Back on the horse.

I took two weeks off from the blog world and I'm back now! I was just waiting to get all test results back so I could update everyone on everything at the same time.  The surgery went really well and I spent my recovery days resting and watching WAYYY too much tv; mostly Duck Dynasty, Big Bang Theory and Girls.  Imagine my pain-medicine filled dreams after watching those all day?? Uncle Si and Sheldon Cooper built a beaver-dam-destroying-robot-
boat...

I had my final post-op exam yesterday and got a 97% clean bill of lady health.  I had more lesions and polyps than my OB had initially seen but she was able to take care of them all and send them off for pathology testing.  Thankfully, everything came back negative:  no cancerous cells and no real abnormalities in the tissue.  Now the only thing we'll still be addressing (hopefully) is the hormonal side of things that have me covered in zits and looking like a 7th-grader before the first school dance.  I've healed well and just have to follow up for some final labs in 90 days.  I really appreciate that so many people took time to check on me that week. It really touched me.  It's funny who you hear from when things like this pop up; and even more peculiar who you don't hear from.

So just a couple days post-op I took by self back to the gym with Big A.  I couldn't really lift so we did a makeshift spin class on the bike which was a lot of fun and got us a lot of strange looks from the people around.  It was just what I needed even though I was absolutely spent the next day! I've slowly worked my way back in and I'm back to my routine now...with one change...this girl is starting to do 3 training sessions per week now! I'm trying to get down to the XL by the end of the summer! In addition to the Redskins shirt, I ordered my jacket (specifically for the Washington trip) in an XL.  There's work to do!! My butt and legs have gotten memo but my gut has not!

Let's talk about the pounds then shall we?  

So my sweet husband drove me (in my cloudy state) all the way to my WW meeting the day after my procedure to I could see my team JAG girls and weigh in.  I was up 1 pound. :(  I wasn't destroyed or anything b/c I was still swollen, etc. No biggie. It was just important that I was there even though it was only for 2 minutes.  The following week (last Wednesday) I lost 1.6 pounds! And......this Wednesday I had a loss of 4.2 pounds!! I was so excited! I won't have a week like that every time, but that really helped motivate me. The team JAG girls have lost well over 70 pounds total now! That brings my current weight to 260 even. (When I posted my first blog in October, 2012, I was at 287 pounds.)  I have some ups and downs in there; and I calculated last night that I have lost 23 since starting with my trainer.

What's next?
I still plan to participate in the 5k here in a couple of weeks with my friend.  (You can sign up too - www.hoosheal.com)  I can easily cover the 3.2 mile distance now at a slow pace.  This first one, though, may be more walking that running.  I'll keep building up and doing more though and eventually I'll be able to run a whole race!

I started two to grad. classes last week - taking two together is insane, but I'm maintaining.  My social life will suffer but that's ok. At this point, as long as I get in husband time, homework time, and gym time each week I'll be ok.  Hopefully my friends and family understand - and I think they do. I know many of them want this for me as much as I want it for myself, which is awesome!

Other bits and pieces
Basketball season ended for the year when my Hoos lost in the NIT round of 16 Wednesday night.  I'm totally bummed but I know both our men's and women's teams have so much potential! The good thing is that an end to basketball means two things: more baseball!! and spring football!! Speaking of football...REALLY Dallas?? I'm now convinced that Jerry Jones has finally lost his damn mind. Six more years for Tony Romo at $108 million? "He's a franchise quarterback!" people say. He's going to dump your franchise in the pooper I say.  I can't believe I'm saying this - but Dallas' fans deserve better.   Now...Hail to the Redskins!

Snow must make people crazy.

Here's a funny for you.  It's no secret that I'm working to get healthy but I try not to talk about it obsessively at work, etc. unless I'm asked.  The exception to that is my friend Ana - to whom I blabber all day long!  Anyway, part of that is because I'm sure other people don't want to hear it all the time and I work in a shared space. That's one reason I blog - if you want to know, great! -If not, that's okay too.  

Someone did ask me how things were going recently within earshot of some other folks that I know, and I was happy to report my progress.  I was also talking about the minor surgery that I have coming up next week.  (I'll get to those details in a second.)  Well I heard out of one ear the other folks talking (thinking they were whispering) as we were finishing up and here are the key words you need to know:  Angel. I heard. be honest. lap band. gastric bypass. everyone knows.  

I let my friend leave and I piped up and asked - "What's going on? Who's having a lap band?"  -And the response I got kind of shocked me: "Well I heard you say you're having surgery for 'female issues' but isn't it for weight loss? I just assumed it was."  Really dude, you just assumed I wanted/needed to have gastric bypass because I'm fat? Come on.  Oh, and also, I COULD HEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT ME BECAUSE I'M 10 FEET AWAY.  Why would I lie about my medical issues to cover up a weight loss surgery?  Nuts. People are nuts.  So who knows who else they told and what they told them because they seem to enjoy spreading things around.  What is wrong with people? The other thing that bugs me is that they were talking about these surgeries like they are frivolous and that the people who have them are sooooo horrible.  That is so wrong.  First of all, there is nothing wrong with seeking medical help if you truly need it.  I know people whose lives have been drastically improved by lap band and other procedures.  It's also very serious and it's not an immediate fix; and there are many post-operative changes that have to be made in order for things to work out.  I know that something like that is not for me right now, but I don't judge others who do need that option and you shouldn't either.

On to my actual procedure.  I while back I posted that I was checking in to my overall health and that I may have some medical obstacles that would pose a challenge to my quest for a lighter me.  Well first, here's the good news:  My thyroid levels and blood pressure are much improved since October. I am no longer medicated for either issue. 

 (Oh, almost forgot my warning for the men - I'm about to use the words estrogen, menstrual, uterus and cervix now.  Avert your eyes if you can't deal.) 

Here's the bad:  my hormones are nutty, my menstrual cycles are wayyy out of control, and I am making too much estrogen.  We're on the road to fixing that.  After exams and ultrasounds, my doctor discovered lesions in my cervix and lower uterus and those jerks have to get the boot.  I also have developed endometriosis and that jerk has to go too! I have the worse uterus party guests ever.  Next week, the party is over.  My doctor will be doing two procedures (at one time) to take care of all of that.    She'll also send off the lesions and such to pathology to make sure everything's okay.  Hopefully that will help re-start my little estrogen makers and that, combined with continued exercise and weight loss, should help my levels.  It should definitely take care of the daily pain that I've been experiencing for quite a long while.  If all goes well after a few days of rest, I should be back at work and back in the gym getting after it! It seems fairly straight forward, but I'll still gladly take any prayers and good thoughts you'd like to send my way!

Version of Burpee

I didn't weigh in at WW this week - we were snowed in without power. Yuck.  What I DID do, though, was work out in my living room.  Big A called folks out on Facebook and put out a 'workout' we could do at home and he expected us to post our times.  Well with text message support from him, I did it.  The assignment was:  10 sets of 10 (so 100 reps each ) of 5 different exercises- sit ups, push ups, squats, jump squats, and Burpees.  Oh. Dear. Lord.  I did have to modify the Burpee part because I thought was going to die, but I did all 500 reps.  It took me roughly 30 minutes.  I think the fact that it was 48 degrees in our house and I wanted to keep warm helped me through.  I was all excited that I finished and it didn't take 3 hours...until I got the text message from him with his time:  13 minutes and 33 seconds.  Dang. I've got work to do!  I still think it was cool though that a. he even wanted to motivate us on a snow day and b.  he did it too.  Very cool.  By the way, I was the only person that did it that we know of.  

I guess that is plenty for tonight. Too much even.  Have a fabulous weekend everyone! 

Don't Give Up....Don't Ever Give Up.

As my friend Nita would say.. "So there I was...."  on the treadmill tonight in the gym. My goal tonight was a 30 minute session walking for 45 seconds and running for 1:15 (alternating).  I wasn't really tracking distance tonight I just needed my tired legs to complete a good 30 minutes with no pauses to huff and puff! I was doing well, listening to my secret husbands Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z and watching Sportscenter on the tv.  At 5-10-15-20-25 minutes I felt ok. Tired, but ok.  Then I started to slow down and sweat got in my eye and I said to myself "Self, you're good - go ahead and slow it down and hop off."

Then I looked up at the TV.  ESPN was marking the 20 year date of Jim Valvano's speech at the ESPY  awards.  There was a man who knew he was dying, could barely walk and still he managed to get there and inspire others.  I had to finish the 30! So I kept going and going for those last minutes while I watched the speech.  If Jimmy V can do what he did then, I can shuffle my sausage feet for 4 more minutes.  If you're not a huge sports fan, you may not have ever seen the speech.  You should check it out: http://www.jimmyv.org/about-us/remembering-jim/jimmy-v-espy-awards-speech/ .

We'll see how training and weigh-in goes this week. I feel like I've eaten nothing but carby carbs this past week.

Yes, yes I did.

I took the day off from the gym today (after completing my first 3 mile run/walk yesterday and still going at night to do upper body stuff). And I ate Cheetos after I finished writing my paper today. My fingers are still orange and I'm not sorry.

Still a loser!

Thankfully, I (and my WW girls) have finished February with a bang! - And a little dance move with a flourish.  I was down 2 lbs tonight!  That brings our Team JAG total to 63 lbs between the three of us! I'm so proud of us.  I know we drive the others crazy with our squirming around and giggling, but we can't help it. We're 15 year-olds in 30-something bodies.

I've also started to channel my inner Forrest Gump.  I started to bump up my gym cardio and have begun a 7 week 5k training program.  My first mile time was around 20 minutes.  I decided to hit the street on Monday and see what I could do with the Map My Run app outside.  I couldn't believe my time!  I did a pretty consistent walk 1:00, run 1:00 pattern for a little over a mile (I went 1.52 total by the time it was all over) and my mile times was 16:50!!!! Maybe I was pushing more. Maybe I had more to keep me distracted; like the construction dudes that wouldn't get out of my way that I almost had to hurdle or the poor lady walking 4 dogs that almost took me out.  It was hard and also fun! Again, WHO am I?? I followed that up by Big A time Tuesday - which was TOUGH, and the gym on my own again tonight.  I did 1.5 miles again at the run/walk interval and as best I can tell my mile time was about 18:00.  I know I may not be able to run the whole 5K in April, but I'm going to give it my best shot.  And 5k buddy is too!

I've kind-of thrown another goal in the ring for myself. If you'll remember we're up to:

Weight loss (Duh)
Bike around the lake
Zip the North Face jacket (Done!)
Fit into the XL Redskins shirt
and....

Go on a hike. In Washington state.  (And hopefully somewhere around here before that).  Laugh if you must but I do have a "bucket list" It's full of tons of things big and small, do-able and probably never do-able, quirky and fairly normal.  One day I'll share the whole thing with you all but today - Washington. Dave Matthews Band. The Gorge Amphitheater.  Being a 'townie' from central Virginia, I came up with DMB and am still a huge fan.  I've been to tons of shows but one show (a weekend of shows, actually) has always been near the top of my list.  Labor Day Weekend at The Gorge.  DMB Friday - Sunday with a beautiful back drop of mountains and the Columbia River.  It's never been feasible before. We haven't had the cash, or our schedules couldn't work. But finally, thanks to my husband, we are making it a reality! I could not be more excited! In between all of the music we will find a place and make that hike!! -To some place high and pretty.  I can't wait.  And I'm sorry now if I mention it 800 more times before then.  If I continue working hard I should feel strong enough to do it. And Jason is working too! We're going to do it together.

The Gorge Amphitheater

I can. I will.

 I left myself this little message on the board at the gym tonight.  I think it's my new motto. Yup. So other than that...I have my first official mile time. Yikes.  I couldn't quite catch the timer right as it hit 1.00 but it was about 19:55; so basically 20 minutes.  I know that's painfully slow for those of you who run but I'm ok with it for now.  I did the walk 1 minute, run 1 minute drill.  I'm going to start moving through that until I can get to 3.1 miles.  I'd like to conquer the distance first (indoors or out) and then I'll try to move the time number downward.  I have about 7 weeks until 5k time so I had better get to work.

Numbers don't lie.

1
So another week down and I'm happy to say I'm a loser again!  I was down another pound last night at our WW weigh-in.  YAY! All of Team JAG was down again!

12
I've been attending WW now for 12 weeks. And I haven't missed a week of weighing in.

40 and 15

Lateral Pull Down

The number of pounds I 'pulled' on the lateral pulldown tonight at the gym. -3 sets of 15. -Big accomplishment for me! Of course, the guy who was on before me was flying 100 pounds up and down like it was nothing! I'm proud though! I did 15 knees-down (AKA 'girl') push ups as well during Big A time tonight.  Another good accomplishment for me. I'll keep building up and will be doing more and more hopefully.



47/43
Well, can you guess this one? I'll give you a hint. It's a ratio and a percentage; 47 and 43%.  It's what's written on my fat club membership card.  It's my BMI and my body fat percentage.  (Body Mass Index, and the percentage of your body that is straight up fat.)  My body is made up of 43% fat! That's about half! This is a number I needed but did not want to know.  But the time had to come, and Big A measured me up and used the little machine and that's what we're left with. 47 and 43%.  A healthy woman of my age and height should have a BMI around 24.  I'm almost twice that! Wow. And, by the way, a BMI over 30 is considered "obesity".  I'm such a stellar student, that I seem to have skipped that step and jumped right to "morbidly obese".  A BMI that high, combined with the fact that I am currently still 100% over my medically ideal body weight buts me in that class. We're getting out of there stat!  That may be the second wake up call I need to keep me going for a while.  So basically right now I have as much fat as I do skin, bones and organs. Not cool, body. Not cool.  He also measured me (which I didn't look at) and we'll re-visit all of these numbers periodically.  I'm going to push that number down!

5
5K suckassss! To add a little variety to my new routines I signed up for a 5k race today. BOOM!  I know it's a lofty challenge, but I've got a 5k buddy and we're going to try it. It is a walk/run so there's little pressure.  I know I can do the 3.2 mile distance.  My hope is that I can run some of it. I have about 8 weeks until the race and I'll be adding some jogging to my cardio workouts in between training sessions.   It's for the UVA Medical Center Pediatric Oncology Department which is a great cause.  If kids can fight cancer, I can shuffle my butt around UVA Grounds.  -And the more the merrier. Feel free to join us!  (Here's the info if you're interested - http://www.hoosheal.com/Race.aspx )




We have a long weekend ahead.  We're having all new windows installed tomorrow, thank you God! Our power bills for our tiny house have rivaled that of ones 10x our size. ( I'll be thankful to save some money (that we'll promptly give to the gym) and be a little more energy efficient.)  And we both have lots of homework to do for school.  I'm almost finished with my first graduate class and I couldn't be more excited! Plus Jason hit the under-a-year mark until he graduates.  Hard work and fun times ahead for Team Cavanaugh!

Well I'm about to start drooling on my laptop. 'Night y'all.

Lust on a bun

Today is the home opener for UVA Baseball.  Who cares? Well me, let me tell you.  This would normally start my 3-4 times per week of...well...eating just a little hot dog in some tin foil in addition to everything else I'd eat in a normal day. -But at the ballpark it's a Hoo Dog.  And for some reason that makes it different.  So here I sit lusting after a shriveled up log of what we think of as meat on a slightly soggy bun that is gone in 2-3 bites on a good day.  At any other place during any other time of the year I would never touch it. But it's Baseball season.  And I'm lusting after it.  What's to keep me from inhaling 1 or 4?

Yeah..so...this

       

Quickie

So...here's your quick update! I was down another 1.6 pounds this past Wednesday at WW. (All of team JAG were losers this week!! Yes, that's a good thing.)

Training on Thursday night was tough but I made it through.

And I started a photo file of my progress. -Let's hope we have good photos to fill it up in the coming months. 

Take THAT 6th grade PE class!

Are y'all ready for this?

First, I'm a bit superstitious when it comes to my sports teams.  I missed the last Tuesday home game (in order to keep my gym appointment with Big A) for my Wahoos and they won.  Tonight I did the same thing. The outcome of the game is still being determined at this moment as I type, but there were two huge victories for my in the gym tonight!!

So I do a lot of circuits with my trainer; one or two minute intervals moving from drill to drill for anywhere between five and ten minutes depending on what we're doing.  Well we were setting up to get started and he springs it on me.  Two of my six circuits are things I'm terrified of:  Pull Ups and Sit Ups.

These have been my nemeses since elementary school.  As a rotund little sixth grader, I loved PE class for the social aspects of it.  I did NOT love any other thing about it, except kickball.  We had this dreadful PE teacher, Mr. Wells,  who was honestly horrible to everyone.  This pig of a man should have never been allowed around women or children. Ever.  When I couldn't run fast he would tell me "Sims, if that was a Big Mac you'd be runnin' after it.." That was one of the tamest things I remember, and it was worse when we had to do that mandatory physical fitness testing; which included the dreaded pull up and sit up.   I don't recall ever being able to do a single pull up, and I was never ever able to do a sit up even with a partner holding my feet.  Every time I just basically laid or stood where I was hoping for the minute to be over really quickly so he'd shut up and I could go back to my corner.  You can imagine my disinterest from there on out in anything related to those exercises.

Well - tonight, covered in the most sweat ever, I did it.  I didn't do many at all. And I struggled.  I made foul noises. But I did them!  Both of them. One right after the other! I was beating myself up a little bit as we were winding down until Big A reminded me that it doesn't matter how many I did or didn't do- I just 'did' it. And I'm getting stronger.  (And not to make myself sound cooler, but I've been a little sick for a few days too. So there!!!)   It's little victories like this that make me want to keep working.  After I started to feel better I really wanted to do the truffle shuffle in the middle of the gym.

Tomorrow is WW weigh in day with team JAG. :)  We will see what happens - I've done okay this week with food, etc. but haven't been as hard-core as I was last week. I'll let you know...

So in closing:  Mr. Wells can shove it.  Sit ups and Pull ups can shove it.  And VPI can shove it - my Hoos won! Wahoowa!

Way to go Wahoos! You keep wining, I'll
keep going to the gym!