Two Steps Forward, No Steps Back: My Health Focused Log

[tkinsley]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Me too!!!

The big "secret" is that I've hired Leigh ... I have filled out the paperwork and such, but before constructing my program, she is having me wear the BodyBugg for a few days. She sent it out this morning, so I hope to have it within a few days. We spent about an hour on the phone and she said a lot of things that make a lot of sense to me ... like given the amount of stress I am under at this time, doing a physically taxing (or stressful) program is only going to serve to deplete me further (which is what I have found with NROL4W). She also said that I don't need a muscle building program as I have plenty of muscle. (Nearly 120# of it I think!!) She knows her stuff regarding fat loss (both exercise-wise and nutritionally) so we'll see if she can get me in shape. Just implementing some random thoughts off the top of her head, I have lost several pounds already (which is hugely comforting!).

Prayers for Matt please ... he is having a lot of anxiety lately and is not dealing well with the stress. We see his psychiatrist tomorrow and I'm hoping for an anti-anxiety medication.

Hey! Good move on your part. Leigh ROCKS. She's the only person I have encountered that knows exactly when to tell me to STFU, and she really gets it, Julie.

I'm doing less exercise than I have in a loooong time and losing (I think, based on clothing fit--I've been banned from the scale, LOL).

Anyhoooo welcome to the club.

My thoughts are with you and Matt, as well. Good luck at his appt..

[UConnJulie]

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts about Matt ... we had a fantastic appointment yesterday. His psychiatrist really "gets" him. She's very direct and really respects what we both have to say about what is going on with him. She prescribed an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety med which will take 4-6 weeks to take effect. So she also prescribed a short-acting anti-anxiety to take in the meantime. He took the first one last night and ... OMG ... a totally different person!!!
I am confident now that things will be on an upswing!! Yay!!

And according to the tracker ... it looks like my Bodybugg will be here today.

Still feeling a bit stressed from the last few days events. Off to my doc for a recheck this afternoon. Hope to get outside when we get back and start cleaning my veggie garden out so Matt can rototill it and then I can start planting cold-hearty stuff like spinach and stuff. Yay!!

[missjane]

Julie, glad to see you posting again and excited about your plan! Good stuff!

So happy the appointment went well. Isn't it amazing how even one day on the right med can make such a difference. Amazing. Since it's so difficult to find the right meds, I'm so glad this one worked effectively right off the bat. My heart goes out to you and Matt because I know how hard this is for the entire family.

I'm also excited to get outside and play in the dirt. FINALLY!

[stingo]

Lots of good news, very long overdue in here. Glad to hear things are looking up Julie.

[Espi]

It is a huge relief that your DH is feeling better so soon.
Am excited about you wearing the Bugg!

[UConnJulie]

Thanks guys!!

Espi, have you worn one?

[Espi]

No, but I'm reading discussions about it over at Lyle's BR.com .
The funny thing is, that if my 30d averages for the Omron are correct, my own estimates aren't very far off either, sometimes by less than the Bodybugg.

Bodybugg has one flaw, viz. when you cycle or do another cardio exercise in which you move legs but not arms, like on the stairmaster/tread mill it gives a lower number.
The surprising part for most was to see how little energy gets burnt in the gym and how much influence just a longer walk has. Walking 1mile costs about the same energy as running that mile extremely fast.
The main reason to lift weights is the effect it has on muscle retention.

At least, that's the conclusion I drew from the discussions.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Espi

No, but I'm reading discussions about it over at Lyle's BR.com .
The funny thing is, that if my 30d averages for the Omron are correct, my own estimates aren't very far off either, sometimes by less than the Bodybugg.

Bodybugg has one flaw, viz. when you cycle or do another cardio exercise in which you move legs but not arms, like on the stairmaster/tread mill it gives a lower number.
The surprising part for most was to see how little energy gets burnt in the gym and how much influence just a longer walk has. Walking 1mile costs about the same energy as running that mile extremely fast.
The main reason to lift weights is the effect it has on muscle retention.

At least, that's the conclusion I drew from the discussions.

Interesting ... I'm really interested to see what Leigh has in store for me from an exercise standpoint. I suspect it will be more walking and such and less lifting (I have more muscle than I need I/we think).

[LisaS]

walking/running 1 Mile - this is what i've always been taught - the work is the same (same weight being moved over same distance) - so the calories are virtually the same. calories/hr is different but calories/mile roughly the same.
/hijack

Interested to see what y'all come up with Julie.

[UConnJulie]

Makes good sense Lisa (from a physics standpoint).

Got the Bodybugg on now ...

[tkinsley]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Makes good sense Lisa (from a physics standpoint).

Got the Bodybugg on now ...

Be prepared to want your own.... those things are addictive! Oh yeah, and move it around on your arm a bit from day to day. I got an occlusion folliculitis on my arm where the bugg sat for three days. NOT attractive.

[Espi]

On the walking 1mi/km versus running, there's a funky thing that happens when you are walking at the speed that could've been a slow jog, or in other words, speed walking.
Apparently this burns more calories than either walking or running the same distance.

I'm feeling quite smug that I always tended to walk fast anyway. Also in the gym, I don't even do HIIT anymore as it made me ravenous, just do a speedwalk session at a 15% incline and start anywhere around 5.0 (3.0) and mostly finish at 6.5-6.8 (4.0-4.25) km/hr (mi/hr). Considering the incline & my short legs, the highest speed is actually too fast for walking. When I started this, I even got out of breath.
Not anymore, but I still can't go higher or my feet start whining.

This type of training is called 'lactate' inducing and is also quite effective. The upside is that it doesn't make you as ravenously hungry or as worn out (CNS-fatigue) like HIIT. Yet, it does add up and doing it too often still wrecked havoc w my nerves.

[UConnJulie]

Tina, yes, I can already tell that I'll be wanting one of my own ... sigh ... but darn are they expensive!!! And good tip on the arm thing ... my arms are already U G L Y from the KP ...

Espi, well, again interesting ... I too am a fast walker ... but Leigh will be deciding what I am to do and at what speed/intensity!

Slept like CRAP last night. Matt was snoring up a storm and wasn't stopping when I'd tap him. Spent some of the night on the sofa ... the cat kept me up there ... finally went back to bed, but couldn't fall asleep. Sigh.

Raining and dreary here today ... and a balmy 35 degrees. I love early spring in New Enland.

[MuscleMom23]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Slept like CRAP last night. Matt was snoring up a storm and wasn't stopping when I'd tap him. Spent some of the night on the sofa ... the cat kept me up there ... finally went back to bed, but couldn't fall asleep. Sigh.

Raining and dreary here today ... and a balmy 35 degrees. I love early spring in New Enland.

Oh boy, I know THAT one! Snoring is the pits.

Don't feel like you are alone, raining and dreary, DARK, depressing and a heat wave of 39 here.

I was told to walk walk walk on my program too. This is interesting.

[Espi]

Going too low in carbs makes me lose my sleep as well as a too low B12 status.

Are you taking sublingual methylcobalamine (best form of B12) already? It is awesome for better sleep! I take 1 lozenge (5 mg) every 4 days.
Also when low-carbing I'd recommend tryptophan. Both are available from Jarrow Formulas. But generally I carb up the night before a lifting day, so then the tryptophan is not necessary.