Inspiration from Losers

What an evening!!!

Anyone who knows me well knows that there are only 2 television shows that I will absolutely go out of my way to watch. Two. That's it.

One is "Parenthood" - and since that just started up again this week, I am happy.

The other one...probably my all-time favorite....is "The Biggest Loser". I haven't watched it from the beginning, but I've watched probably the last 5-6 seasons - and I love it. I love the contestants (most of them anyway) and I love to watch how they learn to take control of their lives and turn themselves around and become healthy.

I have to admit, some of those contestants have been huge inspirations to me. HUGE.

So when I saw the opportunity to meet a couple of them, I jumped at it! Ken and Austin Andrews are a father and son duo from Pasadena, CA and they were in Wichita. They did a speaking engagement last night (which I couldn't go to because of volleyball), but tonight they were having an open workout type thing at one of the Ys in Wichita. So after Alex's father picked him up, the other 4 kids and I headed into the city.

We were actually the first ones there, and when Austin walked in, he came over and visited with us. He was a great guy to talk to and didn't make me feel nervous or anything. We talked about the kids, who were running around like maniacs in the gym, and I told him about my hip replacement and the races that I've done since then. Other people started to arrive, and then Austin and Ken spoke.

They talked about the importance of family on different levels, but especially about how parents need to reinforce healthy habits for kids. If the kids see their parents being healthy, they will imitate that - but on the flip side, if the parent sits around on the computer all of the time, the kids will start to mimic that as well.

The next thing I knew, Austin came over to where we were sitting and asked Emily to stand up.

He asked her how she felt about me running in all of those races after I had my surgery and she looked over at me and told him that she was proud of me. I couldn't help it - I had tears running down my face (and I might have some tears now).

I never really thought about it before. I was doing the races for me, to prove something to myself, but I never really realized that it would have a positive impact on my kids. Sure, the girls and I have done some races together, but for whatever reason...it just didn't hit me.

Then, there was the workout. It was led by this skinny little thing who was apparently hired to torture poor unsuspecting fools like myself. You know, the ones who were stupid enough to wear long sleeves and sweatpants instead of shorts and a tank top because it was just a tiny bit chilly outside. Idiot.

And of course, the dorky star-struck fan photo op:

Yeah, we had all just worked out. I worked out in the same group with Ken and Austin Andrews.

How cool is that?

I think I might have missed a couple...

I'm doing it again...

So I hinted around on my facebook page this morning that I was up to something. On a mission, so to speak.

I did accomplish my mission, and that was to go to the YMCA in Wichita to register for the Frosty 5K Run that is being held on New Years Day.

I am officially registered, I have my official bib and my official t-shirt and my official complimentary pen. Since I have been lazy for the past few weeks, I need to officially get off of my butt and get out and do some walking/jogging in the next week to get ready for this.

I'm not really worried about breaking any records. I just want to finish it. I went back and looked at the times that I had for the two other 5Ks that I've done - I did the first one on April 24, 2010 with a time of 53:15 (give me a break - I was pushing a stroller too) and the second one was on April 30, 2011 with a time of 41:43. I would like to think that I could do this one in under 40 minutes, but we'll see what happens. The Dude is going with me to keep Alex and Daniel entertained while I run walk/jog, and then we'll have lunch there (chili!) and head home.

I also found out that the date for the half-marathon is April 29, 2012 - and you'd better believe that I'm doing that one again - and I will improve my time over the last one on that! Maybe one of these days, I'll take my bionic hip and do a full marathon!

I've been sort of compiling a list of local races - not sure how many I want to do, but I know that I want to continue working to get healthier and to get into better shape. Right now, I weigh less than I have since 2002 - and I have to tell you that it feels pretty darned good! I still have a few pounds to go to get to my ideal weight, but at the same time I'm not letting my physical appearance define me. I am happy with myself, and I'm not going to let a few extra pounds discourage me.

Besides, my "normal" jeans that I put on today were too big - how can I be discouraged with that?

I can get through an airport, but....

.....I can't go and get a pound of ground turkey for supper.

Why?

Because of this.

Because 3 years ago, I had a total hip replacement.

I was told at that time that I would have to carry this card with me any time I had to go through metal detectors, because the prosthetic would be detected. I forgot to get the card right after my surgery, and a few months later I was planning to fly out of state to a friend's wedding. In a panic, I made phone calls and ran around all over the place to get the card so that I wouldn't be strip searched at the airport.

Turns out, even after all of that, I whizzed right through security without a beep.

In fact, since the surgery, I have *never* set off a metal detector at an airport. I actually questioned a TSA person about it one time, and she told me that in general, prosthetic hips don't set them off because of the uh, extra padding that is generally found in that area of the body. (She was really nice about it - I don't remember her wording now.) She said that prosthetic knees are more likely to be detected, simply because there is less fat and muscle around them.

OK, makes sense to me. Also makes getting through airport security easier, although I always have the card out and ready to hand over, just in case.

This summer, when we were in St. Louis, I set off the metal detector. I got questioned pretty closely but after I told them about the hip (I didn't have my card ready) they let me go through - like I was going to pull some sort of crazy stunt with all 5 kids in tow. But whatever, they were doing their job.

I've been noticing lately that I've been setting off alarm systems more often - at the library and at the grocery store, especially. The fun part is setting them off when I walk INTO the building - like I'm going to shoplift something and bring it back into the store!

Today - again - I set it off at the store. As soon as I walked into the store, it started beeping. I kept right on walking (semi-sprinting, I was in a hurry) and got my ground turkey, Diet Pepsi, and powdered milk. I went through the checkout and I told the cashier look, I set off the alarm coming in, so I'm going to set it off going out and I headed for the door. I even raised my arms up as I went through to show them that I wasn't hiding anything as the alarm started beeping. I got out into the area where the carts are kept and was trying to get my bags and Daniel organized so that we could get out to the van - because of course by this time it was 12:28 and we had exactly 2 minutes to get to school - and a store employee came flying at me. "Ma'am!" (not a good way to start a conversation with me, buddy....) "I need to see your receipt!" Dude look, I set off your metal detector walking into the store. You saw me do it. I saw you see me do it. Back off and let me get my kid to school.

Of course, the receipt was crumpled up in my wallet. Daniel was pitching a fit. "Mom! I have to go to school!!!" I dropped the bags, dug into my purse (I forgot how much I hate carrying those things), dug into my wallet, and pulled out the crumpled receipt. He looked at it, got some code off of it, apologized, and left.

*sigh*

I've been trying to figure out why I'm suddenly setting off alarms all over the place. I mean really, it's not like I reached into my body and changed the metallic makeup of the prosthetic.

It dawned on me today. I was thinking back to the conversation with the TSA lady.

Hips don't generally set off the alarms because of the extra layers of fat that tend to be in that area of the body.

I've lost 30ish pounds in the last year or so.

Huh. I lost fat around my butt (yay!) so now the metal prosthetic is closer to the surface of my body, and therefore easier to detect by security (boo!)......

I swear. I can't make this stuff up.

Blast from the past

I was going through old pictures on the computer tonight, and I found these. Seems like it was a lifetime ago, when in reality it was only about 2 1/2 years.

Drifting off to my happy place....

First steps. Could have put a bullet in my head at this point and I would have been happy.

Best Thanksgiving dinner ever. I didn't have to cook it, clean up after it, and it was served to me in bed.

36 staples and an 8" incision. Ouch.

Busting out.

On November 25, 2008 I had a total hip replacement. I had been having issues with it for years, but could never really do anything about it (other than deal with it) because it seemed like I was always pregnant! So after I had Daniel and terminated my baby-making days, I finally did something about it. I went through arthroscopic surgery in February 2008 and that helped for a while - the meniscus was damaged and so the surgeon cleaned it up a bit and removed some arthritis. But after a few months, the pain came back with a vengeance. I tried cortisone injections *shudder*, physical therapy, medication, everything. After several more rounds of MRIs and x-rays my surgeon finally said the magic words: "All that's left to do now is to replace it."

I was thrilled. He tried telling me that I was too young to do it, but I pointed out to him that I was too young to be in constant pain, and I felt that it was time to do something drastic to fix it - even if it would have to be replaced again down the line, as is typical.

The first 24-48 hours after surgery were horrible. The pain was unreal. But they had me up and walking the next day - just out of my room, across the hallway, and back - but I did it. I spent 5 days in the hospital and came home to a hospital bed in my living room, at-home physical therapy, injections of blood thinner that I had to give myself, and all sorts of adaptive equipment.

Recovery was easier than I thought, after the first few days. I only used the walker for 3 or 4 days, and then it started to get in the way, so I switched to a cane. The kids thought that it was funny to steal my walker when I'd put it to the side when I was doing dishes, so I had to wean myself off of that quickly! I slept downstairs in the hospital bed for close to a month to avoid using the stairs any more than I had to, but all in all, it was ok.

To this day, I still believe that it was the best thing that I ever could have done. Yes, my left leg is now about 1/2" longer than my right leg, but I'm used to it. I have to have a lift built into my sneakers to keep my back from hurting, but I can now run around barefoot most of the day before it starts to bother me. I have no pain in my hip, which is such a blessing! I can run and keep up with the kids without telling them "no, I can't play that game because I hurt too much" which they love!

The incision healed beautifully. The scar isn't terribly noticeable to anyone other than me, which makes me happy. And if I hadn't gone ahead and had it done, I never would have been able to do the half marathon that I did last month.

There's another one in Wichita in October - I need to get my act together and get signed up for that one too and see if I can improve my time!