Getting Better

I'm finally beginning to feel better. Maybe I'll even exercise tomorrow. I think the whole chest problem was just congestion. I started taking Sudafed yesterday and clearing things up. I try to go chemical-free, but sometimes the body needs a little extra help.

Sudafed Molecules:
I found this while searching for an image of Sudafed. I just think it's kind of cool.

Now to lose the weight I gained...

The End of My Rope

I got to the end of my rope and could I keep going? No, I'm a frayed knot!

If you've never heard the joke about the ropes that went into a bar, click here.

Sunday during the temple dedication I got a bad headache. I figured it was a combination of fatigue and the bright lights, but it didn't go away. Later I took a nap and woke up with serious heartburn. I rarely get heartburn! I drank some baking soda water, and it eased off but left me with a pressure feeling in my chest like a big bubble. It felt like I needed to burp but couldn't. I also had an occasional twinge in my shoulder. I called the nurse hotline and learned that heartburn is a primary symptom of heart attack in women, and headaches can be caused by high blood pressure. She convinced me to go to Instacare, and the doctor there sent me to the ER.

The upshot of that visit was that I have absolutely no heart trouble. I'm just tired and stressed. They gave me morphine for the headache, along with Zofran so the morphine wouldn't make me throw up. That was followed by baby aspirin (no water allowed yet) for my heart, followed eventually by "gastroenteritis cocktail" consisting of Maalox, Benadryl, and Lidocaine. Lime mint flavor, Yuck! I gagged that down and then went to sleep for a while. At about 2 a.m. they gave me a drink of water and started discharge papers. The water made me burp at last, and I went home, still tight in the chest.

Upon waking up this morning, my headache was back full force, but I was hungry and the indigestion is at bay if not gone. I took an Excedrin for the headache, which at least took the edge off so I can somewhat function. I took the day off of work, and I am doing only what I feel like, except I probably need to go get groceries. I spent a lot of the day visiting with Holly and the kids.

I know Anthony would be willing to get groceries, but after getting home at 3, he got up at 5 to take Kevin to work because his car is broken down, and then came home, took Dominic to work, and went off to his networking meeting. So he is asleep and I want to leave him that way. But we are out of milk. So, that's the problem with life--how do I rest? Do I get to rest? I'm a frayed knot!

Finished Step 2

It took almost three weeks, but we finally finished step 2. It's crazy. I kept procrastinating, daunted by the 3-mile walk at the end of the week. When it came right down to it, it was easy in spite of the pain and bloating I've been feeling. I felt better after the walk. Less bloated, and it kick-started my digestion. On to Step 3!

No Pain, No Gain

The old exercise motto: No pain, no gain, is outdated. We should really work out starting gently and build up to a level we can do without hurting ourselves. That's what I love about Leslie's program. It's exactly what we do.

Now I've got a new twist on No pain, no gain. I've been eating so badly, I gained three pounds and I have been in pain. Aching all over. I know better, too, but I start false thinking--it won't matter for a little while. Other people eat like this; I just want to eat normally. All the lies. Rationalize = rational lies.

So I decided on my food motto: No Pain, No Gain. I'll make food choices based on what my body needs, not what looks good or what I perceive other people eat.

A Pound of Fat

This is really gross. The yellow pictures are actual samples of human fat. Yuck! The one on the right shows the makeup of a human fat cell under the microscope.

Great weight-loss incentive, not to look like that inside.

I read about a doctor who does lipo-suction and uses the fat to make bio-diesel for his car. Seems wrong somehow, though I suppose it's no worse than throwing it away.
I think I'll burn my own fat--through exercise!

Oh No! (and fun news too)

I found out today my gym membership expired! I don't know if I can justify renewing it, when Anthony doesn't have a job right now. Sanity's important too, right? He says I should do it.

Also, I have regained. But not as much as I feared. Only about a pound. So, time to press on.

Dominic and Holly have been staying with us while waiting for, and recovering from, the birth of their second baby. He has done yoga with me a couple of times, and their little boy is so cute trying to do it with us! The second son was born July 30 and he is adorable! (of course Grammy's not biased!)