Since last we spoke, I bought a new wardrobe 'cause I was heading off to Italy! While doing so, I bought my size 18 clothing article! It has begun. I took a whole bunch of pictures so I could show you, then never posted them (ok, only 4 outfits). So here they are:
The one with the yellow shirt... size 18 jeans. Yeah, that's right. Anyways, as I was saying, since last we spoke... I actually went to Italy, the land of milk and honey. Ok, not milk and honey, gelato and wine (more specifically Presecco). Which is essentially what I consumed (and survived off of) while I was there. I learnt that heat and my body are not friends. I swell (inside) and it prevents me from being able to eat real food; especially in a country where they don't believe in vegetables and only eat pasta and bread products (namely pizza). If you are just tuning in to this show, Moriah post lap-band and starches do NOT get along. They are a recipe for blocking and subsequently puking. So gelato and wine it was! When I got back, I had lost 2 lbs!!! But that last all of 3 days or something like that. I then gained 6 lbs immediately! What was that??? I actually don't know. I have been shopping since I came back, and I have fit into other pants that were a size 18. Not all size 18, mind you, but a few. So i think it might be water retention. But I will just go back to "who knows".
What else...hmm. Oh yes. I seem to be a sucker for punishment. But you probably already knew that, didn't you? As you may recall, I bough a treadmill after Christmas, used it for a bit then got sick. Then there was a series of unfortunate... incidents. I was sick, I had gallstones, I had gallbladder surgery (it was removed), I had strepthroat, and I had bronchitis (which was diagnosed the day before I left for Italy). As you can imagine, the one thing I did not have was a robust, routine, exercise regiment (say that 10 times, fast). I am still slowly but surely loosing weight, so what do I care. YES I should be exercising. NO, I am not and perfectly happy about it. But someone at work decided to do a "Biggest Loser" contest at work. So I think, maybe I should join; this just might be the motivation I need to take this to another level. However they also had a rule that excluded anyone who had had weight-loss surgery from participating... and yes I did feel slightly targeted by this. So my wonderful friend Kelly says, screw 'em! We will do our own "Biggest Loser". And I somehow think this is a good thing. Now, so far nothing about this story is terribly scary, right? But what you don't know is that our Program Assistant (who happens to be this beautiful, slim, great dressing, YOUNG woman) thinks that this is a great idea. She has been wanting to get "moving", and has been needing motivation too. Again, doesn't seem horrible, but you haven't met her. She is TERRIFYING. I will post a picture. You will see!!! Anyways, she jumps on the bandwagon and next thing I know, Michelle and I have decided to walk together 3 times a week at lunch - 30 minute walks. Oh, did I mention that Kelly is no where to be seen? Yeah that's right. Brilliant idea, zero participation. Anyways, so today, when it was 38 degrees out (with the humidex), Michelle is all like "let's do this" and "I am getting changed now"! So I begrudgingly got ready. She shows up in a full on workout outfit! I only changed my t-shirt and put some sneakers on... I should have realized at that point that I was in trouble. Off we go. We walk from my building to Wellington, then veer off and following this weird little street down towards the river, but don't actually find the river. Then there are these stairs in the woods and down we go, only to pop out on the path by the river. Eureka! Michelle is happy. If Michelle is happy, we're all happy, so there we go. My only stipulation is "Just no stairs, ok Michelle". We follow the path towards the market, and I am getting nervous. I mean, all I can see is this GINORMOUS wall-like hillside and a river. I am getting slightly nervous that there will be no escaping stairs. Onward we meander, when we find ourselves at the locks. Oh, how loverly. NOT. This means a serious climb up a lovely incline to get back up to street level and I am feeling slightly pooped. So with the subtlety of a cow stampede, I suggest that we take this opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the locks. Michelle is all for it... so she slows the pace. No stopping. We make it to the top of this loverly incline, only to be confronted by a shitload of stairs. I start to cry. Inside. Where it counts. Michelle? She powers on. Apparently we don't believe in breathers - or stopping. Ever. I climb the stairs and by the time I reach the top, I can't make my lungs breath in enough air to supply the oxygen my body needs. I start to panic slightly (I haven't brought my asthma pump and it is incredibly humid outside). BUt I don't panic. I master it, and we walk on. There is no stopping. We slow down, but we don't stop. Eventually I am able to suck in the desperately needed gulps of air and realize that I am now able to ever so slightly increase the pace again. I want you to know that I made it back to the building but just barely. I want to tell you that it seems I only really get into exercise when it's fifty bazillion degrees outside (for the next few days it is supposed to be 44 and 42 degrees with the humidity). I tried to tell Michelle that we would only go twice this week, ease into it as it's our first week, and she told me she was not happy (I pointed out that she could walk without me as well). But all that said, I am back into exercise, and the only way I know it's for real? I just came back from shopping. I just bought some capri yoga pants and a couple of t-shirts to walk in. I can't even express to you how sweaty I was.
At this point in time, I would love to be able to keep on telling you stories of the last 3 months. My revelations and adventures, but I really did injure something in my inner thigh (possibly groin area) and need to go stretch it out. I also need to go build up some strength. Michelle wants to walk again. Tomorrow. I definitely need to show you her picture.
Until the next time, mes amis!
