January, 2005 – The Beginning Goal: Lose 80 pounds and become buff in the process.
Deadline: November 1, 2005, based on losing 2 pounds per week
Starting Weight (estimate only; I don’t currently own a scale): 235 lbs.
Goal Weight: 155 lbs.
Plan of Attack: Eat less, move more. Control portions. Work Pilate’s/Yoga DVD. As weather improves, start biking. As I improve, get back on the treadmill. Walk dogs. More protein, fewer carbs. Would be a good idea to track pain migration (gastrointestinal; headaches; back pain; feet, etc.)
Wednesday, 1/26/05 Exercise: Floor stretches, 60 crunches, 10 coffee-table push-ups. Stiff neck and shoulders. Period: bloated, upset stomach, diarrhea 30 minutes after lunch. Food: Lunch: 2 slices leftover pizza and leftover mac & cheese [2 cups?], milk. Snacks: Light Wheat Thins and homemade low-fat pumpkin pie. Yesterday was homemade spinach lasagna, small salad, large slice of garlic bread.
Wednesday, 2/2/05 First time I’ve stretched or done anything else since the 26th, a week ago. I’m over my period, and today I hurt like hell. It’s also birthday #47 and I feel like 90. Everything hurts from the waist down including my thigh/groin joint. My foot, my back, my calves. Stomach not too bad. Food: My diet is improving ever so slightly: more protein, smaller portions (especially at-work meals). Past week: ham; egg salad; potato salad; homemade spinach manicotti (low-fat); bacon and eggs; pumpkin pie, Triscuits w/peanut butter (PBTs); burgers & pizza, too. Big portions. Exercise: Floor stretches, 60 crunches, 10 table push-ups. Made a world of difference in my pain, the minute I laid flat on my back on the floor. What I would give for a Tempur-Pedic mattress!
I haven’t formalized my entire plan of attack yet. I have a new Pilate’s/Yoga DVD that I want to try, but I can’t do it with the dogs in the house and the weather’s been pretty yucky lately. Ultimately, I’d like to be able to do my Jane Fonda step routine again, get on the treadmill, and get back to doing some serious, regular biking. I want my 30-35 year-old body back, even though at my best, I was still never satisfied. Oh, well, anything beats this!
Tuesday, 2/9/05 Trying some new approaches. My stomach was a mess last night, the last couple of days, actually. Part of it is my eating and drinking habits on the weekends, but this just seems extreme. I had only 4 glasses of wine (in 2 sittings) all weekend and ate mac & cheese, baked fish and baked fries, and, um, I think that was it. I don’t think I ate at all on Monday. Last night my bowel was so irritable and my anus so painful…lots of gas, “bleeding” fissures, maybe a hemorrhoid. It hurt like hell for probably 30 minutes and I kept needing to fart and/or pass these stupid little turds. I took a couple of anti-gas pills and I actually felt better after eating lunch (salad, Chicken Helper Alfredo, 1 slice whole wheat bread and some PBTs). I’m eating a small salad at every work meal and today I’m starting a daily dose of “diet” tea (with Chromium Picolinate, B6, B12, etc.) and acidophilus 2x per day with meal. Exercise: No exercise to speak of. I’ve actually been feeling pretty limber. The dogs are outside…I should get on the floor while I have the chance. Done. Floor stretches (gotta work my inner thighs more), 75 crunches (25 each center, left, right), 10 coffee-table pushups.
Thursday, 2/10/05 (227#) Weighed myself today at a computer-tutor client’s house: 227 pounds.
3/29/05 (216#) New home scale: 216 pounds. I’m going home June 13 for a week. Eleven weeks away, times 2 pounds a week = 22 pounds. I could be 194 by then or better! I’ve really only made diet changes; I could really speed things along just by squeezing in some exercise. I spend about an hour with my Garden Claw yesterday and the weather is finally starting to improve. Biking is just around the corner.
4/3/05
4/4/05 (215#) Started Magnesium supplement. Switched at home to primarily bottled water (steam distilled).
4/8/05
4/11/05 (210#) 5:30 a.m. weigh-in. I haven’t eaten since 1:30 a.m. yesterday (28 hours) The magnesium (or something) is doing wonders for my pain. My left foot seems to have healed overnight, my back hasn’t hurt in days, although I had some problems with my left hip the other night, maybe a pinched nerve. I still haven’t started exercising, but my bike is ready to go. I’ve also started taking my multi-vitamin with my meals, along with the magnesium and acidophilus. My stomach and bowel movements have been absolutely normal, and I’ve had no “leaky butt” and very minimal gas. Smoothie: same as last time with the addition of ¾ cup of cooked instant unflavored oatmeal. No change in flavor, but definitely thicker.
4/6/05 I’m curious how the magnesium will affect my periods. I started bleeding last night about 6:00 p.m. and I was cramping for only hours beforehand, instead of days like usual. Last month’s was one of the worst I’ve ever had, especially cramp-wise. This one could be a fluke; I’ll give it another month or two and see how it goes. All the other beneficial results are still holding, so I’ll continue to take it anyway. I just hope it’s not horribly expensive. (The bottle I started with was a “gift” from a friend.)
4/20/05 (210#) Plateau due to period. I hope.
4/24/05 I’ll weigh myself again tomorrow or Tuesday. I had a couple of “off days” this week: a couple of fried hamburgers at home and 5 slices of frozen veggie pizza another day. But other than that I’m doing well with the smoothies (almost daily) and I’ve pretty much eliminated simple carbs; any bread I eat is whole wheat, usually with extra fiber. Lots of protein, lots of salads, with egg and turkey. I have no carb cravings, which was not planned or expected. I’ve actually had cravings for tuna and, of course, pizza, but these days I’m much more satisfied with a thin-crust cheese loaded with mushrooms, onions and home-grown sweet peppers and tomatoes. I occasionally get a hankering for ketchup and also butter-laden garlic bread, but the ketchup is a good thing and the garlic bread is simply a rare treat.
Exercise: I haven’t been doing stretches or crunches, yet my abs and back are so much stronger—or I was just so used to the pain that normal feels like a miracle. I never did take my measurements, but my jeans are so loose I almost need a belt. I’m pretty sure my butt is shrinking, too. N one at work has noticed, but they see me everyday, so…whatever.
I’ve begun. Which I thought I’d never do, and I feel better than I thought I would. I’m amazed, actually. Two, three months ago, I thought I would spend the rest of my life feeling like crap. I honestly believed that nothing I would do would make a difference. Worse yet, I felt like I couldn’t, I was so trapped by the pain. I’m going to be a success story. For the first time in my life, I’m doing it for me. And it can’t help but spill over into other areas of my life. It already has. Suddenly I’m thinking of how tomorrow can be, instead of how yesterday was. That’s huge for me.
(Back story, for posterity’s sake):
I started to formulate my plan in January, approaching my 47th birthday. I had an idea that I wanted to lose 80 pounds by October or November. Then I went to St. Louis.
My depression had been building for months. I met my brother in St. Louis to celebrate my birthday. The first night there, after mentioning my current fragile self-esteem to him, my brother referred to my butt as a “shelf.” The next night, I got drunk, puked, and curled up in a mound of pampas grass outside the bar. That was my rock bottom, but that same night I met Tim, the bartender. I knew as I was talking to him that it was impossible that my life wasn’t about to change. The window of hope had been opened because somebody cared. Somebody—Tim—actually made me believe that I mattered. I can’t tell you what it was—I don’t exactly know—but even as I shrugged off him and his philosophical advice, I knew something was about to change.
I went to Dr. Phil’s book “Self Matters” and that was a useful catalyst that I hope to return to, but the real turning point was the book “Ultra Prevention” which I just happened to discover on the one and only episode that I’ve ever seen of the “Jane Pauly Show.”
God works in mysterious ways…
Monday 4/25/05 (207#) 57 pounds to go!
4/26/05 Added Vitamin B6 supplement.
Monday, 5/2/05 (205#) Last ate 28 hours ago.
Wednesday 5/4/05 Bike ride: 2.5 miles.
Friday 5/6/05 Added protein powder to smoothies, which I am still drinking almost daily. The powder is vanilla-flavored and it really enhanced the overall flavor. I’ve had a brain fog going the past couple of nights. I thought maybe I was light on protein, but I have peanut butter, an egg and a little turkey breast at least 5 days a week, including the past two. Not sure what’s up…seems to be passing…will see how tonight goes. I need to start working my upper arms; I’ve go a serious flab thing going on and my arms are always exposed.
Monday 5/9/05 (206#) This plateau is pissing me off. I’ve been doing really well, eating healthy and light. This week I had only smoothies for dinner after work on 2 or 3 days. I ate grilled cheese one day, and cheese, veggie and pineapple pizza on another. Lunches have consisted of high-protein, low-fat, low-carb, high-fiber sandwiches, soups and salads. I’ve kept active. What else can I do? I managed to get the treadmill unburied and the weather is warming earlier in the day so I can start biking more. Maybe I’m building muscle (which weighs more than fat) because of all the protein I’m getting. My pants have gotten even looser and one of the girls at work noticed that I’m slimming down, so I guess I can’t complain too much. But I’d really like to break the 200# mark.
Monday 5/23/05 (205#) Major plateau. It’s the first time I’ve weighed myself in two weeks and no change. I had my period the first week, and the second week I just couldn’t get my rhythm back. I wasn’t “bad”, but I only had protein shakes a couple times a week, which means I ate more solid food before going to bed. I stayed pretty active, gardening, doing stuff around the house, etc., only one short bike ride on Saturday home from the Farmer’s Market. Haven’t been eating enough fresh food…too much canned stuff and frozen dinners and pizzas (cheese and veggies). I had a major relapse two or three days ago with stiffness in my hip joints, pinched nerve in my left thigh and more back pain than usual. I had a pretty intense week at work, though, and twice or more wore less-than-perfect shoes. I’m needing to wear a belt with some of my pants now, so I’m still making some kind of progress, or at least not going backwards.
Sunday 5/29/05 Cardio dance: Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive”
Monday 6/27/05 (203#) I can’t believe I haven’t written for a month. I went on vacation to Wisconsin for a week, and have been back now for a week. I was up a couple of pounds my first day back, but have already lost that and then some, which surprises me because I’ve kind of stayed in a vacation mentality, although I did very good on vacation. I stayed with my protein shakes almost daily, but I also enjoyed cookouts with brats and burgers, and a fish fry and pizza at Armelli’s, and a lot of beer, wine and Bloody Mary’s. But most everything was in moderation. And I ate whole wheat bagels, grilled fish, salads, fresh fruit, lots of good stuff. Exercise included a lot of walking, bowling, miniature golf and swimming. A very good vacation.
Not too many opportunities lately for exercise; it’s been sweltering outside since I’ve been home. I even broke down and bought a small air conditioner for the bedroom so I could sleep during the hottest part of the day. I’ve kept up with my usual supplements and have added green tea extract in gel cap form. It’s supposed to help burn fat and metabolize sugar/carbs. I looked and felt great by the time I went to Wisconsin. I may be going back for a few days in September for Sue’s wedding reception. If I kick things up a notch and get an exercise program going, I could easily be down another 20 pounds by then…Bike Ride: 3.2 miles, 25 minutes, great workout.
Monday 7/4/05 (201#) That, after three cups of coffee, two bottles of water, and right smack in the middle of a heavy (but relatively pain-free) period! If this keeps up, I should be under 200# by the end of the week!
Monday 7/11/05 (200#)
Tuesday 7/12/05 (198#) Well, that is because all I’ve eaten since 1:30 a.m. Sunday is a handful of peanuts and three pieces of toast, whole wheat of course, with all-natural peanut butter, my latest dietary change. I had a really rough week. Tension is high at work, my patience is a bit thin, I was sleepy, physically exhausted and my hemorrhoids were acting up. I ran out of B-6, but was taking that only because I had it and that shouldn’t have triggered any of these symptoms. As soon as I can get my hands on a grinder, I’m going to add flax seed to my regimen, along with Vitamin E to counter against oxidation of the same.
Tuesday 7/13/05 Started “Woman’s Oil.” I am also currently heavily involved in researching glyconutrient supplements from Manna Tech. I am seriously considering their marketing program. This is breakthrough technology in the field of wellness and preventive health. I’m very excited and will keep you posted.
Monday 7/25/05 (198#) Tuesday 7/26/05 Yesterday’s weigh-in surprises me; I thought I’d be down more. I ate large salads and whole wheat toast two or three times last week and did well in all other respects with shakes, etc. I noticed an increase in energy and mental sharpness and could only attribute that to an increase in carbs (or the “Woman’s Oil” with it’s high Omega content?). It’s been unbearably hot—100’s all week—no possibility of exercise, although I stayed busy every day with canning pickles and prepping for the Farmer’s Market. I had some kind of flare-up with my hemorrhoids or irritable bowel after eating a frozen Mexican dinner Saturday night. It stayed with me though this morning and has hopefully cleared up. Very painful, very uncomfortable. This week will be high-protein—cooking up a batch of burgers and chicken on the grill. I bought some new pants: two pairs of 16W and one pair of 16 Misses! Major ego boost! And I had a rapt audience with three girls at work who wanted to know how I am losing weight. Still very few people have commented, but it’s not affecting my determination in the least.
Wednesday 8/3/05 (196#)
Thursday 8/4/05 Cardio-Fit: Tension 5.5, 3 set, 15 reps each, upper body push/pull
Sunday 8/21/05 I haven’t weighed myself in a week, but last week was 195#, same as the week before, another plateau. Nothing much has changed. Sticking with the “diet” but I’m still not working out. I just can’t find anything that inspires me. I love getting on the floor and stretching and doing ab work, but the dogs usually manage to remove any and all enjoyment and turn it into a chore for me. I believe I would love yoga and Pilate’s…still have a DVD that I haven’t watched. Today I’m starting to add 8-16 ounces of cranberry juice (real stuff, no sugar, flavorings or preservatives). I really, really want to get a juicer/extractor and/or Vita-Mix. I’ve cut back on microwave usage a little, but it’s going to be awhile before I can give it up entirely, mainly because of work meals. Ultimately, I’d like to go organic and whatever dairy or meat I consume be free-range and chemical-free. And unpasteurized or un-homogenized milk—I’m not sure which, both or either. I just switched to organic soy milk in my protein shakes, but sill want to add flax and some whole food/sea supplements like sea grass and/or Coral Calcium.
I’ve gathered some recipes to try. I’m especially eager to make Hunza bread and start experimenting with salad dressings since I eat them so much, although the “Western” dressing label doesn’t read too badly. I rarely eat pizza anymore. I grill a pile of meat every couple of weeks and in the course of a week I may eat two burgers, but mostly chicken. I rarely eat chips anymore and if I do, it’s barely a handful. My crunchy/salty snack of choice is chips and salsa, very lean, very spicy, very satisfying. Peanuts, natural peanut butter, whole wheat breads. Oh, and I made the most awesome Chunky Roasted Zucchini and Garlic Tomato Sauce. I have to bottle this stuff—it was fantastic! I could eat it like soup. And on spaghetti squash or with gooey garlic bread. It would be even better if it was homemade herb and garlic bread…my basil is ready to harvest. The fresh tomatoes were indescribably delicious. I still drink my shake four times a week, and usually will eat a meal—a light one—afterwards, only once or twice a week. Sunday is usually wine day and usually results in me going 24+ hours without food, which can’t be good for me. So I end up eating two, maybe three, meals in the course of 72 hours. That’s got to mess with my metabolism and could certainly explain the plateaus.
I probably won’t make my original goal. I’d have to lose another 40 pounds in 10-14 weeks, but I’m staying the course, slow but steady wins the race.
Monday 8/22/05 (191#)
Monday 9/5/05 (190#) I weighed myself three times and got three different readings…what can you expect from a $5.00 scale? It appears I have encountered another plateau. But my new pants, 16 Misses, fit like a glove and all of my old clothes are too big. I can’t even wear some of my skirts. (By the way, when I started this I was wearing a 24W.)
Monday 9/12/05 (188#)
Monday 9/27/05 (190#) I’m stuck. And my schedule at work has changed, so I need to make some adjustments. I’m getting prepared to do a whole-body cleanse, a mild one “Ultimate Cleanse.” More mental preparedness than physical, at least until I get used to my new schedule. I’m eating “dinner” (my work-meal) one hour later than usual, plus I was off work for five days, which threw things off balance. On the other side, though, I am immersing myself in information. I’ve read “Ultra-Prevention” for a second time, am re-reading NC ???), and just finished an eye-opening book on menopause and hormones (Dr. Lee). I found an online school for becoming a Nutritional Consultant. Will need money for that, soon. I’m considering selling stock if necessary to get that going. I’m also working on an idea for a newspaper/magazine column.
Saturday 10/1/05 I did not weigh-in today, but the day after my previous entry, I was down to 185#. Go figure. Today I’m starting a natural progesterone therapy hoping it will help with my periods and whatever else menopause portends. I read another amazing book (Dr. Lee) about the myth/scam of menopause. I also spent 3 hours at the library doing research. I really don’t know from what angle to approach my series of articles…I really want to keep it light, but the facts are so heavy, so outrageous! I’ve shared my protein shake recipe with several people at work and I’m helping Tracy H. treat her Crohn’s Disease. I hope she’s successful…I would love to do this for people for a living. Shari H. has started a supplement program and is changing her eating habits. I bought a juice extractor, a slow cooker and a mini-trampoline for rebounding. I loaded up the pantry and freezer today with whole grain pastas, brown rice, dried beans, fruit and veggies. Later…and the slow-cooker is on, with a batch of tomato and veggie soup for dinner tonight.
Tuesday 10/18/05 I am in the midst of m first period with the P-cream. Bleeding was supposed to start in 48 hours; it took me 72. I had zero premenstrual cramping, but then they hit, they hit hard. But, so far, only about 10-12 hours. I’ve been cramp-free now for 8 hours, with very minimal medication: some Vitamin E and a few Advil gel-caps. Except for the first 10 hours or so, it’s been exceptionally mild.
Wednesday 11/2/05 (184#) Well I spoke too soon in the previous entry. It turned out to be one of the worst periods I’ve had in a couple of years. I was in pure agony one night for hours on end, no relief at all. I’m hoping it was a fluke and am giving the Progesterone another month. I also signed up for insurance through work with the plan of getting checked and treated for endometriosis after the first of the year. After my bonus and review in March, I hope to find--need to find—a better paying job. Finance are horrible, but hopefully I’ll be getting a tax refund, too. I really want to enroll in GCNM’s certificate program and get a nutritional counseling business going. I’m still trying to help some people at work, but I never feel like I can act from the depth of knowledge I would gain from a focused course of study. My own program—at least from a weight-loss point of view—has slowed. Several factors are influencing that: 1) The smoothies aren’t appealing to me lately, I think mainly because I’m craving warm food rather than cold. 2) My job at work has changed again and has become less physical (softlines processing vs. stocking for about ½ of my shift). 3) I’ve been feeling resentful about my life/financial/work situation and thus feeling more “entitled” when I make my food choices. I’m still doing pretty well on the nutritional end—lots of homemade soup, spinach lasagna, refried beans, whole grains—but I’ve also been eating more pizza, and larger portions of it, too. That’s really my only downfall, though and I’m still pretty good about keeping it veggie-ized. Work is such a drag. I come home tired and frustrated, and I feel like “screw it,” I deserve some comfort food. If only my financial situation would improve…
Tuesday 11/15/05 (no weigh-in, probably 185-190#) Day 3 of my period. Bleeding began in less than 24 hours. Major severe back pain on days 1 and 2, then just very heavy bleeding with cramps that responded almost immediately to Advil gel caps and a little extra Vitamin E. I’ll take this over last month any day. Food has consisted mainly of homemade soups and salads, but I’ve indulged a lot lately, mostly due to cravings for warm/hot food. I’ve been experiment a lot with oats, beans, wheat germ, and flax seed. Seven-layer salad, sandwiches, always an indulgence of pizza every once in awhile. No new supplements. New book, “Mal(e)Practice,”, copyright 1981 by Robert S. Mendehlson, M.D. Amazing, shocking, scary.
Wednesday 11/30/05 (182#)
Saturday 12/24/05 I received the most amazing Christmas gift from my cousin, Sharon and her husband, Carl: a check for $1500.00 to pay for my tuition at GCNM. Think of the possibilities a year from now, if not sooner…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Saturday 1/14/06 Cleanse Day #1. The course materials are on their way. Also I’m starting (finally!) on my cleanse (“Ultimate Cleanse” $23.00) tonight. Weight was 181# a couple of days ago. Got through the holidays without gaining an ounce. And my 16’s are getting looser.
Wednesday 1/18/06 (179#) No food yesterday.
Wednesday 1/25/06 (179#) I’ve obviously plateaued again, not sure why. My pants are looser, and a pair of 14’s I tried on the other day fit perfectly. I’m sure I’ve added some muscle, especially in my upper body from all the lifting I do at work. I’m a week into the cleanse, and I’ve been having some pretty hefty bowel movements which is another reason I’m surprised the scale hasn’t moved. I’ve also had some flare-ups with joint pain, especially in my right knee. I’m hoping it’s a side effect of the detox, but when I an afford it, I’m probably going to start supplementing with glucosamine and chondroitin for some added insurance. My knees have been injured so many times, I’m sure they’re arthritis-prone. I got the laundry room organized to make room for my rebounder. And I want to start juicing and experimenting with the Hunza bread recipes. My course materials arrived two days ago. I’m planning to officially begin next week, on my birthday. I had to order my transcripts from Palmyra and I need to acquire an audio cassette player. I’ve got all my case study volunteers lined up. I’m ready to go.
Wednesday 2/1/06 (179#) (Mid period). Some noteworthy experiences lately: On Friday night at work, I experienced this weird, wonderful, floating sensation, a feeling of complete weightlessness, like my feet were not touching the ground. This happened a couple of months ago, too. It lasts about an hour or so and it’s really a strange sensation. I don’t know if it’s food, or sleep, or adrenaline or what, but I’m going to try and track it. Also, a couple of weeks ago, I happened to take of running down grocery action-alley in a race against Dustin for a pallet jack. The sensation was incredible: there was no pain, no jarring in my feet or knees, and even my breasts weren’t flopping all over the place. I haven’t been physically capable of running in years; it’s amazing what you can forget, what you take for granted, what you get used to. Next, I really want to test my pH and do a candida cleanse. I’m going to start my first class assignment tomorrow: Dr. Weil’s audiocassette series. I couldn’t leave the stuff completely alone; I’ve watched the video “Diet for a New America,” by John Robbins, which was stirring and heartbreaking and almost brought me to tears. And I’m finishing one of the books “Health Wars,” by Phillip Day, which has again stimulated my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I have a huge vision for my legacy: a comprehensive health spa, complete with alternative building methods, alternative energy sources, organic and sustainable farming, classrooms, maybe laboratories, a kitchen/restaurant, bookstore, library, natural food store, everything, all in one place on this huge, beautiful complex/campus. What do you think?
Friday 2/10/06 I’m eating awesome bean-heavy vegetarian chili with textured vegetable protein (TVP) this week, so am cutting back to the original cleanse dosage of 1 each fiber and herb, 2x/day.
Wednesday 2/15/06 (176#) This past week, dinner at work was a cup of chili and a salad or sandwich, but everyday I ate late in the morning after work, too: chips and salsa; chips and refried beans; some lentil-mash stuff; and, on 2 days, pizza. Yesterday was a big salad and fresh-baked (from frozen) whole-wheat bread. And I’ve stepped off the plateau.
Wednesday 2/22/06 (173#)
Wednesday 3/1/06 (170#)
Wednesday 3/8/06 (173#) Thursday 3/9/06 FYI, I finished the cleanse program a few days ago, Sunday, I think. So far everything seems to be working fine on its own. I jumped ahead in my school stuff and pre-tested myself on the final exam. I felt pretty good about it until I spent some time on the school’s forum. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people out there…I hope to be one of them soon! I’ve lined up several people for my case studies and am now trying to get all my “Introductory Packets” formulated. I think I may be bitten off more than I can chew at this point, but I’ve already asked everyone for their patience. My problem is I have no patience of my own!
Wednesday 3/15/06 (170#) Wednesday 3/23/06 I forgot to weigh myself, but I’ve got my period so it probably wouldn’t have been good news anyway. Speaking of periods, I’m on Day 3 of probably the mildest one I’ve ever experienced. I got it early Monday morning after about 3 hours of mild pre-cramping. I had a several-hour-long bout of hemorrhoids and a little diarrhea. I slept pain-free on Monday, my cramps peaked at about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, and I’ve had virtually no clotting and pretty light, bright-red bleeding. (Prior to my 2-month treatment with the Progesterone cream, the discharge was often almost black.) I took very few Ibuprofen compared to usual and only 2 days of Vitamin E, which I had stopped taking a few months ago when I ran out. The only difference is on Sunday morning I began taking a liquid Glucosamine supplement w/MSM (on clearance at Wal-Mart for $7.) The results from that on my knee pain were virtually immediate and I also noticed that the stiffness in my hip flexor joints, plus the stiffness I would experience after sitting during my lunches and breaks, completely disappeared. This is after 2 doses! I priced GC supplements and they run close to $25 for a 30-day or less supply. If this keeps up for a couple of days, I will buy whatever they have left. Don’t know what after that, though. I’m going to St. Louis in a couple of weeks just for the weekend. Tommy will see me 30 pounds lighter and I’ll be seeing Greg and hopefully, Kim, too, and maybe Tim, the bartender. They will all be seeing me 70 pounds slimmer, in my new size 14 jeans.
Wednesday 3/29/06 (173#) Bad week, lots of temptations. We had a work party and I indulged in Pizza Hut pizza. Also lots of sweets, and I had chips in the house and ate those 2 or 3 times in large quantities, and smoked sausages, and braunschweiger and meatloaf (made with whole grains). But, I also ate broccoli/cauliflower soup; sandwiches; salads and TVP chili, along with lots of organic carrots and sweet potatoes. This cold be a fluke, but my vision seems to have improved. I had a full-body pain day, or at least for several hours, on he third day of the G/MSM supplement, so I stopped it and the pain went away. Could be another fluke?
Wednesday 4/26/06 (171#) Been awhile, huh? My weight really surprises me; I feel like I’ve done nothing but eat since I got back from St. Louis on April 2. Eating was something I didn’t do a lot of up there. Two days ago, I told myself I wouldn’t be surprised to see the scale tip at 210#, I felt so bloated. It was the middle of my period, though, so that’s pretty typical. My period was pretty mild, except for several hours of bad cramping on Day 2. I had virtually no pre-emptive cramping, no other PMS stuff like back pain, just a mild flare-up of ‘roids or fissures the week prior. I took a lot of extra Vitamin E, but should have started earlier. I still needed Ibuprofen, and didn’t have any gel caps—the tablets just don’t seem to work as well. Ideally, of course, I wouldn’t need any of it. I have several friends and family members waiting (patiently, I hope) for me to get enrollment packets to them. It’s a huge undertaking that I can’t seem to get started on. My studies have stalled, at least my “formal” school curriculum. I have been doing reading and/or specific research almost daily, usually for other people, though, rather than those who are waiting. I’m currently working on Alzheimer’s Disease for my new hair stylist, Tara, for her mother-in-law. Also, carpal tunnel syndrome for Amanda at work, and osteopaedia for Christie at work. Not a day goes by that someone isn’t asking me a question. For most of them, I can draw some information from memory, but I always need to do more digging and it’s excellent practice for me.
I really need to start taking a brain-food formula. I think it would help immensely with my studies. I also want to continue with the beta-carotene therapy for my vision. Other than that, I’m currently taking a basic multi-vitamin 2x/day; 400 I.U./day Vitamin E; 100mg/day B-6; 750 mg/day magnesium; and 1000 mg. Vitamin C, 5x/week (powder in my water at work). Dietary: large salad 5x/week (still using Western Dressing; still wanting to experiment w/homemade); PBTs as a snack 5x/week during the work meeting (10 p.m.); prune juice/white grape w/distilled water 3-4x/week; acidophilus as needed, usually 2-3x/week. Other than during my period, I take no OTC meds and an currently not supplementing a joint formula. I finally found the shoes of my dreams, although they’re about ½ size too big, but I’ve been wearing them at work for a week and so far they’re doing wonders at eliminating my foot, knee and hip problems.
I’m still not engaged in any type of “formal” exercise program, which I’m very eager to do. I just can’t seem to work anything in at home due to lack of space and curious, engaging animals. I do get a good amount of strength training/weight bearing activity and lots of walking at work. My main objective now is to incorporate some cardio and get more regular with my stretches. I bough what I need to start riding my bike to work, but I still haven’t quite figured out how to haul my lunch and stuff. Guess that’s about all for now. I could ramble on for hours if I let myself. Onward and upward…
Thursday 4/27/06 (169#) Broke through the next barrier, into the land of the 160’s. I found an awesome cardio workout; I call it “tramp-dancing.” I put on some good music and danced on the mini-tramp for a good hour and a half. Excellent cardio, zero-impact, very good practice for balance and coordination. Think I should take it to market and start a new craze? I want to start a Stevia craze, too, this summer at the Farmer’s Market. I got a cookbook and I’d love to write a magazine article.
Wednesday 5/3/06 (168#)
Sunday 5/7/06 Started a B-complex.
Wednesday 5/17/06 (167#)
Tuesday 5/23/06 (166#)
Tuesday 6/6/06 (166#) That’s a miracle considering the fact that I ate a large meal every day this week before going to bed. Plus, I’ve just started my period. Plus, I was only on the floor at work 2 days in the past 2 weeks; I’m working at a desk in the cash office 2 nights a week now. At least until I ask for a raise and they say “no.” Then I’ll be back to 5 physical days of work, which is just fine. My thighs have become rock solid, presumably from pulling pallets of freight. It’s still the only regular exercise I’m getting other than my dancing every week or two, and whatever yard and garden work I get to, plus I’m walking the dogs every day which can be quite a challenge. My eating the past week or two has been emotional/entitlement eating, due to stresses at work and home. Things have settled down and I’m confident I can get back on track. I’m going to start drinking my smoothies again and start using my bread machine. And one of these days my juicer, which is still in the box. (Note from the future 11/5/13: the juicer is STILL in the box.)
Tuesday 6/13/06 (165#)
Tuesday 7/25/06 (160#) Slow and steady wins the race. Five pounds away from my original goal, but I want to go even further, maybe 140#. Interesting surprise yesterday. My clothes continue to get looser, but I haven’t bought anything new, or tried anything on, since my size 14 jeans. I wear the 16’s to work and they’ve been getting looser and looser. On the nights I’m in the cash offices I wear skirts and dresses and have had to pin them or wrap the ties twice around my waist. Yesterday, I spotted a mini-skirt (actually a “skort”) on clearance. I had tried on a 16, I think, quite some time ago and it looked good, I just couldn’t afford it. Well, they had one left in the color I wanted and it was marked down to $7.00, so I grabbed it and a bunch of other stuff to try on just for fun. Everything was size 14 and fit great. I saved the skirt for last. The hanger said size 14, but I really had to struggle with the zipper. Once I got it on, I knew I had to have it. It looked amazing. I really think that, except for a chunk of flab on my lower abdomen, I have never looked better in my life. All the proportions are right, my hips don’t bulge, my butt is nice and round. It’s really amazing to me. If I can flatten my tummy and get my upper arms toned, I will be so, so happy! Anyway, here’s the really amazing part: when I pulled the skirt off, I happened to spot the inside tag. It was actually a size 10! I was totally blown away!
Other than that, not much going on. The garden is coming along slowly. I’m still eating well, although I need to expand my repertoire a bit. Lots of salad, refried beans, brown rice, veggies, soup. We went through a 2-week heat wave, which makes cooking a challenge. And I can’t seem to get into the smoothie-groove again, so I’ve been eating every day when I get home from work. That has run the gamut from hot dogs and chips, to mac and cheese, to chips and salsa, or pizza, partly out of laziness, partly because of the heat, mostly due to money problems. Studying has been unintentionally pushed to the back burner, and I’m not too concerned, except I really need to get going on my case studies. I still conduct research for co-workers, etc. on a pretty regular basis, and my reading has been focused on weight loss because I really want to present a workshop or seminar. So many people have expressed an interest in how I’ve done it, I might as well get everybody into a room and just tell my story and teach them what I’ve learned.
Tuesday 8/29/06 (155#) No time to write except…yes! You read that right: I hit goal! I’ve revised now to maybe 140#, depending on muscle gain, which is definitely on the increase. Congratulations!
Tuesday 10/11/06 (155#)
Tuesday 2/13/07 (155#)
2-year gap…studying/working on school??
New journal started: 12/30/08 It’s close enough to the new year, I thought I’d get a jump start. This is going to be my health and wellness journal and hopefully my workout logs. This is my year to get buff. Or as buff as a 50-year old woman can expect to be, which I think is pretty darn buff. I’m going to lose my wiggles and jiggles and rolls; I really want to sculpt myself and show Rob a thing or two! I still have no car, and it’s way too cold for biking, so my exercise levels have plummeted and my eating habits have slowly deteriorated, so it’s a double-whammy. Psychologically, I know it’s a control issue: I feel I have no control over anything in my life these days. All I need to do is get into a workout routine—that’s it—everything else would fall into place. It would have a domino effect on every other aspect of my life. So, I’m going to make that happen. It would be nice if the universe would let up just a little, though.
Thursday 1/1/09 Bought a workout DVD: 60 minutes of “Dancing with the Stars,” Latin-style. Merengue, Mambo, Cha-Cha, Samba and more. Happy new year!
Saturday 1/3/09 Inversion table workout, 20 minutes. Stretching and ab work. Also some pretty heavy-duty housecleaning. I previewed my Latin dance DVD. It’s going to be serious workout if I can manage to make it work in the living room with the noisy floor, wobbly furniture and excitable dogs. I learned that I naturally do the Merengue; that’s my dance-style. I think I picked that up way back when I took lessons. The other dance styles will be challenging because I think I’ll have a strong tendency to fall back to the Merengue, but I’ll be alright if I focus on the beat. I remember that from my lesson days, too. Staying limber will go a long way in helping also. I really don’t do enough stretching. I have a much better bed these days, but I’ve got a lot of pain and stiffness in my elbows and shoulders from my two months in Dairy. I’m quite certain my hips need to be a whole lot looser, too. I will get there.
Saturday 1/10/09 I’m not making any progress in the exercise department, but I did stock up on produce. I’ve been feeling “ookey” all weekend, probably because my period is due soon. I experimented with my sleep patterns the last couple of days, too, and that didn’t really work to my advantage, due in large part to my aforementioned “ookiness.” Hmmm…thought I’d feel like writing more…maybe later
Wednesday 1/14/09 Here’s a new strategy that I bet will help: start my shopping in the produce section instead of ending it there. Goal: 5 servings of fruit/veggies per day, minimum. That should be SO easy. So, I need to be diarying my diet, eh? Is that what I’m afraid of? Last night (2 a.m. lunch) was white pasta w/Ragu and ¼ of a Sweet Hawaiian dinner roll (more of the white stuff). Snack (at midnight): 2 oz. of peanuts. Dinner is cooling on the countertop: Red Baron cheese pizza w/4oz. canned mushrooms. No doubt I’ll eat the whole thing, because I have a killer headache and am famished. At least I went to the trouble of putting on the mushrooms.
Thursday 1/15/09 (170# give or take 5#) Reality check?! The last time I actually documented my weight was almost 2 years ago when I hit my goal of 155#. But I also made it a rule to never document during my period, or at the end of the day rather than the beginning. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So maybe 5# water weight, although there definitely could be an increase in muscle mass from a summer of almost daily biking (still no car). But I am nowhere near where I feel I could be. And how I feel really is the bottom line.
Friday 1/16/09 (165#) That’s the real number. First thing in the morning, after two really good bowel movements overnight. I haven’t weighed myself at all since I finished working days, and even at the peak of biking season, I was fluctuating between 155# and 160#. I just really need to find a way to wxercise. Work has gotten very sedentary, too, except that at least I’m upright and walking, not sitting. But really no physical challenges except Monday nights with candy stocking.
Friday 1/23/09 (160#)
Saturday 1/24/09 Installed a pull bar in a doorway. I can’t even do one, but the muscle stretch is amazing.
Sunday 1/25/09 I can do three or four pull-ups, if you count movement of half an inch…and I can do at least 15 modified push-ups (on the floor).
Sunday 2/1/09 Workout: inversion table: stretches, abs, glutes: pull-up bar: pull-ups, push-ups, dips. I didn’t really know what I was doing on the bar; the box with the pictures is in the burn barrel and I think I tossed out the manual, if there was one. But it was a good upper-body workout that I’m sure I’ll feel in a couple of days. And my shoulders feel amazing; they get a really good stretch on the inversion table and the dips really did something, too. Maybe tonight I’ll try my dance routine.
Tuesday 2/3/09 No dance yet. Too many distractions. Today’s workout was minor due to the unheated inversion table room and sore muscles from the other day. I only did 2 positions on the pull-up bar, 10-15 reps each, 15-20 push-ups and 15 dips. My right shoulder is very sore; I’ve been having problems with it since my Dairy days. But at least I didn’t blow it off completely.
7/10/09 (158#-160#)
8/20/09 (155#)
12/10/09 (155#-160# guesstimate)
5/6/10 (158# after coffee)
5/20/10 (155#)
6/10/10 (150#-152#) I’ve finally started losing again after a 165# plateau through the late part of winter. Been fasting pretty much weekly, eating lighter, biking, gardening, yard work, pumping up the pool. Lots of good biking weather, too.
7/22/10 (151#)
7/29/10 (150#)
8/26/10 (145#)
9/24/10 (140#)
10/2/10 (140#) Probably closer to 135# because I’ve got my period AGAIN. Burned a lot of calories this past weekend singing, dancing, drumming, and zero food for almost 4 days. Sounds crazy, I know, but it sure is fun!
10/10/10 (135#) Had to buy all new (Genesis) clothes for cold weather. The weight is just melting off – it’s wild! A lot of it my current lifestyle of living with a rock band, or more like three or four rock bands. Dozens of people coming and going literally all the time. All of this is crazy enough—or if not crazy, then certainly different in a good—and scary—kind of way.
10/22/10 (135#-ish)
12/13/10 (140#-ish)
12/24/10 (140#)
2/8/11 (135#)
5/13/11 (142#)
8/5/11 (140#)
11/30/11 Joined the YMCA this past Monday. I weighed myself on their digital scale which is, no doubt, more accurate than my $5 cheapie. It read 154# which was better than I expected. I haven’t been riding at all for the last 2 weeks because of weather: wind, cold, wind, rain, wind. Insane winds. And I have a vehicle (a loaner from Harold), and my driver’s license! So I knew I had put on weight, but I really thought it would be more. Plus, I was weighing myself at the end of my day rather than the beginning.
2/4/12 New job, new routine. Haven’t made it to the Y in 2 weeks. I’ve been walking 1-1/2 to 2 miles a day, but it’s not nearly enough. My new job (Precision Graphics) has me sitting at a desk all day. Probably going to try biking in the mornings before work and try to set up a space at home to workout. May end up canceling the Y unless I get a car and try to work it into my morning schedule. We’ll see; I’ll figure something out.
3/19/12 (165# !) Yeah, really! See what having a car did to me? I’m still walking 15 minutes, 2x per day, (to work and back) and I walk the dogs for 1-15 minutes, 2x per day, but my eating habits have kind of gone downhill. I eat a cup of yogurt and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day at work, drink coffee all day and come home starving. I haven’t figured out a good solution for that, but if I can get into a regular biking routine I’ll probably be okay. My metabolism is all messed up. I did a really killer ride today out to the airport and back around. Three hard hill climbs. It’s not something I’ll have time for except probably on weekends, and I’ve got a good weekday morning/evening route. Summer is hear already, it’s been like spring for months. I’m pretty sure we skipped winter altogether. I have got to get in shape: I’m going to Wisconsin at the end of June, so I’ve got 14 weeks to make it happen. Sounds like plenty of time as long as life doesn’t get in my way.
7/21/12 (163#) Biggest news: I competed in the Lake Freebird Triathlon last Sunday (!) and I took first place in my age division (!!). I still can’t believe it. 660 meter swim, 14 mile bike ride, 5k run/walk. 2 hours, 17 minutes. Amazing! Something I’ve wanted to do for years. It wiped me out, but the only after-effects for next couple of days were sore thighs My morning rides are now a piece of cake. When the weather cools off, I’m going to start riding longer distances and start some kind of training for running, I think. The whole race was a challenge, obviously, but running was definitely the hardest part. I really can’t figure out what’s going on with my weight. Some of it has got to be muscle gain, because my clothes really aren’t fitting any differently. I really think it’s metabolism. I’ve added an afternoon snack at work—Triscuits or fruit or a small deli salad—but, I’m still starving when I get home. I usually drink a large glass of veggie juice when I get home, and most nights I eat a reasonably portioned dinner, and I eat early and I walk the dogs before bed. If I have time, some days I will eat some oatmeal for breakfast, but every day I feel my blood sugar plummet at some point. My mom took my blood sugar reading once while I was home and it was 56 or something, really low. For 2 weeks before vacation, before it got hot (100+ degrees for weeks now), I was working out, hard, twice a day and even that did nothing for my weight. I really don’t need to get back to 135#, but 140 or 145 even 150 would make me happy. I’m going to set my sights on cooler weather and deal with it then.
BTW, the other big news: I got a car. I’m only driving when I have to run errands, or if I’m running late, or going in to work early, or if it’s really hot in the morning (it is NOT a factor in my weight gain, I’m certain). It has provided me with a long overdue sense of freedom and autonomy. I drove to Wisconsin where I had one of the best vacations, ever. I didn’t really do anything special, but I got to do all the things I wanted to do, and see all the people that I love. Fantastic. It was really hard to leave. I AM going home, some day, soon.
9/1/12 (160#) What a long plateau!
2/23/14 (175#!!!)
4/10/13 Prepping for “5-Day Miracle Diet” (for blood sugar stabilization/metabolism boost)
7/15/13 (168#)
Chest = 38” 7/22/12 = 37” = +1”
Waist = 34” = 32” = +2”
Hips = 44” = 42” = +2”
Day 1 of a 10-day fat flush/detox. I am so frustrated! None of my clothes fit and haven’t throughout this past winter. The measurements above speak for themselves. In my defense, it’s not that I’ve been bad or lazy or anything. I still eat healthy (at least 5 days a week) and I still work out almost every day. But I am in full-blown menopause. I don’t know exactly when my last period was, but I’m pretty sure it’s been a year. My hormones are completely out of whack and I’ve gained all my weight exactly where they say you will after/during menopause. My blood sugar is really unstable, I’m hungry ALL the time and I haven’t slept through the night in weeks. And hot flashes. Not horrible, but they’re there. And I have some kind of rash or fungus on the palms of my hands (since I got the flu last Christmas). So for the next 6 days I will eat Super Soup for lunch and dinner, with snacks of fruit or eggs, yogurt and fruit for breakfast. No gluten, no caffeine, no sugar, no alcohol, no dairy (milk, cheese). And 80 ounces (3/4 of a gallon!) of water a day. Plus exercise (biking and rebounding), maybe some running, but I messed up my ankle back in April and it’s still sore. Next Sunday, Day 7, will be a fast with a ton of water and a special spiced cranberry concoction. Then at least 3-5 more days on the soup. This better work! I’ve recently had the opportunity to double the size of my wardrobe (rummage sales and the liquidation of Genesis) and none of the clothes fit. It’s all in my hip, stomach and ass. I hate it! I will take a minute, however, and brag about my upper body. My breasts are back (probably fat, but still), and my arms and shoulders look fantastic (weight training). My legs look great too, except my upper thighs. I can feel toned muscle under there (I have been biking a lot), but there is a disgusting layer of blubber on top. Wish me luck…see you in a week or two. (BTW, my goal on the scale is 150#, but my main concern is clothing fit.)
Later (7 p.m.)…I have far exceeded my quota of water; I’m at 90 ounces and counting.
7/17/13 Okay. This isn’t going to work. (Having pizza for dinner). I just can’t stomach so much of that soup, even after adding extra chili powder and black pepper. I overdid the greens (kale, chard, bok choy, spinach). I have no Plan B. Maybe a salad for dinner tomorrow. I have nothing else prepared. I’ll try and stay “clean” till Sunday and do the cranberry water fast, see how my weigh-in goes, or maybe I’ll do the fast on Saturday, plan some regular, healthy meals for next week, keep up with the water, stay off the coffee, cut back on gluten. I don’t think the weight/metabolism problem is anything I’m doing, except maybe the way I eat (or don’t eat) on the weekends. And I’m suspecting maybe adrenal fatigue. But my belly feels flatter. It’ll be interesting to see what happens after pizza and milk.
7/18/13 Feel okay, no repercussions from dinner except headache and dizziness, but that felt more like a continuation of fatigue than a reaction. I had to work tonight till 7:30 and I got very little sleep last night. It’s interesting because I feel really good…clear-headed, not tired, not even my eyes. And my blood sugar stayed stable all day. I had to make myself eat a couple of times cuz I just wasn’t hungry. I’ve also noticed, all week, that my sinuses are much clearer. I used to have to blow my nose constantly in the morning. Milk? Gluten? Two evenings without biking. I don’t like that, but I’m going to tray and get in a couple of long rides this weekend. Saturday, at least. Sunday is my fast and I’m not supposed to work out hard. I like riding in the morning, but it’s hot and I can’t stop sweating even after a shower. It makes getting dressed for work pretty unpleasant. I can’t wait for Monday, weigh-in and measurements. Wish me luck!
Later…got in a 30-minute dog walk, enough to work up a light sweat and diminish my mild hunger pangs. Way too late to eat.
7/19/13 …Worked late again tonight and am going in tomorrow (Saturday). I need the money, and it will keep my mind off of food. Still need to try and get my exercise in. My head feels so clear; it’s weird, especially with work being so intense right now. I’d really like to know what specifically to attribute that to.
7/21/13 (160#) (Fast Day) Eight pounds in 6 days! I’ll take it. Tomorrow should be even better. When I started this I was a little concerned about Saturday, just because of having time on my hands. As it turned out, I had to work for a few hours, then shopped for my “Miracle Juice” and “real” food for the upcoming week. I’m planning refried beans and leftover chicken and salads. Pizza, of course, but maybe not till next weekend. Saturday I exceeded 100 ounces of water, too. Today is 72 ounces of water, plus 62 ounces of “Miracle Juice” (water, cranberry juice, fresh orange and lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg). Also 2 dises of psyllium husk. Tomorrow will be measurements. Yesterday I tried on outfits for the upcoming work week and stuff that didn’t fit last week fits now. I know for sure I lost in my waist.
Noon…I’m very hungry, drinking my stuff (more than ½ way through my juice already). Just staying busy, no sun, no pool, don’t think exercise would be a good idea. Dog-walking will be about it. The best part of tomorrow (other than my weigh-in) will be PB&J.
7/22/13 (163#) Well, my weight is unchanged from yesterday, and I’m a bit surprised, but I think I was pretty cleaned out when I started yesterday. Even with 2 doses of psyllium, I haven’t pooped and feel no need. More telling is my measurements:
Chest = 37” (-1.0”)
Waist = 30-1/2” (-3.5”)”
Hips = 42” (-2.0”)
Down 8 pounds and 6.5” in one week!
10/1/13 I have a fully-functioning home gym in my barn. Right now I’m using my old Life-Rider, my Jane Fonda steps, my mini-tramp/rebounder and a strider/XX ski machine that I got at a yard sale for $5. Yet to be assembled: a Body by Jack (yard sale $20) and a Total Gym (free from neighbor). I’ve been alternating cardio/upper body circuit training with biking and strength training. I work out usually 5 days a week and most days that includes both mornings and evenings. And the scale still refuses to budge from 160#. I’m aggravated as all hell. I really want to lose 10-15 pounds before winter sets in. The barn is not insulated, but I’m hoping I’ll still be able to use it in all but the coldest days of winter. I’m eating bigger breakfasts (just started yesterday) and I am gathering food data in preparation of a thorough analysis of my diet. If the numbers seem reasonable, then I will know it’s hormonal and I will have to just wait it out and hope to at least maintain and not gain.
Chest = 38”
Waist = 32”
Hips = 42.5”
Thighs (each) = 24.5”
Upper Arms (each) = 12”
11/28/13 (Thanksgiving Day) Just a note to say I haven’t been ignoring health and wellness; I just haven’t been writing about it. (I have been, however, transferring all of my written entries from day one to computer files.) I have also been (sort of, once in awhile) working on a book and/or seminar/workshop for beginners. I have also been keeping a food and exercise log for months now, both written and online. The bottom line is I’ve been doing really well in all aspects of diet and exercise, but I’m still stuck between 165# and 170#. Hormones, muscle, or both, I don’t know. I workout 2-4 hours a week, hard, intense workouts. I eat like a bird 5 days a week. I binge on pizza on the weekends, screwing with my blood sugar, but I can’t believe it’s enough to cause this plateau. (The numbers, even on my pizza days, on my online log, continue to show a caloric deficit.) I’ve gone up to 3 weeks without drinking alcohol, with still no change. I eat breakfast daily, even on the weekends. I am sleeping like a baby most of the time; that’s the workouts. Jillian Michaels, crazy! Until the time change, which made it dark and cold in my barn gym, I’d been doing a daily cardio-mix on various equipment. I even make it a point to vary my workouts and my meals. It just has me completely perplexed. I have noticed a major improvement in muscle tone, which has always been my objective. My endurance levels are way up, my ankle is better. I think I will do the triathlon again this year. I am, once again, setting my sights on summer. At least I will get through the winter with minimal, if any, weight gain. I’d love to fit into my skinny jeans again, but I don’t think 135# is realistic. But it’s something to aim for.
Deadline: November 1, 2005, based on losing 2 pounds per week
Starting Weight (estimate only; I don’t currently own a scale): 235 lbs.
Goal Weight: 155 lbs.
Plan of Attack: Eat less, move more. Control portions. Work Pilate’s/Yoga DVD. As weather improves, start biking. As I improve, get back on the treadmill. Walk dogs. More protein, fewer carbs. Would be a good idea to track pain migration (gastrointestinal; headaches; back pain; feet, etc.)
- Food: (Learn to incorporate fresh ingredients in soup, etc.)
- Baked potato w/salsa
- Tuna salad sandwiches
- Egg salad
- Leafy green salads (experiment w/greens & dressings)
- Vegetable soup (learn to make fresh)
- Breakfast for work meal (make ahead & freeze French Toast; omelets; scrambled eggs)
- Breaks: healthy homemade muffins; low-fat homemade pumpkin pie, yogurt; canned/fresh fruit; smoothies; veggie sticks or whole grain crackers w/peanut butter
- Homemade juices
- Fish (learn recipes)
- At least a small green salad as often as possible – dig out the Salad Shooter!
- TVP, tofu
- Portion control!
- Cut out trans fat
- Read/study labels
Wednesday, 1/26/05 Exercise: Floor stretches, 60 crunches, 10 coffee-table push-ups. Stiff neck and shoulders. Period: bloated, upset stomach, diarrhea 30 minutes after lunch. Food: Lunch: 2 slices leftover pizza and leftover mac & cheese [2 cups?], milk. Snacks: Light Wheat Thins and homemade low-fat pumpkin pie. Yesterday was homemade spinach lasagna, small salad, large slice of garlic bread.
Wednesday, 2/2/05 First time I’ve stretched or done anything else since the 26th, a week ago. I’m over my period, and today I hurt like hell. It’s also birthday #47 and I feel like 90. Everything hurts from the waist down including my thigh/groin joint. My foot, my back, my calves. Stomach not too bad. Food: My diet is improving ever so slightly: more protein, smaller portions (especially at-work meals). Past week: ham; egg salad; potato salad; homemade spinach manicotti (low-fat); bacon and eggs; pumpkin pie, Triscuits w/peanut butter (PBTs); burgers & pizza, too. Big portions. Exercise: Floor stretches, 60 crunches, 10 table push-ups. Made a world of difference in my pain, the minute I laid flat on my back on the floor. What I would give for a Tempur-Pedic mattress!
I haven’t formalized my entire plan of attack yet. I have a new Pilate’s/Yoga DVD that I want to try, but I can’t do it with the dogs in the house and the weather’s been pretty yucky lately. Ultimately, I’d like to be able to do my Jane Fonda step routine again, get on the treadmill, and get back to doing some serious, regular biking. I want my 30-35 year-old body back, even though at my best, I was still never satisfied. Oh, well, anything beats this!
Tuesday, 2/9/05 Trying some new approaches. My stomach was a mess last night, the last couple of days, actually. Part of it is my eating and drinking habits on the weekends, but this just seems extreme. I had only 4 glasses of wine (in 2 sittings) all weekend and ate mac & cheese, baked fish and baked fries, and, um, I think that was it. I don’t think I ate at all on Monday. Last night my bowel was so irritable and my anus so painful…lots of gas, “bleeding” fissures, maybe a hemorrhoid. It hurt like hell for probably 30 minutes and I kept needing to fart and/or pass these stupid little turds. I took a couple of anti-gas pills and I actually felt better after eating lunch (salad, Chicken Helper Alfredo, 1 slice whole wheat bread and some PBTs). I’m eating a small salad at every work meal and today I’m starting a daily dose of “diet” tea (with Chromium Picolinate, B6, B12, etc.) and acidophilus 2x per day with meal. Exercise: No exercise to speak of. I’ve actually been feeling pretty limber. The dogs are outside…I should get on the floor while I have the chance. Done. Floor stretches (gotta work my inner thighs more), 75 crunches (25 each center, left, right), 10 coffee-table pushups.
Thursday, 2/10/05 (227#) Weighed myself today at a computer-tutor client’s house: 227 pounds.
3/29/05 (216#) New home scale: 216 pounds. I’m going home June 13 for a week. Eleven weeks away, times 2 pounds a week = 22 pounds. I could be 194 by then or better! I’ve really only made diet changes; I could really speed things along just by squeezing in some exercise. I spend about an hour with my Garden Claw yesterday and the weather is finally starting to improve. Biking is just around the corner.
4/3/05
- Foremost & easiest:
- Add Magnesium, top priority. 400-1000 mg/day.
- Smoothies: try daily. Include whey protein, ground flaxseed, wheat germ, strawberries, bananas and yogurt.
- Salad: daily (continue); try darker greens (spinach, etc.) and experiment with oil & vinegar dressings
4/4/05 (215#) Started Magnesium supplement. Switched at home to primarily bottled water (steam distilled).
4/8/05
- Smoothie Recipe:
- 1 small banana (frozen and partially thawed)
- 8 large frozen strawberries
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup skim milk
- 2 Tbsp wheat germ
- 4 ice cubes
4/11/05 (210#) 5:30 a.m. weigh-in. I haven’t eaten since 1:30 a.m. yesterday (28 hours) The magnesium (or something) is doing wonders for my pain. My left foot seems to have healed overnight, my back hasn’t hurt in days, although I had some problems with my left hip the other night, maybe a pinched nerve. I still haven’t started exercising, but my bike is ready to go. I’ve also started taking my multi-vitamin with my meals, along with the magnesium and acidophilus. My stomach and bowel movements have been absolutely normal, and I’ve had no “leaky butt” and very minimal gas. Smoothie: same as last time with the addition of ¾ cup of cooked instant unflavored oatmeal. No change in flavor, but definitely thicker.
4/6/05 I’m curious how the magnesium will affect my periods. I started bleeding last night about 6:00 p.m. and I was cramping for only hours beforehand, instead of days like usual. Last month’s was one of the worst I’ve ever had, especially cramp-wise. This one could be a fluke; I’ll give it another month or two and see how it goes. All the other beneficial results are still holding, so I’ll continue to take it anyway. I just hope it’s not horribly expensive. (The bottle I started with was a “gift” from a friend.)
4/20/05 (210#) Plateau due to period. I hope.
4/24/05 I’ll weigh myself again tomorrow or Tuesday. I had a couple of “off days” this week: a couple of fried hamburgers at home and 5 slices of frozen veggie pizza another day. But other than that I’m doing well with the smoothies (almost daily) and I’ve pretty much eliminated simple carbs; any bread I eat is whole wheat, usually with extra fiber. Lots of protein, lots of salads, with egg and turkey. I have no carb cravings, which was not planned or expected. I’ve actually had cravings for tuna and, of course, pizza, but these days I’m much more satisfied with a thin-crust cheese loaded with mushrooms, onions and home-grown sweet peppers and tomatoes. I occasionally get a hankering for ketchup and also butter-laden garlic bread, but the ketchup is a good thing and the garlic bread is simply a rare treat.
Exercise: I haven’t been doing stretches or crunches, yet my abs and back are so much stronger—or I was just so used to the pain that normal feels like a miracle. I never did take my measurements, but my jeans are so loose I almost need a belt. I’m pretty sure my butt is shrinking, too. N one at work has noticed, but they see me everyday, so…whatever.
I’ve begun. Which I thought I’d never do, and I feel better than I thought I would. I’m amazed, actually. Two, three months ago, I thought I would spend the rest of my life feeling like crap. I honestly believed that nothing I would do would make a difference. Worse yet, I felt like I couldn’t, I was so trapped by the pain. I’m going to be a success story. For the first time in my life, I’m doing it for me. And it can’t help but spill over into other areas of my life. It already has. Suddenly I’m thinking of how tomorrow can be, instead of how yesterday was. That’s huge for me.
(Back story, for posterity’s sake):
I started to formulate my plan in January, approaching my 47th birthday. I had an idea that I wanted to lose 80 pounds by October or November. Then I went to St. Louis.
My depression had been building for months. I met my brother in St. Louis to celebrate my birthday. The first night there, after mentioning my current fragile self-esteem to him, my brother referred to my butt as a “shelf.” The next night, I got drunk, puked, and curled up in a mound of pampas grass outside the bar. That was my rock bottom, but that same night I met Tim, the bartender. I knew as I was talking to him that it was impossible that my life wasn’t about to change. The window of hope had been opened because somebody cared. Somebody—Tim—actually made me believe that I mattered. I can’t tell you what it was—I don’t exactly know—but even as I shrugged off him and his philosophical advice, I knew something was about to change.
I went to Dr. Phil’s book “Self Matters” and that was a useful catalyst that I hope to return to, but the real turning point was the book “Ultra Prevention” which I just happened to discover on the one and only episode that I’ve ever seen of the “Jane Pauly Show.”
God works in mysterious ways…
Monday 4/25/05 (207#) 57 pounds to go!
4/26/05 Added Vitamin B6 supplement.
Monday, 5/2/05 (205#) Last ate 28 hours ago.
Wednesday 5/4/05 Bike ride: 2.5 miles.
Friday 5/6/05 Added protein powder to smoothies, which I am still drinking almost daily. The powder is vanilla-flavored and it really enhanced the overall flavor. I’ve had a brain fog going the past couple of nights. I thought maybe I was light on protein, but I have peanut butter, an egg and a little turkey breast at least 5 days a week, including the past two. Not sure what’s up…seems to be passing…will see how tonight goes. I need to start working my upper arms; I’ve go a serious flab thing going on and my arms are always exposed.
Monday 5/9/05 (206#) This plateau is pissing me off. I’ve been doing really well, eating healthy and light. This week I had only smoothies for dinner after work on 2 or 3 days. I ate grilled cheese one day, and cheese, veggie and pineapple pizza on another. Lunches have consisted of high-protein, low-fat, low-carb, high-fiber sandwiches, soups and salads. I’ve kept active. What else can I do? I managed to get the treadmill unburied and the weather is warming earlier in the day so I can start biking more. Maybe I’m building muscle (which weighs more than fat) because of all the protein I’m getting. My pants have gotten even looser and one of the girls at work noticed that I’m slimming down, so I guess I can’t complain too much. But I’d really like to break the 200# mark.
Monday 5/23/05 (205#) Major plateau. It’s the first time I’ve weighed myself in two weeks and no change. I had my period the first week, and the second week I just couldn’t get my rhythm back. I wasn’t “bad”, but I only had protein shakes a couple times a week, which means I ate more solid food before going to bed. I stayed pretty active, gardening, doing stuff around the house, etc., only one short bike ride on Saturday home from the Farmer’s Market. Haven’t been eating enough fresh food…too much canned stuff and frozen dinners and pizzas (cheese and veggies). I had a major relapse two or three days ago with stiffness in my hip joints, pinched nerve in my left thigh and more back pain than usual. I had a pretty intense week at work, though, and twice or more wore less-than-perfect shoes. I’m needing to wear a belt with some of my pants now, so I’m still making some kind of progress, or at least not going backwards.
Sunday 5/29/05 Cardio dance: Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive”
Monday 6/27/05 (203#) I can’t believe I haven’t written for a month. I went on vacation to Wisconsin for a week, and have been back now for a week. I was up a couple of pounds my first day back, but have already lost that and then some, which surprises me because I’ve kind of stayed in a vacation mentality, although I did very good on vacation. I stayed with my protein shakes almost daily, but I also enjoyed cookouts with brats and burgers, and a fish fry and pizza at Armelli’s, and a lot of beer, wine and Bloody Mary’s. But most everything was in moderation. And I ate whole wheat bagels, grilled fish, salads, fresh fruit, lots of good stuff. Exercise included a lot of walking, bowling, miniature golf and swimming. A very good vacation.
Not too many opportunities lately for exercise; it’s been sweltering outside since I’ve been home. I even broke down and bought a small air conditioner for the bedroom so I could sleep during the hottest part of the day. I’ve kept up with my usual supplements and have added green tea extract in gel cap form. It’s supposed to help burn fat and metabolize sugar/carbs. I looked and felt great by the time I went to Wisconsin. I may be going back for a few days in September for Sue’s wedding reception. If I kick things up a notch and get an exercise program going, I could easily be down another 20 pounds by then…Bike Ride: 3.2 miles, 25 minutes, great workout.
Monday 7/4/05 (201#) That, after three cups of coffee, two bottles of water, and right smack in the middle of a heavy (but relatively pain-free) period! If this keeps up, I should be under 200# by the end of the week!
Monday 7/11/05 (200#)
Tuesday 7/12/05 (198#) Well, that is because all I’ve eaten since 1:30 a.m. Sunday is a handful of peanuts and three pieces of toast, whole wheat of course, with all-natural peanut butter, my latest dietary change. I had a really rough week. Tension is high at work, my patience is a bit thin, I was sleepy, physically exhausted and my hemorrhoids were acting up. I ran out of B-6, but was taking that only because I had it and that shouldn’t have triggered any of these symptoms. As soon as I can get my hands on a grinder, I’m going to add flax seed to my regimen, along with Vitamin E to counter against oxidation of the same.
Tuesday 7/13/05 Started “Woman’s Oil.” I am also currently heavily involved in researching glyconutrient supplements from Manna Tech. I am seriously considering their marketing program. This is breakthrough technology in the field of wellness and preventive health. I’m very excited and will keep you posted.
Monday 7/25/05 (198#) Tuesday 7/26/05 Yesterday’s weigh-in surprises me; I thought I’d be down more. I ate large salads and whole wheat toast two or three times last week and did well in all other respects with shakes, etc. I noticed an increase in energy and mental sharpness and could only attribute that to an increase in carbs (or the “Woman’s Oil” with it’s high Omega content?). It’s been unbearably hot—100’s all week—no possibility of exercise, although I stayed busy every day with canning pickles and prepping for the Farmer’s Market. I had some kind of flare-up with my hemorrhoids or irritable bowel after eating a frozen Mexican dinner Saturday night. It stayed with me though this morning and has hopefully cleared up. Very painful, very uncomfortable. This week will be high-protein—cooking up a batch of burgers and chicken on the grill. I bought some new pants: two pairs of 16W and one pair of 16 Misses! Major ego boost! And I had a rapt audience with three girls at work who wanted to know how I am losing weight. Still very few people have commented, but it’s not affecting my determination in the least.
Wednesday 8/3/05 (196#)
Thursday 8/4/05 Cardio-Fit: Tension 5.5, 3 set, 15 reps each, upper body push/pull
Sunday 8/21/05 I haven’t weighed myself in a week, but last week was 195#, same as the week before, another plateau. Nothing much has changed. Sticking with the “diet” but I’m still not working out. I just can’t find anything that inspires me. I love getting on the floor and stretching and doing ab work, but the dogs usually manage to remove any and all enjoyment and turn it into a chore for me. I believe I would love yoga and Pilate’s…still have a DVD that I haven’t watched. Today I’m starting to add 8-16 ounces of cranberry juice (real stuff, no sugar, flavorings or preservatives). I really, really want to get a juicer/extractor and/or Vita-Mix. I’ve cut back on microwave usage a little, but it’s going to be awhile before I can give it up entirely, mainly because of work meals. Ultimately, I’d like to go organic and whatever dairy or meat I consume be free-range and chemical-free. And unpasteurized or un-homogenized milk—I’m not sure which, both or either. I just switched to organic soy milk in my protein shakes, but sill want to add flax and some whole food/sea supplements like sea grass and/or Coral Calcium.
I’ve gathered some recipes to try. I’m especially eager to make Hunza bread and start experimenting with salad dressings since I eat them so much, although the “Western” dressing label doesn’t read too badly. I rarely eat pizza anymore. I grill a pile of meat every couple of weeks and in the course of a week I may eat two burgers, but mostly chicken. I rarely eat chips anymore and if I do, it’s barely a handful. My crunchy/salty snack of choice is chips and salsa, very lean, very spicy, very satisfying. Peanuts, natural peanut butter, whole wheat breads. Oh, and I made the most awesome Chunky Roasted Zucchini and Garlic Tomato Sauce. I have to bottle this stuff—it was fantastic! I could eat it like soup. And on spaghetti squash or with gooey garlic bread. It would be even better if it was homemade herb and garlic bread…my basil is ready to harvest. The fresh tomatoes were indescribably delicious. I still drink my shake four times a week, and usually will eat a meal—a light one—afterwards, only once or twice a week. Sunday is usually wine day and usually results in me going 24+ hours without food, which can’t be good for me. So I end up eating two, maybe three, meals in the course of 72 hours. That’s got to mess with my metabolism and could certainly explain the plateaus.
I probably won’t make my original goal. I’d have to lose another 40 pounds in 10-14 weeks, but I’m staying the course, slow but steady wins the race.
Monday 8/22/05 (191#)
Monday 9/5/05 (190#) I weighed myself three times and got three different readings…what can you expect from a $5.00 scale? It appears I have encountered another plateau. But my new pants, 16 Misses, fit like a glove and all of my old clothes are too big. I can’t even wear some of my skirts. (By the way, when I started this I was wearing a 24W.)
Monday 9/12/05 (188#)
Monday 9/27/05 (190#) I’m stuck. And my schedule at work has changed, so I need to make some adjustments. I’m getting prepared to do a whole-body cleanse, a mild one “Ultimate Cleanse.” More mental preparedness than physical, at least until I get used to my new schedule. I’m eating “dinner” (my work-meal) one hour later than usual, plus I was off work for five days, which threw things off balance. On the other side, though, I am immersing myself in information. I’ve read “Ultra-Prevention” for a second time, am re-reading NC ???), and just finished an eye-opening book on menopause and hormones (Dr. Lee). I found an online school for becoming a Nutritional Consultant. Will need money for that, soon. I’m considering selling stock if necessary to get that going. I’m also working on an idea for a newspaper/magazine column.
Saturday 10/1/05 I did not weigh-in today, but the day after my previous entry, I was down to 185#. Go figure. Today I’m starting a natural progesterone therapy hoping it will help with my periods and whatever else menopause portends. I read another amazing book (Dr. Lee) about the myth/scam of menopause. I also spent 3 hours at the library doing research. I really don’t know from what angle to approach my series of articles…I really want to keep it light, but the facts are so heavy, so outrageous! I’ve shared my protein shake recipe with several people at work and I’m helping Tracy H. treat her Crohn’s Disease. I hope she’s successful…I would love to do this for people for a living. Shari H. has started a supplement program and is changing her eating habits. I bought a juice extractor, a slow cooker and a mini-trampoline for rebounding. I loaded up the pantry and freezer today with whole grain pastas, brown rice, dried beans, fruit and veggies. Later…and the slow-cooker is on, with a batch of tomato and veggie soup for dinner tonight.
Tuesday 10/18/05 I am in the midst of m first period with the P-cream. Bleeding was supposed to start in 48 hours; it took me 72. I had zero premenstrual cramping, but then they hit, they hit hard. But, so far, only about 10-12 hours. I’ve been cramp-free now for 8 hours, with very minimal medication: some Vitamin E and a few Advil gel-caps. Except for the first 10 hours or so, it’s been exceptionally mild.
Wednesday 11/2/05 (184#) Well I spoke too soon in the previous entry. It turned out to be one of the worst periods I’ve had in a couple of years. I was in pure agony one night for hours on end, no relief at all. I’m hoping it was a fluke and am giving the Progesterone another month. I also signed up for insurance through work with the plan of getting checked and treated for endometriosis after the first of the year. After my bonus and review in March, I hope to find--need to find—a better paying job. Finance are horrible, but hopefully I’ll be getting a tax refund, too. I really want to enroll in GCNM’s certificate program and get a nutritional counseling business going. I’m still trying to help some people at work, but I never feel like I can act from the depth of knowledge I would gain from a focused course of study. My own program—at least from a weight-loss point of view—has slowed. Several factors are influencing that: 1) The smoothies aren’t appealing to me lately, I think mainly because I’m craving warm food rather than cold. 2) My job at work has changed again and has become less physical (softlines processing vs. stocking for about ½ of my shift). 3) I’ve been feeling resentful about my life/financial/work situation and thus feeling more “entitled” when I make my food choices. I’m still doing pretty well on the nutritional end—lots of homemade soup, spinach lasagna, refried beans, whole grains—but I’ve also been eating more pizza, and larger portions of it, too. That’s really my only downfall, though and I’m still pretty good about keeping it veggie-ized. Work is such a drag. I come home tired and frustrated, and I feel like “screw it,” I deserve some comfort food. If only my financial situation would improve…
Tuesday 11/15/05 (no weigh-in, probably 185-190#) Day 3 of my period. Bleeding began in less than 24 hours. Major severe back pain on days 1 and 2, then just very heavy bleeding with cramps that responded almost immediately to Advil gel caps and a little extra Vitamin E. I’ll take this over last month any day. Food has consisted mainly of homemade soups and salads, but I’ve indulged a lot lately, mostly due to cravings for warm/hot food. I’ve been experiment a lot with oats, beans, wheat germ, and flax seed. Seven-layer salad, sandwiches, always an indulgence of pizza every once in awhile. No new supplements. New book, “Mal(e)Practice,”, copyright 1981 by Robert S. Mendehlson, M.D. Amazing, shocking, scary.
Wednesday 11/30/05 (182#)
Saturday 12/24/05 I received the most amazing Christmas gift from my cousin, Sharon and her husband, Carl: a check for $1500.00 to pay for my tuition at GCNM. Think of the possibilities a year from now, if not sooner…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Saturday 1/14/06 Cleanse Day #1. The course materials are on their way. Also I’m starting (finally!) on my cleanse (“Ultimate Cleanse” $23.00) tonight. Weight was 181# a couple of days ago. Got through the holidays without gaining an ounce. And my 16’s are getting looser.
Wednesday 1/18/06 (179#) No food yesterday.
Wednesday 1/25/06 (179#) I’ve obviously plateaued again, not sure why. My pants are looser, and a pair of 14’s I tried on the other day fit perfectly. I’m sure I’ve added some muscle, especially in my upper body from all the lifting I do at work. I’m a week into the cleanse, and I’ve been having some pretty hefty bowel movements which is another reason I’m surprised the scale hasn’t moved. I’ve also had some flare-ups with joint pain, especially in my right knee. I’m hoping it’s a side effect of the detox, but when I an afford it, I’m probably going to start supplementing with glucosamine and chondroitin for some added insurance. My knees have been injured so many times, I’m sure they’re arthritis-prone. I got the laundry room organized to make room for my rebounder. And I want to start juicing and experimenting with the Hunza bread recipes. My course materials arrived two days ago. I’m planning to officially begin next week, on my birthday. I had to order my transcripts from Palmyra and I need to acquire an audio cassette player. I’ve got all my case study volunteers lined up. I’m ready to go.
Wednesday 2/1/06 (179#) (Mid period). Some noteworthy experiences lately: On Friday night at work, I experienced this weird, wonderful, floating sensation, a feeling of complete weightlessness, like my feet were not touching the ground. This happened a couple of months ago, too. It lasts about an hour or so and it’s really a strange sensation. I don’t know if it’s food, or sleep, or adrenaline or what, but I’m going to try and track it. Also, a couple of weeks ago, I happened to take of running down grocery action-alley in a race against Dustin for a pallet jack. The sensation was incredible: there was no pain, no jarring in my feet or knees, and even my breasts weren’t flopping all over the place. I haven’t been physically capable of running in years; it’s amazing what you can forget, what you take for granted, what you get used to. Next, I really want to test my pH and do a candida cleanse. I’m going to start my first class assignment tomorrow: Dr. Weil’s audiocassette series. I couldn’t leave the stuff completely alone; I’ve watched the video “Diet for a New America,” by John Robbins, which was stirring and heartbreaking and almost brought me to tears. And I’m finishing one of the books “Health Wars,” by Phillip Day, which has again stimulated my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I have a huge vision for my legacy: a comprehensive health spa, complete with alternative building methods, alternative energy sources, organic and sustainable farming, classrooms, maybe laboratories, a kitchen/restaurant, bookstore, library, natural food store, everything, all in one place on this huge, beautiful complex/campus. What do you think?
Friday 2/10/06 I’m eating awesome bean-heavy vegetarian chili with textured vegetable protein (TVP) this week, so am cutting back to the original cleanse dosage of 1 each fiber and herb, 2x/day.
Wednesday 2/15/06 (176#) This past week, dinner at work was a cup of chili and a salad or sandwich, but everyday I ate late in the morning after work, too: chips and salsa; chips and refried beans; some lentil-mash stuff; and, on 2 days, pizza. Yesterday was a big salad and fresh-baked (from frozen) whole-wheat bread. And I’ve stepped off the plateau.
Wednesday 2/22/06 (173#)
Wednesday 3/1/06 (170#)
Wednesday 3/8/06 (173#) Thursday 3/9/06 FYI, I finished the cleanse program a few days ago, Sunday, I think. So far everything seems to be working fine on its own. I jumped ahead in my school stuff and pre-tested myself on the final exam. I felt pretty good about it until I spent some time on the school’s forum. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people out there…I hope to be one of them soon! I’ve lined up several people for my case studies and am now trying to get all my “Introductory Packets” formulated. I think I may be bitten off more than I can chew at this point, but I’ve already asked everyone for their patience. My problem is I have no patience of my own!
Wednesday 3/15/06 (170#) Wednesday 3/23/06 I forgot to weigh myself, but I’ve got my period so it probably wouldn’t have been good news anyway. Speaking of periods, I’m on Day 3 of probably the mildest one I’ve ever experienced. I got it early Monday morning after about 3 hours of mild pre-cramping. I had a several-hour-long bout of hemorrhoids and a little diarrhea. I slept pain-free on Monday, my cramps peaked at about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, and I’ve had virtually no clotting and pretty light, bright-red bleeding. (Prior to my 2-month treatment with the Progesterone cream, the discharge was often almost black.) I took very few Ibuprofen compared to usual and only 2 days of Vitamin E, which I had stopped taking a few months ago when I ran out. The only difference is on Sunday morning I began taking a liquid Glucosamine supplement w/MSM (on clearance at Wal-Mart for $7.) The results from that on my knee pain were virtually immediate and I also noticed that the stiffness in my hip flexor joints, plus the stiffness I would experience after sitting during my lunches and breaks, completely disappeared. This is after 2 doses! I priced GC supplements and they run close to $25 for a 30-day or less supply. If this keeps up for a couple of days, I will buy whatever they have left. Don’t know what after that, though. I’m going to St. Louis in a couple of weeks just for the weekend. Tommy will see me 30 pounds lighter and I’ll be seeing Greg and hopefully, Kim, too, and maybe Tim, the bartender. They will all be seeing me 70 pounds slimmer, in my new size 14 jeans.
Wednesday 3/29/06 (173#) Bad week, lots of temptations. We had a work party and I indulged in Pizza Hut pizza. Also lots of sweets, and I had chips in the house and ate those 2 or 3 times in large quantities, and smoked sausages, and braunschweiger and meatloaf (made with whole grains). But, I also ate broccoli/cauliflower soup; sandwiches; salads and TVP chili, along with lots of organic carrots and sweet potatoes. This cold be a fluke, but my vision seems to have improved. I had a full-body pain day, or at least for several hours, on he third day of the G/MSM supplement, so I stopped it and the pain went away. Could be another fluke?
Wednesday 4/26/06 (171#) Been awhile, huh? My weight really surprises me; I feel like I’ve done nothing but eat since I got back from St. Louis on April 2. Eating was something I didn’t do a lot of up there. Two days ago, I told myself I wouldn’t be surprised to see the scale tip at 210#, I felt so bloated. It was the middle of my period, though, so that’s pretty typical. My period was pretty mild, except for several hours of bad cramping on Day 2. I had virtually no pre-emptive cramping, no other PMS stuff like back pain, just a mild flare-up of ‘roids or fissures the week prior. I took a lot of extra Vitamin E, but should have started earlier. I still needed Ibuprofen, and didn’t have any gel caps—the tablets just don’t seem to work as well. Ideally, of course, I wouldn’t need any of it. I have several friends and family members waiting (patiently, I hope) for me to get enrollment packets to them. It’s a huge undertaking that I can’t seem to get started on. My studies have stalled, at least my “formal” school curriculum. I have been doing reading and/or specific research almost daily, usually for other people, though, rather than those who are waiting. I’m currently working on Alzheimer’s Disease for my new hair stylist, Tara, for her mother-in-law. Also, carpal tunnel syndrome for Amanda at work, and osteopaedia for Christie at work. Not a day goes by that someone isn’t asking me a question. For most of them, I can draw some information from memory, but I always need to do more digging and it’s excellent practice for me.
I really need to start taking a brain-food formula. I think it would help immensely with my studies. I also want to continue with the beta-carotene therapy for my vision. Other than that, I’m currently taking a basic multi-vitamin 2x/day; 400 I.U./day Vitamin E; 100mg/day B-6; 750 mg/day magnesium; and 1000 mg. Vitamin C, 5x/week (powder in my water at work). Dietary: large salad 5x/week (still using Western Dressing; still wanting to experiment w/homemade); PBTs as a snack 5x/week during the work meeting (10 p.m.); prune juice/white grape w/distilled water 3-4x/week; acidophilus as needed, usually 2-3x/week. Other than during my period, I take no OTC meds and an currently not supplementing a joint formula. I finally found the shoes of my dreams, although they’re about ½ size too big, but I’ve been wearing them at work for a week and so far they’re doing wonders at eliminating my foot, knee and hip problems.
I’m still not engaged in any type of “formal” exercise program, which I’m very eager to do. I just can’t seem to work anything in at home due to lack of space and curious, engaging animals. I do get a good amount of strength training/weight bearing activity and lots of walking at work. My main objective now is to incorporate some cardio and get more regular with my stretches. I bough what I need to start riding my bike to work, but I still haven’t quite figured out how to haul my lunch and stuff. Guess that’s about all for now. I could ramble on for hours if I let myself. Onward and upward…
Thursday 4/27/06 (169#) Broke through the next barrier, into the land of the 160’s. I found an awesome cardio workout; I call it “tramp-dancing.” I put on some good music and danced on the mini-tramp for a good hour and a half. Excellent cardio, zero-impact, very good practice for balance and coordination. Think I should take it to market and start a new craze? I want to start a Stevia craze, too, this summer at the Farmer’s Market. I got a cookbook and I’d love to write a magazine article.
Wednesday 5/3/06 (168#)
Sunday 5/7/06 Started a B-complex.
Wednesday 5/17/06 (167#)
Tuesday 5/23/06 (166#)
Tuesday 6/6/06 (166#) That’s a miracle considering the fact that I ate a large meal every day this week before going to bed. Plus, I’ve just started my period. Plus, I was only on the floor at work 2 days in the past 2 weeks; I’m working at a desk in the cash office 2 nights a week now. At least until I ask for a raise and they say “no.” Then I’ll be back to 5 physical days of work, which is just fine. My thighs have become rock solid, presumably from pulling pallets of freight. It’s still the only regular exercise I’m getting other than my dancing every week or two, and whatever yard and garden work I get to, plus I’m walking the dogs every day which can be quite a challenge. My eating the past week or two has been emotional/entitlement eating, due to stresses at work and home. Things have settled down and I’m confident I can get back on track. I’m going to start drinking my smoothies again and start using my bread machine. And one of these days my juicer, which is still in the box. (Note from the future 11/5/13: the juicer is STILL in the box.)
Tuesday 6/13/06 (165#)
Tuesday 7/25/06 (160#) Slow and steady wins the race. Five pounds away from my original goal, but I want to go even further, maybe 140#. Interesting surprise yesterday. My clothes continue to get looser, but I haven’t bought anything new, or tried anything on, since my size 14 jeans. I wear the 16’s to work and they’ve been getting looser and looser. On the nights I’m in the cash offices I wear skirts and dresses and have had to pin them or wrap the ties twice around my waist. Yesterday, I spotted a mini-skirt (actually a “skort”) on clearance. I had tried on a 16, I think, quite some time ago and it looked good, I just couldn’t afford it. Well, they had one left in the color I wanted and it was marked down to $7.00, so I grabbed it and a bunch of other stuff to try on just for fun. Everything was size 14 and fit great. I saved the skirt for last. The hanger said size 14, but I really had to struggle with the zipper. Once I got it on, I knew I had to have it. It looked amazing. I really think that, except for a chunk of flab on my lower abdomen, I have never looked better in my life. All the proportions are right, my hips don’t bulge, my butt is nice and round. It’s really amazing to me. If I can flatten my tummy and get my upper arms toned, I will be so, so happy! Anyway, here’s the really amazing part: when I pulled the skirt off, I happened to spot the inside tag. It was actually a size 10! I was totally blown away!
Other than that, not much going on. The garden is coming along slowly. I’m still eating well, although I need to expand my repertoire a bit. Lots of salad, refried beans, brown rice, veggies, soup. We went through a 2-week heat wave, which makes cooking a challenge. And I can’t seem to get into the smoothie-groove again, so I’ve been eating every day when I get home from work. That has run the gamut from hot dogs and chips, to mac and cheese, to chips and salsa, or pizza, partly out of laziness, partly because of the heat, mostly due to money problems. Studying has been unintentionally pushed to the back burner, and I’m not too concerned, except I really need to get going on my case studies. I still conduct research for co-workers, etc. on a pretty regular basis, and my reading has been focused on weight loss because I really want to present a workshop or seminar. So many people have expressed an interest in how I’ve done it, I might as well get everybody into a room and just tell my story and teach them what I’ve learned.
Tuesday 8/29/06 (155#) No time to write except…yes! You read that right: I hit goal! I’ve revised now to maybe 140#, depending on muscle gain, which is definitely on the increase. Congratulations!
Tuesday 10/11/06 (155#)
Tuesday 2/13/07 (155#)
2-year gap…studying/working on school??
New journal started: 12/30/08 It’s close enough to the new year, I thought I’d get a jump start. This is going to be my health and wellness journal and hopefully my workout logs. This is my year to get buff. Or as buff as a 50-year old woman can expect to be, which I think is pretty darn buff. I’m going to lose my wiggles and jiggles and rolls; I really want to sculpt myself and show Rob a thing or two! I still have no car, and it’s way too cold for biking, so my exercise levels have plummeted and my eating habits have slowly deteriorated, so it’s a double-whammy. Psychologically, I know it’s a control issue: I feel I have no control over anything in my life these days. All I need to do is get into a workout routine—that’s it—everything else would fall into place. It would have a domino effect on every other aspect of my life. So, I’m going to make that happen. It would be nice if the universe would let up just a little, though.
Thursday 1/1/09 Bought a workout DVD: 60 minutes of “Dancing with the Stars,” Latin-style. Merengue, Mambo, Cha-Cha, Samba and more. Happy new year!
Saturday 1/3/09 Inversion table workout, 20 minutes. Stretching and ab work. Also some pretty heavy-duty housecleaning. I previewed my Latin dance DVD. It’s going to be serious workout if I can manage to make it work in the living room with the noisy floor, wobbly furniture and excitable dogs. I learned that I naturally do the Merengue; that’s my dance-style. I think I picked that up way back when I took lessons. The other dance styles will be challenging because I think I’ll have a strong tendency to fall back to the Merengue, but I’ll be alright if I focus on the beat. I remember that from my lesson days, too. Staying limber will go a long way in helping also. I really don’t do enough stretching. I have a much better bed these days, but I’ve got a lot of pain and stiffness in my elbows and shoulders from my two months in Dairy. I’m quite certain my hips need to be a whole lot looser, too. I will get there.
Saturday 1/10/09 I’m not making any progress in the exercise department, but I did stock up on produce. I’ve been feeling “ookey” all weekend, probably because my period is due soon. I experimented with my sleep patterns the last couple of days, too, and that didn’t really work to my advantage, due in large part to my aforementioned “ookiness.” Hmmm…thought I’d feel like writing more…maybe later
Wednesday 1/14/09 Here’s a new strategy that I bet will help: start my shopping in the produce section instead of ending it there. Goal: 5 servings of fruit/veggies per day, minimum. That should be SO easy. So, I need to be diarying my diet, eh? Is that what I’m afraid of? Last night (2 a.m. lunch) was white pasta w/Ragu and ¼ of a Sweet Hawaiian dinner roll (more of the white stuff). Snack (at midnight): 2 oz. of peanuts. Dinner is cooling on the countertop: Red Baron cheese pizza w/4oz. canned mushrooms. No doubt I’ll eat the whole thing, because I have a killer headache and am famished. At least I went to the trouble of putting on the mushrooms.
Thursday 1/15/09 (170# give or take 5#) Reality check?! The last time I actually documented my weight was almost 2 years ago when I hit my goal of 155#. But I also made it a rule to never document during my period, or at the end of the day rather than the beginning. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So maybe 5# water weight, although there definitely could be an increase in muscle mass from a summer of almost daily biking (still no car). But I am nowhere near where I feel I could be. And how I feel really is the bottom line.
Friday 1/16/09 (165#) That’s the real number. First thing in the morning, after two really good bowel movements overnight. I haven’t weighed myself at all since I finished working days, and even at the peak of biking season, I was fluctuating between 155# and 160#. I just really need to find a way to wxercise. Work has gotten very sedentary, too, except that at least I’m upright and walking, not sitting. But really no physical challenges except Monday nights with candy stocking.
Friday 1/23/09 (160#)
Saturday 1/24/09 Installed a pull bar in a doorway. I can’t even do one, but the muscle stretch is amazing.
Sunday 1/25/09 I can do three or four pull-ups, if you count movement of half an inch…and I can do at least 15 modified push-ups (on the floor).
Sunday 2/1/09 Workout: inversion table: stretches, abs, glutes: pull-up bar: pull-ups, push-ups, dips. I didn’t really know what I was doing on the bar; the box with the pictures is in the burn barrel and I think I tossed out the manual, if there was one. But it was a good upper-body workout that I’m sure I’ll feel in a couple of days. And my shoulders feel amazing; they get a really good stretch on the inversion table and the dips really did something, too. Maybe tonight I’ll try my dance routine.
Tuesday 2/3/09 No dance yet. Too many distractions. Today’s workout was minor due to the unheated inversion table room and sore muscles from the other day. I only did 2 positions on the pull-up bar, 10-15 reps each, 15-20 push-ups and 15 dips. My right shoulder is very sore; I’ve been having problems with it since my Dairy days. But at least I didn’t blow it off completely.
7/10/09 (158#-160#)
8/20/09 (155#)
12/10/09 (155#-160# guesstimate)
5/6/10 (158# after coffee)
5/20/10 (155#)
6/10/10 (150#-152#) I’ve finally started losing again after a 165# plateau through the late part of winter. Been fasting pretty much weekly, eating lighter, biking, gardening, yard work, pumping up the pool. Lots of good biking weather, too.
7/22/10 (151#)
7/29/10 (150#)
8/26/10 (145#)
9/24/10 (140#)
10/2/10 (140#) Probably closer to 135# because I’ve got my period AGAIN. Burned a lot of calories this past weekend singing, dancing, drumming, and zero food for almost 4 days. Sounds crazy, I know, but it sure is fun!
10/10/10 (135#) Had to buy all new (Genesis) clothes for cold weather. The weight is just melting off – it’s wild! A lot of it my current lifestyle of living with a rock band, or more like three or four rock bands. Dozens of people coming and going literally all the time. All of this is crazy enough—or if not crazy, then certainly different in a good—and scary—kind of way.
10/22/10 (135#-ish)
12/13/10 (140#-ish)
12/24/10 (140#)
2/8/11 (135#)
5/13/11 (142#)
8/5/11 (140#)
11/30/11 Joined the YMCA this past Monday. I weighed myself on their digital scale which is, no doubt, more accurate than my $5 cheapie. It read 154# which was better than I expected. I haven’t been riding at all for the last 2 weeks because of weather: wind, cold, wind, rain, wind. Insane winds. And I have a vehicle (a loaner from Harold), and my driver’s license! So I knew I had put on weight, but I really thought it would be more. Plus, I was weighing myself at the end of my day rather than the beginning.
2/4/12 New job, new routine. Haven’t made it to the Y in 2 weeks. I’ve been walking 1-1/2 to 2 miles a day, but it’s not nearly enough. My new job (Precision Graphics) has me sitting at a desk all day. Probably going to try biking in the mornings before work and try to set up a space at home to workout. May end up canceling the Y unless I get a car and try to work it into my morning schedule. We’ll see; I’ll figure something out.
3/19/12 (165# !) Yeah, really! See what having a car did to me? I’m still walking 15 minutes, 2x per day, (to work and back) and I walk the dogs for 1-15 minutes, 2x per day, but my eating habits have kind of gone downhill. I eat a cup of yogurt and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day at work, drink coffee all day and come home starving. I haven’t figured out a good solution for that, but if I can get into a regular biking routine I’ll probably be okay. My metabolism is all messed up. I did a really killer ride today out to the airport and back around. Three hard hill climbs. It’s not something I’ll have time for except probably on weekends, and I’ve got a good weekday morning/evening route. Summer is hear already, it’s been like spring for months. I’m pretty sure we skipped winter altogether. I have got to get in shape: I’m going to Wisconsin at the end of June, so I’ve got 14 weeks to make it happen. Sounds like plenty of time as long as life doesn’t get in my way.
7/21/12 (163#) Biggest news: I competed in the Lake Freebird Triathlon last Sunday (!) and I took first place in my age division (!!). I still can’t believe it. 660 meter swim, 14 mile bike ride, 5k run/walk. 2 hours, 17 minutes. Amazing! Something I’ve wanted to do for years. It wiped me out, but the only after-effects for next couple of days were sore thighs My morning rides are now a piece of cake. When the weather cools off, I’m going to start riding longer distances and start some kind of training for running, I think. The whole race was a challenge, obviously, but running was definitely the hardest part. I really can’t figure out what’s going on with my weight. Some of it has got to be muscle gain, because my clothes really aren’t fitting any differently. I really think it’s metabolism. I’ve added an afternoon snack at work—Triscuits or fruit or a small deli salad—but, I’m still starving when I get home. I usually drink a large glass of veggie juice when I get home, and most nights I eat a reasonably portioned dinner, and I eat early and I walk the dogs before bed. If I have time, some days I will eat some oatmeal for breakfast, but every day I feel my blood sugar plummet at some point. My mom took my blood sugar reading once while I was home and it was 56 or something, really low. For 2 weeks before vacation, before it got hot (100+ degrees for weeks now), I was working out, hard, twice a day and even that did nothing for my weight. I really don’t need to get back to 135#, but 140 or 145 even 150 would make me happy. I’m going to set my sights on cooler weather and deal with it then.
BTW, the other big news: I got a car. I’m only driving when I have to run errands, or if I’m running late, or going in to work early, or if it’s really hot in the morning (it is NOT a factor in my weight gain, I’m certain). It has provided me with a long overdue sense of freedom and autonomy. I drove to Wisconsin where I had one of the best vacations, ever. I didn’t really do anything special, but I got to do all the things I wanted to do, and see all the people that I love. Fantastic. It was really hard to leave. I AM going home, some day, soon.
9/1/12 (160#) What a long plateau!
2/23/14 (175#!!!)
4/10/13 Prepping for “5-Day Miracle Diet” (for blood sugar stabilization/metabolism boost)
7/15/13 (168#)
Chest = 38” 7/22/12 = 37” = +1”
Waist = 34” = 32” = +2”
Hips = 44” = 42” = +2”
Day 1 of a 10-day fat flush/detox. I am so frustrated! None of my clothes fit and haven’t throughout this past winter. The measurements above speak for themselves. In my defense, it’s not that I’ve been bad or lazy or anything. I still eat healthy (at least 5 days a week) and I still work out almost every day. But I am in full-blown menopause. I don’t know exactly when my last period was, but I’m pretty sure it’s been a year. My hormones are completely out of whack and I’ve gained all my weight exactly where they say you will after/during menopause. My blood sugar is really unstable, I’m hungry ALL the time and I haven’t slept through the night in weeks. And hot flashes. Not horrible, but they’re there. And I have some kind of rash or fungus on the palms of my hands (since I got the flu last Christmas). So for the next 6 days I will eat Super Soup for lunch and dinner, with snacks of fruit or eggs, yogurt and fruit for breakfast. No gluten, no caffeine, no sugar, no alcohol, no dairy (milk, cheese). And 80 ounces (3/4 of a gallon!) of water a day. Plus exercise (biking and rebounding), maybe some running, but I messed up my ankle back in April and it’s still sore. Next Sunday, Day 7, will be a fast with a ton of water and a special spiced cranberry concoction. Then at least 3-5 more days on the soup. This better work! I’ve recently had the opportunity to double the size of my wardrobe (rummage sales and the liquidation of Genesis) and none of the clothes fit. It’s all in my hip, stomach and ass. I hate it! I will take a minute, however, and brag about my upper body. My breasts are back (probably fat, but still), and my arms and shoulders look fantastic (weight training). My legs look great too, except my upper thighs. I can feel toned muscle under there (I have been biking a lot), but there is a disgusting layer of blubber on top. Wish me luck…see you in a week or two. (BTW, my goal on the scale is 150#, but my main concern is clothing fit.)
Later (7 p.m.)…I have far exceeded my quota of water; I’m at 90 ounces and counting.
7/17/13 Okay. This isn’t going to work. (Having pizza for dinner). I just can’t stomach so much of that soup, even after adding extra chili powder and black pepper. I overdid the greens (kale, chard, bok choy, spinach). I have no Plan B. Maybe a salad for dinner tomorrow. I have nothing else prepared. I’ll try and stay “clean” till Sunday and do the cranberry water fast, see how my weigh-in goes, or maybe I’ll do the fast on Saturday, plan some regular, healthy meals for next week, keep up with the water, stay off the coffee, cut back on gluten. I don’t think the weight/metabolism problem is anything I’m doing, except maybe the way I eat (or don’t eat) on the weekends. And I’m suspecting maybe adrenal fatigue. But my belly feels flatter. It’ll be interesting to see what happens after pizza and milk.
7/18/13 Feel okay, no repercussions from dinner except headache and dizziness, but that felt more like a continuation of fatigue than a reaction. I had to work tonight till 7:30 and I got very little sleep last night. It’s interesting because I feel really good…clear-headed, not tired, not even my eyes. And my blood sugar stayed stable all day. I had to make myself eat a couple of times cuz I just wasn’t hungry. I’ve also noticed, all week, that my sinuses are much clearer. I used to have to blow my nose constantly in the morning. Milk? Gluten? Two evenings without biking. I don’t like that, but I’m going to tray and get in a couple of long rides this weekend. Saturday, at least. Sunday is my fast and I’m not supposed to work out hard. I like riding in the morning, but it’s hot and I can’t stop sweating even after a shower. It makes getting dressed for work pretty unpleasant. I can’t wait for Monday, weigh-in and measurements. Wish me luck!
Later…got in a 30-minute dog walk, enough to work up a light sweat and diminish my mild hunger pangs. Way too late to eat.
7/19/13 …Worked late again tonight and am going in tomorrow (Saturday). I need the money, and it will keep my mind off of food. Still need to try and get my exercise in. My head feels so clear; it’s weird, especially with work being so intense right now. I’d really like to know what specifically to attribute that to.
7/21/13 (160#) (Fast Day) Eight pounds in 6 days! I’ll take it. Tomorrow should be even better. When I started this I was a little concerned about Saturday, just because of having time on my hands. As it turned out, I had to work for a few hours, then shopped for my “Miracle Juice” and “real” food for the upcoming week. I’m planning refried beans and leftover chicken and salads. Pizza, of course, but maybe not till next weekend. Saturday I exceeded 100 ounces of water, too. Today is 72 ounces of water, plus 62 ounces of “Miracle Juice” (water, cranberry juice, fresh orange and lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg). Also 2 dises of psyllium husk. Tomorrow will be measurements. Yesterday I tried on outfits for the upcoming work week and stuff that didn’t fit last week fits now. I know for sure I lost in my waist.
Noon…I’m very hungry, drinking my stuff (more than ½ way through my juice already). Just staying busy, no sun, no pool, don’t think exercise would be a good idea. Dog-walking will be about it. The best part of tomorrow (other than my weigh-in) will be PB&J.
7/22/13 (163#) Well, my weight is unchanged from yesterday, and I’m a bit surprised, but I think I was pretty cleaned out when I started yesterday. Even with 2 doses of psyllium, I haven’t pooped and feel no need. More telling is my measurements:
Chest = 37” (-1.0”)
Waist = 30-1/2” (-3.5”)”
Hips = 42” (-2.0”)
Down 8 pounds and 6.5” in one week!
10/1/13 I have a fully-functioning home gym in my barn. Right now I’m using my old Life-Rider, my Jane Fonda steps, my mini-tramp/rebounder and a strider/XX ski machine that I got at a yard sale for $5. Yet to be assembled: a Body by Jack (yard sale $20) and a Total Gym (free from neighbor). I’ve been alternating cardio/upper body circuit training with biking and strength training. I work out usually 5 days a week and most days that includes both mornings and evenings. And the scale still refuses to budge from 160#. I’m aggravated as all hell. I really want to lose 10-15 pounds before winter sets in. The barn is not insulated, but I’m hoping I’ll still be able to use it in all but the coldest days of winter. I’m eating bigger breakfasts (just started yesterday) and I am gathering food data in preparation of a thorough analysis of my diet. If the numbers seem reasonable, then I will know it’s hormonal and I will have to just wait it out and hope to at least maintain and not gain.
Chest = 38”
Waist = 32”
Hips = 42.5”
Thighs (each) = 24.5”
Upper Arms (each) = 12”
11/28/13 (Thanksgiving Day) Just a note to say I haven’t been ignoring health and wellness; I just haven’t been writing about it. (I have been, however, transferring all of my written entries from day one to computer files.) I have also been (sort of, once in awhile) working on a book and/or seminar/workshop for beginners. I have also been keeping a food and exercise log for months now, both written and online. The bottom line is I’ve been doing really well in all aspects of diet and exercise, but I’m still stuck between 165# and 170#. Hormones, muscle, or both, I don’t know. I workout 2-4 hours a week, hard, intense workouts. I eat like a bird 5 days a week. I binge on pizza on the weekends, screwing with my blood sugar, but I can’t believe it’s enough to cause this plateau. (The numbers, even on my pizza days, on my online log, continue to show a caloric deficit.) I’ve gone up to 3 weeks without drinking alcohol, with still no change. I eat breakfast daily, even on the weekends. I am sleeping like a baby most of the time; that’s the workouts. Jillian Michaels, crazy! Until the time change, which made it dark and cold in my barn gym, I’d been doing a daily cardio-mix on various equipment. I even make it a point to vary my workouts and my meals. It just has me completely perplexed. I have noticed a major improvement in muscle tone, which has always been my objective. My endurance levels are way up, my ankle is better. I think I will do the triathlon again this year. I am, once again, setting my sights on summer. At least I will get through the winter with minimal, if any, weight gain. I’d love to fit into my skinny jeans again, but I don’t think 135# is realistic. But it’s something to aim for.