RedPandaOne

I'm still alive, I promise. I've just been dealing with a body that's falling apart. So where did I leave off? Got pink eye end of January. When I thought I was recovered from that and had a week of no problems for myself (but dealing with my cat), I was wrong. Had an abscess growing. Dealt with that for a week and a half. Had a few days off from that, and then had a new abscess grow. Got that drained, and was on antibiotics for 2 weeks. So, pretty much the entire month of February I was sick. I've been scared to work out (aka, work up a sweat) because of where the abscesses have been. Right under my boob where my bra line is. We think I'm getting them because of clogged pores. So the last thing I wanted to do while recovering was put on a bra and trap sweat there. I'm still in recovery mode. The last incision never healed. My mom looked at it over the weekend and got a little upset, because it should have been stitched up or at least had a butterfly bandage or something put on. Luckily she had something that is helping it close without needing to go somewhere to get it done. And this weekend showed me again how out of shape I have gotten. Moved the cats from my apartment back to their grandparents. And by the time I was done loading the car in the second round my face was beat red and I had worked up a minor sweat. This was just walking up and down my apartment stairs carrying stuff. I think I did it 4 times? Met with the weight loss doctor. She is switching me to a different medication. I stopped what I was on because it wasn't working. Of course, now she believes that I'm actually over eating and not realizing it. No one believes me that I don't eat much. That leads into my goals: 1) Track food 5x a week I need to show the doctor and nutritionist that I am in fact eating healthy. I am not snacking like they think I am. This goal will be a combo of calorie counting and taking pictures. On days I don't track calories, I need to at least take a picture of everything I eat to show them. 2) Work out 1x a week This is still something I'm working on. Being sick for so long did not help. But I'm now working from home for at least the next two weeks (thanks COVID, state of MA, and germophobic bosses). If I can get to Market Basket and back by 8:15 in the morning (I was crazy this morning), I can get a workout in. That's it. Still going to keep it simple.

Urgent care wouldn't drain it, didn't think there was enough fluid. I told them I was in earlier than I would be (3 days vs a week) because I was at a level 8 in pain. Told them its never been this painful this early. I felt like they didnt take me seriously. The med student even asked if I was doing anything different "like injecting yourself with anything in that area". Exact quote. No you a$$hole, those marks you see are where I've had previous ones drained. They did give me antibiotics. But I know I'll be back to have it drained. This just sucks because I can barely move without being in pain. I'm dreading the AM and needing to wear a bra for work tomorrow. Going braless not an option, the boob just sits on it anyway (one of the few times I wish I was an A cup, or even a C cause then I could use lift pasties and have them actually work). I'm working on getting my under desk elliptical working. Need to figure out what type of battery it takes. It's also back at my parents, it was in my car when I had the accident. So it got packed up and went back with all the other stuff in my car. I'll be getting it either Wednesday or Saturday. I'll be there both days. If I cant work out at home, maybe I can pedal for 30 minutes at work. 10 minutes 3x a day? I may make it a goal for next challenge.

I can't catch a break. When I get sick, my body decides to go above and beyond. I now have an abscess along my bra line. Will be going to urgent care tomorrow to get it drained. It hurts to wear a bra.

Not dead. Still not well. I ended up getting double pink eye last week. About half way through Wednesday it became full blown. Luckily I was the only one in the office for the remaining of the week. Came back in Thursday and disinfected everything. Pink eye is gone, but eyes still gunked up in the morning. Now I've got a cough and lose my breath super easily. Okay that second part may just be because I haven't done cardio in a few years. But usually, no cough in the morning, but by the end of the day have a cough and gets worse when I lie down. I woke up after being asleep for about an hour last night just coughing like I had been choked. I coughed for about 10 minutes. I'm sure my roommate and neighbors love me. But it's been super hard to do anything when I immediately lose my breath. And on top of all that, my nurse in the above picture had a health scare this week. He acted really strange in the litter box on Monday so I took him to the emergency vet. Turns out they found blood in his urine. They have me two sets of meds to help him pee and ease any pain, but needed to be given every 8 hours and to keep an eye on him for 24 hours. Panicked call to my mom and she said to bring him to her and she will watch him and give the meds. Test results came back yesterday with crystals in his urine. He needs to be on strictly his prescription food for 2 weeks and then have the test redone. According to my parents you'd never know that they was sick. He's tearing around the house, eating a ton of food, and demanding attention. My parents don't want to give my cat back!!! They love having him around too much. But he's bonded to his sister (who is still with me) and I don't know if they can be kept apart for two weeks. And I want my cat back! Lol.

Woke up with pink eye. Oh joy. And this is how my nurse has decided to treat me

So, I did not get nauseous/vomit on Thursday. However, I did get sick. I dont know what I caught, but it kinda sucks. I had a lump in my throat all day Thursday after I woke up super congested. Like, I blew my nose probably 15 times before I went to work. Then it was fine. Friday my throat started to hurt. Saturday it was completely sore and hard to swallow. Same with Sunday and my ears felt like they had cotton balls shoved in them. Throat still super sore today, could talk but was strained. Also got hot and cold flashes. I left work earlier and actually started to sweat in my car even though I had the heat turned off. I've been curled up in bed since getting home. I did take a shower to try and steam out whatever I have. So needless to say, goals got sidelined.

Okay, no real update. Monday being a holiday has thrown me off. I dont know what day it is. I haven't tracked yet this week. I'm actually a little nervous about tonight/tomorrow. I forgot to take my medicine monday before bed. I woke up for some reason around 4:30am and remembered. Took it right then. So, didnt take it last night as directed. Took it about 45 minutes ago. Last time I missed a dose (and it was at this level of medication) I got physically sick. But it took awhile to happen. I felt bad all night, but didnt vomit until about an hour and a half after I woke up. At least that was a Sunday. With it being a work day tomorrow? If I dont get sick in the morning but feel like crap, I plan on stopping at the store to get saltines and powerade just in case. I'm also very tempted to just stop taking this medicine. The doctor already thinks she is going to switch me in march. But wants to give this a little bit more time. I've only lost 3 pounds, and that was after I got sick last time. I should be down 10-15. This almost always being nauseous is getting old.

Food for Thursday and Friday. Low end Thursday, high end yesterday.

Okay, I'm making some progress. Attached are screen shots from Monday and Today for tracking. I might still add to today, never did have the shake, but I'm not hungry, but I need to hit 1200. Tuesday breakfast and lunch was the same. I had a coke with lunch and then two pepsi at dinner (haven't been that bad for awhile). Dinner was about 5 mozzarella sticks and a small ceaser salad. It was too much. I had 4 sticks before my salad came out and I was already full. No exercise yet, but I'm getting close. I did get up at 5:30 this morning. Fed the cats, and then fell asleep on the couch. But I got up!

I tried to do a sad face for my like, but it wouldn't let me. Sorry she is that sick

Ace Comic Con, which is apparently only a few years old and bounces around the USA. One of their rules is no city twice in a row. Well, they announced that their next city is Boston (20 minutes from me) and the first two people they announced as guests were Chris Evans and Tom Hiddleston. They announced Ewan McGregor right before Christmas. Anyway, I was freaking out at work when I found out. And then somehow lucked out when buying tickets. Everything for Chris sold out in 3 minutes. I just went on, clicked the first thing I saw and paid for it, lol. My coworker watched and was like "so what did you get?" And I was like "I have absolutely no idea, I just know that I'm meeting Captain America!" (I got VIP: photo op, autograph, and guaranteed seat in his panel) Speculation is once more guests are announced and if Chris does some dual Ops with them, some of his individual stuff will open back up as people upgrade and the inventory comes back.

Okay, weight gain may have been period related. Just weighed myself and I'm back to the weight I was egg week. Which is weird because I normally gain 2-5 pounds of water weight the weekend before my period (when I weighed myself at the low weight). Guess now I'm retaining during the week. Still going to see if I can batch cook some eggs for breakfast.

Week 1 did not go as planned. Didnt track, and as of right now have not exercised. I tried having yogurt with a little but if raisin bran mixed in for breakfast like the nutritionist wants. Cant do it. A) taste/texture not for me B )it's only been an hour and a half and I'm already hungry. Last week I mostly had eggs for breakfast due to my stomach and I did notice my weight go down. I was thrilled. Ate cereal all this week and my weight is back up. Now, it could be because of my horrible dinners all week. Oe my weight went down because I was living on eggs, Sprite, and saltines. But I might be on to something. Now to buy more eggs. Thinking of making individual frittatas.

This is not starting on a good foot. Got home Monday and dinner was finishing off a bag of tositos chips. Oops. I had meal prepped chicken for the week, but like always I didn't cook the broccoli at the same time. So I would throw some in the micro while finishing getting ready. Yesterday I didn't feel like doing that, and I just did not want the chicken. So I bought lunch. The deli special at work was a ceasar chicken club wrap, sans bacon because they had run out. It was on a spinach wrap. So not unhealthy. Then dinner rolled around. It being Tuesday and my "cheat day" since it's trivia night I wasn't too worried. I had planned on my one pepsi and maybe just some mozzarella sticks. By the time I got to trivia I knew the sticks wouldn't be enough (I think it's time to up my dosage since I'm no longer nauseous), so I ordered them and a chicken quesadilla. I ate half of each. And then ate two cupcakes that my friend/trivia host had made and brought in for everyone. Today's lunch is the other half of the mozzerella sticks and quesadilla. I'm hoping/planning on working out when I get home (I didn't get to bed until 1am, no way I was waking at 5:30), and having just the protein shake to help off set and rebalance.

Happy Monday as well!! Today did not start off like planned. I was going to workout in the AM having noted that by the PM I'm all tuckered out. Well, the plan only works if you remember to reset your alarm for the earlier wake up call. *sigh*

New Year, Old Challenge! I'm copying and pasting my last challenge until things become a habit for me since they aren't, yet. Goal 1: Eat 1200-1400 calories a day Seems low? Yes. However, I don't/can't eat much these days. I'm currently on a weight loss medication and it makes me nauseous when I eat. I'm not even at a full dose yet, I think I'm at half. I was at 3/4 last week, but scaled back when I got physically sick on Sunday due to accidentally missing a dose. Yes, I want to lose weight, but the nausea and puking is not worth it. So! My goal is to stick to the simple food plan we had detailed out before going on the medication. Cereal for breakfast, high protein lunch, meal replacement for dinner. Goal 2: Get off my ass and exercise 1x a week I mean, hopefully I do it more than once a week. But at bare minimum I need to do it once. That would be once more than I am doing now. I just can't get anything to stick. That's it. Only 2 goals. I don't want to overwhelm myself. I have 2 events I'd like to look good for this year. This is help me feel confident in the pictures I will be in. I can't let Captain America down (that's one event, I'm meeting him in March!!!!!)

Following. Happy New Year! You've got this.

Even though I bitched last night about needing to be up, I do enjoy these family get togethers. I wish I had taken a picture of my plate to show how little was actually on my plate. A scoop of scrambled eggs, piece of watermelon, 2 slices of banana, 5-6 pieces of bacon, and 4(?) teeny tiny pancakes. I ate everything except for all the bacon. Had a few pieces left and have them to my dad. I couldn't finish it. And then half an hour or so later the cupcakes came out. I thought I was going to be sick after eating. I was so full. I wonder if that's what what the nausea she meant would be. Thanksgiving will sure be interesting!

I think the medicine made me bloat before losing the water weight? I weighed myself Wednesday or Thursday morning and I was 227. Weighed myself today and I'm down to 222.5, which is more consistent with the last several months. I'm not running to the bathroom as much. But still a little more than usual on a daily basis. I usually only do this much a couple days before my period when I lose that water weight. Oh well. I'll deal if this works. I slept for 13 hours last night. Went to bed around 10pm, woke up once or twice for a bathroom run. One was at 9:30 after which I took my weight. Then I said, eh, I'll just lay back down for a little bit then I'll get up. Two hours later I woke back up from a deep sleep. Wish I could sleep in again tomorrow, but my sister in law wanted to have a breakfast for my moms birthday celebration. She forgets I dont do mornings, and the only reason my brother does now is because of their children. Otherwise the red panda and billy goat children dont start their days until noon. I didnt track today, only had two meals since breakfast was so late. But here are yesterday's numbers. I'm not a fan of the shakeology, but I'm out of my regular protein shakes and my friend who is a coach sent me free samples trying to woo me over.

Yay for fitting better into jeans!!

Okay, I know its only day 2 of the medicine, but I can tell the first weight I'm going to lose is water weight because I've been peeing so much the last 24 hours! This is going to be annoying. Yesterday's calorie count. I ate the cheez-its only because I wanted to, not because I was hungry. But, it was the last of the box, so no more temptation.

I did end up eating hot pockets and cheez-it snack mix last night. Loved every moment of it. But my body is kinda regretting it this morning. My gallbladder hurts. I also stopped at CVS last night on my way home. Asked them about the needles for my meds, and the guy looked me up in the system and was like "yea, I see a prescription here for them. I'll get this going, should be ready in 20 minutes." Cool, but not really. You've been sitting on this prescription for a week?! I've never been happy with that location. I hoping I can switch it when my BC comes up for renewal in two months. Which reminds me, I need to schedule an appointment so that it can be renewed for the year. So, I took my first dose of the weight loss medicine last night. It kinda hurt. But then again, I'm sticking myself with a tiny needle. I did get a little nauseous, but not sure if it was due to the medicine, or because I knew it was a side affect and I mentally made myself nauseous. I really hope it works, because I've gained 10 pounds in the last year :( Most of it in the last 6 months or so.

It would be a combo. I'll love eating it and it will make me happy. But then I'll feel bad for derailing.

What do you do when you are just mentally and emotionally exhausted and just want to stuff your face with gooey cheese? I'm tempted to buy hot pockets for dinner tonight. I dont really even like hot pockets anymore. Or just get a giant cheese quesadilla.

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. *virtual hug*