Sleepaholics & Weight Gain

I am obese. Technically & officially past the overweight stage and into obesity. My BMI is 32.7. I am 5'8.5" and as of this morning, my weight was at 218.2.

I've never been tiny but as a teenager & 20-something, weight wasn't something I ever had to worry about. I gained some, I lost some. If I got above a weight I was comfortable with, I just made sure to increase my activity level.  Then, in my late 20s I started gaining weight at a faster pace. 

I tried various exercise programs, routines, and classes, but was never able to stick with them. I started beating myself up over it - thinking I was lazy, had no willpower, or was just fickle. I would get a nice, hard work-out it, then be in pain the next day. Many friends told me I just needed to work through the pain.  With CFS & Fibro, there isn't actually a point where it doesn't hurt anymore.  However, since I didn't know what was going on with my body, I just thought I was a wimp.

Now that I'm learning how to deal with the awesomeness that is my way-overactive nervous system, I feel more able to deal with my weight issues.  I know that pushing too hard is the worst thing I can do. Even pushing to my max can cause problems, so I have to do it carefully and with planning for the week ahead.  I have to think, "If I push too hard, can I afford to live the next couple of days on the couch?"

We're also trying to adjust the way we eat to be healthier. Because Fibro & CFS don't have any known syndrome, we're trying to eat chemical free, low-sugar, low-dairy, low-to-no meat.  It's a really interesting challenge to find new ways to eat. We have to relearn everything from grocery shopping to meal-planning to actual cooking. 

The healthier eating part is fun, because I love a wide variety of food and flavors. I get to experiment with Indian, Thai, Grilling, etc. Plus, since we're trying chemical free, I get to play with food preservation. And, it is play for me because we live within 2 blocks of a PCC, Metropolitan Market, and Safeway with an awesome natural foods section. That way, when I burn dinner, we don't need to resort to Kraft Mac n Cheese! I'm considering recording some of these food experiments on my other blog, Let's Be Five. It's more fun and adventure over there, so it seems the right place to put these trial & errors.

Here on Sleepaholics I'll like to track my efforts at exercise.  This is definitely the place for it, since all my exercises and routines will be tailored to deal with Fibro flares and CFS meltdowns. 

Look out for posts on what I've tried so far, and what I'll be doing next. Coming soon to a blog near you!!