03/26/2020, Thursday

Weight: 133.6 (same as yesterday)
Veggies/Fruits: 6
Macronutrients: Cals - 2,246, Carbs - 244, Fats - 63, Proteins - 132, Fiber - 34
Water: 1 cup
Fitbit Recorded Sleep: 4 hours, says Fitbit. Slept in bed before midnight, then on the couch.
Exercise: 10,310 steps (didn't use walker at all!)

Boy, I'd like to figure out this sleep thing. Or maybe what's more likely is that it'll figure itself out. I haven't slept well or nearly long enough for more than a week mostly due to my neck lift. Recovery is going extremely well, but it's still "recovery" with the classic tightness, numbness, muscle spasms and other sensations one endures in this process. I bet those of you who've gone through various plastic surgeries remember all those feelz.

Anyway, weight is still holding steady, even though today I'm going to dial back how much I'm eating. After last week's pain pill diet and my scramble to stop losing weight, I'm eating well and doing only a little comfort eating. The biggest problem is that I'm now awake 3-4 hours longer than normal, so I have another snack. Or two. And there you go--500 extra calories. I'll also be glad when my surgery recovery is far enough along that I can start chewing and eating my crunchy veggies and fruits.

I'm quite happy about yesterday's 10K+ steps. And yesterday I "lifted weights," meaning I did all my sets and reps, but using zero weights. Sound silly? Maybe so, but it felt good to make my body move in those ways. I don't want my muscles to atrophy any more than they have to before I can lift real weights in mid-April. Today I'll ease into some very gentle yoga@home.

Today involves driving to town and social distancing at my pharmacy (for a Rx), do my weekly sidewalk grocery pickup, receive and send mail at the UPS store, and gas up the car. That's a lot of coronavirus to avoid, and I'll be relieved to get home and re-sanitize myself and everything else. BTW, there's tons of info online about how to avoid bringing germs home with groceries. It's all a bit of a bore, but I've got nothing better to do, so I do all that.

BonnieB, we're all so very sorry to hear your news about SIL's bad diagnosis and can only imagine how this will burden your whole family. As David said, as bad as the diagnosis is it couldn't have come at a worse time.

Stay safe, everyone. Social distance. Wash your hands. And no matter what's happening, find ways to smile and even laugh.

Be gentle with yourselves and please continue to be present here. This beloved Tremendous Tribe comforts and sustains me. Love you all !!

TY to all of you who checked in on me. I have not been in a good place and had become frenetic about making masks, believing it was calming me to cut and sew and feel like I was DOING something to help. When I saw that my resting heart rate had shifted from the mid 50's to upper 80's...WOAH ! My weight continues to go down, but more slowly. I have already eliminated TV news from 9AM to 5 PM. I now allow myself 4-5 hours a day to make masks. I am refocusing on getting more fresh air. Today, DC gets his staples out at the doctor's office at 2. Patients are asked to wait in the parking lot in their cars, and are then called in for their appointment, after being screened at the door. The surgeon has newborn twins at home and is taking every possible precaution.

BB, so sorry about SIL ! You have a lot on your hands, supporting DH and toilet training ! Wonder woman! DD, love hearing about themed dinners, long walks, and lunch in the break room. Thinking about your mom. Peps, careful what you wish for ! When I have extra mask supplies, you may get a surprise in the mail ! Thinking about Ella ! Ann, love your yard and egg photos ! There is no shame in a walker ! You might consider walking poles. I purchased a pair right after VSG, to help me become more mobile. They are a great balancing/stability tool, especially on uneven surfaces. Shirl, it sounds like you are gaining range of motion. I can't wait to see kitchen pictures ! The floors sound grand. Ceci..is your Dad home yet? Still have both pups ! I love reading your posts ! Liz, you're going to have to wear sunglasses in the house, you'll have so much light streaming in ! Diane, I hope things settle down at the studios. You have a hot tub, right...perhaps you could do tub yoga to replace swimming for a bit. David, Paula and Bonnie.... Love keeping up with you on FB, and stop ins here. Miss your constant presence !

Diane, so great to hear your voice again, too!

And thanks for the support on the use of a walker. It was truly what the doctor ordered last week. Actually, the doctor didn't order it -- I had enough sense to haul that baby out.

Happily, I already have walking poles. Have had them for years and use them ALWAYS when walking around the property because my balance under the best of cir****tances SUCKS, and really goes to hell when not paying attention to animal burrows, rocky fields, fallen tree limbs, etc. I took those poles to Antarctica, so even the penguins have witnessed my mobility challenges.

Keep taking good care of yourself. That's so great you were tracking your heart rate and saw the pattern.

And GREAT that Chuck is getting his staples out today. I hope his patient behavior continues to become more patient.

Do you have a camera in my house, LOL. If I had a butt full of staples, I'd probably be miserable to be around too !?ð?'?ð?'?

LOL! I've met a man or two in my life. Even lived with some. And generally speaking, they are not designed to be sick. In fact, they suck at it. Even if they don't complain, the terrible flaw in their design is that they are incapable of following directions.

And if he doesn't straighten up and fly right, I'll bring my walker up there, and we can bop him on the head together.

Weigh 124.8, WW Bluepoints 7. Points are low and weight is probably a little elevated due to my vegetarian chili. It has zero points but more a fair amount of sodium.

Funny that I have been sleeping very heavily of late and I was when DH was in his last days even though there was insomnia in between. I recall being like this before DD died as well, with insomnia following. I don't know why...

News yesterday: DS was laid off (he expected it); DD's flight on Sunday was cancelled so she has rescheduled to Tuesday (she needs to get home because she may be getting a promotion and is considered an "essential" worker); We found out that my brother's girlfriend's breast cancer has returned and spread to her liver so it is terminal. She really didn't look good in November when she was supposedly in remission so it isn't a complete surprise. My brother has been happier with her than at any other time in his life so I feel so sad for them.

One more room of blinds/windows to finish today (2 sets), then we are done. They have come out great. I wonder what I can come up with for a next project. DS wants us to come home to Massachusetts but it is really flaring there. In contrast our county has had only 3 cases for about a week now.

I am doing my WW weekly meeting virtually today and am down a pound since last week (after being up 2 weeks in a row). Have a good Thursday!

Liz, you'll have to help me figure out how to get to a WW virtual meeting next week. I haven't done that yet.

I really wish you could stay in Florida, at least for now. Your instincts are right. I'm tracking individual states' COVID-19 cases over time and just updated this morning's spreadsheet. Below is a list of the top seven states (+ DC) that are currently experiencing the deepest penetration of confirmed disease cases. Connecticut is one of those seven hot spots and very close to four of the others.

Ann, you have to find your WW meeting in the Connect section in the WW group. That is done via "Browse Groups" by typing in the city, state of your meeting. You join that group. The leader should have posted a long section (image of mine below) with the link to join the meetings. Also download the Zoom app for the most flexibility though I get the impression it will work under a web browser as well.

Bless you, Liz. Thanks so much.

According to the CDC California is the number 3 state for reported cases behind New Jersey. I wonder why CA is not on that chart. We have more than 3,000 confirmed cases in our state.