Stress, writing, and health

[wyntir_knight]

So I've been under a shit-ton of stress lately. Between work (I'm pretty much the only admin for long stretches of time), and home (both general and specific issues that I'm not ready to discuss just yet), and an overall sense of exhaustion ... it's all caught up with me and has beaten the snot out of me in a dark alley.

So, all this being the case, I have decided to take life by the horns and change the things that I can change.


First: I joined a site called 750words.com. Sadly it went pay only for new members after I joined so I won't advise that you all run off and check it out. But the idea behind the site is sound and doesn't need a website to accomplish. Here's the gist of it: write 750 words a day every day. Yeah, it sounds like a lot, but I've found that it whips by fast as can be, especially when I use my 750 words to bitch about life in general. My aim is to use it to write a little every day. I think I will start with the flash fiction prompts from tf_speedwriting and go from there.

Second: I have decided that it's about damned time I did something about my health. See, I am overweight and it's effecting every part of my life. My knees hurt, I'm out of breath, I sleep badly, I have low self esteem because I can't find clothes because the North American market has decided that all women over a size 14 need to go hide their shame! ... sorry, that one is a serious hot button for me ... Anyway though, I have joined a gym and gotten an app to help me track my exercise and food.

I refuse to call what I am doing a diet, since diet is a four letter word, but I am increasing my intake of green veggies, switching to whole grains rather than white flour, and cutting down on the sugar. Oh, and I'm eating more. Yeah, I know, totally counter-intuitive, right? But I'm finding that six small meals a day means that I'm not getting any cravings for chips and chocolate bars. And every little bit helps, right?

And, yeah, as I said above, I joined a gym and even pulled out the old Wii Fit. Again, every little bit helps, right? The exercise is really helping to deal with my stress levels ... "'Tis better to play with an eliptical than to take the slings and arrows of life out on thine co-workers". I think that was Shakespeare ... or Ben Franklin XP


And then after all of the writing and the exercise is done, I've been amusing myself by playing the Bioshock games. Oh I cannot tell you how tempted I am to figure out a way to cross over ... maybe have Seaspray run across Rapture. Or have Fireflight buzz Columbia. I will have to contemplate such things ...

Comments

[ultharkitty.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with the changes, I really hope they help :)

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

health

[missmaryr]

I used the Wii Fit during the winter, until the grass needed cutting; that's my exercise now (I have most of an acre and I use push mower).
I like the idea of the six meals, have to try that. I know that have to be SMALL meals, but if it keeps you full and away from the sugar, It's worth trying!
Yes, every little bit helps! Just like in the writing.

Re: health

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

So far it's generally working. There are bad days, of course, but in general the small, healthy meals are keeping me away from the junk and the coffee shop.

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

*cheers you on* Those sound like some positive changes, and I wish you all the best. I ought to try the six smaller meals thing. I've heard that's good for the metabolism.

*hugz*

[wyntir-knight.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's the meals or the exercise or both, but I'm feeling less bloated, so something's working!

[ladydragon76.livejournal.com]

Woohoo! That's really awesome!