Finding My Means – Week 2 comin’ at you on this first day of SPRING! It’s not sunny outside but it’s not raining which is a HUGE win. This week had lots of highs but definitely a few lows too. Being able to look back and see what I ate, in particular, has been a reality check in terms of coming face to face with how I might be blocking my own progress. I did a lot of “justification eating” this week, specifically on the weekend, because it was my birthday on Saturday and there was a lot of food involved in that celebration. That probably would have been ok, except for the fact that I’m still not able to do much weight-bearing activity, even walking, and didn’t make it to a pool last week. So yeah…more food and less activity equaled a predictable result, as you’ll see later on in the post. I’ll always keep it real here, and the reality is that I am still figuring out how to find a balance on food/activity. But overall I think that being mindful of what is going on in those areas has been a good thing no matter what the results from the week.
Here’s this week’s video that I pulled from my Instagram Story, where I’ve been tracking my food and activity (or lack thereof).
High/Low
High
This weekend was my birthday, and my family spoiled me to no end, especially Michael. In the video above you can see the dinner we went to at Farm Spirit in Portland, which was basically like heaven on a plate for me. Several plates, actually. If you’re into trying all kinds of ways to make the most of local and seasonal produce, or want to see what’s possible in that arena, put Farm Spirit on your “must do” list next time you’re here in the beautiful PNW. It was one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time, mostly due to my date. 😉 I love you, Michael. Thank you for such a thoughtful gift. I made my own birthday cake and it was GOOD. EWYM has a birthday coming up and I think the cake recipe will make an appearance. 🙂 Another high was getting to go to opening weekend of our Farmer’s Market with the kids, and it was sunny even! Happiness.
Low
Foot pain. Period. Always in my way, always reminding me, hey, you can’t even walk, what are you doing eating that taco/slice of cake/piece of toast? Good news is, I made it to the podiatrist and confirmed that it is indeed plantar fasciitis, which I wanted to be sure about before treating it. I also have a small amount of arthritis in my ankle, which made me feel super old, but it’s all good. Basically, I need to take a big old break from any weight-bearing exercise for a while, so while I said this last week, this week I will for sure be swimming. I’m feeling equal parts dread/excitement about this, because I love how being in the pool feels, but I hate the actual being in the bathing suit in front of other people part. I’m trying to think about how I’ll feel about it this time next year, which helps me reframe my thoughts to something more positive in the meantime.
The Results!
I’m doing my weekly weigh-ins on Monday morning on my Instagram Story, if you want to see the results before I post them here. Today’s weigh-in was super late because I had to go to my podiatry appointment first thing in the morning.
Results Breakdown
Starting Weight: 230.8 lbs.
Goal Weight: 140 lbs.
Previous Weight: 228.0 lbs.
Current Weight: 229.0 lbs.
Weight Change this week: +1 lb.
Total pounds lost: -1.8 lbs.
So, in summary, this week I proved that I cannot eat whatever I want, not workout, and still lose weight. I really didn’t want a gain this early, friends, if at all. But I’m not losing heart. I’m 38 now, I’m too grown up for that. 😉
And now to dive in to Week 3! Get it? Get it?
(crickets)
Beth, my significant other (because “boyfriend” sounds so high school) suffered immensely from plantar fasciitis due to concrete floors at work. He went to “The Good Feet” store (surely you have those in the PNW) where they fitted him for insoles for his shoes. Actually, three sets – one for “foot practice”, and two others that I’m not sure how those are differentiated. But, the happy ending to this story is he had IMMEDIATE RELIEF! And now is religious about stretching and wearing them. To go from nearly crippled, to literally, able to dance a jig (if one wanted to, I, for one, do not) was truly amazing. The insoles are made to fit each regarding size and needs and are somewhat pricey – maybe $1000? But due to the relief he found versus surgery or continuing to suffer, I think it was money well spent. Hopefully, there is a store in your area. When I read this, I felt I’d be remiss not to share his story. Hope you find relief.