Progress Update

Before Thanksgiving, I was doing great and making progress.  I somehow allowed myself to get derailed though.  I planned on Thanksgiving dinner being my first cheat MEAL.  However, my cheat meal turned into a cheat DAY, and my cheat day turned into four cheat days.  Yes, I did some damage.  My weight was right back up to where it was when I began.  Luckily, it was mostly water weight, and I'm now back to where I was before Thanksgiving.  This did put me behind though. So, now I'm busting my ass even harder.  I was doing 45 minutes of cardio twice per day.  I'm now doing an hour twice per day.  
I decided that I'd better just live on the stepmill for the next 15 weeks.  However, my soleus in my right leg is apparently pissed about all that stepping up.  I'm not sure if it's tendonitis or what, but I'm taking it slower on the stepmill and using the treadmill instead when I need to.  
I've also been making a conscious effort to do more stretching, and my flexibility is already back to where it needs to be!!!
Q and I are taking a very short trip to South Korea in a few days because I was asked to be on a talk show there!!!  I'm going to do my best not to fall off the diet wagon while we're away.  I'm not at all excited about the long flight, but I can't wait to see Korea!  I couldn't pass up this opportunity, even though the timing is horrible.  When I return, I'm sure I'll have a few stories to share with you!!  
BTW, 2012 is right around the corner! Have you decided on any resolutions? Fitness resolutions and goals??  You MUST have goals to achieve success!!!

Progress

Ok, so...after my last competition in March of '09, I have been trying to overcome some major hurdles. I have been really trying to get my thyroid, adrenals, metabolism, and hormones functioning and balanced again. I also injured my knees while tumbling last year. I am still trying to get my knees totally healed. Not being able to work out (and not eating properly...they do go hand in hand), along with screwed up hormones, no adrenal function and a thyroid that was very hypo, my body weight sky rocketed up to a whopping 182lbs....which is EXTREMELY heavy for me! I never weighed that much even when I was ready to pop out my babies!! I have had to buy clothes in the size 14-18 range, which in my wildest imagination would have never been in those sizes. As you can imagine, this whole thing has effected my mood, my self-esteem, my body image. I feel like a disgusting fat cow. It's mentally very difficult to go from being at 7% body fat ll the way up to 31%!!!
In the mean time, we also made the move back to AZ, which is "home" to us!! We are super happy to be back!! I have been seeing a naturopthic doctor and my favorite chiropractor since we've been back, and I am finally making progress!! I am now able to do light cardio, and some very light weight training! Now, if you know me at all, you know taking things light and easy in the gym TOTALLY goes against my grain! I do not like it at all! However, just being there and doing SOMETHING is progress!! I am back to a regular gym routine, light legs, cardio, abs, and stretching!! My flexibility is coming back very quickly!! I started on the treadmill, barely poking along at 2.5mph, just to see how my back and knees were going to react. They have been fine, and I'm gradually picking up the pace!! Today, I walked at 3.0mph!!!
My naturopathic doctor has also put me on a detox diet, which is extremely similar to a pre-contest diet, along with 2 detox shakes per day. Although the weight is not coming off as quickly as I'd like, it IS starting to come off! As of yesterday, I have dropped 7lbs!
Even though I have a LONG journey ahead of me, I am already starting to feel alive again! It's a good feeling!!!
I am going to TRY to post my progress on here regularly. Be on the look out for more updates soon!!