Becoming Reaquainted...

I've been off here for some time now. My life had become really busy. It will be interesting to go back through my posts and see what was happening in my life around my last post.
Lets see....what has happened. In a nutshell...I am now a single mother of 3. I am almost a nurse (just in the middle of pregrad, which is consolidation) and then I graduate mid June. I am also in the midst of relocating 1.5 hours south of where I live now, and I am still on a journey towards The Shrinking Me. Although, I should rename my journey as I have grown tremendously in the past few years. The past couple years in college has been...interesting. There have been sleep deprivation, stress, change. During my first semester exams, my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. He had a right hemicolectomy to remove the tumor. Some of his lymph nodes were infected too. He underwent chemotherapy.The cancer metastasized to his liver and lung. The first day of my third semester, he had 60% of his liver removed, had a difficult recovery, and then underwent his second round of chemo. On the second day of May, we found out his cancer was in both lungs, and was inoperable. Radiation plus chemo will likely be the course. It has been a hard couple of years for him, and for us.
I gained 24 pounds that first year of college. I was bound and determined that that was coming off, and it wasn't going to happen during the second year. I started a job as a health care aide so my summer last year was very busy. I built running into the mix. By the time class started in Sept, I had lost all that I had gained. The stress of dads liver surgery exhausted me. Two weeks into the course and it felt like two months. But I hung in there for me, and for them. Around October I started Isagenix. It was awesome. I lost 9lbs and 20 inches in the first month I did it. But I couldn't keep up the momentum. I personally believe that my cortisol levels are keeping my weight on. I have to work extra hard to lose weight. And that's ok. I'm a hard worker.
The thing is, I have discovered that I'm strong. I am strong mentally, emotionally and physically. I finished school with a 3.8 GPA, which is pretty good for going thru school with 3 girls, my dad having, fighting, surviving and fighting cancer, going through a divorce and figuring out what to do next.
I bought sessions with a personal trainer, and he has been kicking my butt. I cannot even say how much I love it. That feeling....the second the weight is in the air and I'm lowering it I feel almost euphoric. I am in love with weight training. I have a friend who is a marathon runner, and he has awakened in me the desire to run. I am a newbie runner, so I'm not very good at it yet. But I will be. When I see people running, I have this desire, this urge to start running too. My friend has just completed his 3rd full marathon, and numerous other races this past year. Within 7 months, he has bettered his last marathon time by an hour! That amazes me beyond belief. It has fueled within me this....desire to kick some serious ass. Some time ago, around the beginning of this Shrinking Me blog, when I first started it, I had the desire to become a personal trainer. And then I went to college to be a nurse. That dream of being a personal trainer still lives in me. And one day I will realize it. In the meantime, I'm going to be my own personal trainer and along with my trainer and the inspiration of my marathon friend, I'm gonna kick my own booty. I haven't left the road to fitness...I've just taken a bumpier path, but I can see a much better trail now, more defined, more stable, clearer. I've jumped many hurtles in the past couple years and I'm looking forward to enjoying this journey even more now that I've been tested and I am a much stronger person.

Wow...where has the "Doer" in me gone to???

SO, time has flown. But I'm back again. I have huge goals...and journalling helped me keep focus, so I'm going to do that again.
It's been too hot out...I've been too busy...I'm too tired...I have a sore back....blah blah blah. I would like to say they're valid reasons, and they are...but they are also excuses, and I don't like excuses. I want to be the doer I know I am, and put away that old habit of just thinking of doing.
Tomorrow I have to work at 9. It's going to be a long 9 hour shift standing on concrete floors. But I have a scheduled 6:15am 22k bike ride that I am going to do. I AM GOING TO DO...just doing a little repetition for emphasis. That means I have to load my bike up tonight. By doing that tonite I won't have to do it in the am...just hop in the van and away I go.
That's what a doer would do...so that's what I'm going to do.
And you know what? I'm going to feel great doing it...and my 9 hour shift won't feel as bad with the endorphins pumping thru me...Yep. That's what I'ma do.
:o)
I'm baaack baby

Beginner Triathlete

That's what I am...a beginner triathlete. I am a 'young athlete' in this arena.

A couple of weeks ago I decided I needed something in my life to take my mind off my troubles...over active mind, ya know. I've always wanted to join the local triathlon club called The Nacho Average. But I wasn't at a level in life, a physical place where I was ready to actually be as active as I would need to be. I had thought about this a couple years ago. And since then I have lost 100 pounds and am now ready to give it a shot. So I went into Ontario Trysport and bought my first hybrid bike. It's a road bike but also can be rode on hard back trails.

I was so excited I txted my friend Loretta and told her she HAD to do it with me....and my wonderful friend is doing just that. She bought a new hybrid bike as well. We've been out pounding the pavement for the last week training.

Thurs. March 31/11 - 10 k bike ride

Friday April 1/11 - 5.4 walk/jog intervals plus 1K cool down walk, plus a walk to the park with kids later that night.

Sunday April 3/11 - .5 K swim (20 laps) 30 mins

Monday-Tues off

Wednesday April 6/11 - 5.4 walk/jog intervals plus 1k cool down walk

Thursday April 7/11 - 18.2 K bike plus 1K cool down walk

Friday April 8/11 - 1 K swim (40 laps/55 mins)

Saturday off

Sunday April 10/11 - X stretch....

planning for next week

Thoughts:

I have noticed a huge improvement in myself in just a week. The first walk/job was harder than the second one. The first bike ride I left my lungs on the hills that I rode up. The second one I rode up them and brought my lungs along for the ride. We really pushed ourselves and saw a noticeable difference. Our times were even cut on the walk/jog intervals by 12 minutes.

My hands were numb on the bike ride, must be gripping tighter than I need...and have to move arm positions to let the blood circulate properly again.

Lifes hiccups

So since my last post life decided to get in the way again. I ended up with killer mouth pain, and have been once again put on antibiotics. I have a molar that needs a root canal and I have been suffering with it for a week and a half now. That's like 3 months in dog years, haha. Seriously tho, have you had to suffer with killer mouth pain for any length of time? Not fun!

When I went to the dentist, he gave me a prescription for tylenol 3's and antibiotics. 'Great' I thought, 'that should help with the pain'...wrong! All it did was make my head woosy because Tylenol 3 has no anti-infammatory benefits, which is what I need. I still had to go to the dental surgeon, but I had to make it through a weekend first. Almost did. I had one full night without sleep because I was in agony. I went to the surgeon, and he did his testing on me, which is not fun. Ever had an icecube put directly on teeth and held there to see the response of recovery time? Yeah, I don't recommend it, especially a molar that needs a root canal. I almost went through the roof when he did that one. I was given the date of the surgery....the following week...I had to get through another week!!! That night was another lost night. I was jolted awake at 1:30 with agonizing mouth pain, and I stayed awake until 9am, at which time I was lucky to have an hour of sleep.
I had to wait until that afternoon to get my new pain meds because my pharmacy didn't have it in stock.

My friend got my prescription for me around 2pm. I had to wait until around 4 to take any. I took another one around 8, and I never got relief until 11pm. I actually went to sleep around 6:30pm, but I had to sleep sitting up...my head felt like someone was stepping on it and impaling it at the same time. I woke up around 9, stayed up for an hour, went to bed, and actually slept the night through.
A new development occurred the next night. I had a snack after biology class, my mouth was calm-ish....as soon as food entered my mouth, agony. Intense freaking agony that lasted for hours. And I didn't even chew on that side! Frig! And that stupid reaction has happend every single time I have eaten anything since.

So, how does this all affect my weightloss journey? Well, I had started P90X, but had to put it off until my mouth is fixed. I mean, exercising with tooth agony is NOT a fun thing. That stupid tooth has given me a headache, literally, since half a week before it started to flare up. I have had a headache continuously since. Not fun when I have to read and study for biology. It's put kind of a funk on my life....constant pain, sometimes complete and utter agony.
Also, the antibiotics are messing with my body. I have gained 5-7 pounds since reaching my 100 lb mark...not because I am eating crappy, but because my body is dealing with HUGE stress. I'm certain my cortisol levels must be through the roof. So I'm not terribly worried about it. I know that once this tooth is taken care of, I will get back into P90X seriously, and go gluten-free, sugar-free and I will remain that way until this round of P90X is through. The gluten-free, sugar-free thing I will keep up. I really do feel better eating that way. Life has gotten a bit messy and when that happens, like everyone else I have been reaching for the easiest, quickest fix...but that won't continue. I know from experience that if I am prepared, having the right foods on hand, and cooked -ready for reheating, it's the best and healthiest form of quick-fix foods.

I have 2 more days to wait....and come Tuesday, all my mouth pain should be over. Here's hoping!
And then back to normal. :o)

100 POUNDS LOST!

It is official. I have lost 100 pounds!

WOOHOO!!! FOREVER purposely removed pounds, never to be seen again!

Onederland!!! WOOHOO!!!

So, lots of things have changed/happened since my last post....seems to be a common theme with me these days. I guess that's good. At least life isn't stagnant.

Where to start???

Okay, well, I had a tummy tuck in December. Yep, I did! And I'm healing well. I will upload pictures once I get my laptop here.
And, I am also in Onederland. I am at 192! I have lost 98 pounds!!!! NINETY EIGHT POUNDS!

I cannot exercise vigourously yet...I probably could start walking, and I will this week. I am still tired.

Educationally....I withdrew from my PSW course. I decided the 'scope of practice' wasn't for me. Instead, I am going right to the nursing course for September. It just makes way more sense in so many ways for me.
My final chemistry mark wass 85%, which I'm pleased with. And in February, biology starts. Also I have one more surgery, hopefully at the beginning of Feb. That will give me plenty of time to heal, and then take care of some things before my course starts in September.


Trying to still do the gluten-free/refined sugar-free thing. I'm not 100% strict on that yet, but I will get there again because I feel better eating that way.
It's all in the mind. That's where the power comes from. If you believe you can do something, you will. If you doubt yourself, those doubts add up, and end up being counter-productive.

Anyway, thats where it is for me right now.
:o)

And So It Begins.....

I know, I know. I haven't been on since August. I couldn't get in to blog on my iTouch...grrr. And our computers were down. But here I am.
Things have changed since my last post. Lost of things on my plate...happily, some things are falling off now and I can breathe again.
Anyhoo...
A new beginning....Today I started my second round of P90X. Plus I did the Ab Ripper. And then I carried my inversion table upstairs to my bedroom, figured out how to use it again, and hung for a little bit. Then I had a hot bath with Dead Sea bath salts which are supposed to be higher in Magnesium content.
I am hoping that with the inversion table, hot bath with jets, massage therapy and muscle relaxants I can get thru this round of P90X.
I had pneumonia in October and I also had a car accident which threw my back into a frenzy. But I cannot afford to wait until I'm healed. Too much precious time will be wasted. I NEED to exercise. I NEED the endorphins. And my weight loss progress has stalled...so that's a huge motivation for me to get this show on the road.

UPDATE:
I got into college. My Personal Support Worker course starts in January. In the meantime I'm taking Chemistry...and it's proving to be challenging, yet rewarding. I love how my brain doesn't think about anything EXCEPT chemistry for 3 hours a nite x2/wk.

I WILL update from time to time, checking in with some of my P9oX workouts and experiences. But I won't be on every day.

Shouting out to my blogger friends that I haven't been on to say hello to in a while. *Hey all*
Pammy, Pitbull....miss reading about your journey.

Lisa