#mac wellness

Other than a few quotes here, I've been pretty silent. My friends are thinking, "Thank the lord! She's stopped all that mad hatter chatter about the whole gym and working out thing!"

Yes, I've been quiet, but with good reason. Now a few people know, but most don't. I'm usually an open book, but this was something I wanted to keep close to my chest, at least until I had a better idea of what was going on.

Without going into too many personal details, I've had a medical challenge come to light within the past 6 or so weeks. Right about when I started babbling about finding balance and all that supposed nonsense. This isn't one quite like past challenges. This one was serious. Is serious. I've had a few surgeries, procedures, and tests done. And a lot of waiting... Honest to god, that's the most difficult part. While I am still working out a plan of attack with my team of doctors to identify the best way to overcome this, I had to shift gears slightly.Hence, correcting direction.

Yes, I'll be okay. I just need some time and a good plan, and keep the faith. In the end, everything happens for a reason. I know that sounds so cliche, but I am a firm believer in that. I cannot control most of what happens in life, but I can control how I react and how I manage the balls that are thrown my direction. The only way for me to keep that mindset is to believe that nothing comes my way that I can't serve right back out and what is meant to be will be. I have peace in that.

On Friday, May 11 I had a surgery that should have been pretty straightforward and normal. It was anything but... which is par for the course for me. Naturally. Immediately after receiving anesthesia, I went into an anaphylaxis shock and cardiac distress. Just another day at the surgery center! After controlling the situation and quite a few other things rolled up in that ordeal, docs gave me "light duty" orders. WHAT? Just as I was finding my groove at the gym...

Changing Direction.

After being quite gung ho in week 1 and week 2, week 3 gave me a wake up call that I had never given much though to. I've been under the knife more times than I have fingers and toes, and anesthesia has been involved in nearly all of them. I never really gave much thought to the process. I don't even blink an eye at the side effects and possible risks. What will be, will be. Right? "Light duty for 10 days" to me meant that I could probably do things like pilates, some of the water activities, stretch, etc. Wrong.

Not only did I feel like total crap for the first 10 days, I was depressed and worried that I was being derailed from my new life change. I didn't eat healthy (shh! Don't tell my nutritionist!!) and more or less blew it over the past week. It's so easy for me to go back to what is comfortable, and in this case, sedentary lifestyle is quite comfy in more ways than one! So I tried a few "light duty" workouts. Bad idea.

On day 9 (okay, so I couldn't really wait the full 10 days), I decided to take the "Group Power" class. As was described to me, it's not that bad and you do what you can do.

Yeah. Something like that.

So as not to look like a total wimp, especially next to one of my BFFs who's pregnant, I thought I had to at least do her weight. Afterall, she is a self-proclaimed "wimp" when it comes to the weights in this class. (Her words, not mine. She's a beast! She is def not a wimp!!) I did what she did.

Going into the class, I had a great plan to go to Group Power, than an hour of Pilates and I'm golden for the weekend... starting Monday (today), I can jump back in hard core again.

About 10 minutes into the Group Power class, I thought I was going to die. It was a good thing we were on the far wall in a super full studio - there was no way I could run. I would have interrupted too many "athletes". And would left my girl hanging.That's a "don't do it!" in girl code...

So it was a great class. Really awesome class. Ann, the instructor was hilarious and in general, awesome. About 20 mins into the class, I looked at my friend and started laughing - as if I really thought I could double up on classes that day. Pilates was off the plate at that point. Hell, once class was over, I couldn't even pick up my mat to hang it up - my whole freaking body was burned out. I literally drank a gallon of water and was still quenched for hours on end.

The next day, I couldn't even pick up my mug in the morning for my mid-morning tea!! Seriously!!! That class seriously kicked my ass. Literally.

"So where are you going with all this, Katie??", is probably what you are asking right now..

After a week and a half of going totally off direction, off goal, off plan, I had to force myself to get back ON the plan. That started sort of on Saturday. But again today. I re-committed to my nutrition plan. So far so good. It's been 12 hours!! I trained w/ "Mr. Boxer" this evening, throwing punches left and right - literally. I attempted to jump rope. Oh that was actually quite hilarious to observe. Good thing there weren't many people around. And then I did some crunches on the balance ball. My favorite! And then.... like a red velvet and chocolate swirled cupcake dipped in full-fat buttercream icing... trainer said we were going to cool down with Kinesis. My eyes lit up like Friday's at the cupcake truck.

Seriously, how cool does this look??

So, after 30 minutes of totally destroying it, we cooled down (but still a good workout!) with these amazing machines.

I loooove my pilates rebounder. These Kinesis things are like a standing pilates machine. You can adjust the weight, do all kinds of cool things with the "strings" (I'm quite technical about this). I can't wait to do more of this!!! 

Ahhh! I'm in heaven! *Cue the heavenly ding or choral music*

Oh, and I bought boxing gloves... :) This is now officially a legit commitment.

Me and my pink gloves are back, heading in the right direction.

When you find yourself off course, how do you correct your direction? I'm interested in learning other tips in case this happens again.. Leave a comment, please!