went about our school and work day pretty much in the same spirit.

At 1 pm I get a message that she is on her way to the ER because her husband’s lungs were bad. One and a half hours and a casual test taken to board a flight to rushing to the emergency room. I got chills. And I keep getting chills when I relay or recall to myself the situation. It is so scary and so close. This could be me.

I have to admit this is the only Covid positive person I know. I am lucky to not have been dealt the hand of knowing anyone who has passed away or ended up in the ICU during the pandemic. We are in the thick of it here in Texas and people complain daily about their rights being taken away. Who knew wearing a mask was so difficult? Do you want to know what’s difficult – not being able to breath!

What a week!

What a week it has been for me! But that doesn’t involve any awesome adventures or life changing elements. It means it has been a hard week for me to make it through. AND IT”S NOT EVEN OVER – 1 more day!

Every day this week felt like it should be a Friday. This week was super busy but so exhausting. The days dragged in as much as it wasn’t Friday every day. Work has been crazy busy. Virtual school work has been crazy busy. Getting ready for the holidays – yup, crazy busy.

Maybe the last one is why this week is more exhausting than it should. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah. Monday, after work and school, I wrapped Roger’s 8 gifts. He also gets Christmas. Yes, he may be a tad spoiled.

Or maybe this week is more exhausting than it should be because each day after work/school I had a task. Monday I’ve explained. Tuesday I visited my parents. I love seeing them but there is a stress that is mounting that I believe is due to the quarantine. Wednesday I cleaned quickly before Roger’s play date came over. Today we had about an hour of school work to attend to after my job ended. Now Rob is getting last minute items and Roger is counting down the minutes until sundown – 5:21 pm central time – which is menorah time and, more importantly for him, gift time.

I am so looking forward to the real Friday being over and done (or at least the obligation part of it). Do I have big plans for the weekend? If you call getting sleep and being lazy big plans, then I’m living the high life!

Bliss

Bliss has changed it’s meaning for me. Today it is simply meaning the end of the work week and the end of being a learning coach for the week. Almost 10 hours of staring at a computer screen – and still staring as I type this. It is going to be blissful closing the computer. I cannot stare at my phone screen because my son is playing Pokemon Go. I’m lucky enough to fold laundry and watch The Real Housewives of (fill in the blank). Unfortunately, I do have to work for a very short time (30 minutes) but early-ish in the morning for a Saturday (7 a.m.-ish).

Bliss has many meanings. For me it also means the absence of stress. Please no stress. Fingers crossed.

Just a normal Thursday

Last night I slept 4.5 hours. I thought I was going to get a good night’s sleep and 1 am arrives. I have to pee. Can I hold it the rest of the night? Let me debate this with myself. Conclusion: I get up to pee. A bit later feel the urgency again. No discussion, just get up. Trying to fall back asleep. I’m so sweaty. The heat is set at 66 and it’s 37 degrees out but it’s on and I’m hot. I get up again to lower the air one degree. As I’m laying in bed, I realize I feel a gentle breeze. Did I put the air on? Time passes. That is definitely the air. I get back up and turn off the air and lower the heat one degree. It takes me til after 3 to fall back asleep. I am dead asleep when my alarm goes off at 5:50 to start an incredibly busy workday at 6:30 and virtual learning coaching after 8 am. Both jobs are done. Can I now call it a day?

Poll Results

Well, that poll was a real stinker! I guess I will be writing for myself. That is what it is anyhow. A time of self-reflection. An online journal or diary, if you will. Today I have been staring at a computer screen off and on (more on than off) for the past 9 hours. I changed my profile a bit, linked to Facebook and Twitter, and wanted to thank those who responded to my poll (Thanks NO ONE)! However, that shall not discourage me. Follow me, if you choose, be a quiet bystander, or a vicious troll. Ta for now – my eyes sorely need a break!

Analyze this

Being who I am I love to analyze myself.  My analysis is mainly of who I am or what is occurring at the present time, near past, or close future.  If I do think of the distant past, it is mainly terrible memories – when something bad happened – with a few happy moments intertwined.

My older sister has moved in with my parents to be the caregiver of my mother since my mother is wheelchair bound.  Being around my sister, I start remembering the past more.  I am not recalling specific events but mainly feelings of the time.  I am putting together pieces that help me realize why I was so quiet, why I holed myself up in the room most of the time, why I did not seek my parents help for most of my issues.  I was seen as the good child who didn’t need help.  I probably could have used more direction in life.  However, I turned out alright.

The more the family unit of my mom, dad, sister, and I are together the more I feel the past.  It is amazing.  It is not sad or happy.  It is just awareness and my eyes are wide open.

Communication

Let me preface this post by saying the past few days I have been in a horrendous mood.  I think it was missing my normal bedtime Friday night and not drinking enough water both Friday and Saturday.

Today I woke and made the mental decision not to stay in that mood.  I enjoyed the morning with my son and cups of coffee.  Then I woke my husband up and enjoyed a real heart to heart conversation.

We both had things on our mind (not about each other) but stuff clogging up our brains that needed to be vented.  It was as very nice conversation in which we both listened and understood the other completely.  I am so very lucky to have someone I can communicate so openly with.  Of course, at times, we don’t have such nice communication.  However, it’s so nice to be able to start this Sunday with such openness.

After our discussion, I enjoyed some “fat burning” yoga.  It is an old DVD I have used for YEARS.  I did this video on Thursday and was not able to do much.  Today I had a much better flow and better flexibility.  I am wondering if this morning opened me up to be able to do more.

I hope you all have at least one person you can be completely honest with and be completely yourself around.  It is so nice to be able to release all that fills my brain at times.

 

Stop the Spinning Wheels

Today, I had the following thought and posted it on Facebook:

I would love to be part of/create a local body positivity/acceptance/embrace you/radical self love group. A group that doesn’t discuss weight or flabby arms. A group that would teach us to appreciate ourselves as much as we do others. A group that embraces where we are at right now. If someone wants to eat healthier (not DIEt) or exercise for strength and mental health (vs punishment/I consumed a piece of cake), we encourage each other. If you just want to eat macncheese, we will not judge and will like you just the same since it is the person that matters, not what we put in our mouth. We spend so much time calorie counting and obsessing over every bite, we miss out on the enjoyment of life.

I then added:

The same applies to being praised for being too busy or feeling low because you deem yourself as lazy. You are enough as is.

There are a few people who seem interested and I decided to start a group on Facebook.  But what should I call it, “An Encompassing Welcome” or “An Encompassing Breath” or who knows what?  I was very tuned into the word encompassing though.  Embrace, which is a great positivity movement, has the best, succinct name: Embrace.  Perfection.

I have this blog page that I have abandoned some time ago.  I no longer wish to write depressing blogs or talk about the stressors in life.  I also feel it unfair to blog about my son as he grows older and starts joining social media himself.

Therefore, I decided to twist this blog’s title into my new group:  Stop the Spinning Wheels.  My first post is below:

For years, I had a blog called Spinning Wheels: A Journey into the Autism Spectrum. I named it after an activity my son regularly did: spin wheels. However, the idiom of spinning wheels is to waste energy going nowhere. This group’s aim is to stop that spinning wheel – stop obsessing over the scale, calorie counting, being perfect, etc. This group is to encourage and teach each other that we all are fantastic as we are!

I am very excited about this new blog direction and FB group.  Hopefully, I will see wordpress sooner than later!

Post-workout Recovery

Despite my pride for finishing that hard-as-hell circuit training class on Monday, my body was not very happy with me.  When I decided to go back to working out and joined a gym after my surgery, I told my husband (and myself) that I would ease back into it.  That is what I had been doing with beginner’s Zumba and beginner’s Yoga, the exercise bike, and very little (due to lack of fitness) elliptical.  Monday’s workout was way too advanced.  It was not easing in but something I may hope to be able to do in a year’s time when I fully recover from ACDF.

Monday night I could already feel the pain beginning while trying to sleep.  By 4 am (my ‘wake-up and begin work’ time), literally every muscle in my body ached.  There were muscles that no matter how in shape I was I must never have worked out.  The most striking is whatever muscle is from the elbow to the wrist.  I have never exercised that muscle and I’m not sure I want to again!  My neck muscles, shoulder muscles, back muscles, stomach muscles, glutes, quads, inner thighs, calves all hurt like hell all day Tuesday.  I felt like crap and had to take a nap after work.  I still felt crummy when I woke up from the nap.

This morning my muscles tamed down a bit but definitely not enough to do any sort of exercise besides walking Roger to school and back.  Fortunately, I had a massage booked from a Groupon and that helped immensely.

Tomorrow I am going to attempt gentle yoga.  I know I can always go into child’s pose if need be.

* An aside:  I get an inspirational quote in my email daily.  Today’s rocked and I want to share it with everyone.
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
Mark Twain

Namaste

Misread

Last week, I signed up for an orientation class at the gym.  They have this large piece of equipment in the middle that is capable of numerous exercises but pretty difficult to decipher without training.  I received a confirmation email and kept it in my inbox.

This morning I look at the email again.  It states “Small Group Training”.  GULP.  Did I sign up for a circuit training class?!  I called the gym and explained that I am completely out of shape and, probably, unable to handle this type of class.  (Also, at 10 am tickets were going on sale for the Polyphonic Spree’s 17th Annual Extravaganza.  That was the time the class started).  The person who answered the phone reassured me that modifications would be given and to try it out.

Reluctantly, I went to the gym.  Thankfully, the first warm up the trainer put me and one other lady on was the treadmill.  I was able to walk and buy the concert tickets (Row C in the Middle Section!!!).  The following 40 minutes were treacherous.  I had ACDF surgery in July, so I had many modifications.  Even with the modifications, my body started dripping in sweat halfway through the class.  By the end of class, my legs were jelly.  We took a snapshot since this was the first class of its kind at the gym.

Tomorrow my body (especially my neck and back) will let me know if I can handle this class or if it’s too soon for me.  Either way, I am super proud of myself for not cancelling, not giving up half way through and not half-assing it.  I DID IT!

I’m back

I keep getting notifications on Facebook about how long it’s been since I’ve updated my page.  I update my page whenever I update my blog.  After much thought, I was contemplating stopping the blog altogether and posed that question on my page.  One individual said I should continue writing.  So, I decided to give it a go today and see where this takes me.

As I was setting up my computer to start this, my eight year old son comes up to sing me a song he had just written.  It included guitar solos.  After his private performance to me, he asked if I could take a video.  The song was over eight minutes long.  He is now in the process of writing a shorter song for me to video.  Earlier today, he was drawing evolutions of his own Pokémon.  He has so much creativity and motivation!  Of course, in my mind, I compared it to my lack of creativity and motivation.

The end of last week I decided to create a inspiration/vision board.  At first, my goal of the board was to promote weight loss/fitness and positivity.  As I added things, I realized other aspects of me I wanted to shine again:  being excited, being imaginative, remembering to give myself some breaks.  I had put it off for some time but had an opportunity to work on it when my husband took my son to the movies.  For about an hour and a half, I focused completely on the board (along with the background music of Hank von Hell’s solo album).  I was embarrassed to tell my husband what I was making because I knew he would find it silly. I found it kind of silly before I actually created it. The pic is cut-off in parts, but you get the gist:  vision board.

I’m off to listen to the new song and enjoy my day with my son.

 

Stress

Stress has been eating away at me this week.  I wrote a quick list of my stressors hoping it help with my stress level.  Yeah, no.

Currently, like many folks, a big stressor is financially-based.  We have had some health issues this year and even with medical and dental insurance we are spending oodles.  On top of that, we need a new fence.  The wrought iron fence that was here when we bought the house is incredibly rusted.  In some areas, you can push your finger through the rusted areas and disconnect the fence.  We have put down half the money and just waiting for our place in line.  A fence around an entire property that is not shared with neighbors is a huge expense.  Both of our neighbors are fence-less.  This morning our downstairs TV died and our dogs both getting a badly-needed grooming.  On top of that the pile of expenses add the amount it cost us to put my niece and her son up at a hotel for a week.  The money is all going out before it has a chance to come in.

My next stressor is my life schedule.  I love having a scheduled routine.  I love putting my plans down on calendars.  However, I do not like the back-to-back-to-back schedule that I will be facing in October (and probably through the end of the year).  Rob is having two procedures in October and, possibly, a third in December.  Besides the procedure dates, there will be post-op appointments.  In addition, I still have my post-op and x-ray appointments.  On top of that add Roger’s appointments at the orthodontist for an expander.  I just realized that we all need our flu shots too.  And, of course, we have Roger’s weekly OT, Swimming, Baseball, and Tutor.  He also has nightly homework that I need to help with.  I also signed up to be Room Mom Helper and trying to fit in volunteering at the school.  Finally, I have my full-time work schedule.  Just typing that all out stresses me out AND exhausts me!

My third stressor I listed under the category of FOOD.  Then, I decided to add a slash and put weight loss.  That reminds me that I am also trying to keep exercise and house cleaning in my schedule, as well as preparing dinner (Rob is usually the cook).  As my blog stated yesterday, food/eating has been a life-long stressor since I was called “tub of lard” in elementary school.  Kids are wonderful, eh?

My fourth stressor is work.  Work has been overwhelming lately.  I love my job and my colleagues.  I actually prefer when there are projects that are due.  However, returning a few weeks ago from my medical leave, I still have have back pain on and off.  My supervisor would understand my need for breaks still.  BUT I feel obligated to get the work done quickly and accurately.  That is just my thing.  I guess work is not the stressor but my expectation of myself at work.  This morning I woke with terrible pain between the shoulder blades.  This is an area that is known to flare up post-ACDF surgery.  I need to be kinder to myself re: work (and life).

I usually don’t unload as much as I did today.  My little sheet of paper lettered A-D with subheadings was just not doing the trick.  I am hoping getting this all out of me will release a teeny bit of the stress.  Re-reading this blog, I guess my only true stressor is my EXPECTATION of myself.

The Past Always Haunts You

I belong to a Health and Weight Loss Group for moms of children with autism.  Every week I post my weigh-in (as opposed to Weight Watchers where I have never lost weight).  This week I did not post my accountability weigh-in on Tuesday.  The scale said I had gained 3.5 pounds in one week.  I did not track my food properly and had Indian food for my husband’s birthday.  On Sunday, we had some alcohol, brie and crackers, pizza, veggies and hummus, as well as, Chocolate Overload cake.  I was embarrassed about my gain and was feeling pretty terrible about myself.  It’s so stupid to let the scale affect me that way, but it has for years.
Twenty five years ago I was anorexic and weighed, literally, half of my current weight.  I obsessed over food sometimes eating about 300 calories a day and exercising at least 2.5 hours a day.  That lasted for about a year.  As is pretty common with eating disorders, I then transitioned to bulimia for quite a number of years.  I ate a lot more in my binges, but probably retained the same amount of calories per day.  I still exercised a couple of hours each day.  My lowest weight was as a bulimic vs. anorexic.
I will never have a completely healthy relationship with food.  I think way too much about food every day.  I put way too much energy into my thoughts of food every day.  I either feel guilty about eating something I shouldn’t eat or eating too much or, on the flipside,  I’m too hungry from keeping within my calories.
If people are interested in my past eating disorder, please comment and I could expand on those very difficult years of my life.
They say the first step is admitting there is a problem.  I have admitted that for decades and the problem remains. It is not as bad as it was, but it is always there haunting my every thought.

Bip Zim Bop

Totally non-sensical title.  I didn’t want to put a title like: “Beyond Exhausted” for the umpteenth time or “Feeling the pain”.  But that is where I am at today.

When I went to bed last night, my back/body was in so much pain that I took Tylenol 3.  I have only a few left, so I must ration them!  I probably should have gone for the muscle relaxer since I awoke at the same pain level.  I am sure the pain is not helping my energy levels.  I am exhausted.  I have done my squats, arm exercises, and, currently, riding my bike.  I plan on jumping in the shower after this and am hoping that wakes me up some before Roger gets home from school.  I always need energy for that!

 

Fallen off

The past week or so I have fallen off the logging food/eating healthy cycle.  If I don’t log, it usually means I am eating things I’d rather not log!  Also, with the new work schedule and things popping up at Roger’s school, I have missed some of my exercise goals.  I know I cannot be perfect all the time but I know the exercise does help me mentally as well as give me more energy.  You may have realized I was not cycling as much due to the lack of blogging.  Again, I do realize that these posts do help my mind settle down a bit.

I know most people always start their diets back on a Monday.  I hate being that cliché but my husband’s 41st birthday is tomorrow.  That means a delicious dinner tonight.  Tomorrow, drinks and cake will be devoured.  Today and tomorrow I will log my exercise on MyFitnessPal but will go back to strictly logging my food on Monday, cliché and all.

One goal I have met is walking over 10,000 steps every day this week.  YAY for me!  Today I am not confident I will reach that goal since it’s pouring out but will try going up and down the stairs a bunch today.  I do have to clean up the house a bit anyhow.  That should help with my step goal.

Another goal I have been keeping is my squat challenge.  Today was 160 squats.  Tomorrow is the rest day.  I had been planning on resting my body on the squat rest days.  SO, I am not sure I will be on this bike tomorrow or back on it Monday.

Thanks for all the support!

New schedule

With my early morning wake-ups, I decided to ask my job if I could make a schedule change.  And, as always, I sent them my schedule for the following week on Friday.   The big change is starting work at 4 a.m.  I know to the bulk of you that sounds crazy.  However, after last’s week’s early risings, I was starting my work day between 3 and 4.  I am an early morning person and had much more focus and energy working early.  I did not have my afternoon slump at my desk either.

Today I worked from 4-6, got Roger ready for school and had some time together before school, and finished my work day at 11:40 am.  Again, nutso to some, but great for me.  I try to be in bed by 8:45 and get 6 hours of sleep (or more).  This weekend made me realize that over 7 hours is worse for me than only 4 hours of sleep!

I am now riding the bike post-work and, if I ever want to take any exercise classes, I won’t have to make up work time.  These hours will be great for the gym I joined that is opening in November.  By that time, most or all of my physical limitations from surgery should be lifted.

Of course, with upcoming doctor’s appointments and such, the work day will not always be done so early.  BUT I won’t have the worry of when I can make up my work hours or have time to spend one on one with Roger and Rob!

Back on the bike

The previous two days I skipped my stationary bike.  Friday I felt horrible and my legs and body were hurting.  I think I was progressing too far in my workout.  Saturday I had intended to be my full body Day of Rest.  Today I am back on the bike and will be back to the squats (I challenged myself to a 30 day squat challenge).

If I felt bad Friday, mentally I felt awful Saturday.  Uncharacteristically, I got 9 hours of sleep.  When I saw that I was amazed and thrilled.  The rest of me was not.  I was more tired than on days I get a few hours of sleep.  I could not wake up at all. I was in a constant haze. I drank copious amounts of coffee that did not help.  I was in a terrible mood too.  I was depressed, impatient, and very antagonistic.  Those with depression may understand this but when my husband asked me why I was depressed and there was literally no reason that I was depressed but just in that sinking feeling.   However, that answer never seems to be satisfactory.  It is odd I was so down.  I had a denied insurance claim from my surgery since the hospital used some out-of-network providers.  Supposedly that is common, but seeing a “YOU OWE $21,750” EOB a month ago was devastating.  Yesterday, the reprocessed bill was updated on the website and we owe nothing.  That should have put me in a stellar mood.

Well, today I am in a stellar mood on 4.5 hours of sleep.  I am on the bike, blogging, and enjoying the morning. I am super happy that we get to proceed with the new fence that was on hold due to the medical bill above.  Today I know life is good and that those little dips in mood can easily turn around in a day. My body and mind feel rested and ready for this week.

Falling

I get an email with an “inspirational” quote each day.  Today’s quote, by H.G. Wells, is “If you fell down yesterday, stand up today”.   I rated that 5 stars.  You can rate the quote each day as well.  I usually give 3 or 4’s, rarely 5’s, but definitely have given  1’s and 2’s.

I know he wasn’t speaking literally about falling.  However, this quote made me think of a college philosophy professor I had.  He spoke about a Laurie Anderson song’s lyrics,
“And you don’t always realize it, but you’re always falling.
With each step you fall forward slightly.
And then catch yourself from falling.
Over and over, you’re falling.
And then catching yourself from falling.
And this is how you can be walking and falling at the same time.”

I think back to this quite often.  He probably does not realize how that one itty bitty thought affected me all these years.  I cannot recall his name or I’d let him know!

Today, I also saw a FB post by a yoga teacher by whom I have taken a few classes.  It seems to tie in so well.  I’m going to have liberty with the it and not cut and paste verbatim:

There was a conversation about how, as we age, time seems to fly by. We can all relate to this I am sure. One moment it’s summer and the next you are hanging up Christmas stockings. One said ‘you know why that is right?’ He explained that when we are children we notice everything and as we age we just stop noticing. Everything flashes by because we miss the details. A child is completely enthralled by how a stapler works and the beauty of a color of a flower. Babies are enamored by the way their hand looks in front of their face or by someone’s smile. Toddlers genuinely became excited by how a ball bounces and are in awe of how blades of grass feel beneath their feet (except for sensory kiddos like my son). As we age these things lose their shine. We aren’t enamored any longer by the small things. We become occupied with our to do lists, the busyness of the day, and our phones . We forget to notice.

Just like, as a child learning to walk, they are aware that they are falling over and having to catch themselves with each step! (There’s my tie-in.)

Autism

Autism has been and remains an integral part of  my life.  I have an 8 year old son with autism who was diagnosed at 21 months and I myself was diagnosed years later with Asperger’s.

I have been watching Atypical and previously watched Parenthood which, obviously, both deal(t) with children on the autism spectrum.  Parenthood was interesting since the character Max was not too far from Roger’s age.  I recall one of the first episodes where Max would only wear his pirate costume to school.  That, plus seeing his other quirks, I immediately knew the character would be diagnosed with autism.  I have seen that rigidness in both Roger and myself.  The show gave a perspective of autism that many other shows/movies lacked at that time.  It was not a super power and it was not the all encompassing feature of the show.  It was one dynamic of a family, just like it is in real life.  Atypical which, clearly with that name, deals with a high schooler with autism.  It shows his quirks and difficulties dealing with change.  However, it also deals with normal teenage themes:  dating, work, and college.  It is almost a sneak peak of what may be to come.  

Yes, my son has autism and I have Asperger’s but that only defines one part of our personalities and does not completely define us as individuals.  It probably factored into some of our interests, our demeanor, our interactions, our relationships but it is not the be-all end-all.  Day-to-day I tend to forget about Roger’s autism and may get a little impatient with the difficulty he has listening, focusing, following directions, helping around the house, finishing homework, getting dressed while spinning in circles, etc.  I guess I need to slow down, maybe join in on the spin, and enjoy the dance together.