Self-care is Hard

With John and Mary here to spend time with Mom, I'm freed up a bit to take care of MY life a little.  A couple of days ago, I literally spent 10 hours at my desk working to get caught up and a little ahead (holiday weekend coming!) while they tended to the parental needs.  

That evening, I was sitting in my recliner with my feet up, and I really looked at my feet.  They looked like spiky balloons at the ends of my legs, weirdly swollen up.  I'm familiar with swelling that comes from too much sitting, but this was like nothing I'd ever seen before on me.  We've been eating out some, which means salty food.  I also had been eating Factor 75 meals at night for a while (no time to cook) and once I discovered the sodium counts on them, had to stop.  My normal diet doesn't have much salt at all, and I drink A LOT of water, so this was quite the surprise for me!

Last night, I was feeling... big.  Waistbands digging in.  Slow.  When I laid down to sleep, it felt like my neck was trying to smother me (thank goodness for my CPAP).  This morning I decided to bite the bullet and get on the scale.  I gasped.  Maybe screamed a little.  How the #$%^&*( did THAT happen?  I was doing so well, losing steadily.  Now, not only have I stopped losing, I've gained more than I lost.  I'm pretty sure I know why, though.

I spend my days sitting at my desk or sitting at Mom's bedside.  By the time I get home or finish with work, I have nothing left.  No energy to walk around the block or go for a bike ride or work in the yard.  No inclination to cook anything healthy.  All my care is going to my mother and none of it is going to me.

That has to change...  I need to eat healthfully, get outside and DO stuff.  If I don't, my elderly and infirm parents might just outlive me.

 

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