Damn. Let me just tell you - trying to get your shit together is TOUGH.
Let me explain.
I've been going to the doctor to try and pull myself together. This middle age crap SUCKS. So......I find out I smoke to much (no surprise) drink to much caffine (believe it or not, a surprise) and need to sleep more (duh) and eat healthy (double duh). So I'm trying.
I'm down to 1/2 - 1 pack of cigarettes a day. That's HUGE for me. Also - I'm dutifully cutting my coffee to 1/2 reg, 1/2 decaf. Yesterday I had only 1 pot of coffee and no other caffine. None at all. Only smoked 1/2 a pack of cigarettes and no, none, not one bit of junk food. I slept all afternoon.
I still have trouble sleeping at night. So, I take my handy dandy pill. Yeah....we love that damn thing. I get 8 hours no problem. But I still need a nap in the afternoon. Why??!?! I've been feeling so lazy lately. Then it hits me!! WITHDRAWLS!!! I'm cutting out the two constants that my body has depended on for decades. And yes, I do mean decades.
Also, those constants happen to help keep my metabolism up. I truely believe they are a large part of why I didn't have to worry about gaining weight.
So....now I'm over 40, cutting out my version of "speed" and so tired all the time I just can't work out. What's that mean.
I'm gaining weight hand over fist. It doesn't matter what I eat or drink, I gain weight. I refuse to have a scale in my house. (I tend to fixate on it and that's a bad thing.) But I can tell in the way my clothes fit. I'm afraid to try on my beautiful gold gown for the wedding next weekend. What if it doesn't fit?!?!?
What to do, what to do. And I do gotta do something.
Exercise. Yep. I love to go to the gym - but that's out of the question right now. I love to walk. Can't run anymore but I used to walk 8-10 miles everyday. I stopped last spring because with this job, it's almost impossible. Plus the move really screwed up my schedule. I hate having exercise equipment out and around the house. No room to set it up so that's out. It's gonna have to be walking and what ever I can work out in my living room.
I know I'm better off, healthwise, in the long run. I really am no idiot. It's just damn.....did they have to be so right all those years ago? You know that old saying
Posted by Tammi at November 1, 2004 08:28 AMHang IN There !
I understand the withdrawl thing, the weight thing and all of it. Believe me, I do.
I am really glad you are getting sleep at night, it helps with all the rest of what you are going thru.
So hang tough, stick it out, and think positive(the gown will fit, the gown will fit)
It will be okay.
Hugs!
Jovi
Yes, keep up the attempts!
I found that, believe it or not, going to the gym and doing aerobics (or weights) actually gives me MORE energy, and I sleep better -- I can even get up earlier in the am to go to the gym, losing sleep in the am, but the gym energizes me enough that I don't need more sleep! And the metabolism stay up! Wheee!
Posted by: Ogre at November 1, 2004 09:49 AMYeah, this is the crappy part here. Do any and all non-food comfort things you can. Pamper yourself in any way that isn't food or drug related.
Also, I've found that exercise time is a great time to watch favorite old movies & TV shows. It's hard to concentrate when you're jumping up & down, so a little light, familiar fare is just right for occupying your brain while you beat your body into submission :-)
Posted by: Harvey at November 1, 2004 09:51 AMI'm sorry, but every single time I read the vast quantity of caffeine you consume, I feel twitchy! I get the herky jerks just thinking about it!
I say go to the local health food store and see if they have some sort of power drink that is caffeine free that you can drink at 3ish. You are definitely having withdrawals.
Posted by: Boudicca at November 1, 2004 10:41 AMI know exactly what you mean about exercising. The hardest thing in the world is to get up and exercise when you are very very tired. Yeah, you know you'll feel better if you do... but knowing and doing are 2 different things.
Try this - decide on a time of day when it's best for YOU to excercise. I say this because they always say morning - but that has NEVER ever worked for me! Post a check off chart on your refrigerator of the different exercises and the date across the top. Then when it comes time to do your exercising - you may be able to motivate yourself with the chart as a visual. (think of all the lovely checkmarks!)
And yes - major withdrawals will last quite a while. As you pointed out, you've been living on caffeine and cigarettes for quite a long time. During your excercise time - picture the exercises cleaning the muck out of your system.
Just a few random thoughts I wanted to throw out there. *grin*
Posted by: Teresa at November 1, 2004 11:24 AMDon't you just hate that, your actually doing something very good for your body and what does it do to you?
It craps on you. Your tired, you gain weight, crabby ,etc...
You have to make yourself exercise, once you do it, it will become a habit (remember that 30 days and its a habit stuff). Then you get to the point if you don't exercise you feel guilty. Guilt is a strong motivator.
btw - I get up at 5:45am in the morning and exercise. Not only do I get it out of the way for the day but it actually makes me move faster in the mornings.
Posted by: Machelle at November 1, 2004 02:34 PMSounds like me, too much coffee, getting old, not running enough, smoking (sigh, going through some relationship problems and started like a dork). I'm catching up, my birthday is on friday!
Posted by: Sean at November 2, 2004 07:38 PM