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Have you ever had an "a-ha" moment or revelation about your personal well-being--whether it's physical, mental or spiritual?
I'll start. Mine has been that I'm more content, in a better mood and I sleep better when I've walked a couple of miles in the outdoors. Seems simple--but its effect on my well-being is profound.
And secondly, I've found that consuming too much sugar makes my minor arthritis flare.
What about you?
What have you discovered on your voyage to well-being?
I have been having some health issues lately and tests showed nothing obvious. Once again I realize how much a part our mental health plays in our physical health. The things that bother us can cause very real physical ailments.
I've learned that alcohol increases my resting heart rate and decreases my heart rate variability. I've cut way back on alcohol because I figure having a high heart rate is like having high mileage on your car. I would prefer an old car with low mileage.
Being in nature lowers my heart rate.
Neat thread!
Aside from the need for getting outside every day as mentioned by others, mine is a mental approach to life of ongoing gratitude.
This is often for the simple things in life - safe water in my tap, the smile and kindness of others which I acknowledge and reciprocate, beauty visible when out walking my dog like the bluebells and return of birdsong in spring. Each day can be magical if we consciously look for it, I have found; I am so much happier when the negative mental chatter is rejected and replaced with what is the ongoing good .
Oh boy are medications bad for you. I doubt there is one without side effects. I have seen firsthand the problems my mother has had from being prescribed various medications, some for years when it was later found out they should not be taken for more than a few weeks. They messed up her gut among other things and she almost died and had to have a blockage in her intestine removed.
By contrast my father has refused to take anything and doesn't even go for annual physicals lest something be recommended and is in much better shape.
I myself don't take any prescriptions though sometimes I take an OTC Benadryl to fall asleep. I am trying to manage my caffeine addiction to minimize that. Overall I am in good health and feel the less medical care the better. Even non drug procedures like mammograms expose you to radiation. But my company makes me go for an annual physical every two years to pay a lower premium rate, so I am constantly discussing with doctors why I don't want this or that. I haven't had blood tests in years, because I figure the only point of them is to try to prescribe you something and I feel fine.
So my discovery is if it ain't broke don't fix it, and even if it is broke beware the proposed fix. I have cleared up some things like last winter's mask-induced eczema on my own with nonpharmaceutical self-care methods I found online.
Such a positive, happy outlook! I, too, try to acknowledge, reciprocate and even initiate the smile and kindness to others. And, as others have stated, simply being outside and in nature is a huge plus in all around mental, physical and psychological well-being.Quote:
Originally Posted by razz
I have been walking daily for 35 years and it really makes me feel good. Since I lost 33lbs since august and quit drinking my blood pressure has been awesome. I was able to get off one of my medications. I am grateful for my medications because between the HBP, too fast erratic heartbeat and asthma I developed at age 50 I would be dead. I nearly died and was hospitalized at that time. It’s nice not to be wearing masks because I can smile at people and see their smile.
That's a wonderful testimony to walking--good for you!! How much do you walk? Secrets to your weight loss?? Pls. share...I've packed on some Covid weight and am wanting to take action to send it away!Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
I used to walk 4-6 miles a day. Now it’s only 2. I eat 1600 calories a day 6 days a week. One day a week I eat what I want. It doesn’t allow my body to think I am starving and lower my metabolism because of not doing the same thing every day. 5 years ago I lost 17lbs and kept it off. Now my weight is within the normal range.
Interesting to read. I have a covid bulge to get rid of as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
I like it! Sounds do-able...thanks for sharing...I just got on the rowing machine after a long time away from it. I managed to row 200 calories before my body said, "What the heck do you think you're doing, pudgy!" But I'm going to keep it up...I like rowing--and walking...Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
I decided I needed to have a reasonable plan that I could maintain. It took 4 months to lose the weight. I mostly drink water and a few cups of coffee. I don’t want to waste my calories on any kind of drink when I could eat them:)).
Losing weight is so hard. Hubby works many days during the week for Habitat and another local group on his feet and working hard. He takes cardio classes 4 days a week when he is not doing cardio at Habitat. Then on days without those and some days with them, he tries to row for 20 minutes after each meal.
He watches what he eats and drinks. Even his apples are small.
I think he is mostly muscle at this point, but all the charts say he is obese for his height. When we went to the college gym, he was using more weight than the students in our Body Pump class. SIGH. So hard to try and meet unrealistic goals. But I am happy he is aware of his health.
That is one thing I will credit the new job with as a benefit - I've lost about 25 pounds since last October.
Wow! Happystuff. Do you feel generally better with all the exercise despite wanting a new job?
Many of my Surgery Center owners were sports medicine for our college athletics as well as high schools. It is rare for a trained athlete to hit the tiny healthy BMIs on the charts. I'll tell you, holding retractors on their muscles was quite a feat for us women. We once had to take down a deltoid muscle to do a rotator cuff repair as the cuff was so deep the surgeon literally could not get to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetana3
Charts are suggestions IMO. He sounds fit with great healthy habits. I'd be concerned not one bit.
Sort of yes, feel better and sort of no. LOL. Yes - it feels great to have the weight off and I definitely feel good about that.Quote:
Originally Posted by razz
No - I'm just tired all of the time. Physically, the aches and pains when I first started have since eased, so I guess my muscles have gotten used to it. Have some feet issues that I'm dealing with, so once those are taken care of, I will feel much better. Just need to get used to the hours. I will admit to having a really tough time adjusting despite how long it has been.