Have been MIA for a bit. . . .

. . . .but I am back with luggage, 14 lbs to be exact .    I just updated my tickers and profile and you read that right, 14 lbs!  I am up to 187 from 173 thanks to this godawful bloating and having had my period consecutively for the last 2 months . . . sorry if that is TMI!  

I am going off of the Depo injections because of this and starting the patch this week, which would normally be time for my next injection and am praying the bleeding,cramping and bloating finally goes away!!!!!

I am taking extra iron because of all of the bleeding and have been working out with a personal trainer and doing cardio 3-4x a week  for over a month now, so seeing a 14 lb gain almost had me in tears.  Though, it wasn't a surprise that I gained because I am so bloated that I am up a whole pant size, it seriously looks like I swallowed a basketball, and my legs and ankles are swollen and my toes look like sausages!!!  I look like I am 6 months pregnant.  It is terrible.  I hate it, and I am sooooooooooo miserable.  I know it is temporary but I still feel gross and yucky and discouraged.  

I'm still tracking my calories and I know in my mind that this is all water weight because I haven't eaten enough calories to have gained 14 lbs of actual weight but it still just makes you feel icky and blahhhhh for lack of a better explanation.  Man I hope switching over to the patch gets things straightened out because I don't know how much longer I can do this I am so frustrated and just feel miserable.  It would be nice to actually SEE some results from these workouts because this trainer is kicking my ass!!!!!  

He says I am doing good.  In 4 weeks, I've improved my speed and form.  When we first started, it took me an hour and a half to do the circuit of all of the machines he wanted me to do, doing 3 sets of 10 reps on each machine, now I do the same circuit with a few more machines added in, in 45 minutes, doing 3 sets of 12 reps and he is about to add in more machines and bump me to 15 reps (oh joy lol).  After I am done with him I do 30-60 minutes of cardio.  

This from the most anti-exercise person on the planet lol.  I am now in the gym a minimum of 4x a week and dragging my kids and friends with me to exercise, and I am the one who GAINS 14 lbs. . I know I am focusing too much on that damn scale, which is why I have been avoiding it like the plague but I had a GI appointment and they made me get on it which is what got me all in a tizzy. . .I go back to my surgeon in June for my 1-year visit and right now I am at the same weight I was at my 6-month appointment.  No way I am going back weighing the same as I did then!!!!!

This GYN crap needs to get fixed ASAP, I wish I could just have them yank it out, I'm not using it anymore, I'm not having anymore kids so I don't need it anymore, it's just taking up space and making me  gain weight lol.  Wouldn't it be nice if it were that simple?  Hey doc, I'm done with this organ, can you get rid of it for me, please and thanks 

I think I had  posted about my last visit with the Dietitian where she said I wasn't losing anymore because I had put myself in maintenance so I needed to drop my calories down to 1000-1100 and up my cardio to 3-4x a week (was only doing 2x), which I have done.  Dropped calories from 1200 to the 1000-1100 range, added weight training and doing cardio now 3-4x a week so have been definitely expecting to see some changes!!!!! 

Will definitely try and do better with checking in and updates here.  I have just been really crazy with both jobs and the kids here lately.  Hadn't even updated my blog on here since February.  I can't believe that much time has gone by. . .wow!  I also can't believe the end of the May will be my 1-year Surgiversary, this past year has flown by, and the kids have appointments coming up like crazy, my daughter has physical therapy 2x a week and the first week of June my son goes into the children's hospital for a 5-day inpatient stay for a video EEG to see if his epilepsy is in remission now that he is in puberty (fingers crossed that it is). . .he is off of all of his meds right now so THAT is a daily challenge!!!!!  They both have weight management appointments routinely and counseling appointments go along with that.  She has broken just by normal use her last two pairs of leg braces so we have been in and out of the Orthotics place and neither one of them wants to do their school work (both are homeschooled). . .. aaarrrggghhhhh. . . . . .14 & 15 yr olds are not for the faint of heart lol. . . so yeah, my plate has been a bit full here lately 

Hope everyone has been doing well  and out enjoying the Spring weather. . .am looking forward to getting to spend some time outside.  

I am also getting ready to start training for a 5K in the Fall with the Couch to 5K program but I think I may wait until after my son's test is done so I don't miss that training time since I have to be there with him around the clock, but I can start working on it now so I'm ready to jump into it after his testing is done.  I'm actually looking forward to it.  I used to run track way back when in grade school and I remember that I enjoyed it.  As long as my body cooperates, I am going to give it another try 

Welcome back! Its so good to hear from you. Sorry for the troubles you are having. Female issues are the worst! Pms, child birth, menopause,  its just not fair!

Hang in there, you can see the water weight so keep reminding yourself about that. I have regained but its from simple carbs and not enough exercise, but I am now back on  track.

So cool about the training and the 5k, great job. Hope all will be well with your son.

Hope you have a great day!

Thanks, Maria!  

It's good to be back and catch up with everyone!  I missed being here 

I'm glad to hear you are back on track. . .omg carbs are the devil lol . . . I know what you mean, it's good to hear you have it under control now, I think they are the hardest to deal with out of everything!

Lynn,

So sorry to hear that you are struggling. I, too hope that the patch resolves your issues. Sounds like your doing everything else right. Good for you. It take discipline!!

Good luck and let us know how it is going.

Lauren

Hi Lauren, 

Thanks for your kind reply!

 As frustrating as it is, I am trying!  I will make it a point to post updates (or whine hee hee) I am really hoping coming off of the Depo will fix the majority of my issues.  I see my GYN in a few weeks so if the patch isn't working by then we will go to plan B though I have no idea what that would be. . . .fingers crossed that this works 

I love it when old friends stop by.  Hope to see more of you.

I had all that stuff out years ago.  Of course, I was having hot flashes in recovery but I still think it was for the best.  Hope your issues get resolved.

I too, have the exercise bug.  I am loving my muscle pump class, think areobics with weights.  and it has been absoluetly necessary to keep my weight in check even with low calories, low carbs and lots of protein. 

Hi Price 

{{{huggs}}} thank you!!!  Good to *see* you too!!! Hope you have been well!  I am going to try and make it a point to pop in more often 

I wish they would just take all my girly parts out that I don't need anymore but without a good reason it looks like I am stuck with them. . . .I joined Planet Fitness because I can take the kids with me, and we are having a blast going there!  I even talked 2 of my girlfriends into joining so we all go and meet up on different days of the week and do cardio together.  The nights my son and I work with our trainer my girlfriends do their cardio together and than me and my son do our cardio together after we are done our weight training, so it works out well.

I am looking forward to the pool opening up here too so I can try and spend some time up there in the water.  I wouldn't mind some water exercise.  

They all say I am on my own with the running program though.  They will watch and cheer me on, or drive behind me and hand me water bottles lol.  

Welcome back Lynn.  I had a friend that gained lots of weight while she was on the Depo injections.

Sounds like you are doing great with your exercise.  Hope switching up the meds helps with the water weight.

You have a lot going on in your life right now.  Don't get too stressed out!!

Linda

Thanks, Linda!   I missed you guys!!!!

I am trying with the exercise. . .I still don't "love" it but I don't totally hate it either lol, I guess that is an improvement.  

I like the convenience of the Depo and for the first 8 months it was great, no periods, no cramps and no side effects but then whammo, I blew up and the flood gates opened and I am soooooooooo not loving it anymore now I just want it to all go away!!!! At least I got to enjoy it for a little while lol.  I know Depo is infamous for weight gain, now I see why!!!

Hope all is well with you :)

Sounds  like you have a lot on your plate and may not have had enough time for yourself lately.

I did the Couch potato to 5K a couple years ago and liked it so much I ran a 1/2 marathon last November.  Good luck with that.  It is really soul healing to run--probably because you are concentrating so much on running you don't have time to let stress creep in.