Brain Health

If you didn’t see yesterday’s post you probably should.  Because it’s a cute little song that Silas and Brent recorded together and it’ll make you smile.  It’s only a minute long.

It’s been a whirlwind of a year for me so far.  Some really crappy things have happened, none that I’m willing to blog about…ya that crappy, and I’m still feeling really really good today.

Was it the sunshine this morning?

Maybe.  Could be the new drug I’m taking kicking in.  Yup, always trying to kick my depression in the butt.  Ever since Silas was diagnosed I just can’t hardly handle ANYTHING.  Paying bills, planning a lunch date, planning meals for the week, filling out forms.  I just have no brain for any of it!  Any little task has been so overwhelming to me.  It’s like the stress and the heartache from the diagnosis changed my brain somehow.

I’ve been very interested in Dr Amen and his work at the Amen Clinics.  He takes brain scans of people and has figured out how to change their brains, healing them, with food, supplements, exercise and sometimes drugs.  I was looking through his case study blog and it really shed light on how even annoying personality traits people have are really just an unhealthy brain!

So I’m going to try to start focussing on making my own brain healthy.  I’ve taken some of his recommendations and tried to apply them but there’s more steps I need to take.  Like hydrating more, no more coffee, cutting WAY back on alcohol.  His case study about a social drinker really scared me a lot.  This man had only three drinks a day, never got drunk, and he was 50 years old with an 80-year-old brain.  He had a lot of the same symptoms as I do.  Not that I even drink THAT much but sometimes I do.  Plus it costs too much money.

Anyway.  I think my feeling better today is that the new drug I’m taking has kicked in.  My Cipralex did help curb the sadness but it didn’t take care of my other symptoms like lack of motivation, poor focus, foggy brain.  That’s where Wellbutrin comes in. If every day I could feel the way I feel NOW, I’d be a totally different person.

So maybe I’m just having an “up” day…but it still excites me.  Because I used to love my up days.  I never get them anymore.

So here’s to some new healthy brain habits.  More water, no coffee, fish oils, way less booze and way more exercise.

 

I’ll keep you posted!

 

PS…who’s excited for the Bachelor tonight!!!??????

Flab to Fab

I’d just like to start off with a big thank you to Jennie and her traveling lunges she made me do last night.  My groin is just feeling FANTASTIC!! REALLY!!  grrrrrrrrr.

Jennie went to one of those bootcamps once and learned how to do it all and wrote up these little cards and now we bootcamp without the price of bootcamp.  If you ever happen to be at a certain stadium in a certain area and hear two ladies giggling about pant piddling or grunting out those last 5 push-ups…it might be us.  Sometimes when we’re nearing the end of a run and feeling like giving up I’ll start singing Chariots of Fire and that keeps us going until the end.  You’ll definitely know it’s us if you hear that!  I have been known to sing Eye of the Tiger as well.

Last night was the hardest we’ve worked out since we started about a month ago.  I was feeling like what we were doing wasn’t enough so we started on level two and I think it was the lap around while skipped rope followed by the traveling lunges that did me in.  We still had 9 stairs to do after that and many crunches and push  ups.  That was AFTER the running up and down of the big, steep hill. Then we finished off with a funny walking lap while holding our core as tight as we could…it gave us a funny swagger.

It’s hard but we’re getting toight like toigers.  I’m feeling like I actually HAVE core muscles, I’m finally starting to feel like me again.  Seriously, actually moving and upping the veggies and fruit really changes a woman.  I’m starting to crave our workouts together and I’m loving being sore often, I’m just envisioning my muscles getting bigger and bigger.  I made Jennie promise me that if I was feeling weak then she would HAVE to be strong for me, no giving in to it….and vice versa.  That promise is working very well for us I think, especially because she hates working out in the rain…but I love it .

I’ve been reading Dr. Phil’s Weight Loss Solution book lately.  It’s an interesting read, it’s not a diet.  He gets to the psychology behind how you can make yourself right so you can be successful at losing weight and actually keeping it off.  Two years ago when I was almost to my goal weight of 130 and I was feeling like a hot tamale, I always had something Dr. Phil had said in my mind.  It was just in regards to emotional eating.  It was something about stopping before letting yourself eat something because you’re feeling emotional and asking yourself if this food is going to really help your inner issue.  I thought if that one thing he had said before worked for me then I really should read his entire book.  I’m a true believer that diets don’t work.  You need to throw out the junk from your house and create an environment for yourself in which you can succeed.  I’d never win in a house full of chips…I’m too weak.  I don’t think there’s a special pill or a soup diet or whatever.  I just think you need to eat from what Mother Earth has given you, eat less of it and work your booty.  In other words, pick out food from the outsides of the grocery store and don’t let yourself go down the aisles unless it’s for rice and beans…or spices…

I’m enjoying how this all is making me a better mother.  I’m working harder at being more present with my children.  I have the energy to win the battles and my mind is getting more clear with decision making when it comes to them.  Today Silas and I were at the front lines against each other for almost 30 minutes.

Me:”Silas clean up your coloring”

Silas : *screaming hitting kicking*

Me: * spin Silas around and hold him so he can’t hit* “go clean up your coloring”

On and on and on it went until the crayons were all over the floor, Isaac was put into the exersaucer for his own safety and the battle continued until I made a few moves in the right direction for him to see that it was going to not kill him to clean up and then he cleaned it all up and we had a lovely cuddle.  If he didn’t know who was boss before that, he sure might know now.  A battle over something very silly but I’m so glad I kept to it.  Otherwise I’m just another push over.  I’m like my mom in that way, I’m the boss and if you don’t like it then too bad!!  But in a loving, nurturing, tender kinda way.  Anyway…the point is…this bootcamp thing is making me a better Mommy.

I’ve written out a goal in the format that Dr. Phil makes you do.  I found it really helpful.  I’ve set an actual date with an actual attainable goal weight.  I know the half-way and quarter weights I have to hit and I even know how much weight I need to be losing on a weekly basis.  It’s really helpful.  If I just see 130 glaring at me and the scale right now is saying 160…it looks intimidating.  BUT when I see that I only have to lose 1.66 pounds this week, I know I can easily do that (I already have) so I’m good to go!  I hope this works this time.  I’ve done it before and I can do it again!

Good Mom

I think I am a good mother because:

• I don’t just do things because my parents did
• I am open to constructive criticism
• I have a wonderful sister who teaches me excellently
• I have a wonderful sister in law who goes through the same things as I do.  She is also a good mom and we have the same parenting goals and standards.  We constantly mull over  ideas and just give each other support.  Sometimes I feel like she gives me more of the support though (because I talk too much)   She has come in handy for SURE.
  
• I try and do my research
• I don’t treat my children as my possessions, they belong to themselves and I have the responsibility to help guide them to be at their full potential.
  
• I have a huge respect for the life I am responsible for and I always want to keep their best interests in mind.  Sometimes it’s fighting a lot of stupid battles but it’s in their best interests to know I am in charge.
  
• I feed them whole foods.  They still get a few treats but they still eat very healthy as well.  I wish I could get more veggies in Silas though…poopy kiddo.
• I try to admit when I’m wrong and try and fix my bad parenting habits.
• I’ll take advise
• I truly don’t believe I know it all AT ALL so that keeps me open enough to ideas that are going to help us.

Some days I feel like an awful mother but then I think about what some kids have to go through on a daily basis.  When I’m feeling low about my skills I just remember that my kids are happy, healthy, they’re hitting all the milestones, they get enough love and cuddles and they’re very very safe.

PS I’m starting to loathe these little tidbits that I have to do…I feel silly.