I made some changes since I wrote about how crummy I was feeling. Usually when I get to the place where I am writing about a problem I am ready to leap into a solution. Your comments on that post were tremendously helpful and motivating. Thank you.
My physical and mental health were both dreary – obviously they are connected. When I feel better in my body I feel better in my spirit. I can report to you that I feel better than I did almost two weeks ago. I will also say that starting to feel better has made me realize that I still don’t feel great.
10 Changes I made to feel better:
• Took my thyroid pills every day.
I can not believe I allowed it to happen, but somehow I had started missing some of my morning medication. One small derail of my routine and I was off. I thought I had missed one or two mornings of my thyroid medication, but after doing some math and counting my pills I realized that I had missed much more than a one or two mornings.
• Took Vitamin D every day.
Usually once a year I end up being deficient in vitamin D. (I learn this from my routine thyroid blood work.) I started taking vitamin D every morning.
• Took a probiotic daily.
I wasn’t really plugged in to all of the benefits of routine probiotic supplementation. It wasn’t until W got that awful gut bug and I researched ways to help him. Giving him regular probiotics was something helpful to his digestion so now we both take supplements every morning. (he takes the kid version)
• Ate better in the morning.
Breakfast was not something I spent much time on for myself. Usually it consisted of a cup of coffee and not much else. W is a HUGE fan of cereal so I decided I could easily take a moment and have some cereal in the morning. I started eating a cereal that was high in fiber and protein.
• Became regular.
Yup. A benefit of taking a probiotic and eating better: it made me very regular. It wasn’t until I became regular that I realized how NOT regular I was before. This is usually something that I attribute to my thyroid disease – but I am glad to have made this change.
• Stopped drinking carbonated beverages.
OMG! This was hard. Which then freaked me out because I didn’t think I was drinking that many. When I became aware of all the times I was opting NOT to drink a soda it hit me, I was drinking a lot.
• Drank more water
Sad fact, it was not uncommon for me to get to the end of the day and realize that I had not consumed ANY water. None. I somehow was existing on 2 cups of coffee and an ocasional soda and no other liquids. Gee, I wonder why I was having headaches and my skin was so dry. *smacks head* I now drink two glasses of water with my morning coffee and then drink about two more throughout the rest of the day. I know I need to continue to work on this.
• Invested time in better oral hygiene.
Ok, yeah, another embarrassing confession: I was a horrible brusher of teeth. I brushed my teeth every morning but many times I collapsed into bed without brushing at night. I KNOW. When I took W to the dentist and saw what a great experience he had I realized that I had become more invested in W’s teeth than my own. I made sure he brushed his teeth twice a day (we are now slowly adding in a third brushing per the suggesting of his dentist). But me? Slacked. I started brushing my teeth and flossing morning AND night. Yesterday I invested in an electric toothbrush for myself and WOW is that fun! Next step: dentist appointment for me.
• I have left the house more.
Being a work at home person has MANY advantages. However it was all too easy for me to shrink into the doldrums at home during the day. I usually work at table at a coffee shop on mondays but I have added an extra day working out of the house – just to shake things up. This has motivated me to….
• I have tried to spend more time on appearance.
I often hide behind my beautiful and adorable son. He is the better dressed and if eyes are on him then no one will notice how little energy I have spent in my own appearance. I recently realized (remembered) that I like to wear dresses and I like to wear dresses over pants. And while it may not be the MOST flattering choice it is 100% more confidence boosting. I walk better, feel better, live better when I do not mind if people see me. (yes. I often try to become invisible. Which, HA HA HA HA, invisible 6 foot lady!)
Next step is to make the time to return to the gym.
They say it can take 21 days to make a habit. I only have 13 under my belt. Writing about it helps keep me motivated. It also keeps me accountable. It is seriously NICE to not feel bloated, gassy, oafish right now.
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Yay! It can be so hard to form healthy habits, but it’s great that you’ve started with achievable goals that seem to really be making a difference. I find that vitamin D alone makes a huge difference in my mood and how well I sleep.
If you’re looking for a buddy for elimination diets or yoga or anything like that (I should probably take up some dedicated form of walking), definitely get at me! Peter says I’m running the “gluten free test kitchen” out of our house, and I love to bake for others.
I would LOVE to have a buddy through an elimination diet. Seriously. And a walking buddy would be fantastic.
Fair warning: I gave up on eliminating dairy after about 2 days.
But i stuck with low-acid for several months, and I’ve been gluten-free for about a year, with only one or two experimental border raids.
I should really cut back on sugar, though!
Dresden I think thats great! I started better habits this year when trying to conceive #3. I have been slacking off of these daily things that made me feel good. After readint his post I am going to start my routine again. Good luck!
While not entirely the same experience, I thought it was interesting that this blog showed up in my feed directly after yours. http://www.kveller.com/blog/parenting/self-care-is-easier-said-than-done/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20kveller%20%28Kveller.com%20%29
LOVE IT! And so so true.
Those sound like an excellent start on the path to feeling better! Much luck with the gym…
13 days is great. Only 9 more to go and it’s all habit. Well done.
This post is awesome. I think you are awesome, and so glad to hear you are feeling better. How cool that we CAN control at least some aspects of our lives and mental health. I’ve been sliding out of some good habits lately and I need to re-adjust, especially since this weather has me down, down, down. Will it ever be warm or sunny ever again?!?!! I accosted the repairman in my apartment with this lament this morning and he looked at me like I was a crazy lady. So I must have sounded like a crazy lady. I am going to go eat some clementines and take some vitamin D. Right now. Byes.
This really hit home. I have been feeling the same way and can’t figure out what’s making me feel so disgusting. I think I’ll have to re-evaluate everything I’m doing daily, like you did, and figure it all out. Thanks for sharing with us.
I’m so happy that you are feelin better and taking care of you!
I’m so proud of you! You are awesome!
Great job!
Good for you sweetie! I’m working on changing up my thing.
I know what my major step to feeling better would be, but every single thing we do relates back to it, or involves it somehow, so that one is a cut back on type of thing. And oooooohhhh, how I love to wear dresses over pants!!!! Or aprons as front only skirts! People here in central rural Montana look at me like I’m stranger than a two headed calf. You would think they would be used to it after 6 years!! Lol
One thing I have done recently is forced myself to become more organized. With the band really taking off, working part-time at CPA office, working part-time for hubby’s dad, volunteer work, AND a busy 11 year old… I felt myself spiraling out of control, getting crabby and anxious. So I put the giant wall calendar we already had to good use and wrote down chores for every day, shows, when things are due, menu plans, etc. life at a glance. I have been doing this for 2 weeks now and am feeling better about the state of my house, and other domestic situations
Love and miss you, keep up the good work!! Change is hard
Sorry about all of the emoticons… I did read the post yesterday.
Go Cali-D!!!
Good for you, mama
woo hoo! you are awesome!!! good work on remembering to brag on your progress, too — i think that’s hugely important. you DESERVE to feel good about the positive changes you’ve made!
Thanks for sharing, I too have been feeling blah lately, I am so happy that I came across your post this morning, I am going to start with a multi vitamin routine and water, today one of my co workers is dragging me to the gym across the street at lunch so maybe I can make it a regular routine. All I know is that something has got to give, a mom of 2 under 5 and working a 50 hr job outside the house and running a growing home based business, I know that I am not taking care of me and that is making me feel ick!
I need to make every single one of these changes. All of them. Every single one. The water! OH MY GOD the WATER
I think you are awesome!
I seriously need to give up the carbonated beverages and drink more water. I’ve also considered a probiotic but hate adding more pills.
I gave up carbonated beverages for lent. I have drastically cut back over the past year, but I have noticed when I drink them, I eat more. I also have been trying to put myself together more if not for myself, for my kids. My kids started complaining that I was wearing my comfy pants a little too much and that I shouldn’t wear them in public. I guess when my kids start commenting, maybe it is time to do something.
I’m doing a 21-day habit challenge this month as well. For me, it’s a biggie: Not hitting snooze, and getting up when the alarm goes off. The past couple days have been tough because I’ve been knocked down with a cold, but it’s definitely settling in. I like the scheduling aspect to it, truly.
Next up: working in an exercise component to my day, even if it’s just a little something. I’m in the middle of bloaty and blah and feeling unhealthy, and I KNOW it’s got a lot to do with not getting my heart pumping. Sacrilege, and in February, heart awareness month! Gah.
Love this. I cut out meat – 3.5 weeks no red mean, pork or chicken. Feel amazingly better. GOOD job and keep it up.
I need to make MANY of the same changes. I have noticed a huge difference when I made an effort to get out of the house more often. And drink more water.
You put it out there and you are slowly making changes. I fail at a few of what you mention as well, especially the daily intake of water. I count my tea and I’ve had conflicting reports on whether that is correct or not. Keep it up! You’ve inspired me to keep better track of some ‘things.’
Reminder post sometimes it is the simple things that make a change. I need to take vitamins thanks for the reminder.
These are great!! I recently started taking Vitamin D too as well as some other supplements. Don’t know if I could ever kiss my coke zero goodbye forEVER though!
YAY! Look how healthy you’re being. I gave up soda years ago and, nearly immediately, I saw a difference in several areas of my life. I’m SO grateful that I did that. Now, on the days I rarely do have soda, I feel it for the next few days. So it’s really rare that I drink it anymore.
So many people think you have to do some major changes to make a difference in our well-being. Unless you eat fast food everyday, smoke a pack a day and don’t move, little things go a long way. You just reminded me that I ran out of Vitamin D and need to get outdoors more.
I’m impressed so far if you have been able to keep all of this up for 13 days! Great suggestions here, and I should follow your lead…
It is SO important to take care of yourself. You know this. I am so glad to hear these things are working for you!! I am right there with ya on needing to be more diligent with my Vit D and probiotics and… let’s not talk about the thyroid meds that I’m supposed to be taking….
Cutting out Coke was a HUGE factor in making me feel better. It was hard, but I am so glad I”m off it. Now if I could just cut out coffee… lol.
You’ve inspired me. That’s what friends are for, right?
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