Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 101

Duck was so insistent that he be included in my picture. He was being super cuddly...

I'm having a really bad day today. I just feel "off"--mentally drained, anxious, in a funk in general. I'm sure it will pass quickly, but it just plain sucks feeling like this. This morning, right when I woke up, I just felt like I had to get out of the house. I have so much on my mind and I just wanted to get away.

Since no businesses are open that early in the morning, I drove around a bit and then I had the idea to call my brother, Brian. I don't think I've ever called him out of the blue like that. I actually asked him if I could come over, but he said he thinks he might have COVID (he sounded terrible on the phone). We chatted for a little while and I felt a bit better after that. Maybe I'll go over when he's feeling better and I can catch up with him.

When I went back home, I just started cleaning. I don't know where I got the burst of energy from, but I was cleaning non-stop all morning and most of the afternoon. I have about an hour to rest (and write) and then I have to go to Eli's baseball game.

I'm so tired of Michigan weather! Maybe that's contributing to my mood. It has been SO cold and rainy. Yesterday, Eli's game was moved to a different city because the fields at his school were too flooded. It rained the whole time we were there. Today, it's been raining all day as well, so it's going to be another wet game. I'm surprised they haven't canceled or rescheduled it--I can't imagine that the fields are any better than yesterday.

It's kind of funny--I have a duffel bag in my car packed with things for all sorts of weather. Winter hats, mittens, gloves, a coat, extra shirts, extra pants, a balaclava, a blanket, and extra socks. I also have things for warm weather: t-shirts, light weight capris, a ball cap, sunglasses, and water. And, of course, umbrellas!

Anyway, onto this week's weigh-in. I didn't have a good week at all, as far as my eating goes. Jerry was off work for several days (I think four out of seven) and it's really hard not to snack at night when he's off work. We usually end up watching a show and Jerry will get chips or something--and when I see them, it's hard for me to NOT eat them. It's something I really need to work on--keeping my routine even when he's off work.

So, I wasn't surprised when my weight was up this week:

I was at 140.2. Last week, I was at 138.0, so it's quite a jump. I'm going to try to be extra diligent this week and refrain from snacking when Jerry has days off.

Another problem I've been having is chronic dehydration. I've never felt like this before! Ever since I started taking my new iron supplement that I wrote about last week, I haven't craved ice at all. And nothing else appeals to me. I drink a cup of tea in the mornings, and I force myself to have water here and there throughout the day, but I'm not having much at all.

I've been feeling bloated and just not good in general. I *know* it's from not getting enough water. This week, I'm going to make that my number one mission. I'm not even going to aim super high--I just want to drink enough to help out my digestive system. I never realized just what a big part chewing the ice played in hydrating me; I still felt thirsty, even though I was consuming the equivalent of a gallon of water every day in ice alone.

Speaking of the iron, I have noticed this week that I'm not as cold as I used to be (aside from being outside at Eli's games--but everybody who is there is freezing cold, not just me. At home, I used to always have a blanket on me; summer or winter, a blanket was a necessity. And I would sleep in a long sleeved shirt and/or hoodie and long pants.

I have actually been able to sit on the couch or on my bed without needing a blanket. I sleep in a t-shirt or I'm too hot. I still sleep in long pants, but that's because I feel hot and sticky when my bare legs press together. I used to wear a heavy sweatshirt OVER my hoodie while at home, and now I'm good with just wearing the hoodie. These are positive signs that the iron supplement is working! I could not be more excited. I just hope that it's not too good to be true. 

I told Jerry today that we get our physicals done in three months and I want to be as healthy as I can before then. I want my lab work to be even better than last year. So, I'm going to start focusing more on nutrition, like I used to last year. I always tried to get the best bang for my calorie buck with the sole purpose of making my lipid profile as healthy as possible. And this year, I'm hoping that my ferritin and Vitamin D will be better! I haven't been great about taking Vitamin D, so I am going to do my best to start taking that regularly as well. I just can take it with iron--it's hard to remember when to take them.

Anyway, I have to get ready to go to Eli's game. Hopefully it will cheer up my mood. I'm also very tired today, so it would be great if I could get a good night's sleep!