Jill -
I can so relate to your post. I work FT, study PT, have a family, and can't seem to balance all of it. Taking care of me always seems to go on the back burner. Nobody's fault but mine - I can't blame family or employers or anybody else. Just me.

During my recent smooothie craze I felt a lot better because I was getting my greens and being proactive, but then I lost momentum and now I feel unhealthy, ill and tired.

I don't have any good advice for you, except maybe to think about what you have to do, what you want to do and what you feel an obligation to do. IMHO, the volunteer work will still be there for you later - maybe you should give it a rest and just do the stuff you have to (work and school) and the stuff that gives you a boost (dance). Or maybe a new PT job instead of your old FT (maybe not financially doable though).

Good luck.

Well I WAS doing well with eating and exercising. I lost 10 lbs. but have regained a few (I'm not 100% sure of total gain because we ate Chinese food and I know I always have some water weight gain from the sodium). I am trying to balance working FT, going to school PT, volunteering, taking care of my family, driving my dd to and participating in her school activities, and taking a dance class that now takes up 1 1/2 hours two nights per week etc. I've slacked on menu planning/grocery shopping and planning in general. I'm finding (and for anyone in college working FT I welcome any suggestions for balancing school/work/family life) I just seem to have avoided planning which with all these things going on really needs to be a priority. I think I read somewhere here that several of us turn to food to avoid tackling daily tasks. I find this is becoming a daily thing for me. I had a ton of homework, mostly math, that is due tomorrow. I knew last Thursday that I had 7 days to complete homework and get work stuff done and I found myself obsessing over eating more than obsessing over doing tasks. I know it is avoidance. I feel so much better when I get things done. I feel a sense of accomplishment. So why can I not compel myself to get things done? My best guess is I have overscheduled myself. I am the kind of person who needs ME time. I need time to decompress and just chill and I find lately that does not happen. I have also considered adding a PT job to get a foot in the door of my new career that I am going to college for. I hesitate because I can't imagine even more time devoted to working but I also could use the money and the experience. I hate to give up my volunteer time-I volunteer for two organizations-one that is occasional (Red Cross Disaster response team which only occurs every 4 weeks and only when needed and another that is a once a month commitment). I was kind of "sucked into dance". I started a tap class and dropped out because it was just too much time. Well, someone else dropped the class and to make the dance "work" for the recital they desperately needed a 5th person and I of course fit the costume. So after some persuading I re-joined. One 45 minute class has turned into two 1 1/2 hour classes a week. I just feel so overwhelmed right now with commitments. I've got to find a balance again. I want and need ME time and have a hard time finding it. I want to go to the gym but the only time i seem to be able to go is at night after work, of course, when my family wants me home. UGH-sorry for the long drawn out post.

Jill

the weather is just beautiful today---73 degrees and sunny. tomorrow is the same. i cannot wait to get outside and plant some flowers!

you're killin me with your quotable quotes! seriously--you are one wise cookie though.

i do feel better today. i can breathe!

OMG! you should write hallmark cards!! crackin me up here.

i am happy to report i am better today. i actually can breathe (YAHOO! YIPEE!)

iz,
great quote! let me paraphrase it: "i rest when i'm sick. to add days to my life."
so go see a dr if necessary and take time off from all exercise until you're completely well.

adding life to your day when you have a cold is hard. so just wait for it to go away

no workout this morning. trying to get more rest. did not sleep well last night.

hopefully, i will be back to normal tomorrwo but i don't know. i just want to breath

quote:

Originally posted by Brie:
Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well Iz.

I've been fighting a cold for the past week but finally feel like I turned the corner yesterday. I ended up resting over the weekend and having two days off really helped. Got back to running yesterday (I'm up to 1/3 of a mile intervals ; )

Yeah!!!!!!! you'll be running crazy distances in no time!!!

good to hear you are back in your running shoes brie!

i saw this quote in runners world magazine about this principal who started running. he said "I don't run to add days to my life. i run to add life to my days" how cool is THAT?

Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well Iz.

I've been fighting a cold for the past week but finally feel like I turned the corner yesterday. I ended up resting over the weekend and having two days off really helped. Got back to running yesterday (I'm up to 1/3 of a mile intervals ; )

i hear you. i also have 3 kids, and a hubby to pack lunches for. i feel like an assembly line. it is not too much fun.

sunday, i felt icky, so instead of running, i went to the pool. swam for an hour. it was refreshing but now, i have a cold. i feel like i am full of drugs. theraflu tastes like _HIT! i have had my share of theraflu. i think i will be downing more. i did work out monday, and i did my tuesday work out. i seem fine in the morning. later, i feel like a swollen head. one gigantic swollen head. like the queen of hearts in alice in wonderland.

Prepping my lunch and snack to take to work drives me nuts!!

Whew, just needed to get that off my chest. Thanks.

i can imagine it must be bad if the dog does not even want to go outside.

i hope i can run tomorrow morning also. i just feel so energized and so balanced after a good run. i have also found runner magazine very motivating. i love the stories and the photos.

quote:

Originally posted by iz:
the rain stoped at 4am, so i was able to do my morning run at 6:30am. yeah!

I wish we were so lucky. It has been pouring rain with 40 MPH winds all day here. It is absolutely miserable out...even the dog thinks twice about whether she wants to go out to pee!

the rain stoped at 4am, so i was able to do my morning run at 6:30am. yeah! i love running with the farm animals

jill, painfree is really something to celebrate! how awesome for you.

i am doing pretty good. TOM fatigue but i have dragged myself to workout each morning. today is Body Pump day so i will see if i am motivated at the end of my work day or not. it has been SO BUSY at work. OMG! i have worked 3 saturdays in a row and i think that is g oing to continue.
bummer--rain in forecast so i may miss out on my usual weekend runs.

Welcome back Iz.

Victory! I made it to the gym last night-first time in over a month. Felt great, did back/bicep workout. My neck/back have been tight/sore, mostly stress and a new pillow (that I thought would help my neck but instead aggravated it) and after working out I am pretty much pain free!

Jill

i am back from my trip. i actually wokred out inthe hotel gym both days so i have not missed any workouts--yeah! definitely was not able to eat my healthy greens every day but i did not veer off track much regardless. \\back to my busy routine and looking forward to the weekend!

will be awaiting your smoothie recipe book

quote:

Originally posted by iz:
yeah smoothie queen!

I'm enjoying this. What an easy way to get a quick fix... Tonight's ingredients: the rest of the cantaloupe, banana, and yoghurt. Delish.