Inna

Well, nothing much, but a few things here and there.

First, I re-read my self- description in the profile from when I first joined the site and was pleased to realize how much better I got with managing my back. It does not limit me as much. I walk for exercise, I do short bursts of running on the ball of my foot while walking.  I’ve added elliptical and it has not bothered my back yet. I’ve been regular with yoga once a week (would like more frequently, but consistency is what I was after so it’s pretty good) and, except for back bends, have been able to do pretty much everything there .  I’ve discovered that doing weight training and abs exercises on the exercise ball absorbs the shock to my back and so does not bother it. And I’ve learned to catch any pain sensation early and reposition my spine (e.g., by lying on my back and my legs raised and resting on a chair under 90 degree angle) to cut the pain short. In general, I have felt so much more free to explore my options and engage in different activities, which is kinda awesome considered where I was before. Two weeks agoI hicked at the Devils Lake (WI) and the trail involved quite a bit of walking up the steep path on the rocks, and I was just fine and up to speed with others in the group. This and the spectacular views!

 With my diet, I’ve been experimenting with mostly protein. I try not to go overboard with it, but shifting a balance even to some degree seems to work quite well for me.

Also, I’ve started weighing daily. I’ve noticed that it does not upset me if the scale goes up anymore, so with no side effects, I like the immediate feedback and tracking for now.

 That’s it in brief. Have a good weekend!

Hi all,

yesterday came face to face with the de-stressing power of exercise. My workdays vary. Yesterday was very intense. So much so that I felt I could not talk or focus on anything unrelated for some time after work. And I very much felt like exercising, couldn’t think of anything else actually, to somehow get the tension out. Which it did, which was amazing to observe.

 Good workouts to you all.

No motivation today and no belief in myself. Yesterday planned to work out after signing up for club membership and/or classes (they charge separately here). Either alternative came up to more than I could afford, so I signed up for one day a week (yoga), flipped out, went back home, hang out at home, overate senselessly of course (forget the great weather I could’ve taken advantage of) (not the first night in a row when I eat non-stop in the past several weeks). Anyhow, the extra food numbs up any type of motivation just wonderfully, so here I am, happily arriving at my birthday tomorrow:( (sorry for the negative post first thing in the morning).

Hi all,

I came across something that hit home in a book on changing habits, so I wanted to share. It was on stages of changing (precontemplation, contemplation, committment, action) and when talking about the committment stage, the authors explained it as not just the committment to making a change/action (which is how I understood it thus far), but also the committment to believing in one’s ability to change - I think this is the piece that was missing from in my own process.

Hope things are good with everyone,

all the best,

Inna

I did go to the yoga class yesterday. I enjoyed it. It also was sort of a way to assess my body, where it’s at right now, like taking an inventory. Was good to feel that it’s alive and that it remembers poses and stretches and it’s not like starting completely from scratch. I really need this class, will continue.

Hi everyone,

thank you for the support on my returning and helpful suggestions. Tatiana, reframing the changes in a positive light, as the adventure rather than aftermath is helpful, and, Jennifer, thank you for the reminder to savor positive moments, it really does help to refocus from anything overwhelming (including my own thoughts) to something, small, real and in the moment.

Florence, thank you for your wise comment about the relationships - just starting figuring this out, therefore, not in a hurry to commit to anything new.

Progress with diet not much so far, with exercise - researched local yoga classes, my new friend here also wants to go (which is a bonus), so hopefully will start this week.

Hi all,

I have not kept track of things on the site and have not posted for awhile. I’ve had changes in my life. I found a job and had to move to another town. I also had to deal with losses related to former relationship. Adjusting to all of these has been a rocky ride, but it seems like things are evening out. Weight goals have not been a priority during this time, I exercised sporadically (about once or twice a week may be, when I felt like it), and my eating pretty much servied a function to numb whatever emotional stuff I was dealing with (so it was mindless and excessive). As thinks get calmer and more manageable for me, I want to get back on track with eating and exercising, and being healthy and in shape.

May your goals be reached and new goals set, may you feel healthy and energized, and may the new year bring to you what you are hoping for it to bring!

To my buddies and anyone who responded, thank you for participating in my life this year!

Warmly,
Inna

I just realized that I need to revamp my whole approach to living, including eating and exercise, not to abandon what works already, but fit it into a bit different structure. One objective sign that I need to rethink things is that I didn’t keep up with food monitoring consistently, which is what clearly worked for me in the first month here. Another is that I’ve had several recent pretty major changed in my life, old unfinished business being finished. Although I looked forward to these changes, for the most part, I guess I need to acknowledge to myself that my mindset needs to change to accomodate them. And hopefully the end result will be the happier me.