K. Alexander

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I have been attempting to get back on my hard-core exercise routine that made me feel so good and so energized.  I got a really good re-start at the very end of '09 and then got sick, then the highs only got into the 40s and here we are.  As a side note, a Wii fairy made a Wii FIt magically appear at my house and I broke it in tonight.  I don't think I like this Wii Fit's attitude very much though.  Within 10 minutes, it called me overweight, uncoordinated and unbalanced; it did however tell me I did a good job at running (in place).  Hrrph.  I had been feeling like a sloth over the last few months and knew I was going to get reprimanded by my physician.  Sure enough, since she saw me last in April, 13 pounds had adhered to my body. THIRTEEN.  thirteen.  Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.  One thing I am really cutting back on is my wine.  LOOOOOOTS of calories in wine and I really enjoyed my wine. I was developing a wine belly.  I guess I am going to be the girl who turned wine into water! But back to the Wii, I like the format, so far, and I hope it will be something new and serve as a spring board (not a replacement).  I would like to continue walking around my neighborhood because the hills are great.  And as I've said before, I really, really want to run.  Maybe with the incremental help of  the 'Wii run' and power walking in my neighborhood I can work up the stamina to run.  Dammit,  I didn't want to write a post like this, but it is the truth and I hope the next ones get better and better.  I must keep blogging my progress because being accountable to someone, even if it is only me knowing that this is out in the ether, appears to help me stay on track.

I was busily plugging away on a new case nose deep in papers, hair pulled back, pencil stuck in my hair and mumbling to myself when I felt someone looking at me.  I pop my head up from looking down at all my medical records and see my co-worker Barb standing in the door way.  She said, "I just have to come out and ask, how do you get such a great shape around your abdomen and waist."  "Huh," was all I got out.  I was really confused.  Here she is this 5'2" , maybe 120 pound lady and she is asking how to get my waistline.  No way.  "What do you mean?" I asked.  She said, "What do you do to get that great silhouette that  you have?"  I stammered, waiting for her to burst out laughing, or point to the person behind me (when there should have been no one else in my office), but she never did, so I ran with it.  "Foundation garments, definitely foundation garments." (exercise too, but the shape is mostly from the garments).  I told her that ever since my surgery I just feel more contained wearing them and I guess a great benefit is the silhouette she seems to like.  I told her the name of them and where I bought them and she was pleased and went about her day.  I sat at my desk in a little bit of a stupor, kind of confused that someone would want my shape, the shape that I am learning to love as a part of me, but would certainly aspire for more.  I eventually fell face-first back into my work and forgot the great compliment for the time being, but wow, that came out of left field for me.   

9/13/09 working pedometer: 1.984 miles, 40.23 minutes, 4658 steps, 2.95 mph 
9/14/09 1.842 miles, 36.17 minutes, 4325 steps, 3.05 mph

Okay to catch up,  I have still been exercising, but the last thing I want to do it post about it, especially since my pedometer is broken.  Trust me when I hit the door after my 3 miles, do not get between me and the shower.  I start taking of clothing as soon as I get one foot in the door and by the time I get to the shower, well, I'm ready to take a shower.  And the showers I take-cold.  Straight up cold showers.  It feels soooo good.

Since I am blogging I will tell you about tonight.  Walking in 95 degree weather and I really didn't break a sweat until about 1/2 a mile into the walk but once I start there is no stopping it.  The funny part was it started to drizzle.  I could see it in the air and on the sidewalks, however, I couldn't feel it.  Humidity+sweat=cannot feel it raining. So I just plowed through.  I figured what could it hurt?  

I really don't like walking in the hot, hot heat (reference intended) but I actually think it is character building.  It becomes a war with your mind to see how far your mind will let your body go.  It actually has been surprising at times.

Currently I have a tall glass of ice water and a piece of wheat toast with peanut butter.  I have never felt better! :)

 I saw yet another person make a judgement about gastric bypass who doesn't understand it.  My first reaction was to throw my hands up in the air and shout all the reasons why they should understand this isn't the 'easy' way to lose weight.  However, the more I mulled it over the more I realized it didn't really matter if they got it.  I get it.  The people here get it.  I have reaped the benefits of it and that is all that really matters.  I have kept 120 pounds of weight off my body for two years.  I have re-learned how to eat and exercise.  I no longer take any prescription medication related to my obesity.  And most importantly, more likely than not, I will live to see my children's children and THAT is what matters to me.  

My co-worker just brought in old photos from an office party and all I can say is Oh. My. God.  How was it that I never quite saw myself as THAT girl?  I have been a little body obsessive lately, not low self-esteem per se, but just conscious of areas I would like to work on; however, when I saw this old photo and flipped to a current photo the difference is enormous and gave me great perspective.  Great perspective.  Now, that doesn't mean that I am done working with what I have right now.  I am still going to work toward attaining my goal but my God what a difference.  I am still stunned.  Stunned. I didn't have photos like that in my house becuase I was the photographer OR I deleted got rid of any photos that didn't meet my "Meh-that-is-only-a-quasi-horrible-photo" or due to the fact that others were in the photo.  I will scan in a better, color photo later, but I am still stunned.  Sitting here wide-eyed and mouth agape.  

I've decided that charting my cardiovascular exercise again is a good thing.  Walking stats:

4/27/09: 5123 steps, 3.073 miles, 42.40 minutes, 4.3 mph.  The smell of the Confederate Jasmine in everyone's yard was delightfully intoxicating.
4/29/09: 4068 steps, 2.440 miles, 33.29 minutes, 4.39 mph.  Lots of people out and about in the neighborhood tonight.  I took it a little easier on the distance because my neighborhood has some pretty good hills and the 6.5 miles in two days killed my glutes...and that is a massacre. :)
4/30/09: 2653 steps, 1.591 miles, 21.59 minutes, 4.42 mph.  It is obvious that the longer I am out the slower I become.  
5/2/09: .5 mile on bike in a hilly neighborhood= 10 times as hard as walking 3 miles at a brisk pace in the same neighborhood.  It took my grace. I came home panting, but I am still going to go on my walk tonight too.  
Ok several hours later, I know why it was hard to go only a half mile...one of my tires was really low on air and I didn't notice (*blush*) no wonder it was so difficult to go uphill, it was like riding in mud.  I am glad I am not as weak as I thought I was.  So, I just got back from the walk:  FURTHEST YET and not too bad off...7167 steps, 4.30 miles, 58.36 minutes 4.42 mph (and I kept pace).  Shower time....
5/3/09: 4303 steps, 2.581 miles, 35.32 minutes, 4.38 mph.
5/6/09: I didn't do cardio on 5/4 because I didn't feel like it, and then really regretted not doing it because on 5/5 I couldn't because  it was pouring rain and I had to eat really, really well on Cinco de Mayo... :P  5578 steps, 3.346 miles, 46.01 minutes, 4.36 mph (I lost some of my zip in the 2 days booo..)
5/7/09: 4923 steps, 2.953 miles, 40.54 minutes, 4.37 mph.  Songs on iPod great for pacing: American Boy, Leavin', Summer Love, SexyBack, Mamas Room and Love Lockdown.
5/8/09: 4938 steps, 2.962 miles, 41.01 minutes, 4.33 mph.  Had to fend off the love bugs in the air and was desperately trying not to swallow any...eh, I guess it would have been extra protein if I did.
5/10/09: 4010 steps, 2.406 miles, 32.41 minutes, 4.45 mph.  I probably stepped up my pace today because it was 90 degrees outside and I was a sweaty mess and I was ready to be done with it.  I took a COLD shower and it felt so good!  I feel so strong and by the way, if you want to work on your butt, just climb hills...I can DEFINITELY tell the difference.
;)
5/11/09: 4604 steps, 2.762 miles, 38.17 minutes, 4.34 mph.  I hate when you get a pebble in your shoe! 
5/13/09: 5070 steps, 3.042 miles, 42.17 minutes, 4.32 mph.  I was very tempted to walk through all the sprinklers I encountered on the way.  Dinner was whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, fresh strawberries (which were super sweet) and red grapes. My new thing is cold, and I mean cold, showers.  It is refreshing and invigorating. 
5/14/09:  3062 steps, 1.215 miles, 25.40 minutes, 2.95 mph.  Short walk because the bottom is about to fall out of the sky.  I had to do it today because I won't be able to tomorrow.  Wearing my 'Real Women Sweat' shirt from Women's World Gym.
5/18/09: 4527 steps 1.797 miles, 37.47 minutes, 2.877 mph.  I swear I think my pedometer is broken.  I wasn't possibly going that slow and I followed the exact same  path when I walk 2.7 miles...Something is fishy!
5/20/09: My pedometer is kaput.  I walked the 2.7 mile trek today. 

Over the past two years I have worried about my B12 intake due to my lack of intrinsic factor.  As you know, after GBS surgery patients can no longer absorb B12 from normal dietary intake due to the changing of the anatomy.  Sublingual B12 or B12 shots are the only way to get the dietary requirements for B12.  This is for life, so therefore I worried about my intake and making sure I took it as required. 

I just got a call from my general physician after my 2 year lab draw and everything was fine, except for my vitamin D level.  The normal range for D is 32-100 ng/mL, my level was 16.6 ng/mL.  She put me on 5000 IU of Vitamin D once a week until we can get it back up to normal levels.  This is never something I thought about having trouble with and I did some research and I found this from the Mayo clinic's website in regards to vitamin D deficiency:

"Also, individuals who have fat malabsorption syndromes (e.g., cystic fibrosis) or inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease) are at risk." www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d/NS_patient-vitamind

And while it doesn't specifically mention GBS it does mention fat malabsorption and that is one of the effects of GBS.  I just thought I would pass along this nugget of information.

*Edited to add my lab results (minus identifying/personal info):      

 Still exercising, but I went out earlier today and it was hot and sunny.  It was nice in the breeze, but currently I am a puddle of sweat.  I thought I would post since I went the furthest I have gone to date.  I am constantly raising the bar for myself.  Here is a photo of how red a pale person gets in the sun and heat...not a pretty sight:

Stats:
5690 steps
3.414 miles
47.03 minutes
4.3 mph

Now that I am not about to die, I am off to do my core exercises.  If you don't have an exercise ball, you should get one they are great!

Monday was my two-year check-up for my GBS surgery.  I am maintaining at my current weight range well.  I am still not down to goal BMI, but I am doing well and I am happy.  I also don't want to make drastic moves to get to goal, because that is not the way to do it right.  I am now able to determine my weight is going in the wrong direction and fix it.  I am no longer having the three p.m. shakes so I eliminated that snack ing out of my diet.  It is nice to also have curbed the emotional eating.  I just drink water like a fish (okay, coffee too) instead of mindlessly snacking. 

Recently I went on a cruise (Mayercraft Carrier) and I did fantastic with my eating.  Surrounded by all-you-can-eat food day and night and I did well.  I kept with my yogurt breakfasts and most, if not all of my lunches were salads with some sort of protein.  One day I was forced to dismantle a gyro to steal the chicken out of it.  Dinners were chicken or fish as well and vegetables.  I gave over my starches to my sister to eat (which she did willingly :))  The only night I splurged was a day I didn't eat lunch (GOOOOOOD learning lesson:  Eat three meals a day and you won't devour your dinner).  The splurge was a slice of "diet" cheesecake.  I took maybe 4-5 bites of it and pushed it away.  Damn straight I wanted more, but I didn't eat it because I was full.  I laughed at the waiters response to me declining bread, an appetizer and desert most nights.  It really confused them.  They looked at me as if to say, "Really?  You do know you can have what you want?"  It is funny because if I was rail thin they would understand.  I just laugh.   I did have some liquid calorie consumption, but it was a boat full of things I LOVE and I had some wine and Vodka Cranberries to go along with it.

My exercise routine is good as well.  I planned on putting it on pause during the cruise, but ended up finding other ways to get in some exercise (took the stairs, walked around exploring).  It also seemed like everything happened at each end of the boat so we were constantly walking the length of the ship.  I really enjoyed connecting with many special people on this trip.  When you meet up with people who have hearts, minds and souls similar  to your own, you brim with mutual admiration and respect and it makes you want to be around those people more.

Wow, I got off topic, but just free-thought writing.  I have been incredibly blessed with what life has given to me.  Not 100% of my life is good, but most of it is and if I can find the good, I always focus on that.