Well this last two weeks has been a crazy up and down ride of emotions, from scared to frustrated to relief to just wondering what the hell makes any sense anymore!
It started with cold tingling feet... leg swelling.... high blood sugars... thoughts of blood clots and chest surgery... Oh the joy... one hospital visit and three Dr appointments later I think I am narrowing in on what is happening.
The bad part? Doesn't look like jogging is anytime in my immediate future.
The good part? I am alive! And overall pretty healthy....
So, it turns out I am diabetic... ouch.... which isn't a huge surprise because my maternal and paternal family is full of diabetics (parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) but I have really worked hard to stay healthy so I am not very happy.
I have a problem with a swelling leg... its NOT a blood clot or a host of other things but it "MAY" be an injury that is draining into leg (not doing MRI at this time due to not having the ability to take time off work for surgery etc). This makes sense because I had a bad fall in October which banged my knee up. It was swollen and purple for weeks.. sigh... OR the swelling could be my lymph nodes draining - which also makes sense because I have increased my fermented foods/kombucha etc in an effort to detox.... and the Dr. even grudgingly admitted that could be part of what is going on.....
And it looks like some kind of auto-immune stuff going on.
SO the answer? I have zero clue. The Dr. and I argued over medication (and my refusal of meds) and stated that he is giving me 30 days to show that I can manage my numbers and make changes for the better. So, I am. I go back January 31st.
I have thought about this quite a bit in the last several days and think that the very best way to manage at this time is to engage in another Whole30. This will not only manage my blood sugars but also begin working on a lot of the auto immune issues that appear to be plaguing me...
I think I will record my progress here and over on SparkPeople. I think its somewhat ironic that it lines up with the new year!!!
So HERE is to 2014!!!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Spoke too soon!! 5K in APRIL!!!!
I JUST blogged about not doing a 5K anytime soon. See what happens when I make plans? The universe conspires against me!
Over Thanksgiving weekend (which I actually lost a pound, Thank You!) I was talking with my three lovely young adult daughters (when did they become adults??) and we decided we are all going to train and do our first 5K together!
Each spring our area has a Pear Blossom Festival with a 5K run. I have wanted to do this since I was a child. I remember our school secretary training for it, I would watch her jog by in her purple sweat suit and terry cloth headband and I would dream of being HER! She gave me advice to run from one telephone pole then walk to the next and alternate.... I tried so hard.
Nobody advised me that I would have to pay money.... and drive 50 miles away.... and have an adult... so that dream was lost.
However I secretly have always wanted to do it so here we go! That gives me roughly 17 weeks to get ready to run my first ever 5K!
SO excited!
I worked out today, spend 25 minutes doing cardio (elliptical) and 30 minutes on weights. It feels good, I had so much energy afterwards! Plan on starting Yoga this week as well, though I have to admit to being more then a little intimidated by that!
Here goes the first week of December!
Over Thanksgiving weekend (which I actually lost a pound, Thank You!) I was talking with my three lovely young adult daughters (when did they become adults??) and we decided we are all going to train and do our first 5K together!
Each spring our area has a Pear Blossom Festival with a 5K run. I have wanted to do this since I was a child. I remember our school secretary training for it, I would watch her jog by in her purple sweat suit and terry cloth headband and I would dream of being HER! She gave me advice to run from one telephone pole then walk to the next and alternate.... I tried so hard.
Nobody advised me that I would have to pay money.... and drive 50 miles away.... and have an adult... so that dream was lost.
However I secretly have always wanted to do it so here we go! That gives me roughly 17 weeks to get ready to run my first ever 5K!
SO excited!
I worked out today, spend 25 minutes doing cardio (elliptical) and 30 minutes on weights. It feels good, I had so much energy afterwards! Plan on starting Yoga this week as well, though I have to admit to being more then a little intimidated by that!
Here goes the first week of December!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Back in the saddle again
I realized that I have forgotten all about this blog, likely because I was so busy with my entire world turning upside down that exercise, internet and blogging were at the bottom of my list. A down and dirty list of changes since July? Oh well.... after the accident I realized I did not want to live 2200 miles from family anymore so I quit my job, fell in love, moved 2200 miles away, left my love back in Arkansas, moved to a new town, started a new job, made plans for my love to join me, had the flu, busted up my knee and finally.... JOINED THE GYM!
YES!
After knee injury from falling off the rocks and dangling over the ocean while the tide came in.... not something I recommend.... I began to wonder if I should pursue the 5K now that I have 2 bad knees. Well... I am not giving up yet however the first two runs I did (SHORT runs) resulted in swelling of the knee. It was zero fun. So I joined the gym, plan on working off the weight and maybe once my muscles build and my weight goes away I can once again start jogging.
There is a 5K in my future. I know there is. I just don't want to bust up my body in order to achieve it!
So, now I am settled in a cottage by the sea, I have only two.. TWO kids with me. I have a great new job that I enjoy, I am able to go to the gym daily. What's not to love?
I will keep updated. I am at Sparkpeople but I am not sure that I always find it the most helpful, primarily because I don't follow the standard diet. All the "low fat" and "sugar free" topics just scream CHEMICALS to me, and since I work hard to avoid that well. . . . sigh . . . But support and interaction is good! I can vent here :D
YES!
After knee injury from falling off the rocks and dangling over the ocean while the tide came in.... not something I recommend.... I began to wonder if I should pursue the 5K now that I have 2 bad knees. Well... I am not giving up yet however the first two runs I did (SHORT runs) resulted in swelling of the knee. It was zero fun. So I joined the gym, plan on working off the weight and maybe once my muscles build and my weight goes away I can once again start jogging.
There is a 5K in my future. I know there is. I just don't want to bust up my body in order to achieve it!
So, now I am settled in a cottage by the sea, I have only two.. TWO kids with me. I have a great new job that I enjoy, I am able to go to the gym daily. What's not to love?
I will keep updated. I am at Sparkpeople but I am not sure that I always find it the most helpful, primarily because I don't follow the standard diet. All the "low fat" and "sugar free" topics just scream CHEMICALS to me, and since I work hard to avoid that well. . . . sigh . . . But support and interaction is good! I can vent here :D
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Grateful heart and restarting
I haven't posted in awhile. I was busy going on my way, hit my HUGE 25 pound weight loss and joined a BLC challenge on Sparkpeople. Life was bumping along.
Then the worst experience of my life happened. Driving home and saw a horrible wreck with a car still upside down on side of road, people trapped inside.
Saw a woman holding a baby, yelling about a boy on the ground.
I recognized in that awful moment it was my two daughters and my two grandchildren.
There are no words that can convey the horror of that moment... of the moments following... of the screaming that poured from my soul in ways that I have never experienced.
What happened next was a blur of lights, police, ambulance (who arrived after I did) and my children's screams. It was rushing to the hospital behind the ambulance and hysterically running into four rooms to look at all my babies faces. It was shock and absolute gratefulness that all four children survived a car wreck in which they plunged down an embankment and flipped 4-5 times. All over a deer. One lone deer crossing the road.
God is good, all of them were spared. My sweet 12 year old cheerleader has a serious concussion but was out of the hospital the next day. My adult daughter is in pain but is moving. The grandkids came through with bumps and bruises. Praise God.
I recognized several days ago I am having serious tummy issues... I feel bloated and tired... I am edgy...Initially the fogginess and exhaustion I contributed to the trauma and stress of accident (and that probably is partially true) but I also began to realize I wasn't paying any attention to what I was eating AND I realized that I haven't exercised since the accident. Ouch.
My diet has been a mix of hospital food, lots of comfort food as I cooked for my daughter. She wanted spaghetti... manicotti... mashed potatoes... cinnamon rolls, coffee cake and lots of bread. I am more then happy to give her anything that makes her heart happier right now and didn't give any thought to eating it myself.
I don't do grains. Grains hurt my belly bad. Really bad.
SO, I am recommitting to the Whole30 again. I think this is the best program to clean up your system and feel better. My teenager is flying back from a month in Oregon on Tuesday and will definitely need to adjust to a better diet as well. She has gallbladder issues and is in quite a bit of pain when she eats any form of gluten and grains so... Tomorrow will be returning back to our home and starting back on the whole30 to get the entire home back in shape. And I will begin running again.
I am almost to the point I can breathe again... almost.... the bruises and marks still panic my mama heart....
Then the worst experience of my life happened. Driving home and saw a horrible wreck with a car still upside down on side of road, people trapped inside.
Saw a woman holding a baby, yelling about a boy on the ground.
I recognized in that awful moment it was my two daughters and my two grandchildren.
There are no words that can convey the horror of that moment... of the moments following... of the screaming that poured from my soul in ways that I have never experienced.
What happened next was a blur of lights, police, ambulance (who arrived after I did) and my children's screams. It was rushing to the hospital behind the ambulance and hysterically running into four rooms to look at all my babies faces. It was shock and absolute gratefulness that all four children survived a car wreck in which they plunged down an embankment and flipped 4-5 times. All over a deer. One lone deer crossing the road.
God is good, all of them were spared. My sweet 12 year old cheerleader has a serious concussion but was out of the hospital the next day. My adult daughter is in pain but is moving. The grandkids came through with bumps and bruises. Praise God.
I recognized several days ago I am having serious tummy issues... I feel bloated and tired... I am edgy...Initially the fogginess and exhaustion I contributed to the trauma and stress of accident (and that probably is partially true) but I also began to realize I wasn't paying any attention to what I was eating AND I realized that I haven't exercised since the accident. Ouch.
My diet has been a mix of hospital food, lots of comfort food as I cooked for my daughter. She wanted spaghetti... manicotti... mashed potatoes... cinnamon rolls, coffee cake and lots of bread. I am more then happy to give her anything that makes her heart happier right now and didn't give any thought to eating it myself.
I don't do grains. Grains hurt my belly bad. Really bad.
SO, I am recommitting to the Whole30 again. I think this is the best program to clean up your system and feel better. My teenager is flying back from a month in Oregon on Tuesday and will definitely need to adjust to a better diet as well. She has gallbladder issues and is in quite a bit of pain when she eats any form of gluten and grains so... Tomorrow will be returning back to our home and starting back on the whole30 to get the entire home back in shape. And I will begin running again.
I am almost to the point I can breathe again... almost.... the bruises and marks still panic my mama heart....
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Shuffling through the weeks and ranting about the SAD
I have so many thoughts, and probably thoughts that shouldn't be shared but heck with it, I am sharing it anyway... That's how I roll
First, not running has taken its impact on me. Not really on a physical level, but more emotionally. I started out hating it, but now that I haven't run in a month I am really missing it. Exercising at home is still effective, but the emotions, the energy rush, the feeling of accomplishment is not the same. I am SO ready for my daughter to come home so I can get out and run again.
Which brings me to a rant.
I had a coworker come to me and tell me she was "concerned" because she had "heard" that I was running. She thinks that its not very healthy for me. She is worried about my joints. She thinks I need to reconsider.
Er.
I didn't ask her, or share with her, or consult her because... I don't know her and its none of her damn business.
Why do people get into info that isn't thiers to hold? I took a deep breath and explained that 1) I have researched this 2) I have good supportive shoes, 3) I was quite comfortable in my decision.
Soon, I had another person come to me with concerns because they know I use a lot of coconut oil products and butter. They have a lot of thoughts about that. They offered to show me this new program of prepackaged food and chemicals to lose a ton of weight.
So.... let me get this straight.... Eating chemical powders added to water, god knows what in a "protein" bar and food packed somewhere.... is healthier for me then food straight from a cow? I can't figure that logic out.
I understand that there is a "standard American diet" or SAD, however, it makes me just that. Sad. If I eat tons of rice, corn, bread, pastas, low-fat i.e. chemical laden dressings and prepackaged foods I feel miserable and fat. If I load up on "protein bars" my style ... i.e. a chicken breast or pastured bacon.... and dunk liberal amounts of healthy fats, and eat a crapload of vegetables... I feel awesome and lose weight.
Isn't there room for all types? Why do so many in the weight loss world want to push that THEIR way is the only way?
Ok... I admit I think my way of eating healthy whole foods is the best way but ... well... it is. At least its closer to the way nature intended.
And.... as a great side piece... I am now down 23 pounds.... Yes... 23 POUNDS! That is a small toddler! 5 inches off my waist! That is almost half a food off of my waist...
So, I will go eat my bacon and eggs, chomp on my chicken breast, salad and olive oil and gnaw on my ribs.... yall can have your powders and chemicals and we can all get along :D
First, not running has taken its impact on me. Not really on a physical level, but more emotionally. I started out hating it, but now that I haven't run in a month I am really missing it. Exercising at home is still effective, but the emotions, the energy rush, the feeling of accomplishment is not the same. I am SO ready for my daughter to come home so I can get out and run again.
Which brings me to a rant.
I had a coworker come to me and tell me she was "concerned" because she had "heard" that I was running. She thinks that its not very healthy for me. She is worried about my joints. She thinks I need to reconsider.
Er.
I didn't ask her, or share with her, or consult her because... I don't know her and its none of her damn business.
Why do people get into info that isn't thiers to hold? I took a deep breath and explained that 1) I have researched this 2) I have good supportive shoes, 3) I was quite comfortable in my decision.
Soon, I had another person come to me with concerns because they know I use a lot of coconut oil products and butter. They have a lot of thoughts about that. They offered to show me this new program of prepackaged food and chemicals to lose a ton of weight.
So.... let me get this straight.... Eating chemical powders added to water, god knows what in a "protein" bar and food packed somewhere.... is healthier for me then food straight from a cow? I can't figure that logic out.
I understand that there is a "standard American diet" or SAD, however, it makes me just that. Sad. If I eat tons of rice, corn, bread, pastas, low-fat i.e. chemical laden dressings and prepackaged foods I feel miserable and fat. If I load up on "protein bars" my style ... i.e. a chicken breast or pastured bacon.... and dunk liberal amounts of healthy fats, and eat a crapload of vegetables... I feel awesome and lose weight.
Isn't there room for all types? Why do so many in the weight loss world want to push that THEIR way is the only way?
Ok... I admit I think my way of eating healthy whole foods is the best way but ... well... it is. At least its closer to the way nature intended.
And.... as a great side piece... I am now down 23 pounds.... Yes... 23 POUNDS! That is a small toddler! 5 inches off my waist! That is almost half a food off of my waist...
So, I will go eat my bacon and eggs, chomp on my chicken breast, salad and olive oil and gnaw on my ribs.... yall can have your powders and chemicals and we can all get along :D
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
long (or short) lost wogger
Ugh!
I just realized I have not posted in almost two weeks! Part of that is because I have joined Sparkpeople and I realize that so often I post and track over there (icamp2 is my name there if you are on SP) and I don't get over here as often. However, blogging here I have a sense of freedom... maybe here I am a bit more open, I feel safer to spill my emotions that roll like the waves....
Well, I am giving up C25k for about five weeks. Not because I want to, however with a house full of foster children, bio children and my now freshly graduated teenager in Oregon for a month, I honestly don't have any way to run outside because nobody can watch the kids!
So, I have done a few things to keep on the right track until July when she comes back.
1) I have jumped back on the Whole 30 just to clean up my diet, well, except for today, because I was stuck at McDonalds and a mini Mcdonalds at that... so they didn't even have a salad :( I settled for a wrap and called it good since I logged over 5 miles walking at the zoo with six children!!!
2) I am doing the Jillian Michaels Shred each day - I love this workout and feel just sore enough to know its working when I am done. Except today. Because I logged 5 miles... with six kids... at the zoo.... (im stuck there)
3) I joined a Biggest Loser Challenge on SP. I think this will hold me accountable because I am part of a team, and if I screw up, well, the team screws up. I can't let a team down....
SO, if my theory works out well, then when Kiah returns from Oregon. I should be able to pick up at week 5... well.. ok, maybe do week 4 again.
Honestly? This is frustrating. I won't lie (here anyway) I do sort of feel like things were just headed in the right way for exercise and eating right then I have a houseful of kids (aged 17 months, 5 years, 8 years, 9 years, 10 years, 12 years). However... days like today, taking them to the zoo, watching them play, knowing they are safe.... well... it makes changes to my "routine" pretty bearable.
However... the McDonalds on the way home? well.... somethings gotta give... :)
I just realized I have not posted in almost two weeks! Part of that is because I have joined Sparkpeople and I realize that so often I post and track over there (icamp2 is my name there if you are on SP) and I don't get over here as often. However, blogging here I have a sense of freedom... maybe here I am a bit more open, I feel safer to spill my emotions that roll like the waves....
Well, I am giving up C25k for about five weeks. Not because I want to, however with a house full of foster children, bio children and my now freshly graduated teenager in Oregon for a month, I honestly don't have any way to run outside because nobody can watch the kids!
So, I have done a few things to keep on the right track until July when she comes back.
1) I have jumped back on the Whole 30 just to clean up my diet, well, except for today, because I was stuck at McDonalds and a mini Mcdonalds at that... so they didn't even have a salad :( I settled for a wrap and called it good since I logged over 5 miles walking at the zoo with six children!!!
2) I am doing the Jillian Michaels Shred each day - I love this workout and feel just sore enough to know its working when I am done. Except today. Because I logged 5 miles... with six kids... at the zoo.... (im stuck there)
3) I joined a Biggest Loser Challenge on SP. I think this will hold me accountable because I am part of a team, and if I screw up, well, the team screws up. I can't let a team down....
SO, if my theory works out well, then when Kiah returns from Oregon. I should be able to pick up at week 5... well.. ok, maybe do week 4 again.
Honestly? This is frustrating. I won't lie (here anyway) I do sort of feel like things were just headed in the right way for exercise and eating right then I have a houseful of kids (aged 17 months, 5 years, 8 years, 9 years, 10 years, 12 years). However... days like today, taking them to the zoo, watching them play, knowing they are safe.... well... it makes changes to my "routine" pretty bearable.
However... the McDonalds on the way home? well.... somethings gotta give... :)
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Week 4 day 1 - Not too shabby!
I had the last three days off of running due to weather, graduation of my daughter, family visiting and more. I have been doing workout videos ... Hello Jillian Michaels and Hello pain and agony!
BUT no running. The storms from Oklahoma moved here and made the idea of running outside dangerous in many ways so I was a bit worried I would lose my momentum.
Last night we went to the park to run. Of course, there was Miss Fitness. I now have 2 of them, MF1 and MF2. At least MF2 will smile and act somewhat sympathetic to my ginormous self running but the other one, I swear she laughs at me...
Frustrated that they are there but I think forget it, I'm going... Then the podcast that tells you when to run and walk doesn't download. I was REALLY bummed too because week 4 has a Michael Jackson podcast and well.. that sounded pretty cool! Which, by the way, these are my favorite podcasts yet! Check them out if you are doing C25k! MJ and other fantabulous podcasts!
Point being, I found a different podcast, week four begins the alternating 3 and 5 minute runs. I don't even know WHAT podcast I found but it was not good. At all.
We warmed up, went for first 3 minute run and it wasn't even hard! Then halfway in the 5 minute run I realize that its STUCK! Like an old record, I didn't even realize a podcast COULD get stuck? So I ran until I couldn't run, reset it and tried again, well it reset from beginning... I will save to boring details ... Suffice it to say was no bueno. Somewhere in there I saw two more people come walk the track, but they were like me... then two beautiful in shape blondes joined in... jogging.. speed jogging.. past me... ugh.
BUT the whole point is I went! I did what I could do, I really need to stop comparing myself to perfection out there. That is easier said then done though!
BUT no running. The storms from Oklahoma moved here and made the idea of running outside dangerous in many ways so I was a bit worried I would lose my momentum.
Last night we went to the park to run. Of course, there was Miss Fitness. I now have 2 of them, MF1 and MF2. At least MF2 will smile and act somewhat sympathetic to my ginormous self running but the other one, I swear she laughs at me...
Frustrated that they are there but I think forget it, I'm going... Then the podcast that tells you when to run and walk doesn't download. I was REALLY bummed too because week 4 has a Michael Jackson podcast and well.. that sounded pretty cool! Which, by the way, these are my favorite podcasts yet! Check them out if you are doing C25k! MJ and other fantabulous podcasts!
Point being, I found a different podcast, week four begins the alternating 3 and 5 minute runs. I don't even know WHAT podcast I found but it was not good. At all.
We warmed up, went for first 3 minute run and it wasn't even hard! Then halfway in the 5 minute run I realize that its STUCK! Like an old record, I didn't even realize a podcast COULD get stuck? So I ran until I couldn't run, reset it and tried again, well it reset from beginning... I will save to boring details ... Suffice it to say was no bueno. Somewhere in there I saw two more people come walk the track, but they were like me... then two beautiful in shape blondes joined in... jogging.. speed jogging.. past me... ugh.
BUT the whole point is I went! I did what I could do, I really need to stop comparing myself to perfection out there. That is easier said then done though!
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