Your Body Rocks: Day 5

It's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

So wear some purple, learn about Eating Disorders, and improve your body image.

The positive body image challenge of the day is...

Do self care.

When you are having a tough body image day, do something you enjoy.  Focus on what helps you feel great, competent, or relaxed.  Take a bubble bath, paint your nails, or draw.  Read, make something, or workout.  Anything you like to do, just for fun, to take care of YOU!

Treat yourself to self care today (and everyday)!

Your Body Rocks: Day 4

It's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. 

So wear purple, learn about Eating Disorders, and improve your body image. 

The positive body image challenge of the day is...

 Challenge your negative thoughts.

If you find yourself getting into a negative thinking rut about your body (or anything really), start to challenge the thoughts.  Come up with something more balanced, a reframe, a rebuttal.  Even if you don't believe it, it is important to represent both sides and all the gray in between.  This creates room for other possibilities or perspectives.   

It could be helpful to write out the dialogue between the voice of negativity and have a healthy voice respond to it.  For example, if you have the thought, "I am ugly and I hate the way I look," a more balanced thought to respond with could be, "There are things I don't like about my body and there are things I do like," or "There are times when I feel beautiful and comfortable in my skin."  These statements help us achieve a greater balance.

So challenge the negative body talk today (and everyday).

Your Body Rocks: Day 3

It's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

So wear some purple, learn about Eating Disorders, and improve your body image.

The positive body image challenge of the day is...

Shift your focus from the external to the internal.

Make a list of the people that inspire you, not because of their outward appearance, but because of what they do and who they are.  Why do you admire them?  What qualities do they have?  What makes them stand out to you?  I'm guessing it's not their dress size.

We are made of so much more than our bodies.  We have dreams, passions, and talents.  We have goals, insight, and pure character.  Don't let your negative thinking about your body overpower the parts of you that you are most proud.  What qualities do you have?  What are your passions?  What are goals you striving to achieve?  

Let the answers to these questions be your focus today (and everyday).

Your Body Rocks: Day 2

It's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

So wear purple, learn about Eating Disorders, and improve your body image.

The positive body image challenge of the day is...

Focus on what your body allows you to do.

The human body is pretty so awesome.  It keeps us moving and grooving and we don't even have to think about it.  When we focus so much on what our body isn't, we lose sight of the miracle it is in the first place.  You have feet that take you places, hands that make things happen, eyes that witness the beauty of the world, and so much more.

Make a list of some of your favorite things to do.  Then add to that list the ways your body allows you to do those things.  Do you like going on nature walks?  Your body allows you to take in the scenery and explore it on foot.  It allows you to breath in the fresh air and listen to the birds, etc, etc, etc.  Whatever you enjoy doing... your body makes it possible, so show it some love.

Appreciate your rocking body today (and everyday)!

Your Body Rocks: Day 1

It's National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

I will be wearing purple all week, helping others learn a little more about Eating Disorders, and focusing on cultivating a positive body image.  Feel free to join me.  You can learn more about Eating Disorders over here and by checking out this infographic:

And for the positive body image challenge of the day...

 Treat yourself like you would treat your friend.

How would you support your friend if they were struggling with their body image?  You wouldn't tell them that they should take extreme, unhealthy measures to lose weight.  You wouldn't tell them that their worth (or friendship or love) depends on their weight or their waist measurement.  So why is it ok to tell yourself these things?  It's not. We scrutinize, we poke, we grimace, we hate. 

Today is the day to stop! and say to yourself what you would say to your friend.  Remind yourself that you are enough, that your body does incredible things, that food is fuel.  See yourself as your friend, spouse, sibling, or parent sees you.  You deserve kindness, support, and love from everyone, especially yourself.

Treat yourself like a friend today (and everyday).

and he returns

he's HOME! riley finally returned from his mission in thailand.  it's been two long years and i have been missing this kid.  (i'm so glad i don't have to send anymore brothers away for two years.  it's hard stuff.)  it's killing me that i'm not there to hug him, hear all of his stories, introduce him to the newest movies and music, and update him on the coolest apps.  i don't want to miss a thing, so i just keep calling, texting, and video chatting my family. here he is at the airport waiting for his luggage and talking to me on the phone:

the only thing that is holding me together is the fact that sam and riley are coming to boston (hooray!!!) next weekend to play!  just us kiddies, hanging out, having a blast.  it's going to be awesome.  it will be riley's first time visiting this great city, so we have some sights to see.  i'm keeping myself busy planning the fun things we are going to do when they get here.  i can't wait!

welcome home riley!  i missed you. 

 

W1GF

Week 1 Gluten Free

So it has been a week.  Quite a week.  I have been eating gluten free and I'm surviving.  I am having to retrain my brain and the way I think about food.  It's certainly a challenge.  I have had a whole mix of emotions in the past week.

Relief because I have a diagnosis and something I can do to help my body.  Anger because I can't eat the frozen dinners in my freezer.  Happiness because I have awesome friends that have brought over gluten free treats and prepared a gluten free meal for me.  Sadness because I'm realizing how complicated going out or eating at social events is going to be for the rest of my life.  Hope because this might work.  Confusion because I don't know which of my go to recipes are safe for me yet.  Joy because I think I'm starting to feel a difference. Frustration because of comments from others suggesting I can have gluten anyway. 

I think the last one effects me the most right now.  It gets me all riled up.  I just can't afford to think like that.  When the doctor first diagnosed me, I quickly decided that I was all in.  No occasional glutenous free-for-alls.  No planned cupcake, cookie, or bread binges.  I knew that if I started down that road, it would ultimately make it harder.  I don't want to start this journey with the intention of a sporadic day or two of complete disdain for what my body needs.  It's been through enough gluten.  It needs healing, not moments of shove-everything-that-I-can't-eat-down-my-throat-before-my-body-notices.

On my drive home from the appointment I thought a lot about what I teach my clients and their families: When we refuse to accept reality, we increase our suffering.  Acceptance transforms suffering that you can't tolerate, into pain you can tolerate.  Only after we accept reality, can we do something about it.  I choose to accept this. I have to accept this. It doesn't mean I like it, it doesn't mean it goes away, it means I have the power and ability to deal with this.  I'm telling you, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is for everybody!  Now that I have gone all Social Worker on you... let's get back to what I else I have learned this week.

The ShopWell App is saving my life.  In my profile, I marked that I can't have gluten or wheat and when I scan a barcode, it tells me if the product is safe for me and rates its healthiness.  If it isn't, it gives me a stop hand and highlights the ingredients that contain gluten.  I have been scanning all the foods in my kitchen and there have been some pleasant (and not so pleasant) surprises of what's gluten free.  My only beef with the app is that it gave my Ben and Jerry's a score of zero of 100 because of added sugar.  I don't care about added sugar, I only care about gluten. :)

I'm finding a wealth of resources through my family, friends, and the internet.  There are others on this journey and I don't have to start from scratch.  (If you have tips and tricks for gluten free living... email me.  Please share.  I need you!)  There is a whole community of gluten free on this world wide web and I am just starting to scratch the surface.  Thank heavens for Pinterest, blogs, and Amazon's two day shipping - this Gluten Free Survival Guide is coming today! 

Like I said, it has been quite a week.  I'm trying to stay calm, keep things in perspective, and reach out to others that can help me.  Life is good.  Life is great.  Stay tuned for what I learn Week 2 Gluten Free, assuming I learn something.

5 gold rings

1 for every blissful year of marriage

they came in the mail yesterday.  i love it when i get a present twice. once, when i open the picture of it with a note saying it's on its way, and a second time when i get to open the package when it arrives. 

i love them, they are perfect!

hey dad!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

you are hilarious! and the best dad ever.

have a fun day.  i love you!

skiing away

yesterday, we drove over to carlisle, a tiny tiny town, to do some cross-country skiing for our anniversary weekend.

we have gone the last couple of years in new hampshire and maine.  this year we decided to explore our local options and found the great brook ski touring center about 30 minutes away.  it was $54 for ski passes and rentals for the two of us and they have over 10 miles of groomed trails.

we had such a great time that we plan to buy season passes next year.  we skied and skied until the snow was falling and our bodies were tired and aching for some grub. then we went down the road to ferns country store for some chili, which i would also totally recommend.

it made for a wonderful day.

i love us

we are 5 years old!!

 isn't he cute?   he's my very favorite.

yesterday, i got off of work early for the occasion and we had dinner at pf chang's. hooray for their gluten free menu... it was so good! especially after a day of corn chex, fruit, and yogurt.

jeremy was a champ and was willing to switch out our anniversary cake (which i never frosted because i lost all my enthusiasm for it after my dr's appt) for a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream.  a new tradition i think. 

then we opened presents (my favorite part of any holiday!) and reminisced about our life together. these past 5 years have been filled with adventure, growth, laughter, and so much fun! we can do anything together.

hooray for love!

sidenote: happy v-day!  may you exchange lots of chocolate, love notes, and your favorite things. 

5 years

  

i'm so happy that you are mine forever.  i fall for you everyday, you know.
i love you, with my whole soul.

10:41

so today i had an appointment with a gastroenterologist (which i almost cancelled a million times because i thought for sure i was fine).

my appointment was at 10:40 and i cut it so close that they took me back before i could even take a seat in the waiting room.  before i knew it, the papers i was supposed to fill out were still empty and the doctor was shaking my hand. then he sat down and said, "So... Celiac."  he began to talk like i had it and i kept trying to convince him (or maybe just myself) that i didn't. turns out the evidence supported his side and just like that... i was diagnosed.   it all happened so fast.

my pcp did a blood test a few weeks ago that i thought was more of a preliminary thing rather than a diagnosis thing, but the gastro doc said that my levels were so high that it really isn't a question on whether i have it or not (especially when we consider my other symptoms, that i thought weren't symptoms, but just life).  he said "when it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is usually a duck." and this duck is celiac disease.

and that was how it was decided.  at 10:41 my life changed. i had many thoughts racing through my head in that moment, but the first was, "no one will ever have me over for dinner.  i can't eat gluten and i don't eat vegetables."  my second thought was, "i just bought oreos!! and made a cake. DANG-IT!"  my third was, "i ate pretzels last night" (random, i know).

the great news: he doesn't have to go down my throat to take a piece of my small intestine in order to get a closer look (which is what i thought i was going to be scheduling at the end of today's appointment). the not so great news: i have an actual celiac diagnosis, a nutritionist referral, and instructions to eat gluten free immediately.

i know i will survive and i will have plenty of delicious things to eat (ice cream!! chocolate... i'm sure there's more).  in the meantime, i have a lot of learning to do because i don't know much.  luckily, there are tons of gluten-free things out there these days.  i can do this!

if you have any good resources or at least know what candy bars i can eat, please share!

city day date

yesterday we had ourselves a lovely day date.  

we spent all day romping around in the city.  we started at the museum of fine arts.  they were celebrating the lunar new year with free admission for all, so naturally we wanted to join in the fun.  we wandered around taking in all of the paintings (the slave ship!!), sculptures, ancient artifacts - jewelry, coins, furniture, tombs, etc, etc, etc.  the place is HUGE so when i say "all" of it, what i really mean is... we saw a mere fraction of the art.  it was incredible, they have amazing pieces.

after we wandered around the art for a bit, we ventured to beacon hill to get some serious pizza at upper crust.  on the way, we walked through the snowy public garden and saw people playing hockey on the frozen pond.  i was all ready for us to take a walk on the ice, but jeremy refused.  i keep him wild, he keeps me safe... and this time safety won because it was cold out and we were about 5 minutes away from fresh pizza, otherwise i may have held out.

it was our first time at upper crust and it will certainly not be our last.  the pizza is delicious! and the options are basically endless with all of the toppings you can choose from.  you can buy it by the slice or customize your own pie.  plus the staff are super friendly and you get a sweet discount if you have your student id (hooray for jeremy's student status!).  it was a perfect place to stop in for a bite to eat and to warm our limbs. 

after dinner we walked across the common to see a movie. well, we bought candy at cvs, stashed it in my purse, and then went to the movies. candy is required at the movies and i'm not about to spend $4 on a box of milk duds.  is that dishonest?  anyway... we saw the jack ryan movie and it is action-packed!  i liked it, jeremy loved it.  it was great!

then we meandered on home appreciating our boston.

clovers on ice

a couple weeks ago i found a groupon to ice skate at the frog pond in boston common.  something i have tried to do for the last couple of years, but jeremy always comes up with excuses - "it's too cold" or "it's too warm" (for reals).  so i snagged the good deal before jeremy could oppose the notion to make sure that it happened this winter.  and my planned worked out great.

we met downtown after work and school yesterday and walked over to the frozen frog pond.  on the way, jeremy was wondering why we were doing this.  he was sure we would be terrible at it.  i had my doubts, but was in it for the experience.  luckily once we got on the ice, our worries were abated.

 we were cruising around in no time.  neither of us fell and jeremy kept looking over and saying, "i'm so glad we did this," so the adventure was deemed a success. we skated, watched the zamboni clean the ice, and skated some more until our ankles were sore.  then we filled our bellies with delicious grub and hot chocolate and made our way home.

it was a lovely night, indeed.