Back on Track

When we were living in California I woke up one day and decided it was time to finally get myself into shape. I joined Weight Watchers and started exercising more often. I've always loved to take long walks, but I started walking with more frequency. We received a jogging stroller as a gift when I was pregnant with Rachel from P.K.'s dad. When I was pregnant with Aaron we bought a double stroller. Pushing the double stroller with 30-40 pounds of kid was a work out in itself. My sister-in-law got married the fall after I started Weight Watchers and I was a bridesmaid so that was extra motivation. At some point several friends and I started going to the gym on base at 4:30 in the MORNING! By the time my sister-in-law got married I was about 5 pounds from my goal weight.

Later that year the weight started to creep back on and I was not attending Weight Watchers meetings, but would occasionally stay on program. My neighbor was going back to Weight Watchers and I decided to join her. About 2 weeks back into the program I found out I was pregnant with Hannah.

Just the excuse I was looking for to let loose. I never got back to the "before Hannah" weight. I did buy a triple stroller and walked three miles most days. I even worked up to running three miles (without the stroller). When we left California the exercise routine took a backseat. I did eventually rope my new neighbor and later another good friend into going to the gym with me oh so early in the morning. Those workout sessions helped me maintain, but I was never disciplined enough to lose the weight again.

When we moved to Valpo, I continue to gradually add the weight back on and that trend just continued with our latest move. A couple months ago, I started walking the track more regularly. I had an appointment with my doctor coming up and the last thing I wanted to hear was that I needed to lose weight. As if I didn't know that already. In case you are a skinny person who feels the need to tell a not so skinny person how to lose weight, and you have never faced the struggle of loosing more than five pounds you should know you are risking being sat upon!

The first appointment with my doctor went well. We were checking out some non weight concerns I was experiencing and all seem to have checked out fine. But when I went back for a follow up and to review tests from the original appointment he threw a physical on me. My blood sugar was a bit high. I told him I had just started following Weight Watchers again and walking more. Those were good, but I had to come back in two weeks for a three hour glucose test. Yeah, me!

I went in yesterday. I had lost 7 pounds since my previous visit which brings me to 10 pounds total. The results of the test wasn't bad, but it could have been better. The doctor said he is not worried, but he is concerned. The test is a fasting test, nothing after midnight the night before. The first time they checked my number was perfectly where it needed to be. Then I got to drink that sugary orange stuff and read magazines in the waiting room for an hour. The goal was that my level would be lower than 150. It was about 147. Good. Then I got to go back to the waiting room and read magazines for another hour. This time my level should have been below 100. It was at 130 something. It went down which was good, but the doctor really wanted to see it a bit lower. He said it doesn't mean I am prediabetic, but that I should take it as a wake up call.

I have been at the track almost every day. This morning I was able to RUN 2 miles! I know some of wish you only had to run 2 miles and some of my readers have been knocking out half marathons, but it was huge for me. I should be able to work it back up to running 3 miles before too much longer.

It feels good to be back on track. Now I'm wishing I hadn't given all those "skinny" clothes to the Goodwill before this last move.