Day 1

Today I started my epic journey to healthiness. I weighed in at 190 first thing in the morning. I had planned to get up, take a shower, eat some cereal and head off to my very first Pilate's class. Instead I hit the snooze button until my bladder forced me out of bed and into the bathroom. With 45 minutes until I was set to be at the Studio I didn't have time for much. I scraped my hair back into a ponytail (thank god I have long hair) weighed myself (yay 190) and headed downstairs. With directions in my hand I grabbed a banana and was out the door. With my eyelids still feeling propped up by toothpicks I stopped for a red bull, slammed it, and made my way to the Studio. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but knowing that the guy who owned the place was also a Physical Therapist kept the fear at bay.

Fear, as everyone knows, can keep you immobilized. I've been immobilized for over a year. In fact I've probably done myself more harm than good because of my fear. When my disc first herniated I felt so much pain that any movement caused me to scream. Getting me onto the gurney when the ambulance came caused me to break out in a cold sweat. In the hospital, when they first brought me in they wouldn't give me any muscle relaxers until I peed. They gave me a bed pan and although I had to go I couldn't. I blamed it on a shy bladder. I had my fiance and an orderly bring me to the bathroom but when the orderly backed out and I turned to the toilet I couldn't bear any weight. I hit to the ground, screamed in pain, and was instantly covered with sweat and nearly passed out. I remember the orderly telling the Doc that my eyes were rolling. It was more horrendous than I can convey. So that's my fear. Pain.

When I pulled up to the address I was pleasantly surprised that as well as a Pilates Studio it was also a Physical Therapists office. If you've hurt your back and are also climbing out of pain, Pilates is the exercise to do. You should make sure that there's at least one certified physical therapists on the premises to ensure you don't overdo it. Jack, the therapist at the Studio, took a good history of my back problems and asked me a few questions. Jittery from red bull I answered his questions in an almost stutter and then was passed over to his right hand gal for my first class. It was very low impact so I was surprised at how much I sweating, but pleasantly surprised. She worked me through a handful of leg exercises until my legs were quivering and then switched to arm exercises which made me feel like a weakling. Best of all, no pain. I walked out of the Studio with trembling arms and legs, made my way to my Jeep and drove home. Happy.

Exercise is one part, but I'm also on weight watchers, the on-line version not the meeting one. I try and track what I eat every day and stay within my "points" and I manage more often than not. But some times you gotta give into the craving. Today I think I'll stay well within my points, but I'm not so sure. Carvel is only 3 minutes away. I'll let you know tomorrow if I made it through the night without caving.