Life Gripe: Getting Healthy

I really hate to call getting healthy a life gripe, but it's the getting there that's the gripe.  The fitness, working out, exercising, they're no fun.  But as much as I hate it I started working out January 6, 2012.  I am now getting on the treadmill walking/jogging five days a week and lifting light weights two days a week along with some exercises.  It's tough everyday to get onto that dreaded treadmill.  Once I'm on there it's not too bad, at least after about 10 minutes.  But everyday I have to talk myself into it and drag myself onto that thing.  I'm trying to be consistent with working out everyday because outside of working out, I'm pretty sedentary.

Eating healthy I would say is the toughest part for me.  I eat pretty healthy during the day, but eat a regular dinner.  I pretty much stay within my calorie range of 1350 everyday, but it's "what" I'm eating for dinner that's not particularly healthy, such as manwiches, corn dogs, pork chops, Italian sausage, etc.  I just at least try to eat my dinner in moderation.  During the day I do well.  I have a protein shake for breakfast, a green giant vegetable such as broccoli & cheese sauce or cauliflower & cheese sauce for lunch, and then a clementine for a snack.  For evening snacks I have almonds or rice cakes.  So as you can see, it's the dinner that's the only problem. 

So far, I have lost five pounds in a month.  It's not a lot, but it is something.  As long as I can keep on losing I will be happy, even if it is only one pound a week.  And I know what I'm doing is a lot healthier for my body, especially for my blood pressure.  I also get better sleep.  As far as energy, I have a tad bid more, but I'm still struggling in that area.  I have some energy about an hour after exercise, but then it goes away.  I'm hoping that will improve more with time.  Bottom line is exercise and activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun...well try to have some fun anyway.  Are you getting fit or are you a couch potato?

Today's Life Quote: 

Exercise and application produce order in our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends.

– Thomas Jefferson

Life Hype and Gripe: Christmas Time

Christmas time is always a hard time for me. I miss my parents so much. Christmas just isn't the same without them. When they were living, Christmas was a very big deal and very family oriented. Now, I rarely see my family and I don't see them at Christmas either. I try to get myself into the holiday spirit by listening to Christmas music, watching great Christmas movies, decorating, shopping and wrapping, but nothing seems to work. And then if there's no snow to boot, then it's even worse.


It's just me and my husband and he doesn't like Christmas. Matter of fact, he wraps my presents the very last minute. Usually Christmas Eve night because he has too. I just feel like Christmas is a lot of work for nothing. Having to decorate, Christmas shop, wrap and cook is nothing but work and can be very stressful for me. You spend money you really can't afford to. I really don't receive many gifts, but I do like buying gifts and surprising others. I enjoy gift giving if I can afford it.


Listening to others and reading others happy Christmas comments around me can be very hard for me. I feel like all this Christmas spirit and joy is going on around me, but I don't have it. I feel like it's something I can't have with my family far away, my parents deceased, my husband hating it and money being tight. All that I have that brings me joy is still having Christmas for my son, even though he is grown now. I know he enjoys it. He doesn't get much from others often, so I like to make him feel special at Christmas. It's the one small thing I can do that I enjoy. Also, the love of my sweet little dog Matte also brings joy to me. I try to focus on the good things and not let the rest get me down. At least enough to get me through Christmas without getting too depressed.


Christmas is kind of a life hype and a gripe for me. Both at the same time. I don't like to bring others down with me, so I try to keep most of it bottled up inside, but it doesn't always work. It usually ends up making me feel worse, but again, I don't want to bring others down. It may be hard for me, but I prefer to wish everyone out there a Very Merry Christmas!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life Quote:
 
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.



Calvin Coolidge

Life Gripe: Feeling Tired

Today's life gripe is about feeling tired all the time.  I struggle with this daily.  The doctor said it could be CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).  Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to severe, continued tiredness that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.  Or it could be depression or both.  I tend to think it's a little of both.  At times I get depressed, but not always.  I think it's CFS because no matter what mood I'm in and no matter how much sleep I get or exercise I am always tired...just exhausted for no reason. 

I've heard from many people if you take a B vitamin it will help with energy, so I have started taking vitamin B12.  I've been taking it for about 3 weeks now.  So far, I haven't noticed any difference.  Maybe it takes some considerable time before it works.  I just feel with my luck and if it's CFS then vitamin B12 probably won't help much.  For CFS exercise is prescribed, along with sleep managment and medications to treat anxiety and depression which I'm already taking.  They gave me wellbutrin to help with the energy and depression.  The wellbutrin didn't work all that well for me and what little it did, it only worked for about two weeks. 

I am so envious of those who have endless energy. I just wish I could have a quarter of their energy. Some days it takes all the energy I have just to shower and clean up, some days that's all I get done. Once in a while I get a small burst of energy, but it's very small and not for very long. I would just love to have the energy to get through most of the day doing needed things such as cleaning and running errands. But as I said, usually by the time I shower and clean up, I'm too tired to do anything else.  Do you have anything specific you do to help you with your energy?

 
 
 
 
Today's Life Quote:
 
The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.



Tony Robbins

Life Gripe: Writer's Block

I'm feeling very anxious and frustrated. My mind won't stay focused and I can't think. I have several blogs I use to write on all the time because I was always needing to get it all out. Now, I have writer's block. I can't think at all. It's been this way for months now and I really don't know what to do about it short of just quit blogging. I use to get in these very creative moods and could write anything, but lately I just draw a blank. I still feel a need to be creative, but it just won't come which is very frustrating to me.

I can hardly even focus to write this let alone the rest of my blogs. I try and concentrate, but all I draw is a blank. And then my mind wanders. I just get so darn frustrated. I don't know what to do to get it back. Writing was really my only hobby and now it seems I don't even have that anymore. I feel like I'm slowly loosing all my creativity. I feel like it's slipping away and there's nothing I can do to stop it. I constantly look at different topics and subjects to see if it will trigger anything in my mind, but still I have no luck. I just can't think. 

This is extremely frustrating, so if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I am open to them, although I think I have already tried just about everything.  I just hope and pray that I somehow get my creativity back.

Today's Life Quote:

The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium. ~Norbet Platt

Life Hype: I Love My Dog

I love my dog. She brings me joy and happiness even when I'm feeling down. I can be in the worst mood and she will climb upon my chest, lay down and look at me with those loving big puppy dog eyes. I can go out to the store and be gone 10 minutes and when I get back you would think I'd been gone for hours. My dog acts as though she hasn't seen me in forever. She's just so happy to see me. She loves me unconditionally. She doesn't ask for much. All she asks of me is that I play fetch with her, wrestle with her, take her outside and take her walking occasionally and of course feed her, and she's happy as can be.

She's so comical too, she thinks the dogs and cats on tv are real. You should see her when she sees one. Too funny. And not to mention, she loves watching tv.  And she has this thing, the way she lays, she tucks her two little front paws under. And when she's playing, as she barks at you her two little front paws come up off the ground. She's just too cute. Yes, I love my dog and wouldn't trade her for anything in this world. She is family. I love her so much. She is the light of my life. Do you have a dog or cat you love?

Today's Life Quote:

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."



- Milan Kundera

Life Hype: Writing Is Good For The Soul

Writing is something everyone can do. You may not consider yourself a writer or be a great writer, but it's something everyone can do. Writing is a great stress reliever and is good for the soul. Writing gives you a place to put all those thoughts and feelings and to get them out. Writing gives you joy and helps share your passion for something you love. Writing helps you to be creative. Some people even make a living at writing. Whether it be a blog, a newspaper or magazine column, a short story or a novel.

Write about a life changing experience, write about your passion, write a journal, letter or a blog. Just be creative. Write using a sense of humor. Write your most inner thoughts and feelings. Write about something you feel strongly about. Write using conviction.

Start with something simple such as a journal or a letter and go from there. And who knows, maybe one day you can make it a profession. Do you love to write? What's stopping you?

 

Today's Life Quote:

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.

Ernest Hemingway

Life Gripe: Good True Friends Are Hard To Find

I remember the days when you had good true friends, those that called and came over everyday. The ones you just had to talk to everyday or at least talk to frequently and not always about anything in particular. You shared all your inner most thoughts and feelings with them, including your secrets. You could depend on them for anything and they asked for nothing in return. They didn't ask you to be a certain way, look a certain way, act a certain way or have money, they were just simply your friend and they liked you for who you were. They were never to busy for you nor did they replace you with better friends or another person, once they were your friend, they were your friend for life. At least that's how it seemed or how you were treated when you were younger. You were irreplaceable.

Nowadays, friendship is based more on money and status and what you can bring to the table. It's not about the actual friendship. You're only a friend until someone better comes along. Your friendship is only as good as what your worth. You're simply a means to an end. You're there for their convenience and use until your no longer useful. You're tossed aside like yesterdays trash.    That is until when or if your needed again for whatever reason.

What's hard to find is someone that is there when you need them for any reason, whether it be just to talk, to share a cup of coffee or someone to help you when things go wrong. Someone who doesn't care how much money you have or judge you. Someone with whom you can totally be yourself. Someone who doesn't ignore you or is only there when convenient. These things are pretty tough to find in a friend nowadays. I am just heartbroken over the fact that I can honestly say I don't even have one good true friend. Sure I have several "friends", that are more like close acquaintances, but not a good true friend. What has happened to real friendships? Why do they rarely exist anymore? Do you honesly have any good true friends?

Today's Life Quote:

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.

Muhammad Ali