What the Health is Going On

Dear Bloggie,

I thought I should bring you up to date on what’s been happening to me since I’ve been under investigation for the 2 TIA-like (mini-stroke) episodes I have experienced thus far in 2016.

I have completed all of the scheduled testing and last week I saw the neurologist to get the news about the results of the 2 MRIs I recently was privileged to receive. No, I am not being sarcastic, Blog. How can you think that?!? Wait. Uh, OK. I have been a bit of a pill IRL about the medications the doctors have put me on, and all of the tests. I’ll own it.

But really Blog, I am also very grateful at the same time that I live in this great country where health care is deemed to be a necessity and everyone’s right and the griping is about being made to wait a bit rather than how to come up with the money for diagnosis and treatment.

So, to describe my results in one word: NEGATIVE.

Negative, negative, negative. All of my cardiac and neurological testing is blessedly, head-scratchingly negative. So what happened to me? Dunno. Will it happen again? Dunno.

Can I get on with my life now? Will my doctor release the restriction on me that I am not to perform any exercise more strenuous than a slow walk? The cardiologist wants to see me again and you bet I will be asking.

In the meantime, I have been focusing on cleaning up my diet for the past 2 weeks using a no-sugar, no grains, low carbohydrate high fat Paleo-ish approach. I’ve done this before with magnificent results but since JD passed I have been kinda loosey-goosey with my diet and here we are 3 years and 20 pounds later. A-HEM!

So, two weeks have gone by and I am only a scant 2 pounds lighter…dammit. I am a bit disappointed it isn’t more but I am not as active as I could be (see exercise restriction, above). And I am older too, meaning whatever magic menopause is wreaking/has wrought upon my metabolism since about 4 years ago could be to blame as well.

However, I feel GREAT! I really do. I am up early (like 5 am early) each day with tons of creative and mental energy to burn. I’m alert all day – no afternoon slumping – and sleep well each night.

No cravings anymore. In fact very little hunger or when it hits, it is so subtle of a nag that I can easily ignore it until I am ready to make time to eat. This I remember very well from the last time I ate this way. Nice to not feel shakey or sick or mentally drained if more than 4 hours passes between meals and my blood sugar tanks. I’ve turned myself back into a fat-burning machine, from a sugar-burner. And no “carb flu” feelings either. I guess my body remembers the good ol’ days when I took better care of it. 😉

So what if it takes me 20 weeks (or more) to lose 20 pounds, dear Blog? The time will be here regardless of whether I try to change my habits or not, and how nice will it be to arrive there and have removed that excess weight? I’d love to train again for another half-marathon (on doc’s blessing of course) and it certainly would go a lot easier with 20 less pounds to carry.

Maybe I can even stop taking some medication. I’m thinking the blood pressure meds, at least. And maybe the blood thinner too. It might take a bit longer and a couple of more blood tests to convince the doc I really don’t need a statin in my life. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Rock on,

The WB

6 thoughts on “What the Health is Going On

  1. Hello, Widow. Glad to hear your tests were negative. I’m also working on shedding a bit of post-menopausal avoirdupois. And by “working on,” I mean thinking about taking action. Best of luck with your recovery and training. Will you be doing without the sugar and starches all through the holidays? That would be tough.

    1. Widow Badass

      Hey there Rhonda, thanks! My plan is to take the holidays day by day. I have gone through the holidays once before without a single bite of anything sinful so I know it can be done. One thing about cutting back on starches and sugary things, you kinda lose your taste for them after a while. If you do indulge, they don’t taste as good as you remember. So I will be very very selective on what I put in my mouth – it will have to be really worth it. And if it is, I will enjoy it to the utmost!!! (Wheat-free shortbread, I am looking at YOU!)

  2. Glad to hear your tests were negative and you are feeling better. I’ve also h ad trouble losing weight since menopause, but I feel pretty sure that slow weight loss is the healthy way to go. I did lose 10 pounds in 10 days following my recent surgery, and I really don’t recommend doing it that way! Small, well-chosen meals have allowed me to keep the weight off and feel healthy. Hang in there.

  3. Jonathan

    You are absolutely right – when we did the no carb diet early last year, I dropped 18 pounds in 5 months but once we started slipping off the diet, one brownie at a time, we went back to carbs again – but didn’t gain the weight back, just created a new plateau. Have to get back on the wagon again, but not today, today is the worst day — I have cold roast beef in the fridge and a tangy mustard that is waiting to be made into a sandwich (can’t get through the day without at least one justification.) But we will get back on it and everything you say is true – slept better, had more energy, and I didn’t even feel like I was dieting, and after a few days I didn’t even feel like I was missing carbs. Good on you… we are behind you — way behind at the moment, but we will be there. Maybe tomorrow…

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