Throwing the Punches

Both figuratively and literally speaking, the heat is on.  Today temperatures reached highs of around 40'C (104'F) with the humidex.  I was dizzy all day then developed headaches and nausea.  My energy was completely drained and I wasn't sure how I would get through my evening training session with Adrian.

As usual, Adrian pushed us and tonight he focused a lot on strength training.  In other words, by the time he's through with you, you leave there feeling weaker than you did when you arrived.  However, over the next few days and weeks, I know I will begin to see major changes in the number of sets I can do and begin to lift heavier weights.  Eventually as I shed more weight and inches, I will be able to start to see those muscles and I can't wait for that moment.

All of this heat and exhaustion has been compounded by the fact that my RA has decided to rear it's ugly head again.  Let's think of RA as a really ugly opponent in a kick boxing match (I mean really ugly, like Stephen King ugly!).  I have been doing my best to fight hard and win, constantly throwing punches and kicks at it for a week and a half.  It seems like the RA has sat back barely fighting, throwing little jabs as though I wasn't really serious about doing this.  However, I think it is finally starting to take me seriously and fight me back with a lot more strength.  I'm noticing a lot more joints are sore today and painful nodules have begun forming under my feet again and on my elbows.  I was a little more careful tonight with some of the lifting because one of my elbows was giving me a hard time as well as my ankles and knees.  This just makes me more determined than ever to fight back and beat it.  I think the likely cause of the extra pain is the weather, but I'm not taking any chances.  Bring it on, RA, you will not win this fight!

I decided this weekend that this new lifestyle needed new workout clothes.  As the program progresses they will begin to look better on me, but for now they are comfortable, trendy, pink and match my running shoes!  It feels nice to be interested in fashion again too.  I'm practically counting down the days until I can shop for a new wardrobe and I haven't been this excited about shopping for clothes for myself in a very long time (which is rather sad for a fashion designer).  Perhaps this new life will help me reconnect with my old one.  Maybe I will decide to take up designing and dancing again?  Only time will tell...

Goodnight and God bless.