Reflections - Month 2

Looking Back on Month Two:  (weeks 5 - 8) 

Not as much change as I would LIKE and I didn't hit my goal.  BUT...I lost each week.  Part of that is on me for not upping my exercise sooner.   Time to move on to a new dosage.

Weight:

9/04 - 9/11 - 177.8 to 175.0 - 2.8lbs

9/11 - 9/18 - 175.0 to 173.6 - 1.4lbs

9/18 - 9/25 - 173.6 to 172.6 - 1.0lb

9/25 - 10/2 - 172.6 to 171.4 - 1.2lb

Month 2 Total - 6.4

Measurements:

Month Start:
                Waist - 40.25
                Hips - 46.5
                Thigh - 23
                Bicep - 13.5

9/10 - Measurements:
                Waist - 40
                Hips - 45.75
                Thigh - 23
                Bicep - 13

9/12 - Photographs (Goal Pants #1) - 174.8lbs

9/25 - Measurements
                Waist - 39.5
                Hips - 45
                Thigh - 22,75
                Bicep - 13

Month End:                            Change:
                Waist - 39                     Waist - 1.25
                Hips -  45                      Hips - 1.5
                Thigh - 22.5                 Thigh - 0.5
                Bicep - 13                     Bicep - 0.5

Symptoms/Side Effects:

9/4 - 9/10 - Not Hungry.   Fatigue.  Quiet Brain reaction not noticeable. Bad panic reaction 9/10 over night, possibly related to alcohol

9/11 - 9/17 - Slight nausea Wed. Some fatigue - upped B12 - Some sleep issues.

9/18 - 9/24 - On and off light nausea, some fatigue. 

9/25 - 10/1 - Hunger is back.   No nausea

Exercise:

9/4 - 9/10 - Treadmill (a bit light) - no pilates or extra exercise - Missed some days. 

9/11 - 9/17 - Treadmill (light) - no pilates - missed days

9/18 - 9/24 - Yeah, I totally missed my treadmill except for the 23rd

9/25 - 10/1 - Treadmill - better but still lighter than it should be - no pilates.   Added some arm exercises with weights.  Added incline to treadmill.   9/30 - 1 mile at 2  10/1 - 1/2 mile at 4, 1/2 mile at 3, 1/2 mile at 2

Last Day of 0.5 - Last Day of Week 8

 Weight this am - 170.6

Treadmill - 50 min at 2.7 for 3 miles  4 incline for .5 mile - 3 incline for .5 mile - 2 incline for .5 mile

It's a new number day.   Tomorrow I post my 2nd "Reflections" and start my next dosage up.    At least the 'down-up-down-up-up-down-up-down" keeps ending on a slightly lower "down".     I'll know tomorrow what my total loss is for this 4 week period.   I mean, I'd be THRILLED if I saw a six...I'd be excited if I got to check off my final square of post-Jan-2022 data.   But so long as I'm ending the week lower than I began...I'm happy.   

Did a bit of light weights and crunches as well.   I'm trying to add a wee bit of other toning.   And yes...I did light about doing a DVD...but I DID add lots more incline to my walking.   Every little bit, right?

Tomorrow we round another bend in the Wegovy Journey.   I'm looking forward to more good things

Another Manic Monday

 Weight this am - 171.4  

Treadmill - 47 minutes at 2.8 (1 mile at 2.0 incline) for 3 miles

And ... up we go again.   That damn 169 just keeps waving at me as I sit here and hover around 2 pounds out.    I was hoping to be there by the end of September.   Obviously that isn't happening.    Reset my goal date to Oct 15...which is also my goal date for 165 so we'll see what happens.   

Going to try...no.   Going to DO an exercise DVD tomorrow instead of treadmill.   Something like Tai-Bo if I can find that.    Maybe 21 Day Fix.   Just modify exercises and do squats or weights for the ones I cannot do (Surrenders I am side-eyeing you)   I need to switch it up a bit

Getting Closer

 Weight this am - 171

Treadmill - 47 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

I finally hit a new whole number.    I'm within 2lbs of my next goal now.   And just over a pound til I see a 6.   It feels so close and yet so far away.    I'm just wondering if I can get there by Wednesday, since that is not just shot day but also New Dose Day. 

I did a speed step on the treadmill today to get my 3 miles in quicker.   It worked. I'm thinking of starting to switch up exercises.   Do Treadmill on like 3 or 4 days and commit to doing a workout video on the other days.   Something more than just 10 minutes.   20-40 depending on the intensity.   I think that might help switch things up.   I'd really like to tone up and decrease my arms and my stomach.   

My MFP celebrated me today for 18lbs down.   The problem I'm having is that I still can't get rid of any clothing.    You'd think with an almost 20 pound loss, that something would stop fitting.    I know that my clothing fits better now.   And I can wear some of my t-shirts again without looking like an overstuffed sausage.   B.U.T.  ... I would really really like to be able to pack SOMEthing away.   

Soon, right?    Hopefully soon. 

Two more days til I go up another dose.   

Saturday In The Park

 Weight this am - 172.2

No Treadmill

Specifically Saturday at Arts In The Park/Shakespeare In The Park.   We went to go see our friends do Hamlet and then wound up out with some of the cast afterwards.   That was nice.    

Of course we met up at Crust so I had pizza and, this time, wine.   Very Very small pizza...lol

I miss the camaraderie of doing shows.   Love my theatre friends.     It's nice to start getting back in touch with people again.  In Person

Friday = A Drop

 Weight this am - 171.2

Treadmill - 52 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

Meet-up at the Brewery was so much fun.   Had a slice of pizza and a couple of beers (3 sampler and 2? half pours over 3 hours)   I was saying last night to my accountability group - this will either cause a jump or my body wanted a cheat day and will drop.   

And here we have a 1.2 pound loss.   LOL.   Bodies are weird.   I would really really like to hit my next goal of 169 so I can do photos again.  

The 160's feel like they will be an interesting change.   That is the weight I didn't really log.   The void of Covid.  That land between the BEFORE and the AFTER

Thursday Meet-Up

 Weight this am - 172.4   I would really appreciate this trending downwards again sometime soon.  

Treadmill - 52 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

I'm feeling like I did when the scale was getting close to the 70's.   SUPER impatient and just really wanting it to continue to trend down (even slowly) instead of the see-saw effect.    It's like 171 was a tease and then the scale goes...nope.  rebound.  

Tonight is supposed to be a meet-up with a secular group down in Old Town.   Should be fun, hopefully.   

Looking over my charts and I know the thigh measurements aren't totally accurate. I'm pretty sure I was measuring higher up for a while there but that's ok.   It's still something to track. 

I have definitely adapted to the medication because I am hungry much more frequently.   I'm having more trouble falling asleep too.    However the desire to drink anything is still suppressed, which is great.   I was definitely drinking way too much.   I think it was a leftover from 2016 and then the 2020 lockdown.   

Breaking Habits. 

Time to Push - Week 8 Day 1

 Weight this am 172.6 - Lost 1lb this week.

No Treadmill - shot day

Spent the day compiling all my prior measurements into charts.  That way I can tick off all sorts of boxes.  

This is the final week on 0.5 so I need to do some pushing if I want to get my final weight box ticked off for 2023 before I start 1.0.    I'm so close.    2.4lbs to match 170.2, 2.8 lbs to see a 6 on the scale, and 3.6lbs to hit 169.    We.  Can.  Do.  This!

No side effects AT ALL today after the shot so it is definitely time to move on up a dose.   

Bookstores and Brunch

 Weight this am - 172.6

No Treadmill 

And back up we go.   Tomorrow is shot day so that weight will be my final check-in for weight this week.   We'll see what the numbers bring.  

Arietta and I went to a used bookstore In. A. House.   It was lovely.    Just a winding labyrinth of tomes.    Arietta got a Very Expensive edition of The Hobbit.

Then we had lunch at Flower Child.   Afterwards we went to Barnes and Noble and I replaced my missing copy of Shogun. 

I also removed myself from someone on Facebook.     She posted a rather *punch down* comment about people on Wegovy/Ozempic.   When I called it out and shared my struggle her response was "I was just joking".   When I responded that those of us experiencing this really don't find it amusing,  she doubled down in her reply and then changed her post to almost blame anyone who might be offended.    Never once took any responsibility for her words.   That isn't something or someone I need in my life right now.  

Last dose of 0.5 tomorrow!

Monday Means Movement

 Weight this am - 172  

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

Back to the treadmill!  Yay!    I'm proud of myself.    Not as early in the day as I would like but I'll get there.    

Goals this week:  

        Treadmill every weekday

        Clean my office

        Clean Game Room

        Prepare Library Shelves

I will come back and check these off with a *date completed* once they are done.

Blessed Mabon

Weight this am - 171.8

No treadmill.    

Here I was thinking I'd have a tick up this morning.  Instead I went down AND got to tick another box off on my weight chart.  Only ONE weight left (170.2) and then I will be below my "after covid" weight. 

Next milestones are 169 (20lbs), 165 (anniversary wish), and 159 (30lbs).   After that I'm revisiting my 2018/2019 journey. 

Went grocery shopping today.    I've got some good meals planned out for the week.    

I'll take photos and measurements again when I hit 169.   Less than 3lbs to go!   

Do You Remember...

 The 21st day of September...

Weight this am - 173

I'm having a hard time with the exercising.    Really need to get my ass in gear.   

New Week - New Start 

Need to start kicking it up a notch if I want the 160s.    I'm so ready to get back into numbers I haven't seen since 2021.   

Once I hit maintenance dose I will probably taper off from daily posts. 

Friday Visit

 Weight this am - 172.8. 

No treadmill - walked dogs with my mom

Didn't see a weight jump with the pretzels yesterday but did have loose stools today.  So I guess if I get backed up I'll start with gluten.  So I guess I can have it sparingly.

About 1/2 a pound away from my next highlight square on my chart.   I would REALLY like to get down to 169 by the time I start 1.0.    I'm trying very hard to be patient and most of the time I do ok.   It's just sometimes that I get antsy about having my body back.   Maybe if inches were dropping I'd be more patient. 

Saw my mom today, dropped off her kindle cover.  

Hopefully we will get a temperature drop soon.  That always motivates me.

2nd Dr Appt

 Weight this am - 173.4

No treadmill 

Script was sent over for 1.0 and anti-nausea meds (in case)   I should be picking both up tomorrow. 

Had a pretzel craving so I'm having some today.  We'll see how I react.

BP was low at the Dr's office.    I can decrease dosage if it stays low. 

Next month we are re-running labs and re-evaluating meds etc.   

Wegovy Wednesday - Week 7 Day 1

 Weight this am - 173.6

No Treadmill 

I'm starting the week 3 hover so I'm glad it's time to see the Dr.    

Everywhere is out of .5 but Sam's has 1.0.   Looks like we try there tomorrow.

Tuesday Thoughts

Weight this am - 173.4 - and it's back down again.  

Treadmill - 52 minutes at 2.5 for 3.01 miles 

Super nauseous last night.   SOMEthing did not agree with me before bed.   I did get up early and got my treadmill in so that's something.   Tomorrow I need to call pharmacies to check on Wegovy availability.  That way when I go in Thursday to the Dr I can have them send the script somewhere that actually has my my medication in stock.

Monday = Blah Day

 Weight this am 174.4 - doing the jog up again.   Last had that back on the 8th.   

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 2.89 miles - At least I did it.   

I.  Am. Just. SOOO.  TIRED.    blah.  

I wonder if the sleep and tired are related to alcohol.  I've had a few more this past week.   Trying to get through the already open wine before it gets bad.   

Tomorrow I need to start calling pharmacies about the 1.0.   I can feel the weight loss stalling a bit and these lower doses just seem to always be out.   I'll be asking about the .5 and the 1.0.   I'm honestly ok staying on the .5 if necessary but I really feel like I'd rather hover on 1.0 since I can always jump up from that to maintenance doses.   

I just don't want to be frantically calling again AFTER I get my script.   I'd rather call now and go into the dr with where to submit it.  

Weekend Summary

Weight Sat am - 173.8

Weight Sun am 173.8

Saturday Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 2.89 miles

T.I.R.E.D    I'm just really kinda tired.   I really don't have the energy right now for a lot of things.   

I did do another deep dive.   Since I don't have MFP logs for weight in 2021, I decided to look at my Dr visits.   March/April I was 154/55   Sept/Oct I was 157/160.    That was before covid.    After it in Feb I was 173 and March 179.     

I also think my A1C did a jump as well but I'd have to look closer at that.   

Friday the 13th

Weight this am - 174.0  

I've colored in another month on my Weight History Chart.  That makes ALL of 2022 DONE.  Two more squares to go before I'm done with the 170's and everything after January of 2022.

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

This almost feels like moving backwards in time.   It's interesting.   OH, I'm doing the extra dropper of B12 and I am definitely less tired this morning. 

I've been getting errors on my home BP so I re-read the instructions and tried again.  98/77.  Huh.   That's like my old BP before my body decided to sabotage itself.   If it reads low at the Dr's office we may need to discuss tapering off BP meds. 

Got to Keep On Moving

 Weight this am - 174.8

Treadmill - 46 minutes at 2.5 for 2.69 miles

I need to get back to it.   Too many days break from my self-care routines (walking, Pilates, etc)  

OH I bought skin care stuff on Monday when I had my flu shot.   This is day 3/4 of using them (morning is day 3, evening is day 4)   

I definitely can't eat as much in one shot and there are a lot of things that just, when I think of them, don't sound at all good.   I'm definitely more tired with this level.   I may need to take an extra dose of B12.

I'm under 175 but just barely.  It's tough.  I want to see my body really change one one hand, but on the other I don't want to lose TOO fast and have trouble keeping it off or issues with my body not adapting correctly.  ugh  I'm just really ready to retire some clothing.   

Refocusing - Week 6 Day 1

 Weight this am - 175 

Starting the new week the same.   Looking back I lost 2.8lbs last week.  

I could NOT sleep last night.  I definitely had one of my panic episodes.   Last night was the first time I had hard liquor since starting this so I thiiiink that could be it.    That was the last of the gin in the house so I definitely can't do that again.    

I am exhausted today.   And a bit sad.   I did not get cast in Steel Magnolias.   I'm not UPSET.   It was a fair audition and I did well but not exceptional.    Apparently the universe really wants me to just focus on this journey right now.    sigh    It is what it is.   I'm going to take the day to be sad and self-care, give myself permission to be fully in my feelings.   Then tomorrow I will get up and get cracking on the NOW.    

I have things I need to do for me and I can't put them off.    

Tomorrow we start cleaning upstairs and getting back to moving forward and not wallowing.   

175 is the new beginning.   I'm ready to tackle the next 10.   

Debate Day

 Weight this am - 175.0 

Finally hit my first goal.   That one has been there for over a year.   Ever since I saw over 175 on the scale.  Honestly it feels more like a starting point than a goal but I'll take what I can get.   Set my next mini at 169 and then 165.    My real mini is 165 but the first one is 20lbs down and into the 160's...again...FINALLY.

So this is then end of week 5 and 14lbs down.   That's an average of 3lbs a week.   I can live with that.   It means 2 more weeks for me to get to 169 but as long as there is progress things are looking up. 

No treadmill today.  I was feeling rather run down from my vaccine and I know I missed B12 drops recently as well. 

The debate was something else.   45 is SUCH a buffoon.    I drank too much (for me, now, on Wegovy) but I didn't OVER-drink (two G&T's and a glass of wine the whole evening).   

New Week tomorrow.

Flu Shot

 Weight this am - 175.2  

I'm only .2 lbs from my first goal.   Colored in some more squares on my chart too.  Only 3 squares to go until I'm out of the 170's

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.7 for 3.14 miles

Got the flu shot this morning so I'm all protected for the season.  Glad to have all that on board

There is a storm in the gulf.   Francine is a Tropical Storm and should become a hurricane later today.  Right now she is tracked toward Louisiana but when it's this close we prep.   We are already good to go.  If her track shifts toward us we go get ice but everything else is totally ready. 

One more full day and then it's shot 2 of .5.   I'm really hoping to be in the 160's by the time I finish these. 

Audition Time Again

 Weight this am - 176.4 

A jog back up again.   Probably from the pizza.   I haven't done anything with heavy carbs in a long time.   Although it was to be Gluten Free...which doesn't mean lower carb.

Tonight is the audition for Steel Magnolias.   We'll see.  I've got the two monologues memorized.   I'm honestly a bit ambivalent.  If I get in, great! because M'Lynn is a bucket list role.  If I don't, I don't.   I have this journey to really focus on right now. 

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.7 for 3.08 miles

Audition went decently.  I'm not totally displeased.  Could have been better but it's hard to perform a monologue for the first time with a week to memorize.   Callbacks are Tuesday if they have them and casting the end of the week.   

A Meeting of Maenads

 Weight this am - 175.6 

I got to color in some more squares on my chart this morning!   I'm only 0.6 away from ticking off my first goal as well.    Can't wait.   

The Maenads got together today for Lunch.   Technically it's our book club but it's really more than that.   We all bonded over "The Chapin Incident" in Measure for Measure and our love of reading, and we have been friends since.   It was so lovely to spend time with them again, it's been too long.   

Definitely a higher calorie day.   Although my pizza was supposed to be Gluten Free.   We'll see how that goes.  Especially since today was a No Treadmill day.

I am 'barely' starting to see a difference in my clothing as well.   Some things are just starting to fit again.   It's been sooooo long since I've been in the 160 so I'm really looking forward to getting out of the 7's.   I KNOW that I just got back into the 7's but the 180s has been something I think I spent a lot of time denying in my own head.  The 170's were a bit more real.  

Patience.

New Goals

 Weight this am - 176.4

Treadmill - 51 minutes at 2.5 for 3.01 miles

Not feeling great although my ear hurts less than yesterday so I think it's definitely something sinus related.   My throat is a bit iffy too.    Taking things a bit easier today.   

I decided to go back over all the weights I recorded since I started MFP in 2015 (I have only 1 weigh-in in 2013)  and make a chart.    That way I can mark out each lower weight as I hit it.   There is a data gap in 2021 but you can definitely see the shift from 2020 and under (highest weight was 155) and after covid where I'm in the 170 and up range.  

Right now I have an impressive amount of blue.   Just over 6 lbs left until I color in  ALL of 2022 and 2023!  Then it's a 15lb gap until I get back to 2020 and 155

Thursday Thoughts

 Weight this am - 177.0   

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 3.0 miles

Nausea first thing this morning, but I'm fine now.   Stomach is just a bit fragile so I'm going slow.  I think I had just a teeny bit too much right before bed. 

Did less time on the treadmill with lower speed just because I don't want to push too hard.  

I'm tired too....but that's to be expected - first couple of days on the new dose.   I am now officially 2 lbs away from that first weight-loss goal.    I'm trying not to want TOO much TOO fast.   I did find a free exercise app from NIKE.   Going to look into that further later on, once the new dose isn't so new.

Moving On Up - To 0.50 - Week 5 Day 1

 Weight this am 177.8 - holding steady. 

Stats for the start of Week 5:
                    SW - 189.0
                    CW - 177.8
                    MG - 175 (mini-goal)
                    GW - 125

Starting this month in the 170's

Took my shot at about 9am on an empty stomach.   I didn't have the quiet brain reaction after the shot but my brain appears to be staying kinda quiet.    Covid vaccine reaction also appeared to be gone this moring

BOY am I NOT HUNGRY.   I had a half bowl of my southwest chicken soup and a 1/4 cup of dried cranberries today and that's it.    I'm starting to feel like I *should* eat but my brain isn't interested.   Although my stomach just felt a bit empty so it's definitely time.  

No Treadmill today since I prefer to take it easy when I go up a dose.   I did get some walking in while taking Rowan for job interviews though.   Good enough. 

No real symptoms with this dose so far.   Which is awesome.   We'll see how we do as I get into it but so far there is nothing really to report.

Reflections - Month 1

 Looking Back on Month One: (weeks 1-4)

Ok people, it's time for a look back before we take a step forward.   I'm going to break this down into categories:

Weight: 

I started this journey on 8/7/2024 at 189lbs.   The highest I have ever been in my life and scarily close to 200.   As someone who spent the majority of my life under 120 and at my highest otherwise was never over the 150's, 189 is painful.   Everything hurts.  

8/7 - 8/14 - 189 to 184.4   - 4.6 lbs

8/14 - 8/21 - 184.4 to 180.2  - 4.2lbs

8/21 - 8/28 - 180.2 to 180.4  + 0.2

8/28 - 9/4 - 180.4 to 177.8  - 2.6lbs

Month 1 Total - Down 11.2lbs

Measurements:

Month Start:
                Waist - 42
                Hips - 47.5
                Thigh - 26
                Bicep - 14

8/7 - Measurements:
                Waist - 42     

8/9 - Photographs - 187 lbs

8/12 - Measurements:
                Waist - 41.5
                Hips - 47.5
                Thigh - 26
                Bicep - 14

8/28 - Photographs - 180 lbs
        - Measurements:
                Waist - 40.25 
                Hips - 46.5
                Thigh - 24
                Bicep - 13.5

Month End:                            Change:
                Waist - 40.25               Waist - 1.75
                Hips -  46.5                   Hips - 1
                Thigh - 23                     Thigh - 3
                Bicep - 13.5                  Bicep - 0.5

Symptoms/Side Effects:

8/7 - 8/13  Week 1 - pre-nausea, light heartburn and light nausea, mild headache occasionally.  No longer blazing hot all the time. Quietening of extra brain noise.  No longer interested in alcohol.  fatigue (treated with B12) - Symptoms wear off by day 6

8/14 - 8/20 - Week 2 - "Cloud of White Noise" 15 minutes after shot. Hunger gone.  No nausea day 1 - Noticed that I am low-key happy/content.   Constant Anger/Stress is going away. Can't eat heavy or large portions. 

8/21 - 8/27 - Cannot have more than 1-2 glasses of wine.  Nausea day 2 (food choices?) Weight loss plateau. 

8/28 - 9/3 - Diarrhea and weight gain after eating gluten. More hunger this week. Headache when hydration is low. 

Exercise:

8/7 - 8/13 - Treadmill - 6 days - 2.0 to 2.1 for 42 to 45 minutes 

8/14 - 8/20 - Treadmill - 6 days -  to  for 42 to 60 minutes    Walking - 1 day for 60 minutes                               Pilates  - 2 days for 11 minutes each

8/21 - 8/27 - Treadmill - 2.3 to 2.5 for 42 to 60 minutes  Pilates - 3 days for 11 minutes each

8/28 - 9/3 -  Treadmill - 2.5 to 2.7 for 45 to 60 minutes   Pilates - 2 days for 11 minutes each

Last day of 0.25

 Weight this am - 177.8 - back down again

My Garmin watch also got very excited for me this morning.  Apparently my fitness age went down...woohoo - LOL

My arm/shoulder is super sore this morning and I'm a bit congested/low grade headache, but that's all Covid vaccine related.    

Treadmill 62.5 minutes at 2.7 for 4 miles.  My final mile was my fastest yet.   14:40!

Happy Labor Day

 Weight this am - 178.6 - up a jog but not all the way.    

Treadmill - 60 min at 2.6 for 3.62 miles

Grocery day today, at least partly.   We forgot that Costco was closed so that will have to be another trip.

We made a meal list for the week:  Broccoli/Cauliflower cheese soup - Egg Roll in a Bowl - Chili Verde

I decided that we needed to come up with 3 meals with leftovers each week and plan their days.  Because with this med if I don't have a planned meal then I have no motivation to cook and I don't actually even think about what to eat...LOL.   It's a learning curve.  

Ran my monologues.   They are flowing pretty well.    Also picked up some bralettes for Rowan.   First Bra for the new daughter.   

Started Chili Verde.   Tomorrow dinner is run.

No Pilates today but step goal was met and I'm over 10K as well.

Also got our updated Covid vaccine.   If you haven't done this...what are you waiting for?

I Matched March

 Back on August 28th I posted about looking back over the past year, and how my lowest weight was in March of 2024 when I registered 177.8.   I matched March today!

Weight this am - 177.8

I had a headache this am.   I think I was a bit shy on my water/seltzer intake yesterday so I have to watch that.   Next goal weight is 175.   That has been my goal since I was 184.5 back in February.   It would be nice to finally get that done and be able to focus on my next goal. 

Treadmill - 60 minutes at 2.5 for 3.44 miles

Definitely want to do Pilates later and we need to make up a shopping list.

Pilates - Done (abs only)

Shopping list made.

Monologues run.    

I'm thinking probably Tuesday will be my look back and recap for Month 1.

Saturday Thoughts

Weight this am - 179.0 

Treadmill - 65 minutes at 2.4 for 3.54 miles

Pilates - 11 minutes Abs

I loaded the other monologue for auditions.   Just need to run them into the ground now.    

Scale is staying at 179 - although I do need to go nude for that reading.   Made a southwestern chicken soup today with the leftover chicken breast.    It's yummy

I am definitely noticing more hunger this week.   Usually I would feel that on Monday or Tuesday and it's hitting me already.    I do want to finish these 4 weeks holding strong in the 170's (even if it's just at 179)  These 10's definitely feel like their own land.   It feels more like going backwards to go up into a different 10 than it does to fluctuate pounds within a 10.   Like....Wobbling between 180 - 182 feels more acceptable than wobbling between 179 and 181 - even though it's the same 2 lbs.    

ANYway.   I'm looking forward to seeing how I react to the .50 on Wednesday.

Tomorrow or Monday I'm going to sum up my 0.25 journey.   Look back at the symptoms and reactions.  What happened over the past 4 weeks.   All of that. 

Until tomorrow...

Officially Hit 10lbs

 Weight this am - 179.0 - 10 pounds baby!   And I am now into the 170's.

Treadmill - 64 minutes at 2.5 for 3.56 miles

I WILL do pilates today dangit.   LOL

Right now I'm going to take a break and have a salad though.    Then work on audition monologues. 

Ok....yeah I didn't do Pilates.    But I did go back and look through my food and weight logs.    The early fluctuations don't correspond to anything so those were probably the water/inflammation shifts.   I also don't see specific spikes with Keto bread so I'm going to experiment with that later.   See if after a period of not having anything with gluten those affect me at all, or if the extra fiber acts as some sort of barrier.

I do see spikes with noodle soup and white bread/pretzels so that's something to keep an eye on.

Titanic Thursday

 Weight this am - 181.0 - aaarrrrgggghhh   sigh

Treadmill - 60 minutes at 2.5 for 3.5 miles

I'm wondering if gluten is the culprit.    I had it the past 2 days.    If I have NCGS that might explain the weight gain and diarrhea.    I've been avoiding most bread products since I started except for the occasional slice of Keto bread.  Let's see what things look like tomorrow.   

It's frustrating because I SAW the 170's just briefly and now it feels like a teaser.    Oh look...there's a seven...NAH back up we go.   I don't think I can take too much 'back up' right now.

Doing a reading of Titanic tonight.   It's the last Chaos Theatre read.   The end of an era. 

Need to do my pilates today since I missed yesterday.   I also need to start working on upstairs. 

Going to work on sticking to my salads and light meals.   Oh and continue to drown myself in water....LOL.  

Final 0.25 Wednesday - Week 4 Day 1

 Weight this am - 180.4  - Another jog up.   

 I officially did not lose anything this week 8/21 I was 180.2 and today 180.4   Not what I was hoping but since I lost 5lbs in week 1 and 4 in week 2 I guess I'll take it.    I am really hoping I drop at least a lb this week so I can actually hit that 10lb loss and be in a different decade on the scale.   

Treadmill - 47 minutes at 2.5  for 2.72 miles

Sigh.   I'm intellectually ok with a stall since I know that overall things are good.   But there is a part of me that panics just a little bit when things aren't trending at least a little bit downwards.   

Well...looking back, I'm below where I was in February (184.5) although not down to where I got to in March (177.8)   So I'm almost to where I was when I wasn't using meds to help.   I guess my mini-mini goal is to get below 177.8.   That's only 2lbs from my lowest weight on this med.   C'mon TWO

Last 0.25 shot this morning.   Used my left thigh.   

Took photos.   I can see a tightening in my abdominal area and my waist at my belly button is down from 42 inches to 40.25.  My hips are down from 47.5 to 46.5.   Left upper arm is the same at a half inch down.  I need to add weights and toning on my arms.   My right thigh went from 26 to 24 so the walking is helping.

I do feel good about deciding to go up in dose with this plateau.   The effects are definitely less than at week 1.    Lets see where we end up by next Wednesday.    Hopefully I can officially put myself solidly in the 170's again!

End of Week Three

 Weight this am - 179.8 - Holding just barely in the 170's.   

Treadmill - 42 minutes at 2.5

Tomorrow is day 1 of week 4.   Picture and measurements day.   

Took Rowan to Old Town today for a quick job search.   Too Quick.  Most of the stores were closed today.   We'll try again later in the week. 

Need to work on memorizing two monologues for an audition on the 8th of September.   

Someone in the group was talking about having a reverse body dysmorphic disorder and that kind of resonated with me.   My body was the same size for most of my life.   So now I don't tend to see how large I am unless I see a photo or a reflection of myself in a full length mirror.   Then it's like I am surprised by how wrong that image is in connection with what my image of myself is inside my head.    

I can't buy clothes for how I look now because I cannot see in my head myself at this size.   

I can't recognize myself because that is not how my face looked for over 40 years.   That is not how my body looked for over 40 years.   It's bizarre.   

I can't wait until I am back inside the flesh that I actually recognize as me.

I Saw A SEVEN

 Weight this am - 179.8 - I SAW A SEVEN.    0.8 lbs left until I hit 10 pounds down

Treadmill - 60 minutes at 2.4 for 3.41 miles

Spent part of the morning trying to find ANY pharmacy with .25 or .5 of Wegovy in stock.    Sam's Club has one of each so I called my GP to get the script transferred to them.    I'm still waiting to hear back. 

Just called and the doctor hasn't sent it over yet !!!    Because I needed stress.   That's great for my cortisol levels....HAHA not.

Today should see day 4 of 10K steps and maybe I'll add in another segment of Pilates.   Maybe not.   We'll see.    Will definitely do at least the abs.

Doctor finally called my script over to Sam's Club and Miracle of Miracles they still had the single .50 in stock.   I now have my next script.   

Did NOT get to an extra Pilates today but I did do my:

Pilates (Abs) 11 minutes

Day 4 of 4 - 10K steps.

I am exhausted and stressed after today.   I have 2 monologues to memorize for auditions but I'm going to start that tomorrow when I have a brain.

Sunday Sunday

 Weight this am - 180.2

Treadmill - 60 minutes at 2.3 for 3.17 miles

Weight is back down to where it was on 8/21.  I'm hoping it gets into the 170's by my next shot.   That will feel so good.   

Day 3 of 10K

Pilates (Abs) - 11 minutes

Dentist Day

 Dentist Appointment this morning for a cleaning.   I'm not a fan of Saturday appointments.   They feel rushed.   I'd much rather go on a weekday.    That said, I'm going to keep up with the brush and floss for the next 3 months.

Weight this am - 181.0  - A slight jog up but I didn't walk on Thursday or Friday, and Wednesday was exercise ball instead of steps

Treadmill - 45 minutes at 2.3 for 2.03 miles

Pilates (Abs) - 11 minutes

Today was a salad with bacon and hard boiled egg.   I'm just over halfway to my step goal for the day.   

Day 2 of 4 - 10K steps

Made up chicken breasts.    Vegetable Stock is in the roaster.  

Tomorrow is Sunday - New week, New Plans

Doctor Appointment

 Today was a follow up day with my PCP.    According to their scale and mine I'm down 8.4lbs overall (their scale is measuring me by about 2.6lbs less than my home scale.   I think they have it set lower to account for things like shoes)   We discussed it and sent in my script for 0.50 dose.   My pharmacy can't fill it until the 25th so now we wait.   

Weight this am - 180.6 - This is why people shouldn't worry about a pound or so fluctuation.   

Trying to bring my food choices back into alignment.   We definitely had some less than stellar options this past week and I can feel it in the *tired*   

Still having a bit of nausea in the background.  I need to make up some chicken breasts and have those as an option with my salad.   

Dentist tomorrow and then I'm good on doctors until next month.   

I feel like I'm almost in a holding pattern motivation-wise until I see that new 10 pound number.   I'm looking at you 70.   It's sooo close. 

No I have not done my walk or Pilates today.   Trying to get the background nausea cleared and honestly...I do better when I knock that out first thing in the morning.  

Lets see what tomorrow brings

Happy Birthday Mark

 Today is my love's birthday.    

It is also, apparently, side effects day.    I tried to get on the treadmill and the nausea knocked me flat.   

I'm not sure if it's related to any food choices yesterday or if it's just the medicine building up and hitting me in the face, but it is definitely Not Fun.

Weight this am - 182.6   Apparently I have hit one of those fluctuations again.  This is the biggest jump I have had so far on this journey.     We'll see what tomorrow brings. 

I am not trying for steps today. 

Last night of the DNC - Lets Do This (but very gently because my stomach is fragile...lol)

Wegovy Wednesday - Week 3 Day 1

 Week Three of 0.25

Weight this am 180.2 - down almost 9lbs and less than a lb from seeing the 170's

Waist - 40.5  - down 1.5 total and 1 from last week's measurement of 41.5

Upper arm - 13.5 - down .5 

Hips 46.8 - down almost an inch from 47.5

Right thigh - 25 - down an inch

Did NOT get to the park this morning.   I'll hop on a treadmill later.    I DID figure out that I canNOT have more than one glass of wine.  🤢 I had about 2-3 while chatting with a friend and woke up super nauseous and sick at 4am.     10/10 Do Not Recommend.   I'll stick with my seltzer and occasional 2-3oz mini-glass.

I got to 10K steps today.  No Pilates.   Shot day is tired day.   

Tomorrow is Mark's Birthday and we'll be doing some cleaning up upstairs so I can get on top of Appen work.   

Then the final night of the DNC    This whole thing has been just a non-stop JOYfest.   It's so uplifting and hopeful.   

We Are Not Going Back

A Walk In The Park

 Weight this am - 181.6

Walk In The Park - 2.85 miles in 1 hour

Went with Rowan to the park this morning and walked the Bike/Walk Path.   A little less distance than my 60 minutes on the treadmill but I tell you what, I'm almost done with my daily step goal.  

The DNC ran SUPER LATE last night but omg was it uplifting.    It's the first time I've seen one and this was definitely the year for it.   

I am probably going to take a wee nap/lie down because MAN was it hot outside even at 7am.   

Will do Pilates later today and tomorrow R and I are probably hitting the trails again.   

Day 7 of 8K steps - Goal Accomplished

Set a new goal of walking 10K steps for 4 days (not in a row)

Pilates done.   Took a nap.   Having Tacos for dinner.    I'm taking a break from my Smart Watch for a bit.  

Dr appointment on Friday to discuss dosage.    Dentist appointment on Saturday.

Dose 3 is tomorrow.    Off to get ready for another night of DNC

Out and About

 Took Rowan to Planned Parenthood this morning for a blood draw.   I also realized that I did NOT in fact have a Dentist appointment this morning.   Apparently an old card from last year got into the mix of current appointment cards.   Ooops.   Then we went to Best Buy so Rowan could use their gift card.   

Weight this am 181.8 - Obviously I was right not to worry about the flux.   LOL   I am soooo close to my mini-goal of 10lbs down!   And just 6-7 lbs away from my MFP goal of 175.   I can't wait until I can change that to 165 💙

Treadmill - 45 minutes at 2.2 for 2.07 miles

Still have about 2k steps to go to get to 8 today.    Worst case I'll pop on the treadmill for another 15 minutes later this evening.    Right now I think my salad was a bit too heavy with the addition of steak for me to have gone for my walk.    My stomach is just a wee bit affected.

Tomorrow Rowan and I are hoping to go for an early am walk in the park on the nature trail.   I'm looking forward to that.   I'll also add pilates tomorrow since the walk will be early 

I'll check back in once I hit my 8k step goal.   

Day 6 of 8K steps - One day left to my goal

Watching the DNC and this is just FUN.   

One more day until Dose 3.   

Grocery Day

 Weight this am - 183.4  

Treadmill - 43 minutes at 2.2 for 2.08 miles

Day 5 of 8K steps

Grocery Shopping today so my treadmill walk was definitely shorter.    I'm within 500 steps of 10K though so that's good.  

Tomorrow is Dentist for me.   Then labs for Rowan.  Then call billing for PP to credit the overcharge for future visits.

We may NOT now have an extra person.  Apparently them having a place to go has made their parent give them a year.   We'll see how that goes.   They know our door is open if this isn't what they are hoping for.  

Food is going good today.   Off to cook some steak for dinner.   Haven't had steak since I started the meds so we'll see how that goes.    

I'm not worried about the weight flux, I just look forward to seeing how everything trends.  

Two more days until Dose 3

Happy Re-Birthday To You

Happy Re-Birth Day to you
Happy Re-Birth Day to you
Happy Re-Birth Day Dear Daughter
Happy Re-Birth Day to you

 My darling Rowan started her gender affirming meds this morning.   This is official start of transforming her outside so that it matches her inside truth.  So today, we celebrate.

Weight this am - 183.0

Treadmill Walk - 60-ish minutes at 2.2 (3 miles)

Will do Pilates later.   I've got 1500 steps left to hit day 4 of 8k.   

Today I need to do my job searches for unemployment (probably my last check) and then tomorrow I'm looking into Appen again.   It's time. 

Day 4 of 8K steps 

Finished the livingroom so other than a few random piles (glasses for tree etc) the downstairs is at a base clean for the main areas.   I need to do the half bath and the Laundry Room but we have other concerns.

Rowan's friend needs a place to live since their parent kicked them out.    We are going to offer them the guest room but that means cleaning the whole upstairs.   We need to get that done within the next 2 weeks.   

It is never dull here.   

Going to go log food on MFP and then take a break for a bit.    I'm not sure I'm getting to Pilates today but that's ok.   I can do every other day. 

Pilates Day

 I'm making a commitment to add at least a 10 minute pilates segment today.   After my walk I will need to review the videos on the server but I definitely want to start adding different ab exercises now that we are in week 2.    The 10 minute ab section of my pilates video should be a perfect next step.   I'll check back once I've accomplished that.

Yesterday evening I had Beef Pho and Jasmine tea for dinner.   Of course I ate very little of that (although I did have a slice of keto bread with peanut butter before bed.   

Weight this am - 183.6  It's slowing down but I expected that.    I also expect another jump somewhere around Monday/Tuesday if the trend stays the same.  

Hit almost 10k steps yesterday.    I'm going for 8K again today so we'll see.    About to jump on the treadmill so I'll catch back up later

Ok.  It's later

Treadmill Walk - 60 minutes at 2.2 for 2.88 miles

Pilates - 10 minutes

Day 3 of 8k steps

Beef with black bean sauce and rice

Salad with egg

Curry with brown rice.

I'm...happy.    Overall I am just content and low-key happy.    I think in addition to quietening my anxiety this is actually working on my depression.    Whatever it is...I'll take it.

 

Off To The Theatre

 Short post today because I am going out with friends to see a play tonight.  Soooo it's a quick update.

Weight this am 183.8 - I feel like I haven't seen the 170's in sooo long.   This gives me hope that I will be there and able to check off my 10lb loss goal by next shot day.   Fingers Crossed

Treadmill Walk - 66 minutes at 2.1 for 3.21 miles

I am less than 700 steps away from hitting Day 2 of 8k steps (I have another mini-goal of 1 week at 8K)

I haven't felt this motivated an energized since I started Keto and got my thyroid meds adjusted back in late 2018/early 2019.    

Had some beef with black bean sauce earlier.    I will probably do a small snack like a superfood bite just to not get too hungry before dinner.   

I have about an hour before I need to get ready so I think I will lie down and set an alarm.   

See ya on the flip side.

Starting the Next Cycle - Week 2 Day 1

 Well...that was a bit of a surprise.    After yesterday's indulgences I expected the scale to show at best an even progression, at worst another shift up.    But this journey is apparently full of surprises.    

Weight this am - 184.4  

That was a welcome surprise.    This means I went from 189 to 184.4 - almost 5lbs down this week.   I expect that some of this is inflammation and water weight but still.   That is the most I have seen the scale move downwards in almost 2 years.   I am cautiously optimistic that I will actually be in the 160's by my anniversary in October.     That would be fantastic.   

Observations on shot 2.   About 15 minutes after my injection the 'cloud of white noise' descended and I could feel my brain quietening.    It's just lovely.   Like silent static.    And the hunger is gone again.   No over-salivating this time either.   

Treadmill Walk - 43 minutes at 2.2 for 2 miles - I went up one in speed today

Another 'side effect' I forgot to mention.   My resting heart rate is down.   It's now sitting at around 60bpm which is a definite drop.   

Had a nice salad today with avocado and chicken.   I'm going to need to make more up because that was my last piece.   Probably tomorrow or late tonight since we are doing leftovers today.  

Got some clean up done on the living room.  It should hopefully be clear for Pilates in the next couple of days.   

Now I'm just settling myself down after a stressful event.    My Dr and I forgot to send refills in for my scripts last Friday, so I had to call the office on Monday.   No script showed up at my CVS so I called back and the office had sent the refill to the wrong (now closed) CVS.   Got them to send to the correct one on Tuesday.   I get a text Tuesday that they got the scripts, they need to order Adythza (thyroid med) but are filling my BP med.   Get a text my BP med is ready.   Then today get a text that Adthyza is not eligible for refill until November (!?!?!)   Called the pharmacy and they can't help, said to call the Ins Company.   Ins Company shows my med refilled AT THAT CVS on the 13th (?!?!?! - again)   and they don't understand why CVS did not call them.   Ins tries to call CVS and gets voicemail but will follow up tomorrow am if it's not resolved.    Then I try to call CVS again and the automated line is now apparently defaulting me to their prescriber line (?!?!?! - one more time)   While I'm fighting with this I get a call from CVS (that went to voicemail because ....phones)   My script is resolved and will be ready by 6pm today.     

JESUS- FUCK that was a friggin moment.    

I am definitely done for the day...LOL!!!

One Day More

 Tomorrow is shot day again so I have almost officially completed my first week.    I noticed the tapering off of a symptom this morning and that made me realize I forgot to log it so here goes.  

For a while now, but especially since peri-menopause and menopause, I am always warm.   We have the AC high at night because otherwise I will wake up overheating.    The night after I took my first dose I was chilly when trying to go to sleep and I woke up cold.    I wound up wrapping myself in a fuzzy blanket on the couch.    

This morning I noticed that I woke up and felt warm.   Not HOT.  Just warm enough that I needed to throw off the covers.    I realized then that it's been a very gradual warming up over the course of the week.   I've been enjoying not feeling like I'm baking from the inside out so I'm hoping the chilly returns after tomorrow.  

Weight this am - 186   up a wee bit again but fluctuations are to be expected.   We'll see what tomorrow morning brings but it's  looking like I can count this as officially 3 lbs this week.    Even though that may just be water weight and inflammation...I'll take it.   

Treadmill Walk - 43 mins at 2.1 for 1.56 miles

Sleep was decent but I woke up early (which is fine).    Made Turkey Curry last night.   I'm about to head to Costco for a quick shop but I'll come back to this later.   

It's later...

I'm noticing that symptoms have tapered of drastically today.   I've felt much more hungry today.  I actually wanted to snack.   So, the day before my dose is when the effects of the first shot tapered off.  Hunger is back and so is feeling warm.     

Had a salad for lunch.  A new snack called "VERI Superfood Bites", I had blueberries in almond milk, Beef in black bean sauce for dinner and an ice cream.    OH and about 6 ounces of red wine cut with a can of Rose flavor seltzer.    

Tomorrow I want to put in a calendar reminder to do weight, body scan, photos and measurements four weeks out from my first dose so I can sync everything up.   

Soooo....tomorrow is dose number two.    I'm not worried if weight is up a bit in the morning because I know today was a hungry day.   We'll see how things go once I take the second pen. 

On to week two

Tracking Inches

 It's Monday!   That means in two days we move on to dose two and see how that goes.   I promised yesterday to give you more of an update today and we'll get there...but first - STATS!   I added measurements this morning (before we get too far in) so let's start with a breakdown.

Weight this am - 185.8 (back up a teeny bit but I DID have a margarita last night)

Treadmill Walk - 43 minutes at 2.1 for 1.76 miles

Waist - 41.5 so down 1/2 an inch

Upper Arm - 14 inches

Hips - 47.5 inches

Right Thigh - 26 inches (ya'll,  my waist used to be this size!)

I'm tempted to go dig up my pre-Arietta-pregnancy measurements just to look back at Me At 30...maybe later.

Last night was lovely and I had a blast.    Unfortunately my sleep was NOT as good last night (kept waking up)  We'll see if that is an effect of the meds or the margarita.   (Don't tell the 'Rita but I'm blaming her 😉)   Either way it was worth it because I got to spend time with some awesome people.  

Now onto the side effect I forgot to note until I was chatting with someone.    Food Noise.   Although in my case it's more Life Noise.    Wegovy is supposed to quiet Food Noise.   That's one of the ways it works to stop people from eating when they aren't actually hungry.  I've never really experienced Food Noise.   I don't have food cravings or overwhelming thoughts of food.   What I do have is way too many voices in my head ... or around it.    Constant inner monologues (yes plural) which can be stressful at times.   One of the first things I noticed after the shot was something I initially classified as static.   Like an almost-buzzing in my ears, but not actually IN my ears.    I was describing it later to a friend as a kind of cloud.  

Since I took the first dose I have almost a cloud of white noise (but SILENT white noise) surrounding my brain.   I don't have extra thoughts going on.    At night I can fall asleep now by actually just closing my book and putting my head on the pillow.   No background music, no ear plugs, no reading until I doze off.   Just putting my head down and closing my eyes!  This is NOT something I've been able to do for a Looooong time.    And I like it.    It's calm.  And it's peaceful.   I haven't had a quiet brain for as long as I can remember.    This is definitely a side effect that I am very happy to keep.

Food-wise today has been salad and I was going to make turkey soup but I think I'm switching to curry instead.    

OH!   and I found a new favorite snack....frozen blueberries in almond milk.   Looove it!

Quick Update

 Super Quick update today because it's late.

Weight this am - 185.4

Treadmill Walk - 45 mins at 2.1 for 1.88 miles

I'll talk more about the side effects I forgot to log when I'm not doing this at bedtime.   Went to see my friends in a show today, which was a lot of fun.   Went out to dinner afterwards and got to hang out with a bunch of people I haven't seen in a while.   

Kept my food intake good and didn't order bigger than I could eat.   Had the Ceviche, a few chips and salsa, topo chico and ONE cucumber margarita.    

Will catch up tomorrow when I have more time and don't have a Two Margarita husband spouting political opinions over my head.     

Wegovy Train is chugging along

 No real side effects today.    Sleep was decent.   I'm noticing that while I don't specifically have "food noise" my brain does have noise.    Usually 5000 thoughts going on all over the place.    What I've noticed since Wednesday is that it almost feels like I have a low static or cloud surrounding my head.   My "thought noise" is dampened, which means my brain feels quieter and calmer.    I'm dealing with life without the extra stress.   

On to today:

Weight this am - 185.8   HOWEVER I logged it as 186 because there was some scale hovering

Treadmill - 43 minutes - I went up in speed from 2.0 to 2.1 for 1.87 miles.   I'm going to increase speed every couple of days until I get back to 3.5 and then I may look at adding some incline.   

Right now I'm staying on treadmill but I want to look at adding Pilates for toning next week.

Had a BLT this morning and looking at making some broccoli/cauliflower cheese soup tonight.   I know that my calories are low but I want to listen to my body and only eat when hungry.   

This weekend my plan is to finish getting the downstairs cleaned so I can workout in the living room.  Today I'm trying to get everything back to zero so tomorrow can focus on the last bit of the living room. It's been a journey but the house was overdue for a deep-clean anyway.    I'm hoping to work on my shelves next week and then I can focus on organizing my library.    

Looking forward to the rest of this crazy train-ride and definitely planning on focusing on the journey.

One Day At A Time

 One more day on the Wegovy train.   Saw my doctor this morning for my lab follow-up.   My thyroid numbers are good.   My cholesterol is good.   My liver numbers are back up but I was definitely drinking more the past few months.    Overall we are pleased.    Set my next appointment in 2 weeks which will be 2 days after my 3rd Wegovy dose.   We should know better then how I'm doing and have time to get the script in for the next batch.    Will probably try to go up to 0.5 but if that is not in stock we have the flexibility to stay on .25 as long as that is available. 

I also got the GABA supplement so that is going onto my nightime meds tonight.  

As an addendum to yesterday:  made Turkey Vegetable soup and had a small bowl with some noodles.   Also had about a half a glass of white wine.   I cut it with the Waterloo Mojito Mocktail Seltzer (no sugar, no alcohol)   It was nice to treat myself since I did do 40 minutes of treadmill yesterday.

On to today:

Weight this am - 187

Treadmill - 42 minutes at 2.0 for 1.43 miles

Slept better last night.   I don't get anything close to nausea unless I don't eat when I'm hungry.    Had a salad with chicken again this morning and made more chicken up for the rest of the week.  Treated with a Keto Salted Caramel Bar after my walk. 

Today was picture day.   I did front/side/back photos.    I'll redo those in a month I think.   Probably sync everything up (scan, waist measurement, photos) to the same day each month for simplicity.  This weekend I may add in other measurements but we'll see. 

On another note, I did find out that they cast based on fight ability/agility.   So essentially my weight/fitness actually did get in the way of my work.  This experience has really made me conscious that I have a pattern of giving more than required and then feeling like that should carry some weight (no pun intended).   I'm learning that people will take whatever you are willing to give, but that in no way means they feel obligated to return more than they originally intended.   

I'm going to put ME first now.    I will add a couple of conflicts to rehearsal schedules to make sure I take time for myself and am not the only person always available.   I will no longer just volunteer my personal belongings to make it easier on the theatre company when doing so is only for their good and not my own.    I will no longer invest more energy in a production than is required for me to simply fulfil my obligation to the role.    

My obligation is to me now.   

"I am the one thing in life I can control

I am inimitable I am an original" ~ Hamilton

And I'm no longer willing to just let people just take

Another Day - Another Tool

Yesterday was a bit of an up and down day for me mood-wise. 

On the up side -  I started back up tracking food on MyFitnessPal.   I found some yummy low carb snacks at Sprouts.   Harvest Snaps is the brand.   Wound up having 2 small bags with some ginger/lime seltzer.    Then I rounded out my day with an apple, a salad with lemon/dijon chicken, and water + Pellegrino in the evening.    

Unfortunately I found out that I did NOT get cast in a play that I was REALLY looking forward to doing.   I actually recommended this play to the theatre company and introduced them to the author which my got them a preview copy to read over.    So it feels a bit dismissive not being asked to work on this production.   There is a part of me that feels like I need to stop just GIVING so much and being so invested when it's obviously not a mutual thing....but that is a whole nother subject and post.

Back to the journey.   This experience made me feel even more like my weight is getting in the way of doing what I love which just makes me more committed to this.

Last night I had a bit of trouble sleeping, which was probably a combo of meds and mental.   I had a bit of heartburn and some nausea so I grabbed 2 tums in the middle of the night.   Woke up with a very mild headache.

OH I should log what meds I use as well.    Right now daytime is NDT thyroid meds, Biotin, Vitamin D and I added B12 back in yesterday.   Night is BP med, melatonin, magnesium and CBD oil.   Need to add GABA back in when I go to the doctor tomorrow. 

Weight this am - 188

I added me360 app and did a full body scan this morning.   Measurement was within 1/2 an inch of what I measured for waist yesterday.   

Going to have salad later and make a turkey vegetable soup for dinner.    

Planning on a 30-40 minute treadmill session since I feel pretty good and I'll get back to detail cleaning the downstairs since I'm very close to finishing. 

I will probably keep this daily for a bit but I expect to shift to once or twice a week as things progress.

Treadmill - 43 minutes at 2.0 for 1.42 miles

A Different Road - Week 1 Day 1

 Even with all of my health issues...I never thought it would come to this.    Sure, my Hashimotos made gaining weight way too easy... and I had to struggle with medications and finding the right doctor and dose and diet.    But when all of that was aligned and I disciplined myself to stick to a regime...my body behaved.     

Covid changed all that.    Ever since I got it (even though I was vaccinated and it was "relatively" mild) my tried and true methods no longer work.   

My medication and lab levels are great....I gain weight

My diet is perfect...I gain weight 

I exercice...I gain weight 

Well, today, with the help of Wegovy, I hope to change all of that.    

I'm coming back to blogging and I'm going to chronicle this new chapter.    Let's see if Diet, Dosage, and Discipline will work again with Wegovy.

Starting Dose - 0.25mg

Starting Weight - 189lbs

Waist - 42 inches

Micro goal - 175lbs 

Ultimate goal - 120lbs

Diet is  low carb, low to no processed food, no added sugar.    Mainly vegetables and protein with some fruit.    Minimal dairy.

Exercice is treadmill and pilates for now with others added as viable.

First dose was at 9am today.   Injection in lower stomach.   It's super easy to administer.  I had a slice of low carb bread with the injection to settle my stomach and since then have had a small salad and seltzer.    

I'm salivating a bit more than normal so I'm just maintaining fluids.   There is a very very light ache at injection site.   I'm keeping today low key while I see how my body reacts.

Here's to first steps on a journey back to health

What is GISH

GISH is celebrating weirdness. GISH is celebrating you. GISH is everything you hoped for and always something new.
GISH is beauty in uniqueness. GISH will evermore be true. GISH is spices, trash and glitter, and way too much hot glue.

GISH is Art and Math and Science. Dance and Poetry and Food. All these things rolled up together in one fantabulistic ooze
You can make things out of feathers, you can puzzle, you can ZOOM. Your best is ALWAYS good enough no matter what you choose.

GISH promotes sustainability. It's zero waste my friend. Reduce, Reuse. Recycle so our planet doesn't end
We eat without utensils. That's what GISH recommends. It's all there in the commandments, upon which the game depends.

Can you paint upon your body. Can you carve a piece of soap. Do you build things out of Legos. Do you build things out of Rope.
It's Picasso from potatos; making a Rube-Goldberg slope. But no matter what it is you do...Gish is always HOPE

GISH provokes creative spirit. GISH inspires everyone. GISH demands social justice and doesn't quit until it's done.
GISH is unexpected kindness. GISH is accidental love. GISH is unreasonable pain and suffering in the pursuit of fun.

GISH is known the whole world over. GISH is a world we all create. When you join the GISH community there is no room for hate.
GISH is Jello (so much jello) used in ways you don't expect. GISH is saying “DAMMIT MISHA” as you stay up way too late.

So even though the pun-GISH-ment won't always fit the crime. This phrase we all will mutter “it seemed like a good idea at the time”

The Road So Far...

     I'm about a month behind where I wanted to be when this whole bizarre dystopian insanity began.   Since the best thing to do for the future is to journal when this sort of craziness happens, let me backtrack and see if I can catch up to the present. 

The first confirmed death in China 1/11/2020

First confirmed case in the US 1/21/2020

1/30/2020 WHO declared a Global Health Emergency

1/31/2020 US restricts travel into the US from China for Foreign Nationals (excludes permanent residents or family members of citizens.

2/5/2020 Princess Cruise ship on lockdown after confirmed cases

2/7/2020 Chinese doctor who tried to raise the alarm dies

2/11/2020 Virus officially named Covid 19 (a mix of Coronavirus and year started)

2/14/2020 First European death in France

2/19/2020 People leave the Princess Cruise ship after lockdown lifted

2/23/2020 Italy sees a surge in cases and locks down certain cities

2/24/2020 45 asks congress for funds for Coronavirus response team

2/29/2020 First death in the US.   Travel restrictions implemented

3/3/2020 CDC lifts federal restrictions on Covid testing

3/11/2020 WHO declares Covid 19 a pandemic

Why I Love My NewsFeed

Sometimes in life it's the little things that really make your day.  
And some days those little things are the random links, articles, memes, etc that randomly show up in my newsfeed as I scroll through the things my friends have posted on Facebook.

I have come to the realization that I have some pretty AWESOME friends....and also that I need to chronicle these gems (actually my husband said....you could make a whole blog about this)  

So here we go.   The latest installments of:  

THE SHIT THAT SHOWS UP IN MY NEWSFEED
(aka: why I love my friends)


  A Butt Lamp that you Spank

An article about Clitoral Atrophy

A school painting project gone Horribly Wrong

"Squatty Potty"

Peek-a-Boo Kitty

And Finally The Dildo Selfie

I Love My Friends!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Not exactly a foreign concept, I know.  

Most people expect to be treated with a certain amount of respect in their dealings in life...both professional and personal; and most people and businesses will back that up.   That is especially true the more professional the business is.  

For example:   If I go out to eat at a nice restaurant I am expected to dress a certain way, and behave in an appropriate manner or I can expect to be asked to leave.    Conversely, I expect a certain level of service and respect for my time and for my patronage.    If I have a reservation then I have the right to expect to be seating at that time...and if there is a reason they cannot accommodate the reservation then I expect an acknowledgement that they are running behind when I show up.  

So why is it that medical professionals increasingly seem to feel that they are immune from treating their patients with the basic level of respect that the cost of the service we are paying for would seem to indicate?  

If I show up for a 10 am appointment I expect to be in an examining room within 10-15 minutes of my SCHEDULED appointment time.    If the doctor is running behind I EXPECT to be informed of that when I check in.   That way I can properly manage my time.   To neglect to inform a patient of a known delay (either at check-in or preferably via phone call before check-in) is simply disrespectful and completely inappropriate.   And I am left wondering why we as patients just quietly accept this sort of rudeness.  

Now, to clarify....I've worked in medical offices for a large portion of my life; my mother is an RN who managed an office for a high end medical specialist.  I completely understand that emergencies happen...that appointments run over...that sometimes you need to double book things.    HOWEVER, that does not excuse leaving patients to sit in a waiting room for over an hour after their scheduled appointment time with NO communication whatsoever that the Dr is running behind and how long one can expect to wait.    Telling me that 'he just fell behind' or 'we didn't realize' is just a form of gross incompetence and, frankly, a very poor way to run a business.

We need to collectively remember that Doctors are NOT gods.   While we do have to expect a level of flexibility in timing, we should not be expected to use OUR time to compensate for their choice to inappropriately time their schedule.   It's an office not an Emergency Room...and things get missed when patients are hurried in and out like a fast food drive through.