This week has been an interesting one. I have got to start making some decisions on activities that I choose to go and do. For instance – last night we went to the basketball game in Athens. I have fun going, no doubt. But the whole time I was driving home I was thinking about what all I could have gotten done at the gym. I feel so much better when I go and workout. Having lots of "other things" to do during the week really takes away from my gym time. I don't want to focus my life around the gym, but I do want to get my money's worth and exercise.
Monday night was painful in many ways. I’ve danced since I was 3 years old. Last year was the first year that I honestly left exhausted after each lesson and felt as though, for the first time in my life, I couldn’t keep up. I’m the oldest one in the class (go figure!) by about 7 years. I have the technique but it was the endurance to keep going that I was lacking. This past Monday really hit me emotionally. I know I’ve gained about 20 lbs in the past year. That in itself is ridiculously hard for me to admit. Growing up I was always the small one who could eat whatever they wanted. Those people who said it would catch up were right. I first realized I was in real trouble during stretching. Simple barre work was killing me. I haven’t always been able to bend in half by any means but I couldn’t get my leg on the top barre and that was when I said, “Things have GOT to change.” I’m in a class with a bunch of 16-18 year olds who have enough energy to run a marathon every day and can pull their leg over their head.
I’ve done really well eating this week. Monday I had dry multi-grain cheerios for breakfast, a sandwich and fruit for lunch, more cheerios for a snack and a salad for dinner. Tuesday was the same breakfast, a lettuce and walnut-vinaigrette dressing salad (talk about branching out…) and we had CFA for dinner on the way to the game. I had a CFA sandwich. I had fries, but I ate about 3 and opted out. One thing I always allow myself is one normal meal a week and last night was it. I knew our plans for the rest of the week and figured that would be the best night to eat off menu. Today will be a soup lunch and salad dinner. I want to try to replace one meal a day with a simple salad. I can eat a lot of it to get full but I’m not tempted with other things.
On another note – I’ve become a water junkie. I drink water like I’m living in the desert! And I know water weight plays a factor and I think that’s why I constantly feel the need to move around. I could drink about a gallon of water every morning when I wake up. I definitely drink it all day at school. The kids laugh at my camelbak water bottle – they call it my sippy cup. Cute, huh?
A few people have suggested I get my thyroid levels checked. I know a few people who have gone through weight issues and have found problems with their thyroids. So I'm having blood work done to check on that. I also have had an issue with my ribs and cartilage. About 2 years ago, I noticed this "popping" on my side where my cartilage is located. It hurt when it popped but I noticed it only did it when I did ab workouts. Last year I went to the doctor about it because the pain got a little worse and the gym owner wanted me to have it checked. I had two options - deal with it and find alternative ab/back workouts or have an MRI to see what's going on and have it "glued" back together. The doc said it would be about 3 months of no activity to allow everything to "set" properly and at the time that was not an option. It's really not an option now but the pain has gotten worse and its to the point where I can't sit in one position too long without it hurting. And recently I have a pain in the middle of my back whenever I have the side pain. Who knows!!?? It might all be related to gaining weight and my body is angry at me. So I'm going back to the doctor next week to see what he says, maybe go get that MRI. Never had one before and not really looking forward to it but if I can get answers it will be worth it.
So sorry for the super long post - its been a while. As always, thanks for reading and for any input.
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