challenge

Part 2 – The Diagnosis

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

I arrived at Duke with a team ready and waiting to take care of me. They immediately ruled out many issues including a heart attack (lots of blood drawn). I shared all of my symptoms from the day and the prior week. We discussed prior history including my Lyme Disease Diagnosis back in 2012 (I was told it was too long ago for that diagnosis to impact what I have no – I pushed back and said – there isn’t enough research with Lyme Disease!).

It was decided to admit me to overnight into ER observation. The next morning – I was fitted for a Holter Monitor ( https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/holter-monitor) – so my brother and I started looking at flights back to Philadelphia. We were waiting for a discharge update and the next thing we knew I was being told I was being admitted to the Cardiac Floor and having a Cardiac MRI. We asked for a doctor to come in and explain the change in direction (that never happened – in the end – there was an opening with the Cardiac MRI and they wanted to get me in there ASAP as they couldn’t understand why someone my age with no family history of heart issues at this age had such a low heart rate).

Have you ever had a Cardiac MRI? This was my first. It was 90 minutes long as the MRI was with and without contrast. I listened to George Winston – December (my go to for a MRI). The music relaxed me for the test. This was a MRI where I had to participate – I had to hold my breath for periods of time so the MRI could capture the up and down of my heart rate (when I counted to 20 I had to clench my fist – I was able to hold my breath for the time needed).

After the Cardiac MRI, the Cardiologist came in and shared that I most likely had an autoimmune disease that was attacking the heart and creating heart block (think electrical system of the heart vs. heart blockage). The diagnosis – Cardiac Sarcoidosis! Have you ever heard of it? I’ve never heard of it.

I was at the right place at the right time as Duke University Hospital has a Sarcoidosis Clinic (https://www.dukehealth.org/treatments/sarcoidosis)! I believe if I hadn’t traveled to North Carolina that weekend – I wouldn’t have the diagnosis as quickly as I did and the treatment started. My diagnosis is a clinical diagnosis from the Cardiac MRI (Duke has 3 -4 Cardiac MRI machines and UNC Chapel Hill has 1 – after that there isn’t one for over 100 miles!). I had a heart biopsy later in the week that was inconclusive (that happens as the sample can be hard to find the inflammation). I had a CT scan as well and there wasn’t any other inflammation – which is important as Sarcoidosis can attack the lungs, skin, heart, and just about any organ.

The Cardiac Nurse who was with me in the ER and then with the diagnosis on the Cardiac floor (I wish I could remember her name – she went to University of Pennsylvania for Nursing) – we had a connection – she could read my face I’m sure – she reiterated a couple of times – “Thank goodness you didn’t get on the plane to PHL” and she asked me multiple times – “Are you OK?” “How are you doing?” In full transparency – I was scared! I still am as this is an unknown journey – but I’m up for the challenge! I feel extremely lucky that I was diagnoses so quickly and feel like we caught it early!

Never Say Never

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I can’t believe it has been almost 2 months since I’ve written.  To say it has been cray cray is an understatement.  Lots of changes going on at work (for me all good so far) – which is also the driver of this post.

You know how the saying goes, ‘Never Say Never.’  Ask any of my BP gals when they ask me if I’m interested in marathon or triathlon training and I tell they I will cheer them and and I think they are crazy.  I’ll ‘Never do that’.  If I’m really honest, I’ve been less and less saying no way.  And thinking I should give it a shot.  But then again I think – they are nuts!  (and they know I say that with LOVE).

It isn’t as if I didn’t run for sports in high school – I played field hockey for 6 years and was on the track and field team for 3 years – where I did a lot of running.  I just never liked it – I could run during games without an issue – go figure.

Now fast forward through my life to about 2 weeks ago and I start looking at my business travel schedule.  I look at the schedule and think – I need to get some structure around my workout schedule and I need to do it quickly.  I recall seeing one of my trainers posting a winter 1/2 Marathon Training starting at the end of January.  I think – hmmm – is this the push I need to try this.  So I find out if I can get a walk / run program and get started before the end of January training.  The answer was a YES with encouragement for me to do this.

So I’m going to give this running thing a go as I’ve worked too hard over the last two years to allow a couple months of business travel to derail me now.  I’m staying optimistic that with the right training and starting out with the walk / run that maybe just maybe I’ll find something else I enjoy doing.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m scared – because I sure am.  I’m also embracing to see what I learn about myself over the next few months as I go through this training as I know it will definitely challenge my both mentally and physically.  I will keep you posted on my journey.

Weekly Challenge

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I haven’t posted too much lately on my transformation as I was sick prior to Christmas and it took me over 2 weeks to start feeling better. I haven’t been to my HardBody workouts or SPIN classes since before Christmas.  I’ve had gone to a few yoga and yogalates classes and some walks.

My brother got a FitBit Force over Christmas and he gave me his FitBit Flex (with the caveat that if the Force dies on him – I have to give the Flex back).  I’ve been wanting to try the FitBit (I have an UP band by Jawbone) to see if I want to upgrade my band (I plan on doing a side by side comparison shortly).

I started using the used FitBit on January 1, 2014.  I have good days and bad days.  I don’t belong to a typical gym and I don’t have any real equipment in my house (although I have gotten some steps on my BOSU and I do have a manual stepper) – so to get lots of steps I’ve had to brave the cold weather.  Earlier this week, I didn’t really get a lot of steps in – unless you count some of the pacing back and forth and going up and down my actual steps.  🙂

One of the things I like about the FitBit (besides the fact that is bluetooth enabled) is that it gives you a 7 day running total.  My 7 day total is just under 44K or 6.3K average per day.  My daily goal is 10K steps.   My challenge this week is to increase my activity by 30% per day or to 8,190 steps per day.  My weekly challenge goal is 57,330 steps or better by next Sunday.  I’ll check in Wednesday night on my progress.

Keeping myself on track…

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

I love this time of year because I get to spend extra time with my family and extended family (and friends), the great decorations (I love seeing all the light displays), extra treats and of course listening to Christmas music. This time of year is also a challenge for me to keep myself as a priority!  Anyone else have this challenge?  I have lots of errands (I host Christmas day with my family – I love it – but I want everything to be perfect so I go into overdrive :-)) and work/personal commitments this time of year.

Something I’ve realized over the last couple of weeks is that if my work or personal schedule get in the way of my planned workouts – I don’t have a back-up plan.

I have all the right tools to have a back-up plan – I just received this 5×7 workout – who doesn’t have 5 minutes a day?  And the weather is still quite warm in NJ (I think today it might hit 60+) so I’m able to have my 1:1s with my team while I walk (I had one yesterday and we were both walking talking via our cellphones – I was told – this is such a great idea – I love that I’m not only helping myself but helping my team too!).

My personal goals for the Christmas season:

  1. Drink 80 ozs of water per day (I have a handy pitcher that I fill up either before I got to bed or when I get up first thing in the AM).  Note to self – add 1 hydration tab per one large glass (I get dehydrated pretty quickly when I workout)
  2. Get 7.5 – 8 hours of sleep per night (super important)
  3. Plan my day to incorporate the 5×7 workout and walking into my day (target = 10K steps per day).
  4. Get my 3 weekly workouts each week (Hardbody, Yoga, Spin or TRX)
  5. Add more salads to my meals (I’m good about getting veggies into lunch / dinner – I’m not as good as adding salad to the mix)
  6. Take my vitamins
  7. Have FUN – enjoy the extra time with family and friends this Christmas season! 🙂

What are you doing to make yourself a priority?

30 Day #SHIFT Update

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

On 9/18, I added a page (see my daily results too) regarding a 30 SHIFT challenge for myself.  It included the following goals per day:

  1. Water, Coffee or Tea only – no Diet Pepsi or Diet Dr. Pepper
  2. No bread at breakfast
  3. Limit AM coffee to 2 cups
  4. No dessert
  5. Exercise 4xs/week or more

So how did I do?  Per my calculations – 90% – not too bad.  I only caved once in the 30 days on my daily 4 goals – and it was dessert last Saturday while tailgating.  Was I annoyed with myself when I did it – yes – did I regret the sugary, pecan pie little shortbread pieces – NO WAY!  They were super delicious.  Do I wish I scored a 100% – sure – but we aren’t perfect.  We learn the most by stumbling and picking ourselves back up.

The toughest week was the last week (and if I recall – I think when I did the CLEAN program it was the toughest too).  I wonder why that is?  Is it because you see the light at the end of the tunnel?  And know we give ourselves permission to have all the off limit items tomorrow.  I wonder how I will recact tomorrow morning – will I have more than 2 cups a coffee?, a breakfast sandwich?, will I cave and open one of those Diet Pepsis in my fridge?  I know I’m having dessert tomorrow – picking up cupcakes for my brother’s bdayd – and I’m having one of them!  🙂

So what did I learn?  I really think (for me) depriving myself isn’t they way to go (or maybe it isn’t 4 things at once – maybe another experiment for the future).  I think my SHIFT is really focusing on the good things I eat and do and enjoying lifes little events that pop up.  And my mantra is ‘Slow and Steady WINS the Race’ and another good one – ‘It’s a Marathon – not a Sprint’ (goes well too when you tailgate all day too :-))

PS:  The other thing for me – limiting or deprving – didn’t move the scale – the positive – it didn’t go up either.  🙂

 

Challenge Workout Results

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

On our second workout of our Spring Transformation there was a challenge workout. The purpose of the challenge is to set your baseline and to see how you’ve improved over the 6 weeks. I’ve done the challenges before and knew it was coming, but I can tell you I was kind of nervous for the challenge (4/17).

The challenge exercises were as follows:

  1. Push-ups to exhaustion on toes and knees – with a requirement to go down to a weight on the mat
  2. Wall Sit
  3. Burpees (the full body workout – I used to despise – now not so much) (timed 2 minutes)

April 17, 2013 Results

  1. Push-ups:  17 (toes)
  2. Wall Sit:  1:14 minutes (with a massive headache that lasted for about 2 days)
  3. Burpees:  28

May 15, 2013 Results (not as nervous – just anticipation)

  1. Push-ups:  25 (toes) and 13 (knees)
  2. Wall Sit:  1:41 minutes (no headache – yeah!!)
  3. Burpees:  27 (bummer)

Overall Results

  1. Push-ups:  32% improvement on toes; overall 124% improvement 🙂
  2. Wall Sit:  24% improvement
  3. Burpees:  3.5% decline
  4. Overall Results:  48% Improvement – wahoo!!!

I’m very pleased with my results.  Wish I had at least gotten to my baseline on my burpees – but it isn’t the end of the world.

The energy in our class was a little blah at the beginning on May 15th – post warm up we had a visit in our class – a squirrel – I think he helped get our adrenaline up.  Everyone had great results and were cheering everyone one – particularly our last two standing (more like sitting) on the wall sits.

Really happy and proud of my results!!