Happy Friday!

I don't really have anything of substance to write today. However, I just feel like I need to write something so I don't make a habit of not blogging just because I have anything interesting to say.

I'm so jealous of all you that have easy access to bandster-friendly foods. Whether it's because you can find it in the supermarket, or it's just easy to get it shipped to you. (However, I recently found http://www.iherb.com which offers flat $4 international shipping.) Daegu is the 4th largest city in South Korea, so I feel lucky just being able to find fat-free milk and fat-free yogurt. If it's not TOO cold in Seoul tomorrow I'm going to try to check out some "foreign food" markets and see if there's anything worthwhile.

I increased my walking today AND took a different route (I even took my inhaler, haha). I walked for about 40 minutes and the route I took had a lot of inclines. I wouldn't say "hills" exactly, but I could definitely feel it going up the inclines :) This past summer I climbed my share of HILLS and I know I need to get in shape! Marc and I went to the Great Wall (yes, in China) in June and I nearly died walking on that thing.

That's me up ahead (you can see my bag), heading for the giant hill

That's me, climbing the Great Stairs of Death

There was also an incident when we decided to go to Palgong Mountain with Marc's brother and his wife. All the old people are always hiking there and there's a big Buddha at the top so we thought it must not be so bad. WRONG. I gave up probably around the halfway point. Then my best friend came to visit in September and there were a few hills where we had to uh... stop and enjoy the scenery on the way up.

Anyway. I'm really excited about the prospect of not getting so winded SO easily. It's so embarrassing breathing so heavily and sometimes sweating when other people hardly feel a thing.

Enough rambling. Enjoy your Friday!

I almost died today.

I went for my walk today, usually about 30 minutes. At my usual turn-around place, there's a subway entrance so to mix it up a little I decided to run down the 47 steps and back up the 47 steps. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be; I was surprised I actually made it without stopping!

Well, about 30 seconds after I started walking again, it hits me--I CAN'T BREATHE! I've got mild asthma (had it since I was a kid) and it's been a little worse lately because I've been sick. Well, it was all I could do just to take little shallow breaths. I took off my scarf so people would be able to find my pulse after I keeled over, and then I walked about a block to a place I could sit down. Since I didn't have my inhaler with me I just had to focus on my breathing and basically "talk" myself down (remember what's-her-face from LOST season 1 when she lost her inhaler?).

After a couple of minutes I thought I was good enough to finish walking home, but alas I had to stop again at the end of the block. That's when I realized my $10 was missing from my pocket (I was going to stop at the mart on my way home). Grrr, it must have fallen out when I blew my nose after the stairs. So I walked aaaaalllll the way back to the stairs (maybe 2 blocks) but my money was in the wind.

So I learned two things today: One, don't forget my inhaler next time I want to run up and down lots of stairs and Two, don't put money in my pocket and forget about it.



P.S. Thanks for all of your encouraging comments about my last post; I was feeling a little down in the dumps and you picked me right back up :)

Rice!

Today's been a good day so far. Breakfast was a protein shake, and half of a small acorn squash. Now lunch is soybean paste soup (Korean soup - lots of protein) and brown rice. So far, so good! I've eaten about 1.5 tablespoons of the rice, and small bit of soup and I feel pretty good.

Yesterday we saw "Red"--it was really good! I haven't been to a movie in sooooo long, it was nice to go again.

I also walked a few extra blocks today; I'm just about feeling like my normal self! I'm so happy I haven't had a difficult recovery; although I am sorry for those that did. My incision sites still feel a little tender, but it's not too bad.

Have a good day!

Take a walk

Whew, just came back from another walk. This crisp fall air is FANTASTIC for walking outdoors. I'm trying not to think about what I'll do when it turns bitter cold :( 

I thought I would post another picture from yesterday, of myself fully clothed :) Also, on my walk today I took some photos so you can see what my neighborhood here in Daegu is like. 

It's me! With clothes on!

Rooftop garden

Some actual houses (instead of apartments)

Main road, and subway stop

Brand new apartment buildings; I hear they're ridiculously expensive

More apartment buildings in the distance

Market

My apartment building! The middle window on the bottom is mine.

Well, I hope you enjoyed your tour :) I weighed myself again today... almost down another 2 pounds. I kind of like this whole liquid diet thing... although if I had to do it longer than a week (like nearly everyone else) I'd probably go crazy.