Learnings & "Tricks"

Submitted by Snapcracklepop on March 11, 2016 - 1:15pm
Body: 

I'm posting in this forum because this is my current life phase and the phase that triggered my WW journey.

I wanted to share my learnings and "tricks":

Diet: I'm in the Aging Gracefully camp on this I think in that I believe we need to be careful about following fads. Our body really does know best regarding what it needs as long as we're really tuned into it. One of my important discoveries has been my body's need for fermented food. Probiotic use (for which I had to sign a contract to assure my health provider I was doing due to heavy antibiotic treatment for Lyme) just didn't come close to what actual fermented food does. It's also oh so much cheaper :-)

Sitting: I have found the best results by sitting on a zafu meditation cushion when I'm using furniture. Don't need it when I'm sitting on the floor, but I sometimes opt for it to switch things up. Using the cushion always keeps my knees lower than my hips when using furniture which is definitely important in my situation. I don't use it when driving (though I might try it some time!) but I do make sure to select a seat position in my car that minimizes how much lower my hips are than my knees. Still using a rolled up towel for lumbar support as well.

Rising: One of the most disturbing aspects of my journey has been how misaligned everything can be in the elimination department upon waking and getting out of bed. I discovered a helpful technique by just becoming aware of how my body wanted to move before getting out of bed. I'm basically a side and back sleeper (and when I'm sleeping in constrictive situations back sleeping seems to have the worst effect on my alignment). Before I get out of bed, I get onto my belly and bring my right knee up, while keeping my left leg long on the mattress and turn my face to look to the right and rest there. I can feel my body align and when it's finished I follow what my body wants to do from there. Sometimes it's "full frog" (pulling the other knee up as well while putting my face into the mattress) and sometimes it's closer to what I'll call an externally rotated child's pose. Some days eliminating after these adjustments is nearly what I experienced in my pre-prolapse days. I never thought that would ever happen!

Of course, what has worked for me and my body might not be what your body needs, but I can confidently say that engaging in WW work has helped me make these discoveries. WW work has helped me keep calm and focused at times when without it I would have panicked.

Wishing you all the best on your WW journey,
Snapcracklepop

Forum:

Aging gracefully

March 11, 2016 - 2:13pm

Hi snapcracklepop,
I am so with you on the fermented foods; they have been the best addition to my diet for gut health, it just amazing what those happy little bacteria can do for you! I have actually just started making my own kombucha, and it has been a blast! Hubby has been helping me and we have made a raspberry one that was just delicious. Can't go wrong with fermentation. It is such an old process that has been forgotten and should really be brought back to the forefront.

I am also in full agreement about listening to your own body. I have found that even that is an ongoing process. I recently discovered a new symptom getting closer to menopause, non cyclical mastalgia. I started having severe breast pain in one of my breasts after my last period, did the usual internet searching, found that it wasn't unusual, and still went in to get it checked out. I ended up getting the whole female exam, mammogram, and blood tests just to confirm that I am in perfect health. But it did give me peace of mind to go in. And, just to let those that don't know this, breast cancer doesn't usually present as pain, so I read and was told by the doctor.

I did some more studying and found that what I was missing was a little extra omega 3 in my diet. I admit I was being a little lazy in this area. I having been including a little more ground flaxseed and a daily dha supplement. I also cut back on the coffee yet again; hard to give that stuff up permanently. Within a couple of weeks, the pain went away.

Another lesson learned.

Thank you so much snapcracklepop for telling us of your experiences, great stuff!

Surviving60

March 12, 2016 - 4:47am

Hi Snap - I especially like your notes on the subject of getting up in the morning. At the beginning of this work, women often feel that morning is their best time, and things get worse through the day. But once we learn and practice posture all the time, we realize that it's the posture, our breathing, and gravity itself that does the important work. The longer we are upright and doing this, and the more we can protect our lumbar curvature at the same time, the better the whole day goes. A good stretch like this, first thing in the morning, letting the organs really drop into the belly, is a great idea and a wonderful way to start the day. - Surviving