I hope things continue to get better for you Alice. I'm sure you'll find something to replace the contortionist thing. Good luck!

My leg is still getting better, and I can usually go up the stairs normally now. But I'm trying to take it easy on my leg.

Question. I've had the problem over the last few years of burning through my sneakers in a matter of months and needing to replace them. I got dm's now so I'm not worried about the build these beaut's wear like steel. I do worry about burning through the outsoles though there doesn't seem to be a lot of gum there to carry for a huge long time much less indefinitely. Does anyone know any ideas? Are dm's resoleable at a cobbler, any way to help save the outsole to last longer or should I really worry?

Golmen, I'm not sure what you mean with dm's and burnign through the sole. I used to wear sneakers and get holes in the sole and it's possible to replace it, even to just replace parts of it, it that's what you mean

I'm not supposed to be exercising yet, since the incision from my C-section needs another week to be fully healed, but I do walk. I would like to lose some of my pregnancy weight (and keep losing down to where I'm actually supposed to be for my height) and work on toning my middle-aged-mother belly flab. The incision has to be completely healed up before I even think about doing crunches.

And I have to loose that weight without dieting, because I'm pumping milk for my preemie, who may be ready to learn to nurse in a couple more weeks. The lactation consultant told me the fats in my diet were important for the milk and my baby's development. Breastfeeding actually does burn a lot of calories, but since it's more than pregnancy weight I have to take off, I have to have good exercise habits, when I'm able to start again.

I am staying at a Ronald McDonald House, which is a charity that provides a home-away-from-home for the families of hospitalized children. Most of my "real" clothes are still home, and the stuff I have here is kind of thrown together based on what I hope will still fit me, and what I had on hand when I went into the hospital. I should be eating healthy for breastfeeding, but often I just end up grabbing whatever is quick, and lots of people bring in brownies and pie and leave them in the kitchen where they are just too tempting to pass up, especially when I am indulging in hormonally- and preemie-in-the-NICU-anxiety-driven emotional comfort eating.

I feel awful about how I look right now, in part because my pregnancy was way shorter than it should have been and I still feel heavy. But also because while people see my face and think I'm 30 and too young to have a teenager, my body is definitely that of a dumpy, middle-aged lady. I'm still too big for my pre-pregnancy clothes, some of my hormones still haven't gotten the memo that I'm no longer pregnant so my feet are often swollen and puffy, and I feel like I don't look good in anything. I just had a significant birthday, and am very aware of my age and the fact that I'm not a young gothic hottie anymore.

I was at the psychiatrist today. I'm so confused. We talked about the medication I've tried so far, and he said that he wants me to try something else. They are not antidepressants, but I didn't really understand what they are supposed to be. He said that since I had already tried a good amount of different pills in that category, I should try something else, since they apparently don't work for me. The side effects vary. Some lose weight, some gain. Some get drowsy, some get lots of energy. He said that he didn't want to focus too much on my insomnia, since it's more important that my over all mood improves - but maybe I'm one of those people that gets tired after taking a pill, and then I can take them in the evening before going to bed. I hope so.
I'll get them at the pharmacy tomorrow. So that's good. I guess.
He asked about my childhood, and I told him everything. That I have been beaten every day for 10 years, sometimes so severe that I was seriously injured, that I began thinking about suicide at the tender age of 8, that I have been starving myself since I turned 11, and cutting myself since I was 13.
I have this nagging feeling he thinks it's "just" a depression, and that this will all go away if I'm a good girl who takes her pills, because that have been most doctors thoughts about me. But that could be my own insecurities talking. I don't trust myself enough, I treat myself like shit, and I don't ever believe I'm good enough at anything. I was so nervous before going to my first consultation with him that I nearly puked. I'm so afraid that he won't believe me, and since the doctor that initially gave me the diagnose didn't even talk to me, I'm not sure depression is the only thing that's wrong. I just hope I'm fixable, because I really want to enjoy life.

I feel like I have a huge hole inside of me, and I'm constantly trying to fill it up. That's why I cut myself. That's why I starve. And that's why I keep ending up in bad relationships. Bad attention is better than none, at least for me. It's the only thing I know. It's comfortable, because that is how people have always treated me. And I freak out if I have to let go of people, even though I've gotten a lot better about that.
I honestly have no idea what's wrong with me. I don't even know how normal people feel. I'm so used to being this way.
And I'm going to tell him this the next time I'm there.

Alice in Zombieland, I've sent you a PM.

Let's please stick to light discussions of health and fitness in this thread. As per the OP:



-- Nephele

I did 25 push up and 100 crunches. I am such a lazy-head it's not even funny. The 4-mile walk on friday should be good, though.

Oh, and I bought, drank, and loved almond milk for the first time today. Apparently it's healthier than regular milk. It tastes better, in my opinion.

Ran five miles this morning. I was supposedly going faster than I have been as of late (I think the tracker I was using was off or something). Had a massive stitch in my side for the first half though. I hate when that happens

I'm on a majority vegetarian/vegan diet. I was full out vegetarian for 4 months about 2 years ago until I learned I was Iron Deficient. It was no big deal to me since I had gotten over the truth of where meat comes from and that it's a natural part of life long before that(and I was never huge meat lover anyway). It's all about health for me and I make sure what little real meat I eat is grilled or baked.

Exercise is on hold now since I lost my car in a (thankfully) minor wreck back in November and I can't have the car long enough to go to a gym since my Mama works 2 jobs.

I bike almost 4.5-5 miles to work 5 days a week. Then I walk around for 8 hours straight(minus my lunch hour or it would be 9 hours straight) and lift heavy meats and slice them for customers. I am in the best physical shape that I have been in in years! I actually look forward to my daily bike ride. I am so crazy that I turn down rides to work in 90 degree weather...

Wow Wolfy, that's a lot of biking! Good for you.

I've been trying to exercise more (yay bellydancing) and eating less calorific foods. So far so good I think.

Wolfie, that kind of job will get you in shape in no time!

I've been walking to and from work (2 miles each way) and adding on mileage as well. Plus Weight Watchers, and eating a good amount of healthy fats (raw almond butter, oily fish, flaxseed). The stuff keeps me satisfied longer so I find I'm eating fewer calories. I'm starting to do a bit of running - my back's much better although it still can act up at times. Not sure if it will ever heal completely, and a desk job is no help. People were not designed to sit all day.
Also starting to do some swimming as well.
I've lost 6.5 pounds so far over the past month and want to lose about 20 or so more. This is for life. I do not want to be ill when I am old. I refuse to end up taking any diabetes, blood pressure or cholesterol meds in the future.
The only time I worry about slipping up is eating out - it's hard to tell the calorie/fat/whatever else count on a dish at a restaurant. It makes me uneasy about eating out. My worry is that the pendulum will swing the other way and I will go on a restaurant binge.

Yay! Lost another pound this week! Still going! All that walking and other exercise and Weight Watchers point counting is working!
Got to keep on going...

Yay harpy! I'm so happy for you.

I recently dropped 2 pounds. Got a couple more to go and then I think I'll be happy with where I am.

Well done dragonwings, 2 pounds isn't bad, you'll get where you want to get to I'm sure!
Congrats to you too ,harpy!