Day 2

Day one was a success. Darcy and I both stuck to the all natural food commitment we had made - even though I had to throw a pizza party at work. I ate my little organic meal, while everyone around me at delicious pizza. I really didn't want any, though. When I'm ready to commit, I'm focused.

Darcy is worried we aren't going to lose any weight, because all natural foods aren't low fat or low in calories. I'm hoping that if we eat moderate portions, and focus on getting lots of fruits, veggies, naturally lean meats, and whole grains in, our bodies will forgive the fact that we have to cook our foods with oil or natural butter, when necessary...but we'll see. The scale will tell the tale. That's part of the experiment. Obviously, I have to lose weight. If I can't lose weight this way, I'll have to compromise, and then I can just live like this once I'm maintaining.

So far, so good. I was down 3 lbs today, but of course that was just 3 lbs I was up my my bday and weekend away, but still, I'm glad to see it gone in one day. Darcy made a delicious dinner last night of chicken legs/thighs marinated in a red wine/olive oil vinaigrette, fresh seasoned green beans and an all natural pasta pesto. I have the leftovers for lunch today.

Darcy packed me a nice lunch today, with 2 apples, an orange, celery and carrots, hummus, a banana, milk for my cereal, and the leftovers. Oh yeah, and some all natural chips, just in case I want something snacky. Obviously, that's more food that I will eat during the day, but it will be good to have all that fruit on hand here. I had my cereal already, and when I'm hungry mid morning, I'll have my banana.

As far as how I'm feeling - there's no huge change yet, although it's only been a day. My allergies are still bothering me quite a bit, and I've been sleeping 9 hours/night to compensate for them. When I got home from work, I was so tired, all I did last night was read my book and watch tv, again.

I have an essay due tonight for class, so I need to hunker down when I get home from work tonight. No relaxation for this tired kid. It would be nice to have some caffeine to help me through it, and even though there are all natural coffees, I want to be stimulant free this week too, so I'm not going to do it. What's the worst that could happen? I'll tarnish my 100 streak and get a B? I'm okay with that.

That's all for now!

Day 1

Darcy did all the shopping for us yesterday, and she picked up this cereal. I was thinking nothing processed at all, but I think this will be okay, since the ingredients are all natural, and there are no preservatives or chemicals or anything funky in the recipe. I brought some of it to work today, and I realized my milk was sour. Ew. So I ate the all natural, organic cereal with water on top. I only got through half of it, because of the gross factor of mushy all natural cereal floating around in tan water, but I think with milk, it will be pretty good/okay.

I'll keep you posted as the week progresses.

Day one: I'm tired, I overslept, even though I went to bed early, my allergies are still bothering me, and over all, I'm dragging.

I want to track the way I feel throughout the week to see if there is a difference. This should be an interesting experiment!

I'm 33 now, but I only feel like I'm ... 83!

haha

Today is my first full day as a 33 year old. I feel much older today - probably because I'm so tired from all the excitement and travel over the weekend, combined with my allergies that are kicking my butt. :)

Today I'm scheduled to start my chemical free week, but I have to postpone that until tomorrow. We didn't have a chance to go to the store yet, plus we have a ton of leftovers from my birthday dinner, so tomorrow it is.

I'm hoping to end my 33rd year feeling like I'm 23, rather than 83. I have my work cut out for me. I want to be in the best shape of my life by the end of this year, and I'm ready to do the work to get there.

I wasted my 20's being so unhealthy, but my 30's are all about getting healthy again. So far I've made some really great changes, but I have more changes to go. This work is still in progress.

My first step toward a renewed health will be going to bed early tonight since I'm tired and having trouble with allergies. Sleep is extremely important, so I'm going to let myself get as much as I need.

Tomorrow - we will be chemical free.

This is going to be a great year!

I never met a mirror I didn't like

I kid. This is my head shot...not a bad pic. Alison blogged earlier this week about how some mirrors are flattering, and others are mean, and I commented to her that I try to avoid mirrors in rooms with bad lighting. I'd rather talk myself into thinking I look better than I really do.

Sadly, those days have been limited lately. I am in the middle of a huge war against PMS. I am losing...badly. My weight fluctuates every day. I have good days, and I lose 2-3 lbs, and then I have bad days, and I gain it back. I'm starving constantly, I'm craving foods I don't even like, my face looks like a bloated pepperoni pizza, my clothes are tight, my skin is washed out, I'm tired, and I'm just having a really ugly week.

I know - so hard to imagine! ;-)

I can't wait for this to end. I've been trying to be so good, and I'll be perfect until I get home from work, and then I fall off the wagon. Each day I start new, but the hunger gets the best of me. It's gross, really.

I know there is light at the end of my tunnel, and I know I'm quickly approaching said light. I can't wait, because I'm really looking forward to the giant kickstart of chemical free week which starts next Monday. I think it's going to be a great thing for me.

Until then, if in your trails, you happen to pass a pimply faced fatso, pushing her polyester pants to the limit, be gentle.

The ultimate stairdown

My allergies have been acting up lately, and I was feeling a little tired and groggy when I got to work this morning. I thought I would just walk the 20 steps up from the parking area, but skip the other 40, so I did just that.

Well, the forces were at work to get me moving, because as soon as I got to my office, the fire alarm went off, and I had to go down the stairs to get outside. After we were cleared to return to the building, we all took the stairs back up to the office, and I knew that was my punishment for taking a short cut a few minutes before. :)

...and on another note...

My hiking and walking and eating healthy paid off. I was down 3 lbs today. :)

How to be chemical free

Good morning, dear readers.

So far we have five participants, including me. I think this can be very interesting.

I received an email this morning asking does chemical free basically mean organic? Yes and no. Chemical free is a bit more strict than organic. Some organic foods are processed, and some organic produce still uses some pesticides that aren't quite as bad for us, but it still defeats the purpose.

Here is an example of a chemical free, well balanced daily meal plan:

Breakfast:
Local, free range eggs, prepared to your liking
Homemade toast (or locally prepared bread that only includes whole food ingredients)
Fresh fruit, from a local farm or orchard (can be purchased at an organic food market, or at the local farm directly, but question them about their pesticide use, if it's not posted clearly)
Homemade or organic (dye free/chemical free) yogurt (such as Stonyfield Farm brand)
*If you use butter on your toast, ensure the ingredients are sweet cream and salt only...or make your own! Used sparingly, a little bit of natural fat is actually good for you. :)
*Fresh squeezed orange juice (from local, pesticide free oranges)
*Natural coffee or tea (honey or sugar for sweeteners if used, organic bovine growth hormone free milk or cream)

Lunch:
*Ham salad sandwich (prepare enough to use for several meals throughout the week) - made with a local, grass fed ham and mixed with homemade mayo, nayonnaise or organic mayo, checking the ingredients to make sure they are all natural, and homemade relish, or organic, served on your homemade bread or locally prepared bread that only includes whole food ingredients
*Sliced cucumbers (locally grown)
*Homemade or all natural hummus with cucumbers and carrots
*Water

Dinner:
*Grass fed steak tips (more omega 3's than salmon, far fewer calories and fat than traditional red meat and NO negative impact on the heart)
*Homemade french fries (thinly sliced potatoes, basted with olive oil, salt and pepper) baked
*Fresh green beans, sauteed lightly in olive oil and fresh garlic
*Water, iced tea or milk to drink

Dessert:
*Fresh berries in whipped cream (all natural, of course)

*************
Obviously, follow any diet you want, but that is an example of what one (delicious) day of healthy, chemical free food would look like.

Let me know if you have any questions!

A chemical free you and me

I'm posing a challenge to you, dear readers. Starting next Monday, 9/28 through Sunday 10/4, I am going chemical free in regards to the foods and drinks I put in my body. I will only consume things that can be found in nature, not processed, not loaded up on antibiotics or pesticides, etc... I want to detox my system, and I'm curious to see how it feels, as well if I'll notice a change at all. I know it's better for me, but I'm wondering if a week is long enough to notice a difference.

I want to start small, so I'm starting with one week.

In Bible Study yesterday, we all went around and shared things we want to do to better be prepared to be a vessel for God's message. I said I want to be healthier, and more conscious about my body and the earth. I don't recycle as much as I should, I definitely waste more than I should, and I consume things I shouldn't. My body is a temple, and I'm a graffiti artist...and not a good one. ;-)

I've always said/known that in order to be healthy, you must be emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy. You cannot achieve one aspect without the others, because they are intrinsically linked.

I am emotionally healthy, and I'm working on being more spiritually healthy and more physically healthy so that I can reach my full potential and be an agent of peace and positive change in this world.

Being thin does not equate to being healthy. That's something I have had a hard time wrapping my head around, since thin has equaled healthy in my mind for decades. I can lose lots of weight, but rely upon chemicals and processed foods that could cause cancer or heart disease. That is not healthy.

I can't be fanatical, but I want to be as responsible as possible. I'm going to try to minimize the risk to my body by trying not to consume foods that humankind has tampered with. I want to try to treat my body as the temple I was instructed to, and that means being physically fit as well.

So my challenge is this: does anyone want to join me in this chemical free week? I think we could learn a lot from each other, and I'd love for you to join me, but I'm happy to do it myself as well.

Let me know if you are up for the challenge!

60 steps

Alison blogged last week how she is on the 3rd floor, and each day she has to climb 27 steps to get to her office. My building has an elevator, and ever since I hurt my knee, I have been taking it, but today, I decided to take the stairs. There are 20 steps from the parking lot to my office, and then another 40 from the first floor to the third floor, so I climbed 60 steps on my way into work today.

It's not a miracle, but it's a start. My knees seemed just fine. I was slightly winded, but I'm not surprised since I haven't done any major cardio in a while, and my asthma has been bad with the allergies lately. Slightly winded, we can live with.

Yesterday I didn't do great with the healthy eating, by any stretch of the imagination. We went out for a delicious lunch, and I had grilled bread (infused with fresh garlic), dipped in a gorgonzola sauce, poor man's pie (kind of like shepherds pie, only with steak instead of ground beef, and a whole medley of earthy veggies, instead of just corn, and the gravy baked in, oh, and on top of the layer of mashed potatoes was melted cheese. (Yum!)

We went to the movies, and I had a small popcorn, and at night, I made chicken dinner with smashed potatoes and homemade gravy. The potatoes were made light, but not the gravy.

Well, it wasn't a day of resounding success for my diet, but it certainly was a delicious day. :) Also, I can use the chicken dinner for leftovers and just skip the gravy, so we're good there.

We stopped at a farmer's market yesterday, and I picked up a ton of fresh veggies that I'm looking forward to making this week!

Today, for my workout, I am planning to go hiking. Can't wait.

PS - Happy Birthday, Mom!!! I love you! :)

Dinner to die for!

I'm not even going to torture you with the details of the amazing dinner we had last night, since this is a healthy eating blog, but WOW - it was phenomenal. I ate whatever I wanted (skipped the bread), but just watched my portion control closely.

Today I was down 2 more lbs. That must be a Christmas miracle after having a fabulous italian dinner the night before. :)

Plugging away...

No change in the scale today, but I'm still down the 2 lbs I lost so far this week. I think next week is going to be a good loss week. That's my prediction. Until then, I will keep plugging away.

I am feeling super bloated today. I feel like fat guy in a little coat in my jacket today. I'm a little tired too from the allergies.

I have been so busy and tired this week that I slept through my alarm this morning! I went to bed around 11, and I woke up on my own at 7AM. My alarm was set for 6, and it must have gone off, over and over, and I never even heard it because I was so tired.

Thankfully, I was able to shower, dress, get ready, and be out the door by 7:30 and at work for 7:45.

My left eye was all swollen and glazed over when I got up. (ew) I need to pick up some allergy meds asap.

Tonight we are taking Darcy's parents to dinner to thank them for watching Henry while we were in Jamaica, and we're going out for Italian. It should be a challenge to find something healthy, but I will do my best, and I will certainly be mindful of portion control!

Have a healthy day, y'all!

Correction

It is *not* nice out today.

LOL

It's freezing, cloudy and a bit rainy...not sure how I missed that on the way in.

I did, however, manage to get at least a mile of walking in so far today, so it's a start.

My efforts will be continued later.

A start

I was down 2 lbs today. I stayed within my calories yesterday, but I did not exercise. I just couldn't find the time. I didn't even have a spare 30 mins to go for a walk at work. Today will be better, hopefully.

I'm probably going to be working late, and well into the night, but I will take an exercise break tonight.

I know I'm still bloated, and I know the weight isn't going to fall off as quickly as it normally does, as a result. It's okay. I'm happy with any move on the scale in a downward direction!

Today I have meetings all over the campus, so I know at the very least I'm going to get a *lot* of walking in. I'm looking forward to it. It's nice out! (I think. No idea. No windows.)

:)

Well that's annoying

Bonjour!

I did a great job of eating well balanced, healthy foods, with appropriate portion sizes yesterday, I worked out, I didn't eat after 7 (with the exception of a cucumber), and I was the same weight today as yesterday AM.

I know I'm *completely* bloated right now, but still...I was a perfect student. 

Also, I don't feel any different.  Usually when I stray a bit, the day I am back on track I lose a ton, and I feel fantastic.  That's just not the case now.  I think it's probably the allergies and PMS, and blah blah.  

Either way, today is a new day.  I'm going to keep up doing all the right things, and I know it will pay off.  I hope to have better news for you tomorrow.

I'm not sure when I'm going to exercise today.  I have to get to work asap, because I have a ton of meetings as well as a ton of work to do, and a presentation to finish.  Tonight, I'm meeting up with TJ and a former colleague of ours, probably right when I get out of work.

I should have gotten up at 5AM to do my work out before work, but I hadn't slept well the night before, and I needed my sleep.  I will at least try to get a few miles of walking in at work today...maybe I can bring some work with me to work on while I walk. That would be a good thing.

Be well!

Quick update

Today I officially start my new full time job. I also have classes starting, and of course my other job...no excuses: I'm getting into a routine that, no matter what, will include daily exercise. Period. .

:)

Activity

I'm limited on the foods I can eat since my band is so tight, but I'm not focusing on that or letting that get in my way. I swam a lot in the ocean yesterday, and last night, we went to the boardwalk, and walked for a few miles. It felt great.

Today I have been in session all morning, but I'm going to try to get out there and do some laps to get my blood flowing. I sometimes have nervous energy before I'm speaking somewhere, but I don't really feel that today.

They have jet ski rentals and kayak rentals too. I just called and the jet ski rentals are $75 for a half hour, and the kayak rentals are apparently a separate deal, so they have no idea, but either way, it looks fun.

It's 11:25 - I'm speaking at 3:15, so I need to get down there around 2:45 to set up. I will need to shower (again after swimming) and get ready, and I'll probably do a dry run of the presentation, so I should get back to my room at 1:30 to have time for all that. That gives me 2 hours of fun in the sun.

Let's go!

The lap band does not enjoy travel

Too bad I do! :)

I tried to eat dinner last night, but I couldn't get anything down. Now I'm starving. Sometimes when I travel, I get really bloated. That happened yesterday. My toes looked like sausages (hot), by the time we arrived.

I'm starving, since I haven't eaten since lunch time yesterday, and I'm hoping I can find something for lunch. I also can't wait to go swimming!!!

Loooooooooooong overdue

I emailed my MD this AM to make an appointment to get a fill in October when I have insurance again. As mentioned above, it is looooong overdue - as in a year overdue.

I can't believe I let a whole year go by. It's just about the 2 year anniversary of the start of my liquid diet (9/4/07), which started my whole weight loss journey. At this time last year, I was pretty confident that I would be hitting goal within the next year...nope!

In order to stop the cycle of not losing, and even gaining, I need to examine what went wrong. Here goes:

• Gallbladder disease/surgery
• Repeated knee injuries
• Trying to find an MD in NH & non succeeding
• No longer working in MA, and not getting down to see my MD down there as a result
• Gaining weight and not wanting to face my MD until I lost the weight
• Gaining and losing the same weight over and over again
• Working from home; not having a routine
• Having trouble staying with a consistent work out regime (sometimes related to injury, sometimes not)
• Not consistently following lap band guidelines
• Not always tracking food, although most of the time I still do
• Not always making my health a priority
• Not measuring my food consistently
• Eating out too much
• Traveling constantly
• Following weight watchers for too long, even though it made me gain

I think today I'm up 20 lbs from my lowest. That's annoying, but it could be worse. A lot worse.

We didn't have any food in the house since we're leaving on a trip today, and by the time we decided we needed to get dinner, the only thing that would deliver was Chinese. I didn't have that much of it, but I had it again for breakfast, as it's the only thing in the house, and now I feel totally sick to my stomach. That was dumb.

I'm going to be traveling for the next few days, and whenever I travel, my band gets tight. I don't know why, but I am very limited on what I can eat, which makes it hard to make healthy choices, since meats and veggies are difficult to get down when I'm tight. I'm going to do my best, however.

I start my full time job officially this next Monday, and I'm going to finally enter a routine again. I'm hoping to be down at least 10 lbs from where I am today by the time I see my MD, but either way, I'm going for my fill.

What's the point of having a lap band if I don't use it? It has been a fantastic tool for me, and if I learned anything this year, it's that even though I have changed a lot, I still need this tool to keep me on the straight and narrow. It doesn't make me weak that I need it, and it's not a crutch, it's a support.

So, as I enter year three, I do so with eyes wide open. I know that if I'm not careful, I can gain all of my weight back. I also know that I refuse to let that happen. Once again, I have a lot of competing priorities in life. I start school today, meanwhile, I'm working a few jobs and traveling to FL to present at a National conference that I just found out about yesterday...

I need to slow it down. I say that a lot. I'm going to say it again. Slow. It. Down.

Ahhhh. That's better.

I'm not putting off getting healthy until Monday, but I know as of Monday, I'm going to give my health a much larger chunk of my attention. I'm going to work out every day, plan my meals, measure my portions, use fitday consistently, not drink while I'm eating (or for 30 minutes after), eat out a lot less, blog regularly, and lose the rest of my weight.

Year three is going to be magical. I just know it. :)

They grow us big in TX

I met a friend of my Mom's once when I was very young.  I asked her why she was so big, and she told me, "They grow us big in Texas!"

What's my excuse?  ;-)

I never bothered to take my measurements when I was first starting this journey, but I decided to today.  Sometimes it's annoying to watch the scale, and it can be helpful to see the inches shrink away, even if the number on the scale isn't moving.  Plus, it's just a good thing to do.

As of right now, my thigh is about the circumference of my future waist.  We have some work to do.  LOL.  I told this to Darcy, and she reminded me that my legs are extremely muscular.  That's very nice of her, but I assure you, they aren't *that* muscular.  LOL.  Not enough to be the size of a waist.

I went hiking with the dog for about an hour this morning.  I really enjoyed it, and I know he did too.  I'm waiting for the membership director at the YMCA to call me back so that I can see about getting a free pass to try it out for a week.  Hopefully I'll hear from him soon.

I'm back...again...

Jamaica was awesome, although as soon as I arrived, I had a phantom gallbladder attack again. It was really bad, but thankfully it passed. My stomach was a bit iffy while I was away, so I just ate breads, potatoes, and meats, if there was some gravy...not the healthiest choices, but whatever was bland, unlikely to be contaminated by water, and could get through my band, which is always very tight when I travel...

I weighed the same when I got back as when I left. It was a wash. I was up before I left, so it's not fantastic news, but it is what it is.

I'm going to the gym first thing this morning. Well, I guess it's not the first thing since I've been up and at 'em for the past hour and a half, but I'm going to the gym soon. :) I want a new gym. I'm bored with Planet Phatness. I'm checking into the nearby Y. They have a pool. :)

Today is going to be a healthy day.