Harihead Seeks Stability

[Harihead]

I'm up for this challenge!

It's been several rough months for Harihead, and my brain and body are out of whack. I'm desperately seeking stability.

What I'd like from the Rebellion is high accountability. There is no hiding or shirking. We are serious unto the death!!!

 

Life Goal: 

Return to the weight and fitness I had when I worked from home, instead of in someone else's office. 

 

4 Week Challenge Goal:

Restore stability. I have suffered wounds of body and spirit. This is the challenge to reclaim myself. 

 

Diet: 

Lo carb, high good fat. Per the doctor, I must eat high good protein/fat breakfast and lunch, smaller veggie dinner. 

I'll allow 1-2 oatmeal substitutes for breakfast per week (deprecated).

A = <=3 fails/week, CON +3, CHA +2

B = <=6 fails/week, CON +2, CHA +1

C = <=10 fails/week, CON +1, CHA +1

 

Exercise: 

Must be mild to avoid relapse. Targets: Tai Chi and yoga 4x/week each, 1x biking, 1x step goal. 

A = 10+/week, DEX +3, STR +1

B = 6-9/week, DEX +2, STR +1

C = 3-5/week, DEX +1

 

Refresh:

My brain chemistry is out of whack. I need to do some form of mental health 3x/week. 

Do some form of activism 1x/week. 

A = 4+/week, WIS +3

B = 3/week, WIS +2

C = 1-2/week, WIS +1

 

Something with Fiction:

Because I gotta. 

A = 4+/week STA +3

B = 3/week STA +2

C = 1-2/week STA +1

 

[IslandGirl_Becks]

10 hours ago, Harihead said:

I'm up for this challenge!

It's been several rough months for Harihead, and my brain and body are out of whack. I'm desperately seeking stability.

What I'd like from the Rebellion is high accountability. There is no hiding or shirking. We are serious unto the death!!!

 

Here's to re-sets and getting by with a little help from our friends!

 

I'm working on "ballasting" my mind and getting my body back to where I was several months ago. Out of curiosity, what do you do for your mental health exercise? 

[Harihead]

> Out of curiosity, what do you do for your mental health exercise?

 

I'm as curious as you, Island Girl! The doctor gave me the name of some talk therapists yesterday. So this week I will be researching them and making appts. I assume once we get started, I'll have lots of homework.  

 

The other thing he suggested is that I get active in some volunteer aspect that helps me think I'm really making a difference. I started researching those options last night. So that's tick 1 for the week; 3 to go. 

 

Thanks for the gif! I love it! 

[Kareesh]

You've got a follower in me. I've been struggling with depression and negative mind space for awhile now. 

 

[Harihead]

Thanks, Kareesh. I decided that my slump was not a fluke and had to be addressed. Just the act of addressing it has helped my attitude-- but I fear this victory will be short-lived. I am putting together a local support system (sisters and friends) as well as following doctor's orders and looking for a therapist. 

 

I had therapy before, after my divorce, and it really helped (once I found the right counselor). I'm hoping I can find another person who can bring me out of this current space. So, I'm hitting: 

- lifestyle

- diet

- mental and physical health

 

The mighty legs upon which to build a more productive future -- fingers crossed. 

[IslandGirl_Becks]

13 hours ago, Harihead said:

The other thing he suggested is that I get active in some volunteer aspect that helps me think I'm really making a difference. I started researching those options last night. So that's tick 1 for the week; 3 to go. 

 

My mumsy wrote something to that affect in the card she left with me when she dropped me off at college as a freshman. It said "when you're having a rough day, do something kind for someone else." It's some of the best advice I have ever received - getting me outside of my own toilet bowl shaped brain box and interacting with others. 

 

I've been considering finding a therapist again, having also benefited from seeing one at another point (during a breakup with a job - not anything as rough as divorce!). Maybe I ought to just bite the bullet and start doing some investigation, too! Onward!

[Harihead]

8 hours ago, IslandGirl_Becks said:

 

My mumsy wrote something to that affect in the card she left with me when she dropped me off at college as a freshman. It said "when you're having a rough day, do something kind for someone else." It's some of the best advice I have ever received - getting me outside of my own toilet bowl shaped brain box and interacting with others. 

 

I've been considering finding a therapist again, having also benefited from seeing one at another point (during a breakup with a job - not anything as rough as divorce!). Maybe I ought to just bite the bullet and start doing some investigation, too! Onward!

"Do something kind for someone else" IS the best advice. I do help out sporadically, but I think I need an ongoing gig, like healing animals, so I can see tangible results. I help out with cash, but I think I need to roll my sleeves up. 

 

Best of luck finding a good therapist. I found my divorce one through a group class; she was _awesome_ (the previous counselors were awful). I'm starting the investigation. None of the recs I got from the doctor are on my insurance; oh well! A good person is worth it. Next step is to check them out and make appts. One step at a time. 

[Harihead]

progris riport 1- (borrowed from Flowers for Algernon) - Week 1 status 

 

Thank goodness for the Rebellion, is all I can say. I wouldn't have made nearly this much progress without it.

 

Diet: 

Barely squeaked out an A-- but to be fair, I hadn't signed up yet on Sunday. Pounds lost =1

 

Exercise: 

Barely squeaked out an A: Tai Chi x3, yoga x2, biking x1, step goal x2

 

Refresh:

Another barely A. Activism x1,  mental health x3 (research, talk, and meditation). Slept 7 hours last night, yay!

 

Something with Fiction:

A+ on this one. 5 writing days this week, and all 5 were multiple hours. One new story written and several out in the mail. 

 

[IslandGirl_Becks]

On 4/26/2017 at 5:40 AM, Harihead said:

Best of luck finding a good therapist. I found my divorce one through a group class; she was _awesome_ (the previous counselors were awful). I'm starting the investigation. None of the recs I got from the doctor are on my insurance; oh well! A good person is worth it. Next step is to check them out and make appts. One step at a time. 

 

I've only browsed about online to see who's in my area. I want to be careful about keeping the barriers to entry low- if I have to drive an hour for an appointment, I'm more likely to cancel it. How's your search going?

 

My bf's family sent him to a couselor several years ago, and it was tough because the guy was a devout member of the same fundamentalist religion that my bf had left. Leaving said religion caused a lot of distress that landed him in counseling in the first place. I wish there was a simple way to screen potential therapists without spending an hour with them!

 

Congrats on the "4.0" this week!! 

[Harihead]

1 hour ago, IslandGirl_Becks said:

How's your search going?

I wish there was a simple way to screen potential therapists without spending an hour with them!

 

I'm still in the research phase. The 3 rec'd therapists are in Boulder (where my doc is); I won't drive more than 40 minutes. Too much time to work into a full schedule. I have on my list to look them all up and pick one. These give a free short interview to figure out if you're a match. You're right, the wrong therapist is worse than none!

 

NF kept me on track this week, that's for sure. It's easy to blow off good practices when no one's looking. I'll aim for "above bare minimum" next week, but the fact that I could barely squeak it out makes me feel I'm in the right ballpark. 

 

Best of wishes for your own quest!

[Xena]

On 4/25/2017 at 9:47 PM, Harihead said:

Thanks, Kareesh. I decided that my slump was not a fluke and had to be addressed. Just the act of addressing it has helped my attitude-- but I fear this victory will be short-lived. I am putting together a local support system (sisters and friends) as well as following doctor's orders and looking for a therapist. 

 

I've had a similar experience in the sense, that just taking some kind of concrete action really helps a lot. I found that it gave me a feeling of a little more control and more hope that things would improve. I don't think it has to be a short-lived victory. You're goal of taking some specific actions each week is a really good one.

[Harihead]

progris riport 2 - Week 2 status 

 

Week 2 of better habits. Thank you, Rebellion!

 

Diet: 

More solid A this week-- still had 3 failures, but 2 of those were planned celebrations, so improving. Total pounds lost =4

 

Exercise: 

I beat up my A, so I moved the goal posts to be harder next week (10+ all and 7K steps): Tai Chi x3, yoga x2, biking x0, step goal x4

 

Refresh:

B, but overtime at work interfered. Activism x0,  mental health x3 (research, talk, and meditation). Slept 9.5 hours one night, big yay!

 

Something with Fiction:

B. Only 3 writing days this week, and only 1 with multiple hours. The new story made the top 20 before coming back, alas. Out again. 10 in circulation.

[Harihead]

progris riport 3 - Week 3 status 

 

Coming in a little late, because I was on vacation. Whahoo! I really needed it. 

 

Diet: 

A wimpy B. I only had 3 outright failures (pasta, pizza and dessert), but my traveling routine is Big Breakfast, little or no lunch due to sightseeing, and largish early dinner. So the light dinner plan failed. Total pounds lost =5

 

Exercise: 

I barely met the new A goal (10+ all and 7K steps), so it's working: Tai Chi x2, yoga x2, biking x1, step goal x4 (+4-mile hike)

 

Refresh:

I'm going with A because of all the restful, rejuvenating sights and activities on vacation. Activism x1,  mental health x4. Sleep not so good, <7 hrs/night all week. 

 

Something with Fiction:

A. 3 good writing mornings on vacation, with a new story complete on Sunday. YaY!

 

Tomorrow I see my doctor for my first check-up. So far the anti-toxins are doing great. Not seeing much progress on the adrenalin exhaustion. 

I started an elimination diet today, which means no coffee, but Dr. will customize my plan tomorrow. 

 

[IslandGirl_Becks]

12 hours ago, Harihead said:

Tomorrow I see my doctor for my first check-up. So far the anti-toxins are doing great. Not seeing much progress on the adrenalin exhaustion. 

I started an elimination diet today, which means no coffee, but Dr. will customize my plan tomorrow. 

 

Yaaay vacation!

 

Good deal that the stuff you're doing so far seems to be working. Sounds like you're doing well! 

 

Just wanted to say - I'm going to my first therapy session this afternoon. I'm hoping it's a good fit. You've been part of my inspiration, getting me to finally do something about it! 

[Harihead]

On 5/16/2017 at 11:19 AM, IslandGirl_Becks said:

You've been part of my inspiration, getting me to finally do something about it! 

I'm so glad! It's amazing, once I got started, I started feeling better... which encouraged me to do more... a positive cycle!

Please let me know how your session goes. I'm still trying to find a therapist. One is in China, another is leaving soon for a month, so no new patients-- I'll keep looking!

 

The dr. visit was great. He tweaked and modified my diet all over the place, into a keytone-burning wonder system. I'm getting a blood test tomorrow so we have a baseline of 3 pertinent markers, and I'm getting a self-test kit so I can actually track my keytones. This is the geekiest diet thing I've ever done and I'm loving it! It's hard to hold myself back -- he wants me to wait a week so I can get that baseline test. I'm already filling my cabinet and fridge with keytone-inducing food. THIS WILL BE SO GREAT!!!

[IslandGirl_Becks]

11 hours ago, Harihead said:

I'm so glad! It's amazing, once I got started, I started feeling better... which encouraged me to do more... a positive cycle!

Please let me know how your session goes. I'm still trying to find a therapist. One is in China, another is leaving soon for a month, so no new patients-- I'll keep looking!

 

A positive cycle it is!

 

The session went really well. It's going to be interesting because she's fairly tightly connected with my boyfriend's family, and they happen to be part of the reason I'm going to see her... but that's the nature of living in the same small town that I grew up in. I'm really hoping that my boyfriend goes sometime within the next month or two - maybe not with the same person. If it was someone less connected with his family, it might be healthier. 

 

Yaaay for ketosis! All the bacon! Are you using it for weight loss, or a different benefit? There are some really interesting studies with seizures and ketosis, which I find fascinating even though I don't have seizures.  

[Harihead]

On 5/18/2017 at 9:27 AM, IslandGirl_Becks said:

Yaaay for ketosis! All the bacon! Are you using it for weight loss, or a different benefit?

Primarily weight loss, but also helping to control stress, which got me into this mess. I will geek out on keytone levels for probably the next 6 months.

 

So good about the therapist. I think she'll have the objectivity to look at your case independently of b/f, although agree it will be WAY better for him to see someone else. Therapists are only human; they can't help but pick favorites or be influenced (as I discovered when I went with my ex-- who was the favorite.)

Best wishes to you!

[Harihead]

progris riport 4 - Week 4 status 

 

It turns out this month was the setup-- I'm going full-bore ketosis soon. Looking forward to it! Proceeding under doctor's care. 

 

Diet: 

Pathetic B- with 4 outright failures. Challenges included entertaining out-of-town guests, writing workshop, and blood prep work that led to a 16-hour (intentional) fast. So the big lunch/small dinner thing only happened once this week. Total pounds lost this challenge = 9

 

Exercise: 

I barely met the new A goal once again (10+ all and 7K steps), so it's still good: Tai Chi x2, yoga x3, extra x2, step goal x3

 

Refresh:

C for week; this one fell off with all the physical prep. Activism x0,  mental health x2. Sleep not great but started taking melatonin as an aid upon reawakening.

 

Something with Fiction:

A- with 4 writing-related days (day 4 was workshop = editing). Nice strong set out for consideration. 

 

OVERALL CHALLENGE RESULTS: 

 

Diet: B+ = CON +2, CHA +2

Exercise: A = DEX +2, STR +1

Refresh: B = WIS +2

Fiction: A- = STA +2

 

I'm happy with my progress and excited about the next phase (ketosis). My headlong plunge was not only halted but outright turned around. I have a team of professionals and friends supporting me. Ready to get my life back -- you bet!

 

For this upcoming week, I'm doing the keto-prep my doctor has advised. I'm working out how to best track that on the next challenge. 

Cheers, all!

HH

[Xena]

On 5/19/2017 at 3:44 PM, Harihead said:

So good about the therapist. I think she'll have the objectivity to look at your case independently of b/f, ...

A good therapist should be able to deal with this. But if you end up feeling like it's a problem, don't feel bad switching.

 

2 hours ago, Harihead said:

It turns out this month was the setup-- I'm going full-bore ketosis soon. Looking forward to it! Proceeding under doctor's care. 
 

Something with Fiction:

A- with 4 writing-related days (day 4 was workshop = editing). Nice strong set out for consideration.

 

These two things both sound very promising!

[Harihead]

2 hours ago, Xena said:

These two things both sound very promising!

They are! I feel headed in the right direction. 

Dr. said I wasn't physically ready to start full-on ketosis-- I don't have enough ketones built up to sustain it.

Obviously the change in eating style really helped, and I've been backing out of my coffee crutch pretty well, although I still allow myself some decaf if I'm really missing it. So when I go full no coffee in maybe a week, I'll have eased into it. The "shock" part of the switch is already over.