Health, Weight, and Fun With Blogging

In another blog forum, I am participating in a great challenge. It is a holiday fitness challenge in a blog community for people with a hundred pounds to lose. That's right, I have to lose a hundred pounds. A hundred and twelve, actually.

I have always been chubby, but I was doing really well a couple of years ago. Daily time in the gym plus a good diet, and I got down to a size 8-10. I didn't check the weight, because I was more focused on training to be an archery coach (and a good archer), but I had made some amazing progress.

The same day that I got into my size eight jeans, I went to the gynecologist for my sonohysterogram. Immediately after the doctor, I went back to the store to exchange my size 8 jeans for maternity pants. Long story short, my body is not happy with pregnancy hormones OR BEDREST, and no matter what I ate, I couldn't seem to keep my weight in check. I gained and gained. I don't even think I WANT to know exactly how much I weighed the day after I delivered Jack, but I know that, once the swelling went down, I wore a size TWENTY FOUR -- by far the LARGEST I have ever been in my life.

Hello, obesity. Technically, morbid obesity, with all of the chilling problems that it opens me up to. So I joined this community, and I have not been an active participant. So when I saw the holiday challenge, I jumped on it, and got in on the action. It's a biggest loser style team challenge , and I am on the green team.

Our first challenge is to come post our measurements or before picture or measurements. And since my digital camera is not working with my computer for some reason, I get to have fun with a tape measure tomorrow (UGH!). Our second challenge is to come up with three goals, and explain how we plan to achieve them.

Here's my three.
1 - Start getting some sort of daily exercise.

Now, here's where I could use some help. Let me explain:
I am disabled. When I was nine weeks pregnant, I had a small fall. The baby and I were fine, but I separated my pelvis. Throughout the pregnancy, with those wonderful hormones loosening joints in preparation for birth, the pelvis got worse. And now? It seems to be permanently damaged.

My hip hurts constantly, and I have a very hard time walking. Some days are better than others. Some days, I can almost forget that I am disabled. And then, there are the days when I can't put any weight on my leg at all. I walk with acane, and I have a prescription for a wheelchair (that I never bothered to pick up).

So, here's the advice I am looking for. There are some days when I can do some low-impact cardio stuff (I use prenatal videos, since those are designed to be a little easier on those lovely joints). There are days when I can do light yoga. I may never be able to do my beloved pilates again, since it is considered to be a VERY BAD THING to do pilates with pubis symphysis injuries. But WHAT can I do on the days when I can't use the leg? Any suggestions?

2. Stick to my diet program.
A good friend of mine is sort of a diet specialist, and is studying food science at the University of Tennessee. He set me up an awesome and very effective diet. It lets me lose weight while lowering my risk for some of the ickies that obese people are proneto WHILE GIVING ME EVERYTHING I NEED TO CONTINUE NURSING MY SON!

Great diet, this. Low-fat, lower-calorie, low carb, low sodium, low cholesterol, high fiber, high antioxidant, and high protein.

When I move back to Georgia, it should actually be easier to maintain this diet plan, since I will need less help with the rent and utilities, and will be able to get more help with groceries if I can't afford them all myself. I just need some good recipes that don't include any meat that isn't fish.

....I will miss my fisherman. *sigh*

3. SLEEP LIKE A PERSON, DAMN IT!
No, really. When the monster goes to bed, I stay up til all hours cleaning, cooking the next day's meals, and doing all sorts of other strange things. If I can't SLEEP, I should at least do something RELAXING, like reading a book or knitting or something.

Really, I just need to learn to manage my time better during the days and early evenings. This is going to be even more important when I get to Georgia, since I will be WORKING full time.




Our third challenge is to say something great about our appearance. What do we love about our looks?You know, I am still often complimented about the features I evidently got from my birthfather.

Why, yes, he IS very Irish, how did you guess? I have curly auburn hair and green eyes. I also have good skin (thanks, Seamus).

OLD NEWS. Seriously. OLD NEWS.

My thing? Let me just say that, as fat as I have gotten, I don't have fat-chick legs, and I still have a great butt. Okay. I said it. I have these awesome muscular legs and a butt that could crack walnuts. They're a little....fluffier than they used to be, but there is still a LOT of muscle there, and I have no cellulite. GO ME.

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And if you're wondering, I am doing this for my son. I want to raise a healthy child who values things like a healthy meal and some good physical activity. I can't very well teach those if I don't live them, can I?