Cate's Diary

Thanks, Llama & Liza.
My day changed considerably. G has shopping he had to do in town for a golf tournament next week so I suggested that because it was a miserable day anyway why don't we go do it so we did. We left Arch at home, I went to the doc along the way & we got all of the shopping done(plus stuff for us) & I got a haircut to boot. It's very short. The last 2 times they didn't cut my hair short enough & it was too even so this time I asked for a razor cut & short & that's what I got. It will look better in a week!

I had a good talk with the doctor about my inability to lose weight & she agreed that I have to boost my metabolism & suggested strength training. Somehow I have to get myself back into a routine of doing exercises at home. I also talked to her about being down & suitable medication for me, depending on an accurate diagnosis of my condition, which she thinks should be after having a psychiatric assessment. I am going back to see her in a month as I don't feel up to going down that path yet. I think I know what I have & I have got myself to this stage in my life without a diagnosis or seeing a psych & it scares me a bit. My doctor was very good & I'm glad I opened up to her.

I am definitely going out to play 9 holes of golf with G on Thursday. I hope I can still hit the ball.

While G & I were having lunch in town yesterday I got a call from our older GS asking what was happening for Pop's birthday & I told him I had been going to message him when I got home. It suits him & his GF to come for dinner on Sunday night, so that will be lovely. I might message R & see if he wants to come up.
 
Cate said:
I had a good talk with the doctor about my inability to lose weight & she agreed that I have to boost my metabolism & suggested strength training. Somehow I have to get myself back into a routine of doing exercises at home.
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The diagnosis makes sense, and best of luck to you with the exercise. I am happy that I have been able to keep up exercising, to be honest I never imagined I could. It will help.
Cate said:
I also talked to her about being down & suitable medication for me, depending on an accurate diagnosis of my condition, which she thinks should be after having a psychiatric assessment. I am going back to see her in a month as I don't feel up to going down that path yet. I think I know what I have & I have got myself to this stage in my life without a diagnosis or seeing a psych & it scares me a bit.
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Hey it is what it is, no reason to be scared of it. And if there are medications that will make you feel better why not? Take care of yourself lady!
Cate said:
My doctor was very good & I'm glad I opened up to her.
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Good for you, and her!
 
Potential treatment and support are the only reasons for pretty much anyone to get diagnosed for anything; that's normal. Being pleased about having to go see a doctor would probably be a bad thing! But apart from possible help for you it might be good for R to see you do the things you tell him to do for self-care.
 
Thanks, Rob & Llama. I have done well to get to this stage without opening a can of worms. I will take the step after I see her next, but it does frighten me. I have always said to myself that I will do something about it if G dies as I know I will need help then, but have put off doing anything. I made an appointment to see her in a month & then I'll get a referral. Unfortunately, it will have to be seeing someone via telephone, rather than in person as the waiting list is really long for in-person appointments. I hate video calls or even talking on the phone to strangers.
If R is doing well then I usually am too.
I had a really good day today & got lots of things done, including 2 good walks with Arch. It was cold & I rugged up, but actually turned the walk into a good cardio one, by walking back up our very steep hill. I have taken off my Fitbit & am back to wearing my old watch that I can read without my glasses. Instead, I'm going to put my exercises into MFP manually. I fished out my old physio & exercise physiologist's notes & Llamas exercises & am starting on a mix of them tomorrow. I will do strength training every second day & a long walk every other day. I have to get my heart rate up so gardening would be good too.
I'm going out for a hit of golf on Thursday.
 
Hey Cate, I watched a show about whisky last night, it focused on Scotch. In one segment they talked about how Tasmania is the up and coming high end whisky producer. They did segments on the Lark distillery, the first in Tasmania and on Sullivan's Cove. Both are in Hobart. Apparently the climate and soils in Tasmania are similar to Scotland, and y'all have good supply of peat. Anyway thought that was interesting.
Cate said:
have put off doing anything
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Don't put it off too long. If it's something that will make your life better why not do it sooner rather than later?
Cate said:
I will do strength training every second day & a long walk every other day.
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Good plan!

Have fun golfing.
 
Your strength training plan sounds great.

The psychiatric assessment sounds scary, but if you think it would help you, then you should do it.
 
Sounds like a good doctors visit. Always good to explore various options available. I didn't use meds for years but eventually decided to use them...Psychiatrists and diagnosis don't need to be scary at all. I loved my one psychiatrist. He was so warm and open and friendly. I hope if you do opt for that route you get one just as lovely and open.
Cate said:
I had a really good day today & got lots of things done, including 2 good walks with Arch. It was cold & I rugged up, but actually turned the walk into a good cardio one, by walking back up our very steep hill.
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Good for you!
Cate said:
I fished out my old physio & exercise physiologist's notes & Llamas exercises & am starting on a mix of them tomorrow. I will do strength training every second day & a long walk every other day. I have to get my heart rate up so gardening would be good too.
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Sounds like a great plan. i also have trouble getting motivated on the strength training, but it is really important.
 
A good day indeed. Yay for starting strength training! I think starting something which already feels daunting at a time when you just had a massive loss would be even harder. I put things off all the time as well though, so I do understand.
 
Hi, Rob. Southern Tasmania's climate is very much like Scotland's I think (good for making whisky) & the north is very much like France's so good for cool climate wines, similar to champagne. We have so many Scotch whiskies that we don't buy any. It's good that they're getting good overage.
I will make a decision before I see her next & will probably give telehealth a go. If it was seeing someone in person I wouldn't find it so daunting.
I'm looking forward to playing golf.
Hi, Em. Today I actually have to start though. I always feel I have to be dressed for exercise (everything stretchy) so should do them before my shower. I'll try that today anyway. I'm going to the pool comp tonight with G as it's his birthday, which doesn't require dressing up as such. :ROFLMAO: I don't think the psych assessment will help me particularly but may help with which meds I might benefit from. I think I have BP2. There's a spectrum with almost everything & I'm way down on it these days.
Hi, Liza. I think finding a medication that might benefit me is worth seeing someone, but I will find it hard to connect properly with someone over the phone. Strength training is really important, but so much harder to do at home.
Hi, Llama. I have given myself a month to think about seeing someone. My depression is something that lives just below the surface & rears its ugly head mostly when R gets down and/or things pile on top of one another.

I had better make sure I start my strength training today so I can report that I have done it. Thanks, everyone for the encouragement!
R is very much down & I suggested that he might want to come home for a couple of nights to catch up with his brother & niece & nephews. He messaged me last night to say that he was coming up. He needs help finding a path forward & I can usually do that for him.
 
You are such a great support to R and I'm sure he appreciates that very much. I'm also sure that D does like you - how could he not? Some people just aren't as expressive or emotional.
 
Thanks, Em. I know D loves me.
Just popping in to say I did one set of weights (8 exercises, 8 reps) I then did some shoulder rolls & some more of Llama’s stretches. I think I won’t do overhead triceps dips as they seem to hurt my neck. I’ll start off slowly & may change which ones I do.
Currently it’s
Squats
Bicep curls
Overhead press
Front raises
DB upright row
DB brachialis overhead press
Triceps kickbacks
Double heel raises( will progress to singles)
Then some stretches.
It felt good to make a start.
 
Thanks, Llama. I thought of you yesterday, while I was sorting out what I will do. I also printed up my list of exercises & combined them. It will change as I go. I was a bit stiff in the arms last night. I think these will be good. I'm definitely going for a hit of golf today. That will be interesting. I hope I still like it.
I had a good day yesterday. Ate healthily, moved a lot, and felt better mentally.
 
Cate said:
Just popping in to say I did one set of weights (8 exercises, 8 reps) I then did some shoulder rolls & some more of Llama’s stretches. I think I won’t do overhead triceps dips as they seem to hurt my neck. I’ll start off slowly & may change which ones I do.
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A great start!!

I have learned the hard way if it hurts don't do it, or be careful anyway. Not talking about soreness from starting up, but real hurt. Be careful with the triceps dips. My shoulder won't let me do a lot of them either. There is always something you can do, just may take a while to find it.
 
Thanks, Rob. I won't be doing any triceps dips & will try to be extra careful with anything that might hurt my shoulders & neck.
I came into the forum to report something that has given me a real sense of accomplishment.
I just played 9 holes of golf & played enough good shots to get me back. A couple of times I said to G "I'm back!" Some of my drives were lovely & I putted really well. By the time I finished, I could barely walk & the buggy I borrowed was really hard to push. I'm going to buy G a new buggy, just like the one he has now & I'll have his old one & it's as light as a feather & really easy to push. I'm going to continue playing socially & not with the women until the end of the year & then will most probably join up & then can play whenever I feel like it, without paying any green fees. I may play with the women, but I'm not in any great hurry. I ache from head to toe, but I played 9 holes!!!!! :party:I am so happy about that!
 
Congratulations on the successful golf round! There are much less unpleasant triceps exercises, by the way, which don't put stress on your neck. The overhead press hits your triceps as well though, so I wouldn't add more isolation exercises. Please make sure to keep your head and neck nice and upright while doing any upper body exercise.
 
Thanks, Llama. I like the overhead press & won't do the dips again. I'll be extra careful to keep my head & neck upright. I might do them in the mirror, but definitely not tomorrow.
Thanks, @Trusylver for the ❤️ I was so thrilled with playing again!
 
Cate said:
I came into the forum to report something that has given me a real sense of accomplishment.
I just played 9 holes of golf & played enough good shots to get me back. A couple of times I said to G "I'm back!" Some of my drives were lovely & I putted really well. By the time I finished, I could barely walk & the buggy I borrowed was really hard to push. I'm going to buy G a new buggy, just like the one he has now & I'll have his old one & it's as light as a feather & really easy to push. I'm going to continue playing socially & not with the women until the end of the year & then will most probably join up & then can play whenever I feel like it, without paying any green fees. I may play with the women, but I'm not in any great hurry. I ache from head to toe, but I played 9 holes!!!!!
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Good for you!! That's a lot of walking.

Have to admit I have not played a total of 9 holes in my life - unless you count miniature golf. I did try once, think I got to about 3 holes before it got dark...

However in college I once had a summer job at a golf course, watering from 4 am to 8 am and then raking sand traps until noon. So I got to learn a bit about how the whole process works. Also, the town I grew up in, Dunedin, Florida, was home to the world headquarters for the Ladies PGA, but they moved away when I was pretty young. We used to sneak onto the course to salvage golf balls from the mud.
 
So lovely reading your latest posts Cate. Wonderful that you were able to get out golfing again. Sounds like it brings you a lot of joy! And sounds like a good workout too so a great combo!
Wonderful about beginning the strength training. Sounds like you are on a really great track altogether!
 
Thanks, Rob. Pushing a cart around a golf course is hard work as our course is also quite hilly. It was much harder of course with a buggy that was next to useless. Then playing golf as well after over 2 years of absence was not easy at all. I still loved it. :) I'm ok this morning which is a big relief. It was great cardio.
liza3 said:
So lovely reading your latest posts Cate. Wonderful that you were able to get out golfing again. Sounds like it brings you a lot of joy! And sounds like a good workout too so a great combo!
Wonderful about beginning the strength training. Sounds like you are on a really great track altogether!
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Thanks, Liza. I think I was afraid that I would damage my knee further by playing so it's a great relief to have completed 9 holes & am no worse off this morning. I think starting strength training the day before wasn't such a great idea & I need to work out what stretches & exercises would fit in with golf. I'll look that up later.
The shearer is coming this morning so I had better get on the move & I have to participate in a zoom meeting at 11 to get the numbers for the allergy association. I'll take Arch for a walk beforehand I think. We're getting him used to being home on his own a bit more now that we have a doggy door.
 
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