What If I Can?

You may or may not remember that I wrote about my thyroid a while back. I wrote that I was going to try new thyroid medicine. WOW. What a difference!!

I went for a haircut. My stylist said, “You have tons of new hair coming in, it's maybe 6 to 8 weeks old! I mean it's all over, not just around the hairline like I usually see!”!

Well, what do you know, because I was on the new medicine about 8 weeks by the time I got a haircut. Slowly, I noticed I had more energy. However, my weight still wasn't going down. At all. My doctor said the weight loss could take up to 6 months. I was NOT about to wait around for 6 months.

I'd been seeing advertisements for a workout studio. I know a few people who have gone to this place and shed some weight. I decided to stop in and see what it was all about. Guess who signed up for a 6 week challenge? Yep. This gal.

Essentially, the challenge is to lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks, following the food plan and exercise regimen.

As the start date grew closer, that little voice of self-doubt started to creep in.

What if you can't do it?

What if you can't give up carbs?

What if you can't do the exercises?

The louder voice, the OLD me voice said, WHAT IF I CAN??

And so I started on June 5^th. It was hard to drive to the place. It was hard to walk in the door. It was hard to start to move. It was hard to keep moving. It was hard. But not impossible. I was DOING it! I was getting muscle aches and sore joints. I was feeling pain, but it was pain that could be eased with ibuprofen. I can't tell you the last time I had that feeling.

So in these 2 weeks, I've lost 10 pounds so far. More importantly, I FEEL really good. I'm kinda proud that I'm pushing through the exercises, and kinda proud that I haven't strayed from the meal plan. I've gotten stronger, more flexible, and I can't believe the energy. I haven't once been tempted to skip a session. I even bought workout clothes and sneakers. It's been YEARS since I owned sneakers.

I'm still unable to do a push up (even a modified one) and I don't have the coordination for burpees. I'm doing a modified burpee and something else instead of a push up. I'm using a support for balance when I need it. BUT I'M DOING IT.

My doctors would tell me that I would feel better if I exercised, but before I started the different thyroid medicine, I could barely stand long enough to cook. Once I was on the thyroid medicine, I really felt how I used to feel. It's amazing how I've been under a fog for years, but it's finally lifting.

So, how is all this affecting my MS? Well, my legs feel as though they are on FIRE when I go to bed at night. My balance and coordination have not improved one iota. I hurt all over. I feel like a tuning fork inside of my legs and arms. But guess what? I had all of that before I started working out, didn't I?

I'll keep you updated, but I've got 4 weeks to lose 10 more pounds officially. I'm shooting for 20 more pounds in these 4 weeks.