MLC vs Midlife Reboot

[ciluzen]

Had to cut-off my earlier update to go hiking.

Anyway, part of my GAL has been transformation. During the most stressful/depressed stages of this whole BD/separation/D filed crisis, my health took a nose dive. I still functioned and was able to work (except for a few days that I called in due to not being able to get out of fetal position), but I had just about every symptom of major stress. I was on the internet every day looking for relief for each symptom.

I couldn't sleep so I took melatonin, Nighty-night tea by Traditional Medicinals or chamomile, warm baths with epsom salts, ginger, and scented oils such as lavender, patchouli, and ylang ylang.

I had "the shakes" and couldn't eat (no appetite, no desire, no interest) so I made myself cook very simple but large amounts of proteins that I could portion out over the week and just add salad and vegetables to. For instance, sauteed chicken breast or a crockpot of black beans. Then a bunch of greens (leafy darker ones) and some other type of steamed or roasted veg. I made sure to have greek yogurt in some form (in cereal milk or smoothy, for instance) every day. It was easy, I told myself I had to do it, and I didn't have to think hard about it except for the day I did the cooking of the protein. I snacked on nuts a lot. I ended up being 45 pounds down from pre-BD weight at my lowest so I needed this plan.

Arthritis attacked all of my old injury sites, especially my back, neck, and hips. So I walked, ran when I could, stretched multiple times a day, and tried to learn about yoga and meditation. I started seeing a chiropractor with an onsite massage therapist when I found out my insurance covered it.

I really made sure I took my multi-vitamin, but started adding magnesium; vitamins D, B complex,and C; and fish oil.

I got through that period and slowly things have gotten better, but with the stress of the big move (into my apartment for me and getting everything garage saled, donated or moved to storage, H's apartment, or to the vacation home (H's other residence- not so much mine at all), I noticed a few big changes in me.

Whereas I had a few greyish areas in my hair hiding in the sun bleached parts (my hair is dark auburn), I had gotten VERY grey. The nutritional damage done in fall and winter caused weakness in my hair...it was thinner and was breaking off at just above my shoulders, but I still had a lot of longer hair to midback, but thin enough to notice. I had bags and dark circles under my eyes.

So its me time. I found a great colorist (never colored my hair before and said I never would) and she did a great job "matching" my original color. She cut my hair shorter and neatened it all up (I have really curly hair). The thinning isn't so noticeable now with the shorter cut (still just slightly above my shoulders) as my hair curls more when shorter. I bought eye cream and today I'm going to get a facial, eyelash and brow tinting (brows were getting grey, too) and waxing. A spa day!

I've also added biotin and DHEA to my supplements for hair, skin, and nails.

And I've already done my first project for school and school starts Tuesday!

So, transformation. Time to feel good about me.