February Wrap-up

My goal for February was to “run” on odd days and swim on even days.  I missed (took off) four days.  I figured I would be brave and try a new class at the gym, actually it was two and I fell in love!  Boxing and kickboxing both have been added into my workout regime. 

On the pain front, yea, I had some issues, but nothing major.  My energy was pretty good.

Weight? Down 10.6 pounds!!!!!

 

March will be entertaining; I got some new artwork done on my foot which makes my “normal” workouts not really possible.  For two weeks (give or take) no shoes or socks! Well, I can’t have the rubbing and the pool is completely out until my foot completely heals.  Luckily both the boxing and kickboxing classes are barefoot classes, spinning I can rest my foot on the top of my shoe and still get a workout in, yoga – shoeless of, course!  For rest of my cardio I have been getting on the elliptical machine in my flip flops and just go at it.  Once my foot heals I am planning on trying out Zumba, seems like it would be fun! The issue I am facing right now is my energy level is starting to go down and I am starting to have pain again in my left arm (up to my elbow).  I am hoping all this is just diet related and everything will clear up nicely. I am refusing to let this be another damn flare up.  Only time will tell!

Taking Things for Granted

Over the past week we have had three good snow storms.  Since Thursday ended up being a snow day for the kids and well, I wasn’t going to go anywhere which meant I would have to miss daily visit to the gym.  The law here requires snow removed from sidewalk within 24 hours of the snow stopping, so I figured I would I get my workout done by shoveling the snow! Last night we had a pseudo blizzard which messed up my shoveling job, so I was back out there this morning getting the snow off the sidewalk. Back in the fall the leaves were falling by the bucket, after Halloween my kids and I were racking up the leaves.  I could do two rake strokes and then I had to sit down.  My kids had to do most of the work because the stupid flare up would not let me.  I was happy to spend a half hour shoveling the snow.  When I was done, I came inside changed into dry warm clothes and happily continued on with my day.  This morning after re-shoveling, I hopped in my vehicle and headed off to my day full of appointments. 

I hate that I was so sick for so long, but in a way I am glad I was.  I had the opportunity to fight like hell to do menial simple everyday things, and now that I can do them almost like a normal person it makes me feel like I am doing so much more. 

Above my current physical level, I still can’t say enough about my family.  There is no way I would be able to stand on my feet like I have been.  My kids have gone above and beyond being my little doctors/therapist (my younger kid loves setting up my TENS unit).  My sister has been my rock, my strength, she has been sister to me and mom to my kids.  My friends have been amazing emotional support and knowing they are there and offering to help means the world!

 

Metaphor

I have been taking boxing/kickboxing classes for the past two weeks.  In a way these classes are a major metaphor for my life right now.  I had been flaring most of last year but it didn’t go full blown until around August.  I spent the better part of October relying on a wheelchair to get me from point A to point B.  November I started feeling like a human again, but still not doing well.  December I little better but I was still fighting like hell to be “normal” again.  During this time thanks (in part) to my medicine I managed to pack on some serious weight.  My rheumy changed my meds and my PC told me to get off the gluten and January I hit a turning point (except for the strep throat).  I was getting to the gym on a regular basis, not pushing too hard, but happy to be back up and moving.  The beginning of this month I upped my game plan.  Every even day I would swim and odd days I would “run”, I would take one day off a week for recovery and I would try something new!  That new is my boxing and kickboxing, well tomorrow I am giving Zumba a shot, but I really love getting into a spat with the heavy bag!  It occurred to me that the heavy bag is lupus and every time I kick it or punch it I am showing lupus who the boss is!

Wicked Witch of the East is Dead!!!!!!

In a way I still feel like I am in the tornado on the way to Oz, but I also feel like the house has landed and squished the Wicked Witch of the West.  I am still battling this flare (which by the way the rheumy thinks I also have fibromyalgia, but I will get to that later) which is why I feel like I am still in the tornado.  As far as the house landing, I got up this morning before ALL my running around and made it to the gym. I braved the scale and I was 3.1 pounds under my freak out weight.  I am currently the highest I have EVER been in my life (to include pregnancies) but that is ok, because that weight is the wicked witch! It has been squished and it will never be seen again!

I made it for a short pool time this morning.  I was already hurting so I didn’t want to push to hard.  I had no interest in hanging out with the pink haired ladies (no, they don’t actually have pink hair and no it is not nice to call them that…) in the water aerobics class. I wanted to swim.  My upper body is a smidge cranky so I figured I would do what I could! I got in and swam 500 meters freestyle.  I did have to stop just about every lap to adjust my goggles or my headphones.  Left shoulder was a little sore, but did not hurt.  The next 500 meters I figured I would try to get in some kicking and I was happy when my lower body did not disown me.  I had to alternate front and back to keep my back from going nuts, but I got it done.  I noticed the time and realized I didn’t have much time left so I walked the last 500 meters. I think I will keep my water walking distance down for the time being, it was not pleasant!  I mean it did feel good to be back in there doing something again, but I think my body like the swimming the best!

After a quick shower and change I was off to the rheumy.  During the initial check in I refused to get on the scale, but later the doc required me to get on anyway.  He came to the conclusion that my back and hips are not lupus related, they are RA related and he believes I have fibromyalgia (well, duh!!!!).  I am coming off the prednisone (YAY!!!!!) and going on something else.  He is also testing me to see if I can go on another lupus drug, can’t remember the name of it at this time, but I am at the point of just make this pain go away!!! OH!!! And the rheumy asked how my appetite has been I told him straight out I have been eating like a pig (which is why he made me get on the scale) he looked at me and said
“you know you aren’t supposed to, right?” It took EVERYTHING I had not to look at him and say ‘no shit Sherlock!!!!!’ but I didn’t say it!

I stopped and picked up lunch (running around day, planned on stopping and picking up lunch today). I had this Santa Fe salad thing and some shrimp! Yum!

Anyway, it is time to continue with my running in circles!