Rationalization

I did indeed get my period yesterday, and spent the day fighting against my desire to stuff myself with potato chips, pepperoni pizza and massive greasy cheeseburgers. After being well-behaved all day at work, I made myself cheeseburgers for dinner, so that I could control the ingredients but still get my salt and grease fix. Then I had a long hot bath and went to bed.

I must admit that after seeing how many calories I tucked away for dinner, I am rather amazed that I don't weigh 305 lb instead of 205! 4 slices of bread, 2 hamburger patties, 1/2 avocado, mayo (though the half-fat kind), greens, whole grain mustard...and then later on a ham sandwich because I was still hungry and wanted comfort food to eat in bed.

I'm still vaguely crampy today, but I hope to stick to my diet now that the first day of my period is over. At least it is raining out, so I slept like a rock last night and could happily have stayed in bed when my alarm went off. So lovely, sleeping in the cool air...as if I am having a warm bath of sleep. Mmm.

Not sure about exercise today. No walking or swimming, because it is raining, and no yoga because menstruating women aren't supposed to do inverted poses. Pilates, maybe. Or even some gentle stretching. Or - which in my present groggy state seems most likely - another long hot bath and then bed!

I have to admit that I don't know when I should exercise and when I should rest. As someone with a sluggish thyroid, for a long time doing exercise had direct physical consequences, and they were definitely a sign that I should not exercise. My body simply had nothing left to give, because I was under-medicated. But now my meds are properly adjusted. So how do I know when "tired" is "but exercising anyhow will be positive" or when it is "you really do need the rest and recuperation"? I can't get past believing that if I am already tired, what I need is sleep, not a workout.