Stress

I am keenly aware of my own stress - when it's high and when it's under control. I am not the kind of person who can walk around under stress on a continuum. I need it "under control". I can tolerate it for a while...a week or so. But I have to fix problems and I have to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I really value my mental health. I know that sounds obvious - like who doesn't?But I work on it. I make a conscious effort to have good positive mental health. I have learned a TON throughout my 43 years about MY part in my mental health. My own self talk. My own bad choices. My own state of mind.

I am currently under more stress than I have been with work issues and life issues. Yesterday I called a good friend to help counsel me through. Here are some tips if you are spinning in too much stress.

Call a friend. LISTEN to that friend.

Implement a change that YOU can control.

Make a list of things that no matter what you do, can't be controlled then let it go.

Listen to your gut and take action.

STOP talking about it. For me, the more I talk sometimes, the worse it gets.

By day's end, have some things accomplished that will help you sleep without worries.

Take a bath and if necessary, TAKE A BENNEDRYL.

Grapefruit Diet follow up -

Okay- the grapefruit diet is still going well, however tweaked. Of course, there were a couple of days on the weekend when I broke the rules. I am pretty sure that Spotted Cow, stuffed dates, lasagna and cake are not on the grapefruit diet. But, you know, you've gotta live life. Monday I was back on it. Here's the scoop - I am just watching sugars. That's the bottom line. So I do eat bananas and apples and I am pretty sure I am not supposed to but as my friend Jenny says, "there's never anything wrong with something that grows from the ground or a tree".

So, how I am feeling? Pretty good. I can tell I am loosing weight. I never trust scales b/c I feel like they can swing 3 lbs every day. But my clothes are fitting better. And truth be told, I do not feel like I have deprived myself really. (Clearly, see Spotted Cow comment!!!)

The Grapefruit Diet

I am not insane enough to believe that the Grapefruit Diet or the Hollywood Diet or the Cabbage Diet can be sustained but last week, I had a few things come up that jolted me into sheer panic.

1. Lily videotaped me doing a rap for her Fairview Follies act. We watched the tape and besides being horrified, I was mortified. To top it off, my rapping kind of sucked.

2. Whenever I feel the need to change in p.j.s the second I am home, I am aware that is because everything I own is too tight. That's not good. I wore p.j.s all last week.

3. While stuffing a donut down my throat, I ran into someone who has probably not eaten a donut in years. If ever.

4. Lastly, I stupidly looked at old pictures. Never ever look at old pictures of yourself if you are currently in the p.j.s stage.

And because we are going on vacation in a month, I would prefer NOT to be a bloated mess in every picture. So there I found myself googling "how to loose weight fast". I chose the Grapefruit diet. I know it's crazy but I needed something drastic with strict rules. Because if you give this girl an inch, she'll take a donut.

So it's been 6 days. Day 3 was tough b/c I am sure I was going through major sugar withdraw. Given my typical diet of cereal, bread and yogurt, I was overloading every single day. Here is a list of food items I typically can't resist. No matter what.

donuts

ice cream

coffee cake

sweet cereal

But I am proud to say that today I bought Peter a Frosty and didn't get one for myself. I saw a commercial for Almond Joy Coffee Creamer which would usually set me off straight for my purse and keys but I am resisting. I am staying strong 6 days in...

Saying that, I am not a purest when it comes to the Grapefruit Diet. Who could be? BUT, I am trying to lay low w/ the sugars and increase the proteins which I typically consider to be a condiment at best. The greatest change to my diet is the amount of veggies I have managed to consume. I guess when you aren't stuffed with chips and salsa, a salad with dinner doesn't sound too bad.

I have no idea if I have lost weight. But I do know that I am not wearing p.j.s and I am not as sore (sugar causes inflammation!!!!). We shall see!!!!

43 - The new 40

Let me start by saying that I think that 43 is the new 40.  OR, I am just 3 years behind...which would make sense b/c I have always been a little immature. I would have friends say "well, since I turned 40...".  I never felt any different at or after 40 until recently. But finally, alas, I feel a little happier, a little more secure and a ton more acceptance.
Acceptance...
I accept that today,while sneezing, I not only peed my pants, I actually had to change my clothes.
I accept that even though I am trying to remember that 2 different things can't occur at the same time, I am continuously double scheduling.  The old me would be beating myself up about that to no end but recently, I am letting that go.  Kind of even okay w/ the fact that I bet I will do again probably this month!
I accept that I will never be able to sit Indian style again.
I accept that some people don't like me.
I accept that some days I parent well and some I don't.
I accept that I never got my kids into going to church and I am pretty okay with that.
I accept that sometimes I want to be social and sometimes I want to be alone.

To accept means that I no longer am expending energy to fix it.  No more worries.  No more strategies.  No more relentless efforts to get this thing done perfectly.  I know I used to say "I am not perfect" but deep down I wished I were.  Now I am honestly just OKAY with it.  Again, I love the Gretchen Rubin commandment of "Be Gretchen".  I am just finally happy to just "Be Julia".

Gratitude - Top Ten

1. Thank you to the postal system for giving me back my old mail man.  I was so happy to see him and what's sweet is that he was equally happy to see us!
2.  Thank you to my OB/GYN DR for being funny, normal, human and for calling me "Jule" the whole time.  Love it.  Thank you Dr. Sadowsky for making me feel in shape, happy and young...even if it's only for 15 minutes.
3.  Thank you to the Mt. Prospect Park District for crediting me for the swim class I signed Peter up for but never sent him to b/c I totally forgot I signed him up.  Thank you 19 year old kid for listening to me plea my case of the "overwhelmed syndrome" ....And lastly, thanks for not making fun of me when it would have been really easy to do so.
4.  Thanks to The Plant Manager for such a sweet and simple landscaping design.  I finally feel grown up.
5.  Thanks to Indpls for proving once again last weekend, that a girl CAN always come home and feel the love..
6.  Thank you to District 57 for being a fab school district and helping me raise my children!  You are practically co parenting at this point so I appreciate all the help!
7.  Thanks to my friends, for whom I would be NADA without.  Thanks for making me laugh, for the counsel, for the perspective and for the reminders that I can't attend 2 different meetings a the same time (some of you know my schedule better than I).
8.  Thanks to my 3 cherubs who have adjusted to school and structure better than I could have anticipated.  I swear you do more and do better than I did as a sophomore in college.
9.  Thank you to my never ending supportive crew at Picket Fence who let me melt, recover and melt again.
10.  And lastly - a HUGE shout out and thank you to my husband for taking such good care of our lives...for making sure we never get another drop of water in our house, making sure the roof is done right, that the cars all have stickers and for making sure our checkbook balances. (The list goes on and on with this one!!