The Health Project
I've been working hard lately on the physical and mental health project for the new year. Last week I only went to the gym twice, but that's two more times than this time last year, so ... yay me! Two visits to the gym! Three per week is my goal, but sometimes life gets in the way.
I've been spending time in the CWC Art Room often, usually with no anxiety at all (because I go at times when it's almost empty). Today I was there for just an hour, because I was feeling anxious and wasn't sure if it's actually detrimental to my long-term plan for me to stay there when I'm anxious, or if I should only be filling myself up with The Art Room Is Not A Scary Place thoughts by only being there when it's comfortable. I have a hard time when it's really crowded and/or really noisy. Today there were just a few people, but they were working on a paper mache project together and so were constantly talking, very excited about playing with goop.
I've been getting my 10,000 steps on my Fitbit almost every day, but I'm not obsessive about it. I don't mind if once or twice a week I have a lazy day, because sometimes that's good for me, too, mental-health-wise. Due to the combination of Fitbit-inspired walking, going to the gym, and eating less now that I'm off the Depakote, I've been losing weight. I'm averaging about 1 pound per week, though I've been stuck at the same approximate weight for a week or two right now, which is frustrating. I go to the gym, I do all my walking, I rarely eat sweets, and the number on the scale stays the same ... unfair! I'm trying not to be too obsessive about it, though, because the important thing is the average, not each individual day or week. As long as I keep trending downward, I'll stay on track. But I must admit it is disappointing when I feel like I'm doing all the right things and I don't lose weight. "Focus on the averages," I tell myself. Maybe I should weigh myself less often. I've been doing it daily. Something to consider.
Also, dieting is not an option. I'm not eating many sweets because I haven't been wanting them (since the Depakote made them turn my stomach for a couple months), but dieting is too emotionally unhealthy for me, so I'm eating a normal amount, with portion sizes that seem appropriate, and not worrying about my food any past that. I do think a bit before having a sugary drink, considering whether I really want that lemonade or could do without it, but when I decide to have something I feel comfortable with my decision, because I don't want to create an atmosphere of deprivation. That's bad for me, and I'm not going to do it. So the weight loss will come from exercise or it won't come at all.
Continuing on with my goals, I haven't been riding my bike a lot, because we've finally been getting a good amount of rain, but I've gotten in a short ride here and there. I'd like to be getting a chance to ride it more, but we need the rain, so I can't complain.
Anyway, so the upshot is this:
I've been getting my 10,000 steps most days.
I've been going to the gym 2-3 times per week.
I've been spending time in the Art Room to help with that anxiety.
I've been riding my bike when possible to help with that anxiety.
I've been working with my anti-anxiety affirmation cards to help with my general anxiety.
I've been losing an average of about 1 pound each week.
That is to say, the upshot is this:
I'm doing a darn good job on this health project. Yay me!
I've been spending time in the CWC Art Room often, usually with no anxiety at all (because I go at times when it's almost empty). Today I was there for just an hour, because I was feeling anxious and wasn't sure if it's actually detrimental to my long-term plan for me to stay there when I'm anxious, or if I should only be filling myself up with The Art Room Is Not A Scary Place thoughts by only being there when it's comfortable. I have a hard time when it's really crowded and/or really noisy. Today there were just a few people, but they were working on a paper mache project together and so were constantly talking, very excited about playing with goop.
I've been getting my 10,000 steps on my Fitbit almost every day, but I'm not obsessive about it. I don't mind if once or twice a week I have a lazy day, because sometimes that's good for me, too, mental-health-wise. Due to the combination of Fitbit-inspired walking, going to the gym, and eating less now that I'm off the Depakote, I've been losing weight. I'm averaging about 1 pound per week, though I've been stuck at the same approximate weight for a week or two right now, which is frustrating. I go to the gym, I do all my walking, I rarely eat sweets, and the number on the scale stays the same ... unfair! I'm trying not to be too obsessive about it, though, because the important thing is the average, not each individual day or week. As long as I keep trending downward, I'll stay on track. But I must admit it is disappointing when I feel like I'm doing all the right things and I don't lose weight. "Focus on the averages," I tell myself. Maybe I should weigh myself less often. I've been doing it daily. Something to consider.
Also, dieting is not an option. I'm not eating many sweets because I haven't been wanting them (since the Depakote made them turn my stomach for a couple months), but dieting is too emotionally unhealthy for me, so I'm eating a normal amount, with portion sizes that seem appropriate, and not worrying about my food any past that. I do think a bit before having a sugary drink, considering whether I really want that lemonade or could do without it, but when I decide to have something I feel comfortable with my decision, because I don't want to create an atmosphere of deprivation. That's bad for me, and I'm not going to do it. So the weight loss will come from exercise or it won't come at all.
Continuing on with my goals, I haven't been riding my bike a lot, because we've finally been getting a good amount of rain, but I've gotten in a short ride here and there. I'd like to be getting a chance to ride it more, but we need the rain, so I can't complain.
Anyway, so the upshot is this:
I've been getting my 10,000 steps most days.
I've been going to the gym 2-3 times per week.
I've been spending time in the Art Room to help with that anxiety.
I've been riding my bike when possible to help with that anxiety.
I've been working with my anti-anxiety affirmation cards to help with my general anxiety.
I've been losing an average of about 1 pound each week.
That is to say, the upshot is this:
I'm doing a darn good job on this health project. Yay me!