Sick days, and an ode to Mom

I think I might have prophetic powers. So I had a dream a few nights ago that I was sick and hacking up really gross things. I woke up thinking, "thank goodness I'm not sick and hacking up gross things" and wondered what the gross things might be symbolic of in my subconscious mind. A couple of days later, I had an annoying tickle in the back of my throat. The next morning, I had a fever and a hacking cough, complete with nasty things I will not describe being painfully expelled from my upper respiratory system. I just have two words for you: mucus plugs.

Not that anyone ever likes being sick, but I remember positive things about sick days as a child. Laying on the couch with a cool washcloth for my forehead (periodically refreshed by my mom), Coke slushies  and popsicles brought out on demand to my couch of convalescence, an endless stream of cartoons interrupted only by impromptu naps, and chicken soup lovingly prepared by my mom. Thank you, Mom, for being such a good nurse :)

Being sick as adult blows. Having a fever feels like dying (or what I imagine dying feels like). Everything hurts, you can't get warm, and if you want a washcloth for your forehead you have to get it (and refresh it) yourself. During one of the fleeting periods in which standing up didn't feel like my head was going to split apart, I made soup for myself. Then I got into bed at 4:30 pm and (barring a couple of bathroom breaks) didn't get up until 7 am. 

The most annoying thing about this illness is that I'm pretty sure I brought it upon myself. See, I spent a month strictly eating Paleo. And exercising, and sleeping enough, and generally taking care of myself in all the ways one should. But then I started down a slippery slope of 'cheat' meals. Culminating in last weekend's 4-day alcohol/ice cream/mexican food (including corn tortillas and cheese!) binge, wherein I not only poured crap into my body but also didn't sleep enough and climbed a mountain. The weekend was a blast, but I'm paying for it now. Back to moderation...

I'll be back on the Paleo bandwagon for the next month at least. 80 lbs down, 35 to go...and trying to stay motivated!

Addendum: I read a lot of blogs to stay motivated in my weight loss / healthy mind, body, and spirit / telling a better story journey. My favorites always have before and after pictures. Even though I'm not yet at the 'after' I'd like to be, I took a picture anyway :)

Before, during what I hope was the unhealthiest (in every possible way) summer of my life, 2008:

My first month in Seattle:

Looking at these pictures makes me feel a little bit like I'm suffocating. And marvel at the human body's capacity to adapt. It also makes me want to hug that 2008 version of myself who didn't know how powerful she would be when she started to accept her weakness.

Present:

Hey, look, I climbed a mountain, for fun! And it was fun! And I could still walk the next day!

You cannot fully appreciate a view like this without putting forth the effort to get there: