BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Self Development New Years Resolution Support

I did try Melatonin a number of years ago and i had an allergic reaction (it gave me an awful rash around my mouth). I want to try it again, though, so thanks for reminding me... i keep forgetting to pick some up. It's my hope that perhaps my allergic reaction was to the inert ingredients, and that another brand won't cause the same reaction. Our bodies produce melatonin, so how could i be allergic, ya know? I guess it's possible, though. I've even heard of salt allergies! How can a person be allergic to salt?

I read a couple of months ago that in a large clinical trial, regularly taken melatonin was hugely successful in helping migraine sufferers to prevent them. I've been lucky the last few months not to have any migraines, but i wanted to try the melatonin again for that reason.

Yes, it's always that last bit of persistence that makes the difference, isn't it? Speaking of which... i think i'll get ready for bed.

thanks a lot,
good night.

holly, reading food labels is a great way to improve health! You'll find a lot of info there maybe you wish you didn't know-lol.

I tried melatonin also and it didn't work for me. Kept me awake.

You could try chamomile tea before bedtime or a supplement called Calms Forte-which is natural and mostly chamomile. You can get it at the health food store.

I also take my calcium supplements near bedtime and it helps relax me.

Getting enough sleep is so important to health and keeping your weight down.

Calcium... interesting. I've only ever taken it in the morning. I'll have to try that. I have cammomile tea, and sometimes i have that before bed. I find that Valerian helps me to fall asleep under easy circumstances (I learned about it from nurses who use Valerian to help them sleep when their shift schedules change, because unlike sleeping pills, it doesn't leave you groggy and is non-habit forming), but the real problem with my sleep is the nightmares, that makes me not want to sleep. The only thing i've ever found to help that was Kava, so recently i got some more, but this time it doesn't seem to be effective, at least not yet. It isn't one of those things though that you can take once and it's effective... you have to build it up in your body, just like anti-depressants and some other medications. My nightmares are always bad in December and the beginning of January. Now that it is mid-January, my nightmares are starting to ease up a bit, and as some of you may have noticed on the forum... i'm not as grouchy as i was, either, LOL!

Anyone sticking to or breaking their Resolutions or goals?

I'm doing pretty good:

--Exercise five times a week. Averaging 3.5 times/week right now.

--Line up three public speaking gigs to promote my business. I have tried (once) and need to do better here.

--Increase my savings to 10% of my income per month. Yes, but I want to automate it.

--Learn social media marketing so I can help my clients with it. I am experimenting and reading and networking with pros in the area, so I'm on my way.

--Publish more -- two ebooks in the first quarter, and a softcover book to sell locally by the end of the second quarter. Working on one ebook now. Hope to finish mid-Feb.

--Attend at least two social functions a month. Totally, for Jan I've been out way more than twice!

How about everyone else?

Good Deb! Keep going!

I am working on the saving money thing, but had unexpected car repairs - one right before Christmas and one right after, so I am trying to bounce back from that. I am putting all of my OT in the savings acct (over a hundred dollars each week) and of course you know i am trying to quit smoking, and that will save me lots of $. When I get my treadmill, i will be starting a walking program.

I have been writing every day and am taking an online course (free from Suite 101) in creative writing.

so I am not doing badly, but not as well as I had imagined.

Thanks, Sue!

That's great about the OT money! And, yes, smoking does save tons of money. I don't what cigarettes cost now, but at 2 packs a day, I spent a fortune even on off-brands (Basic--I'd decided several years before if I was going to smoke, I was going to smoke cheaper brands!) So, you'll definitely save enough to buy new workout clothes or writing books! LOL

Congrats on the treadmill, too! I don't have room for one, and I have an elliptical that's at my daughter's house because I don't have room for it. But, there's a free gym and a nice big lake in my apt. complex, so no complaints! LOL

And, good deal on the writing course. All my writing is nonfiction now, but I like fiction, too, and there are tons of writers on here who write fiction, so you have some good resources!

Looks like 08 is starting very well, indeed.

Deb

i would love to have a free gym at my disposal. good for you!
Yeah I smoke Basic lights, and they are 4.45 a pack. My husband smokes too so we pay a lot for cigs!!

Wow! I would be spending $267 a month on cigarettes if I hadn't quit. (That's 2 packs a day, and honestly, sometimes I smoked more than that!) That's $3,204 a year minimum for one person. Oh, and I smoked the 100's, are they more? LOL

I can afford a heckuva vacation on money I have not spent on cigarettes the last 21 months! I think I'll do the editors trip in April & chunk it up to saving money on cigarettes--It will be about a week before my 2 year quit anniversary, but so what! LOL

wow... both of you are doing so great! I'm really amazed at what you've accomplished! See... don't you feel great?

I popped back in to look again at how i stated my resolutions and see how i'm doing...

1. To cultivate an outstanding attitude this year.

I think i'm showing improvement. Looking forward to things in my day has become second nature. Looking at what i've accomplished instead of what i haven't is improving. I'm reading a book about happiness right now, and i'm trying to be less "stuck" with my chronic problems, but instead try new things.

2. To become more regular in my habits, particularly sleep and work.

Again, improvement... not as much as i had hoped, but at least i'm going in the right direction. I'm sleeping between 8-8.5 hours most nights... which is better than 5 hrs, 4 hrs, 10 hrs, 6 hrs, etc. And i'm getting up earlier, though i'd like to get up a little earlier still than i am so i can start my day with a long walk and enjoy all of the daylight. I'm working more and i'm just a hair steadier, and hope to keep working on that. My emotions have been steadier (partly just because the Burmuda Triangle of holidays is over), and that has helped a lot with the sleep and consequently the work issues.

3. Greatly reduce or eliminate trans-fats from my diet.

I've stopped using coffee creamer every day at home... YAY! And i've been trying to find a non-refrigeration-required type for work, but i'm going to have to mail-order it. I've been reading food labels again and have been eliminating corn syrup from my diet also... who'd have guessed it's in most jars of spagetti sauce? I switched popcorn brands to Neuman's Own which doesn't have trans fats. And i'm cooking more regularly from home and baking my own bread.

I'm about ready to add a new goal, and i think it will be daily exercise. I want a start date... haven't decided one yet. Maybe my mom's birthday... March 12.

I miss everyone here very much. Because of my goals (i really need to get out of poverty and hopefully, find a great relationship) I've been trying to be more careful with how i spend my time and spend more of it earning money, writing, or dating. Unfortunately, that's meant i've had to stop being here regularly, but i think of all of you and miss you a lot!

Please tell me how you are doing!