I've agreed to do my first TRI - a sprint distance in early May. Oy!
I will actually start my 'training' tomorrow with my first run in 4.5 years. Here's to hoping I can ramp it up slow enough to avoid foot trouble. Actually, last weekend I was in Cabo with some girlfriends. We did a TON of walking and while I managed to develop shin splints (something I totally forgot was a problem for me when doing lots of walking), my foot never once started to hurt. That is HUGE and it may bode well for eventually running again.
So the plan is as follows (officially - I think I've mentioned this before):
Oct 31st: begin running (SLOWLY)
Nov 15th (or thereabouts): begin swimming
I'll be joining a local pool club OR a local gym that has a pool. I'll need to take lessons to learn how to breathe properly since sprinting while holding my breath (how I used to swim competitively) will not fly when the distance is 500 yards or longer.
Dec 1: sign up for the TRI!
Feb 10th: begin 11 week training program
In the meantime, I'm going to be ramping up my activity in general, using a lot of circuit training to get back into both cardio and strength shape, and losing weight.
I took off my GWF while I was in Cabo, but I have it back on now and I'm trying to get in more 'steps'. Yesterday I met all my goals except my calories - I was still 800 short. I'll do better going forward.
As far as what I will record here - I'm not sure. I may log my training, I may log my progress (speed, scale, etc)....I may just use this for a place for word spewing...we'll see.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Motivation waves
The last time I updated, I was on a fitness 'high'. Since then, I've done very little activity. Thanks to my GWF, I've also been staying on top of my consumption and kept it in check, but still. The point of this whole effort is to improve my fitness...not to just try and eat next to nothing so that I can sit on the couch all night! I just find it interesting that depending on the time of day, I might be on a motivation high or a motivation low. I know that for the past few days, the highs have come when there was nothing I could do about it (like at work) and the lows come when I've got the time to do the workout. Figures.
I was planning on working out on Monday night but after work we picked tomatoes like mad for a few hours and by the time we went in (we were picking in the dark with lamps!), it was late. We made dinner but there really wasn't time to digest before doing a workout. I can't workout past about 9:30 pm or then I can't sleep, so I skipped it. On Tuesday, I got hooked on watching the biggest loser again. Ugh! Wednesday I met a friend for dinner (healthy sushi), but I got home rather late and again couldn't see fitting in a workout before I had to get to bed. And as it is, mornings have been REALLY difficult this week. I just can't seem to drag my butt out of bed right away when the alarm goes off. It's pathetic, actually.
Tonight I've got nothing planned but cooking a healthy dinner and then doing a nice workout. I'd like to do a full body strength workout and then do a little running on the treadmill. Tomorrow I'd planned to bike into work but logistically, that's turning into a nightmare. I *may* still be able to figure out a way to do this...I'd have to leave the party liquor here at work. I'll have to carry a half gallon of milk in a glass jar with me on my commute. And I'd have to bike to the grocery store at lunch tomorrow to pick up the last few things I need for the party. Biking to my friend's house after work will be laughable, too. I'll be carrying a full bottle of tequila, one of grand marnier, two cans of limeade, my clothing, my laptop and my purse. Let's just hope it's not pouring rain!! (Ugh, I just checked...it's supposed to be!) I may have to rethink this...
Anyway, I'm getting more and more excited about the possiblity of doing my first sprint triathlon next spring. My plan is to slowly ramp up my running over the next month to see how it goes. If I can do it (even slowly) without pain, then I'll sign up for a pool membership and try swimming. If that goes well, then I'll sign up for the tri in early December when it opens up. Apparently, this is a GREAT one for beginners. I think it'll be fun. I get excited just thinking about it! :-)
I was planning on working out on Monday night but after work we picked tomatoes like mad for a few hours and by the time we went in (we were picking in the dark with lamps!), it was late. We made dinner but there really wasn't time to digest before doing a workout. I can't workout past about 9:30 pm or then I can't sleep, so I skipped it. On Tuesday, I got hooked on watching the biggest loser again. Ugh! Wednesday I met a friend for dinner (healthy sushi), but I got home rather late and again couldn't see fitting in a workout before I had to get to bed. And as it is, mornings have been REALLY difficult this week. I just can't seem to drag my butt out of bed right away when the alarm goes off. It's pathetic, actually.
Tonight I've got nothing planned but cooking a healthy dinner and then doing a nice workout. I'd like to do a full body strength workout and then do a little running on the treadmill. Tomorrow I'd planned to bike into work but logistically, that's turning into a nightmare. I *may* still be able to figure out a way to do this...I'd have to leave the party liquor here at work. I'll have to carry a half gallon of milk in a glass jar with me on my commute. And I'd have to bike to the grocery store at lunch tomorrow to pick up the last few things I need for the party. Biking to my friend's house after work will be laughable, too. I'll be carrying a full bottle of tequila, one of grand marnier, two cans of limeade, my clothing, my laptop and my purse. Let's just hope it's not pouring rain!! (Ugh, I just checked...it's supposed to be!) I may have to rethink this...
Anyway, I'm getting more and more excited about the possiblity of doing my first sprint triathlon next spring. My plan is to slowly ramp up my running over the next month to see how it goes. If I can do it (even slowly) without pain, then I'll sign up for a pool membership and try swimming. If that goes well, then I'll sign up for the tri in early December when it opens up. Apparently, this is a GREAT one for beginners. I think it'll be fun. I get excited just thinking about it! :-)
Monday, October 12, 2009
GoWear Fit
I can't believe it's been so long since I last updated! Time flies when you are having fun, right?
I received my GWF on Thursday, 10/1. I charged it up a little, put it on, and did a my first workout in ages. It gave me a calorie burn about what I would have expected for a 40 minute strength training workout. Then I charged it up fully and slept with it on (since it monitors my sleep patterns for me). Very cool! I can generate lots of different reports and stuff, so once I get the hang of it, I'll be sure to post a few.
I've been wearing it as much as possible ever since. I don't wear it in the shower (it's water resistant, but not water-proof) and I flip it over (so it doesn't make contact with my skin) when I'm driving. The first time I drove to work with it on, it counted the drive as 30 minutes of moderate activity! Maybe our car needs new shocks? ;-)
What have I learned? 1) I burn WAY less than expected for someone of my weight. I guess this shouldn't be a surprize because not only am I over 40 and not nearly as muscular as I once was, but it takes me crazy low calories to lose weight at a fast pace. So, slow loss it is! Secondly 2) I'm pretty active. I hit my 'steps' target every day and most days, I go way over. That's cool. 3) It's not very effective for cycling. I wore it on my arm for my first ride and it came out with the right number of exercise minutes but the intensity was way too low. When I wore it on my calf for ride number two - it was closer, but still seemed low. It was super cold that day, so I may have been pushing the effective temperature limit a bit (40F is the lowest). I have lost weight since I got it though. And I also try to walk more at work and take the stairs more all the time - just to burn calories.
All in all, I really like it. It's a fun tool. I also pay for the website to upload my data and log my food. The food logging is actually pretty good and I've been very consistent with it (partly why I've lost some weight, I'm sure). I haven't yet been trying to cut back on my intake because I wanted to ge a week under my belt with 'normal' eating to see where I sit. I fear that cutting back will lower that burn, so I wanted a baseline with which to compare.
I've also been better about my workouts. I did a short strength workout the day I got it (Firm Supercharged Sculpting), and then another one the Saturday after that (Body Sculpt Blaster). Then on Sunday I was active around the farm (and burned more calories than my workout day!). I rested the following Monday, did a cardio/sculpt workout (Firm Vol. 4) on Tuesday, rested on Wednesday, rode my bike 18 miles on Thursday, did a longer cardio/sculpt (Firm Aerobic Body Shaping) on Friday, rode for 35 miles on Saturday and then on Sunday rested. Tonight I'll be doing another sculpting workout.
I'm also thinking about begining training and possibly signing up for my first ever triathlon next May. More on that later though...
I received my GWF on Thursday, 10/1. I charged it up a little, put it on, and did a my first workout in ages. It gave me a calorie burn about what I would have expected for a 40 minute strength training workout. Then I charged it up fully and slept with it on (since it monitors my sleep patterns for me). Very cool! I can generate lots of different reports and stuff, so once I get the hang of it, I'll be sure to post a few.
I've been wearing it as much as possible ever since. I don't wear it in the shower (it's water resistant, but not water-proof) and I flip it over (so it doesn't make contact with my skin) when I'm driving. The first time I drove to work with it on, it counted the drive as 30 minutes of moderate activity! Maybe our car needs new shocks? ;-)
What have I learned? 1) I burn WAY less than expected for someone of my weight. I guess this shouldn't be a surprize because not only am I over 40 and not nearly as muscular as I once was, but it takes me crazy low calories to lose weight at a fast pace. So, slow loss it is! Secondly 2) I'm pretty active. I hit my 'steps' target every day and most days, I go way over. That's cool. 3) It's not very effective for cycling. I wore it on my arm for my first ride and it came out with the right number of exercise minutes but the intensity was way too low. When I wore it on my calf for ride number two - it was closer, but still seemed low. It was super cold that day, so I may have been pushing the effective temperature limit a bit (40F is the lowest). I have lost weight since I got it though. And I also try to walk more at work and take the stairs more all the time - just to burn calories.
All in all, I really like it. It's a fun tool. I also pay for the website to upload my data and log my food. The food logging is actually pretty good and I've been very consistent with it (partly why I've lost some weight, I'm sure). I haven't yet been trying to cut back on my intake because I wanted to ge a week under my belt with 'normal' eating to see where I sit. I fear that cutting back will lower that burn, so I wanted a baseline with which to compare.
I've also been better about my workouts. I did a short strength workout the day I got it (Firm Supercharged Sculpting), and then another one the Saturday after that (Body Sculpt Blaster). Then on Sunday I was active around the farm (and burned more calories than my workout day!). I rested the following Monday, did a cardio/sculpt workout (Firm Vol. 4) on Tuesday, rested on Wednesday, rode my bike 18 miles on Thursday, did a longer cardio/sculpt (Firm Aerobic Body Shaping) on Friday, rode for 35 miles on Saturday and then on Sunday rested. Tonight I'll be doing another sculpting workout.
I'm also thinking about begining training and possibly signing up for my first ever triathlon next May. More on that later though...
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday Update
My GoWear Fit device is scheduled for delivery on Thursday. Should I skip work that day so that I can be home when it arrives? Just kidding!
My back feels different. I can't explain it, except to say that it no longer hurts the same way as it did. I'm not sure if it'll take time for my body to be 'over' the hormones from the IUD, or if just removing the offending device has made a difference or not. Basically, the pain is less sharp and now it feels more like it's due to a weak back (and weak core muscles). We went for a 35 mile ride on Saturday. It was a GREAT ride, actually. The weather was perfect. We started out with a tail wind for a bit and then some rolling hills. We picked up another rider for awhile and tried to keep up. My husband could have ridden at his pace no problem, but I was having issues. I had no trouble keeping up on the flats or downhills, but as soon as we had any elevation to climb, I dropped off the back. It was so obvious that my husband even commented on it. My response? Well, duh! I'm 30 lbs heavier...it's going to take a lot of muscle building to compensate for the extra weight...or a lot of weight loss to get back to where I was! I'm planning on a little of both! Anyway, I've noticed that my back hurts most (on bike) when I'm pushing hard (climbing, sprinting, into a headwind, etc). Unfortunately for me, the last 12 miles of our ride was into a nasty headwind! We were pushing VERY hard and going, at best, about 12 mph. It was awful! When we got back home, I actually yelped in pain as I dismounted my bike. Wow...talk about a sore back!
I'm pretty sure that this can be improved with core strengthening. I've seriously slacked off on this effort - so my hope is that with some focused improvement, I can make a difference in this area. Because of the back pain though, I opted out of weight training. I'll be doing a workout this evening though since my back is much better today.
My back feels different. I can't explain it, except to say that it no longer hurts the same way as it did. I'm not sure if it'll take time for my body to be 'over' the hormones from the IUD, or if just removing the offending device has made a difference or not. Basically, the pain is less sharp and now it feels more like it's due to a weak back (and weak core muscles). We went for a 35 mile ride on Saturday. It was a GREAT ride, actually. The weather was perfect. We started out with a tail wind for a bit and then some rolling hills. We picked up another rider for awhile and tried to keep up. My husband could have ridden at his pace no problem, but I was having issues. I had no trouble keeping up on the flats or downhills, but as soon as we had any elevation to climb, I dropped off the back. It was so obvious that my husband even commented on it. My response? Well, duh! I'm 30 lbs heavier...it's going to take a lot of muscle building to compensate for the extra weight...or a lot of weight loss to get back to where I was! I'm planning on a little of both! Anyway, I've noticed that my back hurts most (on bike) when I'm pushing hard (climbing, sprinting, into a headwind, etc). Unfortunately for me, the last 12 miles of our ride was into a nasty headwind! We were pushing VERY hard and going, at best, about 12 mph. It was awful! When we got back home, I actually yelped in pain as I dismounted my bike. Wow...talk about a sore back!
I'm pretty sure that this can be improved with core strengthening. I've seriously slacked off on this effort - so my hope is that with some focused improvement, I can make a difference in this area. Because of the back pain though, I opted out of weight training. I'll be doing a workout this evening though since my back is much better today.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
New outlook and new toys
I had my appointment with my new doc yesterday afternoon and it went well. I am IUD free!
I had a LONG talk with him about my weight gain and my struggles to lose weight. I also mentioned how, even before I got my IUD, it was exceedingly difficult for me to lose weight. More so that it should have been based on my level of fitness and fatness at the time (as assessed by fitness professionals...not just by me!). So he took blood for a thyroid test even though I'm sure that I'm fine. In our conversation, the whole calories in vs calories out question came up. Yes, in theory, this makes sense. The problem I have with this...how do we really know the 'calories out' part of the equation? I mean think about it...if you have an equation with two unknowns, how in the world can you solve it? You can't. Period.
Calories in - calories out = weight loss (simplified, of course)
Calories in: known. It's easy to track - weigh the foods, write down everything, etc.
Calories out: unknown. In just about every situation, this is a guesstimate based on the general population. What if a person isn't like the 'general population'? And how do we figure this out?
weight loss: unknown. Again - you can estimate this if you know the two pieces on the other side of the equation...but if those are also estimates, then it is entirely possible that your whole calculation is flat out wrong.
I've always felt that estimates were a poor substitute for real data. AND, I'm pretty sure that I don't fit the 'typical' mold. I think this for two reasons. 1) I discovered that I have a naturally very low resting heart rate, low blood pressure, and a low max HR. When I workout, my aerobic HR is significantly lower than other people I workout/ride with. Significantly - even when I am out of shape. This tells me that any calorie burn estimated based on HR is going to be off. 2) I had my RMR tested by breathing into a device a few years back. It came out VERY low and at the time I was extremely fit. Even the fitness professionals were confused by it.
These two things make me wonder if normal 'estimates' for calorie burn are going to be accurate enough for me. So...watching the Biggest Loser got me thinking about it and then some posts on one of the fitness forums I hang out on sealed the deal. I ordered the GoWear Fit device today. This is a device that measures daily calorie burn by using a combination of heat sensors and motion sensors. Studies have shown the accuracy to be quite good. It's similar to the BodyBugg worn by the Biggest Loser contestants but it's not tied into 24-hour fitness like the BodyBugg is...they are both actually made by the same company. Anyway, I ordered it this afternoon and I can't wait to get it so that I can start learning how my body REALLY burns calories. I am willing to bet that I'm not 'typical' and that my calorie burn is either alarmingly low or freakishly high. We'll see when it gets here!
In the meantime, I'm feeling way more positive with the IUD out. I feel like I finally have a fighting chance at losing this weight now! To that end, I decided to start logging my food at Fitday again (at least until the GoWear Fit gets here and I start using their logging software) and I have plans to workout tonight. My back is also feeling better, though that could just be coincidence. Either way, I'll take it! ;-)
I had a LONG talk with him about my weight gain and my struggles to lose weight. I also mentioned how, even before I got my IUD, it was exceedingly difficult for me to lose weight. More so that it should have been based on my level of fitness and fatness at the time (as assessed by fitness professionals...not just by me!). So he took blood for a thyroid test even though I'm sure that I'm fine. In our conversation, the whole calories in vs calories out question came up. Yes, in theory, this makes sense. The problem I have with this...how do we really know the 'calories out' part of the equation? I mean think about it...if you have an equation with two unknowns, how in the world can you solve it? You can't. Period.
Calories in - calories out = weight loss (simplified, of course)
Calories in: known. It's easy to track - weigh the foods, write down everything, etc.
Calories out: unknown. In just about every situation, this is a guesstimate based on the general population. What if a person isn't like the 'general population'? And how do we figure this out?
weight loss: unknown. Again - you can estimate this if you know the two pieces on the other side of the equation...but if those are also estimates, then it is entirely possible that your whole calculation is flat out wrong.
I've always felt that estimates were a poor substitute for real data. AND, I'm pretty sure that I don't fit the 'typical' mold. I think this for two reasons. 1) I discovered that I have a naturally very low resting heart rate, low blood pressure, and a low max HR. When I workout, my aerobic HR is significantly lower than other people I workout/ride with. Significantly - even when I am out of shape. This tells me that any calorie burn estimated based on HR is going to be off. 2) I had my RMR tested by breathing into a device a few years back. It came out VERY low and at the time I was extremely fit. Even the fitness professionals were confused by it.
These two things make me wonder if normal 'estimates' for calorie burn are going to be accurate enough for me. So...watching the Biggest Loser got me thinking about it and then some posts on one of the fitness forums I hang out on sealed the deal. I ordered the GoWear Fit device today. This is a device that measures daily calorie burn by using a combination of heat sensors and motion sensors. Studies have shown the accuracy to be quite good. It's similar to the BodyBugg worn by the Biggest Loser contestants but it's not tied into 24-hour fitness like the BodyBugg is...they are both actually made by the same company. Anyway, I ordered it this afternoon and I can't wait to get it so that I can start learning how my body REALLY burns calories. I am willing to bet that I'm not 'typical' and that my calorie burn is either alarmingly low or freakishly high. We'll see when it gets here!
In the meantime, I'm feeling way more positive with the IUD out. I feel like I finally have a fighting chance at losing this weight now! To that end, I decided to start logging my food at Fitday again (at least until the GoWear Fit gets here and I start using their logging software) and I have plans to workout tonight. My back is also feeling better, though that could just be coincidence. Either way, I'll take it! ;-)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
More back pain
As I mentioned in my last post, my IUD has been giving me back trouble. In the past few days, it's gotten quite bad. To compound the problem, I opted to go for a bike ride on Sunday even though my back was hurting. That made it worse and I've had to take a few days off from any activity.
The good news is that I have an appointment with a new doctor tomorrow. My hope is that I can convince him to take the IUD out then and there. Since the flare up of my back, I've done some additional reading about the side-effects of the Mirena. It's actually pretty mind-boggling. Not only the back pain and the weight gain...but reduced sex drive, bad skin, moodiness, fuzzy thinking, migraines, etc....lucky for me, the worst part of my issue has been only weight gain and back pain. And to be honest, I've got this giddy feeling inside of me at the thought that my weight struggle can be explained. And even more so at the possibility that removing this tiny device could reverse this situation! How exciting would it be to get my old body back? Of course, with this change comes my own responsibility to eat right and exercise...and to apply myself diligently inorder to get to my goals before I turn 44. I was just informed last night that my mother started menopause at 44 so I should be prepared for the same. Lovely. ;-)
The good news is that I have an appointment with a new doctor tomorrow. My hope is that I can convince him to take the IUD out then and there. Since the flare up of my back, I've done some additional reading about the side-effects of the Mirena. It's actually pretty mind-boggling. Not only the back pain and the weight gain...but reduced sex drive, bad skin, moodiness, fuzzy thinking, migraines, etc....lucky for me, the worst part of my issue has been only weight gain and back pain. And to be honest, I've got this giddy feeling inside of me at the thought that my weight struggle can be explained. And even more so at the possibility that removing this tiny device could reverse this situation! How exciting would it be to get my old body back? Of course, with this change comes my own responsibility to eat right and exercise...and to apply myself diligently inorder to get to my goals before I turn 44. I was just informed last night that my mother started menopause at 44 so I should be prepared for the same. Lovely. ;-)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Hormones
I did my CLX Burn#1 workout on Wednesday night. Considering that I'd not worked out in the previous 3-4 weeks, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I managed to use all the same weights and even though I sweated buckets, I didn't feel like I'd over done it or anything. It actually felt really good.
On Thursday, I was really sore so I took a rest day. While that doesn't fit my plan...it does fit my life and this isn't just about following some predetermined training plan. It's also about making some real life changes. Anyway, today (Friday) I'll do CLX Burn #2. The weekend is a bit up in the air as I will be riding at least one day and possibly two. I also want to get in my strength training, so we'll see how it all fits together. Weather plays a factor too, of course.
So as far as my nutrition, it's not been all that great. The past couple of days, I've been working hard to get in my veggies, but I've also let some unhealthy choices sway me. I've had scones for breakfast two days this week and today I had a big cookie after lunch. These things are not the end of the world, but certainly eating something like that everyday will definitely derail my progress. I'm playing the mental game a little bit right now though, so I'm trying to keep a simple balance between the healthy foods and a few 'treats' until I get a few things taken care of.
What the hell am I talking about, you ask? Let me share a little history first....
I've always been heavy. I've always had to fight my weight a bit. And as I said previously, I've always been an athlete. The thing is...even when I was STILL an athlete and doing way more exercise than I'd ever done previously, I was gaining weight despite efforts to lose. This started about 5 years ago. Right about the same time I started biking which was also about the same time that I stopped lifting weights regularly AND about the same time I started having hormonal issues. My hormonal issues stemmed from a fibroid problem. I had a few sessions of Depo Provera shots (BAD idea) and then got an IUD (after the fibriods were removed). The Depo shot really messed me up, but I thought that the IUD was a good thing. Since then...things just haven't been adding up. How could I be doing WAY more activity than I'd ever done previously, but still steadily gain weight? I've now topped out at 15 lbs higher than I've EVER been before. I've also suffered from some severe lower back pain that I was attributing to my fibroids. It's still there (and getting worse) making me worry that the fibriods are back. Upon doing a little research, I've discovered that the synthetic hormone in the Depo shot is the same as whats in my IUD (albeit in smaller doses). I read that this hormone often causes back pain and all of a sudden, the pieces and timing start to fit. This hormone also causes weight gain in some people. Bingo...another light on. So yes, I need to lift weights again and yes, I need to watch what I eat and keep up with the biking....but I'm pretty convinced that because of his hormone, I'm fighting a losing battle in terms of weight loss.
Because I still have this IUD, I've got this mental road block that it doesn't matter how hard I try, I still won't be successful at weight loss (I already know that it is difficult for me without hormone interference). So..besides the obvious back pain problem, I need to get this IUD out to solve the mental problem I'm having too. Anyway, this is partly why I'm not getting too worked up over my nutrition right now. It's just too much for me to manage at the moment, so until I get my IUD out, I'm just going to try to make reasonable choices and focus my energy on getting the activity levels back up to where they need to be. I will make an appointment to get the IUD out, but because we moved across the country only a little over a year ago...I need to find a doctor first.
On Thursday, I was really sore so I took a rest day. While that doesn't fit my plan...it does fit my life and this isn't just about following some predetermined training plan. It's also about making some real life changes. Anyway, today (Friday) I'll do CLX Burn #2. The weekend is a bit up in the air as I will be riding at least one day and possibly two. I also want to get in my strength training, so we'll see how it all fits together. Weather plays a factor too, of course.
So as far as my nutrition, it's not been all that great. The past couple of days, I've been working hard to get in my veggies, but I've also let some unhealthy choices sway me. I've had scones for breakfast two days this week and today I had a big cookie after lunch. These things are not the end of the world, but certainly eating something like that everyday will definitely derail my progress. I'm playing the mental game a little bit right now though, so I'm trying to keep a simple balance between the healthy foods and a few 'treats' until I get a few things taken care of.
What the hell am I talking about, you ask? Let me share a little history first....
I've always been heavy. I've always had to fight my weight a bit. And as I said previously, I've always been an athlete. The thing is...even when I was STILL an athlete and doing way more exercise than I'd ever done previously, I was gaining weight despite efforts to lose. This started about 5 years ago. Right about the same time I started biking which was also about the same time that I stopped lifting weights regularly AND about the same time I started having hormonal issues. My hormonal issues stemmed from a fibroid problem. I had a few sessions of Depo Provera shots (BAD idea) and then got an IUD (after the fibriods were removed). The Depo shot really messed me up, but I thought that the IUD was a good thing. Since then...things just haven't been adding up. How could I be doing WAY more activity than I'd ever done previously, but still steadily gain weight? I've now topped out at 15 lbs higher than I've EVER been before. I've also suffered from some severe lower back pain that I was attributing to my fibroids. It's still there (and getting worse) making me worry that the fibriods are back. Upon doing a little research, I've discovered that the synthetic hormone in the Depo shot is the same as whats in my IUD (albeit in smaller doses). I read that this hormone often causes back pain and all of a sudden, the pieces and timing start to fit. This hormone also causes weight gain in some people. Bingo...another light on. So yes, I need to lift weights again and yes, I need to watch what I eat and keep up with the biking....but I'm pretty convinced that because of his hormone, I'm fighting a losing battle in terms of weight loss.
Because I still have this IUD, I've got this mental road block that it doesn't matter how hard I try, I still won't be successful at weight loss (I already know that it is difficult for me without hormone interference). So..besides the obvious back pain problem, I need to get this IUD out to solve the mental problem I'm having too. Anyway, this is partly why I'm not getting too worked up over my nutrition right now. It's just too much for me to manage at the moment, so until I get my IUD out, I'm just going to try to make reasonable choices and focus my energy on getting the activity levels back up to where they need to be. I will make an appointment to get the IUD out, but because we moved across the country only a little over a year ago...I need to find a doctor first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)