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

[UConnJulie]

What a miserable weekend ... not sure if it is just that it was so freakin' hot and humid or that AF was here or that I had a really crappy day at work on Saturday ... I don't know ... BLAH!!!!

We did go see the Backyardigans LIVE on Saturday night ... practially the only highlight of my weekend ...

[UConnJulie]

The miserable heat wave has finally broken ... I can get back to eating the right stuff now!! Whew!! I am blown up like a balloon ... seriously!! The heat index was around 110 degrees yesterday ... AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY AIR CONDITIONING!!!! Gak.

Better now ... dry and sunny and a nice breeze. Much much better.

We did go to the beach yesterday and I spent the day running in and out of the water chasing the girls playing tag. Fun!

[stephanie932]

Julie..........I'm glad you are getting some relief from the heat. We don't have any air-conditioning either and last weekend I couldn't even get my rings off my fingers. Ughhhhhhhhhh.

Your beach outting sounds like a blast!

[realcdn]

After decades of living in homes with air, working in buildings with it (although the plants don't, but you always get a little relief in the lunch room and office), and driving a car with it, I don't think I could manage without it. Years ago our went out before a long weekend, and we were hesitant to replace it so we had it checked and the fellow put freon in it. Three days later it was obvious we needed a new air conditioner. He was going away for the weekend (a long one) and said he'd come Tuesday... and he didn't. Wednesday someone else put freon in again until they could get one installed in a few days. It was one of those 'hottest weekends on record' kind of weekends/weeks and even sleeping in the basement, it was way too warm. We keep ours around 75/76 even, which is just nice (although in the winter we keep the heat at 68F max).

[mel]

Hi Julie! Just checking in...finally....

I love the backyardigans! My boy is way too old for that stuff, but I watch them with my nephew sometimes!

The beach sounds fab!

Good luck with your continued Peeleing process!

mel

[GinnyLou]

Wow, Julie! I was just able to catch up in here and see your pictures. Great, great work! I am so happy that this is working for you. I am definitely a believer.

[nutbar]

Ooh, the beach! I'm so jealous!

Hope you guys are having a good father's day!

[tkinsley]

Well, Julie, now it's my turn to be banned from exercise. Leigh says no lifting, no running. Walking and stretching. Two weeks.

This worked well for you... I am hoping for the same result. I'm holding H2O like a mofo.

And you DID wear sunscreen during that beach frolic, yes?

[UConnJulie]

Hey guys ... yes, it was a rough few days with the extreme heat ... cooler now but rainy and humid.

We got back yesterday from a long weekend in New Hampshire ... it was nice to get away ... but I've got to get in touch with Comcast to get my internet in place up there when we go up for the summer in two weeks!!

Yes, Tina ... I always wear my sunscreen!! I did miss one stripe near my bathing suit line, but was otherwise unscathed. But I have a question ... I have move up to 70 spf on my face and 50 on my body ... and I still get tan. WTF is up with that?!

No formal workouts in a good long while ... I've been foam rolling, lacrosse ball rolling, using my theracane, and stretching. And doing my usual running around. Eats have been good, except for Saturday where we were at a graduation party and I had a glass of wine which lowered my inhibitions and I got into some party mix. Sigh. Also carrying some bloat/fluid as I am due to ovulate sometime this week. Bah.

Off to grocery shop this morning as I am hosting book club this evening. Them some cleaning. I'd also like to fit in some yoga or something.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by tkinsley

Well, Julie, now it's my turn to be banned from exercise. Leigh says no lifting, no running. Walking and stretching. Two weeks.

This worked well for you... I am hoping for the same result. I'm holding H2O like a mofo.

For those of us who are exercise ADDICTED it is really good to realize that you can lose weight/fat and not blow up like a giant fat balloon when you stop exercising.

It feels good to let go of that ...

Hang in there my friend ... it will be good for you!!

[stingo]

What are you reading in your book club?

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Yes, Tina ... I always wear my sunscreen!! I did miss one stripe near my bathing suit line, but was otherwise unscathed. But I have a question ... I have move up to 70 spf on my face and 50 on my body ... and I still get tan. WTF is up with that?!

I have the same issue. I'm afraid to meet Tina and get crap from my tan that won't quit. I get super dark, even with highest stuff, multiple times a day.

Remember the good ol' days when SPF meant # of hours worth of sun blocked? Or was it a multiplier? Can't recall.. But, wouldn't that have meant that SPF 12 had you covered and kept us pasty white for the whole day?

A few months ago, I read that the FDA might limit SPF ratings to 30 because it was not accurate over that and/or the number and levels of chemicals that you needed to get a rating over that carried all sorts of other issues. Now, I can't find that article. Tina? What do you know?

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

For those of us who are exercise ADDICTED it is really good to realize that you can lose weight/fat and not blow up like a giant fat balloon when you stop exercising.

It feels good to let go of that ...

Hang in there my friend ... it will be good for you!!

Originally Posted by tkinsley

Well, Julie, now it's my turn to be banned from exercise. Leigh says no lifting, no running. Walking and stretching. Two weeks.

I'm convinced that your little nutrition guru is right. At the very least, I no longer stress about getting in another gym workout to the exclusion of housework or walking.

First EPOC was lost to us. Sort of a bummer, but in a way it's a relief. When I'm trying to lose weight, I no longer have to worry about making sure I get in a super high stress workout every 36-48 hours to keep the EPOC churning. I churn the same, either way.

Now, my house is cleaner and I just eat less food. Although, that's less cooking, which means less cleaning, too. Less cleaning means fewer cals burned! Crap. Ima get fat!

[marthand99]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I'm convinced that your little nutrition guru is right. At the very least, I no longer stress about getting in another gym workout to the exclusion of housework or walking.

First EPOC was lost to us. Sort of a bummer, but in a way it's a relief. When I'm trying to lose weight, I no longer have to worry about making sure I get in a super high stress workout every 36-48 hours to keep the EPOC churning. I churn the same, either way.

Now, my house is cleaner and I just eat less food. Although, that's less cooking, which means less cleaning, too. Less cleaning means fewer cals burned! Crap. Ima get fat!

x2. Leigh totally cured me of my exercise addiction. AND I'm so happy to not feel like Ima get fat if I don't kill myself with HIIT. Now I need my MIL to leave so I can cook and clean and walk the dogs myself once in a while. Ima get fat!

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by stingo

What are you reading in your book club?

When Crickets Cry: A Novel of the Heart by Charles Martin

I have read every single one of his books ... nothing has touched me quite like this in a very long time.

[tkinsley]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I have the same issue. I'm afraid to meet Tina and get crap from my tan that won't quit. I get super dark, even with highest stuff, multiple times a day.

Remember the good ol' days when SPF meant # of hours worth of sun blocked? Or was it a multiplier? Can't recall.. But, wouldn't that have meant that SPF 12 had you covered and kept us pasty white for the whole day?

A few months ago, I read that the FDA might limit SPF ratings to 30 because it was not accurate over that and/or the number and levels of chemicals that you needed to get a rating over that carried all sorts of other issues. Now, I can't find that article. Tina? What do you know?

You were slightly misinformed as a yout'. SPF is the degree of protection relative to your own burning tendency--i.e., if you burn in 20 minutes, then SPF 12 would give you 12x your normal tolerance, i.e., 240 minutes or 4 hours--so a multiplier, but specific to the individual. This ONLY applies, btw, if you have applied appx TWO OUNCES of sunscreen. The dropoff with a lesser application is logarithmic, not linear, so most people get about an equivalent of SPF 4-8 by using SPF 30.

None of this stuff is a lead shield. Everyone will still get some exposure through it/despite it (which is why I maintain vitamin D will be adequately provided despite the use of sunscreen).

SPF 45 and above become a moot point. Higher is better, but again, based on the way people apply in real life... well, at least the effective protection from spf 70 is going to be higher than that of 30, KWIM?

Oh yeah, and UVA protection is not indicated by the spf. Those are the photoaging as well as photocarcinogenic.

More happy news!