[NOT SO] LIGHT ON MY FEET (7/31/13 POST)

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN OLD POST i FOUND IN DRAFT ON MY LAPTOP.... FROM JULY 2013 It’s been a while since I checked in… but who is counting? I am – counting the pounds lost – which happens to be 52 since my highest recorded weight in less than three months post-op. I am stoked! 35th birthday is less than two weeks away and that was my longer, short term goal. Officially half way to goal ! YAY!! About ten years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and have come to learn that a ton of “young” people suffer from this disease. We can go into it in further detail in a bit, but know that it is different from what your grandmother suffers from in her knees and elbows – likely that is osteoarthritis. RA is an auto immune deficiency which attacks your joints –um NOT FUN! Anyway, was diagnosed in my early twenties and suffered a few flare ups and miraculously it went into remission. About two years, it hit me like a ton of bricks ironically during my first attempt at C25K which completely thwarted my efforts. I went on to try the running program again and run my first 5K last October. I have been seeing my rheumatologist regularly and was prescribed low dose anti -inflammatory meds – prednisone (steroids)! While my dose was low 5-20 mg as needed – DOOZIE! The claims that this drug increases your appetite are not false – or maybe they are and I was using it as an excuse to eat everything in sight – but I did feel hungry more often than not. On a lighter note it did help with my morning stiffness assuming I took it before bed. Needless to say one of the compromises of surgery was no more NSAIDs – EVER – in fear of creating a bleeding ulcer! I was taken off prednisone and Aleve two weeks pre-op and felt awesome. Even after surgery I was feeling incredible. Not a sign of flare or swelling or joint pain. In June, I hosted a small get together for my husband and a close friend and TOTALLY overdid it – not enough sleep and too much time spent on my feet. The pain I experienced that weekend was unbearable. Emergency visit to Rheumatologist resulted in a cortisone shot and a vicodin script. Less than ideal. I felt better in a day or two, but since then I have been suffering with sever morning stiffness - wrists and fingers barely able to move, knees locked up, CANKLES, stiff shoulders and walking – well it’s more like a hobble than anything even close to resembling a walk. It is so easy to take our health for granted. All I can wonder is – why is this happening now? One of the huge claims is – LOSE WEIGHT – it will take pressure off your joints. UMMM I am almost back to my high school weight. How in Sam hell can I feel worse now than ever? It’s extremely frustrating because I had grand plans to jump into exercise once I was cleared and Ive done ZUMBA once and paid for it the next day. When I feel up to it, I walk in the evening after work, but I am hardly breaking a sweat and or traveling far. Most evenings with this awful commute we probably enjoy 30, maybe 40 minutes of daylight to spend outdoors. Want to know why I’m truly salty? Sure, I will gladly share – Attempted to organize my closet beginning with my shoes over the past few weeks and “discovered” I have 40+ pairs of shoes (yeah, I was surprised too) most of which are unworn… In creating my fat bag, I have found also that I have some great outfits that match said shoes (course, none of which was ever planned). Now the clothes fit AND I’m aware of the shoes, I cannot wear them together because my feet are too swollen to wear my shoes. I know this sounds vain and even a little whiny, but WHAT THE HECK? How in the world is this happening? I am officially a universal 16 and looking to pair my cute dresses with my bad ass heels and now I’m stuck wearing the same three pairs of flats – and I am not a lover of flats. Open toed shoes are what I have to wear, or the constriction is unbearable. Don’t get me wrong - as the day progresses the stiffness lessens but by 5pm I am still mildly limping – note this is a progression from the hobble at 5am. So now I’ve bitched – what is my action? I have researched quite a few blogs on RA “warriors” and the recommended exercise is water aerobics, which I did try and it makes the world of difference! The obstacle: I can only make the Sunday morning class (which is a rush before church). There are classes mid week but again commute woes keeps me from making it home in time for the 630pm class (EVER). Also, read yesterday that the recumbent bike and the elliptical are good options as well – no real complaint there given I have access to both without scheduling conflict. It’s making the time. The readings say when you are not in pain – exercise, but don’t push too hard. How do I when I am in pain all day? Seems the evenings are the least intense, so I should make the effort to get to the fitness center in the evening and get in at least fifteen minutes. It’s not all sadness on this end – shopping in my own closet is one of the most exciting experiences. It is time to part with my size 18s, or put them to the side for future alterations once I reach goal weight. In the meantime the 16’s are zipping up effortlessly and my double chin is ALMOST gone! Not to mention having hit One-derland!! Myfitnesspal profile talks about wanting to wear a sexy, little black dress for my birthday (last year’s wishlist) and I think instead of an LBD this year I will sporting a little white dress (verdict isn’t in on that just yet). I can see the difference in my face and body – finally outside of clothes. Oddly enough approaching that weird place where I like how I look in my clothes, not out of my clothes, hence the URGENCY to start working out seriously. I WILL mold this body into a sexy one in and out of clothes. So what are some things that I’m excited about ? Glad you asked! 1. Bought and fit into my first Charlotte Russe dress (three of them)! 2. Fitting into an XL from The Limited (didn’t’ even know that store still existed since I haven’t shopped there in almost ten years) 3. Wearing belts as accessories and to add style 4. Sporting a chic (if I must say so myself) haircut that highlights my new (skinnier) face 5. Acknowledging a difference in treatment from others On that last point – I have to really delve into that a bit further. It is part different treatment from others and part increased confidence from me. That should be another post because I have quite a bit to share there. So recap of this post - down 50+ pounds, rough patch with RA, need to get in some RA friendly physical activity and pushing to get into some 14s and EXCITED about my 35th! Will post pics soon.