Category Archives: Mental Health

Healthy Q&A

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Remember the Myspace days when you’d fill out those overly intrusive surveys about your crush, the last person you kissed and the colour of your underwear? They switched over to Facebook for a while, but I haven’t seen them in a long time, possibly because I’m now at the ripe ol’ age of 24.

Anyway, I saw this health-themed quiz over on Amanda’s blog and bookmarked it for a quiet day. If you try it yourself, link it in the comments! I am a journalist after all, i.e., I have a licence to be nosy.

  1. What did you eat for breakfast? The same thing I’ve eaten pretty much every day for the past couple of months. Oikos vanilla Greek yogurt + granola + frozen berries. Today I mixed it all together right in the yogurt carton, because I’m fancy like that.
  2. How much water do you drink a day? A lot, but less than I used to. I’d say I probably chug back three litres a day. I had to reduce it a bit because my new work’s bathroom is too far away for my lazy legs. I’m serious.
  3. What is your current  favourite workout? My only current workout is running, unfortunately. I do it five times a week. I really want to get into strength training but I think it’s going to have to wait until the new year. My favourite workouts this year, though, were when I was training for the triathlon and got to switch it up every day between running, biking and swimming. I also used to love Group Power (Body Pump) classes.
  4. How many calories do you eat a day? Noooo clue. I lost my weight on Weight Watchers and have never been a calorie counter – it was all about “points” for me. Now that I’m maintaining my weight, I just eat to fuel myself and feel good. If I feel like I’m gaining, I just try to be more mindful. No math here.
  5. What are your favourite healthy snacks? (P.S. I changed all the “favorites” in this quiz to “favourite.” #canadian) This is a good question. Baby carrots pretty much saved my life when I was on Weight Watchers. I still eat them by the pound and am currently eating them as I type this. Lately I’ve been eating a lot of frozen mixed berries. I grew up eating tomatoes and cucumbers as a snack, so I still do that a lot.
  6. What do you usually eat for lunch? Some form of vegetarian protein with veggies (raw or cooked). Sometimes a grain is thrown in there. Example: Black bean cake with salad and cheese. Refried beans with salad and tortilla chips. Tofu with cooked veggies and rice noodles.
  7. What is your favourite body part to strength train? Legs!
  8. What is your least favourite body part to strength train? Triiiiiceps.
  9. What are your “bad” food cravings? Triscuits. Miss Vickie’s salt and vinegar chips. French fries. My cravings are always simple: carbs + salt.
  10. Do you take vitamins or supplements? Way to make me feel guilty. I need to buy some multivitamins and start taking them again. Sometimes I have protein powder, but we are currently out.
  11. How often do you eat out? We try to keep it to once a week but it’s probably more like twice (if we’re being good).
  12. Do you eat fast food? Yessir! Yesterday I had a veggie burger from A&W. I LOVE their veggie burgers. Wendy’s Baja salad is also a fave.
  13. Who is your biggest supporter? Daniel. If he hadn’t been there for me the night I weighed myself and joined Weight Watchers, I may never have started this healthy-living journey.
  14. Do you have a gym membership? Nope! After moving in September, I never signed up for the gym across the street from our new place. Running is keeping me busy right now, but I actually have a void cheque in my purse for when I finally feel the need to go to the gym and sign up.
  15. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? A lot! At least eight hours. I need my sleep.
  16. Do you have a “cheat” day? No, and I never did while losing weight either. This is a lifestyle, so there is no “cheating” built in. It just is what it is.
  17. Do you drink alcohol? Yes, but a lot less than I used to. I usually only drink to get drunk, so I don’t usually have a drink if I’m out for supper, but I will if I’m going out on the town (which is rare these days).
  18. Do you have a workout buddy? No, but I think it’s turned out better that way. I don’t depend on anyone, but when I get a chance to run with my parents or Dan, it’s a treat.
  19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle? The best parts have mostly been mental.
  20. What was the last healthy thing you did? You name it – ate a protein-filled breakfast, drank some water, moisturized my lips, thought happy thoughts (Christmas!), thanked my fiancé. Healthy choices – both physical and mental – all around.

Operation: Stay Happy This Winter

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Last November, around this time, I remember recognizing the familiar feeling of winter settling in all around me.

I was nervous. Winter, for the past few years, had symbolized a time of depression.

You probably know that the cold temperatures and shorter days can lead to seasonal affective disorder, but for someone like me who has a history of depression, it almost feels inevitable that I’ll start to feel sad and tired when the leaves fall and the chill sets in.

The most difficult periods of my life have taken place in the depths of winter.

So last year, I really tried to beat my most-despised season at its own game. I was in the middle of my weight loss period and was feeling happy about my success. I was eating healthy food and taking my vitamins. I was going to the gym and running, and trying to make an effort to get out and be social.

I hurt my back in January and was pretty much horizontal (unless I was at work) for three months, but I still never ended up falling into a depression.

And I hope to do the same this year.

I thought I would take a close look at what things make me happy, and try to surround myself with them this winter. In a way, this is sort of a new take on an old post called “When I Feel My Best.”

1. Food

I’m going to continue to fuel my body with whatever it needs – that means both healthy, fresh foods to keep me strong, and indulgences to keep me happy.

2. Organization

I feel best when I have a routine. It’s also best for me to keep my apartment organized – if not, I’ll just climb in bed and pull the covers over my head in an effort to hide from it.

3. Friends

Sometimes (a lot of the time) in the winter I feel lazy and don’t want to go to the bother of keeping up with social events. But if I force myself to go, I always have fun once I get there.

4. Christmas

Winters have been a lot easier since I got over my Scrooge-like ways. Christmas is a happy, nostalgic time for me, and it takes up at least the first month of winter!

5. Adventures

Last winter we went geo-caching for the first time, and the year before that we tried snowshoeing. Spontaneous adventures like that make me happy and break up the monotony of winter.

Does winter give you the sads? I’d love to hear your tips for staying happy during the worst. season. ever.

My favourite running purchase …

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Half marathon training so far (a mere four runs in) has been pretty chilly. I’ve been carefully compiling a list of winter running gear, keeping an eye on sales and doing some online research about what I’ll need.

But when I came across the new long-sleeve “statement” running shirts at Running Room, I knew I had to have this one. I thought about it for one day and went in to buy it this morning.

It’s a little silly, but still makes a pretty accurate statement about my life. Hopefully it will keep me warm, too. :)

P.S. I like this one too, but couldn’t get past the grammatical error…

 

Goalz.

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I think I need a goal. Something to focus on, to feel good about, and also something to do in my spare time.

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of goals. But after finishing 4/5 of my New Year’s resolutions already this year, wrapping up my summer to-do list, completing all my scheduled races for 2012, and getting a new job and settling in a new city, I have suddenly found myself goal-less.

  • A few people in my family just started training for a half marathon, but I’m not sure I want to take that on. I was planning on running one in May, not February.
  • I could start a triathlon training plan, but that race isn’t until next July. I might get burnt out too soon.
  • I could join the master’s swim team, but that makes me nervous.
  • If I want to start weight lifting to get more toned, I’m going to have to set up an appointment with a personal trainer. I haven’t done any strength training since I hurt my back in January, and I’m scared to hurt it again.

Basically, I’m stumped.

Do you have a suggestion for me? What healthy-living goal should I pursue?

P.S. I have a very exciting story to share on the blog this week, so please check back. Hints: it’s second only in excitement to this day, and it’s also wedding-related.

In A Slump

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Lately I’ve been in a bit of a rut when it comes to healthy living. When our life was shaken up a bit in September with our decision to move, I fell out of my routine and haven’t found a new one since.

I’ve been feeling supremely lazy about cooking; my kitchen has been cooked in only a few times. I mostly survive off of Triscuits Thin-Crisps, greek yogurt bowls, Puffins, Subway and frozen fruit. It’s getting boring.

I put my frozen fruit in a wine glass because it makes me feel like an adult.

My workouts have completely dropped off. I don’t have any goal races to keep me motivated about running. I can’t work out at night anymore because I work until 8, so I need to get my crap together and eat breakfast, work out, shower and get ready, and pack my lunch and supper before I go to work at noon. I thought it wouldn’t be that difficult but I am still struggling with this.

I’m not beating myself up too much because three weeks in the grand scheme things is not a big deal. I’m just sort of…bored…and don’t feel as great as I did when I was at the top of my game.

Other than my healthy-living rut, things are going really well. I am having fun bringing together our ideas for a fall wedding in 2013, and feel great about our new apartment and city.

I’m going to try keep blogging more regularly, because I know it’s important to express the good, the bad and the ugly of striving to maintain a healthy lifestyle (speaking of which, I wrote about those three sides of weight loss on Georgia’s blog today…I actually wrote the post a while ago so it was fun to look back on, especially the part where I mention engagement photos!). I hope to use this blog as a tool to get back in the kitchen, set some concrete goals and get back into a fitness routine.

What do you do to get motivated again?

A Little Story…

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One of my biggest concerns when we were getting ready to move to Saint John wasn’t how we’d move our stuff, who we’d hang out with once we got there, or if I’d like my job – it was all about where I’d run.

On Saturday night, as we headed to bed for the first time in our new place, I thought about where I’d run in the morning. Sunday mornings are for LSD’s – long slow distance runs.

All Running Room locations across the country offer free run club on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. By now, I am used to my own location in Fredericton, and everyone has a familiar face. But as a semi-shy person, I didn’t know if I wanted to try out a new one. I don’t exactly like change, or trying new things.

Instead of debating with myself, I decided right then that I would go. I was really nervous, but I eliminated the option of not showing up, no matter how awkward I might have felt.

I got dressed in my running clothes at 6:30 a.m. (I figure once I’m in them, I can’t take them off unless I’ve sweat in them) and drove Dan to work. Then I sat on the couch with a nervous stomach.

I showed up at Running Room with only a couple of minutes to spare and the doors were still closed. I started to wonder if I got the time wrong. There was only one person standing outside – in Fredericton, there are usually dozens of people by that time. In the end, there were only two other women who showed up.

Oh crap, I thought. I was hoping to just disappear into a crowd of runners. I swallowed and told myself to just agree to do whatever they had planned. I asked the ladies what they were running, and if I could join them.

Turns out they had 8K planned, which sounded like a nice  run for a Sunday morning.

We ran along the harbour, up a hill on the sidewalk, and over the Reversing Fall bridge. On the other side of the bridge, we ran to a brewery and turned around there.

Side note: The brewery on a Sunday morning smelled very similar to what my boyfriend often smelled like on a Sunday morning in university.

The pace was easy, the company was great, and I felt my nerves fly away. They pointed out landmarks in the city, and told me different distance points should I ever try to run alone.

By the time I got home, I was extremely glad I took a chance and tried something new.

I’m still unsure about where I’m going to run here on the other days of the week. To be honest, my fitness goals are changing. I’m not registered for any races. I’m looking into a membership at the fitness centre across the street (with an Olympic-sized pool) and want to get back into strength training while starting to think about my triathlon goals.

This little story just serves to remind myself of a few things: there are nice people everywhere, I need to step out of my comfort zone more often – it pays off – and running is a great way to feel amped about a new city.

My #1 Reason For Getting Healthy

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Let me tell you how I came to the final conclusion that it was time to get healthy.

(A quick rundown on how I did it: I started working on my mental health with a variety of therapy in fall of 2010, my physical health by starting running in March 2011, then incorporated the last piece of the puzzle – weight and nutrition – by starting Weight Watchers in August 2012.)

A few years ago, I realized I had a pretty good life. Sure, I struggled with some anxiety and depression, but I also had a great support network. I had graduated with a degree in journalism, which had always been my goal, had some great friends, a better boyfriend and didn’t ever have to worry about being homeless. Which is kind of an important thing.

Plus, I was young, and had my whole life ahead of me.

However, when I looked around, I saw people going through some tough times. Life was throwing them some curveballs.

I saw people losing their jobs unexpectedly, through no fault of their own. People got pregnant unexpectedly, or they tried and couldn’t. I heard about plenty of people facing financial crises. Relationships ended suddenly, people got sick suddenly, or the last thing they’d ever expect to happen, happened.

I thought – there’s no way I could handle that. I would curl up in my bed and just not deal with any of it. And then I realized – maybe I could learn how to deal with those things, those bumps in the road that are absolutely expected in anyone’s life. Maybe I wouldn’t have to give up.

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So I prepared myself as best I could – by making myself as healthy as I could, inside and out. I didn’t spend my life worrying about the disaster around the corner, but I started trying to be the best version of me, so if something did happen, it wouldn’t seem like such a big hurdle to jump over.

I’m glad I did.

Now, when I go into a job interview and it’s do-or-die time, I can practice breathing exercises, and stop my hands from shaking. When I’m busy and stressed out of my mind, I know how to fuel my body properly to tackle the day head-on. When something falls through, my brain knows better than to send catastrophic signals that it’s the end of the world as we know it. If I’m experiencing one of the most stressful months of my life, like I did in August, I can go for a run and produce some healthy endorphins.

All of these little healthy changes combined so that when something crappy comes along, I am a little better at trying to deal with it. I can live my life, the way I want to.

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What’s your motivation for getting healthy?