Diary: March 25, 2010 (DAY 15)

I would like to lovingly subtitle this post, "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly".

The last few days have been tough. I haven't exercised according to my scheduled rotation and that makes me crazy. I won't go into the gory details of why, but let's just say that I have not been a happy camper. What I will say is that my Metformin is messing with not only my blood sugar, but my hormones too. I am currently the PMS queen, except unrelated to any kind of menstrual cycle. From the last time I started this medication, I know that this is temporary, but it still sucks. This would be "the ugly".

Moving on...

I weighed in this morning and was really surprised that I lost 2 more pounds! Yay! That brings me to a total of 4 pounds lost in 2 weeks. Love it!!! This would be "the good".

Unfortunately, here comes "the bad". I decided to push myself really hard on this rotation since I slacked the past few days. That means Bootcamp --> Run --> Bootcamp --> Rest. Well... I hurt my foot. I think I was balancing on it and I all of a sudden wobbled and felt pain. It wasn't bad, so I kept going. After the workout, I realized that it hurt quite a bit. I could move my foot, but anything touching it HURT.  Looks like I'll be going for xrays tomorrow. *Sigh*

Log:
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EXERCISE: Denise Austin Boot Camp, Strength Training - 25 minutes (2 lb. weights)

FOOD:
Breakfast:
1 bowl Honey Nut Cheerios
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese
1/2 berry smoothie

Lunch:
Filet-O-Fish

Dinner:
Plain hamburger
Chocolate milkshake

Diary: March 23, 2010 (DAY 13)

I am SO tired and I can't figure out why. Fighting getting sick? Need more vitamins? Need more water? I don't know. I do know that I need to give my body a break tonight though. To be fair, I did go to Magic Mountain and walk around a  bit, so I got *some* exercise. *sigh* I'm going to bed early.

Log:
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EXERCISE: Walking (Intermittent)

FOOD:
Breakfast:
1 bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios w/ 1/2 sliced banana
1/4 cup skim milk
1 cup of coffee + 2 tbsp. half and half

Lunch:
Banquet Chicken Pot Pie

Dinner:
Grilled Chicken Quesadilla

Diary: March 22, 2010 (DAY 12)

I'm feeling very lazy today. I really had to push myself to exercise tonight. I opted for yoga since it's relaxing, yet a great workout.

Log:
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EXERCISE: Wii Fit Yoga - 35 minutes

FOOD:
Breakfast:
2 bowls Honey Nut Cheerios
3 tbsp. skim milk
1 cup coffee + 2 tbsp. half and half

Lunch:
1 cheese enchilada

Dinner:
Slice of Vegetable lasagna

Dessert/Snack:
Strawberry Shortcake (1 slice angel food cake + 1.5 fresh strawberries + dallop low fat whipped cream)
Lowfat yogurt

Diary: March 21, 2010 (DAY 11)

Today was nothing short of exhausting. I went for my run early in the morning. Anyone who runs knows that there are good runs and bad runs. This was the bad variety. My chest was killing me (maybe from my lingering cough from when I was sick two weeks ago???). The cold air killed my sinuses. My muscles were totally sluggish. Honestly, I didn't think I was going to make it, but I forced myself to.

After that madness, in a spur of the moment decision, we decided to get season tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain since it is practically in our backyard. We got to the park around 1 and stayed till around 6 or 7 which meant LOTS of walking.

My legs are SO tired. Not sore though, just tired. My HIPS are sore. I keep having Sciatica in my right butt cheek every time I walk long distances. It started yesterday in Ventura and started again today at Magic Mountain. My hubby figured out that my balance is off. I'm walking on my heels instead of the balls of my feet. I made a conscious effort at Magic Mountain to walk correctly. That helped my backside, but man are my calves and shins killing me now!

Oh well! I need the exercise! LOL

Log:
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EXERCISE: Run 1.75 miles & walk theme park for 5+ hours

FOOD:
Breakfast:
1.5 bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios
3 tbsp. whole milk (ran out of 2%!)
1 Cottage Doubles

Lunch:
5 piece chicken nugget
Small fry
Small chocolate Frosty

Dinner:
FUNNEL CAKE!!! (WHAT was I thinking?!!!!!!)

Diary: March 20, 2010 (DAY 10)

The hubby and I managed to convince my mom to watch the kids for the day, so we took off to Ventura. We walked along Main Street and looked in the shops. We then headed to the Harbor and walked those shops. Last stop was Target to pick up the kids Easter basket stuffers.

Log:
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EXERCISE: Walking - 3 miles

FOOD:
Breakfast:
Sausage Biscuit (no egg or cheese)
Coffee + 3 creamers

LUNCH:
Crabcake sandwich
Fries

SNACK:
Sweet Potato Fries

Diary: March 19, 2010 (DAY 9)

I had only a short window of time to exercise today before I had to leave for my monthly Girls Night Out with my high school friends. Given the lack of time, I chose to put in 35 minutes of balance exercises on the Wii. It's amazing how fast time flies on the Wii Fit!

Log:
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EXERCISE: 35 minutes on Wii Fit - Balance Games

FOOD:
Breakfast:
2 bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios
1/4 cup 2% milk

Lunch:
McDonald's Filet of Fish
1/2 Hot Fudge Sundae

Dinner:
Various Appetizers
Ice Cream Sandwich

Drink:
1 1/2 Newcastle beers

Diary: March 18, 2010 (DAY 8)

Tonight was kind of a bust. It took me three hours to get my hair done and I still hadn't eaten at that point. There was no way I could eat and still have time to exercise, so I just gave myself a freebie.

Log:
-------------------------

EXERCISE: None

FOOD:
Breakfast:
2 Bowls of Cheerios
1/2 Red Machine Naked Juice Smoothie
2 cups coffee + 3 tbsp. half & half

LUNCH:
Stone Oven BBQ Chicken Sandwich minus cheese & bacon

DINNER:
Lean Cuisine Pizza Snack Rolls

DESSERT:
2 cups fat free ice cream

Diary: March 17, 2009 (DAY 7)

Happy St. Patty's Day! It was a happy one for me when I stepped on the scale for my first weigh-in. I couldn't quite decide if it said 163 or 162, so I went with 163. Down 2 pounds. I can live with that.

How did I feel today? Boys - close your ears. I started my period. I have had issues with anemia and starting my period can sometimes cause that anemia to rear it's ugly head. That it did today. Time to take my iron supplements. In the interim, I'm tired and lethargic, but I'm proud of myself that I still managed to exercise.

I went out for coffee with friends tonight, so I got home on the late side. I decided that my Boot Camp video was a little too intense for right before bed, so I decided to do a light workout on the Wii Fit. There is one thing that always happens to me when working out - once I get going, I want to keep going. I pushed fairly hard tonight and I'm already feeling it.

Not sure what I'm going to do for tomorrow night yet. Technically, it's my night to run, but I have a hair appointment. My hair appointments generally take around 2.5 hours and I'm not going till 5 p.m. and will need dinner after that. Hmmm... We shall see.

All of that said, I'm going to run the risk of sounding like an ass and I'm going to pat myself on the back for making it through the 1st week without quitting. The first week is the worst. It's the hardest to get motivated. It's the hardest to make my body do what I want it to. It's the sore-est (I'm pretty sure that isn't a word).

On to week 2 and here's hoping for at least 2 more pounds disappearing...

Log
--------------------------

EXERCISE: 30 minutes Wii Fit Strength & Yoga exercises

FOOD:
Breakfast:
2 bowls of Honey Nut Cheerios
1/4 cup 2% milk
2 cups coffee + 3 tbsp. half and half

Lunch:
Small Wendy's Chili (no cheese)
Wendy's baked potato with 1 packet of lowfat sour cream

Snack:
1/4 cup toffee peanuts

Dinner:
6 oz. baked chicken breast
1/4 cup chicken stuffing

Snack:
8 oz. 2% milk
3 tbsp. Nestle Quik

Diary: March 16, 2010 (DAY 6)

Today was a pretty good day. My energy level was up which was awesome since I had so much work to do. My muscles feel MUCH better today.

I managed to eat pretty healthy today, but dinner went awry...as in, I didn't have any. It turns out that Buca di Beppo's small serving that supposedly serves 3 only serves one adult, one 5 year old, and one 1 year old. Um, yeah, that left me without dinner. I just couldn't bring myself to spend MORE money on MORE dinner after that.

My run tonight was good, really good. My muscles responded and my breathing/asthma didn't get out of control. I felt that I *could* do more, but I've done that before and injured myself, so I only increased the intensity a little (for now).

And as a side note, I feel generally out of shape, but tonight The Beast (aka my 50 pound Boxer that tears my arm off with the leash) made me feel better when I had to practically drag her for the last 1/2 mile. Apparently I am not the only one in this house that's out of shape. Dog, you are going to have to step up the pace...you aren't even 2 years old yet...get it together, woman!

Log:
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EXERCISE: Walk/Run (1.5 miles w/ hills) - Increase amount of running vs. walking & increase speed

FOOD:
Breakfast:
1 bowl Honey Nut Cheerios
1/4 cup 2% milk
1 homemade Cafe Mocha sans milk/cream

Lunch:
1 red apple
1/4 cup fat free cottage cheese

Dinner:
None (Ahhhhhh!!!!)

Snack:
8 oz. 2% milk
3 tbsp. Nestle Quik

Diary: March 15, 2010 (DAY 5)

I'm still sore. Above all, my biggest obstale to overcome is drinking enough water. Tonight I feel majorly dehydrated. I think I had ONE glass of water today and that's just not enough. I'm making the judgement call to rehydrate and exercise tomorrow, or I could seriously injure myself.

Log
-------------------------

EXERCISE: None (Repairing Dehydration)

FOOD:
Breakfast:
1 bowl Cheerios
2 tbsp. 2% milk
1/2 Red Machine Naked Juice Smoothie
1 cup coffee + 2tbsp. half & half

Lunch:
1 Banquet beef pot pie

Dinner:
1 1/2 slices pizza

Dessert: 1 small cupcake (dad's birthday)

Diary: March 14, 2010 (DAY 4)

Today was...painful. I woke up and tried to get out of bed, only to find that the muscles in my legs were in painful knots and I was unbelievably stiff. I stretched, but that barely helped.  Both kids ended up needing a nap, so I took advantage of the quiet time and took a very hot bath. That helped a lot! Yes, I was still in pain, but at least I could walk! I also took some vitamin c at my hubby's suggestion, but I have no clue if that did anything.

I started the day with lots of energy, but because of my soreness, I could pretty much forget about doing anything with that energy. By the end of the day however, I was TIRED, exhausted even.  Thanks to daylight savings though, falling asleep wasn't an easy thing to do.

I have not been good about taking my vitamin packs and I'm wondering if that is negating some of the exercise I'm doing. *sigh* I HATE taking pills. The hubby is going to do some research to see if he can find something in liquid form for me to use in place of vitamin pills. Should be tasty - not.

I think I'm ready for my next workout. I'm sure that they soreness will be managable by tomorrow night.

Log
-------------------------

EXERCISE: None (Day 4 in 3/4 day rotation)

FOOD:
Breakfast:
1 Bowl Cheerios
1/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 Red Machine Naked Juice Smoothie
1 cup coffee + 2 tbsp. half and half

Snack:
1/4 cup toffee peanuts

Lunch:
Small quesadilla

Dinner:
6" Subway meatball sub on wheat

Snack:
1/2 Double Chocolate Stout beer

Diary: March 13, 2010 (DAY 3)

After using my netti pot last night, yes I was indeed tasting blood from my sinuses, however it didn't seem to be from a recent wound. More likely, it was just more healing from my surgery. Win!

I did another walk/run this morning. The hubby was asleep, so I broke out the jogging stroller. Let me tell you, that stroller combined with the weight of my daughter is HEAVY. Then I discovered that it had 2 flat tires. Great. I've never been able to pump them up myself (I'm a dork, I know), hubby always does it for me. Well, I'm determined, so I took it out with two flat tires. LOL It was noisy. It was hard to push. It was hard to steer. Whatever.

The run was HARD. My muscles in my thighs are still extremely tired from last night's Boot Camp video. I felt like I had rubber bands for thighs. Nevertheless, I made it the whole way. Yes!

Tomorrow will be my day off from exercise. I'm starting with a 3 on / 1 off rotation and will eventually build up to 5 on / 1 off.

Log:
-------------------------

EXERCISE: Walk/Run - 1.5 miles w/ jogging stroller

FOOD:

Breakfast:
2 scrambled eggs
1 English Muffin + 2 tbsp. strawberry jelly

Lunch:
1 small bowl gnocci soup
1 small bowl toscana soup
Small green salad w/ vinegarette
1.5 breadsticks

Snack:
Iced Coffee + 1.5 tbsp. half & half

Dinner:
1 small slice thin crust cheese pizza

Snack:
3 peanut butter cookies

Diary: March 12, 2010 (DAY 2)

So far, the most notable result from yesterday's walk/jog has been the soreness in my backside. Hey glutes - step up to the plate!

Tonight, I didn't go so easy on my body and I have a feeling that it's going to make sure I remember it tomorrow. Denise Austin's Bootcamp video is intense. When I first started it the first time I lost weight, I couldn't finish it all the way through. Tonight I at least made it all the way through, albeit with a few very minor modifications to protect my bad knee in case it's not ready for this. I'm hot. I'm sweaty. I'm red in the face. All of this is good.

On the flip side, I have a nasty metallic taste in my throat that I fear is blood from my sinuses which would NOT be a good thing right now. Off to use my netti pot and we shall see.

Log:
-------------------------

EXERCISE: Denise Austin Boot Camp (Strength) - 25 Minutes w/ 2 lb. weights

FOOD:

Breakfast:
1 bowl Honey Nut Cheerios
1/4 cup 2% milk
1 banana
2 cups coffee + 3 tbsp. half and half

Lunch:
Small cup french onion soup
1/2 grilled chicken sandwich on wheat roll

Snack:
Small iced coffee + 1 tbsp. half and half

Dinner:
BK Fish Sandwich

Recovery:
6 oz. milk
Sugar Free Nestle Quik

Snack:
Something small from Kogi BBQ (???)

Diary: March 11, 2010 (DAY 1)

As I mentioned in my last blog post, today is my first post-surgery day of exercise, so I chose to do a light workout: walking with integrated walking/jogging. I was pleasantly surprised.

• My breathing was great! My sinuses did NOT hurt. In fact, my previous stints with my breathing being out of control were not a factor tonight. My asthma did NOT rear it's ugly head. My breathing recovery after exertion was simply amazing to me.
• My muscles aren't as out of shape as I thought they'd be. They responded well to being pushed.

Post workout, I'm feeling a bit of swelling in my sinuses, but it's minor. I'm sure that my medicine & nasal spray will knock it out, no problem. Oh yeah, and I want to itch my skin off. LOL I DO remember that from the last time I started working out.

Log for the day:
-------------------------
EXERCISE: Walk/Jog 1.5 miles (with hills)

FOOD:

Breakfast:
1 bowl Honey Nut Cheerios
1/2 cup 2% milk
1/2 Bolthouse Farms C-Boost Fruit Smoothie
2 cups of coffee + 3tbsp. half & half

Lunch:
Mini cheese pizza (yikes - my grandmother insisted on feeding me!)

Dinner:
Green salad w/ seared scallops
Miso Dressing

Snack/Dessert:
Vanilla Skinny Cow

Let's Get This Show on the Road

*^$%&!%(_&%&(*!!!   

Yep, that's what I have to say about me not having posted since November 17th. Ok, ok, I *might* have a decent reason - maybe.  Let's see....

My daughter was born on February 28, 2009. Shortly thereafter, I started feeling bad...very bad. I was sick constantly. I had horrible, debilitating pain and pressure in my sinuses, along with migraines, jaw pain, post-nasal drip, and all around exhaustion. After almost a year of this, countless medications, nasal sprays, a humidifier, and a whole lot more later, I finally got a referral to an Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor. After a CT scan, the diagnosis was that I had a severly deviated septum and chronic sinusitis. The treatment? Surgery.

On February 2, 2010, I had nose and sinus surgery. My doctor wasn't the best about explaining the procedure(s) and/or recovery. I did quite a bit of research online, but unfortunately, that did not properly prepare me for what was to come. The surgery was VERY painful. What I had anticipated to be a week of hard recovery time and several more to be at 100% was not so. I am now 5 weeks post-surgery and finally feeling somewhat human again. I've had a lots of speedbumps (last week I somehow managed to have strep throat, a sinus infection, and the stomach flu all in one week, thanks to my surgery making me susceptible).

So where does this leave me? Today is the start of a new beginning. I'm finally feeling good enough to to exercise again (I think).

This is blog post 1 of 2 for today. Tonight I start by simply walking and integrating a very small amount of jogging. I need to test my body, see if it's ready to endure what I'm about to put it through. Wish me luck...