Non-Scale Victories!

This is part of a series of various Non-Scale Victories. They are things I’ve noticed over the last few years as I’ve lost weight.

My Shape

I mean, obviously my shape had changed cuz there’s less of me, but specifically, my abdomen… I was laying on my back the other day & looked down. For the first time I can remember, I saw my ribcage, but nothing below that. I’m used to seeing a mound of tummy sitting there, but no more. In fact, the abdominal area is actually concave!

Bones

Yes, I have them! I can feel them!

As you get bigger there’s more & more fat in the way so it gets difficult, feeling your bones. In fact, at my biggest, the nurses had problems, because the pelvic bones were difficult to make out, it was difficult for them to mark out my body to give me any any shots in my bum.

Most people can easily and definitively find there basic bones hip & pelvis, clavical (breastbone), clavical &:rubs and to a lesser extent, knee caps. For the longest time, for me they weren’t defined & easy to find.. As I’ve lost weight they’ve been easier to distinguish. I can now actually feel my kneecaps and find where the patella sits so I can adjust it to where they should be! And I can get my fingers under my sternum, enough to hold it from both sides. I don’t remember ever able to do that before, but I guess it’s possible now cuz of the loose skin

I dont know how that helps anything except marking my tush for shots there, but it is something that has changed as I’ve lost weight .

Being Alone Sucks

I was in a 10 year, give or take, relationship that turned into hell. I left 6 years ago this month..

I moved back to Oshawa. I lost a bunch of weight, I’ve gotten healthier (yes, I still have 6 million medical issues), I’ve reconnected (or thought I had) with old friends, I’ve had two ‘relationships that haven’t really been much more that glorified Friends with Benefits.

So physically, I’m better off but emotionally.. I still feel like shit.

I want to have someone in my life, Someone who is mine. Someone who I can call when I’m having a crappy day & we can talk.. Someone who wants to just hang out, talk & cuddle.. Someone who, honestly, I can say ‘Wanna f**k?’ to who won’t turn me down flat cuz it’s inconvenient for him.

I want something real – not this crap I’m finding over the internet. They are compatible 100% in one aspect but a complete no go in another areas.. Or I find someone who is match in that area & falls significantly short in another area.

I want someone who wants me for me, warts & all. Who matches intellectually, emotionally, physically, sexually on a compatible maturity level.. Is that really too hard to ask for?

Non-Scale Victories

This is part of a series of various Non-Scale Victories. They are things I’ve noticed over the last few years as I’ve lost weight. I will be closing this off this series in two weeks with an overlapping topic of a similar vein.

I’m Itchy.

This kinda goes back to the flexibility thing, but on the weekend I was in the hot tubs, and I have no clue why, but my back got itchy, like really itchy Not the kind you can ignore. And with its positioning it’s on of those spots where I’ve always had to grab the back scratcher & if I’m lucky, reach it

I know I’m a little smaller than the last time I had this itch so I reached around behind hoping that maybe I could get the bottom of the itchy spot with my thumb just hoping to take a little of the edge off. Well, I was able to do that & then some. I also to turn my hand onto my back & scratch the whole area!

So I reached the other arm Inver my arm & tried to grab the other hand . And guess what!!! I couldn’t do it.. lol. But I think that when I push the bottom arm up & push the top arm down, I might be able to touch my fingers. Since both my arms would be behind my back I have not arms to push on my arms.. hehe.. so it’s just my theory.. 🙂

May 12th

Today is May 12th..

On this day we try to spread awareness of three debilitating and chronic medical conditions. I have all three of these conditions & I have to say, they all suck.

FMS – Fibromyalgia Syndrome

CFS/ME – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

MCS – Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

May 12th is Coming

Each year on May 12th, we observe International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Globally, we also acknowledge Awareness for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND), typically considered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). This does include other conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Addison’s Disease, Lupus, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CPRS), & Irritable Bowel Syndrome to name a few.

Fibromyalgia affects 2-4% of the population. For context that’s up to 13 million of the US population & 1.5 million of the Canadian population  It is a musculoskeletal syndrome and causes a variety of symptoms. Common to all Fibromites is chronic widespread pain and debilitating fatigue. Additional symptoms can include:

• anxiety
• depression
• migraines/chronic headaches
• irritable bowel syndrome
• irritable bladder
• insomnia
• hypersensitivity to cold/hot
• swelling
• fibro fog (inability to concentrate/focus)
• difficulty remembering
• numbness
• stiffness
• decreased energy
• noise, light and odor sensitivity
• skin sensitivity
• See a more extensive list here

Symptoms may come and go, lasting a few minutes, an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, a variety of treatments and therapies focus on reducing the amount and frequency of pain. They also aim to improve sleep. Therapies such as exercise, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic care aim to manage symptoms without pharmacological interventions. Prescriptions manage pain, improve sleep, and combat depression, too.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) affects ¼-¾ of 1% of the population For context that is up to 2.5 million of the US population & up to 300,000 of the Canadian population. It is a serious, long-term illness that affects multiple body systems. Symptoms of CFSME are severe fatigue, and sleep issues. Additional symptoms commonly include: post-exertional malaise (PEM), problems with thinking and concentrating, pain, and dizziness. Like fibromyalgia, symptoms may come and go, lasting a few minutes, an hour, a day, a week, a month, or a year. There is no cure and no real recommended treatment plans . Individual symptoms may be treated or managed and like Fibromyalgia, they may provide relief for some but not others. Coping strategies, like learning new ways to manage activity, may also be helpful in some.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) is a syndrome resulting from a reaction to environmental factors such as tobacco smoke, auto exhaust, perfume, insecticide, new carpet, chlorine, food chemicals an preservatives. Symptoms can vary extensively and can include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Congestion
• Itching / Rash or hives
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Chest Pain
• Changes in heart rhythm
• Breathing problems
• Muscle pain and/ot stiffness
• Diarrhea / constipation
• Bloating & gas
• Confusion
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory problem
• Mood changes

Treatment typically is to avoid the irritant

AWARENESS DAY HISTORY

Fibromyalgia, CFSME, MCS Awareness Day was first observed in North America in 1992 in honour of the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

Why Florence Nightingale?

During in the Crimean War on the 1850’s with the English army, she established the training of women, organizing them to help care for the wounded soldiers, establishing the basis of modern nursing.

During the war while working on the front lines, Florence suffered a traumatic collapse which resulted in most of her life to be in debilitating chronic pain, often unable to walk or leave her bed. Documentation suggests her symptoms to be similar to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. 

SPREAD AWARENESS

To help spread Awareness of Fibromyalgia and these other conditions please use the following hashtags in your social media:

• #May12th
• #FibromyalgiaAwarenessDay
• #CFSMEAwarenessDay
• #MCSAwarenessDay

As the month of May is also dedicated to Fibromyalgia Awareness you can use these additional hashtags

• #FibromyalgiaAwareness
• #FibromyalgiaAwarenessMonth

 

No One Bothers

I’m 99% sure that no one I know actually reads this blog. I get no feedback from anyone outside of occasional comments from other WordPress bloggers. So I’m not even sure why I bother. I mean does anyone a tally read this or get anything from it?

And today was a shitty day..

Someone who I thought was a friend, turned on me this morning. I had told this person some personal stuff over the last several months and had explicitly said that it was personal and confidential and to keep it between us. Well this person turned around this morning, took what I said, twisted it, morphed it, changed it to their own liking and told it to someone else a fact. The only information that was correct were the people involved… Fortunately, this person did not realize that the person being told was actually another friend of mine which is why I found it quickly.

so needless to say I’ve been upset today. I have reached out to friends who I thought would be willing or able or even interested in supporting me. I tried to reach him out to my best friend but she’s busy this weekend and next weekend and the weekend after I tried to reset the Skype and seeing because he’s actually the other person who was referred to and he’s too tired too sore and needs a ride to the work in the morning so we can’t even hang out. I got blown off for the other ghost friend because they were just too busy. I don’t have a lot of friends that I can talk to

I think it’s just realization that’s got me more upset than what this person said & the fact that they broke my confidence.

Fibromyalgia Awareness Images

Some of these image are ones I’ve created, and they are marked. Some are not please give credit & refer to this blog at http://www.KelliAEllis.com

I created this image based on other images. if you use this image, please give credit & refer to http://www.KelliAEllis.com TY

I created this image based on other images. if you use this image, please give credit & refer to http://www.KelliAEllis.com TY

This was made by a friend for me. If you use this, please give credit & refer to http://www.KelliAEllis.com. TY

Star Wars Day

Non-Scale Victories!

This is part of a series of various Non-Scale Victories. They are things I’ve noticed over the last few years as I’ve lost weight.

Ok – this is not exactly a victory, but still made feel good .😃

At the Gym – Part II

On my second or third visit back to the YMCA, I had one of the fitness trainers stopped me as I was walking out the door. Now he’s been there for a long time, well before covid. I believe he was there when I had returned to the gym almost 6 years ago.

My mind had floated off thinking other things, likely what I was going to have for dinner.. He saw me and stopped dead in his tracks and exclaimed “Look at you!” With such admiration in his voice. I turned to look around behind me to see who he was talking to. It was me. I’m like.. “Uh.. Ok.. Thanks?”

Not alot of people, especially very casual acquaintances said anything, so it took me a moment to figure out what he was talking about. He started to talk about how good I looked & what a great job I’ve done.. He suggested I submit my weight-loss journey to the Y for their success stories.. I was flattered.. I might do it.

^{Click image for YMCA Success Stories}

Spread Awareness