Spiraling down but fighting to stay up.

Hi @java_mom I’m Karen and I also fight depression & anxiety. I understand about never getting out of bed or getting dressed or even brushing your teeth. I have fought this battle for about 25 years. Keep your support system going. Do you have friends you can talk to? I find they don’t have to have to Gone through exa

I'm just starting a new health regimen that is working wonders so far and I'm sharing it with you.

The impetus for doing it is my doctor put a scare in me a few weeks ago that my blood test showed pre-diabetes. That scared me into action and my plan is working wonders, having struggled with depress., anxiety, overweight and insomnia, waking early.

This is what I now do - Every day, or at least 5 - 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold, (I dress appropriately for the weather) I wake up and I walk, starting from my home to the nearby park with a paved walking path, beautiful natural surroundings, the sound of the creek, the smell of the fresh air, and I walk the path to the end and back home, hills and all, so that a third of my walk is along the sidewalk to the park, about a third is in the park, and a third back home, for a total walk of just over an hour a day.

I expect as I get into better shape, that time will decrease, but my walking goal is an hour a day. Well! Starting from day one, walking to/from/in the park reduces my anxiety, boosts my mood, helps me to get to bed earlier, and I'm losing weight, going from my present 230 to my goal weight of 180, giving myself a healthy, safe 6 months to reach 180, a done deal, I've made up my mind and know that to be my ideal weight. And, I betcha when I go back to my doctor, he's going to say i no longer have pre-diabetes!

The other thing I'm doing is, as a former sugar addict, like many people, I've cut out all processed foods and refined carbs like cookies and cakes, and replaced them with 3 reasonable meals a day, a daily salad, and, in-between meals, I only eat fresh fruits and vegs., as many as I want. An "apple a day!" (And my digestive health is improving, too!) The weight is coming off, I feel better, and if I could bottle what walking for an hour does, I would give it to all of you and see your moods lift and excess pounds peel off and walking soaks up anxiety like a sponge!

Please, if you are able, lace up the walking shoes and step outside, everybody!

I'm just starting a new health regimen that is working wonders so far and I'm sharing it with you.

The impetus for doing it is my doctor put a scare in me a few weeks ago that my blood test showed pre-diabetes. That scared me into action and my plan is working wonders, having struggled with depress., anxiety, overweight and insomnia, waking early.

This is what I now do - Every day, or at least 5 - 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold, (I dress appropriately for the weather) I wake up and I walk, starting from my home to the nearby park with a paved walking path, beautiful natural surroundings, the sound of the creek, the smell of the fresh air, and I walk the path to the end and back home, hills and all, so that a third of my walk is along the sidewalk to the park, about a third is in the park, and a third back home, for a total walk of just over an hour a day.

I expect as I get into better shape, that time will decrease, but my walking goal is an hour a day. Well! Starting from day one, walking to/from/in the park reduces my anxiety, boosts my mood, helps me to get to bed earlier, and I'm losing weight, going from my present 230 to my goal weight of 180, giving myself a healthy, safe 6 months to reach 180, a done deal, I've made up my mind and know that to be my ideal weight. And, I betcha when I go back to my doctor, he's going to say i no longer have pre-diabetes!

The other thing I'm doing is, as a former sugar addict, like many people, I've cut out all processed foods and refined carbs like cookies and cakes, and replaced them with 3 reasonable meals a day, a daily salad, and, in-between meals, I only eat fresh fruits and vegs., as many as I want. An "apple a day!" (And my digestive health is improving, too!) The weight is coming off, I feel better, and if I could bottle what walking for an hour does, I would give it to all of you and see your moods lift and excess pounds peel off and walking soaks up anxiety like a sponge!

Please, if you are able, lace up the walking shoes and step outside, everybody!

I think that's great! One of the reasons that makes getting out so therapeutic is the time in full spectrum light. Even on cloudy days getting outside for 30 minutes to an hour can make a big difference. I'm in a manual wheelchair so can't go for the walk. When I was working, though, I spent my lunch hour and breaks sitting out in my car with the door open so I was getting that full spectrum light. The farther north you live the more likely you'll feel a big difference, especially in winter. Getting outside also gets you out of bed and off the couch even if it's just for an hour. Your neighbors or your mailperson might come by and give you some interaction that will give you a little boost as well. Right now I'm finding it hard to take my own advice so maybe we can work on it together @java_mom.

Hi @java_mom I’m Karen and I also fight depression & anxiety. I understand about never getting out of bed or getting dressed or even brushing your teeth. I have fought this battle for about 25 years. Keep your support system going. Do you have friends you can talk to? I find they don’t have to have to Gone through exa

I'm just starting a new health regimen that is working wonders so far and I'm sharing it with you.

The impetus for doing it is my doctor put a scare in me a few weeks ago that my blood test showed pre-diabetes. That scared me into action and my plan is working wonders, having struggled with depress., anxiety, overweight and insomnia, waking early.

This is what I now do - Every day, or at least 5 - 7 days a week, rain or shine, hot or cold, (I dress appropriately for the weather) I wake up and I walk, starting from my home to the nearby park with a paved walking path, beautiful natural surroundings, the sound of the creek, the smell of the fresh air, and I walk the path to the end and back home, hills and all, so that a third of my walk is along the sidewalk to the park, about a third is in the park, and a third back home, for a total walk of just over an hour a day.

I expect as I get into better shape, that time will decrease, but my walking goal is an hour a day. Well! Starting from day one, walking to/from/in the park reduces my anxiety, boosts my mood, helps me to get to bed earlier, and I'm losing weight, going from my present 230 to my goal weight of 180, giving myself a healthy, safe 6 months to reach 180, a done deal, I've made up my mind and know that to be my ideal weight. And, I betcha when I go back to my doctor, he's going to say i no longer have pre-diabetes!

The other thing I'm doing is, as a former sugar addict, like many people, I've cut out all processed foods and refined carbs like cookies and cakes, and replaced them with 3 reasonable meals a day, a daily salad, and, in-between meals, I only eat fresh fruits and vegs., as many as I want. An "apple a day!" (And my digestive health is improving, too!) The weight is coming off, I feel better, and if I could bottle what walking for an hour does, I would give it to all of you and see your moods lift and excess pounds peel off and walking soaks up anxiety like a sponge!

Please, if you are able, lace up the walking shoes and step outside, everybody!