Not Feeling Well

Yes, I am still struggling with some kind of illness. Since late November I haven’t been well, not completely. Lately it seems to be some residual sinus stuff going on. But even on days when my sinuses feel okay, I am overly tired – more than I think I should be. I cannot figure out a reason but it is all I can do to teach school to my son, get my writing assignments done and make dinner.

Even then dinner is a haphazard throw-together that follows no nutritional guidelines what so ever. It is whatever is easiest and takes the least effort. Lately that has included a lot of heavy pasta dishes, packaged foods or fast food. There is absolutely no exercising at all. Just climbing the stairs to wake my son each morning leaves me winded and tired out.

I also have this lingering dry cough. There is nothing in my chest or throat. Its just a cough that seems to triggered by either really dry air or really cold air. In addition to the being easily winded, I’m beginning to suspect COPD. I was a smoker for 22 years but gave it up 12 years ago. Over the last couple of years, I have felt my lung capacity diminishing. I chalked it up to the fact that I was gaining weight. Recent research I’ve done has informed me that COPD can be aggravated by obesity. Perfect! How do I exercise when it literally takes my breath away?

If I don’t feel better by next week, I will go to the doctor. A friend also suggested I might have mono. Either possibility isn’t desirable.

Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know I haven’t disappeared. I just haven’t made any progress and with the way I am feeling, it isn’t likely I will anytime soon. It’s kind of hard to keep coming back and saying I’m starting over again. On the days when I feel better, I have every intention of it. Then ther’s the rest of the days.

I’ll keep you guys posted as I figure this out.

January Ends, I'm at a Loss

Yes, January comes to an end today folks. I wish I were putting up great numbers for my weight loss plan but that is not the case. Still, I am down a total of 3.5 pounds for the month and a loss is a loss. In retrospect, I have been ill a lot the past 2 months: colds, flu, ear infections amd more ear infections, not to mention that awful visit from Aunt Flo and company.

Illness is not an excuse but I used it as one. I was too tired to cook nutritious meals. Then I was too tired to shop for the appropriate foods. While I was tired and even missed a lot of time from work, those still shouldn't be acceptable excuses. If I had planned properly in the first place, I would have had the proper foods in the house and there would have been no excuse not to cook them.

I am still not 100% well. I am struggling to to fight the urge to eat comfort foods and convenience foods and to get back on track. On the bright side, Ihave increased my water intake to a steady 4 to5 8-oz glasses a day. I only have soda once or twice a week instead of nearly every day and I have returned to 1/3 caffeine in my coffee. So I take heart from the strides I've made in spite of my lazy/sick self wanting to take the easy road recently.

Here's hoping for a better February.