Sunday, January 18, 2009

Stress can make you thin!


(Katie posted the link where you can submit your picture and have it "Obama-ized." I wrote that I'd love to do it, but I just don't have time. So Katie sent me this picture. Way to make my day, Katie!)

It's the middle of the night, and although I need sleep, it's just not working for me right now. My dad's still in the hospital. He is getting better, but they're just not ready to send him home. So every day I've been at my parents house for 6 - 8 hours, caring for my mom, and trying to clean up 40 years of accumulated stuff. The good news is that my appetite is practically gone, and even though I've barely exercised this week (no time and no energy) I'm losing weight. The bad news is that, try as I might, it's hard to feel like I'm making progress when the job I've undertaken is so big.

There have been some funny discoveries in my attempt to make their house more livable. I came across some Weight Watchers magazines from the mid-1970's with the subtitle, "The Magazine for Attractive People." My how our language has changed! This same issue had an article answering the question "Is exercise necessary for weight loss?" with an emphatic NO. I'm sure I'll find more pearls of wisdom when I have the time to read it thoroughly.

Tomorrow Tim and the kids are going snowboarding. I wish I could go, but my brother and I have been splitting the task of caring for our mother, and I'm on lunch and dinner detail. In the morning though I'm running with the Folsom Trail Runners group for the first time. Twenty people are signed up for the run, and you run however far you want to run. I'm looking forward to doing something that's not related to organizing!

I don't know how this bodes for my 50K in February. Ideally I'd be running long this weekend. But that's just not in the cards for me. I know that taking a rest week is probably good. But I'm feeling nervous about the distance...

Finally, I need to complete my NASM CEUs to recertify. Before my dad's surgery, my plan was to be studying this week. Now I've got just two weeks to complete three CEU courses. I was a good student and a great test taker in high school and college. Let's hope that's still true today, as I've definitely got my work cut out for me in taking "Understanding Kinetic Chain Dysfunction", "Fitness and Aging", and "Speed, Agility, and Quickness Training."

Looking forward to getting back to normal life soon...

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's 5 AM here and I am wide awake. I share your insomnia!

Hang in there. Good luck with your tests and running.

Jennifer said...

You and yours are in my thoughts. Good luck with everything. BTW, I did a little run the other day and thought,"This one's for Leslie!" Hope you felt the positive vibes.:)

kara said...

Sleep is important - but you already know that...
Take care of yourself - u sound way to busy!
PS. My hubby bought me a little 10lb KB to go along with my 15 lb so I can now practice my over head swings and the TGU. Thanks again for all the info.

Irene said...

I'm so glad to hear that everything is going OK!

I was wondering what was up since you hadn't blogged in a few days. It sounds like you're really busy, but it's good busy. I'm glad to hear that your dad is progressing.

Take care!

Aron said...

hang in there girlie and take care of yourself!!! hope things are back to normal soon.

ColeC said...

You are a busy one!! At least your one of the few who lose their appitite when stressed ;)

How neat to find those old magazines. I'm sure that one will stress that the eating part is the most important part of losing weight...at first.

You will do great with those tests...you know your stuff girl. I learned all that last semester and found it to be interesting...heck, all this stuff I learn is interesting to me ;)

Have a good run and enjoy your week.

Michael B said...

you've got a lot on your plate, my friend...and a lot of your friends pulling for you. re: next month's 50k....you just did 42K and aced it...i think you'll be fine.

good thoughts your way...

michael

Anonymous said...

Technically you can lose weight without exercise, but whether you could lose much, or even if it would be the right kind of weight loss, would remain largely unknown, without solid testing procedures on subjects.

You'll be fine, just keep believing in yourself, and don't worry about it.

You are someone with good headspace management, and you'll get through anything.

Take care and best wishes :-) :-).

Matt

Julianne said...

Leslie! I'm glad to hear that your dad's surgery went well! I hope he gets to come home soon... And I hope your life goes back to normal, too. Hang in there. I think you'll be fine for the 50k!

Oh and I love the Obama-esque picture!!

Anthony C said...

believe me. i know all about stress weight loss. but u have to eat. dont do what i did when i took my little break from reality 7months back. u need to try and keep eating and if you're cleaning 40 yrs worth of parents crap- u are exercising. thats work and u need calories even if your stress level says dont eat.
keep plowing through.

Anonymous said...

"The good news is that my appetite is practically gone, and even though I've barely exercised this week (no time and no energy) I'm losing weight."

Uhhhh . . . sounds like "stinkin' thinkin'" to me. No doubt you're losing muscle, and while stress can make you "lose weight," it can make you lose a lot more too -- like health and sanity. Nutrition, rest, and support (human and spiritual) are all vital right now. If you have to put off the 50k, so be it. Please take care of YOU! Believe me, you won't be good for anyone if you're not good to you first.

Kathy said...

happiness is what i wish you. and peace and calm and clarity and quiet. and then the strength to "get your pencils out and begin" again...

and i love vintage mags...you should scan some ads or photos or articles...

Kathy

Jennifer said...

Just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you and hoping that things are going well. Keep smiling.