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THE BOSS: I've been doing battle with endometriosis for YEARS. I tried everything: ablation, hormones, and simulated menopause (which worked, but wore off, and then it was back to pain and suffering). THE IDEA: Since nothing else worked, at least not for more than three months at a time, I asked my doctor for a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. "Hey Doc, can I please have major surgery that will remove some body parts and probably shorten my lifespan?" Since the pain went away with simulated menopause, and was limited to my uterus and ovaries, he agreed to do it. He tried to talk me out of it; it's not a good idea to remove ovaries from women younger than about fifty, but he went for it. Living extra years won't matter if I'm in pain all the damn time! THE FIGHT: Surgery on December 17th, 2015. THE RESPAWN: I woke up with NOTHING. No strength. No endurance. But, hey, no endometriosis pain! The first two weeks were nothing but drugs and TV. Slowly, I recovered. I started walking. Two weeks after surgery, I walked one whole block! NOW: I can walk for 30 minutes straight. That's almost two miles! I walk at least four times per week. I have the doctor's okay to start running on February 8th, and I can start lifting on February 22nd. I am going through menopause, which is slightly obnoxious, but WAY better than being in constant pain. NEXT: Couch to 5K (running) and Beginner Bodyweight Circuit (lifting).

My Story Continued: A year and a half has gone by since the rebels of Nerd Fitness last saw my face (posts), but I have returned. When you last saw me, I was returning to a better place after 4 months in a dangerous world. I was positive. Making strides to improve nourishment in life: mentally, physically, emotionally. But there was a darkness on the horizon, an evil yet to be determined (diagnosed). The darkness is now clear. The evil had a year to take it's toll on my body and mind. Then a year more to ravage my inner being. I feel myself breaking, but I will not give in. This is my last push to fight back and become the assassin I truly am. I have new obstacles to manage, new reasons to fight, and more to work for than ever before. So here is my quest. Full Story: So, I am coming back to Nerd Fitness. Last time I was here I was doing well but was in the process of being diagnosed with endometriosis. Turns out I had a 15lb cyst growing on an ovary which led to getting a pregnancy like belly. This put pressure on different organs and things which caused pain during working out so I had to stop in order to make sure I didn't rupture anything by accident. Had surgery, started a special birth-control like pill to stop cyst regrowth, meds gave me weight gain and mood swings (not nice). At follow-up with doc a year later we decided that I should try no meds for a while to see if I can get my mind and body back on track WITHOUT the cyst growing again. Deadline to find out if I can do it: January 15th, 2016 = ultrasound day. Good news is I am out of the stressful job I had and into the one I liked. I am full time now (I get vacations and sick days!) and on a great career trajectory. I also started blogging. It is a craft and food blog though I truly considered doing a gaming vlog channel instead! My husband and I moved into a larger, nicer home and no longer have a roommate. We are getting married in the new year though we are already commonlaw. So why am I back? Because I need to write my plans somewhere other than a notepad. I need to be held accountable so that I can get consistent. Consistency is my downfall especially with the busy life I try to lead (not well). So here is my plan/quest. The Return of Emlily Main Goal: Return to post surgery state by January 2016 Food Goal #1: Eat 5 servings of fruits or vegetables a day Fitness Goal #1: Walk 5000 steps a day (tracked with my Fitbit or other device) Life Goal #1: Keep one room in the house to my peak standard *The food, fitness, and life goals must be kept for 30 days straight. Once this happens I will award myself points equal to 10 times the number of goal they are. Once I max out the bar below, I level up. My own take on the RPG system. Level 1 0%0% Food Goal #1: 5 Servings of Fruits/Veg for 30 Days 13%13% Fitness Goal #1: 5000 Steps for 30 Days 3%3% Life Goal #1: Keep a Room in Peak Shape for 30 Days 3%3% Stats (Current / Goal): 210lbs / 195lbs Size 16 / Size 14 I plan on posting pictures soon. You can see some from pre/post surgery on my blog (over a year old now). Again, because my busy life I just don't know how often I will be posting. When I first started on Nerd Fitness back in 2012 I spent more time here than actually changing my habits and I don't want to fall into that trap again. So 2x is what I am planning on.

So, I'm here? Really? I guess this is a good thing. I did this once before, I should be able to do this again, but my brain and body do not feel like it's a physical possibility right now. I don't think it's because I'm doubtful of myself, I just think that I'm down and confused and probably making excuses. I have been struggling with my weight for most of my life and decided just before my 25th birthday that I was excessively overweight with too many possibly health issues in my family. I went from 218lbs to 170lbs, maintaining at 175lbs in about 1.5 years. It was awesome, I felt great, I looked great (although at times I was still worried about that pudge), and most of all I believed in myself again. Shit (oh no, can I say shit in a forum?!) hit the fan in August of 2013. My boyfriend and I of eight years broke up just after we sold our house, I was diagnosed with endometriosis (sorry men that are reading - you may want to stop here), and I was put on an intensive hormone therapy treatment. Now, one great thing did happen, shortly after breaking up with my boyfriend a great friend (whom I had dated on and off again previously and kept in touch with) also had become single. Things fell into place and we started dating about a week before I was diagnosed. On the day I was diagnosed, I phoned and told him that if he wanted to walk away I wouldn't hold it against him. It still amazes me to this day that someone can love someone else so much to say, "we have never had the perfect time to be together, and now we do, do you think that I'm going to walk away just because you are going through some hard times? That's what love is; in sickness and in health". In a moment of weakness and isolation, I was filled with a reminder that I can still be loved. ... anyway, I digress (or maybe I don't since you don't know me and I'm giving you some context... ramble much?). I was put on Lupron Depot and days before my 28th birthday was sent into menopause. I was left on this treatment for six months and then I was placed on Visanne which caused me to literally go insane. I was getting anxious and angry in a split second, and in the same timeframe I would be crying on the floor. This was short lived (a few months) until I was put back on birth control, THE BIRTH CONTROL THAT I WAS ON IN THE FIRST PLACE. It's been decided that my quality of life was worse while on the medication than it is while i'm writhing in agony a few days of month. The WORST part of that treatment? All of that hard work, all of the weight that was lost, was gained back in NINE months. I gained 37lbs in nine months because of a medication that ruined my mental, physical, and emotional life. The BEST part of that treatment? Gaining all of the weight back? Why you ask? You think I'm crazy, right? Well, in a way, I would agree. I hit every possible low while on this medication. I saw how easy it was for your goals and desires to be ripped from your hands, how easy it is to lose focused and give in. Now, I say above that I gained 37lbs because of the medication, and mostly I'm right, but as I stand back and look in from another perspective I think that I gave up fighting. I ate what I wanted because I was gaining weight anyway. I didn't work out because the medication was making me fat, ugly and alone anyway. The medication partially is responsible for mentally making me feel like that, but ultimately I MADE THE CHOICE. Now, I get to the point, I MADE THE CHOICE. The fact that I made the choice means that I can make the choice again. I can choose to be that person three years ago who was worried about future health risks; I can choose to be that person three years ago that wanted to look and feel great for no one but her; and I can choose to ROCK IT OUT. Okay - so with that short/long summary, I would love to be part of a group who can encourage me to get there, give me tips to understand where I'm going wrong, and to believe in me when I can't seem to find that belief anymore. Six week challenge goals - MAIN QUEST: a) Current weight fluctuating around 200lbs (and have been diligent for about three weeks, losing approximately 5lbs). --> GOAL: Lose 10lbs --> HOW? Make sure that Monday - Friday I continue to use "My Fitness Pal" to guide me and watch my caloric intake Saturday and Sunday can be my 20 rule from the 80/20 guideline. Still be aware of what is going in but don't be as hardcore about it Walk and golf as much as possible (try and walk every day and golf every available Saturday) Workouts normally include cardio of some sort, unless I'm play golf. --> GOAL: Learn how to better include other exercises in my regiment --> HOW? To be honest, no idea except saying "I'll check that out on that interwebs", which we all know will probably just land me at hurting myself. This is where I hope someone here can help me. Tell me how I can do something, relatively inexpensive, to boost my non-cardio portion of the workout.... PRETTY PLEASE WITH A HEALTHY CHERRY ON TOP c) Hydrate, hydrate, HYDRATE!!!! --> GOAL: Consume at least 5 glasses of water/day (this may include decaffeinated tea, because I feel like that is just as good as water, anyone have a reason to disagree?) --> HOW? Make sure wherever I go I have water with me and it is easily accessible to drink. Weekends will be the most challenging because if I'm at home I'm not as likely to drink water. Make a conscious effort to choose water or something that is natural instead of pop or tea. NOTE* DO NOT GET DOWN ON YOURSELF IF YOU CHOOSE WRONG, but make sure it's only sometimes and that you're getting back on the horse right away. SIDE QUEST: a) Learn to appreciate my surroundings more. More specifically, learn how to appreciate myself in those surroundings. I'll try and do this by blogging and writing in my gratitude journal a little bit more. Blogging will include posting to NF. Now, I hope that someone out there will see this and relate to me. I can only believe that the readers and followers of this website have been motivated like I have by the wonderful email blasts you receive. I know my scenario is unique, but I believe deep down that it isn't THAT unique - one of you will sympathize with the scenario because either you are going through it, or someone you know has been through it. All I ask is for guidance and support, the rest can come naturally.

Hey all, has anyone on here had surgery for endometriosis or a similar laparoscopic abdominal procedure? I am having surgery this week and I am hoping that I won't have to be out of the gym for too long!! Unfortunately, from what I have read, I will probably be out of commission lifting-wise for a few weeks.