At the time of writing this, in about 4 days I'll be "aging-up" into the next triathlon age group. I turn 43 in real life, but 44 for my race age. It's a triathlon thing... you might not understand. :)
I've been somewhat athletically inclined the majority of my life. While I've never been fast at anything my strengths are, well, strength, coordination and flexibility. For some reason I decided after doing my first triathlon as part of a relay team in 2002 that I was hooked. Though at around 300 lbs, triathlon was definitely a challenge, to say the least. In spite of my weight though I've always been active, cycling, tap dancing (don't laugh, it's true!), walking events, etc. I've never just sat around and done nothing on a routine basis.
I stepped away from from my new "love", to marry my real-life love, my Husband (aka "Hubs") and then the following year had my Daughter (aka "Cassinator" or "Cassafrass"). I also walked away from my pregnancy with my "gestational" Diabetes, and the free gift of it becoming permanent, as in becoming a Type 2 Diabetic (just like my deceased grandmother). After long, hard consideration over the course of a couple years, I decided that Gastric Bypass would be an appropriate path for me. My Doctor said it would eradicate my Diabetes, and it did. I haven't had a shot of Insulin since or medication since the surgery.
So far I've lost 135 lbs (+/- a few on a given day) and returned to triathlon in 2006. It wasn't like I was missed, but when I returned, but I loved it just the same... okay, well maybe a little more. I dove-in the deep-end and not just participate in racing, but also serve on the board of my local Triathlon Club as Secretary and Membership Advisor.
When my weight loss completely ceased in the last 18 months, in spite of training for my first half marathon and olympic distance triathlon, I knew something wasn't right. Finally I found an Endocrinologist who found my problems... and them some.
So on top of my altered guts, I have a hypothyroid (that's a slow thyroid). As a bonus, I also get to have Hyperprolactenemia. That's when your body makes too much Prolactin (The "pregnancy" hormone) -- so basically your body thinks it's pregnant without the miracle of life inside you. Glorious, isn't it? And lastly, now I'm dealing with Anemia. Anemia doesn't bode well for athletes-in-training.
So basically this blog is about me, Mommyhood, Family Life, Training and overcoming to overcome these obstacles set before me. My ultimate dream (after gettting all these hormonal imbalances resolved and losing the last 50 lbs.) would be to do a full Ironman. I will one day... you just watch. :)
3 hours ago
