GGsgotguns’s BodyBlog

Got into the gym twice this week and was finally starting to feel like I was getting some of my strength back.

Had the finals for Erie Idol Thursday night.  The place was packed and full of smoke.  I should have just left when I realized how smokey it was.  But I felt bad for the tons of friends that came out to support me.  So…. I sung my first song, stepped off the stage and fall to the floor in pain struggling to breathe.  My boyfriend rushes me to the ER where I find out that I now have pluerisy.  It is the inflammation of the lining of the lungs.)

The nurse doing my oxygen was giving me a lecture on singing with bronchitis and going back into a smoke filled environment.  I’m on Darvocet for pain as well as an inhaler.  I was already on an antibiotic from the bronchitis.  I am unable to take any anti inflammatories because of my kidney disease and haven’t been able to keep my temp down consistently.

Needless to say…… I did not go to my competition today!  My boyfriend joked because I have a habit of forgetting to breathe when I lift heavy, especially when going for PR’s.  So, he said it didn’t matter that I was having problems breathing! 

So, I am just hanging out in bed, getting better.  But as soon as I am, I’m back in the gym ready to get back to where I was before I got sick!

Hope you are all staying healthy and lifting strong! 

By the way - If any of you do smoke, you are right, it is your right. But PLEASE try and be sensitive to how it is affecting the non smokers around you.   Not to mention what it is doing to your own body! I bet your training would be more successful without it too!

Cathi  

Was hoping to at least go to the gym and get some super light lifting in or just even get in the hot tub.  But I came home from work today totally exhausted.  I’m heading to bed.  Tonight will be the first killer ab class that I have missed other than when we were in Hawaii. 

Saturday’s comp is not looking good!  Think it best to just rest and regain strength!

I’m soooooo sick of being sick!

So, I made it to teh finals for Erie Idol.  Finals are Thursday though, so I’mnot sureif I will be able to compete or not.  The winner wins a 10 songs recording demo, $500.00 cash a $200.00 gift certificate to a jewelry store and a flat screne TV.  Plus, a chance to sing a duet on a CD with a guy that made the top 10 in American Idol last year! That $500.00 would be great start up money for starting my fitness program and workout videos for kids and adults with special needs.  Or….. it would come in handy to pay for all this ding dang medicine!  I work per diem now with special neds kids and I have no health benefits!  Not too good for someone with my kidney problems. Trying to get a new job or get my special needs personal trainer business idea off the ground so I can afford ot buy some insurance!  Looking for someone to help me with grant writing right now!

Woke up this morning and felt as if someone was sitting on my chest.  Went to the ER to find out that I now have bronchitis!  Doctor thinks it’s from inhaling too much smoke at the bar where my singing competition was Friday night!  I’m usually pretty careful as I know my immunity is down with my kindeys not doing well, but I didn’t think it was that smokey.  I usually don’t go to bars for that reason.  So……. who knows?  Taking it one day at a time!  Still not ready to give up! Planning on a super lite day in the gym tomorrow. We’ll see!

Lift strong!

Woke up with a 103 temp and throwing up like crazy.  Long week of trips to the hosiptal for tests and tons of blood work.  Cholesterol and blood pressure up and iron low. Not good conditions for lifting!  But normal in the life of a renal patient!  Just trying to stay strong mentally and stay positive. I don’t care what anyone says.  Whenever I am not able to lift it is so much harder to get and stay healthy.  I know it doesn’t make since to most doctors, but I know most of you know what I mean.

Anyway have a competition in Pittsburgh Saturday.  Haven’t had a regular workout week in weeks.  Still lifting strong when I do get in the gym, just not pushing it.  Trying to decide about my competition Saturday.  It’s in Pittsburgh.  I competed Novice in my first power lifting competition last month.  I did really well and scored high enough for Nationals and placed high enough for Worlds but cannot compete in Worlds as a Novice.  I have to do at least one meet as  Master and this is the only meet I can attend.  So….. think I’m just gonna go and see what the competition is like and if I can get a score and place without pushing it.  But if I’m lagging in score I can always pull a half way decent deadlift out of my butt.  It is by far my best event and I have never missed a weight!

 We’ll see…………

Made it to the gym with Terry and his son yesterday!  Did some abs and legs and a few sets of squats. Felt really good! Then went into the sauna and actually sweat for the first time ever!  Had no chose but to take the diuretics perscribed by my doctor.  I use to run marathons and never break a sweat.  Everyone thought it was great, but it’s not fun not being bale to cool yourself down and to retain everyonce of water you drink while running 26 miles!  Okay, it does come in handy when you don’t have to stop in the middle to use the restroom.

So, needless to say, I am getting better, my kidneys are trying hard to work effectively for me with lots of pharmsudical help. I’m feeling stronger everyday and can’t wait to get back to my normal workouts!

Hoping to be off the diurtetics in time to compete the 28th.  I know that there are people that abuse them, but for me it’s a life thing!  It’s saddens me that I cannot compete while on them.

Hello everyone!

Just at my computer wishes I was at the gym.  Havent; been abel to work out in over a week and it’s killing me.  But I’m determined to get back to lifting soon.  Just doing my best to stay positive and get and stay stronger everyday! My kidney disease depletes my iron so I go for intensive intrevenous iron treatment three consecutive days every month.  I have been spilling toxic amounts of protein, so my activities are limited until hopefully the new medicines can get my levels back to what my doctor feels comfortable with. The disease also increases my cholesterol. It stinks, I eat very well (vegetarian) and and very fit and yet I have the cholestoerol level of a 300 pound women that frequents McDonalds!  Go figure!  Nothing I can do, but keep taking what’s prescribed to me and to keep on keeping on!  Find out Thursday when I can start lifting again! So….. the next time you want to skip a workout for whatever reason, GET TO THE GYM!  Because it really sucks when you CAN’T go!

Hey, just wanted to take some time to wish everyone a Happy Holiday!  For those of you fellow believers out there…. "Happy Resurrection Celebration!"  My kids really aren’t that much into candy, but I realized how easy to is to pop some chocolate into your mouth when you’re putting that Easter basket together.  The sad thing is that I don’t even care that much for chocolate.  But when it’s right there……… So beware of the chocolate and leave it to those that won’t have to deal with the sugar crash during training! I’m off to die some eggs and celebrate new life!

Hey! 

I have been being treated for a kidney disirder for 13 years now.  At times t’s worse than othres, but I have helped slow down the progression with life and nutrition choices.  Since my disease causes me to spill protein, I cannot take protein suppliments.  It also causes me to retain water.  Sometimes as much as 10 - 12 pumds worth!  My weight ranges now from 123 - 135.  I weighed in at 127 at a competition a week and a half ago and I am now weighing 132 and I was in Hawaii last week on vacation and it was too hot to eat so I should technically have lost weight!

Someone told me about parsley being a natural diueretic and it worked for a while, but I think I’m immune.  With competing all natural, I cannot take diuretics.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Last Saturday I did my first power lifting contest.  I really enjoy deadlifting.  Everyone says I make it look easy.  I ended up doing 245 10 pounds over my old perosnal best!  It was such a rush having them take the 2 45s off each side and replacing it with a 100!!!!!   Oh yeah, won my divison and got a real sword!  Competition in Baltimore this Saturday.  Going for a 275 deadlift!  I have yet to miss a deadlift, so…… I’m going for it! Want to get 300 by Nationals (July) and 350 by Worlds (November).  Should be attainable as I really have no clue what I’m doing.  Looking forward to taking off with the right training!