Body Thoughts

[chinders]

(Cross posted from my blog; you can see the post here if you like.)

My body has been doing a lot of different things lately, and while I don't have anything that I would call coherent to say about them, this seems like as good a time as any to take stock.

Nutrition

Not eating gluten continues to treat me well. However, it seems like I'm getting

Comments

[vcmw]

I've been trying to do pilates 4 times a week or so before I go to work, which seems to be really helping stave off some incipient carpal tunnel - seems like working all my shoulders and core into good alignment before work helps alleviate the desk hunch. So that's nice, as numb fingertips were not my friend.

I haven't been to the gym much this month because weekend travel (my membership is to a cheap YMCA whose hours only really let me go Monday or Saturday/Sunday), but my bench press numbers have been improving this year - I'm aiming for a full set of 10 at 130, and I'm up to being to do at least a few reps at 100, from a start of maybe 70.

The pilates hasn't really changed my overall mass but it has meant I stand up more and move more confidently, which has really improved some of my mental health - they're doing some research I think on posture, and an open posture has some kind of biofeedback effect in social situations re confidence, maybe? I have experienced something like that.

[chinders]

I find that doing core and upper body work is very helpful to my wrists. In general, when I'm climbing on a regular basis, my wrists don't fuss. So that's nice. And no, numb fingertips are not your friends.

Congrats on the bench press numbers! That's awesome! Are you working with a machine, dumbbells, or barbell? Do you have a spotter? (I've had to drop a bar on myself a few times; I can now recommend having a spotter...)

I've heard about some of that research! Some of the chest-opening stuff from yoga is supposed to do similar things.

[vcmw]

I also got a tablet interface for my work computer to swap out with the mouse. But the pilates helps the most, I think

[sarahmichigan]

I'm really loving being stronger in the upper body - lower body wasn't really ever an issue. I find I can do things around the house, help with remodeling, etc. without completely exhausting myself.

I also lost about 8 pounds over the last month or two. Not sure if it's because of adjusting my meds, being much more active, some combination of the two?

That puts me back near the range *I* tend to think of as my adult set point/set range, the range I was in for nearly 10 years before I mysteriously, about 3-4 years ago, put on about 10-12 pounds in 4 months during a time when I was working out about the most consistently and intensely in my life.

I think my thyroid was wacked for longer than I realized, because now that I'm well-medicated, I don't feel exactly super-human but just the most energetic version of myself that I've ever experienced.

[chinders]

Having upper body strength is *so* nice, and so is having your body tuned in such a way that you have plenty of energy. I'm glad to hear it. :)

[cobalt_00]

Screw the part of culture that means clothes shopping is a fast and easy method to feel terrible about yourself, indeed! (Sigh.)
My body right now has a mild concussion, and I am envious as all hell of all the people I see biking, because time? what? However, I am getting the day of Marin off, so that ticket I bought for the 30 miler is now going to get used. By me, even. And I am looking forward to that. I hope I've got enough biking musculature base that I will not be in too much pain/exhaustion afterward.
(Hey, want to bike Marin again? The 30 miler?)

[chinders]

Seriously. That was why I was so happy when I discovered those Lane Bryant jeans that temporarily fit me.

Oooooh, Marin. I...you know what, talk to me about a ride in September or October, but probably not August.

[chalcedonygrey]

Not jeans, obviously, because buying jeans should always be a trial for women, amirite?

WORD.

It's kinda eerie how my body report could parallel yours... dietary changes have been very helpful, although this past week has been really shaky. I'm losing weight & inches and gaining muscle after a few months of very measured, slow weight-training. I think I'm finally beginning to shake my body dysmorphia. Odd how I just got heavier & heavier until I was able to accept myself, and then things began changing. Early June, my Dr said I'm one of the 5% who recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, so that's an AWESOME feeling! Upward & onward!

[chinders]

Oh, that's wonderful to hear. I'm glad that you and your body are treating each other so well!

[areallifekethry]

Following my trip out of country in a highly active way, I've found my body doing all sorts of weird things size wise (or maybe the stores are conspiring?). I got my bras resized at Nordstrom, and discovered that either Victoria's Secrets "sister cups" crap is a lie, Nordstrom's sizes are weird, or I have suddenly drastically changed sizes. Maybe all of the above. It was a very validating experience for my self-image, however. I also took a trip to Urban Outfitters to try to find new clothes to survive this summer, and discovered I can fit a much smaller number than usual and was very confused, especially when I noticed how weird my not-new clothes fit. I can't compare to other places, because I refuse to go shopping more. But yay confusing validation and body-changing?

[chinders]

In general, don't trust Victoria's Secret sizing. They suck at it.

Body changes are weird, and I don't really like them. I'm glad that you're having good self-image experiences, though!