Kristen Kady

Half Way Point

June 4, 2017 By KK Leave a Comment

I have managed to make it just over two months. I have survived 20 sessions with my trainer, and just signed up for even more! I am happy that I chose to get a personal trainer. Yes, it is expensive and I truly can’t afford it, but I am making it work. As I have said before, this is an investment, one with myself that I can’t afford not to.

I won’t lie, it has been a frustrating ride. The first workout session was gruesome. Ugh, I didn’t realize how bad I let my muscles deteriorate. In the end, I was left feeling like a limp noodle, stuck at the bottom of the pot… and surprisingly I got the “high”. You know, the kind they talk about with runners. And unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Apparently, you only get one, or at least that is what I got. The following Thursday session… Nothing. Nada tostada! Just felt exhausted and run down.

I also realized that my asthma was worse than I thought. Even though my mom and brother have been dealing with it for decades, I wasn’t diagnosed with asthma until a few years ago. After my first two sessions with the trainer, I had to do something about the lack of breathing and went to see my doctor. I was having such a hard time breathing and even a day later, felt like someone had taken a scrub brush and shoved it down my throat; inflammation central! We are currently on the third trial of a new every day inhaler along with an asthma/allergy pill, Singulair. What we have done has helped, but I am still doing at least four puffs from my emergency inhaler during my hour-long session. By the way, if you are looking for an awesome Allergy, Asthma, and Immunologist – Dr. Fieman is fabulous!

As for the weight… I have only lost a few pounds here and there. That’s it! Disappointing to say the least. I had it in my head that when I changed my diet and introduced intense exercise, the pounds would just melt off. So much for the 50 in 5… but I still have time. I wish I would have taken my measurements before starting so I could see if there was a change there. There has been muscle growth as I can feel the difference when lifting weights, but I am not sure of how much. Based on old clothes that I can fit back into, I would say I have lost about 10 inches; 3.5 in the waist, 1.25 in each arm, and 2 in each thigh.

With the lack of weight loss, I am working on not drinking all together. While I was still incorporating those calories into my food tracker, I know it is hindering my weight loss. So… bye bye glass of wine after work… hello tea! My therapist and I figured out that I have been using alcohol to relax and come down from the stress of the work day. Even when I have taken time out to meditate in the middle of the day, it wasn’t enough. I stopped buying wine for the house, but would still find myself stopping by the bar on the way home for a drink to chill out for a bit. It is also a good habit for when I (hopefully) become pregnant. While the tea helps as something to sip on, I have found that listening to my current my audio book and laying down in bed with the lights off works better.

To wrap this up, I thought I would share some of the things that I have learned since starting this whole 50 in 5 thing.

Fitness Trainers are awesome! Without a trainer, I wouldn’t have the willpower to push myself to the point of muscle exhaustion. I would have quit 2/3 of the way through; each day and each time
Don’t forget your sunglasses! It may be 5:30AM when you get to the gym, but when you leave, the sun is up and blinding you in the eyes
Best feeling in the world? Getting into the car, resting my hot sweaty body on the cool leather seats. Just a little sigh of relief after some hard work
An even better feeling? Walking into work, knowing I have already kicked some ass today, and it isn’t even 9:00AM
It is hard not to let my depression take a hold of me and stop me from going to my bi-weekly sessions
After 35, 30, or even 25 years of age, your body doesn’t respond/ function the same way it used to

~Side note: thanks to the TimeHop App, I have noticed the pattern of doing this weight gain/weight loss every year around the same time. The only difference was I never was this heavy and always able to shed the 15-20 pounds and get back down to 130 pounds

I am ready to step up my game. No more “cheat” days that turn into cheat weeks. I need to stay with my strict meal plan and keep making every meal. Meal prep SUCKS but makes such a difference – when I sneak in the meals out or sugary treat(s), my body shows it and feels it.
Since I am able to breathe and my strength has increased, I know my body and mind can do more. So besides my two workout sessions with my trainer, I am adding on two classes over the weekend. I am thinking the Ballet Sculpt and yoga (not hot yoga, I would die). Maybe a Zumba class too? I will try a month of these changes – hope the changes will make a more dramatic difference which would help inspire me to keep going. I will write again in a month with an update – and measurements! Cheers.

Thank you for sharing!

50 in 5

March 9, 2017 By KK Leave a Comment

The challenge is on!

I am tired of hearing myself complain – the continuous yo-yo weight fluctuations – and am ready for a complete overhaul. Which is why I am doing 50 pounds in 5 months. Yes, you read correctly, that is 10 pounds a month. This is a completely different tactic than I have done before. Why you ask? It isn’t just because I am getting married this year (calm down, date is still TBD) but it is also to get my body in pre-baby shape. WHAT?! Sit back down, I have to get married first… geesh.

I have managed to slowly pack on the pounds over the past two years but I have reached a tipping point. Literally… the scales have tipped and I have snapped.

So what is the plan? Well, up until last week, the original plan was:

Diet: cutting out all the good stuff…

No dairy
No wine
No gluten
No meat
No carbs
No sugar

I know it sounds so awesome, no need to get jealous. Almost as exciting as watching paint dry, but in this case, I might be craving to lick the walls hoping for something better than my diet. I crave food and when the stress level goes up, so does the intake of fatty and sugary foods… and wine. Lots of wine. Then the medications help keep the weight on, and add in the last remaining factor of being almost 35 years old (and lacking a metabolism), it is an all around great combination!

Exercise: 5 days a week (minimum) at the athletic club. No, it is not the gym, it is a club. Cherry Creek Athletic Club to be exact. If I call it a gym, I am already fearing going. The one stage of social anxiety I haven’t been able to break. So yes, to the club I go. First the treadmill and swimming. Then I will take on more, like maybe a class or two and weights.

New Plan: Get a personal trainer.

Yeah – I did that! I found a great offer at the Club and took the opportunity. So far, we have sat down and created a diet plan, which since I eat pretty good most of the time, is very strict. I purchased a food scale, a standard list of groceries and meal prepping both lunch and dinner, which will help with my instructions of carb alternating throughout the week. Still no drinking but I am allowing lean proteins, such as chicken or fish. We are also using the “MyZone” device to monitor effort/heart rate and tracking all food in “My Fitness Pal” app.

This project isn’t just about making the numbers on the scale go down, it is the many health benefits that go along with it. By exercising, I will be able to lower my medication doses due to the increase in serotonin levels. With my mental meds lowered, it will prepare my body for a safer pregnancy. It won’t be a quick fix or a permanent replacement from using any medication but it would be nice to make my morning handful of pills and supplements a little smaller.

This is going to hurt. There will be tears. It is going to be a struggle. I will rise, I will fall, and I am prepared to plateau. And when I do hit a stopping point and can’t seem to move further, whether with the weight loss or motivation, that is where the personal trainer comes in. While I can’t financially afford it, my health and mental well-being are worth more. My future children are worth it.

I am worth the investment.

I’m too afraid and ashamed to post pictures of the current state of my body. I did however manage to summon up the courage to actually take a few before photos (the thought still makes me cringe). Maybe when I am half way there, I might periodically post weight, inches and more. But until then, all I ask is for a little help. A little encouragement. I have moved from my FitBit to an Apple Watch (since I can swim with it on, in addition to listening to my books) so if anyone wants to complete their circles with me, I would love to sync up! Same goes for the MYZONE!

I want to be healthy and happy and be in the best shape possible before Eric and I take on the journey of trying to become pregnant. With my age and medical conditions, I don’t have all the time in the world so I am making the most of what I have. Root me on! Because I really could use the encouragement.

Cheers! xx

Thank you for sharing!

The Waiting Room

January 14, 2016 By KK Leave a Comment

It has been a few months since I have posted. And it is not that I haven’t wanted to, life has just been… busy…

I have wanted to share boast about the latest events in my life, like pulling an impromptu trigger and quitting my job in order to replace it with a new and better job; finally found a place that I feel appreciated in addition to facing new challenges that I am able to overcome and continue to welcome every day.

Eric and I continue to blossom and thrive in our relationship. Talking of the future and gathering ideas (and dreams) for a bigger house, for us and room for his children to visit/stay. I have found joy watching him and his company grow as he gets closer to actually producing his product. While that brings him happiness as well, he has also found a new barn for Monty that he feels that his horse is in good hands when he is out of town. From big nights out to lazy days in on the couch binge watching TV, we savor our time together and feel lucky that we have found each other [insert warm fuzzies here].

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I am currently sitting in the waiting room of Rose Surgical Center trying to pass time as Eric is in the operating room. We have been here for 4 hours already and probably have one more to go… continuing to stand by. This brings back memories of my own surgeries. I have nine under my belt but only one that I don’t remember due to being a toddler. Before each and every procedure, my mother was there. As I got older, I would try to persuade her to leave, telling her that she didn’t need to stay and could just come back to pick me up. Now I get it. Now I understand the compulsion to sit and wait; be in the same place as your loved one. I am her baby girl and from the first surgery to the next upcoming one, there will always be fear that something could go wrong, and if it does, she wants to be there.

Three years ago, about this same time of year, my mother had surgery on her spine. It was my turn to sit in the waiting room. I didn’t want to leave her, but due to my father’s stress and anxiety levels, I needed to act as more of a distraction for him than support for her. We left the building for lunch and a drink (or two…maybe three) but I was still had one hand on my phone, chomping at the bit for the surgeon to call. And once he did, it was a big sigh of relief hearing that the procedure went as planned, she was in recovery and we could come pick her up.

If I was working for my old employer, I would be worn out beyond belief; thinking about Eric in addition to being concerned about missing work and wondering what I would come back to at the office. Heck, even making an appointment for myself would have caused a backlash of guilt. Today – I grateful that I can respond to a few work emails (mainly because I was bored) and then concentrate on Eric. It is a blessing to be able to actually spend time with my love and know that one day out of the office won’t break the bank. All the work will still be there when I get back tomorrow. I am thankful to work for a company that gets it… a boss that understands… and team members that are there to help out when you need it.

So here I sit… waiting… that is the worst part. Waiting to be called into the room. Waiting for them to take you (or him in this case) to the operating room. Waiting for the surgeon to come out and tell me how things went. And the longest wait of them all… waiting to see my love and take him home.

I have been in this big room by myself for the past hour. All the others have come and gone, so I sit alone trying to not let my mind wander and fill with the “what ifs”. His rehabilitation will take time – anywhere from two to three months but it will be worth it. I don’t mind taking care of him, doting on him to make sure he is comfortable while the nerve block and anesthesia ware off. I love him and wouldn’t think twice to drop everything to help him. Especially knowing that he will be there for me when the time comes. Whether it is a surgery (I am due for two that I have been procrastinating on) or when we are ready to try to for children. He has been my rock as I changed medications (another new thing that happened) and has managed to survive my mental and emotional, ups and downs.

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My mind can finally be at peace – I just finished talking with the surgeon – almost 3 hours later. He made it out OK. There were some issues getting the old hardware out, including a stubborn screw, but he is officially free of the faulty part that caused him to have the second surgery. In case you are wondering, he had FPL (flexor pollicis longus) tendon reconstruction with allograft (aka a cadaver tendon) and removal of hardware.

Now it is time for the best part – the guaranteed ‘Price is Right’ feeling; “Kristen, come on dowwwnnnn!” ok, more like, “Kristen? For Eric? You can come back now” but still the same effect of happiness in my heart. Now off to the road of recovery!

Thank you for sharing!