Non-numeric achievements: feeling better, getting stronger

In my martial art, I have had several episodes where I needed to stop class because I was feeling dizzy, nauseous, and faint. The first time it happened, it inspired me to join Weight Watchers. The second time it happened, I was so sick that I definitely should not have driven myself home from the gym (nodding off at the wheel, complete lack of focus, etc.) I take preventative measures now to keep from getting that bad again, but I hoped that getting in shape would help me stop doing it.
I still feel tired after classes, but I haven’t tried to pass out in nearly a month. The last time I started to feel sick, I was merely dizzy, and that was because we were circling each other for nearly 20 minutes during sparring. I’ve started a new class with adults (previously there was just me), and the majority of them are black belts. The intensity level is much higher, and the teacher doesn’t know me as well, so if I’m feeling sick, it’s up to me to sit out. Although I feel really out of place and slightly under-prepared for that class, I’ve been doing the best I can to hold my own, and I really think that before I intensified my focus on getting in shape, I wouldn’t have been able to make it through the warm-up, nevermind the class.
Last summer, the summer of the uber-laziness (and the summer I gained 50 f-king pounds), my mom invited me on a bike ride with her and my sister. We live on beautiful Cape Cod, and within a mile of a lovely scenic designated bike path. As a teenager, I went everywhere on my bike: to the point that I barely considered it exercise. Last summer, during our trip, I barely went 5 minutes before I had to stop, nearly passing out, heatstroked, etc. I felt terrible: both physically and mentally. It was a huge shock how insanely out of shape I had let myself get. Sure, walking up the stairs was winding me, but riding my bike for a few minutes made me physically sick.
In January, when I was already about 15 or 20 pounds down from my personal highest weight, I took my bike out on one of those eerily warm winter days we occasionally get on Cape. I failed almost as miserably as I had in the summer. I knew I needed to join a gym and get back into shape.
A few weeks ago, my mom invited me to go riding with them again, and I agreed. Although by the end of our 8 mile ride I was dragging a bit behind them (which I blame fully on my not-good gear-shifty bike), I managed to keep up with them and keep my breathing completely steady (Hooray, low-level AP!) My mom commented that she was impressed, but I was far more impressed with myself than she could have been.