Taking Control

About two years ago a work colleague and I were exploring the city of Brisbane, Australia together on a weekend  We did a lot of walking on that warm, summer day, and talked about the fact that we both knew what we needed to do to get fit and healthy, and that we were going to do it soon.

My friend took action before I did, and she just completed her first triathlon last weekend.  I told her on Facebook that "I wanted to be just like her when I grow up", and she responded that I already was, because as soon as I took control of my own health I became just like her.  I've thought about that a lot, and she's right.  I may not have done a triathlon, but I am in control.  I've lost 38 pounds this summer, and I feel lost if I can't get outside and either walk or run during the day.

What??

Even as a child, I was the girl picked last for the sports teams.  I'd much rather bury my head in a book than play kickball / softball / basketball / track.  I was enrolled in ballet, but always felt like the big awkward girl in class.  I remember taking an aerobics class once in college and vomiting as soon as I finished.  No wonder I didn't go back!

So this time my only goal was to walk.  And I did, and got bored/tired/sore/out of breath/embarrassed, and...I kept going.  My first victories were small - walking for 20 minutes...walking 1.6 miles without stopping...walking 3.2 miles without stopping.  Then I did a 5K.  And another.  My knees were (and still are) swollen, my right hip hurt, and sometimes my legs hurt so bad at night I couldn't sleep.  And I still walked.  I walked 4 miles and thought I was a champ.  Then I did an 8 mile hike and knew I was.

I thought I'd try the Couch to 5K running plan, but got discouraged because I couldn't even complete week one.  So I modified it and started running 20 seconds at a time.  Then 30 seconds.  I found a different plan that made more sense and started it 2 weeks ago.  Now I'm running a minute, walking 2 minutes.  Next week it'll be run one minute, walk one minute.  Maybe.  I'm a slow learner.  I signed up today for the Monster Dash 5K in Fort Worth end of this month.  I plan on running at least half way.

Again, taking control, I scheduled a sleep study last weekend to see if my sleep apnea had improved.  When I was first diagnosed, I would stop breathing 60 times per hour while asleep.  Yes, I couldn't make it a minute without stopping breathing, greatly increasing my risk for stroke, heart attack, and God knows what.  Last weekend, there was no sign of apnea at all.  I did have a couple of episodes when laying on my back where my breathing changed, but nothing life threatening or serious.  The doctor said that I had cured myself, and was no longer in danger of stroke, heart attack, etc. because of my weight and lack of oxygen while sleeping.

I. Cured. Myself.

Next, I plan on seeing if I can discontinue the use of the statin I've been taking for high cholesterol.  I'll see my primary care physician in November for that.  If I can discontinue that, my only prescriptions will be for Flonase for allergies, and hormone replacement therapy for, well, you know.  My blood pressure is perfect (today was 107/72), my resting heart rate has gone from about 80 to 63, and I feel strong, centered, and, most of the time, happy.  I have walked/ran 325 miles this summer on purpose, and can't imagine stopping.  Of course the true test will be the dark winter months with little daylight - I've already started using my light box in the morning and upping my Vitamin D in anticipation of the "winter blues" hitting.  

In other news...I got an email today from the webmaster of Becker County, where my Summer Palace is located.  Don't know how he found my little blog, but he did, and he found a picture I posted a few months ago of sunrise at the park near me.  He asked and was granted, permission to use the pic in the county's website redesign.  I of course was thrilled, and will post the link everywhere if and when my photo is published!

Sam, and Other Tales of Woe

Of the four kittens born that day, he was the one that I knew instantly what to name - Sam.  His left eye was still closed, and remained closed for weeks while I patiently washed it with a warm washcloth.  For 15 1/2 years I would pick the eye boogers off his cheek from that darn eye.

He was by no means the easiest cat.  When he was unhappy, he would let me know it by peeing outside the litter box.  He would turn his nose up at the scratching posts I bought and instead tear up the corners of plaster throughout the house.

But he was also the sweet lap cat that would flop down in my lap after a long business trip, turn on his side, and let me hold his paw.  He would crawl into bed into my arms and place his head on my shoulder, making little grunts of satisfaction when I reached out for him.  Often I'd wake to Sam sprawled full body across my body or neck, sound asleep.

As soon as I would leave the bed in the morning, he'd crawl into my lap while I drank my coffee, then would go back to the bed, burrowing under the covers to find the warm spot.

His mother Grace would hiss and growl at him around me, and then 5 minutes later I'd find them curled around each other on my bed.

Sammy got sick very suddenly, and even the animal hospital couldn't save him.  I was with him at the end; he was so sick, but I think he recognized my scent when I blew my breath into his face.

It's been a trying week here at the Summer Palace.  A good friend has incurable cancer.  My Niece's husband was in a car accident and has no memory of anything prior to the accident, including his own name, his wife, or his 4 kids.  A former friend is on Crystal Meth and suffering from paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations.  A divorce in the family.  And today I learned that a co-worker's son was killed yesterday in Afghanistan.

Today I am grateful for the sunshine after days of dreary weather.  I am grateful for the bags of carrots, cukes, and beets that a neighbor brought me yesterday from his farm.  I am grateful for the coffee in my Minnesota mug, even though it doesn't taste quite as good without a cat sprawled across my lap.

Rest in peace Sammy my heart.  We'll meet again some day, but Grace and I miss you today.

Four Month Update

I'm happy to report that I participated in my first timed 5k race - the Dick Beardsley in Detroit Lakes, MN last weekend.  I even ran a little bit when I could!  My official finish time was 46:42, which considering I just wanted 48 minutes or less, was pretty good.  And now I have a baseline to compete against for next time.

Weight wise, the loss has slowed way down.  I'm down 36 pounds since surgery, but watching the scale is incredibly frustrating since I'll lose .2 pounds one day, then gain 3 pounds the next.  I guess it's a marathon, not a sprint.

I have lost another inch from my waist, and got the shock of my life when I bought new sweatpants at Walmart in size SMALL!  I know that's vanity sizing for sure, but it still felt kind of good!  I recently had to pull some XL t-shirts out of my closet to donate because I wore one last weekend and kept exposing myself it was so big!  My bra size is down from a 38C to a 34DD so I'm not losing a lot "up there" but I am losing inches.

I had a consult with a doc today about my sleep apnea.  Since I've lost weight again, it's time for another sleep study, with the hope that I can dump my CPAP machine.  And if I can't, I'm overdue for a new machine anyway.  The monster machine I have now is huge and is a real pain to travel with.  The new ones they showed me are tiny in comparison!  My sleep study is scheduled for September 28, so I have a couple more weeks to focus on losing as much weight as I can before then.

I realized yesterday that other than my coffee, I hadn't had any water all day.  That's bad, really bad, so I'm stepping up my hydration today - up to 6 cups of water so far, with a goal of 12 for the day.  I also skipped the last two days workouts, so I got out at lunch today for 30 minutes.  The so-called experts online say that a beginning runner or walker should only workout 30 minutes max, 3 times per week.  I've been pushing myself way harder than that, and my heart rate has been close to my max a lot.  Apparently that's not the best way to train your muscles, so today I followed directions and kept my heart rate in the "aerobic" zone throughout the 30 minutes.  It seemed too easy, but I guess I'll try it out for awhile.

Only three more weeks at my Summer Palace before I have to pack up and drive back to Texas for the long winter.  Boo hiss!