Happy Friday, friends. I’m kicking off another round of Ask Stephany Anything today with questions that people have asked from my form. (If you have questions for me, fill it out! I’m an open book.) Since I’m dedicated to keeping my posts short and sweet this month (when possible), I’m just going to answer the questions San asked me, since I got a bit wordy! These were great questions, San, and I loved answering them.
First and foremost: How are you? Especially now that the election results have fully sunk it?
I am doing okay. I have decided that social media is not going to be where I get my news so I have unfollowed many news sources and muted people who seem to only share political posts these days. I want to be able to go on Instagram to be entertained and my algorithm is very much geared toward cat videos, dachshund videos, funny meme accounts, and comedians. That’s exactly what I want. (I don’t really believe that sharing political things on my Instagram is going to move the needle, considering those who agree with me are already watching my Stories and those that don’t have either unfollowed or muted me.) I will listen to Pod Save America and read their nightly newsletter to stay up on the news, but I may also take breaks from it from time to time. My friend also clued me in to this news source (unfortunately, she’s only on Facebook, ugh), who shares long detailed recaps of what happened the previous day and I plan to read through her recaps once a week.
The fight for democracy is going to be a long, hard one. There is not much we can do now, but I hope to find local organizations that I can give my time and money to.
Do you feel a noticeable difference in your energy levels now that you are using the CPAP?
Oh, for sure! I mentioned in the post I wrote a week after I’d been using CPAP therapy that I had already noticed a difference in my energy levels and that continues to be true. I don’t think I realized how exhausted I really was before starting CPAP. I truly could not get through the day without needing a nap and I felt so terrible about that. I felt like I was lazy and unmotivated and maybe even depressed? Some of those depression symptoms were likely just due to my lack of sleep, not a chemical imbalance. My blood oxygen percentage is also improving (usually staying steady around 95%, which is so close to normal! Before CPAP, I was regularly seeing blood oxygen levels around 90% and sometimes even below that.) Things are for sure on the upswing.
What’s your go-to breakfast right now?
I switch between a bowl of apple and cinnamon oatmeal (the instant kind, from Quaker) and two fried eggs on toast. Easy, simple, and delicious!
What do you like most about your new workout routine?
I like the feeling of pushing myself and working hard. It can be really easy to let myself off the hook when I’m doing a workout at home (for example, I was only using 5-lb weights anytime I did a strength video and now I don’t select anything under 10 lbs at the gym!). I like that I can come to class and the workout is ready for me, but that there’s also a community aspect. I see the same people week after week. I have a trainer who pushes me but also provides modifications if I’m struggling with back pain. I like feeling consistent and excited about working out. It doesn’t feel like a chore, but rather something I look forward to.
What’s your go-to breakfast?
Oooh! First of all, I am so happy you’re feeling so much better and well rested. Sleep is so important. I feel like a weird sleep/ rest evangelist but it’s true, our bodies need the yin so we can do the yang!
My son Jake LOVES that apple cinnamon Quaker oatmeal!
Look at you getting so much stronger! Amazing!!!
Also I kind of missed you were doing an AMA! I’m so sorry! I didn’t have questions!
Yes- It’s VERY hard to push myself at home as much as I would at the gym, and I don’t push myself as much at the gym as I did when I worked with a trainer. I’m wondering if I need to work with a trainer again to see real strength gains. Sigh.
Yes, I don’t think posting anything on social media is helpful. The people reading you, already agree with you. I also just want light, funny things right now. At some point I’ll get more involved in the fight, but I just can’t right now.
Glad you like your CPAP! I was pretty sure you would. I know someone else who uses it, and he said it changed his life.
I can’t even imagine how horrible is must be to have untreated apnea. To be “doing everything right” yet being tired all of the time. Yikes.
My rule is that if a follow on FB or Insta does not bring me joy, then unfollow. I’m on social to keep up with people that I care about, learn about cool places to go for my local travels, and for puppy videos. I don’t follow the news very closely – some people have told me that’s why I’m a liberal, because if I followed the news and was informed, then I would obviously think like they do…which is exactly why I continue on my path of blissful ignorance.
Breakkies!!!! I’ve been on a frozen sandwich kick forever. My favorite is the sausage biscuits from Costco but sometimes I mix it up with English muffin sammies. I always have breakfast burritos in the freezer, and once in a while I have oatmeal.
Isn’t it cool when you are working out and at first you can barely lift anything and later you start to get stronger and notice it? I remember doing bench presses and only being able to press the bar and later I could put a lot of weight on it and it was so satisfying. Of course, now I am back to probably being able to only lift the bar (if that!) but it is nice to see the progress for sure.
My breakfast when biking is often oatmeal, but now I am in one place and am really enjoying being able to cook some eggs! I love eggs but they are not something I can carry with me when on the move. I usually just scramble and cook in the microwave for ease and top with cheese!