Migraine: Free to Good Home

The post title says it all, I've been laid low with a migraine for a week now. It came on last Friday morning and it's been coming and going all week. On top of the migraine I've been experiencing moments of dizziness, this has been a new symptom for me since last summer. I don't get it with every migraine, but it seems to happen with the multi-day ones.

I've had migraines all my life, so I've learnt to manage them fairly well, often medications work well. If I can catch it soon enough, I have prescription onset medication. Otherwise Excedrin For Migraine (which I have to pick up in the US I don't know why I can't get it in Canada)/sleep/Robaxacet seems to help manage it. With this current one I just gave up in medicating myself... No combination is working.  Also the dizziness throws me for a loop there's no way to cope with that and keep going. 

Work has been stressful for me this week, and that is one of my key triggers. I've taken a sick day today to just sleep and relax  the two things I really need right now to break this cycle. 

So when I've been home I've spent a lot of time sleeping this week, which means I haven't been blogging and I skipped my Weight Watchers Meeting. That's why I have no Wednesday Weigh In to share with you. I'm a lucky girl though, my leader also does a meeting on Saturday morning, so I'll be setting my alarm for tomorrow morning ... Shit, hate getting up early on the weekend!

I've also got a week's worth of Happy Days to catch up on!  I have managed to to that this week!

Thursday April 17th I was so happy to snuggle up in bed after two frustrating hours of grocery shopping before a 4 day weekend!!!  I'm a champion napper!

Friday April 18th, despite the migraine I had coming on Todd and I went to the local Sugarbush with our close friends Teacey and Ed. Afterwards we went to check out the water levels of the Missippi River (the Canadian version) in Packenham. I got this fantastic shot of the 5 span stone bridge, which is the only one in North America. 

Saturday April 19th I'm so happy that I live in a beautiful area, I love walking the Beckwith Trail and no matter the time of year it's beautiful. 

Sunday April 20th Once again, on the trail I noticed signs that nature is coming back to life!

Monday April 21 I love my hobby and this finished ornament made me happy. 

Tuesday April 22 Todd and Zeus sound asleep on the couch together. 

Wednesday April 23 I finally got my new sign!  We're no longer a Library, we're officially the Learning Commons

Thursday, yesterday winning the car rally at work!  My team and I dressed up as the "Daughters of Anarchy" here we are on out "bikes". 

Weigh In Wednesday

It's Wednesday, which means Weight Watchers and weigh in!

This week was tough for my on the psychological/emotional side of things. This made food choices difficult, and I didn't always make the best decision or really think about it I more went on my wants than my needs when it came to food. I know I promised myself to ask if "is it worth it" but really I didn't do that very often. 

Out enjoying my favourite trail, and it was warm enough to be out in a t-shirt!!!!

Also on the psychological side not only was food a tough thing for me but so was exercise, which normally isn't a problem. I had to force myself to either get out walking or get into the gym!  Saturday was a little easier because it was so nice out and I wanted to check out my beloved Beckwith Trail which is 5k round trip. Monday was just brutal, I almost always pack my gym bag and have it in the car unless I know I WON'T be going to the gym. I had my bag packed with intentions of going to the gym, when quitting time came around I really didn't want to go!  I made myself go. Normally once I'm there and I get going the endorphins kick in and I'm glad I went. Not this night, I found my 30 minutes on the bike just a drag, then as I hit the weight machine circuit, I just wanted to quit and go home. I honestly just wanted to cry I was so miserable during my workout. Somehow I touched it out, finished my 30 minute weight circuit and went home. Tuesday I wasn't much on the mood either but I went back into the gym for 30 minutes of cardio (all I have time for before going to my Dad's for dinner and I know something is better than nothing).  Today was a challenge as well, since it was too miserable and cold out to get on the trail I hit the treadmill, walking for 40 minutes. 

So this week has just been full of challenges, a constant inner struggle with myself on all fronts!  Somehow, despite all of this and those "female hormones" (oh joy) I had a great experience at the scale this week!  I've lost 1.4lbs which brings my total to 1.6 since I started blogging again!

I know this is going to be a long journey and hopefully each week will be another step in the right direction. 

For today's #100happydays one of the teachers at work treated me to a Peppermint hot Chocolate (I do not love coffee!!!!) from Starbucks. What made me even happier is as it was a grande and I didn't need one that big I was able to share it with a friend at work!  Nothing says happiness like sharing a treat with a friend, it makes them happy and it's the right choice when you're watching what you're eating!

Catching Up On #100happydays

I have been taking a picture each day of what makes me happy but I got a little lazy/busy at sharing it. 

Friday - I had so many things to be happy about... Todd (my partner) and I went out on a double date with our best friends Tracey and Ed. We had dinner out at the Cheshire Cat (my first time there since it burnt down) then we went to a Jr hockey game, it's playoff time and Ed's cousin was called up to the Halifax Mooseheads and they were playing against the Gatineau Olympique. So we all went to the game together. My highlight besides spending time with our favourite couple was spotting this guy in the crowd... I found Waldo!!!

Saturday - It was a beautiful, warm sunny day AND I was able to get out for a good long walk on the Beckwith Trail. I love walking that trail! Without looking for one I came across this Geocashe! 

Sunday - Despite the threat of rain I got out for a shorter walk around my village and decided to try my hand at official geocaching and found my first one, not too far from my house!

Monday - I got back into the gym, which happens to be upstairs at the grocery store. I was happy to see more signs of spring, gardening odds and ends on display!

Tuesday - Having dinner with my Dad, we make and have dinner together every Tuesday since and follow it up by watching a movie together. We've been doing this since my Mum passed this last June. 

#100happydays Day 3

Tonight's post almost didn't happen as we had a power outage due to very high winds. Hydro Ottawa managed to take care of the problem in about an hour and a half, I was pretty sure we were going to be out all night. 

Being able to visit my friend "Timmies" in the morning is enough to make a girl happy when you need some high octane to get your engine firing in the morning. 

- thanks for reading!

Wednesday Weigh In

It's Wednesday, which is my meeting night at Weight Watchers. I am proud to say I've now gone for three weeks on a row!  Yay me!  That is my promise to myself to go every week, even if I can't make my usual meeting I should be able to get into one at some point during the week even if it's a different location. 

So first let's get to the business at hand, this week's weigh in. For the last while it's felt more like a walk of shame than a weigh in. This week I've come off of the scale with a 0.2 lbs loss, not much but I'll take it!  I'd call this a small victory since I'm usually up at this point in my month... You know water retention due to those wonderful female hormones. 

I did not have the perfect week, but I did keep to my goal of tracking everyday, honestly!  I'm proud of that.  I will continue with that this week and my new goal is to ask myself every time I eat something "is it worth it?"  

This ties into this month's routine at Weight Watchers: is it worth it?  This is encouraging us to think before we eat or at least to evaluate why am I eating this?  Is it worth it?  Can I afford the points?  How am I going to pay for this in points (daily/weekly/activity)?   Is this good/healthy for me?  Am I eating emotionally?

It's day 2 of my #100happydays challenge. Today I'm happy to finally be able to walk outside!!!  It's sunny, the snow is finally disappearing though there is still a nip to the air!  I'm not able to run right now, but at least I'm out and moving!

#100happydays Day 1

I've not been a very happy person lately, I've spent a lot of time beating myself up. When Samantha whose blog I've been enjoying for sometime now, talked about participating in a social movement called 100 Happy Days, I thought this is what I need to do!!!

Pretty much the point is to share via social media a photo of what makes you happy each day for 100 days.

Happy Day#1





Yesterday a teacher had come into my Learning Commons looking for a particular resource. After checking the shelf where it should be and then my system, I discovered it had bee. Declared as lost over a year ago. Today I found that lost resource and made the teacher's day! Super Library Technician to the rescue!!! You know what's funny, I used this same resource in history back in the 90's!!!!

Sorry about the blurry pic I took it quickly!

- thanks for reading!