Results as of last week

Just a quick update, since I began my new journey at 402 pounds I have lost 19 pounds !! 

I am very happy with everything and I am proud of the progress so far !!

Stay tuned for more detailed updates.

A new Journey

After many false starts, I am once again taking the first step of a long journey towards making a healthier me. As I had mentioned before I am doing the Couch to 5k program again.  I am also going to the gym more consistently than before.

The most important step I have taken, is hiring a nutritionist to help me properly eat and manage my weight.  I was very excited to get started and I like everything so far.  Eating has always been a challenge for me, but with some help, I know I can get it under control.

I am not focusing on a weight loss number, and I am not going to constantly weigh myself.  I will do a weigh in periodically, so I will have some idea how much success I am having.  When I weight myself earlier this week, I was saddened to learn that I was back in the 400+ range.

My starting weight is 402lbs.  How much lower will it be??

What a scare

I had a bit of a health scare around the Bunny 5k race. The week leading up to the race I was having a harder time breathing and I seemed to be out of breath whenever I was exerting myself (going up the stairs, brisk walking etc.) I figured it was just the start of a chest cold, and would get better in a few days.  During the 5k I was really struggling, and was out of breath the whole time, but I just ignored it and kept going.

I still was having trouble breathing on Easter, so I went to the Doctor. A few weeks ago, we had changed my BP medication, and that change was causing me to retain a lot of water. All of that water was constricting my heart and lungs causing my breathing issues (I heard them mention Congestive Heart Failure.) That scared the crap out of me !!

They put me on a new diuretic, and I feel much better now. And the follow up tests (EEG and x-rays) came back normal.  I had caused myself and my family a lot of worry and anxiety.

Time to make more changes !!

The Tortise finishes the race

The Bunny Run 5k is over and WE DID IT !!!!   My wife and Daughter both finished the race and I did as well.  I won't say I ran during the race, I was one of the last people, but I  finished it !!  I had a few issues during the race (more on that in a later post) but I made it to the end. I am very proud of all of us for sticking to it and working hard to finish a goal.

I want to thank and congratulate all of our class mates in the Couch to 5k program. I also want to give a special shout out to Tommy Snodgrass, and all his helpers, meeting me at the finish line and helping me finish the race meant the world to me, and my Family.

I have signed up for the Spring / Summer Couch to 5K class, I plan on running my next 5k in June. So stay tuned.

Back to the Doctors

I received a call from my Doctor's office last week reminding me that was due to have my A1C levels checked again.  After making my appointment, I began to dread the upcoming visit. While I have been getting some exercise with the Couch to 5k program,  I have been slacking pretty badly on the eating front. I have been drinking soda with abandon, and pretty much eating whatever I felt like. I KNEW my A1C was going to go up, and the Dr was going to up my Meds.

I only been intermittently checking my blood pressure and blood sugar.  My BP has been running a bit high. but not too bad. My blood sugar is another story entirely.  My morning readings (when I bothered with them) have been running from 1980 to 220 or so (it should be under 120!) I just blew it off telling myself that I had a big pasta dinner the night before, or some other lame excuse, but they were consistently high enough to tell me that it was more than that.

My fears were justified, my A1C was over 8.  It was 7 something last time, and should be under 6.  My BP was also high and I had gained 13 pounds since I was last at my GP doctor 5 months ago. As predicted, my Doctor put me on a new Diabetes medicine, in addition to the one I am currently on. He also increased my BP medication too. When I called and told my Dad how I made out at the Dr. I could hear the concern and disappointment in his voice.  He has had a lot of health issues in the last few years, and doesn't want me to go down that road also. How can I keep letting every once down ??????

This visit was yet another slap int he face wake up call for me to get my big butt in gear and do something about my health !! (As many slaps in the face I have had, I am beginning to wonder if I am into S&M or something?) So stay tuned, hopefully I have turned the corner !!

Missed my first one

Well Tuesday, I missed my first Couch to 5k run. The classes are every Tuesday and Thursday and an independent walk on the weekend. On the nights I am working to close, I do my run after work in my subdivision.

I closed on Tuesday and didn't do my run :-(  I wish I could say it was raining or make a good excuse, but I can't.  I was just being LAZY.  I knew I should do it and I chase not to. I am really disappointed in myself, I have been doing so well. This past week I have had a real lack of energy motivation. I have been really achy and miserable.  I am wondering if my blood suger is too high and it is catching up with me.

I really need to get out of this rut, the 5k is in less than a month !! I need to buckle down, and get back on track.  I went to the gym after work today, so that is a start.  I am planning on going Friday too. Wish me luck !

Couch to 5k for a bunch of Couch Potatoes

Well I did it.  After years and years of telling myself "That Couch to 5k programs looks good, I should do it." I finally bit the bullet and signed up.  Not only that, I signed my wife and daughter up as well, partially against their will ;-) 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/ReFlex-International-Couch-to-5k-program/129132879123

We started our class almost 3 weeks ago, and it started out rough.  The class was much bigger than I had anticipated, the first night we had more than 150 people.  With that many participants, the there is a wide variety of fitness levels.  I feel that I am a true couch potato, and have a low level of fitness. I am not sure some of my classmates qualify for the couch portion of the description. While I struggled to do the bare minimum 1 minute of walking / 1 minute of running, people were whizzing past me and weren't even short of breath. Not being able to keep up with every one else is very frustrating and discouraging for all of us.  I have come to accept my own pace, and try and not get in the way of the faster runners.

Today was our 6th class, and I am proud to say that Bailey has been to every class, and seems to enjoy running (for a while anyway.) Dee and I have missed one here or there due to work conflicts, but one of us is always there. On class days I have to work late, I do my running/ walking when I get home.  It has been a great experience so far and it has given us some great family time together.

The Bunny Run 5k is in 7 weeks, so we have a lot of training and hard work ahead, but I am really looking forward to the race.