Dad got to go home tonight & I ate vegetables

It has been a long two weeks. I have been sick, dad has been in th hospital. I haven't gotten to work out and my eating has been horrible.

Today they let my dad go home. He is weak and still unable to eat more than a few bites. He's in a lot of pain and he still has an infection. But he is home. I have faith that seeing his dogs and sleeping in his own bed will be a huge boost to his mental health. Recovery really is more than half a mental game. I will still keep a close eye on him.

As for me, not having to spend hours at the hospital every day means I will finally get to see the inside of the YMCA Healthy Living Center again tomorrow. I am very excited!

Also exciting? When I finally got home from helping my dad settle in at home, my roomie had made a wonderful vegetarian dinner. It included sweet potato fries (baked) and fresh green beans from our garden. There is hope for me yet!

Yours in Health,
Kate

Things are a bit better

I am still tired, but dad is doing a bit better. He is able to eat more and so am I - the latter is the problrm. I am trying to pull it together this week.

I hope to get a workout in tomorrow for the first time in over a week. I have been sick, busy or exhausted.

Right now I have to go, at the hospital with dad.

Yours in Health,
Kate

No Voice, No Workout

This stinks.  I woke up this morning and no voice.  Well, let me clarify - I sound like a broken chainsaw intermittently pretending to be Peter Brady in the voice changing episode.  Think gravely meets squeaky.  So, I did what I hate to do, I stayed home.  If I rest my body and voice today, I will undoubtedly be ready to roll tomorrow- at least I better be! 

I know this disappoints trainer Gwyn who I was supposed to meet with for the first time this week.  I am very disappointed too.  But I am still all snotty and not breathing right, combine that with the lack of voice and frankly, who would want to be around me?

I am doing a little work from home, but mostly sleeping.  Which is what my body has informed me it wants again.

Yours in Health,
Kate

I can't breathe

I started getting sick last Monday. Symptoms went away and I was exhausted, but could breathe. Then Friday my sinuses felt like they were on fire. Saturday I was clear that it was the sinuses. Sunday night I started to cough and by yesterday morning I sounded like a barking seal.

I went to the doctor and she confirmed what I knew - sinus infection and double ear infection and a little bronchitis as a side. If I had gone much longer I would have been really sick.

So, sorry I haven't posted, I have been resting when not at work. Tomorrow I may not get to go, no voice. We'll see.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Friday Funday

Well, actually, I am at work.  But I am doing my best to have fun.  I have 80's rock banging away in my headphones as I try to push up productivity.  We are having a potluck in a little while - I ordered in crab Rangoon and egg rolls as my contribution - yea, working hard. :)

As for the healthy thing, yesterday I was too busy to workout.  Those are words I hate, but I am going to make up for it tonight and tomorrow.  Tonight it's time to mow, originally planned for tomorrow, but with the heat index going over 100 again, uh no.  Instead I will do the yard tonight and believe me, it's a workout!

Tomorrow it's a workout with my mom.  She wanted to try kick-boxing with me leading the way tonight, but instead it's going to be golf for her.  I am very proud of her by the way.  She has joined the YMCA Healthy Living Center as part of the Livestrong program.  It helps cancer survivors and patients become healthier to help ward off the chance of recurrence.  Mom is several years past Ovarian cancer now, but anyone who has had that has a better chance of breast cancer and vice versa.  So, I am happy she is grabbing this opportunity - I have no intention of losing her anytime soon.

Mom and I will beat the heavy bag tomorrow afternoon.  I plan to put in a swim before we meet up.  Then I will be 'caught up' on my workouts for the week.  That's the key you know.  If life gets in the way, be flexible, make a plan and follow through.  I'm proud that I am able to do that.

Well, I better go, fried food will be here soon to share with my co-workers.  I know, "Bad Kate!"  But really, anything in moderation.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Water Workout

Yesterday trainer Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center put me through my paces in the water. We went to the workout pool that's extra warm and we started with walking and then running across the pool to warm up.

Then Gwyn put a float belt on me and tethered me to the ladder. Then she gave me water handweights, which weigh nothing on land, but under water they weigh plenty. Then she had me run while floating and moving my arms, which moved the weights. After about 10 minutes, I actually broke a sweat - in the water - impressive.

Gwyn did it with me and said today her achilles was bothering her. I felt bad, the whole idea behind me being in the water is so that my knee and achilles get less wear and tear. Gwyn said she thought she was moving her feet wrong and her swim this morning made it worse. I'm not much of a swimmer, I mean I can but it's not my thing, I think that's why I donLt have a problem with my achilles in the water.

Anyway, I also worked out with her today. She really ripped up my biceps and triceps. By tomorrow I expect to have noodle arms. LOL.

Well, I better go to bed.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Half Back in the Saddle

I went to workout with Gwyn at the YMCA Healthy Living Center today.  It was a good workout, but it was also clear how much my body disliked the 2.5 week interruption of its regularly scheduled workouts.  I was out of breath more than I would like and about a half hour afterward, I was nearly useless.

I just feel ick.  I know I was starting to fight a cold the other day, but I don't think that's it.  I drove back to work with the intention of going to Intuitive Eating a couple of hours later, but I never made it.

Instead, I am wearing a fleece jacket and falling asleep at my desk.  I guess I shouldn't have tried to do everything in one afternoon.  But then, I am very bad at riding the line on my own energy.

I am going home now to eat and go to bed.  I am hoping some more sleep will make everything better.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Long Busy Weekend Comes to an End

My father talked his way out of the hospital this morning. He promised to be an awesome at home patient in exchange for being let go to my niece Vivian's dedication to her church. By the end of the service dad was white as a sheet, but mentally healthier. Not only had he been freed from the hospital, but he got to see his granddaughter.

After the service I went to my mom's for brother Casey's birthday dinner. I had yummy chicken while everyone else had steak. After we had lemon cake and ice cream. I only ate about half. My mom took that to mean I didn't like it. I assured her it was fine, I was just full. And I was. What growth! I actually felt my fullness and stopped. Not that long ago I would have finished the dessert. It might have been out of fear of offending or pure gluttony or the unfounded fear that I might 'never get cake again'.

That last one may sound silly, but when you are a food addict, you need your fix. ]ou may even fear that food will never cross your path again. Really it's like any other addiction - a junkie needs their fix and they will get it by any means. They will hoarde their drug of choice and set up endless road blocks to keep others from getting it. Food is no different to someone like me, except I can never give it up. It's like an alcoholic having to learn to 'manage' their consumption- we know that doesn't work - but somehow we have to make it work with food.

Luckily I have found growth through my Intuitive Eating class at the Mercy Weight Loss & Nutrition Center. One of the first things Katie teaches you is that the food will always be there. There is no need to hoarde or binge, you can always get more. A concept, that for most in the U.S. is true and yet hard to fully embrace, it's why there are so many larger waistlines now.

Well, I better go, I have promised myself some real sleep tonight after we watch our recorded World Cup Final. BTW - I am back with trainer Gwyn tomorrow at the YMCA Healthy Living Center. I plan to ease into it after 2.5 weeks of having to do nothing.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Another long week

I'm sorry, another week has been messed up by life. My dad ended up in the hospital for what, we found out after 48 hours, is a very "hot" gall bladder. His gall bladder is so infected it put him in horrible pain and has caused swelling surrounding the organ. It's so infected they are keeping him for at least another day to pump IV antibiotics. Then he will be sent home with more beds to try to continue improvement. Once the gall bladder settles down, they will remove it in 4-6 weeks. Right now it is too infected to remove without being life threatening.

So, I have spent too much time at Mercy West Lakes hospital as we have tried to manage his pain and figure out what was wrong. Poor guy, he also passed two kidney stones durong this - I have passed four and to put it in perspective: my mother who has passed one and had three long births assures me the kidney stone was MUCH worse.

My sleep has been messed up, so I am so tired. But I know my dad would do the same for me, so I have no complaints.

As for my health, I will be going back to working out with Gwyn Monday - thankfully. I need the regamine of going to the gym to help my life settle out again. Luckliy, if dad is still in the hospital, it is just down the street from the YMCA Healthy Living Center. I also have Intuitive Eating on Monday night. I want to get back to class after surgery and the holiday.

Well, I better go help dad with his dinner.

Yours in Health,
Kate

Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia

Remember the commercials encouraging you to buy the little Terra cotta animals and cover them in chia seeds to watch them grow?

Well, it turns out those seeds or at least their organic cousins, are really good for you.  They are high in protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

Diana, a former dancer, told me about them a couple of years ago, but until I saw them on a friend's desk, I was hesitant to try them.  Well, I have and I like them.

They have a slight nutty taste, but they go into anything and have a myriad of health benefits.  One of which is bowel regularity, which was an unexpected bonus.  Otherwise, they are simply a great way to add key healthy nutrients into your diet.

I got mine in the bulk section at Gateway Market for CHEAP.  You can get them at most health food stores as well.  Below you will find the nutritional breakdown.  If you have been struggling with fiber or protein, it's a great opportunity for you.

Yours in Health,

Kate

Long Time No Blog

I am so tired. My neighbors kept me up until after midnight with fireworks and I had to be up at 4 to work. I have a friend that says we should leagalize them in the state and tax the hell out of them. I was considering his ides until last night - over 3 hours of explosions outside of my house felt more like a mini-Kabul than DM.

Anyway, now I am grabbing breakfast and going home for a nap. Then it's back to work for a while.

This whole surgery thing has thrown me off track. I am still suffering with being tired and a bit sore. ThatLs okay, I know it's natural. My biggest problem is I revisited the exercise issue with my doctor's office and they have told me nothing strenuous - read anything except walking - until after my follow-uo with him. So, I was bad and moved my appointment up to this Wednesday. It was supposed to be three weeks, instead it will be just shy of two. What? I can hear you, but I promise I will follow whatever he says.

That being said I am freaking out. The day they told me that I had misunderstood my exercise instructions I nearly had a melt down. I have just put things in the right direction again and now this. So, what did I do? I fed my depression cake, cookies and ice cream over three days. I know Intuitive Eating has taught me not to beat myself up, but that many calories with no exercise is a problem.

Now I am trying to moderate my calories and attitude until Wednesday and hoping for the best. But it goes to show I need help dealong with this stess eating thing, it's ugly.

Well, I better go nap. Sorry if there are spelling errors. Between being tired and writing this on my phone, it's bound to happen. :)

Yours in Health,
Kate