Migraines suck

The past few days have been really hard. 

It started on Monday when I stopped by the supermarket after dropping C at kindy. The sugar cravings hit me in a way they hadn't for days.  I was strong and bought myself some pate and rye bread instead of the chocolate I was aching for.  

I concluded that supermarket shopping at lunch time was perhaps not too smart. 

Then I got in the car.   And had trouble driving home.   I kept forgetting to turn the indicator off after changing lanes.  I couldn't focus.  By the time I was half way home I was freaking out. 

It was a weird beginning to a migraine that has lasted 2 days.  Steve left home early to collect C.   I got T to help me with dinner  - savingdinner.com's pizza cups, and had everything ready for T and Steve to eat before taking T to his first night at Cadets.  

Yesterday I was still unwell.  I have some small achievements 

• I did my morning routine done (slowly) 
• I baked some ham and cheese frittatas.  
• I made an amazing roasted capsicum, mushroom and spinach pasta (again from Saving Dinner)  where I roasted the capsicums myself.  
• I drank 2 litres of water. 
• I did my yoga twice (once in the morning, once before bed).

But 

• I haven't walked for 2 days.  
• I haven't done my house blessing 
• I haven't worked in the spare room.   
• the kids got less of my time, and the short end of my temper. 

This morning the pain has gone but I'm still nauseous and spacey and not quite right. 

I didn't shower and dress when I got up, so when the dog started barking like a maniac I emerged outside in my pink poodle pj's to discuss some work with the gardener.  At least  The gardener doesn't appear to judge me.  

Now I need to pull myself together and get my day happening.   

End of Week One - Reflections

Today is the end of Week One without sugar.  

Overview

On the whole, it has been easier quitting sugar than I thought it would be.   Things have gone smoothly except for the chocolate frog incident and yesterday at the shopping centre where I bought sushi for lunch and was  dying for a peach ice tea to go with it.  I didn't get iced tea. 

I have got used to my morning coffee being sugarless.   A slurp of Coke Zero on Thursday tasted sickly and horrible.  

I survived a migraine on Tuesday without Tim Tams.   Miracle. 

Observations

• The first few days I was very nibbly.  A vague hungry feeling, and all I wanted to do was eat. 
• By Saturday that nibbly feeling was gone 
• I MUST eat breakfast.  It seems that teaspoon of sugar in my morning coffee was giving me just enough energy to get through to lunchtime.  I cannot get through to lunchtime without breakfast now without feeling ill.  
• I have increased my vegetable intake - eating carrot, celery and cucumber with a bit of hummus for morning and afternoon tea.  
• I have discovered Vital Rooibos Vanilla tea is a good substitute for hot chocolate and has NO SUGAR!  
• I am eating too much cheese.  
• I want to do exercise every day.  I am enjoying my walking and feel better having done it.  The non-exercise days have not felt good, so when I realised that, I fixed the problem by heading out for a walk. 
• Building better structure into my day has been a good thing.  Feeling more together, and productive and can finish the day knowing I got some stuff done.  And that feels good 
• Doing my yoga has been great.  Sleeping much better (although still getting to bed too late). 
• Acupuncture rocks.  First session yesterday and today my puffy sinus face is better, my nose actually runs and I have not even the vaguest niggling headache this morning.  I never feel like this. 

Goals for Week 2

• Exercise every day and ramp up the speed a bit.  Start using Runkeeper to keep tabs on how I am going day to day 
• Incorporate some weights and resistance training into my exercise. 
• Continue with my Daily Plan so I  build my routines and get stuff done every day
• Bake some sugar free snack foods, and reduce my reliance on biscuits and cheese.  
• Increase my water intake  - use my Waterlogger app properly. 

Thank You Jennables!

I've had a crap few days. 

A migraine yesterday and today either  a left over bits of migraine hanging around or sugar withdrawal headache.  Who knows? 

Its been 3 whole days and no sugar.  I have decided I like my coffee with no sugar.  Really. 

But I haven't managed to get moving today.  I put on my make-up, cleaned the kitchen and did a load of washing, and flaked out about the house. 

I was feeling pretty down by the time Steve got home and we had dinner (a chicken stir fry with soy sauce and basil).  

So I decided maybe a walk would cheer me up.  

I put on my shoes and went down to Jennie's and said "Wanna come for a walk with me?" 

She looked at me like I had grown another head.  Or three.  

"NO." 

Oh. 

"I've spent 4 hours walking the Geelong Foreshore in the freezing cold and  rain herding a bunch of kids around.  I hurt all over.  I don't want to fo for a walk with you.  I am not doing anything tonight". 

Oh. 

But she is a trooper, my Jen.   She picked herself up and booted herself out the door. 

"We're not walking fast.  Just a stroll in the fresh air.  Just one lap." she said. 

We did 4 laps at not much slower than we usually do. 

And I came home feeling human again. 

Best friends are just the best. 

Really. 

And we get another gold star on the calendar :) 

Gold stars - focusing on the positive and celebrating the small achievements.

I am loving looking at my calendar.   Every day we exercise I give us a gold star. 

My life can be very up and down.  Last week I had several days out of action with a migraine.  When I am well again, I feel very behind.   

So  I am trying very hard to focus on the small achievements that every day brings.  Even on the worst days I can get a few things done.  Last Thursday I even exercised.  I earned my gold star. 

Today is not an exercise day but I have achieved in other ways.  Some day to day cleaning done.  A few "extra" tasks accomplished.   It's another gold star day.  

What I'm coming to realise is that every day can be a gold star day.  Even when I'm sick and not able to do the normal things,  I can still be kind to me, and give myself a star for the things I DO get done.  It might just be making the bed (before climbing back in again).  Or stacking the dishwasher.   Or getting dinner on.  Some days the smallest, simplest things are big achievements and I want to focus on that feeling,  of pride in a task completed, a job done, instead of feeling the guilt of all the things I didn't get done.  When I'm sick I have enough pain to deal with without beating myself up and piling more on.  

We don't give ourselves enough pats on the back.  Or enough gold stars. 

Love 
S xxx

Being kind to me

Throughout this period of change, I am trying to keep in mind the important principle put forth by the ever-wise FlyLady

"Be kind to yourself" 

Making changes in your life is hard, and it's all too easy to beat yourself up when things don't go to plan.  I know from my past experiences that its easy to get a run of negative thoughts through my head, and to focus on what I haven't done.  

This is especially true on days like today where I am coming out of a 2 day migraine, the house is a wreck, and things feel overwhelming.

Being kind to me, is giving myself a break.  Its focusing on the good things.  The things I have achieved.   Its about breaking tasks down so they are not overwhelming.   Its about giving myself little treats.

Yesterday my latest make-up order arrived.  I was a little bit naughty and celebrated getting my tax done by taking advantage of a sale by https://www.mirenesse.com/.   I love their products -  the mineral powder, the best mascara on the planet, and lip glosses that actually suit me.  The packaging is beautiful.  The products smell beautiful.  It feels decadent and a little bit naughty to get all pretty when I'm doing nothing special.

Today with my fuzzy post-migraine head, one way to be nice to me is to do my face.   I have found that a bit of mascara and lippy make me feel good.  I catch sight of myself in the mirror and think "Actually, you are not too bad, chicky.  In fact, you might even be pretty.  Verging on HOT".   It helps me get rid of that nasty, negative voice, and energises me.

I don't wear make-up every day.  But I think perhaps I might start.  Just for me.  As one small way to be kind to me.

It can't be morning already...

This morning is definitely not a "YAY ITS MORNING, UP AND AT 'EM, GO GET 'EM, RAH RAH RAH"  morning.   Its more a "Drag myself out of bed, suck on my coffee like its the blood of the saviour, cringe at the kid-noise, and  limp around the house" morning. 

It's the first day of  Term 2 for the boys.  T managed to be organised enough to shower, but not to wear correct uniform (long pants I lovingly altered to lengthen the hem last night).   He was in too much of a rush to change when I pointed out he was not supposed to be wearing shorts. 

C can't find his bottom.  And Chirpy the alarm clock is being chirpy. 

But I am up, showered, dressed to shoes.  The washing machine is on and the bed is made.  But we are not chirpy.  Oh no we are not.  

Part of my planning session with Jen included getting on top of the housework.   Given that I am home this means 2 things. 

1. I have time to clean my house 
2. I am home with C to make mess in the house

I have discovered that I need to have regularly timed  "tidy up sessions" 3 times a day to stay on top of the toys and whatever else mess we create.   On days where we don't do this, CHAOS rules.  

Jen and I decided to focus on one room each week and to then show each other the results of our efforts.  Last week was the master bedroom.    

I cleaned out  my lingerie draw.  

That was my sole achievement.  

I think this week we will stay in the master bedroom.    And I hope to make a bit more progress.  

So today, being Monday I have a few things on my To Do list 

1. Remember whatever it was I was going to make for dinner tonight
2. Get C to kindy on time
3. Home Blessing hour (see http://www.flylady.net) 
4. Spend 15 minutes in the Master Bedroom 
5. Today is one of our 3 exercise days. 
6. Call mum to give her IT support 

That should be achievable, right?  

Babysteps.  Especially on mornings like today.  

Love S

xxx