I went to find an image for this post for “Sub-200” and it came up with a bunch of pictures of machine guns. I only meant to imply that my weight is temporarily back under two-hundred pounds. It’s been a calorie battle since surgery in January, losing that daily burn from running that helped me comfortably maintain between 190-195 on average. I could eat and drink anything back then, and yes there were occasional blips of over 200 on the scale after spending weeks on a cruise ship, but it came off easily. This battle has been different. 

With limited exercise, I was on an upward trend that was getting out of control, at least from my perspective. Ten or fifteen pounds can be easily hidden under baggy shirts and loosened belts. However, I wasn’t comfortable and for months prohibited from any heavy lifting. I thought walking more might be the solution, but it wasn’t working. I then started to get cramps in my legs that escalated into full-scale sciatica – more pain than I’ve probably ever experienced. It brings me to my knees every morning, as I try to simply pick up the dog poop. Neighbors have seen me on the ground, wondering if I’m OK? The stiffness escalates when I first get out of bed, even despite frequent trips to the bathroom and stretching overnight. My first stop is at the kitchen freezer, that now works properly, for an ice pack.

Moving around for a few hours completely eliminates any pain. I go to the fitness center every morning, spend about 45-minutes on a stationary bike, 10-minutes rowing, and do several sets of light weights. I then try to do some evening walks with the support of the dog buggy. Push-ups have made my pec muscles/cartilage tender, so I’ve backed-off a bit. I’ve also cut back on sweets and alcohol. Bottom line, my weight registered 199.5 this morning. Five more pounds to go, and I’ll be satisfied, if I can at least stay Sub-200!