It may seem like a dramatic blog post title, but that’s what it was this week. My Dad passed on last December, and I dealt with significant grief the first half of this past year. I was so confused, dismayed and out of sorts during the first 6 months of 2015, as I experienced headaches about 4 days a week, frequent migraines, tiredness and lack of motivation. However, by the end of the summer, I felt that I knew the best courses of action for myself both physically and emotionally. I was taking better care of myself than I ever had before. It was occurring as another great gift from my Dad.
Rounding into the holiday season, I figured there was a wave of grief coming. I thought I was prepared for it. Yeah, not quite.
I had 3 migraines this week and spent a good part of 2 consecutive days in bed. It didn’t feel good physically or mentally. I worked to accept it. I scaled back on the business work I had hoped to accomplish during these slower work weeks, and did my best to mentally hit the reset button each day. I completed most of my training plan, yet not at the intensity that was probably expected.
Sunday – Migraine in morning. My gym’s pool was closed for annual maintenance so I made arrangements to use the pool at my gym’s other location in Chicago – the one downtown. I’d never been there before. The pool was much shorter in distance! I’m not sure by how much. Perhaps even half the length. Phew, I was glad that I had taken on the logistics to find another pool in which to train, but I was thinking that it wasn’t worth trying to get another guest pass to go down there again. I did 40 minute of swimming. It wasn’t quite my usual workout routine because I wasn’t sure how to convert the distances. Instead, I focused on putting in the time. Probably wasn’t as intense of a workout. = 40 minutes
Monday – Migraine in morning. (I have sumatriptan headache pills I can take. They usually get rid of the migraine within an hour and a half.) Swam with my daughter in the 4th floor family pool. (My gym has a 4th floor family pool and a 1st floor lap pool. I’m usually, of course, in the 1st floor pool, but it was still closed…) We were in the pool for 50 minutes, for about 30 minutes of work. So, this wasn’t very intense. I was sometimes swimming with a couple of rings and dropping them periodically for McKenzie to find. It was fun and I was glad I got some swimming in. Then I got in 1.5 hours on the bike. I went to a 1-hour cycling class and then stayed for an extra half hour. = 2 hours
Tuesday – Another migraine. I was wiped after 3 days of migraine. Rested.
Wednesday – No migraine! Went for a run! 45 minutes with strides every 5 minutes for 20 seconds, starting half way through. I did this on the indoor track at the gym. Unfortunately, I don’t think this helped my headache situation because the place smelled like paint (and honestly a little bit like feet) from the annual maintenance work they were doing. = 45 minutes
Thursday – In bed.
Friday – 45 minutes run. = 45 minutes
Saturday – 2 hour cycling class. I started out the class feeling like I was on the verge of getting a headache. I kept deep breathing and stretching my neck from time to time. I left the class still feeling like I was on the verge of getting a headache. I was relieved that I did 2 hours of exercise and that it didn’t worsen. = 2 hours
TOTAL = 6 hours, 10 minutes
Not all that was planned for the week. Given the pool closure, grief, and 3 migraines; I’m going to call it an accomplishment.
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