Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

I know I have been threatening to do it for a while, but I have finally embarked on my journey to health and wellness. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I also feel like the weight is the main issue that is holding me back from fulfilling my dreams at this point. Every week there is a different ailment and I finally connected the dots and realized that I need to get back on that health train. Last weekend I worked out 3 days and intended to do it again this weekend, but I was so exhausted by Friday that I have just been home sleeping and recharging for the week ahead. I have been eating HORRIBLY lately. Stress eating and just not taking care of myself. On Friday my feet were so swollen they looked like sausages. They still haven't completely returned to normal. Yesterday I slept all day and today I woke up and have been planning for the week ahead. That includes planning my meals. I already started working on meal planning last week, but this week I will do it. I am al...

What a day. Again, I did not hit my goals but boy did I do a lot! I went out move the car and thought I would pick up some groceries while I was out. Well, I then decided that I wanted to do a little clothes shopping so I went into Marshall's. What did I do that for?  I usually avoid stores like Marshall's and TJ Maxx because you have to really spend time looking to get some good deals. For some reason everything was a good deal to me. I guess because I hadn't really been treating myself to shopping excursions as much as I used to back in the day. I used to be a shopoholic. Now I hardly shop at all. I found mostly tops, but that is because that is all I looked through. I went through those racks about three times, finally weeding out what didn't work. I walked away with some nice pieces that can pass for workplace casual. You can dress them up or down. I went HAM crazy in the housewares section. I really want to get organized and I am totally overdue for a makeover. I...

Didn't hit my goals today. I figured I was doomed when I couldn't get to sleep on time last night. Wasted my whole morning and was still groggy. Never kicked into gear. Went to physical therapy and the therapist wants to see me another 4 weeks. My eyes were like a cash register (think the cartoons) where I was adding up my $50 co-pay two times a week times four. Yep. Like that. I hadn't eaten and as I headed to pick up my mega-D prescription from the pharmacy on the other side of town, I realized I was hungry so I stopped and ate. That didn't perk me up any. Sadly, I only logged 2,000 steps today. I'm wondering if my PT work counts as a work out?  I think I am feeling sluggish because I have been lax about taking my vitamins and I haven't been juicing or eating as well as I should. I have to get back on track. My body knows the difference. I was so tired by the time I came home I tried to force myself to stay up so I wouldn't wake up in the middle of the...

Had my first physical therapy session out in the 'burbs. The P/T gave me me stretches for my feet and some exercises for my hips. Noticed that not only is there the foot issue, but there is weakness in my hip. That would explain why it has been painful. Bottom line is I need to start exercising again. Walking, gym, yoga, swimming, something.  He ended the session by icing my foot and doing an e-stim. The swelling went down and the pain was virtually gone. So glad I went to get a pedicure yesterday. Nothing worst than having jacked up feet at the doctor's office.  I went grocery shopping after I left and stocked up on my favorite - nuts. In particular sesame coated nuts. I am set. Was disappointed they didn't have my aloe drink in stock. Will have to wait until next week I guess. Busy week ahead. Another P/T appointment on Thursday in the city. Tired and headed to bed. Plan to get home early, do laundry and relax.

Other than oversleeping and getting to work late (then trying to play it off) I had a pretty decent day. I can't think of anything to complain about. I am psyched about going into my birthday weekend! Spa day! My doctor also gave me a clean bill of health! She recommended that I get Physical Therapy for the foot issue. I agreed that it might be helpful. She also prescribed a high dosage of Vitamin D. Now, vitamin D is one of the vitamins I had been taking daily. Turns out it wasn't nearly enough. I was taking about 1,000 IUs a day with  combination of a daily vitamin, D supplement, and Calcium with D. She prescribed 50,000 IUs in the form of a pill I take once a week. HUGE difference. She said it will help with the bone density, boost my immune system, and even help with depression. The last one caused my ears to perk up! She also recommended the following: 2 grams of fish oil a day. Now keep in mind they sell it in mgs, so I freaked out when I realized I would have to conver...

So, just to start my Monday morning off on the right foot, I twisted my left foot on the way into work. There was a pothole in the street and as I turned to speak to someone behind me my foot went in and twisted. The last time this happened I was left with a broken foot. I didn't hear anything snap this time and I can walk on it so unless I am in shock I think it is just bruised and twisted. I immediately iced it and took a Tylenol. It is now wrapped in an ACE bandage and I am going to the doctor this afternoon to get it checked out. Thinking positive thoughts.

I haven't been sleeping well primarily because I can't breathe. Today I had a follow up doctor's appointment to check on the TB shot I had. I had the worst sinus headache! I asked what I should about it and the doctor suggested a Nettie Pot and Claritin. I went to the drug store after I left and looked at the Nettie Pot. Decided to price it at another drugstore a block away. Then went to the bank and looked for a place where I could have some hot soup for lunch since I hadn't eaten all day. I decided on a Mexican place for tortilla soup. I couldn't taste it so I'm not sure if I should judge it, but it did manage to get the job done. My sinuses started to drain and the headache pretty disappeared. So much pressure! The coughing is subsiding, but I also bought some nasty cough medicine to help. Decided to take the rest of the week off since I have been working sick for the past 3 weeks. I'm sure it will be frowned upon, but hell, I have to take care of my heal...

I finally found a doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis and an ear infection. I was given antibiotics (which I am not a fan of) and an inhaler for the wheezing. Since they had me in there (finally) they tried to do everything at once. I have 4 vials of blood drawn, 2 shots (one booster and a TB for work), and a finger prick. My glucose and cholesterol were fine of course, but my blood pressure continues to be borderline hypertensive. I know it is because of the weight, so I am going to stay the course with the juicing and once I feel better start getting exercise in weekly. Everything else is in order. Now I need to make appointments for a mammogram and pap smear. Ugh. Not sure if I am ready for those yet. The truth is that I have been neglecting my body for years and I am just at a point where I am "undoing" the damage. I have stopped everything - the processed foods, dairy, meats, sodas, and alcohol. Now, I guess my motivation is to keep from getting high blood pressur...

I have been so busy trying to keep all of the balls in the air. Then I got sick. I haven't been this sick in a while. My allergies turned into an upper respiratory infection and I am still coughing as I try to clear out my bronchial passages. I've also started juicing to help support the recovery and have lost 15 lbs. I haven't had much of an appetite, so I drink fresh juice from the juice bar to keep my energy up. I could definitely keep this up for a while then transition back into a pescaterian diet. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Good Morning! What a refreshing sleep I had last night. I went to sleep around 8 PM and awoke at 5 AM. I don't consider myself a morning person, but I love how much I can get done when I wake up early. Not that I did anything special, but just having a few moments to myself before starting my very busy day is enough. I have on some Coltrane and was able to actually sit down and drink my coffee rather than stealing sips as I walk toward the door. I was able to commune with God as I listened to gospel on the radio and I read a morning devotional. I am refreshed, revitalized and ready to start my day. If I could do this every day I would definitely be up for going to gym every morning. As a matter of fact, I think I am going to pay my get caught up on my gym membership and start using it. They recently opened a second facility near the other and I understand that as long as you use it before the peak hours of 6-8 it isn't so bad. While I doubt I would go back out after 8PM, I co...

I wound up doing little to nothing this weekend. I had all kinds of big plan, but those went down the drain when I started to feel like I was coming down with something on Friday night. I went into action loading up on my arsenal of vitamins and supplements. I slept all day Saturday. Was so groggy I couldn't even function. Sunday, I was a bit better, but still didn't have enough energy to get up and out. I spent Sunday reading devotionals and planning out the week ahead. I didn't grocery shop so I had to be strategic about what I was going to eat for the week. The week before I had gone out of town, so I didn't grocery shop or have lunch prepared. I had to wing it for lunch and that is always a drag. I didn't want to get caught out there this week. I still had some of my 17 bean soup left so I am going to mix some noodles in there and take that for a couple of days. I also made a 3 bean salad and that should hold me another couple of days. Thinking I might do sautee...

Since summer I have changed my diet to a more plant based diet. That has included slowly eliminating diary from my diet as well. I have noticed positive changes. My skin, which had deteriorated over the last couple of years, has improved significantly. My weight has maintained (though I want to lose). My energy has increased (when I take my vitamin and supplements daily).  I have less mucus and phlegm in my body so I am less congested and getting sick less often and for shorter bouts. As an added bonus, my periods, which had been getting progressively worse over the years, are lighter and less painful. Since we are moving into the colder season, I have been adding meat back into my diet for dinner. I notice that the more meat I eat, the heavier and more painful my periods are. It also has an impact on my body odor and breath. I have virtually no odor when I don't eat meat. Conclusion, vegetarian is the way to go to for me. I can't be a strict vegetarian, and I still need t...

I am looking over the health insurance changes my job just sent. I am very, very sad. I know some people don't have health insurance (I didn't for years) and others pay a lot into their policies each month, but goodness these changes make the little 3-5% raise we got look like chicken feed. I just going to keep on praying and taking my vitamins and eating healthy and being careful. Jesus be a fence. Seriously!

Feeling amazing with my dietary changes. Today I headed to my job to exchange my charger then went to Wild Olive to pick up some fresh produce. As much as people complain about not having fresh food in Harlem (therefore we have to eat fried food and garbage instead) there was not enough business to sustain the fresh produce that they used to offer when they first opened. It is sad! I grabbed some cherries and went down the block to get a fresh juice from Uptown Juice Bar. I nearly choked when they told me how much it was. They didn't have any prices posted so I thought it might be a couple of bucks. I ordered a small. It was $5.00! That is ridiculous! I then went to Island Salad and got a Jerk Salmon salad. An $8 salad. I will in the future remember to tell them to put my dressing on the side. The girl who made my salad was very heavy handed. I am becoming conscious of portions now that I am not eating myself silly. Found out today that our chef on the job quit. It's not a su...

Good Morning, Been reestablishing my relationship with God and myself. I say my prayers at night, but God and I were long overdue for a deep heart to heart. I am learning. I am growing.  Part of the process is healing my body through better nutrition. I've been serious about it. I feel my energy returning. I am moving back into healthy habits. I have no choice but to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God. I am off to take a walk in Central Park before it gets too hot outside. Have a beautiful day!

The better I get about improving my diet, the better I feel. It is amazing how certain foods make such a big impact on your health. I wish we lived in a world where it was easier to live a healthy lifestyle and where work wasn't the end all, be all. I've been eating only fruits, veggies, seafood, nuts, and reducing the amount of starches in my diet. I haven't (thus far) had any cravings. I rarely snack and my blood sugar levels seem even. The issue is maintaining this while under stress at work. I will try to formulate the habit now and maintain it when I return to work.