Healthy Habits in 2011 - Battling Chronic Illness
I have written before a little bit about how one of my main reasons for getting healthy is to keep these two chronic illnesses that I have in check. One can be controlled very well through diet and exercise - and that works very well . The other has fewer flare-ups if I eat right, exercise and get enough sleep. Sleep being the key point here.
I found out last week that I've been in a flare-up for about 12 weeks.
This week (and for the next 3 weeks) that means nasty-scary antibiotics, plenty of sleep and prayers that I don't have to go on something stronger and more invasive again.
I had just thought I was tired from all the end-of-semester chaos and everything else that's been going on in my life. I totally didn't realize that the 4 1/2 -5 hours of sleep I was getting a night was not helping and that my fatigue was due to a flare-up rather than just being 'regularly tired.'
My problem is this - I don't know what my limits are anymore.
I have to re-learn them.
When I'm healthy - as healthy as I'm going to get anyway - pushing myself when I work out and skimming a little (and I do mean a little only) on sleep is fine.
When I get over-tired, it's not. When I'm in a flare-up it's not. When I'm stressed out, it's not.
So, here's the question: How do I meet my exercise and fitness goals without sacrificing my other goals or pushing myself so hard I have a flare-up or worse?
Being overweight and sluggish all the time isn't an option anymore. It perpetuates the illnesses and I can't live like that anymore.
I've been thinking on that this last week and I'm not sure I have an answer.
What suggestions do you have for me?
I'm hoping to come up with a couple of different options to try over my summer here.
Thanks!
Lea
I found out last week that I've been in a flare-up for about 12 weeks.
This week (and for the next 3 weeks) that means nasty-scary antibiotics, plenty of sleep and prayers that I don't have to go on something stronger and more invasive again.
I had just thought I was tired from all the end-of-semester chaos and everything else that's been going on in my life. I totally didn't realize that the 4 1/2 -5 hours of sleep I was getting a night was not helping and that my fatigue was due to a flare-up rather than just being 'regularly tired.'
My problem is this - I don't know what my limits are anymore.
I have to re-learn them.
When I'm healthy - as healthy as I'm going to get anyway - pushing myself when I work out and skimming a little (and I do mean a little only) on sleep is fine.
When I get over-tired, it's not. When I'm in a flare-up it's not. When I'm stressed out, it's not.
So, here's the question: How do I meet my exercise and fitness goals without sacrificing my other goals or pushing myself so hard I have a flare-up or worse?
Being overweight and sluggish all the time isn't an option anymore. It perpetuates the illnesses and I can't live like that anymore.
I've been thinking on that this last week and I'm not sure I have an answer.
What suggestions do you have for me?
I'm hoping to come up with a couple of different options to try over my summer here.
Thanks!
Lea
