Tag Archives: fitness and weight loss

We’re back in isolation … again.

I wasn’t going to write today but after a provincial announcement yesterday, I’m livid and heartbroken. We’re entering into another “lockdown” so to speak. But not really. The rules are murky at best. People are confused. There’s a lot of panic going around today about getting vaccine passports and such. All I want to say is… I’m just tired of it all. I want life to go back to “normal” whatever that might look like.

I’m resigned to the fact that I may not be able to see my dad over the next while. The rules again aren’t clear here. But for me as a single person, I’m only allowed to visit with “two close contacts” for indoor visits. The weather has turned bitterly cold already and sitting outside with that wind is not ideal.

So today, I got up early – finally pain free with energy – I’m showered, dressed and will be heading out soon to get my xray and second shot. I can’t unfortunately do my bloodwork tomorrow but I can get that done next week. It’s hard to do much when you’re in a flareup and I’ve been in a hypermobility flareup for nearly two weeks.


I ordered a new slow cooker and it’s pretty!

Today however, is a good day. I feel good. I got some sleep last night. I had a shower. And I have a slow cooker on the way from Amazon. It’s teal and really pretty. My last one cracked right in half two years ago and so I’ve been without one. I’ve missed it. The Zest Pot just does not cook meat the same way a slow cooker does.

And no, I didn’t order the slow cooker based on the color alone. I did a lot of research and found a decent budget model in my budget range $60 CDN – the teal color that matches my kitchen is an added bonus.

The Zest Pot is terrific for rice and pasta dishes. Sometimes even soup. But a perfectly slow cooked beef stew? There’s nothing quite like it. It was on sale for $80 and was the lighter version of the instant pot. I’ve said it before – I’m not a fan of pressure cooking. It’s not the same as slow cooking.


Fitness challenge – I see progress!

Tomorrow I’ll stock up on healthy food again with my biweekly grocery order. I used up most of the fresh vegetables in my fridge. I made the perfect roasted chicken the other night and ate the leftovers last night. It was even better reheated in the microwave. I paired it with the most perfect side of roasted vegetables – mushrooms, mini potatoes and broccoli. With a tad of olive oil, and seasoning. Cooked at 400F for about 40 minutes is the key here.

I even got out the apple oatmeal loaf that was terrible. I reheated it last night, added some butter and a few chocolate chips and it was delicious. I think I just need to tweak the recipe a little bit next time. Or maybe the apple was too bitter. I don’t know. But yesterday was a good eating day.

I stepped on the scale this morning and I’m down a few pounds. I used the tape measure and the inflammation is finally down because I’ve dropped a couple of inches. That means that I’m almost down another dress size – and that feels amazing. I think the inflammation from the arthritis and hormones are a killer and that’s been holding me back.

And so, that’s where we are this Thursday morning. It’s chilly outside. Like 2 degrees Celsius chilly. It’s been way too cold to sit outside at night. I think I’ll have to sit outside before the sun goes down now which happens at like 7 pm. They’re calling for a brutally cold winter and I’m not okay with that. I’m just grateful for my fireplace (it’s really just a heater) that keeps me warm. I still haven’t turned on the heat and don’t plan on it until October.


Recipe project – more coming soon!

Well, that’s it in a nutshell. I have plans to work on my recipes and food page for you. I’m looking at innovative ways to make recipe cards that won’t take a lot of work. I may go back to older recipes and re-write them totally. I need to remove some instagram links. I also want to get into recording cooking videos. I finally have a tripod for my phone, and I ordered a new mic stand and filter for my youtube channels.

Let me know how you are surviving this never ending pandemic. I’m so tired of it.

Another milestone! 600 followers

I couldn’t believe how many notifications I received last night after my last two posts. I watched as my list of followers continued to grow and right now as I type this – the blog is sitting at 600 followers.

Now, compared to blogs with thousands of followers I know that doesn’t seem like much. This blog has been a work of passion since April 2019 when I started it just to vent and whine about daily life issues.

Then as my audience grew, so did I as a writer. I challenged myself to research different subjects and eventually, my article list grew enough to break my blog down into sections.

I’m proud to show off the new layout and pages where I’ve organized and renamed most blog posts.

Living Well is a series that I’ve been working on for the last year. Instead of whining about my various ailments, I decided to use this platform to share my experiences and what I have learned about chronic pain management. You can now read articles on the following subjects if you click on menu, and head on over to the Living Well section.

  • Chronic migraine and headache care
  • Hypermobility and joint pain care
  • Self-care for mental health
  • Women’s health issues such as PCOS

I write from my own experiences and I share tips of what I’ve learned from doctors, specialists, and other people who have similar medical conditions.

I’ve met so many wonderful people through this blog and I thank each and everyone of you for the ongoing support and encouragement to keep this blog going.

I’m also still working on my fitness challenge of losing weight – instead of daily updates, I’ve switched to monthly progress reports. I’ll share tips and healthy recipe ideas along the way.

And as I get back into art and music, I’ll share my creations from time to time with you. Isolation has been hard on all of us. So, I’m using this platform as a way to share tips and advice on how to stay healthy – physically and emotionally during these troubled times. Sharing my own personal experiences with you, has been a joy.

Thank you again – all of you for being here.

Created using a Canva template – visit http://www.canva.com This is not my artwork.

Living Well: The importance of a good night’s sleep

Regulating sleep schedules without the use of medicine or supplements

Sleep plays a vital role in our overall health. Not only is sleep crucial for daily life, but it is also an important part of weight loss and fitness. In continuation of my fitness challenge theme; and this week’s goal to improve my sleep habits, I’ve decided to share some of my favorite tips that help you “rest well.”

As mentioned previously, I am a chronic insomniac. The worst experience was back in 2014 when I was ill. Two months went by and I was surviving on very little sleep. I had been off work for several months and doctors could not figure out what was causing it. I remember one day I was so tired that I felt asleep on the toilet. I was burnt out.

That’s how important sleep is. You can’t function without it.

My longest stretch was about 120 hours without sleep. So, I visited a sleep clinic as suggested by my physician. I learned some valuable information and feel compelled to share it with you.

By the end of the 120 hour stretch, I was completely delusional. I couldn’t form proper sentences. I was seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. I was paranoid and thought the world was out to get me. My career and personal relationships suffered because of it. It led to really bad decision making – decisions that I can’t take back.


Why sleep is so important

According to my research from multiple sources, eight hours of sleep seems to be what the majority of health professionals agree on. If you’re trying to lose weight, getting enough sleep is crucial. Having a regular sleep schedule helps our bodies in many ways to heal and lose weight.

From a recent article by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute:

Sleep plays a vital role in keeping your brain healthy.

“During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. In children and teens, sleep also helps support growth and development.”

Why can't you fall asleep in quarantine? A sleep expert weighs in ...

Sleep helps us to stay mentally fit and perform day to day tasks. Not getting enough sleep will impact your ability to drive a car, work on heavy machinery or even basic life skills like cooking, reading or writing. Even thinking can seem impossible with a foggy brain.

Sleep deprivation can lead to serious health problems and can have a real impact on your personal life, your job and your relationships. Your energy levels will bottom-out and you  may even lose interest in doing things you once loved. This is why fitness and exercise really helps to regulate your sleep schedule.


Some tips to help regulate your sleep schedule

For me, there are a few things that help me regulate my sleep schedule so I can get at least six to seven hours of non-interrupted sleep.

  1. Set a regular sleep schedule – in bed by midnight every night
  2. No naps during the week
  3. Daily exercise – but not past nine pm at night
  4. Plenty of sunshine and fresh air
  5. Drink lots of water during the day. No coffee past four pm

Clean your room and bedding often

Nothing beats clean sheets and a fluffy pillow – I sleep best when the bed-sheets are fresh out of the dryer. Keeping your bed clean and free of clutter will help you to relax and be comfortable when you lie down. I need to work on cleaning my room as well. If the room is cluttered or messy, I find at times I can’t relax enough to sleep. Invest in a large hamper for your dirty clothes and look into tools for organizing your closet like shelf hangers or racks.

Without spending a lot of money, you can “feng shui” your bedroom to help you sleep better. Get some blackout curtains, use a humidifier for dry homes, get some scented candles, diffusers – or use calming colors like pastel green, blue, yellows to calm your busy mind.

Pintrest has a lot of great ideas for bedroom makeovers.

elegant-serene-master-bedroom-decor


No screen time – at least one hour before bed

This means no phone, computer or electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. It’s time to shut off your electronic devices and trade your I-pad in for a paper book. The glare of the screens can be hard on the eyes at night time. Give your eyes and your brain at least an hour to relax before bed. This is why I find being in bed early is crucial. I need to make sure I get at least six to seven hours of sleep to feel refreshed and alert in the morning.

Tablet and iPad Buying Guide | Best Buy Blog

Have a cup of sleepy time tea

One or two cups of chamomile tea with a dash of milk and honey really helps to calm the nerves and puts me in the right frame of mind for sleep. Chamomile is a natural herb that helps you sleep. It is caffeine free which is what you want to drink at night time. I’m a coffee drinker. Not a tea drinker. But the sweet taste of chamomile is a guilty pleasure.

This is something I really need to get back into. It’s June 2020 and I can’t remember the last cup of tea I had!

Does Drinking Chamomile Tea Help People Fall Asleep? | Live Science

Listen to white noise or nature sounds

While some people like me listen to music to fall asleep; I find listening to white noise or nature sounds can really put me to sleep fast. The low hum of  a fan in winter months or humidifier often does the trick for people. Sometimes I listen to nature music.


Hypnosis or “Talk Down” Videos 

The Honest Guys on YouTube have some great videos that can help you fall asleep to. I really like the twenty minute talk-down sleep videos. If you’re looking for more music suggestions, check out my post on music for relaxation.


Deep breathing exercises or “bedtime” yoga

Deep breathing while lying down at night time is a great way to prepare the mind and body for sleep. Yoga and meditation before bed can help with calming anxiety. Here’s a video on how to combine deep breathing and yoga for sleep.

There are many other things I’ve learned over the years to help with my sleep problems. Insomnia can really drag you down mentally and physically. But don’t let sleep ruin your life.

If I can change my life long sleep disorders – there’s hope for you too.

Regular exercise, getting plenty of sunshine (vitamin D), and fresh air really is an amazing way to help regulate your sleep schedule. I can count the number of nights I’ve had interrupted sleep on one hand. On those nights, I either went on a long nature hike, or spent a lot of time outdoors – or I took a fitness class like Aqua Fit.


Thanks for reading!

Hope you enjoyed this post on how to regulate your sleep schedule. What works for you? What methods have you tried to help you sleep at night time?

Thanks for all the comments and re-shares. If you’d like to use any of the information from this blog, please, I ask that you refer to my website in your post.

(this is a repost from September 2019 – but good information to share)


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