Anxiety

I swear I thought I wrote a post about anxiety about a year ago. I went to grab the link for a friend and couldn't find it! Is blogger eating my posts????

Often panic attacks and anxiety attacks are used interchangeably. I think it just really depends on the cause for the particular attack you are talking about. I would say the attack I had at work(a year or so ago) that sent me to urgent care with a rash all over my body was an anxiety attack. The attack I had last week while considering somethings that were stressing me out I would call a panic attack. 

The possibility of an attack can keep me from doing things that would normally be second nature for others. I don't like to go new places, it makes me nervous. Going out to dinner with large groups make me uncomfortable. Being the center of attention for a period of time makes my heart race. Confrontations make me look for the next open space to run. I'm good at running. 

I think the hardest part is how you only understand if you have anxiety too. It was almost a relief when a really close friend told me she has anxiety problems too. It's sad that she is dealing with this problem too, but it is nice to have some one who can recognize the signs. We can support each other and walk away, cool off, when we need to. 

I like to be early to everything. I don't want to be on time and in a crowd pushing through. I like to pick a good seat where I will feel most comfortable. I also like to leave later because it also means I'm not in a crowd of people. 

If you have known me very long you know this isn't how I have always been. Speech and debate was my thing, along with dancing and FFA. I was in beauty pageants and had tons of eyes on me. I loved attention. Anxiety and stress changes a person. I'm trying to get myself back to where I was. I average between one and five attacks a week. I have maxed out at sixteen in one day. Once I have one I seem to be more prone to getting another that day. I could take medicine but I feel really foggy. It blocks bad emotions but it blocks the good too. 

I love this song. It's so true. We aren't really afraid, but the anxiety keeps us from doing what we want. Please excuse the language but I want to share it any ways. 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kokvgaM4ygo

So next time you deal with someone with anxiety please don't judge. Be patient. Most of us are trying to push past and live "normally" it's just a little harder for us. Walk slowly with us. Love us for who we are. 

Morning Breakfast

Yesterday's breakfast before blending!

1 banana

A handful of spinach

3 three asparagus branches (are they called that?)

Half cup of quinoa

1/4 cup frozen raspberries

1/4 cup frozen Reiner cherries

1 plum

Half cup of water

Half cup of almonds

Blend:

And enjoy!!

 

Making a Change

Who I was before (2011):

I was 30 pounds overweight. I had platinum blonde hair to my butt. I was an emotional wreck. I was constantly depressed and angry. Things were not going the way I wanted so I figured I would just keep drinking until I was happy. Drinking and smoking were my pick me ups instead of the things that should have been. I was in a completely unhealthy relationship and my relationship with my son was taking a beating (figuratively). My life was on hold and I didn't even know it. 

Becoming A Better Person:

I have been taking steps in my life for the last year to try and get to a place where I am really happy, and not artificially. One big difference I see in myself is I look healthier. I'm not perfect by any means, but I feel like I look so much better now. 

Another big difference is in the relationships I have chosen to maintain. I have been working hard at leaving behind the relationships that have not been healthy and enriching the right relationships. Unfortunately because of my religious conversion some people think I have left them behind because my church has told me to. I can assure you this is not the case. I am taking care of myself because I need to have goodness in my life. Another relationship I feel has changed in my connection with my Bird. I feel like we are able to have really mother/son experiences and enjoy each other now. It has been great!! 

I am back in school again, thank God!I was so excited to finally be progressing towards my own goals an dreams, instead of putting them away for someone else. Bachelors degree here I come! 

Today:

I am healing. 

What's for lunch??

My lunch today was awesome so I have to share it. 

There is quinoa with raw yellow and red bell peppers, a corn and arugula salad and a black bean burger. My first completely vegan lunch. 

I don't have a picture of breakfast but if was good too, also vegan. 

1 half cup water

1 banana

1 half cup of frozen raspberries

1half cup frozen Reiner cherries

1 very generous handful of baby spinach 

Blend until smooth (or until the blender starts smoking like mine did). Place in a convenient cup with a straw! :) yum!!

The app used to beautify my photo above is the Rhonna Designs App I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Pinercise "Resizing"

I found a couple exercises (via Pinterest) that I did try and did not cause an asthma attack for today. 

This one claims to resize your butt and thighs. We will see about that. The site recommends choosing three of the shown exercises, then doing 12 reps and 3 sets of each. It also says you should do the same ones every other day for a week. The following week you should pick three different exercises to do. 

Here is the link: 

http://pinterest.com/pin/49539664624552539/

Click the watch video link on the site. 

I choose to do the first three exercises, the Tip Top Toner, Rear Raiser, and Soccer Sculptor. 

Because just squats and leg work aren't enough I am also doing this one, but I will chat about it another time. 

http://pinterest.com/pin/49539664624274237/

What's your favorite butt and thigh workout?

Darn! <Pinercise>

Well I had written a nice long post, but it was lost while I went to get a picture to add to it. Lesson learned: always save! Any way instead I have a Pinercise post for you! 

I did this workout this morning that supposedly the Victoria Secret models do. Honestly, I don't believe it. There is not enough to it to create such results. It's a good workout, but it's only ten minutes long. Have you seen those girls? They are babes. There is no way they only do this ten minute exercise. I am sure they all have personal trainers and personalized routines and nutrition. Anyways the exercise...

It's a ten minute video for a "full body" workout. Check it out here:

http://pinterest.com/pin/49539664624488480/

The workout itself burned a tiny bit during  the process, but a couple hours later I really can't even tell I worked out today. I like to be sore and bone tired after sweating. 

Also I would not recommend this workout for asthmatics (like me). All the jumping side to side triggered an awesome reaction from my poor lungs. A ten minute not-so-muscle-defining workout made me best friends with the breathing machine this morning. Tis a shame. I would willingly be long term friends with my machine if it meant the routine worked. As I am not loving it I probably will not do it again. Have any of you tried it? How did you feel?