Posts Tagged With: health

Do it anyway

Posted on September 13, 2012 by emjayandthem

So, I’ve written about how eager I was to start the Couch25K plan, an 8 week program that gets you off the couch and running 3 miles in about 2 months. (download the free podcasts here).

What I haven’t written about is the transformation that is occurring.

“I run because it’s so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can’t. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you’re capable of so much more than you thought.” Arthur Blank

Oh, there’s a wee part of me that whispers shh don’t talk about it yet, you’re only in week 3. But there’s a stronger, louder, more powerful part of me that tells her to shut it.

Because here’s what I need to say:

I mustered up my courage and actually went into a running store. You know the kind: everyone in there is a 9′ tall gazelle with 3% body fat and knows what to do with the hydration stuff and anti chafing products sitting at the till.

Not me.

I ambled in, took a deep breath and let the athletic gal fitting me know that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. She found me some new runners and let me try them out. And I did. I ran in the store. Me. I know! And here’s the thing: I didn’t care who saw me.

Yes I still have my old tanks and sports bras and I haven’t invested in any new shorts or cute outfits. I run on a treadmill and the only one who sees my wardrobe is the 12-year-old dog who is partially deaf and near-sighted.

But the very best part is this: Everything, and I mean, everything – my job, my co-workers, my family, my ancient, arthritic dog, and even our neglected house have taken a backseat to this.

Why?

Because nothing I’ve ever purchased, tasted or experienced has ever made me feel as alive as this does. Nothing. I love everything about it! I love the sweating (and I’m talking rivers of sweat). I love the endurance and confidence I’m gaining. I’m loving the kick-a** way 30 minutes of this makes me feel. I love that moment that comes in the middle of a workout when my inner lizard harps that I can’t possibly finish; I love to silence her by pushing through anyway. I’m loving how well I sleep at night. I love the “atta-girls” I get from the Hubbs and the pride I feel when I reach another milestone.

At 49, I’m loving that I can.

:: Just run:: Image from Pinterest.com

What have you discovered about yourself lately?

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Categories: Thoughts, Uncategorized, Women | Tags: challenges, Couch25K, determination, fitness, free fitness program, growth, health, healthy-living, life, mental-health, podcasts, running, winding road | 27 Comments

What the daughter does

Posted on August 15, 2012 by emjayandthem

So, I haven’t shared much of this before now, but my Mom’s had some health issues this summer and is currently recouping at my sister’s. My sister, a nurse by trade and a caretaker by heart, has fluffed the pillows, simmered the soup and baked the bread. Mom’s snuggled, tucked and loved and if there is a place for her that’s better than sissy’s, I’d be hard pressed to tell you where it is.

Chatting Sunday, I was startled when Mom give me something other than her usual “I’m fine.”

Knowing I was planning a visit this fall anyways, she said, “I think you ought to come sooner than later. Besides, I can use the help.”

And, to the best of my ability, when Mom asks, I go.

So with that, I’m prairie-bound this morning.

I’ll try my best to help, to cheer, to comfort, and to engage. I’ll also take the opportunity to say the things I need to say. Because as hard as it is to get those words out, those are the one I think most need to be said. You know what I mean: expressions of emotion that dwell so close to our hearts that they pinch when we release them. And even though I’ll probably stumble my way through, I’m determined to step over my fears and say them anyways.

And mostly? Mostly I aim to do for her what she’s done for me.

“What the daughter does, the Mother did.”
-unknown

Categories: Faith, fear, Home, Life, Love, Mom, Personal | Tags: caregiving, emotions, family, going home, health, health issues, relationships, travel, winding road | 48 Comments

This post brought to you by Prednisone

Posted on January 19, 2012 by emjayandthem

This post serves a warning to you, my regular readers – all those kind and thoughtful peeps who pop in regularly just to say hello. It’s also for any who might happen by for a visit.

Why’s that, you say?

Well .. I’ve been to the doctor, again. This was my 4th visit in … 4 weeks. Diagnosed with Bronchitis just before Christmas, I was given a 5 day antibiotic + 8 days of Prednisone (preds). Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid used as an immune-suppressant. Translation – it’s a man-made chemical that gives your immune system a stern talking to. The dose starts out with 8 tablets per day, 7 the next and so on. In my case, it was given to combat the inflammation in the bronchial airway (lungs); I needed its help to settle things down and let me breathe again.

"Hello, Immune System? Mrs. Prednisone calling. I have 3 words for you: Knock it off!" Photo guardian.co.uk

That was week one.

Week two found me back for a long-acting bronochiodilator (translation – jaws of life for the lungs). I was also given a short-term inhaler for those moments when my chest felt tight. Which was daily. Things started looking up and I even blogged about the Adventures of Wonder Boy and Phlegm girl.

I went back to work in week three but found myself in trouble a few days in; Wheezing, short of breath, and exhausted. The doctors prescribed another 8 days of preds.

I am in week 4 and thought I was all set. Except I’m not. I’m still raspy, hoarse and wheezy. I’m short of breath and honestly, I’m beat. (Don’t ever Google those symptoms, you’ll panic; I did). I was scheduled for a regular blood draw this morning anyways at my new favorite hangout (kidding) when Doc popped his head in to check on me (love that). After a few tests and checks, I’m now on a 3 week dose of a higher amounts of preds that will taper off week by week.

Turns out that what I’d been given were effective but just not quite enough. It makes sense now. I’d start the high dose on a Thursday, feel pretty good over the weekend, and by Tuesday (day 5) I was hoarse, gasping and dragging again.

Why the warning?

High doses of Prednisone can mess with the body’s ability to make cortisol at the right times (think cortisone = think adrenal fatigue, which I’ve battled and beat before). Cortisol levels being out of whack affect sleep quality, concentration and can increases the likelihood of gaining weight around the middle. Fantastic! Other possible joys in my immediate future? Facial swelling, anxiety, depression, mouth sores, general snarkiness and unexplained body pain. Super-de-duper!

.. definitely out of whack; google.images.com

So, if you’re looking for me, please know I might have to hide under the blankies from now till … I don’t know, March? I’ll expect to breathe better soon but might only be allowed out to play with proper supervision.

I just want my Mom to get better ...

Categories: Life, Personal, Uncategorized | Tags: adrenal fatigue, Bronchitis, corticosteroid, exhaustion, health, insomnia, Prednisone | 45 Comments

Pushing for normal

Posted on October 26, 2011 by emjayandthem

Ever woken up and felt a pinch that lets you know that… ooh … this is not going to be your best day?

I did. Yesterday morning, I woke up to a fat lip and a tingle that told me how, overnight, an excruciatingly painful cold sore had taken hold of my lower lip. Right in the middle where the coffee cup hits, a spoon rests, and where teeth can connect. Ouch.

Lysine helps drive it under; image from NatureMade.com

I’ve gotten these beauties since I was a wee girl; probably a leftover from a well-meaning relative’s kiss at Christmas-time. Now … they appear whenever I’m stressed or run-down .. or both.

I had a long day before me then, today and tomorrow … 8 hours of training + a 1 hour commute. 8 hours of training, talking, role-playing, learning and communicating. All while sporting a bubbly, painful thing smack in the middle of my mouth. Where I greet people. Where it can’t hide. Where I can’t hide it.

What’d they serve us for lunch you ask? A salty soup, a crusty bread sandwich and potato chips – Oh my goodness, nerve endings screamed as shock waves of pain radiated through my face.

It looks bad. It feels much, much worse.

And it reminds me that my “normal” days… my 360 days a year without these …. are pretty darned wonderful …

What symptoms tell you that you’re stressed?

Categories: Life, Personal | Tags: health, immune system, Lysine, pain | 26 Comments

Human doings

Posted on September 16, 2011 by emjayandthem

I don’t know about you but sometimes I have a hard time listening. Not to others as much as I do to my body.

We had our immediate family over on Sunday in celebration of hubb’s birthday. This consists of our oldest boy, his wife and their two little kids, our youngest son, my father-in-law, hubbs and me. It was busy and fun and quite a lot of work. Pots boiling, dishes simmering, little kids buzzing through and stopping to help and play and giggle and charm.

About halfway through the action, I felt the teeniest pinch of something. Just a twinge … of a stomach ache. Nothing serious but certainly not comfortable.

Hugs and smooches in the driveway and little hands waving as they drove away, I turned to hubbs who declared, “Honey .. you’re grey!“

“I know,” I said.

“You ought to just go to bed,” he declared.

But … there are toys to pickup, dishes to do, etc. etc. etc.

mashed potatoes from scratch, of course

“Shhh,” he said. “We’ll help… and the rest? The rest can wait.”

And he was right.

So I did something I haven’t done since I was about 5th grade … I went to bed on a Sunday night before 8:00 pm … and slept for 11 hours. Me!! The person the family can set their watch to, down for the count. And I was all the better for it.

Above and beyond the physical ramifications, I’ve decided I want to be more mindful of how I expend my energy. Does it really matter that I served a buffet of hot, flavorful choices or that we all had the opportunity to sit together and enjoy ourselves?

And, one more thing, this week, I realized I also want to be more in the moment. In the past, I have spent so much energy looking forward to something that I zipped through it and nearly missed it when it happened. I have been so focused on that delightful horizon – on planning, prepping, arranging and doing that I forget to make allowances for … being.

We are human beings after all (vs. human doings).

~Sigh~

Another reminder that I am still a work in progress. And you? How well do you listen? (to your body and yourself, that is).

Categories: Attitude, Determination, Family, Growth, Home, Life Lessons, Opinion, Personal, Random, Uncategorized | Tags: health, intuition, listening, thoughts | 30 Comments

Fashion Fitness?

Posted on August 3, 2011 by emjayandthem

It used to be that we exercised to lose weight and look better in our clothes.

Spanx, the company who revolutionized women’s shape wear with their light weight “firming” undergarments, recently introduced products designed to help us look better while working out (or on our way to/from the gym).

image from wellsphere.com

Hey, I get it, I mean who doesn’t want to look their best?

Except that being fashionable while exercising isn’t a priority to me. Why? Because I exercise at home. But even that’s not “it,” the real reason is that, when I work out, there ain’t nothing pretty about it.

I sweat, puff and grit my teeth.

I groan, grunt and swear.

I spill water, drip sweat and my face?

My face ends up puffy, red and hot.

I am anything but cute, feminine or even remotely attractive.

What I am is focused, determined, strategic and disciplined.

And that’s OK because here’s what I’ve learned:

The cutest workout gear will not make me any more inclined to want to workout than the comfy mismatched stuff will.

It’s my choice.

And, of late, I’ve chosen to exercise. And *surprise* I’m having fun with it! (Hello Turbo Jam!)

I’ve been huffing, puffing and sweating … wearing my old stretchy shorts and a the hubbs’ old cotton tee.

However .. I might consider buying myself a pair of those swanky Spanx pants for travel, movies and trips to the grocery store. Why? Because who doesn’t want to look cute standing in airport security, deli or popcorn lines?

# # #

Do you exercise regularly? If yes…. what’s your “fashion fitness?”

Categories: Attitude, Determination, Friendship, Growth, Humor, Joy, Opinion, Personal, Rants, Relationships, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Women | Tags: determination, exercise, fashion, fitness, goals, hard work, health, Spanx, Turbo Jam | 19 Comments

It’s not what I did, it’s what I didn’t do

Posted on April 4, 2011 by emjayandthem

source: ludix.com

I’ve been off work for more than a month recovering from foot surgery. I have another 2 weeks to go before the doctor will release me.

In my mind, I had a vast list of things I was going to accomplish during this so-called “down” time.

I was going to:

review & file EOB (Explanation of Benefits) statements from last year
catch up on watching recent Academy Award nominated movies (2009, 2010 etc)
shred credit card statements and receipts
reorganize the top of my dresser (it’s a humble-jumble of jewelry, perfume, buttons and receipts)
read at least half of the books stacked on my end table
and much more that I barely remember

I didn’t do any of those things.

It’s not what I did .. it’s what I didn’t do.

I didn’t:

Use an alarm clock… instead, I slept until I woke up. Letting my body reset itself has been most restorative
Mind letting the answering machine pick up calls (couldn’t get there in time anyways)
Watch any Academy Award winning movies. Instead, I snuggled up with old favorites like “Hitch” and “Notting Hill”
Cook for weeks at a time (unheard of, especially for me)
Try to be a hero; I took pain meds when I felt “the pinch”
Read anything more challenging than “Readers Digest” or “People”
Blow dry my hair; too tiring, too hard to stand, and too easy to pull my wet, clean hair back into a ponytail and let it air dry
Forget to say “please” and “thank you”
Call the office or respond to emails with any particular regularity
Resist the urge to nap when necessary
Refuse friends who offered to cook for us
Miss an opportunity to greet our boy after school
Fail to appreciate everyone who helped me

This morning, while listening to an April thunderstorm thrash our house with rain, I reflected on this time of recovery.

Some of it I don’t remember (Hello Vicodin!) and much of it I do. What did I learn?

The best laid plans of mice and men!

We think we’re in control. Our bodies have a way of making us take a time out.

Categories: Blogging, Family, Home, Humor, Joy, Life, Life Lessons, Personal, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wisdom, Women | Tags: growth, health, journey, Self-acceptance, useful information | 22 Comments

Blog on Pause

Posted on February 24, 2011 by emjayandthem

1980s Candies; image from edge.boston.com

So, tomorrow, I’m off to surgery.

A “Bunionectomy with Osteotomy and fixation,” the Podiatrist said. Bunions … ugh, I feel about 900 years old just saying that out-loud. Something to do with heredity and strappy heels. Crap. All those hot little “Candies” (shoes) I’ve adored since my teens have come back to bite me in the … toe.

So what’s in my future? A surgery shoe, crutches, handicapped parking sticker, an orthopedic boot, and prescription pain relief. No more than 10 min per hour on that foot for the first week. No driving for 3 weeks.

~ Sigh ~

Have I mentioned our house is multi-level with 7 stairs up (to our bedroom)..7 stairs down (computer/office/other bedroom)..and 6 down again (laundry/game room).

No hopping; au contraire mes amis, I’ve been advised to scoot.

Holy Hell, Batman! Will I have the shoulders of an Olympic Freestyler when this is all said & done?

~ Sigh ~

But, really, here’s the rub … I am going to miss writing my little blog and all of you who stop in with comments and observations. I really will.

Because of where my computer is (desktop not laptop) I can’t get to it easily. That’s probably a good thing; I just love me some technology and not being able to reach it will force me to rest, read, and rest some more. I have a work laptop, but no wireless, so that’s out of reach as well.

I know my guys will be great because their intentions are good; I’ll be tucked, fluffed, and stuffed. I’m doing some cooking and laundry today and I’ve resisted the urge to do it too much because, if I do, I eliminate their opportunity to shine. And they like to shine!

Just like when the hubbs had dental surgery last year (I blogged about it here ), he will care for me. I’ll hear his big feet as he tippy-toes up the stairs to check in on me. I’ll feel his heavy hand when he rests it on the blanket to ask if I’m warm enough. I’ll hear him shoe our elderly, ever-worried dog out of the room. I will sense our boy when he appears near me wondering if I’m ok, and I’ll invite him closer to tell me all about his day.

It doesn’t matter what I eat. It doesn’t matter which blankie I have. None of that matters. What matters is that they will be there.

They will do the best they can, and I will try my best to receive their care openly and gratefully.

I will try to be patient, to use my crutches, stay off my feet, and take the time to heal.

And that, my friends, is why my blog is on pause for now.

Cheers!

Categories: Attitude, Beauty, Blogging, Family, Fashion, Friendship, Gratitude, Home, Life, Men, Personal, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tags: health, heels, journey, poise, seasons | 30 Comments

Skating through?

Posted on February 11, 2011 by emjayandthem

image from overstock.com

So, as a blogger (and that still feels a little weird to say out loud), from time to time I’ll read over what I’ve written and think , wow.

That was pretty good.

That one made no sense at all!

Where were you going with that?

And why did that particular post strike such a cord with others?

But I’ve noticed something startling and I admit that I’m feeling a bit aghast about it.

I’ve filtered my posts.

Crap.

That’s what Facebook was for. Facebook was where I followed my own rule of “never post anything you wouldn’t want your Mother to read.”

And I’ve stuck to it.

Sure, some of my posts were mundane but they’ve all been harmless. I’ve held back from posting too many pictures of cute grand-babies. I’ve resisted commenting when teens I know and care about are sharing way too much. (Where are the parents??) I’ve chosen to not engage when the braggety McBraggarts have taken over the wall posts. And I’ve stayed mute when mid-life crises have imploded right before my very eyes. I’ve been pretty darn PC and proud of it!

I started a blog, because really, I just wanted to write. I wanted to write about what’s important to me; what matters, what concerns, what inspires and what intrigues me.

But like a brand new ice skater clinging to the boards of the rink, I’ve held back and I’ve stayed a little too close to the careful side.

Crap!

I haven’t written about my job or what I do or how I spend most of my days. And I probably won’t.

I haven’t written about dysfunction junction; about how sometimes family can be the ultimate F word. We have many that we adore and enjoy and others .. well, I just don’t even know where to begin.

I haven’t written about health concerns or struggles with weight or what getting older really feels like.

I haven’t written about fears, dreams, or desires.

I haven’t written about what I want the rest of my life to look like.

I’ve held back .. I’ve filtered and I’ve been a little bit less than .. me.

So, please bear with me because, today, I’m gonna try lacing up the figure skates I’ve had since I was 12 and stepping back out onto the ice. I’m Canadian born & raised after all; we practically skate before we walk! The blades are a little dull, but I’m pretty sure that, with practice, I could still “shoot the duck.”

How about you? Have you ever caught yourself “skating through” something? Did you change your behavior or just keep on going?

Categories: Attitude, Confidence at any age, Determination, Faith, Friendship, Home, Humor, Life, Personal, Relationships, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Traditions, Uncategorized | Tags: dress, Facebook, family, fashion, growth, health, heels, Holidays, ice rink, ice skating, journey, quotes, the F word | 7 Comments

What does doubt mean to you?

Posted on January 27, 2011 by emjayandthem

photo from: spiritdreamsgr.com

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a decision that’s before me; one that I admit to feeling hesitant about.

Yesterday I heard this quote: “Doubt means don’t.”

Today I found this picture at left.

Think the universe may be trying to tell me what I already know?

It doesn’t matter what the decision is … this can apply to any of us at any time.

I’m going with my “gut.”

You?

Categories: Determination, Faith, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Life, News, Opinion, Personal, Random, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Wisdom | Tags: confidence at any age, growth, health, intuition, people, Self-acceptance, what I know now | 14 Comments

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Posts Tagged With: health

Do it anyway

What have you discovered about yourself lately?

What the daughter does

This post brought to you by Prednisone

Pushing for normal

Human doings

Fashion Fitness?

It’s not what I did, it’s what I didn’t do

Blog on Pause

Skating through?

What does doubt mean to you?

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Posts Tagged With: health

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