Fitness Check In Day 100: Worries and Gratitude

Today I woke up again with anxiety, I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach and heart palpitations. I’ve been soo focus on getting in my workouts, steps and calories in for the Beast Mode II program, I didn’t realize this is the 4th day I wake up like this. It’s annoying as frick having to deal with this, but I was trying to flip it when I remembered a video I saw of Chris Hemsworth talking anxiety (about 4:50min into the video)

He read a book and explained that what he learned from the book, was that the body’s response…like heart rate, pulse and adrenaline for both excitement and fear are identical. So now, instead of allowing his brain to interpret his racing heart as a sign of danger, he said he’s practiced and trained himself to reframe those sensations as heightened awareness, sharper focus, greater presence, and faster reaction times. Chris would consciously replace the negative internal dialogue with words of positive motivation, encouragement, and self-compassion. Sounds easy right?

I tried it this morning but it was hard which is why he did say he ‘practiced and trained himself’. Since that part didn’t work, I sat down to meditate and I was super restless, so just as I learned in Transcendental Meditation, I allowed myself to embrace the thoughts instead of fighting them and then let them go. This was the hardest time I have ever had doing so but it worked. I was able to calm my breathing and just be for the 20minutes of the meditation. Then I put on my workout clothes did my DDPYoga for the 8th day in a row!!!! After going hard yesterday and feeling the vertigo all day, I vowed to go easy today since I had a Doctor’s appt during my lunch hour, but once I opened the app, I chose Stand Strong IV. Then the sensible Ylia took over and I removed that workout and did Stand Strong II because I knew my body needed a shorter, more manageable workout for today. The first time I did Stand Strong II, it was rough, but today it was easier which was a pleasant surprise. I did go a bit easy on the dynamic resistance and ended the workout with a LOT less vertigo than yesterday.

I took my lunch hour to go to the Dr and thanks to the express train I got to the area of the appointment with over 10 minutes to spare. This ended up being perfect timing because a nice lady who I believe was French because of her accent, asked me for directions to Penn Station. Funny thing is I used to know Penn Station and the LIRR very well prior to the pandemic but working from home has fogged my memory a bit and the changes they have made to the station added to my confusion. Nonetheless I was able to help this lady and escorted her to the ticket agent so she could purchase the ticket she needed to her destination. It felt soo good to feel useful. To be able to help someone else. Working from home and not going out as much due to your health issues really robs you of those kinds of opportunities so I for one am grateful I was able to help one person today. It put an extra pep in my step.

Another thing to be grateful for is my step count for the day. I walked a total of 6905 steps today. This is the most I have done since May 27th when I walked 8267 steps. This is definitely more than the 1000 or less steps I had taken some days in August, so I am proud and happy of how far I have come despite still feeling like crap on some days. Speaking of feeling like poopies, yesterday I tried eggs again and took enzyme pills to see if that would help and while it did lessen the reaction, I felt like someone was inflating my intestines. A horrible feeling. Today, I tried a spam sandwich to see if I can tolerate it and bring that to Comic Con and nope. I had that same feeling. I will try again next week but if I get the same reaction, I will just have to bring a plain bread roll to eat and a few protein bars to hold me over. At Comic Con you do a LOT of walking so I’m trying my best to see what I can actually eat and bring with me so I don’t push my body so hard without the necessary fuel. I still have time so that’s a good thing. Many people suggest protein shakes and such but they all contain citric acid which I cannot have.

All that aside, I’m basking in the wonderful day I had. Pain…yes, vertigo, yes..stomach issue..yes, but all of these were a lot less today and I was still able to make the most of my day and that is another WIN in my book!!! Now it’s time to relax with a good book and let go!

Until next time my Phoenixes. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Keep going. You’ve got this!!