Well, it's been a long time, and those who know me won't be surprised. A lot has happened since my last post, so consider this an update and picking up where I left off.
In my last post I mentioned that my back had flared up and that I thought it was from being sick and sleeping a lot. Turns out, my trainer, who I thought was doing me so much good, set my back recovery back a good 3 months. Did you know that if you do power moves in the gym it puts pressure on the cerebrospinal fluid in your back? And that pressure causes inflammation, and inflammation causes pain? I didn't either, and paid the price. From now on, my gym workouts will consist of me, cardio equipment, and anything that my surgeon tells me specifically is okay. I haven't been back to the scene of the crime to complain, because really it was my own ignorance that got me in trouble. While he should have, as a trained professional known better, I should have been strong enough to say "no, that hurts", and I didn't, so...lesson learned.
After the bronchitis, my entire family got hit with the norovirus plague that hit our city with a vengeance. I got the worst of it, and ended up in the hospital getting IV fluids and Zofran. I'm so blessed that I have a job where I can work from home, because if that wasn't the case, this illness would have put an end to my career. My older son, A, also had a pretty tough time, as it turns out his tummy isn't built quite right, and he ended up on acid reducers for 2 months, along with a couple of trips to a pediatric gastroenterologist. You know it's a bad bug when Lysol, alcohol and straight bleach don't manage to kill it. When I get to heaven, God and I are going to have to have a long conversation about the reason for norovirus. Along with ticks, maggots, the Holocaust, and a long list of other things that I don't understand.
Speaking of work, I also was (finally) hired as a full-time employee at my company. I'd been a contractor for 18 months, and was deeply entrenched in my program. I was really hoping not to have to leave (required after 24 months), and my boss is wonderful and amazing and tireless, and finally brought me on board. So, I'm an employee again!!! With Benefits!!! And time off!!!!! I love my job, I love my company, and I'm so, so grateful to God that the praying and more praying finally resulted in this. One of the perks is an on-site gym, so I'll be able to get back to it starting tomorrow.
Which leads me to the plan forward. When I left off in March, my weight was right at 273 and some ounces. During the stomach apocalypse, I'd gotten down to about 260, but I knew that wasn't real weight loss, as I was pretty sure my tonsils, appendix, a few hangnails, and it felt like the vast majority of my brain cells were lost in addition to any weight. Right now, I'm at 272, so I'm glad that my complete lack of effort on the weight loss front hasn't sent me back to the 280's. I, of course, was hoping to be farther along, but I'll take not have to re-lose what I already did.
So, starting tomorrow, there will be food journaling, and exercising, and hopefully a more steady blog presence.
Thanks for reading and here we go again!!
MR
