Well, I've just returned from my contract of 5 weeks and it feels good to be home. I was happy to see that I lost 9 lbs just by cutting back on soda, drinking more water and decreasing my fast food habit...YEAH BABY, YEAH....However, two things that I was diagnosed with last year has returned; vertigo and Pilonidal Abscess. So, last year I was at work in the middle of delivery and I almost collapsed. I couldn't stand, sit and I was sent to the ER. MRI cleared, blood work cleared , no inner ear infection. Doctors believed it was either stress ( I worked 3 jobs , 1 full time, 2 part time jobs as a nurse) or my weight. I was off work for 2 months and over the next couple of months it will come and go, my last flare up was in September 2011 but Friday evening, my boyfriend had to help me inside, today it's much better thank god. Something else I need to take care of in the coming months. The Pilonidal Abscess was the most painful event that took place last year...nope ...my gallbladder was the worst. However, it was the most embarrassing. As a L& D nurse I never heard of this disease and my research when I was diagnosed made me realize that my weight may have led to this predicament. However, I thought when I had surgery done, it was all removed. I mean I spent 4 weeks having my BF do my dressing and now it seems it has returned...sigh....now I'm doing more research on the matter and it looks like this thing is here to stay. My hope is, if I lose weight, maybe it will decrease my flare ups. If you have no idea what a Pilonidal Abscess/Cyst is, look it up ...let's just say it's to do with your behind.

Anyways, I have two weeks off before my next contract, thus, I need to do all my pre-op test during my time off. I decided before I do my pre-op that I'm going to do a month long natural cleanse, as a type of preparation for my new way of life. I know it sounds corny but, ( hoping not to jinx myself) something is clicking up there. I'm saying no, when I would say yes. I'm stopping when I'm full and I'm not beating myself up if I slip. I just hope that this is not temporary. However, when I got on that scale and i saw that I lost 9 lbs in 5 weeks I was very proud of myself. Moving on..so today, it's about starting my cleanse, entering my weight and pic on the forum and taking pictures and measurements. I need to buy 2 weeks worth of shakes, so that's what i'm doing this week, including going to doctor's appointments and going to Curve. I made out a plan and I'm sticking to it as much as possible and so far, i'm doing pretty well...going to find a pic for my profile...not of me of course, that will be for another time...maybe a pic of my beloved pug:)