tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81062731499904639072023-11-15T07:44:59.855-08:00What's Eating You?The trials and tribulations of trying to lose weight when living the dream has become a nightmare. My challenge is to control emotional eating.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-72869999910482547182011-01-24T12:35:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:35:40.798-08:00Whittlin' my Waist While Waltzing With the Wee OneBeing a grandmother is awesome work and sooo much pleasure! I find myself incredibly busy but so happy with all the work surrounding this new baby that has blessed our family. Sophia Marie is a wonderful little girl who eats, sleeps, and poops, not necessarily in that order. She cries only when she is very hungry or has a dirty diaper. She is already sleeping all night long -- or at least until her anxious mama wakes her to feed her, fearing she may not be getting enough food.<br />
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It occurred to me last night as I was gently swinging the baby back and forth, side to side, that she could become part of my exercise program for the short term. I feel like I burn a lot of calories with walking her, swinging her side to side, and just holding her and rocking her. Probably in truth not enough calories to measure, but I am certainly worn out at the end of the day. Taking care of a large house, doing laundry, cooking, walking the dogs, etc. all counts up, I am sure.<br />
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While I am enjoying this life of being a grammy immensely, I will also be glad to get back to my "routine" at home, where I have a pattern of things I do daily to help keep me healthy. Old routines are comfortable at times, and can also be fulfilling and relaxing. <br />
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Since I did not remember to get my weight to Allan in time yesterday, I will continue the challenge on my own. It feels SOOO good to know I am moving in the right direction, even if I have to get my exercise and food when I can fit it in right now. My daughter-in-law has been very encouraging by noticing when I look "thinner" on a given day. I am still doing the yo-yo thing where I am up two pounds one day but then down two or two and a half the next day. Bottom line is that the scale is finally moving downward, and for that I am so very grateful. Thank you, God.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-13505817958194823652011-01-20T15:31:00.000-08:002011-01-20T15:33:02.287-08:00Sophia Marie has Arrived and is Coming Home Tonight!!We have a new baby girl, and she is so perfect. She arrived right on time Tuesday morning, at 9:01 to be exact. She is 8.1 pounds and 19.5 inches. Both she and her mom are doing great. And her brother thinks she is the coolest baby sister he has ever seen, even though she was not able to comply when he asked her to "please say one word." Too cute.<br />
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I have been busy with laundry, cleaning, baking, getting everything ready for Mama and Baby to come home. Exciting time in our family. They will be home in a couple of hours.<br />
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Food has been an afterthought most of the week. Ditto for water; I often look over and find my water bottle empty. So I need to get a bit more structured again about my program. Definitely easier to stay with the program when I am home. But it's all good.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-40901421390248835592011-01-15T23:04:00.000-08:002011-01-15T23:11:13.419-08:00It's a Rainy Night and It's All GoodIt is Saturday night, the rain is falling, the creeks and rivers are flooding, and I am just chillin' in my son's second floor apartment, where I am safe and dry.<br />
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I actually took the evening off. I declined to go to a friend's house for the evening. I really did not want to drive across town in the heavy rain, plus I know he is pet sitting his son's HUGE dog, who loves to rub his big hairy body against me and get hair all over my clothes. Also, because the dog is allowed on the furniture, there is dog hair everywhere. I love dogs, but not undisciplined ones who won't stay off the furniture and who won't stay off me.<br />
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So I stayed in, got caught up on my email, polished my nails for the first time in months, and watched the ten o'clock news. I also took some time to organize the things in my suitcase so I could pack my overnight bag and be ready to head back to my other son's house at a moment's notice. I was there all week, doing the grocery shopping, the cooking, laundry, walking the dogs, etc. I made a huge pot of bean soup today and then left so my son and his wife can have some time to themselves this weekend before the big event on Tuesday.<br />
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Tuesday morning, their daugther, Sophia Marie, will arrive via C-section around nine o'clock. I am pretty stoked about that. I won't be present for the surgery, but I will be at the hospital and will get to see the baby as soon as she is born. Pretty exciting stuff. I have been doing everything I can to make my daughter-in-law's life easier this final week. She worked all week at her job, and yesterday was her last day until mid-May. She insisted on going to Costco on her own today, even though her ankles are very swollen. So I made sure there was plenty of food made, the kitchen clean, house straightened, and nothing to stress the mama to be unnecessarily, then headed out in the rain. <br />
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I am so happy to be part of this new life. It feels like a "bonus" and it is. I will spend a week with my son's family after mama and baby get home so Camille will not have to climb up and down stairs for the first few days. Who knows? It may be tough to go back home. I cannot wait to hold that baby girl, and I could get used to being with her really easily. I have sent lots of prayers up to God that this new life will be a normal healthy little girl.<br />
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In terms of food and exercise, today was erratic. I "moved" a lot but did not do my exercising, per se. Food for kind of off the wall, but I am okay for the day. I HAD to test the bean soup; since I don't use a recipe, I never know exactly how it is going to taste, so I checked it out, made some adjustments, then tested it again. I had celery and an apple for breakfast, tasted the bean and ham soup for lunch, then had sugar free popcorn and rice cakes for dinner. Snack of an apple with a few slices of cheese finished up the day. Still taking in water. <br />
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I find it is more challenging to get my water down here. I need to set up my "system" like I have at home: each evening, I fill six of the 16.9 oz water bottles and line them up so I am ready to go the next morning. That, plus the bottle I drink during the night and my one or two mugs of coffee in the morning, pretty well take care of my hydration needs. I have not been as disciplined here in Oregon with my water, so I need to clean up my act. <br />
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I lost only one pound this week, and shorting myself on the water is probably the reason. My daughter-in-law (bless her heart!!) told me yesterday that I looked slim. What sweet words to my ears... <br />
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I really want to be healthy, which means at a healthy weight. My loss seems so very slow compared to so many others, but the fat IS coming off, and for that I am so grateful. Thank you, God.<br />
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I noticed something different about my legs this morning as I undressed for my shower: the skin on my legs looks "uneven" and sort of "wrinkly" and I can pinch a layer of fat on my lower legs as well as my upper legs. I "think" I have lost some inches on my legs and the unevenness I am seeing is the result of the skin on my legs being looser. Not a look I particularly like, but I will take it for now... Beats being so fat I cannot pinch an inch.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-85982193947294923172011-01-13T14:21:00.000-08:002011-01-13T14:21:45.325-08:00Following the Dogs Uphill Makes My Burning Calves Scream for HelpI have been so very busy these past few days, helping a family member with a variety of tasks. Making a contribution, so it is all good.<br />
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One of the tasks I have taken over for her is walking her two dogs. Since my son and his wife live halfway up an incredibly steep hill, I can either walk down and then back up, or walk up and then back down. I choose to do the up down option, and while I thought my legs were in pretty good shape, OMG!! I walk the dogs one at a time, since one is under a year old and wild as a hare, and both trips give me cause for some serious breathing and some real thinking about the condition of my body. <br />
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I definitely need to stretch before I begin walking the dogs. By the time I have gone three blocks straight up, my poor calves are BURNING with pain. I take some small consolation in the fact that I must be getting rid of some serious calories with all this pain. My heart is racing, I am out of breath, and I am wishing the dogs were not quite so eager to get to the top of the hill, which feels like a mountain by the time I get to the top. This morning, in the midst of my pain, I reveled in the reality that each step is moving me closer to health, and for that I am grateful.<br />
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Bring it on.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-86571683331235181322011-01-07T00:39:00.000-08:002011-01-07T00:39:26.694-08:00Just Don't Feel Like Lovin' You TodayAnyone familiar with that song? It is awesome in my book and totally reflects how I feel some days about myself, my husband, my life, my food addiction, the world, etc. There are days I just don't want to deal with anything or anyone, days when just getting through the day takes every ounce of energy and courage I have.<br />
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Can you tell I am having a fibromyalgia day? When I have a fibro attack, I hurt all over, I have no energy, I sleep all the time, I feel "out of touch" with everything and everyone, including myself. Not sure where this attack came from (usual prompters are extreme stress or extreme fatigue). Maybe the cold and being away from home with no schedule, no predictability in my day has gotten to me. I may have skipped some meds last night also. In fact, I am pretty sure I did.<br />
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I feel pretty fragile right now. Hate it when that happens. I love feeling strong and determined and focused. The good news is that I found a couple of new blogs tonight, ones that stress staying positive. So I will work on that. I can do this. I can do this. I WILL do this.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-53888561822802495142011-01-05T00:55:00.000-08:002011-01-05T01:07:14.861-08:00Catching Up on Success Stories is FunUnbelievably, it is after midnight, and I have spent hours catching up on my blog reading. Since I am not at home, I have very unreliable Internet access. This week we are moving back and forth between family and a friend's house, and there is no Internet access at our friend's house. He does not own a computer -- won't even consider it -- so I am SOL when we are at his house. Since my husband spends all his nights there, I need to give up computers periodically in order to spend time with him.<br />
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My husband will return to Arizona this weekend, but I will stay here for all of January. I am in my son's apartment and alone tonight since he is working his shift at the fire department, where he is an EMT. He spent last night at home so we could have dinner together and catch up on each other's lives. Since he is national chair or something of the American Heart Association as well as an EMT, we frequently have lots of conversations about health and fitness. He is really glad to see that I am what he calls "taking care of myself" and getting healthy. He will leave Thursday morning for Dallas, where he is filming a training program for the Heart Association. He won't get home until very late Sunday night.<br />
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It is very nice to be near my boys after a six month absence, for I miss them so when I cannot be near them. Even though it is after midnight, I just got a text message from my other son, reminding me I can stay at his place anytime I want. Nice to be wanted.<br />
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I have now finished my water for the day, the last of it in the form of hot water, and that tasted really good in the cold weather. No fireplace in this apartment, and the insulation is not the best from the feel of things. The heating system is kind of strange in this apartment based on my limited experience, but, hey, it works, so no real complaints. Just seems strange that the only heating element for the kitchen, dining area, and living room is a single little unit in the dining room.<br />
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Right now I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with gratitude for the wonderful support group I have stumbled into. So great to know that others are also walking the same path I am on toward fitness and good health. Such an exciting time for so many of the bloggers I follow, so many success stories. What an impressive group of people, and I am so encouraged by the examples they set by their actions. If someone had told me that I could lose steadily (albeit slowly) like I have been doing since I joined this group, I would not have believed it. <br />
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For reasons unknown to me, the people I know are either very thin, very tiny people for the most part. I also have a friend who has had gastric bypass surgery, hated what it did to her life, and has gained a lot of weight back. She constantly tells me I look great and don't need to worry about my weight. Sweet, but not true. My other friends, in an effort to be kind, tell me I look fine. People sometimes think they are helping you when in fact they are not doing you any favor by indirectly discouraging efforts to lose weight.<br />
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I guess everything in life can be perceived as relative, but as an unhealthy, obese person, I do not gain anything at all by being told I look good when I am 40 pounds overweight, and I have the high cholesterol and high blood pressure to prove it. Additionally, I am borderline Type 2 diabetic due to my poor food choices as well as the quantity of food I used to consume. What I need to hear are comments like, "I am excited for you that you are making your health a priority" or something to that effect when I say, "no, I am watching what I eat" to an offer of a piece of cake or a second helping. <br />
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It will be so cool to see what my glucose reading is when I have my next blood test. That will be with my new doc, of course, since my ex-doc (the incompetent one) has no recollection of even discussing diabetes with me. She suggested I go to diabetes food classes to learn how to reduce the sugar levels in my blood, but now she has no recollection of ever talking to me about diabetes. Hello!! Doctors can be very scary....as in, what do older people who become forgetful do when they have a doctor like that? Sounds downright dangerous to me.<br />
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But I digress. My glucose level was 121, and I expect a SIGNIFICANT improvement with my new way of eating. I am totally excited about taking better care of my body and getting healthy. Yes, the weight loss is nothing short of wonderful, and the improvement to my health is awesome as well. I'm dreaming of a healthy body....just like the one I used to have.<br />
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Thank you, God. I know I am richly blessed.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-16286951839490364962011-01-04T19:03:00.000-08:002011-01-04T19:05:19.093-08:00Surprising DevelopmentsI cannot believe it, but I am currently losing weight without a lot of effort on my part! What is truly amazing is that I don't think about food all the time. I used to finish a meal or snack and immediately begin thinking about the next food I could and would eat. No kidding; if I was running an errand in the car, I would make sure I had something to eat in my purse and/or in the car. I remember one time in the not very distant past when I could not find a snack pack of peanuts I was sure I had brought with me, and I panicked! I searched everywhere and could not find those peanuts. I finally decided I must have dropped them on the way to the car. And the first thing I did when I got home from my errands was to look for the peanuts. Found them in the car a week later.<br />
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That I can go several hours now and not think about food is nothing less than amazing. I don't know how long this will last, but it is a great feeling. Thank you, God, and thank you, fellow bloggers.<br />
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This morning, I weighed myself and found I was down. Ordinarily, I would have used that weight loss as cause for celebration, which would have meant I could eat something to "celebrate" my loss. Today, I did not even think about celebrating until I was getting out of the shower and marveling at the weight loss, and then it occurred to me that I had felt nothing but JOY when I saw the number on the scale. No desire to eat, only a desire to lose more. I am so grateful for this feeling. It is so very cool to get excited about losing weight instead of being afraid to feel good about it for fear it will go away tomorrow.<br />
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Does that make any sense? My weight has been such an up and down yo-yo for so many months, regardless of what I did or did not do, regardless of what I ate or did not eat. What I know for sure is that I am closely watching my calories now, more than ever before. Maybe my body simply decided to get off its fat butt and start responding to my efforts. I truly do not understand all of this, but I will take it. <br />
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I'm dreaming of a slim body.....just like the one I used to know....Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-11938571813746570292010-12-31T21:42:00.000-08:002010-12-31T21:49:36.529-08:00Cold Feet and No Relief in SightI am here in OR E GONE, where the weather is COLD COLD COLD. These past 48 hours have certainly given me a lot of empathy and admiration for people who have been dealing with deep snow, freezing winds, icy streets, etc. <br />
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We left Arizona's 72 degree weather in the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday, drove into California's very wet but decent 50s temperature, and on toward Oregon, hitting the Oregon border mid-morning on Wednesday, only to be greeted with lots of snow and ice and a flashing sign that said, "Chains required from this point on..." There were semi trucks by the dozens and dozens, pulled off to the sides of the road, putting on chains and preparing to enter Oregon. Ditto for automobiles. There was also a bustling business being had by people dressed in orange jumpsuits who were available to install chains for you for $10 per wheel.<br />
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The only problem was, we did not have any chains. We decided to chance it anyway and kept going, not heeding the flashing sign telling us we could not do that....only to be stopped shortly inside the Oregon border by the Highway Patrol. My husband explained that we did not have chains but that we have a four-wheel drive SUV. The Highway Patrol guy was great; he simply said, "you've got four-wheel drive. Use it." There was ice and snow everywhere, but Johnny used to work as a professional test car driver, so he is very good in all driving conditions. Additionally, he was part of the Ski Patrol on Mt. Hood for twelve years when we lived in Oregon, so he has had lots of experience driving in snowy conditions. <br />
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Southern Oregon was challenging, but we had no problems and continued north throughout the day, arriving at his daughter's house by four in the afternoon. We had stopped Tuesday night in Highland, CA to have a quick dinner with his brother, who told us there was bad weather moving in, so we decided to drive straight through; I drove through California while Johnny slept, and he drove while I slept. We are comfortable with each other's driving, so we really can sleep while the other drives.<br />
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I did okay on the trip in terms of food. I had prepared some bottles of watered down chocolate shakes that are 30 calories each, plus I brought along cans of V8, several apples, some almonds, and some Slim Fast 100 calorie bars. The Slim Fast bars are double chocolate and really tasty. Great snack for 100 calories. I screwed up one time on the trip: we stopped at a McDonalds for a pit stop at six or so in the morning after I had been driving all night, and Johnny asked me if I wanted a Sausage Biscuit....and I said yes. Then he said, do you want two? Thank God I said no. I ate that Sausage Biscuit, and I swear that it did not taste as good as I remembered. Unfortunately, I ate it anyway. I blamed my weakness on fatigue. Reeling from the knowledge that the Sausage Biscuit was a lot of calories, I passed on the next food stop and ate only my approved foods the rest of the trip. <br />
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It was tough to keep my water levels up. I was ready to beat on my husband because of the problem with potty breaks anyway. He wanted to put me off several times and did. For example, I told him just prior to our approaching The Grapevine (a long winding grapevine type road up and down the mountain) that I needed to stop. He INSISTED that the grapevine took only 15 to 20 minutes and we would stop at the bottom. An hour later, we were still on the Grapevine and he finally stopped. I was ready to scream at him. Then a little later, shortly after we had stopped for gas, he made another stop. I asked, "Why are we stopping so soon?" He said he had to go to the bathroom. I said, "Great. We stop when you need to go, but we keep going when I need to go..." That created a period of silence, but what the heck? It was true. However, he was a little better at stopping for me after that.<br />
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Anyway, after ariving and visting his daughter's family and my son's family, we had a good night's rest, which we both desperately needed. <br />
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I did some last minute shopping yesterday for my other son's surprise birthday party, and it was great to be there and to see his smile when he saw me there. I had not seen him for six months, and he did not know about the birthday party, nor did he know I was in town; he thought I was coming to Oregon in January. His girlfriend had prepared a great birthday dinner with lots of great appetizers, a really nice dinner, and a birthday cake and ice cream. I managed to pass on the bread, took no seconds of anything, but did have a small piece of birthday cake and some ice cream. I had starved myself all day in preparation for the evening meal, so I think I did pretty well, calorie-wise.<br />
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It was so brutally cold when we came out from my son's birthday party. There was ice everywhere: water frozen on the streets, ground and grass frozen, etc. I was wearing a long sleeved shirt and a heavy sweater, but it still felt cold. Woke up to 29 degrees this morning, and it never got much warmer than that. I am not accustomed to this cold since I live in Arizona, so I am not having any fun with the weather. <br />
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And so far, my good intentions of walking every day are just that: intentions. As I was shivering and procrastinating this afternoon, I found myself admiring those bloggers who have continued to walk and/or run in winter weather. There are lots of people out walking and running here in Oregon, but the cold is just too brutal for me right now. <br />
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I guess I have turned into a wuss.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-51950397061064891122010-12-28T09:49:00.000-08:002010-12-28T09:49:16.263-08:00Good Information Source on Calorieshttp://www.womenshealthmag.com/files/pdfs/100Calories.pdf<br />
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Just went to this website. Very informative. Formatted for printing.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-40959098900192786582010-12-27T18:24:00.000-08:002010-12-27T18:30:36.496-08:00Struggling to Stay on CourseI have not written anything for a couple of days; not sure why. I have been trying to do a better job of following some of my favorite bloggers and have written on their sites, but have neglected any direct soul searching on a conscious level. Probably not a good idea based on what I am seeing so far...<br />
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I lost only one pound last week, and that really threw me for a loop. I was more disappointed and discouraged than I had a right to be, which caught me by surprise. Nevertheless, I kind of got caught up in the "poor me" trap: all that hard work, all that deprivation, and for one pound??? Consequently, I found myself on the pity potty for a couple of days and did not take good care of myself. <br />
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This weight loss thing is incredibly simple: Find a plan that works (which I have via Allan and the rest of you), and stick to it. That simple. That, and daily exercise. The working out is the extra nudge I need to see a nice drop on the scales. I know how important the water is, I know how important the write before you bite is, I know how important limiting my calories to 1200 a day is, and I know how important exercise is for me. I just have to keep it together and do it faithfully.<br />
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We leave tomorrow for a long long drive to the Northwest, where I will spend a month. NOT looking forward to that but need to do it to fulfill a family obligation. Just the thought of leaving the desert and its 70 degree temps for the frigid, damp, cold, windy, achy in my bones Portland, OR weather is a real downer. <br />
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I went out yesterday and bought Slim Fast 100 calorie bars so I will have something to eat when I get the munchies during the trip. Since I only get to order food when we need to stop for gas, it is not always easy to keep hunger under control, so I am planning ahead. I will also take several bottles of water with me to get me through between stops. <br />
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Then there is the bathroom issue: my husband does NOT like to make pit stops unless he needs gas. This should be an interesting trip....Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-78229316827416768072010-12-24T13:32:00.000-08:002010-12-24T13:32:05.438-08:00Just Hanging Out and Lovin' it.Today is a lazy lazy day, and I am taking it easy. No work to speak of so far; instead, I have played around on the Internet, read and sent jokes, and generally screwed off all day. <br />
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Munching on a few carrots and watching the food intake. Pounding the water. Feeling a little "heavy" compared to earlier this week. It is so weird how I can feel "lighter" some days and "heavier" other days during the same week.<br />
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Writing down how lazy I have been all day makes me feel guilty. I had better go accomplish something. Merry Christmas Eve, everyone.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-82723084019729219172010-12-23T13:57:00.000-08:002010-12-23T14:01:32.718-08:00Staying the Course When the Path is a Detour From ExpectationsBecause I had a tough dentist visit yesterday, with lots and lots of novacaine to "try" to numb me up for much drilling and filling in preparation for a crown on a back molar, my body is doing its fibromyalgia trick today. I am sore and achy all over due to the stress and pain associated with the dentist thing. Fillings are always hard for me because the dentist can't get me numb, and they always end up hitting a nerve several times during the procedure, which sends me through the roof momentarily and sends my body into a fibro attack. <br />
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I am not stressing about the fibro spell, however, because I have learned what my triggers are: if I get too stressed or too tired, I will invariably have a fibro attack. So I am taking it easy today, drinking lots of water and any other fluid I can think of, and doing "quiet" projects like writing letters and hemming a pair of my husband's pants. <br />
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Food is not an option to make me feel better, as it would have been and has been so many times before. I feel sooo good about that.<br />
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I also feel really proud of my incredible workout yesterday. I had spent a few days out of the pool fighting a bad cold, and that was a really smart thing to do. My cold is all better, and I felt so strong during my workout yesterday. I had a 1 3/4 hour workout, nonstop exercise, and I don't know that I have ever felt so strong. It was amazing: I was able to do interval training with no problem, even when I really pushed myself. I MUST be getting stronger. And it was great to be able to tell one of my workout buddies that I have lost seven pounds. Yee haw!!<br />
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Today, there is no pool workout, so I have been using my free weights and will use my bands. I don't know that those activities burn many calories, but they are great for toning and firming. <br />
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I find it hard to use the word calories without chuckling. Thoughts of Allan's post yesterday on calories and the accompanying comments about various activities still cracks me up. Too too funny. I WILL say that his post definitely gave me a new "perspective" about things we can do to burn calories. Now, if I only knew how to measure some of those activities. But I don't want to go there.....I could write a novel....<br />
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Back to reality. My husband and I made a decision to not have a big traditional dinner this Chistmas. There are several people we could (and probably should) have over for Christmas dinner, but I am putting my weight program first. If I were to have people over, I would have all kinds of dishes made that I don't need right now. I am not at the point where I feel I am disciplined enough to resist temptation, so I choose to remove myself from the great holiday food banquet. Also, since we are leaving for Oregon two or three days after Christmas, I don't need to deal with the leftovers. How's that for getting out of cooking? Actually, I already bought the turkey. But I will save it for another time.<br />
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Today, I will go to Fitness Pal and enter all food BEFORE I eat it. That is a good thing for me to do in terms of helping me stay disciplined. I had been tracking my food in a notebook, then entering it into Fitness Pal at the end of the day. Sometimes, that causes nasty surprises: I am often shocked at how many calories a particular food or serving is, even though I am working very hard on reading labels. So I will take the extra step and time to enter the food into Fitness Pal ahead of time and therefore find out what the caloric price tag is. That way, I can still correct my diet if I need to.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-71140999615969489722010-12-21T23:10:00.000-08:002010-12-21T23:13:23.504-08:00A Good Day DoneAh, end of day. Sooo ready for bed. On the advice of Princess Dieter, I stayed in all day and did paperwork projects and took care of my cold, with no exercise at the pool. And I feel better tonight. I even managed to stay under 1200 calories today, with lots of water down the hatch.<br />
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Allan is so right: for me, it is critical to blog and to keep writing down what I eat as I eat it. That works so much better for me, for the calories can edge up before I realize it. Even with reading labels, I find I still need to write before I bite. That forces me to think about the wisdom of what I am about to eat. Do I want to eat it, or should I choose something else? <br />
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I read somewhere tonight that we should "Close the kitchen down after dinner." Boy, does that make sense. No food available after dinner. If we need something to chew on, there is sugarless gum or sugarless bubble gum. Or simply chug a bottle of water.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-89498724252985296172010-12-21T10:31:00.000-08:002010-12-21T10:36:08.804-08:00Holding onI have been fighting a miserable cold for three days that has really kicked my butt. I have not exercised, and I think that makes me want to eat, or is that just an excuse? Anyway, the cold might be a tad better today but afraid to go in the pool and make it worse. I do NOT want to be sick for Christmas.<br />
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I am working hard this morning on getting rid of some of my stressors: paperwork, half-finished projects, disorganized desk, etc. I HATE disorganization!! Makes me crazy. I have to find a way to get some storage room and some work surface in my study so I can find things and simply have a place to work. Without a place to file things, it is very hard to manage. But the project of getting some cabinets and counter space cannot begin until February. Oh, well.<br />
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Time to go fill more water bottles..and kick it up a notch. I can do bands and hand weights. I did a lot of light weights yesterday for toning, but that does not burn many calories. I am staying off the scale for now. I don't need to put myself under additional pressure; I have enough of that, thank you.<br />
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I have to pick it up in terms of my "lost" exercise time. I can double my time in the pool; no excuse, once this cold is under control. My goal is to get back in the water. I can do this!! I can burn a lot of calories once I get in there. I know the routine.<br />
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For today, I will lean on my blogging buddies for the extra strength I need to feel okay about my journey to wellness.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-29484708928651494262010-12-19T08:27:00.000-08:002010-12-19T08:27:23.485-08:00A Good NumberI weighed myself when I got up, after three slugs of water and before even stopping at the bathroom, and I am down four pounds for the week!! It seems like it all happened it the last two days. I am sooooooo excited!!<br />
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I even dreamed about weight loss last night; in my dream, I was at a normal weight. In my dream, there was a "knowing" inside me that I was "okay", if that makes any sense. And it felt so good. <br />
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Are we what we weigh? Heavens, no, but it sure feels that way sometimes. I know with every ounce of me that the feedback from fellow bloggers has helped me immensely to deal with that concept this week; even if I was not aware of it, on some level, there were times this week when I allowed my weight to dictate who I was. And it was ugly. To each of you who took the time to remind me that I am greater than my weight, thank you. Thank you for reminding me to keep the faith. Thank you for believing in me and being there for me when I felt alone.<br />
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I hope you have an awesome weigh in and a peaceful day.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-23437537896651466572010-12-18T00:47:00.000-08:002010-12-18T01:18:31.825-08:00TrudgingIt has been a trudging day, and I am worn out by it. <br />
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Had oatmeal with cinnamon for breakfast and by lunch, I was tired tired tired. Because of no protein? I don't know. I had gotten up early to meet with the termite killers, had only one quick cup of coffee, vacuumed amd mopped the kitchen floor, and then headed off to the pool for a 75 minute workout. While I was there, two people commented on how hard I exercise.<br />
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On the way home, I realized I was on only my first bottle of water for the day, instead of my fifth, as I should have been. I got home, drank a bottle of water, and had an apple. That got me through until two o'clock, when it was time to meet with a salesman on "radiant barrier" insulation for the attic. The program sounds good, but I need to do some research and see if it is a good investment. I simply don't know. Johnny has no opinion one way or the other. <br />
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Once the salesman left, I grabbed a can of V8 and a little bag of peanuts and headed out the door with Johnny to go to Golfsmith. Somehow, I lost my peanuts between the pantry and the car, but unfortunately I did not miss them until we were ten minutes into our trip. I needed those peanuts, and I could not find them anywhere, which made me crazy!! I was weak with hunger. I drank the V8 and turned down John's offer to stop for fast food. Instead, I ate a couple of fiber tablets I found in my purse and drank a bottle of water. I felt half sick to my stomach. I really do not understand how people can go and go and go without food.<br />
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We ended up stopping at Subway on the way home for a Roasted Chicken Breast on nine grain wheat bread with extra lettuce, extra green pepper, extra onion, and extra tomato, finished off with salt and pepper and light mayo. I could hardly wait to get home to eat it. I ate the entire 12 inch sandwich!! Then I checked it on Fitness Pal and hated that I had eaten all of it. I was very surprised and disappointed that it was 620 calories. I thought with all the veggies, it would be maybe 400, 450 max. Won't make that mistake again. No matter how many calories I have available, I just don't want to eat anything with that many calories in one fell swoop.<br />
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After entering my food into Fitness Pal and seeing I was still under 1200 calories for the day, I expressed my frustration to John at no weight loss this week. To give you a brief background, I have been exercising almost daily (I try for six days a week, rest on Sunday) for nearly three months. I have eliminated sugar from my diet (I cannot remember when I last had a cookie or a piece of candy; I don't even bake anymore so we don't have it around), I have cut way back on carbs (no chips, no Pringles, almost no bread) and have reduced the overall quantity of food I eat -- and I still cannot lose weight!<br />
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So I get frustrated, and I get discouraged, and I needed to talk about it tonight. I made the mistake of trying to talk to Johnny about how I was feeling about how difficult it is to see any progress. When I repeated to him what I just said above, his only response was, "Well, there have been some days you have missed going to the gym." <br />
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Holy Crap! YES!! Hello!! I "miss" almost every Sunday, because I feel I need a day of rest, a day when I can just stay in my PJs, drink coffee, and read the paper. Instead of encouraging me for all I am doing, he suggested I am not doing enough. In fact, he added, "you need to play golf on Monday." Yep. That would burn some more calories. But what about the things I need to do on Monday, including an ultrasound?<br />
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Maybe he is right about my not exercising enough. I went over my Fitness Pal info for the week. Since my last weigh-in on Sunday, I have exercised 375 minutes, and I mean hard, continuous exercise, with interval training incorporated. In addition to the 375 minutes, I have done strength training with bands and with free weights, but I don't keep track of the time I spend on that. Based on Fitness Pal's calculations, those 375 minutes of hard work should net me a loss of just over half a pound. Over six hours of exercise for half a pound?? Is that exciting or what?? NOT!!<br />
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Additionally, I have gotten the message twice this week on Fitness Pal that I "am not eating enough calories." And John is worried that I have missed some days of exercise, that I need to cut back more on my eating. Oh, yes, he mentioned that also.<br />
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You know, it seems pretty clear to me that, for the most part, many people who have never had serious weight problems simply do not understand what it is like to be obese. They do not recognize the struggle. They don't have a frigging clue how hard it is to keep on keeping on when you cannot see any improvement. They simply cannot appreciate the inner battles we have with discouragement, hopelessness, depression, fatigue, etc. All the emotional shit makes me so tired I can hardly put one foot in front of the other, and I hate it.<br />
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I don't know where I am going with this. Just venting, I guess. And that is one of the benefits of writing it all down. You get it out in the open, where it can be dissected and taken apart. And let go of....so let it go, Digger. Let it go. <br />
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On a positive note, that conversation with John (if you can call it that) gave me time to get pissed off, feel anger and self-pity, get discouraged, etc. He said I got angry with him because I am upset about my weight.<br />
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His comments reminded me that I know better than to try to have a conversation with John on anything I need or want. Thank you for the reminder, John, you insensitive shit. Next time we will talk about your golf game while we watch one of your favorite Western movies. That should be a sure winner, guaranteed to make you happy.<br />
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Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Why do I bother? Stupid is as stupid does. <br />
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God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.<br />
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It's okay. Tomorrow is another day, and I will make it a good one.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-9300604642590989452010-12-17T00:50:00.000-08:002010-12-17T00:53:14.696-08:00Another Day GoneInteresting day: I woke with an incredible hunger, which is unusual for me these days. I can usually have a cup of coffee or two, a bottle or two of water, before eating. Not today. Had an apple with peanut butter to calm the hungries but still felt like I wanted to eat. Looked for something else to eat.<br />
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I did not want to go to the pool today; I wanted to go back to bed. It was cloudy and rainy -- very unusual for the desert -- but at the appointed time, I got ready and headed out. As I left, I told my husband, I am leaving for the pool so I can get it over with and get back. Not my usual attitude.<br />
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Interesting how life surprises us, isn't it. There was a lady in the pool that I know by name and have chatted with before but had not seen for several months. She has severe rheumatoid arthritis, and she has had some serious health problems which have kept her away from the pool. Thank you, God, for my health. <br />
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Mary and I spent the entire 75 minutes talking, and the time flew by. Here I had been dreading the workout, and it ended up great. Lesson: just do the work consistently. Stick to the plan. Don't make it harder than it is.<br />
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While I was exercising, I noticed a very attractive lady walking around. To be honest, I did not even notice her face; instead, I noticed her slimness, how well her clothes fit, how confidently she walked, how she held her head up. And seeing her reinforced for me how badly I want to look like that. I can remember when I was at 144 pounds, and I felt so good emotionally. So confident, so alive. I want that again.<br />
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I stayed under 1200 calories today without much effort, which is a bit of a surprise since I was so hungry this morning. After exercising, I came home and drank a can of V8, and that satisfied me for a couple of hours. I ended up having my salad around 4 in the afternoon, and then we had dinner around 7. I was not tempted even a little to take seconds of anything, and I did not nibble when I put the leftovers away. Feels so good to be able to do the program. Thank you, God.<br />
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One thing I am doing different this week is that I am staying off the scale. Before, I would weigh myself every morning, and I let the number on the scale dictate my mood. For whatever reason, I tend to go up three pounds, down three pounds, up four, down two, etc., so I was on a constant roller coaster based on what the scale showed. Now I am writing down everything I eat, consciously thinking about what I eat, and faithfully entering the day's food and water into My Fitness Pal. We will see what happens by week's end.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-2166653091769241652010-12-16T00:36:00.000-08:002010-12-16T00:44:23.991-08:00Going to Create a Road MapI am exhausted tonight. Long day. But it's all good.<br />
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My husband's report on his prostate cancer was very very good. His PSA has "disappeared", so the treatment is working. <br />
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I had a 75 minute workout this morning in preparation for the doctor visit. I knew I needed to be ready for whatever the news was. I was NOT prepared to hear that John's PSA was at zero. I did not know that was even possible. But I read the lab report myself. So he will get another injection in March and is to continue doing whatever he wants. <br />
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Isn't it interesting how we so often prepare ourselves for bad news instead of expecting great news? Because I was fixated on expecting the worst possible news, I went through a lot of crap I did not need, just worrying about something I have no control over anyway. I need to stop that.<br />
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The doctor expressed some concern about the brittleness of Johnny's bones. That is a side effect of the treatment he is on. I need to ask the doctor if there is more we need to do to combat that. I have Johnny on Vitamin D, calcium, fish oil, and flaxseed oil now, which his primary doctor approved. But I suspect we need to do more. I have to check it out.<br />
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I am going to use Allan's information for my 'Due Date' and create something that takes me to the end of days. In other words, I will be counting down the days to victory. I just need a clear head and a few moments to figure it out and decide how I can illustrate it on my blog.<br />
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I think I went over my 1200 calories today. After we left the doctor, we went out to lunch. I had a chef salad at Village Inn, and it apparently had more calories than I thought it would. Won't make that mistake again. I am learning more and more about food values. <br />
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I stopped at Safeway tonight and was kind of looking for the soy ice cream another blogger mentioned. I did not find it, but during the process I checked out several ice creams, sherberts, sorbets, etc. I was AMAZED at how many calories were in the sherberts and sorbets, and it is obvious that the phrase "reduced fat" means very little when it comes to ice cream. They were all fattening, and I did not find the soy ice cream, so I came home with broccoli instead. Also made some ground turkey with some salad spices on it and some cajun spices. Made it really tasty. <br />
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Johnny went to bed early. I think he was mentally exhausted. Can't blame him. He is a positive thinker, but these past few days have been tough for him. The "not knowing" is a killer. <br />
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There are reminders all around us that life is good, but we sometimes get so caught up in our own drama that we don't see them. We get so busy with our "doing" that we forget about our "being." <br />
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In fact, I forgot to ask for God's help with my weight control today. I forgot the three most powerful words in the universe: God, help me. <br />
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Tomorrow is a new day, with lots of things that need doing. I will try to begin by being grateful.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-68973421162831760162010-12-14T23:38:00.000-08:002010-12-14T23:38:43.126-08:00Big Day Coming UpI had a good day today. Stayed under 1200 calories, got a massage, had some time to relax and think about things, and prepare myself mentally for tomorrow when Johnny and I see his urologist.<br />
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We found out Johnny had prostate cancer four years ago, and he had his prostate removed, only to find out the cancer was already outside the prostate. The doctor said he did the best he could to get it all. Duh! Of course he did. I guess because I was so emotional and so scared, it never occurred to me to suggest radiation around the prostate site.<br />
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Fast forward to 2009. Johnny started having backaches that kept him from playing golf. NOTHING keeps him from the golf course. I insisted that we go check out what was happening. After many tests, everything indicated the cancer was back, except the doctor could not find it. In June of this year, I insisted on a bone scan, and there it was: a tumor showed up on Johnny's spine, which means the prostate cancer has metastisized to his bones. He has completed a six-month treatment of hormone suppression therapy, and tomorrow we will find out what his latest blood test shows in terms of whether his PSA has dropped, leveled off, or kept going up.<br />
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Stressful to say the least. And I am an emotional eater. I admit it. But I will face tomorrow when it gets here, together with whatever news comes.<br />
I have said repeatedly since finding out about the bone cancer that I just don't want Johnny to suffer. I can give him up, but I don't know if I can stand to see him suffer. So far, he is doing great. He has little pain, and he plays golf at least four times a week. His attitude is incredibly positive. He also is good at hiding his feelings.<br />
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However, when we got the bad news about the cancer being back and the doctor told him he had maybe two years, Johnny said to me, "You'll need to help me with this..." <br />
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He knows I worry. Early on, I was asking way too often how he felt, what he needed, etc. He told me, "Don't feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for me." And he said tonight, "Well, we will find out tomorrow if I get to see another Christmas on this planet." <br />
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Heavenly Father, God, please let us feel your presence tomorrow.<br />
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I want to write more, I need to write more. But my heart is heavy, and I need to go be with Johnny. I know his burden is a bit lighter when I am near him.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-70571456126520469842010-12-14T14:12:00.000-08:002010-12-14T14:12:55.347-08:00Now the Weight is OfficialSaw the doctor today, and, with clothes on, weighed in at 189.6. So I am officially below that awful number that has a nine in it. And that is exciting.<br />
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I suspect that for most people of a certain age, obesity brings a set of related illnesses and/or health conditions. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which require expensive prescription medication. I know the extra weight is very hard on my knees, and the belly fat has created fat in my liver and all around where fat should not be, including my heart.<br />
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For the past two months, I have made major changes in my diet. I now avoid sugar, which hopefully has helped with the high triglycerides, and I have cut WAAAY back on carbs. I had blood work done this week, but unfortunately, the lab chose to check only my bad cholesterol and my thyroid. No report on my glucose level, my good cholesterol, or my triglycerides. And my doctor won't order more blood work. Says she has no reason to. It would seem that, since I am on medication for high cholesterol, that would justify testing, but noooooo, she says she cannot justify it. The good news is, my bad cholesterol is down from 178 to 114. Woo hoo!! <br />
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My doctor is forgetful, and that concerns me a great deal. When I reminded her of her concern earlier in the year with my sugar level and her suggestion that I go for diabetic diet counseling, she insisted I must have had that conversation with someone else. NOT!! And she would not write the order for lab work to test my sugar.<br />
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This whole thing simply illustrates to me how very important it is that I have a doctor that I can feel is a partner in keeping me healthy and alive. I want a doctor that will work with me in helping me lose this weight and make healthier choices. I realize I have to do the work, but I think too many times, doctors are in a big rush, trying to meet their daily quota, and, due to insurance rules, restricted from ordering needed tests. And I feel certain it will only get worse as time goes by.<br />
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But it's all good. I took three bottles of water with me to my appointment, drank them all, had a really light lunch after a 120 calorie breakfast, and then went to the gym. It was hard work today at the gym. Amazing what adding only a couple of pounds will do. I could definitely tell the difference, and I had to push myself to keep going. But I finished it, baby!! I literally counted the minutes.<br />
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I have started doing an extra 10 minutes a day. That is not much, but it just might nudge me into a little faster weight loss.<br />
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Does anyone know anything about thyroid readings? My thyroid test came back with T3 at 37%, but I don't know if that is bad or good. T4 reading was 6.4 mg/dl and FTI was 2.4. The good doctor would not explain any thing, other than to say I was in a "normal range."<br />
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I WILL find a way to get my cholesterol and glucose tested....Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-49336682644044517422010-12-13T22:37:00.000-08:002010-12-13T22:37:40.137-08:00Stopping at One Piece of PizzaJohnny surprised me by coming home from golf and asking if I wanted to join him and his buddies for dinner. I said yes and ended up at a pizza parlor. They ordered Philly sandwiches and pizza, and I ordered a large green salad, no croutons, no cheese, dressing on the side. Picked off the olives that were a surprise. Used less than half of the dressing. Cleaned my plate.<br />
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I had one piece of pizza and stopped there. Not sure what the caloric value of the piece was, and Fitness Pal is down for maintenance, but I feel quite sure I am under my 1200 calorie limit. Breakfast was two reduced fat string cheeses at 60 calories each for a total of 120 calories. Lunch was broccoli at 120 calories. Snack was a chocolate skinny shake at 100 calories. Add in 60 calories for coffee creamer, 200 calories max for the salad (maybe less; it was iceberg lettuce), the pizza at 500 calories (cannot imagine it would be more than that...)and 30 calories for Crystal Light for a total of 1130 for the day. <br />
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Feels good to be able to go out to eat and stop at one piece of pizza but what really rocks is staying under 1200 calories for the day. By sticking to the plan and drinking the water (145 oz today so far), plus exercising, my week is off to a good start. Thank you, God. Thank you, blogging buddies that let me benefit from your experience and ideas.<br />
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I cannot let Ms. grouchy doctor mess up my day tomorrow. I have a plan, and I will work my plan. If she works with me, great. If she doesn't, she is history. No sweat either way. I have to put me first.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-9909534589114470852010-12-13T18:42:00.000-08:002010-12-13T18:42:19.201-08:00Recipe for Fettucine Alfredo from Biggest LoserJust saw this on an email from Prevention (I think), and it sounds pretty good. Worth considering if you love fettucine like I do.<br />
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(Nov. 8, 2005) -- Reality television dieters Shannon, Andrea, and Suzy endured challenges, temptations, and televised weigh-ins in order to become the three female finalists on NBC's hit show, The Biggest Loser.<br />
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While their drive and perseverance may have elevated them to superhero status to the 10 million people watching, these ladies still had to confront the very mortal challenge of learning to cook healthy (and delicious) recipes for themselves and their families. <br />
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Below, the three women share with us some of their favorite Biggest Loser recipes from the ranch. <br />
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Suzy's Fettucine Alfredo<br />
1 small spaghetti squash (about 2 pounds)<br />
1 Laughing Cow Light Herb<br />
and Garlic cheese<br />
2-4 Tbsp crushed garlic<br />
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I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray (to taste)<br />
2 Tbsp light Parmesan cheese<br />
4 4-oz cooked chicken breasts<br />
4 c broccoli, steamed<br />
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1. Cut squash in half, lengthwise. 2. Remove seeds with a spoon or fork. 3. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and put both halves in microwave for 6-11 minutes, depending on size. 4. Remove squash halves from microwave, let sit with wrap on for 1-2 minutes. 5. Put Laughing Cow cheese in bottom of large bowls and smoosh it around. 6. Scrape out insides of squash gently with a fork and put in bowl on top of cheese. 7. Add garlic and stir ingredients well. 8. While stirring, add butter spray to help blend ingredients. 9. Slowly sprinkle Parmesan cheese and stir. 10. Add cooked chicken breasts and steamed broccoli and voila-- fettucine Alfredo! <br />
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Makes 4 Servings Per Serving: 310 cal, 36 g pro, 24 g carb, 7 g fat, 2.5 g sat fat, 90 mg chol, 2 g fiber, 710 mg sodiumDiggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-8634543591676459272010-12-13T14:43:00.000-08:002010-12-13T14:43:09.931-08:00Just Checking inCan't believe I have let the entire day go by without accomplishing very much. And I am only on my sixth bottle of water, which means I am only halfway where I need to be by end of day. It could be a wet evening...<br />
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I did go to the pool and did the most intense interval training I have done to date. Worked out for over an hour. Rewarded myself by stopping to see a friend who is not doing well healthwise, but she was in the shower. Just talking to her husband about Barb and all her health issues reminded me of how very lucky I am and how thankful I am that my only physical challenge right now is weight and its consequences. Thank you, God.<br />
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Spent time thinking about how much I am learning from reading other people's blogs. Allan's has been outstanding, especially on the lap band thing. Scares me to think I actually considered that surgery. I wonder how many people really do the research before having the surgery. Pretty scary... especially for desperate people.<br />
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And I love how Beth spells out her food. She counts every calorie, even the vitamins. I like that she lists what she eats. ANd it gives me ideas for what I can eat without piling on the calories. <br />
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I have started using My Fitness Pal to make myself more accountable. Pretty shocking sometimes when you see the calories add up. My Fitness Pal has given me the knowledge to make better choices in terms of meals and snacks, and I am just beginning. The more I learn, the better I will do. <br />
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I am doing really well in the food department today, although I feel hungry. I had two reduced calorie string cheeses for breakfast and a full package of frozen broccoli for lunch for a total of 240 calories so far. Trying to stay away from the almonds now I that have calculated the fat content as well as the calories. Ditto for Jif Extra Crunchy peanut butter. Just cannot afford to eat much of that either. Sure love it.<br />
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Ever feel like the world is ganging up on you? I went to my Facebook page and saw that my CPA is advocating some new candy from Hersheys; she swears it is the most delicious thing she has tasted in a long time. I have had NO Christmas candy, nor do I intend to. Ditto for cookies. Nada. None.<br />
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I have a doctor appointment tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what my cholestrol readings are now that I have been exercising faithfully for over two months and have cut out the sugar and most of the carbs. I hope a glucose reading is in that report also, for there should be a big difference. And I have already decided that if my doctor gives me any crap, it will be so long to her. I refuse to have an adversarial relationship with my primary care doctor. Life is too short.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-61282885097983341842010-12-12T15:28:00.000-08:002010-12-12T15:28:30.726-08:00I'd Better Not Do THAT Again!Crap!<br />
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I totally blocked out that I had a dinner salad with grilled chicken breast last night. No wonder I did not lose any weight yesterday. I was 300 calories over my limit!! Duh! <br />
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At least now I know what I did... I am trying to log everything that goes into my mouth, but, since we ate out last night, I did not have my journal with me and therefore simply spaced the entire dinner. <br />
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Glad I have My Fitness Pal to keep me focused. Good tool. Especially if you use it. Duh! <br />
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But I am learning. <br />
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Also learned today that I was WAY off on my Crystal Light calories. Instead of the 3 calories I thought a packet contains, it is 30. 30!! Another little adjustment. Not the direction I wanted, but keeping it honest. Knowledge is power.<br />
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Baby steps, Digger, baby steps.Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8106273149990463907.post-36328210187538955862010-12-12T14:03:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:03:41.076-08:00I Cannot Get Discouraged for Long!I cannot allow myself to get discouraged about my rate of loss, and that means I cannot compare myself to anyone else. As Allan says, I just have to work the program. "If the process is sound, the outcome is very predictable." That is what I must focus on. That, and water water water.<br />
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In reading some of the blogs today, I see that people are worried about losing ONLY a pound a week. I agree totally: I want it ALL off, right now. And yet, at 1200 calories a day, it could take me forever, or that is how it feels. So I have to drink more water, eat less, and move more. Seems simple enough. So time to get off my fat butt and MOVE. <br />
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I looked in the mirror this morning and felt that I look a bit smaller. Then I turned sideways....nope; my belly fat is still all there. So time to leave the pity potty and DO something. <br />
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Nine bottles of water down the hatch now. And I am just getting started.<br />
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Have not figured out the snack thing yet. Seems if I put any food in my tummy, it hurts. Maybe eating it too fast because I am hungry. Maybe the food is banging against the sides of my stomach because it is empty -- or does the water stay in there long enough to soften the blow?<br />
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Wondering about cider vinegar; does taking some each day help with appetite? I need to research that.<br />
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Oh! The most amazing thing just happened: my stomach growled!! That means it is empty. Praise the Lord!! That is what I'm talking about. Now I need to keep it that way -- with the exception of water, of course.<br />
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I may just have to keep posting today. Whatever it takes to keep from eating. The end justifies the means... I will take weight loss any way I can get it, and I prefer it fast!!Diggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211584702284649228noreply@blogger.com1