goforitnicks’s BodyBlog

Hello, Hello, I am back   As you know, I have been battling some health demons for the past month (who am I kidding, for the past 4 years). In the last month, during the fight the fluff challenge I was hit by an ailment that was defeating the battle of the bulge. Needless to say, I was pissed that all my hard work to reduce my midsection was drowned in a pile of medical mystery bloat. I didn’t want to see a gym ever again. What was the point… 

Today is day 4 on antibiotics and since I was feeling a bit better I decided to go on a bike ride. It was a gorgeous evening after some torrential rains so I really wanted to soak up the opportunity. About 15 mins into my ride, savouring each moment, imagining the trek ahead, I bend the corner to come to a screeching halt. A fallen tree laid in front of me.  “What?! bleep, bleep, bleep”  I muttered. My exhilarating ride was cut short by branches and tree bark strewn all over the pathway. There was no way I could have ridden over the trunk of the tree.  All the negative self-talk came over me like a flood. I felt defeated. After about 2 mins of beating up myself for even trying, it dawned on me that this fallen tree is a metaphor for life. Every time we decide to take a path to happiness there will be something to challenge our stride. An obstacle to test our faith, our will, our dreams. In my relatively weak physical condition, I picked up my bike put it over my shoulders and stumbled and bumbled across the maze. I finally made it over, knee scrapes and all, and mounted my bike for the rest of the journey. Suddenly something sparked in me to return to my love of bodybuilding; to dust myself off and try again.  

The funny thing was that as soon as I was about to push off on the other side of that tree, an elderly lady was coming down the hill in the opposite direction stopped with perfect skill, picked up her bike and crossed the messed. No hesitation, no grumbling, very little stumbling. It was just one swoop of a movement, as if she had expected it or she had done this time and time again. So I hope one day I will be like that lady. As an obstacle or disappointment presents itself on my path to happiness, I would welcome its fangs as part of the journey and make my moves strategically. No quitting, very little hissy fits but instead unflinching tenacity all the way through. 

Nicky   

It’s over and it was sweat, blood and tears to the every end. I thank everyone who supported me and especially to those who went the extra mile this week with me! Yea for you!

Unfortunately, there will be no stats this week as I am going to use the end of week 5 as my last week. I didn’t have a fighting chance in week 6 so after attempting the gym once and passing out, I raised my white flag and surrendered. 

In the last two weeks I have been complaining of unexplainable abdomen swelling, nausea etc and fought the fluff with every trick in the book. After 5 hours in the hospital this past Tuesday, dibilitating pain and the contuined rise in fluff I realised that something was internally wrong. Very wrong. I won’t go into much details, but do know this people, while we fight fat and become focused on body image, some people are fighting for their lives and would just like to have a body. I am now the latter.

This challenge has really helped me to tap into emotional strength and it has brought a few of us closer together and I love that. I will take those positives with me. Now I am just trying to get through another day of excruiating pain while I place the power in the doctors’ hands.

Am I mad? Very. I am so upset that all my hard work is gone. I look like I am carrying a 3 month baby with all the swelling. What upsets me is that I had surgery for this type of thing already. Why are they back?!! (Men have it easy, I’m now convinced).

So there it is. I had 5 weeks of luxury, thinking that I control my body and I can shape it and bend it however I want. Look at me now, in a hospital gown humbled just hoping to get a fighting chance….one thing for sure now is that I would stop turning my noses up at "fat-looking" people. (Yes I admit I do that with my smug self anytime I am physically fit). You never know what bigger demons people are dealing with other than fitting into a smaller pant size.

So Peace out everybody! Go spend a little time with someone who really matters. When you are fighting for your life, the gym is not the place you would want to be…it’s in the arms of someone you love.

See you in another challenge…I will be back.

First I apologise for missing in action in responding to blogs last week. I haven’t been feeling too well and I kept putting it off for the next day, which turned into a week! That, and I wrote a long-ass response on Jules blog. Duty called, we had to support her last week right?

 So week four I took an intentional mini vacation and loved it. Week 5 I had a vacation alright but hated it. I am trying to listen to all the mothers in my life who thinks I work to hard and I need to rest. So instead of pushing myself as I usually do, I skipped the gym and ate carbs. I have never had an aunt flo like this since I was a teenager. Maybe it’s my body adjusting back from the last pregnancy, I don’t know but I have been dragging my behind all week, just wanting to sleep. If this week is the lead up, can’t wait for next week when it is actually here (boooooooooooooo).

So there folks. Week 5 was a flop. I am hoping to go to the gym this weekend to finish strong in week 6. Pray for me, cause I am not sure how that will look.

I hope all is well with others. My stats are below. My behind feels like a duck and I am carrying a large pail of bloat on my stomach, so thank God the actual stats are not too bad.

Congratulations to everyone who has finished this race!! And let’s rock on to the ones who are going strong. See you all in the next challenge.

I lost inches, but not pounds. I did not do much in week 4 so I am just happy that I didn’t gain. I had to measure several times because I couldn’t believe that I lost inches during a week when I ate whatever and hardly excercised. Right now I am totally bloated because of aunt flo’s impending visit. We will see how week 5 turns out!

Uhmmm, I have nothing to report really. This week I took a fitness break as I totally enjoyed my family, friends and a full day of sleep (sleeping aid). I didn’t weigh food, count calories or used food combination methods. I totally took a break from all things fitness except for two days which I did go to the gym for cardio.

I will update my chart tmr after I measure. I just came home from a cookout so I don’t want to shock myself.

Life this week was just amazing; I needed the rest/timeout. This minibreak probably would have been better after the challenge but I think I needed it then. As each day unfolded and presented itself with the opportunity to rest and just hang with family, I took it.

I’ll be back into the swing of things with a vengeance from tmr. I am already craving sweet potatoes and asparagus. I can’t explain it, but I feel rejuvenated.