Life Goes On...
continued
So things on the weight loss front are still running smoothly. I'm eating more carbs now, which can boost my energy sometimes, but for the most part they make me feel like taking a LOOOONG nap right after eating them. I'm also on some heavy-duty drugs for my arthritis, and those tend to zap my energy level sometimes, but other than that, things are good. I just had my wisdom teeth out yesterday (all four of 'em, and ALL were impacted) so the happy drugs and I are getting to be REALLY good friends. You know you're in a sad place when the two things that make you smile most are the bottle of grape flavored children's tylenol and your pharmacist. But this too shall pass. Hopefully the company that manufactures Enbrel, a new psoriatic arthritis drug, will have its new plant up and running (in Rhode Island, coincidentally) with a month or two and I can trade my happy drugs for injections (which at this point, I'd gladly do). One of the downsides of losing this weight is the increased joint pain. Sound weird? I thought so too until my doc explained it to me... since I am losing weight, I'm losing the pads of fat that used to serve as a cushion of sorts for my already achy and stiff joints, which exposes them more directly to the demands that I place on them every day. It sucks, but they've gotta get used to it- now that I'm losing the weight I've got a ton of energy and I just can't put a halt on it because I'm stiff, know what I mean? Gosh it feels great to "rise in revolt" to my arthritis rather than to be glad to have it to use as an excuse for not doing anything that requires movement.
In other news... that student Health Club that I spoke of in my last entry in September has really taken off, and the kids seem to love it. They are intense! They have a huge list of things that they want to do, and they are definitely a group of kids that get things done! Their first "order of business" is to help out at an animal shelter. Since there are none in Portland that will let them help (liability insurance issues- you must be over 14 years old to help out in an animal shelter) they have decided to go to a place in Windham, a few towns over, and visit with the animals. They're also planning to go to the Maine Rock Gym here in Portland together one afternoon, and they're making plans to do out to dinner and the movies. The ladies want to have a makeover afternoon, and I volunteered some Mary Kay samples if they could find another adult to do makeovers with them- they asked Regina (one of the teachers I work with) to do it, who I think is a perfect choice- I don't know anyone else who would know more about makeup and style and colors. They're ALSO going to start the 100 mile club as soon as possible. We've had to start having two meetings every week to be able to have enough time to discuss everything we need to discuss (although one student told me that they just wanted to have more of the muffins that I make for the meetings). They are an amazing and inspiring group of people and I'm looking forward to working with them this year. I don't think I would have had the energy or the ambition to decide to start something like this up before surgery- losing this weight, and the prospect of losing more has really empowered me more to go for the goals and the ideas that I think of. Last year I would have never been able to do something like this... and I'm also working on organizing health events for the staff this year- we've already got an aerobics class getting started, and I'm calling around to find out about Yoga and maybe a gym membership discount for teachers and staff. It feels so great to think of an idea and just go with it rather than hem and haw over doing it and balancing it with my thoughts about how I look, my lack of energy, etc. My classes have changed, too, I think. Last year I had 80 students and some days I felt like I could barely make it home afterwards and that 80 students was just TOO many... and when that number went up to 125 in the Spring, I thought I woudn't make it! But this year I have 200 students, two grade levels, and a lot more balancing to do... and it feels great! Sure, I'm exhausted at the end of the day, but I just always feel like "doing" instead of "resting." It's a great feeling!!!