Cardio is Fun?

A week ago I finished my 3 Week Yoga Retreat. I loved those exercises, even though they were hard.  I could feel my body getting stronger. I lost over 10 pounds and 9 inches with that 3 week retreat (don't let the name fool you. I have Fibromyalgia, and that 3 weeks was more like 4 1/2 weeks...) but I finished it. I reported it on Team BeachBody, and then I decided to try a new exercise session. . . and I wanted the t-shirt and the bragging rights that went with it! So I decided to go with "21-Day Fix". 21 days. Another 3-weeker. (4 1/2 weeker wink wink). The promise of a free t-shirt reward. I found my next exercise.

I started with Day 1- Total Body Cardio. Not bad. A little sore, but not bad! 

Day 2 - Still Sore. Oh Good. Upper Body. I can handle this.

Day 3 -  Someone who shall remain nameless forgot to take their meds and now can't walk. No Exercises today!

Day 4 -  Can't walk. No exercises for me today!

Day 5 -  Still can't walk well, but am tired from just sitting around. My BRAIN isn't sick. just my BODY hates me. Oh Good. Pilates.

And then Today...

Day 6 - Cardio Fix. . . NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

And So It Begins...

C - Cats. Because cats are way better than cardio. They smell better and they are all cuddly. No one wants to cuddle after you do cardio! Because you stink! Cats don't mind if you stink though. . . in fact, I think they like it...maybe it's just the salty after-taste.

A- Arms. Have you ever noticed that cardio can't be done without waving your arms all over kingdom come?? It's like your heart won't beat if you don't flag down the passing train! My heart beats hard enough just getting out of bed in the morning! 

R- Rosy Cheeks are a must when one does cardio. I think it comes from holding your breath while trying to keep up with the modifier! 

D- Death Wish. Does this one really need explaining?

I- I want this session to end please . . . and then you hear "Push Yourself!". Uhh.... nope!

O- Oh My Gosh, I'm going to die! I really meant it when I said, "I want this session to end please!" It is also the shape my lips make while trying to breathe!

I- I am wondering if I made the right choice of exercises, because I am dying here! I have to modify the modifier, and I'm still having a hard time. Man this Fibro has totally turned my life upside down! . . . I really want that Free t-shirt! If nothing else gets me through these sessions, this awesome t-shirt promise will!

S- Sucker! Autumn Calabrese and her *BONUS* exercises. Today she was saying how we know she likes to throw a bonus exercise in there! "It's not optional. It's a bonus. Get off your booty and get to work!" I showed her though. I sat on my booty and waved down the passing train!

F- Fetal Position. It's the position I want to take when instructed to take "child's pose" for that 3 second rest I've earned! I don't though. I take a 5-second rest instead. Pretending that I have to "watch" the modifier to see the whole move. 

U- Underwear. Either pick them out or don't wear them. I'll let you decide. 

N- Not your Richard Simmons Cardio! Beach Body Cardio on the 21 day Fix is not Richard Simmons sweatin'-to-the-oldies. It's New Age kick your butt cardio with a swim-suit competitor as the drill sergeant! Richard Simmons was kind to old ladies. Autumn Calabrese doesn't care what your age is. She put a modifier in there for a reason. Get off your booty and MOVE!

And so I finished the whole 30 minutes with not one swear! It's probably because I couldn't breathe. but I finished it! I found that it wasn't as bad as the first Total Body Cardio - who has two thumbs and remembered to take their medicine! 

I even did the dishes when I was done! That's all the energy I had for the day, but I did them. 

I am finding that even though I am in a flare right now, the shakeology is helping with a little added energy. It's also helping me feel a little bit better than I normally do. 

And...

It's getting me one step closer to that sweet free t-shirt! If that isn't a reason to kick my butt .... I mean move my booty every morning, I don't know what is!

Just Kidding!

. . . But I really do want that t-shirt. 

INSOMNIA!!!!!

It has been a TOUGH week!

This week hasn't been so pleasant health wise. I've had my share of migraines and fibro-pain, but the thing that threw my week into a whirlwind is the stupid

Man! When that hits me, it just throws me into a loop!

I wake up ANGRY that I didn't get any sleep! At least it feels that way to me!

I'm pissed off the whole night because I toss and turn, and WANT to sleep, but I just CAN'T! Have you ever woken up angry? It just seems to last the whole day!

And I sleep next to my cuddly hubster and he falls asleep within MINUTES of his head hitting the pillow! 

Do you know what it's like to not be able to sleep, while you are laying there by someone who is stealing your zzzz's?

Yeah. It's not so fun!

I woke up so ticked off that my first thing to do was to look up

"ugly people" on google images to be able to post a picture of what I felt like. . . Not a great idea. I felt worse than that and it wasn't fair to those people to post their pictures on a post where I am ranting!

So I looked up insomnia cartoons on pinterest. That was better. I wasn't labeling people and some of the cartoons made me laugh, which was just what I needed!

Although I woke up feeling crappy, I was disciplined enough to do my yoga. I actually had missed a few days due to just feeling wiped out from the Fibromyalgia and Migraines that I started the 3rd week over. I'm so glad that I did. 

After stretching out and warming up, I already felt better, and it helped with the migraine that I had from lack of sleep. Yoga and a medical cocktail that is. (Thank you Dr. G!)

By the time the yoga was done 30 minutes later, I felt better than I did when I got up and was able to go about my day. I thought I'd sleep better but....

.... I stayed up til after midnight again because my brain was too awake from lack of sleep! I know that sounds so backwards, but that is INSOMNIA! It's a wicked little brain trick. . . my brain won't shut off. . . 

When I have insomnia, I lay there, and do this!

At that point I do one of a few things. 

• Turn on the TV

• Pin Pinterest on Insomnia, Migraine or Fibromyalgia, because I KNOW what is coming in the morning...

• Go eat something. Sometimes I don't realize I'm hungry. It takes energy to sleep. These are the times that I think of the little ones that have to go to bed without food. It makes me sad. If I can't sleep because of this, and they are in the same situation, how do they function and learn and grow. . . which makes my insomnia worse. Prayer helps.

• Turn around on my bed so my head is facing the bottom, and turn on my heating pad to keep my feet warm.

• Cuddle with the hubster. I like this one.

While I was doing my insomnia research, I found this graphic above. That's a scary thing for most of us. I think Insomnia is pretty wide spread, and I don't think people realize how serious it can be.

There is help out there. My neurologist has given me some help. I am not a medical expert, neither do I fancy being sued or held accountable for other peoples medical problems, so if you need medical help with this, go see your doctor.

But I can pass on the advice my doc gave me:

• go to bed at a set time every night

• turn the lights down low 1 hour before bedtime

• don't watch t.v. in bed, or read, or anything electronic

• stop all electronic devices when you turn the lights down low

• sleep in a cool room

• don't consume caffeine . . . AT ALL

So, it's been three nights without a good nights sleep. My fibro and migraines are having a party in my body. 

BUT

I have kept up on my exercises for those three days

and I have drunk my shakeology.

I grog around my house until about 8pm, and then I wake up.

But guess what?

And that is my plan!

Although I am on a health and fitness journey, I have to allow my body to rest when it needs it,

eat nutritious food and learn to say "NO". 

(I have a really difficult time with that last one!)

But when this flare is over.... I'm coming back as the FIRE!

Have a great day everyone!

Shakeology Recipe of the day:

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter

In a blender add:

8-12 oz cold water

1 scoop chocolate vegan shakeology

2 tsp natural peanut butter or other nut butter

1 green container spinach

1/2 tablespoon natural cocoa

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (anti-inflamatory)

ice

Blend! Drink to your health!