Saturday, October 6, 2018

Weight: 136.4
Macros: Cals - 1,585, Carbs - 175, Fats - 53, Protein - 83, Fiber - 38
Sleep hours: 9
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 5
Exercise: Walking, mowing
Meditation: Yes

Yowzah! Up nearly four pounds. Prednisone is powerful stuff! Glad I have to take it for only five days.

But more importantly, it's Saturday. Last night I slept 9 hours, thanks to some Benadryl, which I took to counteract the Prednisone, even though I didn't feel particularly jittery from the steroid.

BTW, I watched a brilliant TED talk this morning, which a friend shared and some of you may find worthwhile: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_david_the_gift_and_power_of_ emotional_courage/transcript?language=en#t-996601 It's also about our desire to label things as "good" or "bad" and how that limits our ability to respond most appropriately to life's events.

I'm also enjoying tremendously the non-fiction book I'm reading now: The Boys in the Boat, about the 1936 eight-man crewing team that won the Olympic gold medal in Berlin. It's about so much more than sport and (not surprisingly) about emotional courage and the power available to us when we overcome the survival lessons we learn early in life and cling to to survive, but that can cripple us until we recognize their darkness and work to unlearn them.

Today's theme: Curiosity ... it's a good thing.

Welcome to Saturday. It is sunny but cool here - Fall has arrived. It was 46 when I walked Justice this morning! I'm looking forward to returning to the Florida warmth, but DH thinks we are going early? I don't know why - he knew we were going in the fall. Sigh...

It is good that you are nipping the pneumonia in the bud, but boy that prednisone definitely does a number on weight. I always wondered how much of it was direct drug effect vs. the hunger it causes. Sounds like it is both to be up 4 pounds in one day!

Weight 120.4, calories 1700. Not a low day... I went out with SILs and had wine then ate too much at home in the evening. I did enjoy and need the camaraderie though. Lately most socializing has been at Alzheimer's support groups and it is SO QUIET at home (DH doesn't talk or do much most of the time), so it was good to chat about all kinds of stuff.

I did put ibuprofen in with DH's meds and he didn't notice. I asked how the knees were yesterday and he said better (wink).

Have a warm Fall Saturday!

Liz, in doing a little google-fu I found that, among other things, prednisone causes the body to retain salt (hence, retain water) and eliminate potassium (which helps to release water) -- a double whammy on water retention.

Also, prednisone is a steroid, and steroids help build muscle tissue rapidly, especially if you're exercising, which I'm doing. And, as we all know "muscle weighs more than fat." Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean. ;)

Anyway, I'm thinking I could get some serious new muscle built here in the next few weeks by pumping iron while the prednisone is still cranking me up.

And if there's somebody I need to whale on or take down a notch, I could utilize any emergent roid rage to do so.

As that TED talk suggested ... "Good or bad, hard to say."

LOL!

Good morning, Steroid-Girl!

I love Boys in the Boat! I think there are just one or two copies in the Puget Sound that are continuously passed around the population. "When was the last time you read Boys in the Boat? Don't know? Here, read it again."

I just realized I am due to read it again.

I paused long and hard before starting to type this next sentence......because the placebo effect is STRONG and it might be fun to watch what happens with your strength training while on prednisone. But...I'll go ahead and nip it in the bud....there are different families of steroids....you are not on the one that will build strength.

But, don't despair, you might have more energy and rage....so bad actors would do best to bow down. And, maybe hide their lemon cake because, yes, Steroid Girl is hungry. And, absolutely full of water.

Back to strength....I bought a 25 dollar thing on Amazon (where else?) so that I can work on pull ups and arm hangs. My upper body strength just sucks tho. I'm using long resistance bands as an aid. Also, very weird how core strength is utilized in that move.

LOL! Of course ... that The Boys in the Boat would be required reading for every citizen of Puget Land! For those of you who don't know, the 1936 winning eight-man crewing team was from The University of Washington. Go, Huskies!

And rats! About Prednisone not being a muscle-building steroid. However, I think it helped me walk awful fast this morning. :) Or because placebo effect.

Real or placebo effect ... hard to say. ;)

It's off, it's off, it's off to mowing I go. And because my antibiotic (Doxycycline, which I am ever so slowly learning how to spell and pronounce) doesn't like sunshine on my skin, I'm shrouded in denim, a hat, and big orange sound-cancelling earmuffs, and greased up with SPF 50 like a little water-retaining piglet.

And feeling maybe a little over-enthusiastic about everything. Or placebo.

136ish. Didn't weigh in today but that was what I was yesterday. I think the new love butterflies with lack of appetite is subsiding. Been very hungry as of late and am eating too much crap.

Hunger/weight gain might be hormone related as well. I thought I was well into menopause (had not had a period for at least a 1/2 a year and had many skipped periods prior to that with only spotting). Fast forward to now - find myself in a new relationship, sexually active, and lo and behold get a real period with all the symptoms of ovulation a few weeks before (which I of course ignored, because I am/was too old for that!). Eeeeeeeek! The thought of getting pregnant at 53 and having to start all over with raising a baby and having a kid at home until I'm in my early to mid 70's scared the SH*T out of me! I promptly went in and got an IUD but I think the hormones in it are messing with me a bit.

I apologize for being so absent on this board. I miss you all very much but am struggling to find my new normal as a widow, employee, single parent and new lover. Time is not my friend these days and I often feel overwhelmed by the enormity of all that I have to/want to do. Finances alone (which I had no part of for the past 20+ years) take up way too much of my time (and head space). And even though I think I did the majority of it when Ben was still around, parenting alone sucks. At least I had a sounding board and someone else to help here and there. It is more emotionally taxing then physical or time consuming!

I read posts now and then and love the tidbits of wisdom you all give out. I hope to be back on a more regular basis someday but for now, this will have to suffice! Love to you all!

Paula

Paula, drop by anytime! Your real life is crazy busy. 53 with a new IUD! LOL!

Paula- taking a new lover---The New Fountain of Youth! You go, girl. I think the IUD is probably a wise move. Maybe like when, women who can't seem to get pregnant for absolute years- adopt a little one- something happens, and wham--pregnant! The body is an amazing thing!

No apologies- you are so in our hearts and minds- part of the family, as it were. Family members do not cease to exist- whether present or not.

I so smile to think of your life filled with so much...this is just what the meaning of life is all about. Celebrate it all in growth and love.

1. Within Range: Yes
2. General Wellbeing: 6 & 8 on SS (Serenity Scale)
3. 10,000+ Steps: 8,892 & 10,344 (Much of it mall and hospital walking)
4. Fitness: Walking
5. Self-Care: Eating mostly on plan, protein forward
6. Play/Leisure: Out of town.. shopping
7. Interest/Talent/Skill: Nope

Left Thursday for VA Medical appointment for DC two hours away with urology specialists. He has to have some corrective surgery to improve his urine flow. Stayed overnight and took my 89 year old mom out to dinner. I had bites of appetizers and desserts, and was able to eat protein forward, so didn't get into too much temptation.

I am getting better at hopping on the scale, glancing at the number, determining if I'm in range, and moving along. While I'm not writing numbers in my range down, I'll bet I could tell you my exact weight the last three times. My goal is to let go of that habit, no longer serving my best interests, and to instead focus on other measures equally critical in maximizing my success.

Seeking Serenity is repaired and we are scheduled to pick her up Monday. Tuesday, DC has a hip replacement consult at the VA in NYC and we are staying overnight, meeting my youngest for dinner and returning Wednesday. Thursday the 11^th through October 29^th, we have reservations in an RV resort down the road, hooked up to all possible conveniences (internet, cable, electric, water, sewer) so we will be able to finish shaking down SS. It is about a 1.3 mile walk from our home, so hopefully I'll do that to check mail etc., but I'll figure we'll come and go from both places freely, having one or both dogs back and forth where things are working best for them.

Loving your daily check off. I use it to do a mental tick off for my self. Reminds me that for some time I have neglected the fitness aspect of my life, and while I spend the entire day running halls and stairs at school (a totally plus being a para as opposed to the rather sedentary teacher stuck in a classroom all day), I probably do not quite get the 10,000 steps in.

SS up and running- back on the tracks to travel! Yay.