Watch Out World! I'm BACK!

I am back... no, not little quiet "i'm back"... I am B A C K!!! With a vengeance... with a goal... with determination... with COMMITMENT!

I have been oh-so-sick for the last four weeks so the month of January really "went to hell in a handbasket" (have no idea what that saying means but my Dad used to say it and it makes me grin to reference it here!) as far as being on my Weight Watchers plan or getting any exercise.  I didn't get to the YMCA once... I didn't figure out my new WiiFit Plus at all!
Seems I had this bacterial infection called "cellulitis" which meant that my foot and toe hurt so badly I couldn't put any weight on it or even lay a bed sheet across my toe without really horrid pain. Pretty serious stuff. Long story short - my doctor thought, at first, it was gout... treated me for gout (old man's disease, hello?!?) and it wasn't getting better so he sent me to a specialist. Between the time my doctor saw me and the specialist saw me my whole foot and up to my knee was enflamed swollen and full of yucky stuff (HLG medical term! *grin*). Off to the Emergency Room... more antibiotics by IV in three days than most people could survive, then onto oral doses of antibiotics and then I come down with thee worst sinus infection known to man.  (Well, known to Jan, in my particular case!)  Could not breathe thru my nose... so clogged up that I could only hear in one of my ears... so onto steroids/prednisone for this.  Ahhhh the joys of everything hitting at once!  FINALLY... now a month later, I'm still on the antibiotics and the prednisone but I can step 95% onto my foot and wear regular shoes and heels again. Okay, the heels are painful but then they always kind of are! 

I had been feeling 'down in the dumps'.  That's not like me!  I'm usually a really upbeat, optimistic person but this got me grumpy.  I was exhausted. 

And then - suddenly - over the weekend... I was much better.  I cleaned house.  I did laundry.  I cooked and went to the grocery store... I went out to eat with my son.  All of the sudden... I was BACK!  Big letters - bold type - B A C K!  And I was "me" again! :)

So last night I decided to rededicate myself to this journey I'm on as I've lost a full month. I'd done amazingly well over the holidays but this past month was just gone forever.  Now I am going to make up for it.

On March 19th, 2009 I started - commited to - this weight loss journey I am on.  I took measurements, I prayed about it, I made a commitment to myself to not back down and - once and for all - get to my healthy weight, get fit and start living life with no regrets!  I've lost over 60 lbs. to date.  And with March 19th only FIVE and A HALF WEEKS AWAY... I am on a NO EXCUSES for 5 1/2 weeks mission!  I am writing down every bite, lick, sip and taste of food that passes my lips!  I am drinking water.  I am exercising AT LEAST four times every week these next five weeks even if for only 30 minutes of exercise a day.  And NO darn excuses.  Yes, I'll probably have some asthma issues... yes, it will probably be "ToM" in there a few times... yes, it may be inconvenient or I may oversleep or I may want to go out or I may .... fill in the blank... but I HAVE COMMITED TO THIS... so
I'm going to be using #hlgWoW on Twitter to report my progress.  I would LOVE for you guys to join me these next weeks and report how you're doing with:

1. Decide on a food plan that is right for you and stick to it completely. I like Weight Watchers 'cause it is flexible enough for my non-concrete schedule. Journal if you can... it always helps me to write everything down.

2. Exercise.  Up to you how many times a day or a week.  But move.  It is the middle of the winter here and we need to move our booties when the temps outside tempt us not to.  I'm commiting to 4x of exercise a week.  I'll be doing WiiFit and Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds dvds at home and - this is not a commitment but a 'hope' - I hope to get out to the YMCA and use the membership I pay good money for.

3. Be positive!  This is key.  Know in your mind you can do this... know that 5 1/2 weeks will go by in the blink of an eye and you'll be so darn proud of yourself on March 19th you will KNOW you can do it all over again if you want to.

4. No excuses!  This is key, too!  I am the very best of excuse givers, or I used to be. A year ago I sure was a great excuse giver.  But guess who I was letting down?  Myself. I refuse to let myself down any longer.  No excuses!

Between today and March 19th I am invincible... I am commited... I am dedicated!  And my friends, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to come along on this short little 5 1/2 week journey with me. 

I know we can rock this... Watch out World!!!

20 comments:

Diz February 9, 2010 at 6:27 PM  

Yayyyy!!! HLG is back and at it!!! WOW! I love it. :) Feels so good to be back in the saddle, doesn't it?!? I will be here, cheering you on and doing my own rampage as well. WE CAN DO THIS, YES WE CAN!!!!

Anonymous February 9, 2010 at 6:44 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous February 9, 2010 at 7:39 PM  

OK, let me redo this--my comment turned into a journal entry!

So glad you're feeling better!! I'm thinking your MD should have run a blood test before treating!
Glad you got the right diagnosis before anything bad happened.

Challenge. What is twitter WOW and how does one report?

I decided yesterday on a new food plan and plan on doing all of your targets. I had even set Spring (March 21) as a 'lose by" date. :) Sooo, I'll be working along with you on this. If you can explain to me how the WOW thing works, I'll post there, too.

Otherwise, it'll be on our blogs. :D go us! Shootin for a Spring Fling Victory Dance!!!

Deb

Anonymous February 9, 2010 at 7:54 PM  

Correction!! Spring is on March 20th--not 21st. Sorry. :) Deb

Alice Jones Webb February 9, 2010 at 8:00 PM  

Count me in! My January was really hit or miss with regards to nutrition and exercise due to my crazy work schedule, being snowed in, sick kids, *insert any other excuse here*. But I'm back on track and ready to roll.

BTW, I'm glad you are better and that it wasn't anything more serious than it was (although it sounds like it was pretty serious to me). :o)

JESSICA February 10, 2010 at 9:38 AM  

Glad your back and that your feeling better! Good luck on your mission. I'm on one too! My 30th bday is on March 12th and I'm hoping to lose at least 10lbs by then.

Claire February 10, 2010 at 10:32 AM  

You can do it! I started in March 2008 with about the same to lose. I'm down 81 pounds - the Weight Watchers lifestyle change, thankyouverymuch - and aiming for 90. The last 10 pounds are KILLING me! Plus, I get the health challenges. I have fibromyalgia and back issues, so it gets hard at times to exercise.
Way to go! I subscribed to your blog so I can follow your progress! How's that for motivation?? :)

www.GulfCoastArea.com February 10, 2010 at 10:36 AM  

Thanks for the inspiration. Your blog story ROCKS and ... I'm in!
--Natalie

Len February 10, 2010 at 11:03 AM  

Congratulations on your re-dedication. Also, thanks for your inspiration. I did really well from January 1, until about a week and a half ago. I kinda fell off the wagon. Your post has helped. I'm gonna do it. I've got a 5k that I plan to run on March 17. I've never run a 5k before, but I know I can do it. Thanks again, and keep in touch.

HealthyLoserGal February 10, 2010 at 11:47 AM  

I am SO PSYCHED that all of you are into the rededication thru March 19th!! And I know that we'll all be doing so incredibly well that we'll keep going! :) But thank you for joining in!

I have changed the hashtag on Twitter to #hlgWOW 'cause "WOW" was taking by World of Warcraft or something like that and I don't think we're in the same league with them! lol

Deb, you only need to report how you're doing if you want to - either here or on twitter... just send me a note to @healthylosergal and I'll retweet to #hlgWOW friends if you'd like me to. But this is a 5+ week challenge for us all to rededicate to the goals we've set. There is no set in stone goal for all of us... it is totally up to you!! (And Deb, thanks for the info on cellulitis and advice on my Doc!)

HealthyLoserGal February 10, 2010 at 11:50 AM  

Alice & Jessica - so cool that you two are into the next 5 weeks... I know we can do this together and I'm sooooo happy you guys are "in"! :) Thank you!!

Claire - what an inspiration you are!! Eighty one pounds GONE!!! I am so glad you told us that - I'm really so glad to meet you here! It ain't easy but we CAN do it - we ARE doing it!! Yeah!!!

HealthyLoserGal February 10, 2010 at 11:52 AM  

Natalie, so glad we're friends on twitter and here! And so happy you're doing the rededication challenge these next 5 weeks together! :)

Len, thanks so much for your comments. I have been planning to run my 1st 5k in April (April 19th actually) and have never run one either... I'm a little concerned (okay, a lot concerned) about doing it but I think this challenge with everyone will help! I walked my first 5k in October and was so darn proud of myself! Here's to you achieving your goal in March! PS: I love that you like Wallace Wattles! :)

debra February 10, 2010 at 1:05 PM  

Jan, I a thrilled to be here with you!

debra February 10, 2010 at 7:51 PM  

Not sure that I am doing this right. Kinda testing the site now. You know me and how technically challenged I am!

HealthyLoserGal February 10, 2010 at 8:05 PM  

You are doing it JUST right, my friend!! Big hugs for coming to check out my blog, Debra! *smooch*

debra February 11, 2010 at 1:00 PM  

Hi Jan. Jen has been sick so we had to postpone dinner last night. Just as well since WI is tonight. Will post after I know. Good luck to you as well at your WI. I am getting to goal if it KILLS me by summer! I have so many cute clothes!

Kat February 11, 2010 at 4:43 PM  

I am so glad you are feeling better. I was worried about you and very glad to hear that you are back. I am with you. I am going to be pushing very hard too. We are going to Hawaii in April and I want to get more lbs off. I am at 67 total lost as of today and I want to be as close to 100 as possible. We can do this! Would you be willing to share your vision board on my blog next Wed? I think it is fab!

HealthyLoserGal February 11, 2010 at 4:50 PM  

Kat!!! 67 pounds!! You so rock, my friend! I'm so glad to know you - we're kindred spirits in so many ways! :) And - of course you can use my vision board... let me know if you want a jpg of the real one (similar to the one on twitter for background). I know you will see April healthier... you'll set your mind to it and attain it! :)

2boysmom February 16, 2010 at 1:31 PM  

Hi found you on twitter and I love the idea. I'm coming back to my own weight loss story so this comes at a great time. I'm excited to do this. Thanks for the inspiration!

Anonymous February 22, 2010 at 4:48 PM  

WOW!!!! I knew that you were amazing but OOOHHHMMMMGGGEEE!!!! I'm so happy that you doing OK!!! That's a very scary situation to go through!!!! I LOVE THE VIBE U HAVE!!!! You INSPIRE me!!!!!!
Love ya lots!!!!
Dr. Mo