backsliding

Oh well - pay back for cheating on the diet has to happen sometime and it did this week.  It's not so bad really - about 1/2 a pound.  I'm not too worried about it.  I don't anticipate any benefits or parades where I'm indulging - wholeheartedly indulging! - this week, so I should be right back on track next week.  I'm keeping up with being active too.  I do want to add in some strength training, not sure what I want to do there though.

and it's still good

Scale is still headed the right way.  It could have gone further - but I had some fun this weekend.  Being Irish, I couldn't pass up celebrating St Patrick's Day!  A marched in the NY parade, he carried one of the 343 flags that headed up the FDNY contingent.  I got teary - as always - when they turned the corner and there's the 343 banner and then all the flags.  Just in case someone doesn't get it - the 343 flags are in memory of the 343 firefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks.  After the parade, we went to a couple of bars with friends.  We saw Shilelagh Law - well, we heard them, couldn't actually see the stage - and it was so much fun!  Totally worth not losing as much as I could have this week!  I'm keeping up the exercise too.  Walked a lot on St Patrick's Day and I've walked pretty much every day in the neighborhood.  I'll be taking today off from walking though, as I've got a board meeting tonight, so I don't want to get all sweaty and mess up the hair.  I'll be on local TV you know, must look my best!  hahahah

Moving in the right direction

Second week in a row!  YAY!  The stricter diet is paying off and it's really not that bad.  I've had my cheating moments - like a week ago Sunday when I had almost a whole pizza from the Colony.  I think the difference so far is that I'm not constantly pushing it with a cheat here and there.  I realized how much my peanut butter habit was costing me in terms of calories!  And I've upped the exercise - recommitted to that.  It's a bit easier to exercise with the warmer weather we've been having.  It's no longer a choice of go to the gym and work out or get home to let the dog out.  Now, I can get home, let the dog out, go for a walk - sometimes even take him with me.  On the weekends, it's not "I don't feel like driving to the gym to exercise."  It's just a matter of putting on the sneakers and heading out the door.  So, I'm moving slowly but surely towards my goal.  But, I am cheating this weekend.  After all - it's St. Patrick's Day Saturday!

It's Friday!

This has actually been a rather good week!  Considering the settling of whether or not I had a medical issue was the best, there was other good stuff.  My more rigid diet plan is working.  YAY!  I had a good ratings presentation (work thing) in the City on Wednesday.  Then I went to the Big East tourney and UCONN won.  They lost yesterday to Syracuse, but played well and they are sure to get into the NCAAs.  And the weather has been lovely.  I haven't made it to the gym, but I did a lot - I mean A LOT! of walking on Wednesday.  I went again yesterday with my puppy dog.  On the train home Wednesday, I kept walking looking for a seat where I could both face forward and have a little space - that resulted in me seeing a friend that I haven't seen in a couple of years and spending the train ride home catching up with her.  The weather has been so nice, all in all, a good week.

Really exhaling now

So, after the whole issue with is it a cyst or breast tissue last week, my GYN wanted me to go to a breast specialist.  I'm good.  It's breast just normal tissue.  Apparently how you hold the ultrasound wand can make a big difference.  Seriously folks.  This was just freaking ridiculous.  And one of the offenders was a doctor!  And this all just gave me a little insight into ways our medical costs get increased.  Overkill on testing and incompetence on several levels don't help keep costs down.  And now, I think I am the subject of patientnapping.  Where do you think I'm going for my next breast ultrasound in 6 months?  Not that I want to go back to the other place, but the breast surgeon I saw today kind of lassoed me as a patient and I'll be going back there for my ultrasound.  I feel more comfortable with her though.  She's a specialist and with family history, that's where I want to be if something ever turns up.  She explained more to me than anyone else had and asked more questions than anyone else had.  Whew.  I'm having a drink tonight - after my meeting of course - but I deserve it!

Exhaling, a bit

I have dense breasts.  Lucky me.  This means that every year, in addition to a mammogram, I get sent for an ultrasound.  It's not painful, though it is a bit messy with that goop they use.  Last year, there was something the doctor wanted to keep an eye on.  This year, new radiology center, new viewpoint.  The new doctor took a look, compared this year's ultrasounds with last year's and decided that the something had increased significantly in size, so she wanted a needle biopsy.  I was doing okay with it, until I went in for the biopsy and read the paperwork - including the "increased significantly" part.  While waiting to be taken back, I'm worrying.  About the pain I might feel, the 1/8" to 1/4" incision they will make.  About bleeding, risk of infection.  About fainting.  I don't do well with certain sensations - like having stitches removed.  And of course, I'm worried about what they could find.  So, finally I go back, they explain things again, I warn them about the fainting.  Not to worry they say.  Go in, different tech this time, she takes a look from multiple angles, very nice explains this is the longest part of the whole thing.  The doctor comes in starts looking and sees nothing but normal breast tissue.  Yes, there is something that from certain angles will look rounded and separate, but if you move the wand, it is seen to be connected to other breast tissue.  Exhale.  It is now also evident that the ultrasound tech didn't think that there was anything but normal breast tissue there either.  This doctor didn't think a biopsy was in order, but based on my mother's history of breast cancer, recommended a breast MRI to be safe.   So, I haven't exhaled completely, as I haven't yet had the MRI, but I'm feeling much better than I did a few days ago. 
So, a few more comments - first, A is wonderful.  He was supportive, but not overbearing.  He was also quietly doing his own research, preparing to make sure I got the best treatment if there was a real something there.  Second - WTF first doctor?  How can it be so clear to a tech and a second doctor that there was nothing there, but to you, it wasn't.  I appreciate the caution, but personally would be leery of having that doctor read my exams again.