The Honeybee's Lifestyle

Tag: Self care

  • I’ve Got The Blues

    Hello Honeybees,

    I think….  No, I know that I am having a bout of the winter blues. 

    Yes, there is such a thing as the winter blues. Even though it’s not officially winter… it’s dark AND cold…. So to my body It’s Winter!

    winter-pic

    Two weeks ago I was so full of energy. So much so that I attended 3, YES 3, events in one week. For those that know me, you know that me getting out of the house 3 nights in a row is unheard of. But since then I haven’t had the energy to go anywhere or do anything extra. It’s work & home.

    There is a medical term for the winter blues.  It’s called SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Technically the Winter Blues is a mild form of SAD.  The good thing is that I recognize that something is wrong and I can take the needed steps to get back on track. I’m going to deal with this head on. 

    Some symptoms of the winter blues include: Significant, lasting, downturn of mood, less energy, fatigue, craving for carbs (potatoes are my friend), less interest in being around other people, less interest in activities that you use to like. What makes the winter blues different than SAD is that these feelings go away in the Spring and Summer.  Between 10-20% of Americans may suffer from mild symptoms associated with the winter blues. SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance brought on by the shortening of daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in winter. 

    So now what?  How do I get over the winter blues?

    • Expose yourself to light
    • Keep a regular routine/schedule
    • Have a regular pattern of sleep; get enough sleep
    • Exercise regularly
    • Do fun things
    • Eat in a healthy way; avoid overeating

    https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/studentlife/counselingcenter/infosheets/winterblues.html

    20151017_175039091_iOS

    I am determined to NOT let the winter blues get the best of me. I’m going to get out this weekend to hang with some blogger friends and set my goals for 2017.  I AM READY FOR SPRING!!

    BelindaBee pic

    How do you deal with the winter blues?

    Beewisdom- Keep calm and pretend you are on the beach

  • Loving The Skin I’m In

    Hello Honeybees,

    As some of you might know I am a contributor for Memphis Moms Blog and a few month ago some of us participated in a swimsuit photo shoot. When asked I jumped at the chance to participate.

    Why did I do it?

    Because this is MY YEAR OF YES!!

    This is the year that I say YES to what scares me.

    This is the year that I say YES to new adventures.

    This is the year that I step out of my comfort zone.

    For most of my life I have had a weight problem… I was always underweight. 

    Some people might say that’s not a real problem but to me it was.  See, when I was growing up it wasn’t “cute” to be skinny like it is today.  Finding clothes in a size zero was almost impossible. Yes I said zero.  I was what you would call a bean pole, straight up & down and not a curve to be found.  Yes, I was ashamed of my body.  When people say that they want to be “high school fine” I say no way.  I was nowhere near “high school fine”

    1985
    1985

    When I got married at 28 I was only 100 lbs.  It wasn’t until after I had my second child at 34 that I was able to maintain what I called a decent weight. As with all things you have to learn to maintain once you reach your goal weight.  That part is still a learning curve for me.  I have now entered year 49 and the metabolism is not what it use to be.  I have to watch what I eat and force myself to exercise. I’m still not exercising like I need to but it’s coming.  Now I have curves that I have NEVER had.  Some I wouldn’t mind shifting to other areas. I am loving my “woman” curves.  I would take my 49 year old body over my 18 year old body any day.

    2016
    2016

    I said all that to say this….. I am so proud of where I am with feeling confident with my body. Do I feel this confidence every day?  NOPE, but I have more great days than not so great days.  Do I still have work to do? You bet. But I’m going to enjoy the ME that I have become!

    Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

    So ladies, enjoy the body that you have.  If YOU don’t like it do something about it.  If YOU are happy with it than STRUT YOUR STUFF LIKE ONLY YOU CAN.  

    You can find the swimsuit pics here http://www.memphismomsblog.com.  Enjoy!!!

    Belinda Bee pic

    Are you loving you? If not then who will?

    Beewisdom- If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good–Dr. Seuss

  • Where’s Honeybee?

    Hello Honeybees,

    I’m baaaack!!

    Did you miss me??  I certainly missed you.

    Thank you to those that called, texted, emailed or stopped me to inquire about the blog. To know that I was missed means the world to me.

    Let me explain why I took a break or rather why I had to take a break.

    Sometime around the end of February, first of March my energy level hit rock bottom, like zero.  Every day by noon I felt like I had worked a 16 hour day.  By 3 pm it was all I could do not to take a nap.  My body was craving rest.  I wasn’t exerting any energy so I shouldn’t be THIS tired.  After talking about it with friends and the ladies at MemphisMomsBlog I decided to go to the doctor.

    So tired quote

    At first I thought it was my thyroid so I did what everyone does….I Googled it!  I fit some of the symptoms but not all of them or in my opinion not enough to scare me.  I knew that if it was my thyroid I might be on medication and for me that’s not a good thing.  I am the worst medicine taker (new phrase alert) EVER.  I’ll take medicine until I feel better then I stop.  I have NEVER, EVER, EVER finished a Zpak in my life.  I know, I know…I’ve got’s to do better.

    Finally I have my doctor’s appointment.  We discuss my symptoms and the doctor orders blood work.  I ask her to check my thyroid, she smiles and says “I am, but I don’t think that’s it because you don’t have enough of the right symptoms”   Didn’t know that I was a MD did you? Yeah neither did I.

    When my results come in I get the answers that I need:  Low iron & low vitamin D.

    We naturally get Vitamin D from the sun, but for us girls with all that beautiful melanin it’s harder for us to absorb it naturally. Also add that fact that I wear sunscreen EVERYDAY year round.  YES, WE need sunscreen too.  If you want to keep the wrinkles away & help get rid of dark spots, sunscreen is a must.

    IMG_3158

    Vitamin D helps with the body’s abortion of iron. I have always had low iron levels but I HATE taking iron pills. Most people get enough iron intake from their diet (red meat, pork, dark leafy veggies, dried fruits like raisins). I eat red meat on special occasions, pork less than that and I don’t eat raisins.

    We need iron to carry oxygen to our cells & muscles or we will feel fatigued.  Not only is my iron normally low but now you add the fact that I don’t have enough vitamin D to help carry what little iron I do have. No wonder a sister is tired.

    So I’ve been on an iron, Vitamin D, multivitamin regime for 3 weeks and guess what…. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.  I feel like writing, I feel like walking, I feel like cooking, I feel my energy level rising.  I feel like ME!!

    Honeybee I'm back

    Please take care of yourself.  When you feel your energy levels dropping get checked out.  Don’t wait until your body MAKES YOU.

    I’m ready to tackle summer 2016.  

    See you under the sun

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom- “I’m giving you the D, whether you want it or not”- The Sun