Category Archives: Uncategorized

TRX Workout. Why?

As I sit writing this, I find my body is sore, but a good sore.  I had a session with my trainer at the gym today and we did more work on the TRX system.  For those of you who don’t know what the TRX system is, it’s a system of straps that are hanging from a frame that you use for your workout using your own bodyweight as the resistance.  I will be honest.  I used to walk by this system at the gym and I would be like “Nope, no way, not me!”.  First off, a being a curvy lady I look at these webbing straps and go, “Like that can really hold my weight”.  Then it’s on a freestanding frame.  “It’s gonna fall over on me!” Well the trainer I’m working with has had me doing exercises on it and I’ll be the first to say I was wrong.  I love the TRX!  It gives me a great workout.  I can do deeper squats than if I were just standing on the floor, and they don’t hurt my knees.  I have more stability doing lunges.  The only exercise I’m having trouble with is bicep curls but that is just going to take time to develop those muscles.

I will say some of the exercises I’ve seen people doing on the TRX still intimidate me.  Putting my feet into the handles and doing push ups and other exercises will take a while till I do that, and I’d need to make sure someone is nearby to help as I can see myself getting stuck.

If you haven’t tried it yet, have a trainer, or someone who is experienced with the system, show you how to do some basic exercises on it and see what it is like.  Maybe like me you’ll find you have an exercise you love at the gym.

Results

Well I got the results of my tests and I’m still trying to figure it out but here are the basics.  The doctor said that the tests show I’m deficient in vitamin B12. They also show that, yes, I have a leaky gut. The tests showed that there is too much of the bad bacteria in my system thanks to the leaky gut.  Also, my body doesn’t process any of the fats I eat, good or bad so that doesn’t help either.  So what is the next step.  I’m taking some supplements to see if we can start getting things working right.  I’m using a B12 cream in the morning.  I take a supplement called Ortho Digestzyme to help with digestion.  I’m taking Glutamine to help heal the leaky gut.  Then I’m doing drops of Biocidin to help with getting rid of the bad bacteria.  I’ve also gone off the prescription pill for the acid reflux.  That has been tough but I hate taking more pills.  I’m tracking my foods and seeing what causes flare-ups and taking DGL lozenges when I need.  I guess when you go off that type of medicine that has been inhibiting the acid once its out of your system the body goes into overdrive creating the acid.

What’s next?  I will be reading through al of the information I got with my test results.  Just been a bit busy to really sit and read through it all.  Also I’m going on vacation for a couple of weeks and I’m working on a plan to keep eating paleo as best as I can.  Looking for foods that I can easily prepare while there, luckily we will be with family, and making sure I have some convenient snacks so I won’t be tempted by the fast food/junk food.  I will share what I decide to take let you know how it works.

 

 

What’s going on?

It has been a while since I’ve posted and I think I should tell what has been going on.  Since the beginning of the year I’ve been having issues with breathing and my throat swelling and my chest bugging me.  I’ve also had some dizziness and just feeling crappy to put it simply.  I’ve always thought my thyroid was the issue as when you look at the symptoms I have many.  In fact, I felt I had Hashimoto’s because of how my body swings between the symptoms of hypo- and hyperthyroidism.  Well they did all the antibody testing and an ultrasound of my thyroid and it came back normal.  This was after all the antibiotics and prednisone I took in January because I had a sinus/chest infection.  To explore my thyroid further I went to and ENT.  After what I would call a weird visit he said my thyroid wasn’t the issue it was acid reflux and allergies.  He gave me a pill and that was it.  I went back to my primary care physician and asked how to find out the cause of all of this.  I felt there must be a food sensitivity as my throat would really swell after eating certain food but that I couldn’t narrow it down completely.  Her reply is that is not what she does.  That is more holistic medicine.  So on to find someone who can help me.  In May I met with a nutritionist/functional medicine provider.  What a difference.  She understood that I wanted to figure out the cause of why I felt so bad.  She listened when I said please don’t throw a bunch of pills at me. I’m a terrible pill popper.  She decided we would run some tests to see what was going on as well as make some changes to my diet and we would go from there.  From some of the history I told her, like when I take medications that should help me regardless of shat they are I always gain a bunch of weight even though most people on those meds would be losing.  She felt maybe leaky gut was a problem.  I can go through depression and anxiety.  I am active, I don’t have cholesterol or blood pressure issues.  I’m not pre-diabetic.  As a larger person I don’t have many of the health issues one usually associates with a heavy person, but at the beginning of the year something started to change.  Well on Thursday I will find out the results of all the tests.  On June 7th I started a paleo diet at her recommendation.  I will say I love how I feel.  I’m pretty sure I have lost weight but will wait until tomorrow or Thursday to weigh myself.  So far so good.  Making changes for the better.  I can do this and I will beat this whatever it is!

Taekwondo Districts Competition

districts 2016

Today my son and I competed in the Taekwondo Districts for our region.  It was great that they were held in Denver and we didn’t have to travel far for them.  It was a nice small tournament since only those who qualified could compete.  I trained as well as I could and only had to compete in two disciplines, weapons and combat weapons sparring.  My ring was small as there aren’t many 40-49 year old women doing taekwondo in our area that also compete.  After a good competition I ended up with Silver in both events.  I was really happy with how well I did.  I was also proud of my son who ended up District Champion for 15-17 year old boys in Creative Weapons and Weapons and got a silver in Forms.  It was a great day for both of us!

 

Thoughts

IMG_1921In January I completed my first 10K.  It was a great accomplishment.  At the finish of the race I was almost in tears.  More from the sense of accomplishment than anything else.  I was also saturated and tired but it felt sooo good.

Next month I will be doing another 10K at Disney.  I will be honest and say it will probably be my last 10K.  I think 5K is the distance I prefer.  I can complete that in about 48 minutes or less.  I almost don’t have to think about it.

Once I finish this 10K I going to focus on my health a bit more.  That may sound funny but I’ve been dealing with issues, I will go into more detail in a future post, and I’m trying to find the source so I can get back to feeling happy and healthy.

Autism Speaks

Well I am now registered for two 10K’s next year.  I’m starting to get my body moving and trying to be more aware of what I’m putting into my body so I can be ready to do well and enjoy the races.

The first 10K is in January at the Disney World Marathon Weekend.  As part of being on the team for Autism Speaks I need to raise some money for this wonderful organization.  I’m sure many of you know someone who is affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Although no one in my immediate family is affected I was surprised when I sat down with my son to talk about doing the race and what charity to support how many people we knew that were affected by ASD.  That is what made me choose to support this organization.

If you could possibly help me support this wonderful organization I would really appreciate it.  Please go to my fundraising site at Michelle’s Donation Site for Team Up with Autism Speaks

Thanks!

Disney 10K – Yippee!!!

Well last night was exciting and a bit overwhelming.  I registered for the Disney Star Wars Dark Side 10K in April planning this would be my first 10K.  After doing the registration I went to my e-mail to make sure I got the confirmation and there was an e-mail from Autism Speaks saying a spot had opened up through them for the 10K in January at Marathon Weekend. Oh boy now I can do that 10K with my husband but do I have time to train.  Well I accepted the offer of the spot and will now be doing both 10Ks.  I’m feeling a bit nervous as well as excited.  A 5K has never phased me but a 10K is just a bit more than I think of doing quickly and easily, granted one day I do want to do a half marathon, one day!  Please realize I walk these events.  I am not a runner.  I’m trying to do it that I run some of the distance but I will be walking the majority of it.

Well time to make a plan of action to get ready for my first 10K in January.  I will do my best to post how I am doing training and what I am doing.

Taekwondo Tournament

Over the weekend, on Saturday, I competed in the first tournament of the 2015-2016 tournament year.  ATA tournament years are not a calendar year but go from mid-year to mid-year.  From the moment I woke up I had butterflies in my stomach.  I tried to explain to my son that this is hard for me to do.  As a curvy person doing anything physical in front of  a crowd is very nerve-wracking.  If you asked me to speak in front of hundreds of people I’d have no problem.  But doing Taekwondo in front of a small group is so much harder for me.  It all worked out.  I had a great group of ladies in my ring.  Because it was a small tournament we had color and black belts together.  They grouped us by age.  As you get older you are a bit slower so going against a 19 or 20-year-old is harder.  We had a lot of fun.  Giggles and all.  I ended up with a second place in weapons and second place in sparring.   It took half the ride home for the butterflies to finally go away.  I know they will always be there but as I do more tournaments maybe there will be fewer.

The Beginning

This is my first post to this so I will keep it simple.  I am looking forward to sharing experiences with anyone who reads this of the ups and downs of being a curvy lady in a society that frowns upon being curvy.  I have been curvy all my life and have finally come to the realization that I must be healthy first, which means being active and trying to be healthy.  Every time I lose weight all the pounds I lose seem to find me again and they bring along some friends. 🙂 Today I am at my heaviest weight.  I want to lose weight don’t get me wrong, but what I’ve finally realized is that I have to change my lifestyle and then maybe my body will change with me.   I am very lucky I don’t have any of the health issues that go along with being morbidly obese.  However, over the years I know the physical damage being done to my body because of the excess weight.  My knees definitely feel it.  I know that being a size 8, 10, 12 is not for me.  I’d be happy with a 16 or 18.  I just want to be healthy and I know there will be curves on my body and I’m ok with that.