The Midlife Reframe

Category: energy

  • Recovery?? Or Attempting Recovery??

    So.

    I had therapy Thursday.

    I have been keeping my therapist up to date with EVERYTHING going on at work…at home…with my coping mechanisms.

    I talked about my fatigue, but how I noticed a change. My window of tolerance has gotten a “bit” bigger.

    I’m still tired at work, BUT it’s different. I sleep well (thank you Clam Sleep Stories) and I am okay when I get to work, then an hour or two after I start my day, I’m drained mentally.

    Now, the 3 months prior, I was EXHAUSTED. A walking zombie.

    Pure survival mode.

    Burnt the fuck out.

    After talking about how I am navigating my days and weekends, my therapist told me I am going through burnout recovery.

    In a “perfect” world, I would be able to work half days to facilitate my recovery.

    We are far from a perfect world.

    My evenings and weekends are low key.

    I am getting the rest I so desperately need. I have been sleeping late on the weekends, something I haven’t done in quite some time.

    Thank fuck for my family. They do what I can’t. They support what I need when I need it.

    It’s one day at a time.

    Now that the weather is starting to change, I just need some sunny weekends so I can relax on the balcony (I tried when the sun finally came out later this afternoon….it’s freezing, lol).

    Let’s see how June treats me.

  • Post Covid, Vacation, and other Random Things

    Well, let me tell you one thing. Covid wasn’t great. Sickest I’ve been in a while. My taste and smell are coming back, as well as my energy.

    I am currently on vacation, so it was great to have the time off to get better. By the time week one was done I was starting to enjoy my time.

    I was able to get my room sorted with the help of my daughter. My depression had been living in my room for quite some time. Got a full garbage bag full of stuff to turf. Some time this week I’ll tackle my closet, which is a whole different beast.

    Mid clean…I should have done a before shot.
    So much clutter gone!

    Reset my coffee station by my bed. I had lots of pods that were buried in the mess my room had become.

    We have a bunch of stuff that we are purging, so once it stops raining I’ll be lugging stuff out so our downstairs doesn’t look like a bad thrift store.

    Having a mental illness affects so much in your life. I will feel so much better once we’re not surrounded by items we no longer use/that are broken. Clutter in the brain and clutter in the house is not a good combo.

    About a year ago I wrote about my weight gain and my struggles with it. I have accepted where I am with it, and now that my energy is returning I can get back to being active again. Movement is good for the body and the brain. My running may take a bit to come back, but that’s okay. Slow and steady for a full return is better than no return at all.

    I was able to participate in the Pride Parade this past weekend, and was light headed afterwards, so I know what my limit is right now. Thanks Covid.

    All in all, things are okay right now. Taking this break is really making a difference. I am feeling rested.

    Now to continue my de-depressioning of this apartment by finishing up laundry and getting the kitchen sorted.

    Let’s go!

  • Manitoba Harvest Hemp Heart Bar Review!

    A Little Break in my Chronicles…

    So we can talk about Hemp Heart Bars!

    (A little disclaimer here:  I was provided these bars for a review.)

    A while back I wrote about Hemp Hearts.  Which I love. Those little suckers are awesome.
    So, when the opportunity to review these bars came, I was all over it!
    As a mom and a runner, I am always looking for something to “get me by” after my runs or workouts OR something to grab prior to my runs or workouts.  (I am known to grab a quick sandwich or scarf down some raw veggies beforehand.  But both of those are not exactly portable!)

    It just wanted to jump into my gym bag!
    Now, for those of you who have issues with food texture, these may not be for you.  They are compacted bars of hemp heart, which means a bazillion little hemp hearts. If you regularly eat protein bars, then you will notice quite a difference in texture.  Where protein bars are dense, these bars are light and easier to eat.  (Each bar (45g) contains 10g of plant-based protein and 10g of omegas.)
    My “OMG I left it really late to go to Costco” face.
    I was given an apple cinnamon and chocolate as my review bars, and I must say, I enjoyed the apple cinnamon much more than the chocolate (insert shocking music here)!  They are filling, and can get you through the post workout to actual meal time no problem.
    I had my apple cinnamon bar before one of my lunchtime training runs.  It was easy on my stomach and provided me with what I needed to get my kms in without being ravenous afterwards.  I had the chocolate bar before I ran errands and it kept me sane (read:  less hangry) as I shopped my way through Costco!  (Costco can be a scary place!)
    So, if you are looking for something light, but filling, I would definitely recommend these bars.  They can be thrown in your gym bag or in your purse and are great to keep you moving through a workout or when you are out doing all your “mom” stuff!
    Wanna win a box of these to call your VERY OWN?
    Here is what you gotta do – PHOTO CONTEST:
    Tag @manitobaharvest #hempheartbar #fuelledbyhemp #sweatpink @fitapproach on social media for a chance to win!  (A winner will be chosen each month!  Eligibility: Open to US and Canadian residents)
    **If you want to get a discount on your order of bars, use code hhbarlaunch1016 to get 15% off (expires 3/31/2016).
    So, go on, get out there and be #fuelledbyhemp!
    @crazymamaruns