So Far So Good!

So Far So Good!

It has been 27 days since my closure. Tomorrow, will mark 4 weeks. In these 4 weeks, life has made a dramatic turn for the better. My throat is 100% healed up and the bruise at the catheter sight has almost completely faded.  

The most noticeable change has been in my energy levels. I sleep amazing (most nights) and wake up rested. Even better yet, I end each day will some energy left in my tank! This is a dramatic change from my tank running on fumes by noon. In fact, last night, I slept 7 straight hours (which was unheard of before the procedure). I woke this morning at 5:15 without an alarm feeling rested! I felt so wonderful, I decided to get up and go swim. Keep in mind, I left a warm bed to go outside in the WINTER and by choice jumped in the cold pool. It is now evening, and I still have energy left to write this after a full day in my fourth grade classroom, coming home with my kiddos, and making dinner. What a total change from the last few years!

My incidents of headaches has also decreased dramatically.  I think I have only had 1 this entire month. My palpitations are not noticeable most of the time, although, sometimes still present. I have also been told, I seem calmer and more relaxed by many people including my family. It is so amazing to not be dragging myself through life.

According to my Movescount account, I have exercised 16 times since February 7, 2015. For those of you who don't like math, that is 16 out of 19 days that I have been able to move! I have burned 2639 calories biking or running (the only time I wear the actual HR monitor). In hours, I have biked 5:05, run 2:17, swam 1:10, and skate skied 0:43. I have also completed 3 CrossFit workouts (modified, don't worry nothing crazy).  

This exercise has definitely had some ups and downs. I do pay very close attention to my HR (heart rate) and RPE (rate of perceived exertion). There have been a couple workouts I have finished where I have thought, "What have I done...."  for a couple hours. When this happened, I used it as a gauge to step back do less the next time. It has been a challenge for me to figure out where to begin with my baseline.  It has been 5 years, since I have had to start completely over from scratch.  Overall, though, I have been feeling great during and after each workout and am delighted to be back in the saddle.  

I am learning to check my ego at the door and listen to my body VERY closely.  As a former personal trainer, I know it takes 2 week to lose an endurance base and 6-8 to gain it back under normal conditions. Therefore, I am only half way there.  The great unknown is how my heart will respond and regulate with increased activity.  Right now, I am happy to report, so far so good.