No. . . . I am not dead, yet!

I have had this really nasty sickness - not bacterial, probably not whooping cough, but something viral for sure.  I lost my voice last week and do not have it back yet.  It started two weeks ago Friday with a little tickle in my throat.  For those that know me, know a little tickle usually turns into a 3 month cough, which drives my family crazy.  Ok, so the littlle tickle was just that for 3 days.  On Monday, the voice was gone and I was feeling awful.  I stayed home from work Monday and 1/2 day Tuesday.  I made it at work all day Wednesday.  I woke up Thursday morning with a very sore throat, felt like a big marble sitting at the top of my throat and very little energy.  Stayed home all day last Thursday and Friday.  Friday was worse than Thrusday, so I went to see the Dr.  He gave me an antibiotic because the throat looked infected with something.  I really wanted to die - felt that bad.  Sleep was impossible, couldn't stop coughing long enough to sleep more than two hours.  Nothing helped the throat other than ice water - helped with the swelling.  Saturday I did not feel one bit better.  The swelling was feeling worse, so I even tried an ice pack on the outside of my throat - eveything was swollen at this point.  Still wanted to die.  If someone had dug me a grave and told me to crawl in, that I'd get some sleep, I would have.  Just cover me up and let me go.

I cleared my schedule all weekend.  I managed two hours at work on this past Monday.  Still not feeling like the meds were really helping.  I consulted with the Dr and he said it wasn't bacterial so I could stop the meds.  Good thing, because I missed work Tuesday because the meds cleaned me out.  Oh, that was fun.  The ice water continued to help the throat swelling, even just a little bit was a big improvement.  I went to work yesterday and today for 6 hours each day.  I am finally feeling better - no voice yet, though.

I have gotten some decent sleep the last 3 nights.  A chloraseptic losenge helps hit that tickle spot - long enough to get to sleep and a hydrocodone helps relax and drift off.  (these are left over from my bulging disc event that I had last November).  I don't take many drugs, but they are wonderful when really needed.

I am so grateful tomorrow is Friday!!!!  Next week, it is back to the P90X and feeling much, much better.  I haven't blown it too badly while sick.  Possibly lost a few pounds because the appetite hasn't been there.  Pants are fitting looser and that's a plus!

Have a great weekend and hope none of you get this nasty sickness - would wish this on no one!!!!

Love ya,
Bren

Not Going to Get Discouraged

I am well into week 3 and keep having these little things try to throw me off track.  So I started week 1 with my hip out and made it through pretty well.  Hip is fine now.  Week 2 was good until day 6.  I have an old sore spot on my thoracic spine that gives my trouble every now and then - it decided to be bothersome.  I limited my workout, but did workout.  I figure something is better than nothing.  I am feeling a little stronger and feel really good with the meal plan.  Over last weekend I developed a cold.  Most people it wouldn't bother too badly, but I get this cough that just won't quit.  I don't have an infection or anything bacterial.  It is even a mild virus at that, but I just can't breathe at all without that tickle in my throat needing to be coughed out.  I am still working out - just not even close to hard, but again something is better than nothing.  A good night's sleep would be a tremendous blessing!

I am seeing some results, just ever so slowly because of these little things.  AND I feel good physically.  I am into this program 3 weeks now and if I quit, I will never know what could have been the complete result.  SO . . . .  I am going to stick it out.  This cold will lessen soon, then I can really get busy with the workouts.

On a week that I should be trying to rest, there is something going on every evening - not exactly restful.

All I can do is keep trying,

Have a great rest of the week!

Love ya,
Bren

two weeks . . . and . . .

Now Two weeks into the P90X program.  I feel pretty good.  In fact, I feel really good.  Body is sore and a slow start in the mornings, but not too bad.  In Week 1 I did what I could with the hip being quite touchy and sensitive.  Now that Week 2 is almost complete I feel stronger and more limber.  The menu plan has not been difficult for me to follow and allows lots of flexibility with what to eat when.  The meals tast great and I have not been hungry!  I have NOT had a potato chip, cookie, brownie, crackers or any other junk food.  Not even really tempted.  OK, I gave the oreos a second thougth - then remembered there was no milk at work to drink with them.  That made it super easy to pass up.  :)   I have not stepped on the scale again and not sure I will until I complete 28 days.  I feel better and stronger, but don't see the shape changing at all.  My pants fit just a wee bit looser, but don't want to be discouraged by that darned scale. 

One great aspect of the workouts is keeping track of what I complete - then I know the next week if I am improving or not.  The second week was, hand down, a much better week.  More reps, a little more weight used, and longer time on the Plyometrics and the yoga.  I didn't do the Kenpo last Saturday, because I was really sore from the legs/back workout on Friday.  Now the Legs/Back workout went very well and I completed it no problem.  At least that was what I thought until I got up the next morning and was that sore!  Didn't realize I did not use those muscles like ever! 

Keep the motivation up there!  If you don't start, you can't finish!  :)  That got me through the AB workout today.  :)

Have a great weekend!
Love Ya,
Bren

Day 3 and still wanting to

Hello, again,  I have made it 3 days on the exercise and menu plan of the P90X program.  I feel really good.  Yesterday was the Plyometrics workout.  It is basically 5 sets of 4 different moves.  You complete one set, then do it again and move on to the next set of 4.  I made it great through set one and pretty well through set 2.  I have to watch my hip movements - still wake up each morning feeling like the truck that hit me didn't leave me much to work with.  I did one movement on set 3 and called it done.  Not great, but next week I will get farther and maybe even through it.  At least I did something, which is tons better than nothing.  I am also keeping to the menu plan.  I don't get hungry and feel really good.

So Yesterday was a win, but not a conquer.  Today I completed the shoulder/arm workout.  I conquered!  Feels awesome.  I enjoy the weights - makes me feel young again.  I was only using the 5, 8, and 10 lb weights.  Because the 15, 20 and 25 lb dumbells would be ridiculous.  Again, it is the place to start.  Nothing started is just that . . . nothing.

Keep forging ahead, because that is so much better than lagging behind!  :)

Have a great week! And yes, my stomach muscles are sore.

Love ya,
Bren

It Has Begun!!!! :)

I wasn't sure the P90X program was actually going to start today.  After lifting some boxes at work Friday, a 6 hour rundtrip car ride on Saturday and waking up sore, as usual, I put my hip out Sunday morning.  I got up, went into the office for an official weight (only have 38 lbs to lose) and came home to make sure the basement workout area was good to go.  This meant moving the sleeper sofa against the back wall - a distance of about 10 feet.  Sleeper sofas are heavy and I figured it wouldn't be too big of a task in small pushes.  About the 3rd push I felt my right sacral joint give way.  Almost couldn't walk up the stairs.  I did, but only by going up with the left leg first.  Fred adjusted me, I iced it and took some ibuprofen.  Made it through church.  more ice and ibuprofen after church.   Sleep was a little difficult because every time I changed position I felt it.  Fred adjusted me again this morning, more ibuprofen and off to work I went and made it through the day.  By the time I got home from work pain was minimal.  More ibuprofen before the workout, though.

I did begin the meal plan.  Breakfast was an omelet, cottage cheese and fresh strawberries.  More than I could eat, actually.  Wonderful!  Menu plans that leave a person hungry really suck.  I followed it all day and feel pretty good.  This may work after all!!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!!

The first workout is complete.  Chest and Back followed by AbsX.  I survived.  It is stressed in the program to only do what you can do safely.  For instance, the push-ups can be done with our body as a plank.  I felt it pull on my hip, a lot.  So, I only did them from my knees instead of toes.  My arms still got a good workout and it didn't stress my hip.    The Abs I did the same way, if there was too much pull on my hip, then I only did one or two or none at all of that particular version.  I am really psyched to continue on with this.

Those before pictures are a great motivator!!!!

Have a great week!
Love ya,
Bren