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.