Pushing Through It

After several scares (including one ER visit) brought on by what I later learned was GERD, my partner bought me a Fitbit to monitor my health rate and general health. I subsequently made a goal to lose fifty pounds and get back to my old weight. This was around August to December, and November was when I was struck with persistent sinus infections that only eased up when I was tested for allergies last month.

I’m highly allergic to several things, like dust mites, a variety of molds, cockroaches (I was exposed in my hometown in Georgia), and two species of trees (poplar and sycamore). I have some milder allergies to grass and ragweed, but I had to adapt my diet to avoid food that would trigger my ragweed allergy. This includes bananas (which I already avoid), but also chamomile, sunflower seeds (which I absolutely love), and watermelon and cantaloupe! For some reason, the body confuses these food items with allergens. Truly awful stuff.

I’ve also tried cutting out gluten, dairy, and most processed foods because I heard these could help my allergies and maybe even my sinuses. My iron deficiency anemia also dictates that I eat more iron rich food, not too difficult a task as I love spinach and beans. And combined with more cardio and the treadmill, I’m losing the weight. I hit my mini goal of ten pounds a few days ago, which was satisfying to see.

Fitbit has some excellent challenges and solo adventures, the latter which I’m slightly addicted to. I don’t have any friends to do challenges with yet, but I’m eager to make some, once the weather is better (it’s currently snowing). I never really paid any mind to claims that working out with others would be beneficial, but I’m starting to come around.

My confidence has gone up a lot recently, and I truly believe I can shed the pounds by summer. I’m excited to wear my old clothes again, but that also means I’ll have to go shopping, which I’m less enthused for…

Anyway, I’ve found time to read a few books this month, and I’m guaranteed to stay on track. I’ve been keeping track on Storygraph. There were two I didn’t finish; one I picked up on a whim and the other I preordered a while back. Some of the books I completed are also technically comics, but they’re ones I’ve been putting off for…going on two years now. There’s still another I need to start, but I’ll give it a week or so.