Health | BulgingButtons

April 5, 2014
by BulgingButtons 24 Comments

My Buttons Are Still Bulging

It occurs to me that this blog, which started off so hopeful and energetic, is taking a turn for the suck-ish. Sure, there are lots of you who read every post (or nearly every) and very often you leave helpful, encouraging feedback. I love you for it more than you will every know. But honestly, I’m afraid that lately I’m not giving you what you came for.

Bulging Buttons, the blog. I liked the sound of it. It neatly summed up my physical state in a way that was realistic, but not too harsh or judgmental. I started off strong. I was eating well (sometimes), working out (sometimes), and writing a lot. I had plans… big plans. Forty-seven of them, to be precise. I was going to get fit, dammit, and take you all along for the ride. Woo Hoo! Great plan right? Except it hasn’t happened.

As usual, life got in the way of my big plans. No, I’m not going to offer up lots of excuses. I really don’t have any. Nothing horrible has happened in my life over the past several months. In fact, it’s been rather fabulous. I’m enjoying my work, my relationship is great, and life in general is pretty darn good. Okay, so the house hasn’t sold as quickly as I might have liked, but really I’m ok. Considering that’s the biggest stress in my life, I’m doing just fine.

Now here comes the shocker. I’m still fat. Fatter than when I started the blog. My sneakers haven’t worn out, my jeans are tighter than ever, and my eating habits are once again horrific. I know better. I know that I’ll sleep better, I’ll look better, and I’ll feel better if I can just shake myself off and get going again. I know I’ll be a better role model and have more energy. I know I’ll like the way I look in the mirror better and I’ll dread going to the doctor less. I know, I know, I know. I also know that I’ll have more to write about for the folks who found encouragement in what I was doing right, back when I was doing it.

So here I go again, publicly declaring that I wish to improve my overall health and fitness through diet and exercise. UGH. I wish this was easy, but it isn’t. The beautiful thing is, I know I’m not alone, and I know you’re here to help cheer me on, not matter how badly I fail.

March 11, 2014
by BulgingButtons 7 Comments

Five Days of Fix Ups

No beach vacation this time, but check out that pedicure!

I’m on Spring Break this week. Woo Hoo! Five glorious days away from the routine of school. Five days of relative peace and quiet. Five days without meetings or discipline issues or grading papers. Five days to rest, relax, and recharge. Five days to build up my reserves in order to face the dreaded final push before testing.

I decided that during these five days I would purposefully take care of myself. I would handle the neglected tasks that help me to look and feel my best. I would take care of the business of taking care of me.

Yesterday I started with a haircut. It was long overdue, and I walked out of the salon feeling ten pounds lighter and five years younger. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but I was happy with the cut and I do feel better looking in the mirror.

On my list for the week is an appointment to have routine lab work done (not fun, but vital for my health), a appointment to have my teeth cleaned, and a pedicure. Throw in some time with girlfriends, a movie date with my son, and a day out with my mother and son together, and I have a busy week.

I’m glad the whole week isn’t filled with the chores of life, like taking the dog to the vet and groomers, and getting new tires. Those items are on the docket this week too, but they don’t dominate it, since I have these other things planned.

It’s a full week, but I don’t feel at all stressed. Each day I have one thing planned that will move me closer to the goal of looking and feeling great. What better way to spend a week off than that?

February 25, 2014
by BulgingButtons 11 Comments

Oh Shingles

I was ready for a quiet dinner out with my sweetheart. It was to be a simple little Tuesday night date night, precipitated by the request of a realtor to show our home over the typical dinner hour. No problem.

A quick tidy up involving a swiffer and a vacuum was all that was required, and we were ready to head out the door.

That’s when the phone rang. It was my son’s father. My first thought was that we had somehow mixed up schedules and my son was stranded somewhere without a ride. I quickly answered, only to be told that he probably has shingles. Again.

This boy is nearly 16 years old. Last year he was nearly 15 years old. That’s when he got it for the first time. I was stunned. I didn’t think young people, let alone teens, could get it. I thought it was an old person’s disease. I was wrong.

Shingles is ugly. Do not google it. Trust me. His case isn’t nearly as bad as the horror show you’ll see on the internet (thank goodness). That being said, it’s not attractive, and it’s uncomfortable. The good news is, it isn’t contagious. Still, it looks pretty nasty, and people will want to avoid you if they notice it. His outbreak is on his neck, so it’s hard to hide.

Off to urgent care we went, since his dad had to get to work at job number two. Don’t ask. I filled out all the paperwork as we (my ever patient sweetheart and I) waited for them to arrive. After a few wrong turns, they finally showed up, and we did the switch. He was taken right away (since I had already done all the paperwork) and sure enough, the doctor declared it shingles.

They checked his records. Last year he was seen on February 24. Today is February 25. Is this going to be a thing?

The doctor asked if he was taking his state tests in school this week. He finished today. Apparently stress triggers shingles. Although I’m not sure that these tests exactly stress him out. He’s pretty good at tests. At least the standardized type.

Anyway, one dinner and one $97 (with insurance) prescription later, he is back at his dad’s and working on his homework. At least I hope he is. I don’t want to nag him though, it might aggravate his stress.