Day 12 - Day 17 (Yep. An Entire Week Together)

Day 12 - Day 17 (An Entire Week)

This week can be summed up with two words: Covid Positive.

I have not exercised. I have not ate healthy necessarily. (Haven't ate much truthfully.) Therefore, there hasn't been much to add to a diet and exercise blog. 

What have I done? Coughed. A lot.

Lay in bed and watched various streaming services. 

Work. Yes, I've been fortunate to have a job where I can do some of the work from home. It's been interesting, and there's been difficult moments, but I've managed. 

What is Covid-19 like for me? Like I said above, a lot of coughing. The worst sore throat ever. Like fire and glass shards. Exhaustion. Headaches. Body aches. Tight chest. Heart beating too quickly. Like out of my chest. It took me ten minutes to catch my breath after changing the sheets on my bed. Simple tasks are big tasks. It's not your average influenza A or B. This is nothing your body has seen before. 

Thankfully, I have a great doctor who prescribed me medicine to help. It won't cure Covid, but making the symptoms lessen has been beneficial. Also, I've been taking Emergen-C and vitamin D3.

Hopefully, within a few more days, I'll be back to myself. Until then, I'll rest up, work from home, and watch more shows. 

Between Day 16 and Day 17, I watched every movie from the Star Wars franchise. Even the movies between the episodes. It was a great 2 days of vegging out with an all-time favorite series. 

I only took a 3 hour break from the Galaxy to root for my favorite football team in the playoffs. 

Go Pack Go!

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

P.S. Stay healthy. Stay home. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. 

Day 11 (Expect the Unexpected)

Day 11 (Expect the Unexpected)

I've heard the phrase said many times. I've even said it myself a few. But do we ever really expect the unexpected? I have to say no. When something happens to us (or our friends and family) we never expect it.

This "unexpectedness" is going to physically change the diet and exercise for the next ten days. One word: quarantine.

Yep. That nasty word we hoped to leave in 2020 has made its way with us in 2021. Our family had done a pretty decent job of escaping it for 10 months. We wear masks, wash hands, drink Emergen-C, take vitamins like D³, drink gallons of water, and social distance. That being said, we still try to live our lives as normal as possible. (What is normal anymore?)

So... Clover3 is a wrestler. Wrestling is a hands on physical sport. The wrestling team has been quarantined once before. (Four days before Christmas break began.) She made it through the quarantine without any symptoms. We went to Florida on vacation. We were good. Then... She wasn't. 

She was back home from vacay for New Years Eve. She attended a small party with friends. She worked her waitressing job. She attended a school club meeting, and went back to school. All of these things while wearing a mask and following protocols. The only thing without those precautions in place was wrestling practice. And, honestly, they practice it as much as possible except for the wrestling part. 

On Day 8, she had a sore throat. Strep, the school nurse believed. The express doctors office swabbed her but the rapid test was negative. The PA sent her out the door with a Rx for Amoxicillin and the explanation of having a throat infection that was non-contagious. (Remember, sore throat was her only symptom.)

Day 9 & 10 she felt great. Still a sore throat but she's on Amoxicillin, it's a slow working antibiotic. It'll take a couple days, right? She worked out and went to softball practice. (Yes. She's always involved in sports. Usually two sports at a time.)

This brings us to Day 11. Expect the Unexpected. I did not expect her to feel worse instead of better after 2 full days of antibiotics. I did not expect her to wake up with the chills, throat now on fire, headache, drippy nose, and body aches. I did not expect her to have Covid-19. Not even when we went to test did I expect the result. Honestly, I expected the long test for strep to come back positive and a new, stronger antibiotic called out. I did not expect this.

Not Covid. Not quarantine. Not Clover3 in isolation from the rest of the family. (This is a kid who is outgoing and loves being busy. She has a goal of being the state champion wrestler for her weight. This is not helping.)

So here we are. Quarantined. Husband and I gave up the master bedroom so she would have her own bathroom. I took her room. The husband took the entire family room. (His office for work is there and he works from home.) Clover2 has a basement bedroom away from us. Clover4 is quarantined in his own bedroom. We are all separate, but together and alone, in this. So far, no one in the family has symptoms. 

What will my exercise and diet look like the next ten days, I have no clue. I hope to figure something out in my small 10X12 space. I have free weights, resistance bands, yoga mat, and an over the door pull thingy. Not sure what it is but I'm about ready to find out. 

And the best part? Since she's been feeling yucky since Day 8 of the year, and tested positive, her 10 day count of isolation began then. She busts out of jail on Day 18. The rest of us? Our 10 day quarantine begins tomorrow, Day 12. We can't begin our time (days?) until we have the first day of "no contact" with the host. 

Wonderful.

We will get through this. She will get better. The rest of the family will make it. We will win. Wish us luck and throw any and all prayers you want toward the heavens. Thank you and God Bless. 

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

P.S. My plan includes:

And...

Minus the cat. I don't have a cat. Two dogs and, yes, they are always underfoot. 

Day 9 (Vise) Day 10 (Back at It)

Day 9 (Vise)

I had 100% intentions of exercising and eating healthy today. I woke up great, drank my coffee, went to work (it was a half day), came home and took a little nap. (One of my favorite Saturday events.)

When I woke though... My head felt like it was in a vise. You know, those metal tools machinists use to hold an object firmly.

That or it felt it had a weight dropped on it. 

So, instead of the gym, I took medicine and basically went back to bed. Didn't really eat much of anything either. What a waste of a day. 

Day 10 (Back at It)

What a much better day it was! First, it was Sunday so I was able to spend it in worship. Second, I tried out a different location of Planet Fitness due to Clover3 having softball practice nearby. And, drumroll please, third, I had Starbucks! 

Anytime I can have a Venti Pike Place coffee with 2 pumps no sugar vanilla and a splash of milk, is a great day! Makes my world keep spinning. 

For dinner I ate a flat iron steak and half a potato. It was the best. 

My workout was mostly legs (squats, calf raises, hamstring curls) after 20 minutes of cardio on the elliptical. I broke a decent sweat and my legs felt well used walking out of the gym. I'd call it good. 

Who knew I could get my new bitmoji to coach my old bitmoji. Weird but cool. 

Also, I can trip myself. Sorry. Too much fun over here.

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

Day 7 (This is Hard) Day 8 (What is hard)

Day 7 & 8 are being blogged together because, well... I was being lazy. And, forgetful. Go figure. There will be times throughout this self mandated torture where I will not blog each day. I thought the first would be farther down the road than week one, but it is what it is at this point in life. 

So, Day 7. (This is Hard)

I thought the day after legs was hard on my body? Try two days after. I could barely walk without favoring one side over the other. I may have looked a little weird getting in and out of my desk chair at work too. 

Exercise: Stretching. A whole lot of stretches. Yoga. I managed to breathe deeply and push a yoga pose as far as I could without tearing tendons and muscles in half. 

Diet: Steamed veggies, steak, a slice of pound cake, strawberries, mandarin oranges. We're not talking about that thing I hid in the middle of the diet. What's done is done. 

After all the yoga and stretching, I felt better. It wasn't a sweaty gym workout but it was something and I think something the body needs each week. 

Day 8 (What is hard?)

I think the stretching made my body ready to go again. When I hit the gym, and after my 5 minute warm-up on the rowing machine, I was a pumping iron fool. Everything was easy. Even the ab workout seemed to breeze by without any complaint. 

I left the gym feeling renewed. This is good because I was already becoming bored. This day was not a fake it until you make it day, because I made it. 

Diet: Grilled cheese (yes, with the bread) fried egg sandwich. I decided I needed something heavier at lunch. We were fresh out of steak. Yep, it never lasts long in our fridge. For dinner I ate some Skinny Pop popcorn before going to the gym. Ate some more when I got back. Hey, it's birthday cake flavored. Have you ever tried it? Then, don't judge. But try some. You won't regret it. It is true to the name "Skinny Pop" and has way less calories than any other popcorn. 

All-in-all, it was a good two days. I thought, since I wasn't hitting it hard on day 7, I would feel like a failure. I didn't. That's good, right? I may have hold on this diet/exercise thing after all. 

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

Day 6 (Less Success)

Today was rough. Like climbing Mount Everest, rough. Well... Probably an exaggeration, but you get the enormity of the roughness if I compare my workout to a master-size-skilled climb, right?

Okay. The workout today royally sucked. Better? 

It was only meant to be a 30 minute elliptical (pushing myself with resistance). Easy peasy, right? Wrong. 

First off, I was bored within the first 3 minutes. I upped the resistance as planned but was still beyond asleep at the wheel. I upped it again. Boredom. I pumped my arms for added cardio. Booooorrrrrrrrred. 

Secondly, my hamstrings! Dead-lifts always make my hamstrings sore a few days. Honestly, I like the sore. It means I actually did something productive. Yesterday was dead-lifts, therefore, today was soreness. And apparently, soreness equals boring elliptical workouts. 

Third, cardio is dumb. I like weight training days. 

The whole fake it until you make it theme hit home today. I knew there'd be days like this. I signed up for it. Doesn't mean I have to like them. Or, blog niceties about them. 

I still made it 30 minutes. Believe me, I must've appeared as a banshee on fire when I shut the machine off and just as frantic as I wiped it clean. But I was done with it. D. O. N. E. Done. 

As far as food today, I wasn't extremely hungry but still ate meals. For lunch I ate steamed veggies, fresh strawberries, cuties, and half a bacon wrapped filet mignon someone left in the fridge. I also ate a couple cookies. They were soft. And sugary. 

For dinner, I found the pressure cooker full of pot roast, potatoes, and carrots. I can't say no to potatoes. I ate a small helping of the rest but my plate was mostly a buttered, peppered, glorious potato. And it was delicious. 

That is all for this not so great day in the life of exercise/diet hell. 

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

P.S. All images are not my own and taken from their respective sources. 

Mount Everest image: Illustration: Rabindra Manandhar /TKP

Lizzie Mcguire image: Lizzie Mcguire the series by the Disney Channel. 

Minions image: Twitter Minions page: @Minions

Day 5 (Success!)

Success. That's what I have labeled today, Day 5. Why? Because I took a day off (a holiday, remember?) where I ate too much food, (didn't think twice about not exercising) and successfully made it through the next day of healthy eating and exercise.

Total complete success!

So... Day 5 workout:

5 min warm-up on the upright bike. Btw, that thing hurts my rear end. I may try the recumbent next time I do a bike warm-up.

Body For Life biceps, dead lifts, and triceps. The husband talked me into doing a little extra legs so I did my own BFL routine on the leg press machine. 

Abs consisted of 3X10 each leg of glute presses and 3X10 on the adductor machine. I'm not entirely convinced that machine does anything worthwhile but I'd like the inner flabby thigh to go away someday and I'm told it's the machine to do the work. 

^^This one I really like. Glute press.

What did I eat today? Well, after eating the most sugar and carbs of all the days of 2021 combined (I know there had only been 3 previous day's at the time) I consumed the most amazing flat iron steak I've ever tasted. The husband made it for me at lunch. (Remember, he cooks, I eat. We have a deal.) I ate a couple spoonfuls of steamed veggies along with it and some strawberries for an afternoon snack. And... water, water, water. 

See? Complete success. Hey, I may win this fake it to make it battle after all. Haha! Check back on day 30 and see if I'm still here. 😉

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

Day 4 (The Birthday)

It was a big fat no on the diet/exercise routine today. I said it was a day off since it was technically a holiday but there was a very small slice of possibility I would decide to exercise just because.

Nope. Ate too much and currently feeling miserable. But it was oh so good.

What was the birthday dinner? Pancakes. Restaurant pancakes. Extremely large restaurant pancakes. So large, I had to tap out at about 75% through. And, why are restaurant pancakes so much better than at home? Is it the fluffiness? The butter? The hot syrup? Whatever it is, they were delicious and I won't be having them again for quite a long time.

On top of the amazing breakfast for birthday dinner, I had bacon wrapped filet mignon for lunch. Yep. I know. I am one spoiled brat. The husband was responsible for the lunch. He grills. I eat. We have this worked out. Don't be jealous. 

It was perfectly seared on each side and still mooing in the middle. Perfection. 

I did spend a little more time with my inversion table before stuffing myself with breakfast foods. I love the stretch it gives my entire back. I swear I am taller after using it. I've now had it a year as I received it last birthday. I'd never part with it either. 

It is birthday tradition in our house to have some type of dessert and sing. No matter the age of the birthdayer, we celebrate the occasion. 

I'm not sure I have room for one bite of cake, but the family did sing and I did take a bite. It was delicious too. 

Not really my age but my little clovers think it's funny. I just think they are sweet.

Back to the grind tomorrow. More torturing with healthy eats and gym rat routines. I think it's bi's, tri's, and dead lift rows for weights. Some core work and maybe a little cardio warm-up. Sounds exciting. 🙄 Remember folks, fake it until you make it! is the motto for this year. 

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

Day 3 (Still here)

I did it! I came back for day 3 (technically on day 2 but we talked about this, remember?) of exercise/diet punishment.

Today I ate a handful of tator tots, a few chicken wings, and had a coffee spiked with hot chocolate again. Not sure what's for dinner yet but I probably need protein & carbs, along with veggies. I have a little bit of a headache starting and I think it's a lack of nutrients. It's all right. I'll eat something and down an Emergen-C with a bottle of water. All will be good. I hope. 

Anyway, Day 3: Just got back from the gym and have to say I did a fine job of torturing myself with a make you sweat treadmill incline workout from Body for Life.

Check out that incline. ^^ Not sure my lower back appreciated it but we'll see how it feels tomorrow.

To help with my back issue, I'll hop on my inversion table for a few minutes later and finish the night with 15 minutes of heating pad. Btw, if you've never used an inversion table, you are missing out on one of the greatest contraptions for spine/back pain sufferers ever invented. You seriously hang upside down like a bat. That's it. When you come off the table you are about an inch taller and every kink has been pulled straight. 

Beyond the incline treadmill routine, I spent 5 minutes on the stairmaster, climbing a total of 16 flights. I want to make a goal of 20 flights then add a flight each week. Seems doable. Maybe. 

I finished with ab work doing 5-30 second planks and 6-12 rep russian twists. My back cracked with each one. Maybe I don't need the inversion table time. Nah. I definitely do. 

Tomorrow is technically, kind of, most definitely, a holiday. I know what you're thinking. The 4th of January is not a holiday on any calendar, but... A birthday is always a holiday. Therefore, remember my rule about not having to do stupid diet/exercise on holidays? So... Basically I'm telling you early, tomorrow, I may not participate in this hocus pocus I've started. But... I still may. The day just might involve cake. 🍰 🥳 And, probably a Guinness. Both of those equal large calories. Both well cherished. Hence why I would enjoy them on a birthday. We shall see. 

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

Day 2 (Wait? No Day 1?)

Day 2 of 2021 and I've decided to make myself hit the gym and start a diet.

Again.

Not starting on day 1 because:

A) Hello? New Year's Day diet. New year, New You. So cliché. Those never work. So, I figure, why not on Day 2? It HAS to be better than the first. 

And, B) Hello? The first was a holiday. New rule: All holidays are gym/diet free. Off limits to this ridiculous diet and workout life. Because... If I have to live this stupid diet/excercise life, I get to make the rules. Enough said. 

So... Day 2. Being honest here. Yes, I ate some mixed carmel/cheddar/plain popcorn from a Christmas tin. It was pretty good too as far as commercial popcorn goes. I also threw a couple spoonfuls of hot chocolate in my coffee. So what? I plan on eating grilled chicken for dinner and possibly a handful of almonds. That should work, right? Remember, I get to call the shots this time.

What does me calling the shots look like? Well... Mostly, I'd like to make healthy choices. No gimmicks. No "Eat this to look like that." It doesn't work. At least, not for me. 

What does work for me? So far? Not much I've enjoyed. I like to eat bad food. Pizza, POTATOES, CAKE, nachos, anything Mexican, and whatever else has obvious carbs. Horribly bad carbs. Basically, bad decisions I end up feeling worse about later. KETO was a good diet, until it wasn't. Eventually, I grew bored. I can still see how great I felt while following the diet, but... I need more. 

This new "try" will be different. Not because I have renewed faith and strength in enjoying my newfound diet/exercise. I don't. However, I'm committing to making myself. 

Yep. You read that right. I'm going to "fake it" until I "make it." Can't wait. (Can you hear my sarcasm?) If not, re-read the 3rd and 4th sentences. 

I might even blog it daily. At least in the beginning. I always forget to take a picture and think of something to write but what if I set an alarm every evening and MAKE myself? Will I hold myself accountable?

While being completely and nakedly (is that a real word?) honest, let me tell you something. When I stepped on the scale today and saw the horrendous numbers staring back at me... I'll admit I flipped my switch a little. 

How am I almost right back to where I was 3 years ago? Before Keto? Is it age as well as bad choices? Lack of exercise? The Oldness? (Definitely blaming The Oldness. It's a real condition. Basiclly, everyone over 40 probably suffers from The Oldness.) Whatever it is, IT got me. It's up to me to do something about IT. Even though I don't want to do a darn thing, I'm faking it til I make it. 

I told you what I ate today. Day 2.

My gym choice:

5 min warm-up on row machine. (I like the overall warm-up the rowing machine gives my entire body.)

Body for Life weights:

Flys, Lunges, & Presses.

Weights alternated: 5, 8, 10, 12, & 15.

Abs: Total Gym core sliding. 3X15

I think that is all I can do for Day 2. Come back and see more on Day 3 if you are bored. I'll try to keep it entertaining. 🙄😂

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

P.S. Still not giving up my coffee for any diet. Ever. Period. 

P.P.S. That's a Planet Fitness in the first photo if you can't figure it out through the dirty windshield. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Did Someone Say Potato Diet???

Seriously...


I read where a man from Australia lost 114 pounds from eating only potatoes.


Potatoes are my absolute favorite food. (Sorry cake).


I bet you can't guess what my next diet attempt is going to be?


The potato diet, duh!


I guess it's actually called a mono-food diet. Meaning, you eat solely from one food source. The Aussie chose potatoes. He ate only potatoes for an entire year. I read his blog and fell into a potato coma somewhere around him losing 22 pounds the first thirty days without exercising. (Okay, he was over 300 pounds and eating junk to begin with so any attempt at a new diet would grant him these results, but still...22 pounds in a month with no exercise? Sign me up!) He did add in exercise over time, eventually making it to 90 minutes a day, but I currently get 30 minutes a day in now and have no plans to give it up. Maybe I'll add to what I already am doing. Hey...I said maybe!


So...I'm reading through his story and the more I read the more excited I am to begin. Then it dawns on me what eating only potatoes means...no cake.


I love cake.


And, my youngest clover is having a birthday in a couple of days. Which entails cake. Golden cake for his golden birthday.


All right, I'll begin the potato diet the day after his birthday. Hopefully I can continue it until December (the next birthday in our family). In my dreamland, I'll have lost my 22 pounds by then and be allowed to have a sliver of birthday cake again. Right?


So...Potatoes will become my life in 3 days. Coffee and tea are allowed as long as unsweetened, which is how I drink both. Beer on occasion, again, how I drink it and of course, water. Tons of water. Add it together with my women's Day vitamin with added B12 and B6 and I should be all set. Well, we shall see, I'm not the greatest at following through with these types of plans. But potatoes? Favorite. Food. End. Of. Story.


Adios Muchachas,

Mel



If you've miraculously found this blog and want to read the original spud dieter's blog, here is the link:

http://www.spudfit.com/f-a-q

Back Surgery Recovery [part 2+++]

I suppose I forgot about updating my weight loss journey blog with the progress after back surgery. This is the promised [part 2].

Because I'm completely over anything to do with back pain or recovery, in a literal sense, here is the quick version:

1. Went to PT for a month and it helped me tremendously. Thank you Chris at Advanced Physical Therapy.
2. I was right about having piriformis syndrome and it causing my sciatica pain after surgery.
3. PT fixed the issue.
4. I had a follow up with my surgeon where they took new X-rays and everything seems to be doing great.
5. I still live with back pain, but it's not near as horrible as before surgery.

Throughout this journey, from healthy back to locked-up, something is wrong back to surgery and post surgery, I've learned one thing. Take good care of your body.

My next step is focusing entirely on losing weight and exercise. I believe it is the only way to eventually feel better all over. I'll be pushing for a loss of 75 pounds, but I think I'll begin with 5...

More to come on how I plan to accomplish this feat.

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

Dear Thyroid

Dear Thyroid,

I am writing you this letter to let you know how disappointed I am in you. You have failed me. I fully expected you to be there for me for the longevity of my life, and yet you are leaving me. This was not our aggrement.

Why? Was it something I did? That virus I had that one time? Was it the concussion? Hashimoto's disease? Either way, I just wish you could've hung around for the rest of my life to see how it goes.

Because you are leaving me, I now have to take medicine daily for the rest of said life. Bleck! I am not a fan of pills. I don't care how tiny. It is annoying to take medication every single day. You've left me with no choice but to be upset with you.

I'm not happy at all about the energy you have stolen from me. My children are the ones who are supposed to be syphoning the energy from me. They deserve it, not you.

And the dry skin, brittle nails, grey hair; or worse thinning hair! Of all the mean things to do to a women, why did you have to thin my hair? I miss my thick healthy mane. It surely wasn't a very nice thing to do.

I'm not sure where to begin with the feeling of the need for sleep 24/7. And then you throw insomnia at me. Why? Is it all just a cruel game you are playing with me?

If games are what you are playing, then I'm here to tell you that I'm a natural competitor. Yep, you heard me right, I'm going to fight you for my body. I know it's going to be rough and I understand that you and I are never going back to how it was before, but I'm still fighting to keep myself. Yes, I'm going to take the medicine the doctor prescribed, plus the vitamins, extra Iron, Iodine, thousands of gallons of water, the fish, fiber, nuts, fruits and vegetables and exercise as much as I can. I am going to do all that is recommended to help prolong the life of what amount I have left of you. You will not get all of me. I may give my body a little rest here and there at your insistence, but just know that I will fight you. I refuse to allow the depression you force on me. I will conquer the anxiety. I will continue to do mind building exercises to stay sharp and block out the brain-fog you are so persistant on me suffering from. Now that I know that you are being lazy and no longer doing your job, I will do my best to keep you from ruining my life. Because I have a husband and children that need me. Because I have parents and siblings that love me. Because I have friends that enjoy my company. Because I have a loving God who knows I have work to do here on this earth.

This is my pledge to you. Take THAT Thyroid. I dare you to come at me. Actually, I double dog dare you.



Sincerely,



Mel
The body that has housed you for thirty-eight years now. I think you could be a little more appreciative of that. Just saying.

Diet. Dieting. Dietness.

I despise dieting. 

All I can think about is what I can't have to eat. 

This is most likely why I fail so miserably at this. Today I've ate an ice cream sandwich and chips and salsa. Maybe I should add some fruit and veggies to my day? Maybe some lean protein?  But it is my sons birthday, so most likely I will have something bad to eat for dinner and cake. 

I'm not passing on the birthday cake. 

Maybe I'll walking an extra mile... Or two or three. 

Adios muchachas

Mel

Where do I go from here??

Okay, so I have no problem admitting I have no idea what to do about getting in shape. Well, okay, I actually have an idea, but I don't know how I am going to accomplish it. I'm not very good at losing weight, apparently. :(

I have a couple of friends that have had amazing results eating 1500 calories a day. But it's soooooo boring!!!!! I want variety, flavor, chocolate, bread, pasta, chocolate, red meat and did I mention chocolate?!?!

So, what do I do? I know so many people say to "be happy with your own body" or "just be glad you're healthy" or "love yourself, even if you don't like how you look on the outside." But, I don't want to be happy with how I look because I'm not happy with how I look so why would that make me happy with how I look?!? Got that? Probably not. I don't know if I even got it!

So, again. What do I do?

Well, I guess it's back to the drawing board for me. Or, in this case, the weight loss journals.

Until next blog, where hopefully I'll have figured out how to lose weight and get back into "the shape of my life!"