Hi,
Today was a pretty good day. I am feeling sick right now but I can report quickly.
My friend Laura from Wash U got in last night and we hung out today. I still got in some exercise by suggesting we go for a walk. We went with Derek to see Le Mis with our sketchbooks so we could draw the characters. That was an assignment from school that we both enjoyed so we did it again. I also drew out a plan for a comic that I want to make.
I made squash and stuffed bell peppers for dinner and they were both delicious! I like feeding people.
I think that's about it for today... I am feeling pretty beat. Bye!
Elizabeth
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Another Step in the Right Direction
Hello,
I took a small step today that I think will really pay off. Recently when I wanted to go to the gym, I would wait until Derek got home to take me even though it is within walking distance. I made this choice because I was afraid the illness-pain, which sometimes gets worse while I am exercising, would inhibit me from getting back home if I went myself. Also during the summer/early fall before it got cold and I got sick, when I would walk myself, I had some very scary experiences with men following me and saying disgusting things. The workers at the gym clock out at 8:00PM, and although it is still open after that, it is a low-population gym and I feel unsafe being alone or with only one or two men there. Sometimes Derek would get back later than that, like yesterday, and I wouldn't go to the gym even though I had intended to and gotten dressed for it.
Well today I decided to just go for it! The gym is less than a mile away. I stowed my ipod for the walk and stood up straight, looking alert so that I wouldn't seem like easy prey for disgusting men. I went at one o'clock in the afternoon so there would be more people walking and I was less likely to be isolated with just one other walker. I figured that if I did begin to suffer debilitating pain at the gym, I could worst case scenario take a cab back home.
But nothing bad happened at all! I did a ten minute warmup on the bike and then a very rigorous fourty minute long upper body work out. The shoulder press machine is still extremely hard for me to use even on it's lowest weight. The exercise did make the pain under my ribcage start up, but it wasn't so severe that it stopped me from kicking butt. Afterwards I walked right back up the hill and I did take one break on account of briefly stabbing pain, but afterwards I was fine.
Feeling good now! I am cooking a healthy meal for me, Derek, and my friend Laura from college. My arms and shoulders feel very sore from my muscles getting stronger.
Now I have no excuse not to hit the gym six times per week! Also, I am down to 180.5. This is a before and during shot of just my face... I feel like this is where I am seeing the most rewarding change. I have more bone structure and my features stand out more. My hair isn't really this red... I am just next to a bright lamp!
I took a small step today that I think will really pay off. Recently when I wanted to go to the gym, I would wait until Derek got home to take me even though it is within walking distance. I made this choice because I was afraid the illness-pain, which sometimes gets worse while I am exercising, would inhibit me from getting back home if I went myself. Also during the summer/early fall before it got cold and I got sick, when I would walk myself, I had some very scary experiences with men following me and saying disgusting things. The workers at the gym clock out at 8:00PM, and although it is still open after that, it is a low-population gym and I feel unsafe being alone or with only one or two men there. Sometimes Derek would get back later than that, like yesterday, and I wouldn't go to the gym even though I had intended to and gotten dressed for it.
Well today I decided to just go for it! The gym is less than a mile away. I stowed my ipod for the walk and stood up straight, looking alert so that I wouldn't seem like easy prey for disgusting men. I went at one o'clock in the afternoon so there would be more people walking and I was less likely to be isolated with just one other walker. I figured that if I did begin to suffer debilitating pain at the gym, I could worst case scenario take a cab back home.
But nothing bad happened at all! I did a ten minute warmup on the bike and then a very rigorous fourty minute long upper body work out. The shoulder press machine is still extremely hard for me to use even on it's lowest weight. The exercise did make the pain under my ribcage start up, but it wasn't so severe that it stopped me from kicking butt. Afterwards I walked right back up the hill and I did take one break on account of briefly stabbing pain, but afterwards I was fine.
Feeling good now! I am cooking a healthy meal for me, Derek, and my friend Laura from college. My arms and shoulders feel very sore from my muscles getting stronger.
Now I have no excuse not to hit the gym six times per week! Also, I am down to 180.5. This is a before and during shot of just my face... I feel like this is where I am seeing the most rewarding change. I have more bone structure and my features stand out more. My hair isn't really this red... I am just next to a bright lamp!
Monday, January 7, 2013
1/7/13
Hi,
Well I was in a better mood finally today. I really want a job soon! I need to be out and about doing things. Unfortunately today I was having abdominal pains again. I still intended to go to the gym but Derek didn't get back until very late so I wasn't able to. (I was fully dressed including sneakers... I know that doesn't burn calories but at least it shows intent!)
I did cook healthy things today that have a lot of leftovers, and none of it has any gluten. My main thing is a quinoa-based pasta which I made into a casserole with almond-based cheese and veggies. This isn't as delicious as it would be if I made my previous version of macaroni casserole, but it is much better for me! In time I will learn to love the new flavors.
I spent a long time revamping my website, elizabethbeier.com. I also updated my resume... these are steps taken to getting a job in the near future. I still have to figure out the pain thing. When there's a will there's a way!
Thank you for all your nice comments :)
Well I was in a better mood finally today. I really want a job soon! I need to be out and about doing things. Unfortunately today I was having abdominal pains again. I still intended to go to the gym but Derek didn't get back until very late so I wasn't able to. (I was fully dressed including sneakers... I know that doesn't burn calories but at least it shows intent!)
I did cook healthy things today that have a lot of leftovers, and none of it has any gluten. My main thing is a quinoa-based pasta which I made into a casserole with almond-based cheese and veggies. This isn't as delicious as it would be if I made my previous version of macaroni casserole, but it is much better for me! In time I will learn to love the new flavors.
I spent a long time revamping my website, elizabethbeier.com. I also updated my resume... these are steps taken to getting a job in the near future. I still have to figure out the pain thing. When there's a will there's a way!
Thank you for all your nice comments :)
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Jan 5, 2013
Hi,
Healthy foods purchased. I had another good day at the gym. I am feeling really down for some reason though. I think I need to just go to bed and sleep, but I am checking in now. Very intense mood swings have been accompanying me since I got sick. I think the best remedy is sleep.
Good night,
Elizabeth
Healthy foods purchased. I had another good day at the gym. I am feeling really down for some reason though. I think I need to just go to bed and sleep, but I am checking in now. Very intense mood swings have been accompanying me since I got sick. I think the best remedy is sleep.
Good night,
Elizabeth
Friday, January 4, 2013
Yay!
I went back to the gym today to exercise and weigh myself... boy was I nervous for the weigh in! I had been away from my gym the whole time I was at the Rennies' house, and they cooked me a lot of food (which was very nice of them, and I ate moderately). Christmas and New Years had come and gone and those are both trouble spots for me ... plus it was the end of the day and I had just eaten a big meal.
Yet low and behold... my weight has gone DOWN! The week before I left my weight was stuck between 185 and 183... now it is 181. I think it was my choice to moderate my eating throughout the visit and make sure that when I was celebrating, I didn't pile on too many calories. I am also watching what I eat for pain management purposes, so certain things like cheesecake and pizza were off the table for me for that reason. In fact when people around me were eating very rich foods like cheesecake or french onion dip, I actually felt nauseated instead of tempted.
I got in a great 45 minute uphill workout on the recumbent bike. My heart was really pumpin! I am feeling my endorphine high now. When I have a positive weigh in, it really motivates me to work hard. Soon I will finally be back in the 170s!
Two Thanksgivings ago when I came to Tip Top looking feeling and looking thinner than usual, I was around 180 pounds. I am happy that I have pretty much gotten back to the weight I was then, and my New Years Resolution is to get down to 150 ... so I'm about halfway done! I know this half will be harder in most ways, but I think this saying is true: "The hardest lift is your butt off the couch".
Tomorrow I am gonna hit the weights! I have a goal to do real, serious weight training three times per week for the next six months, in addition to three cardio sessions. I think that should get me to my goal and prepare me for beach season to boot.
Derek also said he would buy me a dress if I lost fourty pounds (meaning 170) by Valentine's Day. What do you think? That's eleven pounds in six weeks... I am young and feeling ambitious so I think I can do it. I am starting my elimination diet now so that will help, along with rigorous exercise. Obviously I would love to power through my 170s faster than I did my 180s but I know each ten pounds is harder than the last. Perhaps we can have a St. Patrick's Day extension :)
Feelin' Good! It's amazing what exercise can do for mood... I was feeling so gloomy while writing yesterday's entry, but today I feel like I can conquer the world.
Yet low and behold... my weight has gone DOWN! The week before I left my weight was stuck between 185 and 183... now it is 181. I think it was my choice to moderate my eating throughout the visit and make sure that when I was celebrating, I didn't pile on too many calories. I am also watching what I eat for pain management purposes, so certain things like cheesecake and pizza were off the table for me for that reason. In fact when people around me were eating very rich foods like cheesecake or french onion dip, I actually felt nauseated instead of tempted.
I got in a great 45 minute uphill workout on the recumbent bike. My heart was really pumpin! I am feeling my endorphine high now. When I have a positive weigh in, it really motivates me to work hard. Soon I will finally be back in the 170s!
Two Thanksgivings ago when I came to Tip Top looking feeling and looking thinner than usual, I was around 180 pounds. I am happy that I have pretty much gotten back to the weight I was then, and my New Years Resolution is to get down to 150 ... so I'm about halfway done! I know this half will be harder in most ways, but I think this saying is true: "The hardest lift is your butt off the couch".
Tomorrow I am gonna hit the weights! I have a goal to do real, serious weight training three times per week for the next six months, in addition to three cardio sessions. I think that should get me to my goal and prepare me for beach season to boot.
Derek also said he would buy me a dress if I lost fourty pounds (meaning 170) by Valentine's Day. What do you think? That's eleven pounds in six weeks... I am young and feeling ambitious so I think I can do it. I am starting my elimination diet now so that will help, along with rigorous exercise. Obviously I would love to power through my 170s faster than I did my 180s but I know each ten pounds is harder than the last. Perhaps we can have a St. Patrick's Day extension :)
Feelin' Good! It's amazing what exercise can do for mood... I was feeling so gloomy while writing yesterday's entry, but today I feel like I can conquer the world.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
How it Went
Hello fine readers,
Well today was interesting. As you know I had many goals including getting up early, going to the gym, assembling a grocery list and buying food, doing the laundry, collecting my bills, cleaning the house. I accomplished some but not all of these goals.
I did in fact get up early and clean the house. I did six loads of laundry (On one hand I was happy to be getting so much done, on the other hand you should never put it off that long...), so now I have clean clothes, dish towels, sheets, bath towels, etc. I went through my papers and found and assembled all my medical bills, which was one of my goals for today, and threw out all the trash. I did the dishes and tidied up, and I even found my bag of nail polishes that had been hiding amongst rubble in my closet.
One of the symptoms I have been experiencing has been fatigue in addition to pain. By the time I was done with all the cleaning, I was good and properly wiped out. I did not feel the need to go to sleep, and in fact I still can't seem to sleep at 2:00AM, but I felt the need to lie down. Today is one of my interstitial cystitis flare days when it burns ferociously to pee and then afterwards, the pain continues and I still feel like I have to go. This is very annoying.
I did decide to lie down but, instead of just watching TV like I had done the past few months while in pain, I continued to be productive. I re-designed my mom's "We're Moving" card, and she is very pleased with the results. You should be getting one soon! I researched "Wheat Belly" at Ruth's suggestion and made my grocery list. I also cooked some healthy rice with veggies to eat throughout the day.
I am disappointed in myself for not going to the gym. I think it would have been hard to even do my recumbent bike while I'm having the IC flare-up, since it hurts more to sit than to lie down. I am going to have to find a way around this. I also feel like there's something holding me back, some part of me that doesn't want to work hard and succeed, which only wants to curl up and stay online and in bed. I don't know if everyone has this insidious inner slothball or if it is related to my dregs of PTSD from years ago, when I was afraid to go into the world and become a grownup because I thought something else bad would happen. I am having trouble sorting out when I am taking a break because my body is telling me I have to rest, vs when I am being lazy. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic issue, so I will need a long term solution to this conundrum.
Maybe I was also afraid to weigh myself? ... yeah that may be part of it.
Thank you for reading. I need to keep ramping my activity level back up until I have a full and healthy life, but right now it is still sputtering.
Well today was interesting. As you know I had many goals including getting up early, going to the gym, assembling a grocery list and buying food, doing the laundry, collecting my bills, cleaning the house. I accomplished some but not all of these goals.
I did in fact get up early and clean the house. I did six loads of laundry (On one hand I was happy to be getting so much done, on the other hand you should never put it off that long...), so now I have clean clothes, dish towels, sheets, bath towels, etc. I went through my papers and found and assembled all my medical bills, which was one of my goals for today, and threw out all the trash. I did the dishes and tidied up, and I even found my bag of nail polishes that had been hiding amongst rubble in my closet.
One of the symptoms I have been experiencing has been fatigue in addition to pain. By the time I was done with all the cleaning, I was good and properly wiped out. I did not feel the need to go to sleep, and in fact I still can't seem to sleep at 2:00AM, but I felt the need to lie down. Today is one of my interstitial cystitis flare days when it burns ferociously to pee and then afterwards, the pain continues and I still feel like I have to go. This is very annoying.
I did decide to lie down but, instead of just watching TV like I had done the past few months while in pain, I continued to be productive. I re-designed my mom's "We're Moving" card, and she is very pleased with the results. You should be getting one soon! I researched "Wheat Belly" at Ruth's suggestion and made my grocery list. I also cooked some healthy rice with veggies to eat throughout the day.
I am disappointed in myself for not going to the gym. I think it would have been hard to even do my recumbent bike while I'm having the IC flare-up, since it hurts more to sit than to lie down. I am going to have to find a way around this. I also feel like there's something holding me back, some part of me that doesn't want to work hard and succeed, which only wants to curl up and stay online and in bed. I don't know if everyone has this insidious inner slothball or if it is related to my dregs of PTSD from years ago, when I was afraid to go into the world and become a grownup because I thought something else bad would happen. I am having trouble sorting out when I am taking a break because my body is telling me I have to rest, vs when I am being lazy. Interstitial cystitis is a chronic issue, so I will need a long term solution to this conundrum.
Maybe I was also afraid to weigh myself? ... yeah that may be part of it.
Thank you for reading. I need to keep ramping my activity level back up until I have a full and healthy life, but right now it is still sputtering.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year!
Hi,
Derek and I got back home last night. I am unabashedly having a very lazy day today as I enjoy being back after a very long and somewhat stressful visit to his family's home. It was about eleven days long in total and I was good about eating and stuff. Everyone was very nice to me but it is still so nice to be in my own home with my own bed and kitchen and boyfriend all to myself!
As such... I haven't accomplished very much today at all. I thus have a long list of goals for tomorrow:
1. Get Up Early
2. Clean all laundry
3. Go to the Gym and Weigh Myself to assess damage <-- not negotiable, and of course exercise
4. Make list of groceries in accordance to strict elimination diet, and go shopping when Derek comes home
5. Collect medical bills and take care of them.
6. Definitely report on this blog whether these necessary tasks are done.
I guess you can say I am a little late with starting my new year... January 3 will be my day one for 2013 goals. I may yet go to the gym today and I really should...
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
Derek and I got back home last night. I am unabashedly having a very lazy day today as I enjoy being back after a very long and somewhat stressful visit to his family's home. It was about eleven days long in total and I was good about eating and stuff. Everyone was very nice to me but it is still so nice to be in my own home with my own bed and kitchen and boyfriend all to myself!
As such... I haven't accomplished very much today at all. I thus have a long list of goals for tomorrow:
1. Get Up Early
2. Clean all laundry
3. Go to the Gym and Weigh Myself to assess damage <-- not negotiable, and of course exercise
4. Make list of groceries in accordance to strict elimination diet, and go shopping when Derek comes home
5. Collect medical bills and take care of them.
6. Definitely report on this blog whether these necessary tasks are done.
I guess you can say I am a little late with starting my new year... January 3 will be my day one for 2013 goals. I may yet go to the gym today and I really should...
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
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