- Jingle Run 5K - Still under 29; Ran first mile with Carol
- Consistent Strength Training this month
- Crazy Christmas Month: off last 2 weeks; third week full of parties
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Jen had a half Zumba half Pilates class today. At the end we did Seal going straigh into a full stand on the last roll-up... I have never been able to do that. I've been doing Pilates for at least 10 years.... and not once! Recent Pilates classes have not done this exercise... but today, we did it ... and knowing it was coming... I'm thinking, okay I'll give it a shot and BAM did it absolutely no problem! Cool!
I thought SIX was it! I thought I've gotten to my goal weight (and that was almost 8 months ago), and this is my size... I recently had 2 favorite brands of jeans, Lee and Gloria V. Amanda, and the Lee's size six got big a while ago and started only wearing Gloria.... but recently they seem big. If I don't wear a belt then they feel too big. So I've been trying the size 4 in the same jeans and some seem tight ... but others are perfect! So at the same weight but getting a smaller size ... either I wasn't buying the correct size before, or more likely toning is going on... I recently measured everything and didn't think that there was much of a difference but maybe I'll re-do that. Not sure how strength training will effect everything, but I'm thinking more muscle might add bulk but it also might diminish fat so maybe not... maybe that's what's happening. Total work in progress!
What a fantastic, stressful, wonderful time of year... not enough hours in the day to get it all done.. but when you have a moment to step back and think, do you really ever get it all done? It's almost noon, and I just got up. I very, very rarely sleep that late; and I'm pretty sore from yesterday's "cram-it-all-in" series of workouts that I subjected myself to.... and, yes, we were out late last night; and we've been at a steady stream of family gatherings or friend parties for the last week. But.. but... but, isn't that what it's all about? Time with family and friends is the true gift of this Holiday time. It's such an important part of life.... the fitness journey, the health journey, the life journey and should never be taken for granted or neglected. I had the privilege to spend time with family and friends over the last week from Arizona, from Chicago, from Texas... some who I see frequently some who I haven't seen in years. So... to the question ... Is it over??? I hope not. I hope it's never over. I hope we can always make time in our busy schedules for what is truly important. Friends and Family. May the love of this holiday season, be a part of everyone's every-day journey. Was at Dean and Melissa's and talking about running and races etc. and Melissa (a 4-time marathoner) says she'd love to run a marathon with me. I look at her incredulously and say... 'Ah, yeah, I'd like to conquer a 10K first!' And she... seemingly totally serious... says 'Oh you could soooo do it!' Mmmmm hmmmm.
So I've been doing my strength training in the morning usually before Karen gets there, but this week I was on vacation. Still going in for classes, on strength training days, I'd go in a little early. Because I'm going almost at class time, Karen is there. She kept an eye on me on Tuesday and corrected some squat positioning. But today... today she said that the bench press (at my 8 pound weight) was looking to easy and suggested I do 10. So I did.... Just a moment, but pretty cool. I realize bench pressing 8 or 10 pound dumbbells is probably nothing to some...but to me it's more than I've ever done before! I'm not in this to compete with anyone else (but myself) and I am getting stronger.. (and in less pain afterwards) all good!
Noticed the past couple of days getting a bit light-headed in Yoga and other classes when going up and down doing things like burpees or downward dog. Really focused on breathing to not pass out ... really not that bad, but definitely noticeable. It really is always something... so let's (as always) do some analyzing....
Well back to the doctors visit.... and I remember but didn't mention in the doctor's visit post that my blood pressure was somewhat low.... 90 over 50 -ish. I usually run more in the normal 110/70 range. So thinking more... when my thyroid has been off... and yes we did establish that it was more under-active than usual (although still in high normal range) then my blood pressure has been low . Hmmmm. Also remember giving blood in March and feeling the same way... Blood pressure wasn't that low but still lower than the normal 110/70 and then you decrease volume and you decrease pressure... so maybe there's something to that. So for now.. I really gotta make sure I take each and every synthetic thyroid med and re-checking those levels in January... and for now just something to put in my back pocket of things to take note of. Really more of an update than a moment: It's been about a month since I got more serious.... meaning consistently 2-3 times a week (mostly 2 during this crazy time) w/ rest day(s) in between... and I'm really liking it. Doesn't take too long and although I know the goal that "failure is success", I feel completely energized afterwards and am already seeing some results.
I hesitate to share this, but I've read so many times about lack of support and this is real; and this is deflating; and this is only an instant in time when measured up against all the multitudes of support that I have received (which I should also some day blog about), but it did happen and 10 hours and a nights sleep later, it still bothers me.
In the heat of an argument about something when all is said and done doesn't make any difference at all (about lack of time and getting it all done), Brian said to me "You don't need to go running." What, wait, what did you say? This is is for me; for my health; for you; for our family. I've cut my cholesterol meds by three-quarters... Wait let me say that again, I've cut my cholesterol meds by THREE_QUARTERS. I'm doing this so I can live longer. Yes, dear hubby, I do need to do this.... and implied is how much I wish you would also join me in some fitness endeavor! So I guess I should give up my new found health so that I can clean up those dishes that ... oh, BTW, not one of the other 4 people who also live in this house has bothered to do either! Of course, it was just a couple of words in the hundreds that were said; but for me... then (and also 10 hours later) it was the defining moment of the conversation... something that I really believe wasn't meant ... but it was said... it still echoes in my mind... and kind of forgets about, dismisses or belittles my journey. In my head I absolutely know he is one of my biggest supporters. He's the one who told me to go running in the snow.... but in my heart, I'm a bit deflated and I'm still mad. “Four things you can't recover: The stone after the throw, The word after it's said, The occasion after it's missed, The time after it's gone.” ― Deanna Wadsworth So.... it's Friday night... and a bunch of the family went to the Casino... to gamble, to dance to a Favorite Band, etc. ... BUT I chose to stay home. Why? Because I'm running a 5K tomorrow. Yeah, I could have gone, and gotten home late and still done the race! But I just didn't want to. Didn't want to be tired or feel sub-par tomorrow. Trying to decide if this is good or bad!
Just had my yearly physical yesterday. This is 6 months after cutting my cholesterol meds in half back in June. AND... AND... we decided to cut in half again and recheck in another 6 months. Whoo Hoo... so excited about this I even dedicated a Moments Post to it.
But also wanted to capture everything else that happened. Soooo, I have a bunch of "medical nuisances" as I call them. My thyroid! Yup, that's been my scariest obstacle throughout this entire journey. As I lost weight, my thyroid meds were decreased, and I was devastated thinking that I'd immediately gain all the weight back. But I didn't! Back in June 2013 (i.e. before weight loss) my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ~ the debated Cadillac of thyroid function measurement) was 1.67. (Normal range is: 0.4 - 4.0). So, since that's where I started, I knew I could lose weight and still have a healthy energy level.... Well at one point, it went wayyyyy down to 0.07. Much too low from a clinical perspective although other reference points were still in the normal range. Well, she decreased and I got scared, so I increased my physical activity... That was a year ago, and I continued to make progress so now I'm not soooo scared about it because I believe I've done other things to increase my metabolism. Yesterday the TSH results came back 3.38!!! Still in the "normal" range but much, much higher than where I like it to be. I've been feeling more tired lately and was attributing it to adding strength training to my routine... but maybe it's not... maybe it's that stupid, stupid thyroid! Also, my Raynauds has been acting up in the cold and one of my fingers frequently (3-4 times a week) goes completely white. This hadn't really happened for a while before now... like when my thyroid was off. Was initially thinking it could be because of weight loss... but maybe that is also caused by the higher TSH levels. The good thing is according to the doctors scale, I lost another 3 pounds... not really trying but still in range that I want to be AND the HUGE thing about that is even with the higher TSH. We agreed to check TSH again in a month and increase meds if it remains in the 3 range. In that time, I will pay particular attention to my energy levels as the newness of my strength training routine wears off. I'll also monitor the Raynauds! And as I already mentioned, the Cholesterol was fantastic... I've been told that Cholesterol is 50% hereditary and 50% diet and exercise... so I know that it may not be possible to completely get rid of... but I'm ecstatic that through my positive lifestyle changes that I've been able to have such a positive impact on it. And one final moment at the doctors office... which I absolutely love.... and maybe I'll also do a "Moments" post on it... was talking to the doctor about running. She was saying maybe she'd try it and it seems like she was almost asking me for information... so cool because I remember 3 years ago her encouraging me to get more active by just adding walking to my daily routine and now she's telling me about her daily walking routine and that she may add running to it. So excited... just had to share. Six months age due to all my [not so] crazy fitness adventures, diet changes and weight-loss, my doctor and I decided to cut my cholesterol meds in half. Today at the 6 month follow-up, we AGAIN decided to cut in half (with another follow up in 6 months)!!!
I am ecstatic ...... This is absolute validation that the diet and exercise choices we make can have such an impact!!!!! |
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