Keep Moving Maura...A post bariatric athlete fighting the REGAIN!: Keep moving forward

This week there have been ups and downs; stress and peace; but through it all I kept moving forward as best I could. For the last two weeks I have been dealing with my car, the check engine light continuously flashed at me despite my mechanic working on it. For most of last week I did not have my car. On Wednesday I left for a work trip in a rental but picked up my "fixed" car on Friday thinking all was well. Instead 5 hours after leaving the garage, the check engine light reappeared. Of course it was after 5 pm on the Friday of a three day holiday weekend. What could I do. My plan was to head out of town for the weekend so the only thing I could do was rent a car in order to head the place where my heart always is located...Massachusetts.

On Friday morning I got up to get my workout done before I left for work. I didn't want to worry about it knowing I was still dealing with my car. It wasn't the most intense workout of my life but I got it done! Knowing what happened at the end of the day I am so glad I got it done!

My work trip took me to Buffalo this past week. It was a quick overnight but a very successful trip. It was our first alumni event in the area since I was hired 5 years ago and it was a fabulous time. Getting to know many of the alumni at the event I ended up going out with a few and stayed out much past my bed time.I had a fabulous time but I also knew I had to finish some school work and get a run in the next morning before leaving Buffalo. The school work did not get done that night but it did get done early the next morning and so did my run. I had a fun run through Buffalo and headed to the canal near Lake Erie. It was a beautiful morning and even though I was tired I got it done. About half way through my run I started to smell something really good. What am I smelling I thought to myself. As I looked around, across the canal, was the General Mills plant. At that moment I looked forward to turning around and heading back to breakfast!

This past Saturday I got out on the road for the second time this spring. I went for 21 miles and although I am still not the strongest cyclist I felt great throughout the ride. My average speed was 14.3 miles per hour and I was out for 90 minutes. I will say that compared to years past I have gotten faster but still not lightning speed! As soon as I hear about my car today, it is my plan to get back in the saddle and on the road again!

I will share this with you while out on the road on Saturday I started to have a bit of anxiety. I was thinking about the Half Ironman Lake Placid I am registered to complete in September. I started to have my doubts about whether I can do this or not. I was supposed to complete the Tupper Lake Tinman in June but decided to defer my entry until next year. Knowing my travel schedule for work in May and June I knew I wouldn't be ready. Now I am questioning my ability for Lake Placid. I know I can do the swim, and the run...it is the bike that scares me. I have two sprint and one Olympic distance triathlons on my calendar for this summer. I am excited for those but September is giving me anxiety. I know what you are thinking that is 3.5 months away...doesn't matter. I also know I should be having this conversation with my coach but I thought it would be easier to get it out there first. Don't worry I will keep you updated. I am not planning on backing out but I am nervous!!

Since this blog is also about my post bariatric surgery life, I will tell you I am still struggling with the scale but I am working on it. It hasn't gone up but it hasn't gone down either. I don't know if I am ready to accept that this is where my body wants to be. I also looked back on my May workouts and discovered that I have added strength training to my workouts twice each week of May. I am always shooting for three but I am happy with my consistency.

I would also like to share that dressing rooms play with your emotions as much as the scale does. On Saturday I went shopping. I had to return a dress that I had ordered online. This is where it all begins...I ordered two dresses, both the same size. One dress fit perfectly and the other was too tight. Why? So I headed to the store and decided to try on a few more...I brought 5 dresses and a few tops into the dressing room. The first two dresses didn't fit...your emotions start playing games with you. I tried on the third dress, same size as the first two and it was too big. I actually had to go down a size. The next dress was a petite and it fit like a glove. Thank God I didn't listen to the first two dresses. In regards to the tops I brought into the dressing room. They were all smalls because I could not find mediums in the ones I liked. In the end this shopping trip was a huge success. So the scale is not moving but clothes size are moving. However, I can't get cocky...the next trip could be totally different.