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What a difference a month makes.....
Oct. 17th, 2013 12:46 amI'm blissed out right now. It's the third time today. One giant ball of endorphins.
I was up @ 6 this morning & out the door by 7, on my way to the gym, my mind set on a run on the elliptical. Headphones on, Alanis Morrisette in my ears, I started at an easy gambol for 5 minutes, then ran for the next 45. I would have liked to have done the full hour, but lacked the time. Two weeks ago, the first time I did an hour in at least 9 years, I waddled away from the machine slowly, dripping sweat behind. I remember sitting in the men's locker thereafter, thinking I needed to shower. Five minutes later, I was still thinking the same, having not moved.
I was tired. Not crippled. Just tired. I had a bold sense of accomplishment & satisfaction. The euphoria of the endorphins however, eluded me that morning.
Not so today.
I got off the machine today because I had to. I walked away & 4 minutes later I was lathering up and rinsing off. I felt great. Better yet, nothing hurt.
30 minutes later I was sharing b'fast with two colleagues in the doctors' lounge at the hospital. Said my ER colleague, "you're looking thinner; are you?" I smiled. Said my physiatrist colleague, "I'll bet you just came from the gym." I nodded. I sipped my coffee, debating how much to share.
The physiatrist is a lovely woman, an osteopath & a recent permanent addition to the staff. She & I have spoken about my new reality a couple of weeks ago. "He's in remission," she informed the ER doc.
I explained to him the inadvertant discovery of my celiac disease, the rather sudden resolution of my arthritis as well as my psoriasis from eliminating all wheat, and my new sense of freedom. She asked how much I've lost.
"About 20."
"In a month?"
"Not quite."
She put down her Danish.
I noticed later, my legs are stronger. I'm beginning to see and feel the muscles in my legs and butt, & I'm relishing their awakening.
I move better. It's no longer the strain it was just a month ago.
I walked back over to the hospital @ noon time, intent on a light lunch. The day was sparklingly clear, the morning chill and fog long gone. I was rewarded with a reasonable choice to eat. The roasted veggies were heavy on the cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts, both cooked just to the point of starting to caramelize their natural sugars. The Caesar salad had been left undressed & was thankfully light on the croutons. Less to pick out. The main course was Jambalaya; I was able to pick out the chicken with just a modicum of the seasoned rice. I thought about the sausage, but decided it wasn't worth the risk, not knowing for sure if there were bread crumbs as a binder within. Similarly, I skipped the soup. For once, when I was done eating there still stuff on my plate. I had no urge to eat any more. As I dropped the paper plate into the trash, I thought, "who are you & what have you done with Weaver?"
Tonight was ripe for marital time. My ease of movement was there as well. I'm feeling as though years have been peeled back.
My personal doc has a coaching and psych background. She's been telling me to visualize the normal sized person within. I'm not there yet. I'm having too much fun getting re-acquainted with the able-bodied person within.
The perks are superb. If this is what giving up wheat will allow me to do again, I'm so there. This is my new paradigm.
I was up @ 6 this morning & out the door by 7, on my way to the gym, my mind set on a run on the elliptical. Headphones on, Alanis Morrisette in my ears, I started at an easy gambol for 5 minutes, then ran for the next 45. I would have liked to have done the full hour, but lacked the time. Two weeks ago, the first time I did an hour in at least 9 years, I waddled away from the machine slowly, dripping sweat behind. I remember sitting in the men's locker thereafter, thinking I needed to shower. Five minutes later, I was still thinking the same, having not moved.
I was tired. Not crippled. Just tired. I had a bold sense of accomplishment & satisfaction. The euphoria of the endorphins however, eluded me that morning.
Not so today.
I got off the machine today because I had to. I walked away & 4 minutes later I was lathering up and rinsing off. I felt great. Better yet, nothing hurt.
30 minutes later I was sharing b'fast with two colleagues in the doctors' lounge at the hospital. Said my ER colleague, "you're looking thinner; are you?" I smiled. Said my physiatrist colleague, "I'll bet you just came from the gym." I nodded. I sipped my coffee, debating how much to share.
The physiatrist is a lovely woman, an osteopath & a recent permanent addition to the staff. She & I have spoken about my new reality a couple of weeks ago. "He's in remission," she informed the ER doc.
I explained to him the inadvertant discovery of my celiac disease, the rather sudden resolution of my arthritis as well as my psoriasis from eliminating all wheat, and my new sense of freedom. She asked how much I've lost.
"About 20."
"In a month?"
"Not quite."
She put down her Danish.
I noticed later, my legs are stronger. I'm beginning to see and feel the muscles in my legs and butt, & I'm relishing their awakening.
I move better. It's no longer the strain it was just a month ago.
I walked back over to the hospital @ noon time, intent on a light lunch. The day was sparklingly clear, the morning chill and fog long gone. I was rewarded with a reasonable choice to eat. The roasted veggies were heavy on the cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts, both cooked just to the point of starting to caramelize their natural sugars. The Caesar salad had been left undressed & was thankfully light on the croutons. Less to pick out. The main course was Jambalaya; I was able to pick out the chicken with just a modicum of the seasoned rice. I thought about the sausage, but decided it wasn't worth the risk, not knowing for sure if there were bread crumbs as a binder within. Similarly, I skipped the soup. For once, when I was done eating there still stuff on my plate. I had no urge to eat any more. As I dropped the paper plate into the trash, I thought, "who are you & what have you done with Weaver?"
Tonight was ripe for marital time. My ease of movement was there as well. I'm feeling as though years have been peeled back.
My personal doc has a coaching and psych background. She's been telling me to visualize the normal sized person within. I'm not there yet. I'm having too much fun getting re-acquainted with the able-bodied person within.
The perks are superb. If this is what giving up wheat will allow me to do again, I'm so there. This is my new paradigm.
