Workout Community - At Whatever Stage

FitBit Local 

Love this video. Love being a part of such great fitness communities - FREE Fitness Communities like Fitbit Local San Diego, November Project - SD, lululemon run club - La Jolla, Elevation Culture Trail Run Group.
If you live in San Diego there is really no reason why money should be an excuse to approach fitness. There are all the above organizations which are amazing AND completely free. There are running and bootcamp groups & cross training events every day completely free. Part of what I want my blogging to be is to let people see there are options for anyone who wants to start making fitness a priority, no matter what level they find themselves at.
I'm not the fastest or the best or the most physically fit in any of these groups, but I'll be damned if I dont push myself just as hard as everyone else there does.
I think everyone has a story, a reason. My story once you strip it down to the basics is - I showed up, I worked hard & I lost 140lbs. Not that impressive when you take everything else away, but first things first you HAVE to start caring for yourself & loving yourself enough to show up.

Next FitBit Local Event is April 22nd. Look up event at Fitbit Local San Diego FB Jimmy Page for more info.
November Project meets at 6:29an every Monday (rotating locations) & Wednesday (Bea Evanson Fountain Balboa Park) in San Diego.
Lululemon La Jolla Run Club meets at Lululemon Girard every Monday at 5:45pm
Elevation Culture Trail Run meets at Elevation Culture every Thursday at 6pm
Plus both FitBit Local & November Project are in multiple cities across the USA/World. Run a google search & start making YOU a priority. You're worth it

3 Weeks Post Surgery - We All Have Scars

The scars will fade over time but for now, the stitches are out, with the exception of the new ones on my right nipple, due to a procedure done 2days ago to fix an issue after my body was rejecting my nipple graft. All is well now.
Most importantly, I am learning to love myself more now than ever before, scars and all. These scars reminds me how much work and struggle went into getting me here.
I look at the before picture & its so crazy that that was my body just 3 weeks ago. I had worked my ass off for 4.5 years losing weight, running, bodybuilding, playing football and after losing around 140lbs my body still looked like that. And I was still in pain from carrying around the extra skin and ill be honest it was a huge blow to my self esteem.
I chose to go the surgical route & this was the best birthday present I could have ever given myself. The surgical team at EvoClinic have been supportive and patient and attentive every step of the procedure and recovery.
Insurance isnt covering anything & I don't do credit cards - so I paid out of pocket. This surgery focused solely on my chest & I paid 100% of the cost myself & the next one to focus on the excess skin around my abdomen will be the same. I need to look at cost and as I'll be covering the cost myself again, begin to see how I can save the money to cover that second procedure.
We all have scars - visible or not. Learn to love them. They are not your faults. They are your story and they are what brought you through life to bring you to living.

Birthday Week Recovery & Concerns

Alright so let's talk about this past week. But first I wanna get real. I found out over a week ago that my body was rejecting one of my nipple grafts. As such I went in last Friday & they had to do a debridement to remove the dead skin and reopen the wound to allow to reheal itself. I went through the week keeping this mostly to myself because 1) My birthday was a few days away & I wanted to enjoy it without any stress over this, 2) I was being hopeful that it would not be as bad & 3) I was not in pain or anything.
So I continued this past week & went on to celebrate my Bday & ushering in my 37th year surrounded by people, not really telling many people what was going on. I focused on enjoying my bday festivities and thought I'd remain positive & worry about the rest when it gets there, all the while seeing my wound get worse every day.
I wouldn't change the way I went about it in any way. I had dinner with my two best friends & friends from my football league on Sunday. On Monday I celebrated my Bday with November Project in the morning and with Lululemon Run Club in the evening, coming home and passing out in bed in between. On Tuesday I had breakfast with one of my dearest friends then met up with my metal scene and taco tuesday peoples to do a bday Taco Tuesday and on Wednesday I again was at November Project as we were joined bt FitBit Local.

This surgery was the best bday gift I ever got for myself and I was loving celebrating in a new body. I didnt care that the body was fighting against the healing. I still ran. I did burpees for the first time post surgery on Wednesday. Other than what I saw when I looked in the mirror everything was fine. But everytime I looked in the mirror though I was concerned that the possibility of losing my nipple or part of it was very real.
Fast forward to today. I headed in to the clinic for my 3 week followup knowing in my head already my situation wasnt getting any better.
As I was being examined the staff who through every step have been amazing and attentive looked at me and said the surgeon was going to have to be pulled in for another procedure.
The surgeon came in and immediately got to work on an outpatient procedure which again removed dead tissue, completely cleaned out, treated and took care of stopping the progression any further. I cant say enough good things about the staff I've had working with me.
Today I went in seeing how bad it had gotten, but I left reassured that it was taken care of and that I would not lose my nipple and I would be fine.
As I now have new sutures on that side closing the wound off, I was told that I have to stop running and any high intensity stuff for 2 weeks to ensure it heals correctly. I AM allowed to walk though.
Came home & fell asleep & just woke up still super sore.
In the words of Tori Amos though "still - pretty good year"

Running - 12 Days After Surgery

I ran!!! Less than two weeks after my surgery & I was back to running, albeit pacewise I was far from crushing it.
Yesterday during my November Project - SD PR Day, I showed up with the intention of walking and cheering people on. Uhh so yeah, that didnt happen. I've been lucky to have had an incredible easy & pain free recovery. And yesterday, 12 days after surgery, I found myself running again. Not at the one month mark, but less than two weeks after surgery.
I was scaled back and did so at a pace where I wasn't pushing myself. But I was running & I wasnt hurting or running through pain. It was the best feeling ever.
This surgery is by far the best birthday gift I ever gave to myself. And the tears I had while running yesterday, happy tears. For so long I didnt know if I'd ever know what it feel like to run and not turn to pain meds or break down in tears after. This opens up so many opportunities for me. This was my goal. I have it, but it doesnt stop there. There is so much more in the works now. My story is not meant to be impressive, rather I'd hope you'd find space somewhere in there to take back control of your own story.