WEEKLY HEALTHY LIVING CHECK-IN FEBRUARY 29TH, 2020

**This past week went pretty fast.. not much new. Stuck to plan, kept up with teaching my classes and staying on track with meals and activity. Moving closer to my goals that I have set for myself and finally took off the mild "holiday-gain" that I had... it wasn't bad, but I'm glad to be back to a better number for myself AND actually a little lower than where I was "Before" the holiday arrived!.... Sleep was better this week, not as bad as last week, but still could've been better~ Will continue to work on that.

**Weather is still cooler, but that will be expected here over the next few weeks to a month or so.... Still haven't been able to get out much to walk, but, its supposed to be a little milder tomorrow on Sunday. So my mom and I made plans to meet up and go. I noticed that when I start my week off with a good walk with her, that my stats for myself have gone well at the end of the week.

**Today I got up and went to a Dance class at my studio to get in my activity.... But, so far since then I've been pretty "Chill" and not really doing much today except some errands around the house.... Today is just kind of a 'FREE" DAY of relaxing a bit.

**In the upcoming week ahead, it will be BOTH My "Mom's AND my Son's" birthdays!.. So.. .we will be celebrating the two of them together in a few days. So looking forward to that and spending time with all of us together. My son has been having some anxiety & depression lately, So.. I'm hoping this will help with getting his spirits up a bit. And to continue aiding him and helping him to feel better moving forward.

ENJOY THE WEEKEND~

1. The week has been alright. Mixed emotions as always with some intense downs but not as bad as I predicted.

2. Overall this month was full of changes and realizations. I consider that a positive. It also contained relapses, high stress, very low moments. However, I'm excited for the challenges March will bring though I'm sure I won't feel that way in the moment I think I'd sum this month up as eye-opening.

3. Ooh.. biggest accomplishment is difficult! I think it has to be increasing speed in my fitness routine without spiraling into too much of a negative mindset. My strengths have been perserverance, honesty with myself and others when I feel something is wrong, and starting to center myself more often when I begin to get upset. One of my weaknesses, ironically, was also honesty (haven't been entirely truthful with myself!). Others include making a meal and exercise plan that was too ambitious / getting carried away with unrealistic fantasies & expectations, negative self talk when I felt didn't accomplish something (it's like an addiction to my brain), and letting anger take over (also like an addiction).

4. I would really like to develop a solid sleep hygiene, fitness routine and meal plan, but not so solid that I can't deviate from it. I also want to reach out to people who can help my overall health, like dietitians and trainers. I may even reach out to the counselors at my school despite having a therapist already. I also want to meditate and journal more.

5. My highlights this week have been taking time to rest over the last couple days and making peace with the fact that I will have to rest all of next week. Rest days are another way to care for myself and respect my body, even if I don't like my body this week. Also my artwork was in a student festival Tuesday and I feel like I'm bragging about it... still need to figure out the difference between bragging and feeling proud of myself for something I didn't think would happen. I'm trying to stop talking about it haha. Struggles have been low physical appetite yet strong mental hunger, being painfully honest with myself, and runner's knee for the first time.

6. Well, I'm supposed to be doing homework but I'm sitting and watching TV and surfing the internet instead. I'll probably do my homework tomorrow and simply enjoy the final day of February as a kind of closure for myself as I get ready for what's next.

**Hey Everyone! How have things been going for you over the past week?!

This past week has been full of ups and downs. All I know is it went by really fast.

How do you feel this past month went for you "Over-all"? If you could sum-up this month in one word, what would it be?

This past month has been okay, Just been trying to get back on my feet again and full of doctors. I would say "Okay" would be my sum-up word.

**What do you feel your Biggest accomplishment was over the past month? What were your "Strengths" ? What were your Weaknesses?

My biggest accomplishment has been coming more intune with my feelings. My Strengh has been talking to people about what's wrong. My weaknesses has been i've been angry and taking it out on people not meaning to.

**What would you like to do Better in the New Month ahead?

I would like to eat better this month. My eating habits have been off and I think it's making me sick.

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

My highlights have been going for coffee with my friends and spending time with my boyfriend.

**What are your weekend Plans?

My weekend plans are I'm going to my parents house to see them for a few days and I'm gonna see my baby girl (my cat)

I can't wait for those kiddy cuddles and home-cooking

**Hey Everyone! How have things been going for you over the past week?!

Things have gone okay. I had another good week at volunteering. I got sick Thurs. Fri. Sat though with a head cold. Today was an interview and concurrently planned Prayer Retreat. Because my interview only took half an hour, I was able to return to the Prayer retreat. I helped set up but I didn't help break it down because I started to feel more ill toward the end.

I'm not sure how the interview went, but it was my first one for a paid position in around 19 years, so the fact that I got tot he hiring even and actually attended, even though I wasn't feeling well (I wore a mask, in case I coughed or sneezed) I count as a win. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

I'm trying to decide if I don't get the job, whether I want to still get a food handler's card.

**This is the "LAST" Check-in for the Month of February! How do you feel this past month went for you "Over-all"? If you could sum-up this month in one word, what would it be?

February was rough. I found out I was losing Medicaid, would have to start paying for Medicare. That my Part D premium for prescription drugs was going up and that I was losing most of my providers as well as my peer counseling and case management. I found out that I really do need to become more self-sufficient and move out, because my sister told me she and her husband want their basement back.

If I could sum up February in one word it would be earth-shattering.

**What do you feel your Biggest accomplishment was over the past month? What were your "Strengths" ? What were your Weaknesses?

My biggest accomplishment was figuring out that I needed to go back to work to even give me breathing room to pursue my medical needs, and starting with resumes and cover letters even though I felt like I didn't know what I was doing. My strength was addressing my budget and medical needs head-on.

My biggest weaknesses are the anxiety I feel when I interview and apply for positions. The tendency to dial back and try to avoid things that are discomforting.

**What would you like to do Better in the New Month ahead?

I'd like to get better at interviewing and putting myself together. I'd like to get out of MS Word 2019 Lesson 7 (tables) for once and complete at least one or two other courses.

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

My highlight was volunteering in a clerical/receptionist capacity. One struggle.. Yesterday after I got home I was sick already and I unloaded a dishwasher ---- full of dirty dishes. And when my sister pulled them out today, some of them were noticably dirty. I felt so stupid and I caused double the work.

**What are your weekend Plans?

My weekend plans are the prayer retreat and, maybe, the church tomorrow morning. Monday morning I go to the counseling service while they double-check my status, just in case there's some miracle where I still have funding. Monday afternoon I go to a retreat to serve as the march meeting for the non-profit I volunteer at

♥ This have been a bit rough, but it's mostly car troubles. My car was totaled and we haven't gotten a replacement yet, and my husband's car needed a new alternator. So I've had like one gym session in a week and a half sadly. This is pushing my yearly fitness goals backwards so this summer I've got to hit it hard.

♥ I've pushed my yearly fitness goals backwards as I have no weightlifting gear at home. Also I've missed a bunch of my tai chi class now.

♥ I've tried to keep up with my pull up bar at home and the last time I went to gym I hadn't lost too much strength yet. Still trying to meditate daily at home.

♥ I just need to solve my car troubles tbh. Then I can get back into the groove again

I had a chat with someone yesterday evening, Safe to say it was the most down to earth and actual coherent conversation I've had with anyone for a while.

It's like everything came rushing back to me, and a lot of things made sense esp. over the past two years. I am sort of done with a lot of things but I think (even though I don't want to) I'm going to have to use this site (even though I opened it up for completely the wrong reasons) to put myself back together.

Thanks 7cups you stopped me from chain smoking last night!

@PoliteOcean I decided to quit smoking for good today.

I could name a million reasons why I hate the habit.

I read a newspaper article stating if you prolong it it's just going to get worse. It's one of those things where you have to cut the cord. Like break ups, I excel at it.

So I'm going treat it as a sap I'm done with and I've crushed another double standard.

It's been eleven years. It's one of those things that has to go and be replaced with something healthier.

**Hey Everyone! How have things been going for you over the past week?!

Pretty good. I have the final exam, clinical, and state testing and I will be certified for CNA I.

**This is the "LAST" Check-in for the Month of February! How do you feel this past month went for you "Over-all"? If you could sum-up this month in one word, what would it be?

Progress.

**What do you feel your Biggest accomplishment was over the past month? What were your "Strengths" ? What were your Weaknesses?

Earning my BLS for the CNA program. While I am happy about this next step and overall progress, it is only CNA I. It's not my final career point. So, sad I am not all the way there yet.

Also I have lately been sad about my past and specifically how I used to have friends but am no longer super close with anyone but my spouse. I literally basically never talk to anyone else and have little clue as to how to make real friends as an adult. It's something I really struggle with and I will be reaching out to new professionals near my area to try and get assessed for Aspergers.

**What would you like to do Better in the New Month ahead?

Get into my new career path. Not think about the past, keep it behind me as it has been for years.

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

Getting done with the final test before the final exam is a highlight. I am doing very well in the class and look forward to clinical. I've noticed people leaving me alone on my personal social media and I'm not really sure why. I'm pretty vocal about my beliefs so it may be an issue for some. It's like some people do not want me to be an individual person in my personal life.

**What are your weekend Plans?

Studying for the final exam for the upcoming Tuesday. Resting as needed. Staying around the house to minimize exposure risk to the coronavirus. I'll be working with the elderly so I really don't need to catch it anytime soon.

Hey Everyone! How have things been going for you over the past week?! I had a bad painful issues with the dentist. The novacaine wasn't stron enough. Ouch.

**This is the "LAST" Check-in for the Month of February! How do you feel this past month went for you "Over-all"? If you could sum-up this month in one word, what would it be? Long

**What do you feel your Biggest accomplishment was over the past month? I dont know

What were your "Strengths" ? Listening

What were your Weaknesses? Lack of motivation

**What would you like to do Better in the New Month ahead? I want to do more and write

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week? Dentist issues

**What are your weekend Plans? Clean, walks, and write

**What would "YOU" like to talk about or share with us?! WE want to hear from "YOU"~

I'm fighting feet and teeth issues and depression

@PoliteOcean

Hey Everyone! How have things been going for you over the past week?!

**This is the "LAST" Check-in for the Month of February! How do you feel this past month went for you "Over-all"? If you could sum-up this month in one word, what would it be?

It went fine for me, a little fast and messy but alright. it would be "complicated"

**What do you feel your Biggest accomplishment was over the past month? What were your "Strengths" ? What were your Weaknesses?

I think I managed my diet better and deepened some friendships. I was more open and I never gave up. Motivation mostly... It was super hard to keep going when My motivation went away

**What would you like to do Better in the New Month ahead?

I would attend the gym regularly, I will manage my diet better that it would be comfortable for me and others! and more motivation!

**What have been your "Highlights" Or "Struggles" over this past week?

Mostly motivation but the highlights were that I need to exercise more for sure

**What are your weekend Plans?

Do homewrok