NST October 2023 A New Start

grandmanerd

T    Treat yourself the way you would a young child - Feed yourself healthy food and get outside often.  Put yourself to bed early. Let yourself take naps.  Don't say mean things to yourself. Don't put yourself in danger (your skull and your heart are still  as fragile as eggshells)

It so easy and so simple isn't it. Yet when we get stressed, overworked or overwhelmed by life, it all goes out of our heads.

What doesn't kill you gives you a set of unhealthy coping mechanisms and a very dark sense of humour. 

One thing about being ill or absolutely exhausted and just doing the basics (getting washed and dressed, eating something, sleeping) is that you remember how simple life can be - until you have to go back to work although everything about life outside your front door is so scary (cars move too fast, people chatter non-stop, the internet sows dissension and misery).

Lots of us want to lose weight but find it so hard to do. We know how to, what we need to do but life gets in the way - we treat ourselves, console ourselves when things go wrong, that mars bar/ cigarette/ drink is the only good thing to happen today, the only thing that makes life bearable. We know the health risks, we're at the point where we can make a difference and improve things or let it all slide further knowing we are damaging our bodies and long term health. 

Four small changes to become healthier
1    Drink water.  Drink it when you wake, drink it with your pills, drink before meals and with them. It's easier if you have a cup or jug of water close by you (if it's easier than going to the kitchen or bathroom you might take it rather than the alternative - sugar or caffeine)
2     Daily Movement  Working out can be hard (need to build up to it) but walking is for everyone (even if you spend longer sitting down than walking). There are lots of chair based exercises too (and ones that don't stress your knees or are obese). Put on some music that will make you want to move even if you're lying down and can only hand jive. I keep watching a video of Peter Gabriel doing 'Solsbury Hill' which cuts between young Peter and friends being very bouncy, mid life Peter with a bit of bounce but much less pronounced (less of a shock to the knees) and a more recent performance where he rides around on a bike (he has less hair too). Do what you can, do it regularly,
3    Add in a fruit or a vegetable Healthy eating one step at a time. One more than you eat now. Try to eat a variety (eat the rainbow)
4    Be careful what you consume Not just food (I've already said we all know what we should and shouldn't be eating) but social media and tv - quick fixes, fake news and constant comparisons. Assess and detox. follow people that promote healthy, sustainable habits and inspire you with words and by example

And on days (weeks/ months) when it all feels too much
     Try tiny steps:
1)   If showering is too much, have a sit down wash/ just wipe your face/ use wipes.
2)   Have water close at hand and drink as much as possible (no sugar squash, fruit teas and soup are helpful too).
3)   Do shoulder shrugs, write the alphabet with your foot, anything you can manage.
4a) Have emergency meals in the freezer (cans of soup, rice pudding, tinned fruit - in juice or drain before eating).
b)   Make simple dishes that don't use a lot of pots - toast, sandwiches, fresh veg with a healthy dip (stir a teaspoon of mint sauce into plain yoghurt for easy peasy tzaziki, good for potato salad too).
c)   Do a meal swap with friends - you each make one dish and then swap so you each get one portion of several different meals (this requires organisation and some work - if you have trouble getting out of the bed you won't manage this)
d)    Be realistic about your cooking and nutrition goals - find some simple healthy recipes you can do
e)   Ask for help with shopping, if you need it
f)   Make cooking a self-care event - make it fun not a chore
5)   Habit tracking and rewards (star charts rule - set a reward for when you acquire enough stars (apples - I have stickers). You might find it more motivating if you can do this with a friend - she gets rewarded for your stars, you get the reward for hers
6)   Don't feel guilty. Mental illness is just as real as physical illness, chronic illness is very debilitating (especially when others misunderstand and minimise your problems, partly because they never see the really bad days). This is not your fault (okay you ate the chocolate/ had too much to drink on too many days but these were coping mechanisms for
other problems). 
7)    A  slip-up does not mean it's over. It's a blip, get back to doing the good things.


I'm not sure I've said what I wanted to, but welcome other ideas and tips 

ditty1234

@grandmanerd thanks for post above. I might be consuming the wrong stuff. Incl just now going for a walk on a beautiful morning I decided to listen to the wasteland. It immediately made my cry. I think I'll find something else to listen to. Grateful for a quiet Sunday.

Shrewbie

thanks @grandmanerd I needed to hear that today

f0xh0les

Sending hugs @Shrewbie. Best to do the right thing now, than have to do it in five years time anyway and regret the lost time. 
I am halfway through the cardboard warehouse that is my downstairs bathroom. Found two pots of dyl0n and the duvet and pillowcases I meant to dye last year, or possibly the year before, I forget. Anyhoo they are now going round and round in the washer and will be Forest Green for my C-Word themed bedding change ( the theme is dark green, not elves or anything weird- although grumpiest man-child is getting the weird 'festive' nightmare duvet set I won in Summer, sucks to be him, Ho flippin' Ho!)

abundant1972

Morning all ⛅

Thank you foxh0les for the advice re: sort throat spray. It is persisting so I'll look into it!
Thank you Toni'sFriend - omg I haven't had chicken noodle soup in SO LONG... That is proper comfort food
Thank you Laura for taking the time to write me a recipe for chicken salad! That sounds amazing!!! 
Thank you grandmanerd for your wisdom - they always come at just the right time.

Am sat here this morning feeling like my life has been chaotic. Lots going on - bit of a whirlwind - and am now sat in the debris trying to get my routine back on track. Some of my unhealthy habits crept back in I - me running away from something, trying to fill a void. After today (seeing folks) I'm going to give myself time and space to reflect on what triggered my little lapse. 

Spending habits have been wonky with not a single NSD since day 1. Just dribs and drabs - nothing major. I need to walk my talk! Or remove ApplePay from my phone and leave my wallet at home!!!

I promise one day I will come on here and not be contemplating my navel, and be happy and joyful haha!!! 🤡

Today I am grateful for:

1) The lovely supportive family we have in this thread
2) New experiences
3) A lovely bright Autumn day 🌞🍂

Today will be NSD number 2 haha

Have a lovely Sunday everyone x

Toni'sfriend

Abundant- Chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort soup. Made in minutes and pretty low calorie as well. Chicken stock (fine to be made with stock cubes), noodles, left over chicken (doesn't even need to be defrosted. Straight into the pot. It's going to boiled to a hot enough temperature), snip in some spring onion (optional) and, if you're feeling really adventurous snip in a little bit of red chilli or add a sprinkle of chilli powder. That'll set you up and see off all your troubles!

So, today I've been continuing my December shopping. Almost finished apart from Himself who is always a difficult person to buy for but he's easily pleased  and I'll think of something. Ordered cards from our local cancer hospital who have been so amazingly supportive over the last year.

I got a text from my friend in London yesterday. She was having a barbeque in the sun whilst we were getting thoroughly soaked . Rain relented for a little while but it's back on again. Sure it will stop soon.

So curry for dinner. Tidied the freezer out. I'm going to have to be a bit inventive to use up what's in there. Oh well, it's a challenge.

Hope you've all had a lovely (and drier) day. xxx

grandmanerd

Well I've done my 3 hours in the garden. Took a bin bag downstairs. All the clean clothes are in and they and the ones already in the kitchen and all the bedding and towels are packed in clean rubble sacks because it's an easier way for me to get them upstairs - there are 2 clean bathmats and 2 clean bath sheets so probably at least 2 weeks worth (one of each in the WM too). I've been up and down the yard, weeding, moving soil from small buckets into large buckets, scraping the flags so they will dry out. Moved 8 pieces of decking outside to dry off so they can be painted and went through a whole pile of small plant pots, seed trays and covers. Very tired.

Came back upstairs with one bag of drinks, one bag of food (veg to chop), one sack with a bathmat and 2 small towels in + my library book and a pile of containers (for the veg). Had a shower, washed my hair, scrubbed my nails and my knees. I'm drying slowly and will then smother myself in medicinal cream and body lotion. Going to find something good to watch and do a bit of sewing.

Grateful for progress, very slow but compared to the last few weeks, I'm flying, things to eat, my bed, my new adapted shoes.

beanielou

So glad that you are making progress @grandmanerd. 

Keep plodding 😊🌻

f0xh0les

It is currently 24 degrees in LeShire and sunny, at 5pm.   The newly dyed duvet set is dry.  I have an apple and plum cake baking in the oven, and I have stuffed 18 apples with a supermarket brand sweet cereal with freeze dried strawberries and oats (they do a maple and pecan one too, it used to be vegan,  but alas, no longer , so I am stuck with strawberry but it makes a decent yoghurt topper a la Mueller corners for much less money so I should not whine).  I am also soaking my soup mix grains in a jam jar on the window sill.   Soup is my friend right now.  More fridge-bottom soup will be made tomorrow for lunches this week.

I have cleared and tidied about half of the  bathroom.    I am all tidied out however.   The floor is now visible, and I will list the stuff for donating/selling tomorrow.   I have an idea to turn a badly behaved beanbag into a footstool. Then it will be used, rather than just thrown about the place. I have a pile of stuff to go to the tip for recycling + a sack of rags + a pile of stuff to try and sell.

Made the fatal mistake of taking DH with me to the supermarket - £58 later, I still need to go shopping tomorrow. 

Anyhow, I must check on my cake.  See ya!

lcc86

@apple_muncher been doing this job in various guises since 2015, only 30 odd years until retirement lol.

Hugs to you and your DS @Thrifty_Taylor, hope he is okay.

Today I went to see my share horse first thing, he's still not 100% so we just went for a walk together, then I went to the gym for a bit. 

Went to my sister's to borrow her suitcases for upcoming holiday, we only have carry-on luggage which is usually fine as we haven't done a long-distance trip for well over a decade. Spent some time with my sister and her family which was a nice way to spend the day.

Have got my bike ready to take to work tomorrow, no driving in unless absolutely necessary until my permit gets renewed as I don't want to pay for parking, so the plan is to cycle halfway and then get on the train before the dreaded dual carriageway.