Ocular Migraine

I have been getting these migraines with increasing frequency lately.  I can only assume it's related to the meds I'm on, because I never had them before, and they are often chemically induced.  It's the weirdest thing - they don't hurt, but I just get blurry flashes everywhere, for 20-30 minutes at a time.  I have one right now, and I'm working on a spreadsheet - it's not going so well.

I can't get over all the health issues I've had lately.  It's just so strange to me.  I'm seeing an allergist on 6/10, so I hope that will help out some...

I'm down 10 of the 15 lbs of water weight, and I hope the rest is gone within the next few days.  I would type more, but I really can't see the screen right now.  :)

Have a healthy and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Water weight

Today I was down 6 lbs of the 15 I was up from water weight yesterday, so that's a good step, but I'm still completely bloated, feeling gross.  We have a big event tonight, and I'm going to see people I haven't seen in ages.  I'm so disappointed that I don't look my best, but I suppose it's not all about me!  (Or at all about me, rather...)  ;-)

Tonight is Christy's art show.  I have no idea what I'm going to wear, and my choices are limited due to the recent extra inflation of my spare tire.  Yes, I'm uber attractive.  I'll figure something out - I have to!

I'm sure that I will continue to lose the water weight since I'm no longer on the steroids, but I want it gone NOW!

Thank you, bye.  :)

Not a pretty girl...

Ani DiFranco sings a song called "Not a Pretty Girl."  That would definitely be me today.  I'm so bloated from the meds I've been on, I'm up about 15 lbs from a week ago.  That is not a joke.  I feel like I'm just going to float away. 

Also, the pollen count is as high as it gets, to my understanding, so I woke up this morning with a big, fat, puffy allergy face.  My eyes are struggling to stay open, my cheeks, forehead and nose is just completely filled with pressure...swollen, hideous...

I'm going to do what I can to avoid salt as much as possible, and cleanse my system, but this is not a pleasant day for me.  I could barely fit my right foot into my shoe!

I'm glad to be off the steroids, even though with my allergies as they are today, I think I need them.  I know I need to move for my health...if only it were just that easy!

My Turn to Struggle

So perhaps it is not my turn to tri after all...

I had the best of intentions, and I still want to compete in a triathlon at some point this year.  If I miss the deadlines for the other races since I can't do the June race I planned on, I will stage a local triathlon with me and my friends.  Why not?!

All in all, I'm okay with where I am.  When I started this blog, I hadn't lost weight in a long time, and I was gaining and gaining.  Depending on the day, I'm down about 40 lbs since then, and even though I haven't lost in the past 6, I've done a pretty good job of keeping that weight off, especially while juggling a few health issues and major life events...

As one thing gets better, a new medical issue seems to creep up.  I'm now on steroids and a few other meds to help control my asthma and allergies which are really bad right now.  I know I really overdid it working out when I was on steroids last time, and I'm going to try not to make the same mistake this time.

I haven't been to the gym in a while, but maybe the steroids will prompt me to get back to it.  We are VERY busy planning for the art opening next week, so it may just be that I don't give my weight loss journey a full court press until then.  If that's the case, I'll live.  I do look forward to losing again, though!

I think I'd like to set a date of June 26th for my local, impromptu triathlon.  I need a goal to work toward in order to get on track sooner than later.  Who's with me??

Getting back on track

What a strange past few months I've had.  My health has been kind of terrible, my life has been a bit of a roller coaster, and I haven't spent the time on my healthy journey that I've wanted to.  As a result, I've been on a plateau for the past month, but again, I'm just so thankful I haven't gained. 

I'm back to work today, and I don't know if I'll have time to work out tonight, but I'm going to try to get to the gym, even if it's just for 20 minutes.  I think that just starting to get back into the routine is the best way to build it back into your life.  I'm not 100% with my health, but I think I could do a light work out, and I'm sure I could benefit from a little tanning session as well. 

Christy and I made a meal plan for the week, although it's Wednesday and we still haven't completed the grocery shopping yet.  Hmmm...  I guess it may turn into next week's meal plan.  That's ok too.  We are getting there. 

I'm going to try really hard to have a loss for next week's weigh in!!

Enough already!

I have been eating pasta alllllll week.  Like ALL week.  I am on some really strong meds for a couple different things, and it seems to be the only thing that I can get down that also coats my stomach.  I use way too much butter and salt on my pasta (it has to be wet for me to swallow it, and I don't always love red sauce), so I noticed I was up a few lbs (and my face looked like a fat balloon). 

Yesterday, I skipped the pasta, and I was down 3 of the 5 lbs I appeared to be up.  Good for me.  I'm sure by tomorrow the other 2 will be gone, because I know I was just retaining water.

I have been very sick, so I'm sorry I haven't blogged more lately.  I can't wait to get back to my routine of eating healthy, working out, blogging daily, etc...  Soon...soon...

Be well, skip the carbs. 

XO

;-)

Breakfast of Champions

Yup, that's right.  I had Dinty Moore for breakfast today.  I have hit a new low.

I haven't been feeling well this week, and I knew I needed some red meat, so I stopped by CVS and bought a DM this morning.  I ate as much of it as I could, but it was rather unpleasant.

I think I may have to have surgery soon.  I'm not supposed to be focusing on losing weight right now, and I really haven't been.  I'm supposed to be focused on getting in enough nutrients as well as getting the rest I need to try to get better.

Thankfully, my weight has been staying the same, and yes, I realize what a blessing that is. 

Someday I will be a healthy triathlete.  I can't wait. 

Move over Ralph Macchio

Christy is a 5th degree black belt, and she ran her own karate studio for 13 years...studied with Chinese monks, and in Japan as well...so she knows a thing or two about karate...she even made the US olympic team when she was 17.  Wow. 

Anyway, she is going to train me to be a black belt.  She said it would take 2-3 years, and I'm up for the challenge.  Heck, I'm already a white belt and we just started lessons yesterday.  LOL - in all fairness, showing up for a lesson earns the white belt, but I'm loving it.

Other than my allergies, I'm continuing to feel much better, able to eat, and getting my strength back.  Tonight, I'm going to the gym.  I've still been eating more and more, but I'm not gaining weight...I'm not losing either, but I will be again very soon.

I want to hit my goal weight by August, and I'm going to do all I can, in a healthy way, to reach that goal.

HAI!

Yay! Hiking!

Yesterday afternoon, Christy and I decided to hike Rock Rimmon.  I forgot my inhaler, natch, and I haven't worked out in months, so I had a little trouble breathing, but it was just wonderful being outside, in nature, getting a little exercise, etc... 

I'm so glad to be feeling better!  My allergies are quite rough, but I'm going to take some meds and hope to counteract that.  I look forward to a very active weekend of hiking, kayaking, and projects around the house. 

I'm up a few lbs, but I think my body is still just getting used to eating normally again, and that is okay.  I am going to burn them off in no time!

A yummy breakfast

For the past two days, I have had a delicious smoothie for breakfast.  It's made with half a banana, 5-6 frozen strawberries, a half a cup of low fat soy milk and a little splenda.  It's a very yummy and healthy way to start the day!

I didn't lose anything this week, but that's not a surprise since I'm finally taking in a lot more calories than I had been.  I didn't make it to the gym last night, but I spent 2-3 hours rigorously working around the house, so I must have burned something then. 

Tonight is Krissy's birthday, so I probably won't have time for a full gym work out, but I'm at least going to try to do something at the house.  I need to get back on track now that I finally have my health again.

Getting back to the gym

I feel like I have been sick forever.  I can't remember the last time I worked out.  Finally, at long last, I'm starting to feel like I'm ready to start working out and continue my training for the triathlon.  I'm going to start with swimming tonight.

I'm sorry for my absence, blogosphere.  I am back.  The weight loss is going fine.  I've finally been able to return to eating normally, so I'm on a bit of a plateau, but I know that once I start working out, I'll be on track to lose again.

Got Protein??

2 days ago, I went grocery shopping for the first time in probably 2 months.  I hadn't been eating much, and so I hadn't needed to.  I didn't have a list or a plan in my mind, but my body certainly had it's sights set on meat.  I got a roasted chicken, a whole chicken, chicken thights, a corned beef, turkey kielbasa, soppressata, pancetta, prosciutto, lamb, pork chops, turkey sausage (2 kinds), ribs and cornish hens.  LOL. 

I kind of went overboard, but it made me realize how much I was craving protein.  I hadn't had much in a while, and I needed it!

I'm finally starting to feel better.  I'm still tired and on the weak side, but I stopped taking all the meds I was on, and I've been able to eat a bit more, and I'm starting to feel human again...just in time for a beautiful weekend!!

Thankfully, I haven't been gaining any weight back even though I'm eating more, so that is a wonderful surprise.  Pretty soon I'll be well enough to start training again.  Can't wait!!!

Just 3 more to go!

 I'm now just three lbs away from my lowest point.  Finally!  It took me over a year to gain it, but less than 3 mos to lose it, so that feels good.

My health hasn't been great, but I'm on the mend.  My MDs told me to stop losing weight for now until my other health issues are resolved, so I haven't been really trying to lose, but I still am.  I'm just under 40 lbs down since January. 

Now I have a WAYS to go to reach my goal, but it feels good to be down the weight that I am. 

The verdict is in

I am extremely anemic.  This is no shock to me, although my iron and ferritin levels are somewhat shockingly low.  It's not shocking, considering how I've been feeling, but the levels are lower than they've ever been.  My MD wants me to take iron supplements, and they all make me very sick to my stomach.  Like, *very* sick to my stomach.  I don't know if I'm going to have a choice, though. 

I haven't had the energy to exercise in a while, but that's no surprise there.  On Monday, I had to lean up against walls so that I could stay vertical. 

The good news is that I continue to lose weight.  As of this morning, I'm just four lbs above my lowest weight since I was banded.  THAT is very encouraging news.  I can't wait to lose those last four pesky lbs and finally start getting closer and closer to my healthy goal weight.

Closer to my goal

As of today, I'm down a total of 35.8 lbs since the beginning of our contest, so that's about 3.25 lbs/week and I'm very pleased with that.  I have to give a big shout out to my sister, who has lost 23.4 lbs, and that is just amazing!!  She has been working out an hour a day and 2 hrs on the weekend.  God bless her.  :)

I haven't heard back from the MD yet on my bloodwork, and I hope I do soon.  I'm definitely feeling better than I was yesterday, but I'm no where near myself yet.  My stomach is finally feeling better, so I'm eating again.  That should help with the fatigue I was experiencing.  I just hope I don't gain weight as a result.  ;-)

Have a healthy, low cal day! 

Once again...

I'm under the weather.  I didn't sleep well last night, and I woke up feeling faint and very weak.  I've had a mild form of the stomach bug for four days now, and I am probably not eating as much as I should.  I went to the MD and they drew 3 viles of blood.  I'm not sure how that's supposed to make me feel any less faint, but maybe we'll know what's wrong with me by tomorrow. 

On the upside of all of this, I'm down about 5 lbs this week.  We'll know for sure tomorrow am.  One of my pairs of new jeans is fitting me loosely already, but I have plenty of other pairs to try to shrink into.  It's fun exploring my new wardrobe.

Another low

I was down a few more lbs today, and now I weigh less than I have in a year.  Yay.

Chipping Away

I'm down 1.2 lbs this week for a total of 31 lbs lost this competition.  I was hoping for a bigger loss since I didn't lose last week, but I'll take it!  Any loss is a good loss.

Today I'm wearing the black suit pictured in my previous entry.  My clothes have been so loose lately, I feel weird wearing something that fits, but I'll get over that. 

Last night, I tried on several suits that I had purchased last year with optimistic intentions, and I'm really not that far off from any of them.  I think within 10 or 15 lbs, I'll be wearing most of them, and that is exciting.  My wardrobe will grow, and I can stop wearing suits that are too big. 

I'm not sure how many weeks we have left of this competition, but I'm 9 lbs away from my goal of losing 40 during it.  Let's hope I can reach that goal!  It will put me just about at my lowest weight since I had surgery, and that will be a good feeling.

:)

Shopping in my closet

I realized that most of my smallest clothing appeared to be missing, so I went on a search this morning.  Sure enough, I found 3 basins full of clothing I forgot I had!  I'm a dope, but I'm a very pleasantly surprised dope!  :)

This suit was among the bins of my small clothing.  I have no idea when the last time I wore it was, but it was over a year ago, I'm sure.  I tried it on, and it was snug, but it fit.  The picture above was taken in August of 08 - I was roughly the same weight then, perhaps 5 lbs less, but nothing drastic. 

I showed my Mom and Darcy the suit, and they said the picture above captures how I looked in it, so that is exciting to me!!!  What a big difference in just a few months.

I'm more motivated now than ever to keep plugging away.

We went into Boston today, and I wore an adorable outfit, I must say.  I felt really good and stylish, and yes, still fat, but not offensively so.  Wearing clothes that fit you is huge.  My mom said the suit takes at least 15 lbs off me, and she's a very conservative estimator.  ;-)

I may just wear this suit every day.

My mother was also shocked that I am now wearing clothes that are only one size bigger than hers.  Watch out - I'm raiding your closet next, Mom!  :)

I found about 10 new pairs of jeans, a thousand shirts, and probably 20 pairs of shorts, so I'm excited that my wardrobe has grown exponentially in just one day.

Stay tuned for a much more fashionable me!

Spanx!

I'm trying to start wearing some of my smaller clothes again, but I can't seem to remember to suck it in all day, so I try to not wear clothes that require that.  Today, I wanted to wear one such outfit, but I realized that if I relaxed too much, I would end up in an unflattering situation.

I decided to break down and borrow Darcy's spanx, so I am all sucked in and ready for the day.  LOL - it would be much easier to go to the gym, I'm sure.  ;-)

I wasn't down any weight this week, and Alison was shocked because I've been eating so little lately, but I think it's from all the sodium I've consumed this past week.  First, with the corned beef dinners, and then last night on my loaded baked potato. 

I'm going to be much better about my sodium intake this week, and I hope to have another loss next week.

Good luck to my fellow losers as Alison will be posting the weekly stats soon!