Breathing and new schedule
Last weekend I went into a bar for about ten minutes to take birthday presents to a couple of friends. I only stayed long enough to watch them open their presents but now wish I had not. I have not had to use my inhaler since May 20, 2010. That is more than 4 months. However, within minutes of leaving the bar my lungs started to hurt and I spent the next several days progressively getting worse in the breathing department. Last night, after a 40 minute battle to breathe I was finally forced to break down and use my inhaler. It made breathing easier within minutes. At some level I could not help but feel like by using it I had failed in someway... moved backwards. I fought the need to use it and did not do so until my only alternative was to call 911 or pass out and simply cease to live. I am so afraid of relying on my inhaler as a crutch that I did not want to use it. In the before before time anytime I would struggle to breathe I would hit the inhaler filling my body with steroids and drugs. Since then, I have learned that I have never known how to breathe before in my life and took the time to learn correctly. Learning the correct way to breathe had an immediate impact on my lungs and the inhaler became unneeded for a time. I realize that I should be happy to have only had to rely on the inhaler once in 4 months. I am sure any other asthmatic or person with Restrictive Lung Disorder would be thrilled. I should see this in a more positive light and I am working to be able to do so. I must accept that sometimes I am going to need my inhaler, and that may be a simple fact that remains with me throughout the remainder of my life regardless of how much weight I lose, or how in shape I become. I must understand that " Needs are needs". and by definition we cannot survive without them being met, To fight against meeting a need in myself is to fight against my very own survival. ... and right now what I am doing on this path of Kyokushin is literally " Fighting for my Life" as the name of my journal points out. I will accept my needs for what they are and understand that needs are needs... simple as that.
I am not feeling to well, and plan to go to the doctor tomorrow if I do not see significant improvement over night. I am pretty certain that I have pneumonia developing in my left lung and possibly on the right. I am beginning to get very frustrated with being ill. Being sick so much the past 3 weeks is standing between me and my goals. I try to remember that time is irrelevant as long as I am moving in the right direction, but struggle with that concept a great deal. All of this started with inhaling smoke in the bar.
By the way, I will NEVER again step into a smoke filled building, especially a bar.
The schedule I created and implemented is helping me out in so many ways that I cannot even describe. I should have done this weeks ago. My day is organized and structured with a healthy balance of work and play, exercise and relaxation, mental and physical stimulation. I am feeling more balanced and centered than I have in years.
About a week ago Randy and I decided to make some small changes to my diet plan. I started eating very small meals very frequently. I am hoping this change will kick start my weight loss again. I am certainly not complaining about the pounds lost. I realize the scale may not be changing but I am still dropping inches. I know this is a result of building muscle, which is a good thing. Eating in this manner is serving a couple of purposes for me. It keeps my sugar levels more balanced, making me feel better throughout the day, preventing the highs and lows. I do not ever feel hungry. Not feeling hungry is making it easier to kick the popcorn addiction ( possible addiction... possible denial). Keeps my metabolism working thus increasing my energy level throughout the day and increasing the amount of activity I am getting, This was a good change.
I have also started a short work out each morning now, so I get a fair amount of exercise each day...including my off days for training. I spend some time stretching in the morning then some calisthenics. I have set a goal of doing 100 regular crunches each day and 200 3-point crunches; this is basically the equivalent of 700+ crunches. It is a tough goal but I have met it yesterday and today. I can do this. My abdomen is sore as hell, but I am happy.
I have had several people ask me to post my diet and exercise on a daily basis but that is just too much effort. I have decided though to give you a sample of today only.
Food intake today: 120PM ( 20 minutes after waking) 1 piece of toast on sunbeam bread with 0 calorie butter spray and 1/4 cup applesauce ( 90 calories total)
4 PM 1 Jr. Pancake with peanutbutter and sugar free syrup and 1 egg beaters scrambled egg ( 330 calories total)
6PM Breadstick and cheese handi-snack ( 70 calories)
830 PM 4 Oz. grilled chicken breast and 6 baby carrots with ranch ( 270 calorie total)
1230 AM ( 4 hours since last meal due to short nap, ate 45 minutes after waking) 1 hard boiled egg and package of budhig ham ( total calories 160)
230 AM 1/2 tuna egg salad sandwhich on Sunbeam bread, 1 celery stick with peanutbutter, 1 mozerella cheese stick, 3 baby carrots with ranch ( calorie total 300)
Total calories for the day 1220.... My max allowed is 1500. I target 1200, and must have at least 900.
Exercise : 215-245 PM.... Stretching, leglifts, 30 pushups, 100 straight crunches, 50 3-point crunches.
6-605 PM 50 3-point crunches
12-1210 AM .... 50 3-point crunches
630-830 PM .... Karate, 50 3-point crunches
Total exercise for the day 2 hours 45 minutes, crunches goals met.