I Am Back!

I am back! There isn't anything new to report in regards to weight loss, in fact I have gained but I am ready to turn things back around again and jump back on the wagon.

The holiday season wasn't rough but we were under some stress after some lay offs at work. I had sinus surgery in December and during the recovery from that I actually lost 15 pounds and kept it off, lost another five and was doing fine until March. Around that time I got sick. Really sick. I started with a horrible sinus infection, which transpired into tonsillitis and then was down with very bad bronchitis. I was down for nearly a month and half.

My appetite was horrible so I didn't each much. Most of what I did eat was healthy too as I wanted to get better. So you would think I lost weight right? WRONG! Due to the constant infections and the issue with getting rid of them I was placed on Prednisone for several weeks. That stuff is pure evil. Sure it helped do what it was supposed to do but I experienced two of its side effects; hot flashes and weight gain. I gained back all twenty pounds and then some while on that stuff and because I was still feeling so horrible, I barely had the energy to get up and work out. I tried but was too winded and tired to keep up. I watched as I got heavier and heavier and despite eating well and trying to work out, nothing stopped it.

I was beyond frustrated and depressed but I am back now, healthy again and ready to start over. It sucks but its life I guess. This time I caved and joined Weight Watchers. I realized that I couldn't hack it on my own. Lets see what I can do this time!

Once again I will set goals of 20 pound increments. Weight Watchers sets goals of their own for me too but for neatness on the blog, I will keep the numbers fairly round and even. I can do it this time, even during a big move! Wish me luck. It sure feels good to be back again!

Doctors Appointment Follow Up

Its been a few weeks but after some blood tests, ultrasounds and and a few other things the results are in. The ultrasound showed a small cyst on my left side that has been there since Abby was born. My OB at the time biopsied the cyst to be sure it wasn't cancerous, which obviously came back with good results. Since then the cyst appears to be shrinking but my OB will watch it over time.

As for my blood tests, there was a little more to be found there. My thyroid levels were within normal but on the low side of the scale. They had decreases since my last blood test but not by much. I will not be treated for hypothyroidism but I will be monitored. What was discovered with my blood tests is that I am Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin D deficient. The B-12 deficiency isn't horrible and is being treated with a low dose of over the counter vitamins. The Vitamin D deficiency, however, is pretty significant. I am being treated with a high dose of Vitamin D via OTC vitamins but if those don't work properly then its a prescription from there.

The lack of Vitamin D and B-12 may be the reason I find myself so fatigued and find it hard to lose weight even with proper diet and exercise. I am hoping that keeping up with a supplement regimen with help to rid myself of these deficiencies as well as change some of my current issues. Only time will tell, but at least I have some answers at this point. It feels good to finally start the ball rolling and figuring out what is going on for me. On to the next step!

First Doctors Appointment

I made it through the anxiety and the stress of a long over due first appointment with my doctor, my OBGYN. Not only did I have my annual check up, I was also given the chance to tell her all of the issues I have been having, the concerns I have and what I have been doing over the last little bit. She listened. That is all I have wanted for so long.

As for the outcome of my appointment, time will only tell. When all is said and done, I had a few tests done today. I will also go back in a few days for a fasting blood test to check a whole spectrum of issues that my doctor feels it could be. I will also go in for an ultrasound as well. No I am NOT pregnant and the ultrasound has nothing to do with that. After the results of all those tests are in, we will proceed further based on what is found. Until then, I wait patiently and try not to think about all of the possibilities.

I will be doing my best to eat well, keep moving and take care of myself. At the same time, I will not be putting my focus on actual weight loss until we have more answers. If there is something that is actually preventing me from losing, then my attempts to do so at the moment will just continue to add to the frustration and upset that I have been feeling.

Here is to hoping that I will finally have some answers, that none of those answers are serious to my health and that I can soon move forward with improving me and my health. Once again, fingers crossed...

Catching Up...

Its been far too long since my last post. I know that. I also know that I have said it several times before and that I would do a better job keeping up with things, but then life gets in the way. It always seems to have a funny way of doing that and its a great excuse to use. But in all honesty, things were building.

Along with losing sight of everything that I was attempting to do, I also started to notice more and more issues with my body and my health. I don't intend to go into detail at the moment but many of these issues began around the first of the year and have continued. Many of my symptoms have gotten worse as time went on and new symptoms began to pop up too. Weight gain is one of the hardest issues to see and I have struggled big time. Watching myself gain more, then lose a few pounds and then struggle just to keep them off made me feel even worse then I already did.

But... this afternoon I am finally going in to get some answers. I am going back to a doctor I trust and I know will listen to me. I am honestly terrified because I don't know what might happen but I also want answers. Fingers crossed...

MIA

Hey All...

I know I have been MIA for over 2 months now and I am so sorry. Life has been a zoo and I have neglected a lot of things, including my goals and my blogs. Between parties, recital, and some health issues my focus has been placed elsewhere.  I will be back though starting this week, I promise. I miss blogging too much and I miss that fact that I was feeling great before life became complicated again. I will be back and sorry for the absence!

Results

I have decided not to set certain weigh in days like once every week or two weeks on a specific day. Doing so added pressure and a race with myself that generally became toxic and counterproductive. Now I have decided to weigh in when I feel I should and when I feel confident about everything I have done. As a note, I do weigh myself at the same time of day though for the most accurate results. I was always told to weigh in in the morning just after waking up and using the restroom. So I do just that.

So this morning I woke up and decided to step on the scale. Yes I know... its only been a few days but you never know what might happen and I was feeling confident.  To my surprise I had lost already! How much you ask?... 3.2 Pounds! I have a feeling that since this is a lot for just three days its due to the water retention from drinking soda, which I have stopped doing and the fact that I do not feel bloated and full anymore now that the Gluten and Dairy have been removed from my diet and I am starting to see the results. It may be a fluke and I cant always loose that much in such a short amount of time but its a nice start to it all! It feels good to get results!

Inspiration and Goals

As I get older, I find that inspiration and support can come from many different places. Most likely the best of this comes from family and friends. There was a time when I found myself feeling very alone in the way I felt, battling with weight and dealing with issues that left me feeling sick a lot. My problem was that I kept it all inside and didn't talk a lot about it. After starting work to fix myself and feel good mentally I noticed that doors were opening and there were a lot of people in my life that could relate, be a support system and could provide tough love when needed but an understanding ear as well.

After receiving a message from a dear friend and family member, I have even more inspiration and a lot of new insight. Without even knowing it, i learned that she struggles with some of the same issues I do. She works hard and has found a lot of things that have helped her to be successful in her journey to a happier and healthier person. I took a lot of what she had to say to heart.  One of the things that stood out to me though was about setting goals. Up to this point I was setting large goals, looking at the fact that I needed to loose about 120 pounds. When I look at that number, it overwhelms me, frustrates me and makes me sad. I dwell on all of the negative things that brought me to this point. When that happens, I find myself being the victim, feeling sorry for myself and I revert back to things that helped to get me to this. Trying to meet a goal like that was self destructive and honestly a negative way took look at things. Instead of looking at the large long term picture, I am going to start small giving myself goals that are within reach and not so daunting. Eventually you set a new goal, and then another and another until finally they add up to the original large goal. So starting today, my new goal is 20 pounds. I am not going to even give myself a timeline. I just want to lose 20 pounds, which could translate to a loss of two sizes. (It's said that every 10 to 15 pounds is one size depending on the person). That is something I can be happy with and live with.

Therefore, in the corner of my blog you will see the weight banner change. Instead of the full goal, it will only be 20 pounds. As I set more goals, you will eventually be able to see the overall progress but for now, as once said by Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus in What About Bob?... BABY STEPS.