Brrr…
I’m sitting outside breathing in the brisk Texas air. Probably not the best idea for a girl who is fighting off a cold of some sort. But the air reminds me of home and home is where I long to be. I can’t put my finger on it, the reason why the air makes me miss home. Maybe it’s because Maine is cold ALL of the time. Or it may just be because I am busy planning and organizing and collecting pictures for my 10 year high school reunion. Whichever be the case I need a big shot of home right about now. And this cold air is about the closest I’m going to come. I had a good day today…not as angry but more sore;) Let’s get to it shall we?
Breakfast….Oatmeal (shared with Brady) and a Gala Apple. YUM!
Lunch….Italian Veggie Soup from a top secret family recipe…or Progressive:) Unsalted saltines and a good sized portion of carrots. Only a little yum. Followed by another walk, uphill both ways!
Dinner….A sensible sandwich with mustard instead of mayo, a heaping portion of green peppers (my FAVORITE) and a heaping portion of green beans.
I didn’t run tonight mainly because I’m sore but also I read a great ‘couch to 5k’ training program I am going to adapt and it said to run three days a week. So today I sat out, but I did rake! So there’s that at least. I broke a sweat in the 40 degree weather. Ahhh…brisk air. My fingers about to freeze off just writing this. My toes and the tips of my ears are numb. The only thing missing is the smell of snow in the air. How does it get so cold at night but not snow? I need some snow, maybe then I will feel whole.
Number of Days until my 1st 5k: 26
Number of Butts Smoked Today: 0
Number of days Smoke Free: 2
Wish I could just wake up and be skinny
:)
Day One (take two)
Yesterday I felt sick and down in the dumps so instead of getting up and exercising, I stayed in bed and did NOTHING. Sometimes that is just want your body needs though. Mine apparently did because I woke up, blew the snot of my nose, cleared my throat and felt like a brand new woman! Too much information?
I ate breakfast today!
3/4 cup oatmeal (minus a couple of scoops for my dog), and one lg. granny smith apple.
Lunch:
Healthy Choice soup with too many unsalted saltines and a brisk walk on the second half of my lunch break. The walk included 1 giant hill.
Dinner:
Zucchini and Summer Squash, Veggie Burger and edamame. YUM.
Followed by a 2 mile walk/run and 25 crunches.
Started the process with my 10 year high school reunion. Is it too cliche to want to lose weight because of it? I know this journey I am on started before news of a reunion BUT it gives me the extra boost I needed to get over this hump.
I know I’m not eating too much but I need to start slow. I’m not hungry all the time but when my body gets used to this training it will change.
I drank 4 32oz water bottles today…and my head hurt like a bitch. Caffeine withdrawals are killer.
Butts Smoked: 0
Number of Butts I wanted to Smoke: At least 20
Number of Days Not Smoking: 1 (weak)
Starting weight: 239 (yikes!)
Days until my 1st 5k: 27
My 1st 5k!
I haven’t done the 5k yet but I did sign up! Keep checking back so you can see how I’m training for it and the results the day after Christmas! My plan is to do one 5k a month to lead up to the Triathlon! I’m getting excited!
This site is great! It tells you when you are on track, and when your off pace. It lets you track everything from water intake to exercise you have planned. It’s awesome! (even though it does get made at you when you miss your target:( )
this is my page on becomeanex.org. it’s a great site full of information and people to help inspire you and support you in your quit. Join, it’s a great tool!
I’m Back!
There is one word to describe the last 3 weeks of my life.
WOW.
On November 2nd I was taken to the hospital by my boss for a possible stroke. I was working when all of the sudden the corner of my mouth drooped and my left side of my face became paralyzed. Next my arm started tingling, then my leg. I felt fine otherwise.
While in the hospital I got test after test after test. The ER Doctor said right before he released me, “sometimes these things just happen.” He believed I did not have a stroke. Sometimes these things just happen?? Are you serious?
The next morning I started a week long search to find out what really happened to me. For some reason the ER doctor’s explanation was not cutting it with me. I went to my primary physican, had an MRI, then went to a Neurologist, then a Cardiologist, back to my primary, back to the neurologist. All the tests, all the talks lead to one conclusion. Stroke.
I started physical therapy. My arm was weaker than I had first imagined. I actually just finished my physical therapy on Friday! I wasn’t too bad off but it really was an eye opener. I have watched family and friends go through PT but it is a completely different thing when it’s you!
The biggest obstacle for me to overcome was emotional. I was doing so well not smoking, eating healthy and exercising, training for my triathlon. And then, a stroke. It was a blow to say the least.
I am only writing this now because I feel better. I feel like I’m ready to start fighting again. But I am starting from scratch since I smoked, ate terrible and haven’t exercised for 3 weeks. So tomorrow morning I’m starting again. I am excited, I am energized and I am confident.
I am planning to take this stroke as a learning tool. Not only am I going to learn from it but I hope when I get to a place where I am comfortable weight wise and emotional wise I can talk to people my age and let them know strokes can happen. I want to be inspiration. I want to be a voice.
So here we go!! Who’s with me?
Fear is nature’s warning signal to get busy.
- - - Henry C. Link
This is my official BEFORE picture:) On top of Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbor, ME.
The beginning!
This is where it starts. This is when I stand up and fight. I’m hoping by posting daily I will not only inspire myself but inspire others. I will begin by telling you a little about myself. It’s hard for me to even write down the truth, example numbers and feelings. Please do not judge or look at me any differently. I am still the same Ali that you know and hopefully love! Join with me in my fight to stay alive! Join with me in my fight to overcome and be free, finally!
I have been battling my weight for as long as I can remember. I used to get picked on daily by my peers. From an ‘oink’ in my direction to being called a ‘fat cow’, I got it all. I got it from my friends and from family. In junior high I started swimming and instantly loved it. I became quite enthralled by the sport and soon it became my entire life. I swam 4-6 hours a day! I constantly smelled of chlorine and my skin was permanently pruned. Still I weighed in at 175, after dieting my junior year. Big boned I was told…
After getting sick in college, I stopped swimming and decided that partying was a great substitute. I picked up smoking and drinking. Great combination for a college kid away from home and for the first time not having to worry about practice or my next swim meet. Spiraling downwards year after year was the only constant in my life. I kept gaining until I had gained 75 pounds! If people thought weight jokes were justified in high school just think of the looks I got after the gain. Wow! Not to mention the looks I gave myself, and currently give myself, in the mirror everytime I pass one. How could this have happened?
Why can I not seem to conquer this problem? Why was I not able to lose weight in high school when I swam constantly? Why did I ever stop swimming? Why, why, why? I have so many questions and so many what if’s.
September 29th I went to the doctor. A few days later I got some test results back and they were not good. My cholesterol is intense. My triglycerides are off the charts! I am, as my doctor put it, a walking heart attack. Maybe all of those chest pains I was having were a warning sign, I thought! Something had to change. Something needs to change. And change it will. On October 1st I quit smoking. For good this time. It has now been 27 days since I touched a cigarette! On October 1st I made drastic diet changes and have since lost 16.6 pounds. On October 1st 2010 I made myself number 1.
I have always wanted to compete in a triathlon but believed I would never be able to. Now with the help of my co-workers I am going to start training for my first triathlon! Please join me in this journey! Lend some advice, get some inspiration or just spread the love:)
Today it starts!
Weight: 236.8
Number of days not smoking: 27
Pounds lost: 16.6
