Since I had lost 40lbs from October (2 months post thyroid surgery) to May without doing anything differently in my daily activity or eating habits, I decided it was time for me to start a workout routine. What I was eating didn't require much change because I had changed a lot of that when I was pregnant 2 years ago and was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. Because I had to take my blood sugar everyday, I learned what foods made my blood sugar rise beyond what it was supposed to and what didn't.
Anyway, I worked out for two weeks then woke up the Saturday before Memorial Day and couldn't get out of bed. I thought I just needed more sleep. This went on for over a week. I kept thinking something was wrong because I was exercising and should have been feeling better. Soon enough, on a Monday in June, I started having pain on the left side of my nose and by the next day my sinus cavity under my left eye was hurting and it became worse over the course of the day. I knew exactly where my energy had gone.... an unwelcomed sinus infection. After getting on antibiotics I felt better but then AF decided to show her face (which is very rare) and she is always an energy zapper.
Due to other complications and a medicine change that made me feel worse, my lapse in a workout routine was longer than I had wanted.
Before I lost my energy in May I was working out to a video that required dumbbells and a resistance band which I didn't have. Instead I was using two unopened pancake boxes (2lbs each), which I know sounds silly but it was better than nothing, and just tried to use my own muscles to "resist" as much as possible. I did feel the burn and it seemed to be working but not on the level I needed; 2lbs was just not heavy enough. So I bought two 5lb weights and a resistance band, but didn't get a chance to use them.
This last Thursday when I started my workout back up.... WOW! I felt a huge difference. I was even sweating more. I had to skip Friday due to a family obligation and work, but have worked out Saturday and this morning. Again, this time dripping with sweat (sorry if you think that is gross, it lets me know that I'm burning more calories in my workouts) and feeling the burn more this time. I even took two "before" (meaning before consistent exercise but not before any weight loss) pictures so I can see my progress. I will post those later when I have something to compare them to.
The exercising gives me more energy throughout my day and more confidence in my body and myself. Although I'm still overweight, I know I'm working toward a better me. The me I have felt inside of me and has never left. I have never felt as big as I was and am. In high school I was athletic (not toned or the best athlete) and loved being active. It's surreal to think one little organ in my body could mess with everything else, make me gain weight and make it extremely hard to lose it regardless of what I tried.
I had resided to the fact that I was going to be fat the rest of my life and nothing I did could change that but my surgery has changed all that for me. Although inconclusive in incorrect, I am grateful for the lab results that made it necessary for me to have my thyroid removed, especially after receiving the biopsy results back that told me that my thyroid was basically completely damaged.
I now have a new strength and a new goal set before me that I am determined to reach. I know it's a long shot, but my goal is to lose an additional 50lbs by September 12... my birthday! It's more important that I lose inches than weight as I know that when you work out you build muscle and muscle weighs more than fat but 50lbs lighter will be closer to my ideal weight. My second goal is to lose an additional 30lbs by Christmas and to be in clothes that I feel great wearing.
I will try to update this once every week or two and share my progress. I just have to remember not to weigh myself everyday...haha! I'm just so excited to see the results of my hard work but I know I will see them soon enough.
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