Sneaking up behind someone with a heart condition is, in general, not recommended.

Jsyk.

When my heart gets back from the marathon it's running, I'm gonna go to sleep. 😆 🤣

Always... always, always, ALWAYS... save the treat until you're *done eating*. And *ONLY* if they behave. 😭😭😭

As always - try to be kind to yourself, and keep in mind that your body's needs are as valid as anyone else's. Don't compare yourself to other people - focus on what's best for you, and what you're able to do/handle.

If the world is gonna be hard on you, there's no need for you to do the same.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Small snacks can equal a meal if you have them enough, and some nutrients is better than none.

Try to stock up on any needed supplies when you're able.

If you find yourself more Depressed, please remember that SAD can happen during any shift.

A gentle reminder to folks that with the change in seasons come changes in energy levels and health conditions!

Be cautious and take the steps you need to in order to care for your body and mind as needed.

Don't overexert yourself in the moments of higher energy you have, and protect your skin!

Honestly, that sounds amazing. I am heat intolerant, and that would make life infinitely better.

I feel like cuddling an Alolan Vulpix would have the opposite effect. 👀

Saw a fan poster for "Resident Evil 4", where the 4 was in front, and brain read it as "President Evil".

Currently, I'm working on the Vicar Amelia model and her antlers broke off. This is frustrating, but the fact that I've been able to use this model to determine course of action for the next helps a lot.

I may eventually collect these to kinda catalog where I've learned new lessons along the way.

One of the downsides of miniature painting is that sometimes parts of the model break when you're painting it.

I use these as practice models if the pieces can't be adhered back the way they should be, or use the flaws for lore building, or use them for kitbashing/scenery.

You deserve compassion and love, and to be a safe space for yourself if nothing else. No one else's opinion of you can change who you are, or change your value - that's intrinsic to you and can't be taken away. It's just easy to lose sight of it sometimes. Especially in a world trying to sell love.

Other peoples' opinions of you are a reflection of their own experiences, insecurities, etc - not a reflection of you, specifically. Accountability and growth are not the same as shame and punishment.

Anyway. This has been your semi-regular reminder that popular media does not have your best interests at heart - they have their bottom line at heart - and that hurting yourself with your inner monologue isn't helping you, nor is subjecting yourself to fads to try to earn affection/social status.

Even down to our word choices, bias can be present, and subsequently influential. Understanding this and consciously changing the language used when reading an article or listening to a reporter can help immensely. This is a skill that spans far beyond just nutrition, exercise, and medical advice.

The YouTuber, TikTokker, etc without a sponsor is just as likely to be biased as a major news corporation. The need to get views means a need for sensationalized coverage a lot of the time, and with no body checking qualifications or journalistic research methods, bias is almost inevitable.

This, like everything else in our world, is an intricate dance of multiple variables. It's important to know how to parse through scientific RESEARCH (not literature reviews - bias is almost excessively present there - primary sources) and how to check sources.

As well as a fair degree of self-awareness regarding the WHY of your motivations. If you spend your life constantly chasing other peoples' validation, you will never really feel valid, loved, or appreciated. When you have it, you'll assume it's going to leave, and self-sabotage is more likely.

Chronic illness, pain, and fatigue are besties and like to go everywhere together. Unsurprisingly, nutrient deficiencies tend to be more common in people with these, as well.

All of this to say that media literacy and a supportive medical team are both important in regards to these subjects.

Recumbent biking and swimming are the two exercises suggested to START strengthening your heart if you have a heart condition or exercise intolerance, but they aren't so easily available to folks with limited resources. Especially when one of those resources might be energy.

There are also some economic barriers to entry for certain low-impavt exercises recommended for cardiac patients. Many folks don't live near a pool, or don't have access to a gym - and not for lack of trying. Many bodies of water aren't safe for swimming - due to pollutants or otherwise.

All of these conditions can come with a particular issue - exercise intolerance. Where the body physically rejects exercise in visceral ways, and the patient has to be given a specialized plan to make progress. This is one place where low-impact routines come in handy.

Sudden changes are a major signal that something is wrong, and it's gonna fight you even if you take it slow. Every pound or kilo on your body feels twice as heavy with gravity, and obesity is heavily comorbid with conditions like asthma, tachycardia, POTS, temperature dysregulation, and more.

The body tries to maintain homeostasis, and a sudden decrease in calories or increase in calorie output, or both, can trigger the body seeking nutrients to compete with the new circumstances.

With so many people experiencing some form of dysmorphia and/or dysphoria, fad diets and exercise plans still hold as much sway as ever - because an easy fix is what we desire, but easy fixes don't really exist. For larger folks, this is even truer.

It is recognized that genetics play a major role in predisposing you to certain health conditions and bodily functions/dysfunctions. Yet we often waive that off in discussions of diet and exercise in mainstream media, which can be horribly detrimental to the people watching and retaining the info.

The current hypothesis being tested being that famines mean survivors selected based on who could survive with fewer nutrients in their bodies - among other traits - which has eventually lead to a decrease of absorption/retention/metabolism in their ancestors, especially as similar families mixed.

Dietary needs - like any biological function - are insanely unique to each person. Each body may need a different plan for diet and exercise to achieve similar goals.

There's also some research going on that suggests that families that survived famines may play a key role in nutrient absorption.

For POTS, TriOral ORS is super helpful, and recommended by Cardiologists - and contains just enough sugar to help with absorption of the salts.

Which brings me to reminding folks that too little sodium, sugar, or fat can be just as or more detrimental than too much.

This is why sugar plays a key role in certain oral rehydration solutions (ORS) or electrolyte drinks. Your body makes less use of plain water than it does water AND a small snack, water AND electrolytes with a little sugar, etc.

Most foods are healthy and beneficial to you in some way, shape, or form - and in moderation. Much like too much oxygen or water can kill you, the same applies to any food substance.

Sugar and fat also play key roles in nutrient absorption.