Happy Hump Day! Yesterday I posted a before and after (current) picture of myself and wrote about how shocked I was. Today I would like to share just one more…of what I am working towards. The picture is from 2006 when I was working with a trainer, before I got sick, before the steroid treatments, and before my pity party. I only had to tone up my inner thighs and belly slightly. It’s pretty sad how far I’ve fallen but I’m up and working at it again.

I keep an 8x10 copy of this picture on the inside of my kitchen cabinet were the dishes and coffee cups are so I see it every day, multiple times a day, as a reminder of where I want to be and that I CAN get there, because I DID once before. I was 36 at the time, I’m turning 44 this year so I have no delusions about looking like the photo, realizing my body will look different when I hit my goal because I had a different starting point and mentality this time around. It’s just there to motivate me and remind me of what I CAN do.

I also wanted to thank everyone who has read my blog entries, commented, encouraged and inspired me along the way. The CK family is a huge part of any success I’ve accomplished thus far. When I stumble you try to catch me. When I fall…you helped me up, so I could dust off and start over without judgment because you all understand.

You have inspired me, by reading your blog entries I realized I am not 100% LIVING. I used to be a very active person; an avid hiker, swimmer, cyclist, horseback riding, outdoor, physically active person. I see you doing these and others things I used to do, have always wanted to do, that I can’t because of physical limitations or fear. I want to change this, I’m tired of living my life sitting on the sidelines, watching and cheering everyone else on…I can and should LIVE too! I feel a major shift coming, not sure exactly what I’m going to do yet but I am sure that I must get out of my comfort zone to make it happen.

I also wrote yesterday about my waiting game with the magnesium citrate and everything eventually turned “out” OK. No MRI or PT needed…Thank Goodness. Oh yeah, my bone density test came back normal as well!

This morning I weighed in at 207.1 LBS! I was holding onto 4 ½ pounds! Since I’ve never had to do a magnesium citrate treatment before, I’m not sure if this weight will come back or not but I will enjoy the number today!

I was watching Extreme Weight loss last night and something occurred to me…what a transformation the contestants make physically and mentally and those starting video’s they are pretty powerful. I thought “Hey! I have a smart phone that records video, I could record a short video to my future self”, but what would I say to myself???

If you recorded a video for your future self regarding your journey, what would YOU tell YOURSELF? Think about it…I will be.

Have a terrific day!

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I'm at work hiding in my cubicle, to weak to really walk around...I think I'm having a reaction to the Linzess medication. I already called the doctor, I'm just waiting it out at the moment and then a coworker will drive me home or follow me if I feel up to driving by 4:30.

My mouth is incredibly dry (even though I've had 48oz of water already), I have chills (come in waves), severe headache, sinus pressure, when I touch my skin it feels tingly like a limb that has fallen asleep (slightly numb and tingle sensation). I'm told I am very pale...I just don't feel good, not sick bad but something is wrong bad. I looked up the adverse side effects online; headache is listed under the nervous system disorders category, upper respitory and sinusitis are listed under the Infections and Infestations category. As I read more dehydration is a common complaint, probably because the medicine pulls water into the intestine. I'm actually afraid to drink anymore water where I'm at because another side effect is diarrhea and I don't want that at work.

As I thought about it I realized it was freaking humid as hell here yesterday, we had the air on and I was freezing but it only started around 11am...I took the Linzess at 6:30am. Then this morning I was up at 5am cause of my cats fighting and no chills, took the Linzess at 6:30 am again and by 10:30-11am I had chills, then at around 1pm I started getting a little headache and then pressure in my sinuses, followed by dry mouth and a little weakness. Only 15 more minutes to go.