A Good Start

I started this post before I had everything worked out.  I am making changes as I go and finding out what works for me and what doesn't.  The truth is I believe that there is no golden plan.  Everyone needs to find out what is going to work for them.  It is a journey and to really work there is no going back.  I know that the Changes have to be permanent.  I am hoping that by writing about it I will stick to it.

I have had a few small victories this weekend and a couple of minor set backs.

Kim and I went to Golden Corral on Friday.  At the All You Can Eat Buffet; I had a plate of salad with  grilled chicken and shrimp and ranch dressing, a small bowl of clam chowder with oyster crackers, and a helping of pan seared shrimp.  2 glasses of sweet herbal tea and 2 glasses of water.  I think I did marvelously. 

Saturday, I had a English muffin w/ peanut butter for breakfast and a diet soda.  Of course it was late in the morning. Then Kim and I went shopping, we picked up some food to help me on this quest.  I had too many diet sodas that day though.  When I am with Kim, I tend to drink too many sodas.  Since he is my Husband I need to work on that, cause I am not going to stop hanging around with him.  I had a Power Ade as well.  The carbonation was getting to me but talk about sugar calories.  For something that isn't all that sweet there are a lot of calories in it.  That evening we grilled, Pork ribs (I had 4), corn on the cob (only 1), salad (2 cups) and 1 slice of cantaloupe.  I feel I did marvelously.  I didn't eat until I was full but I did eat until I was sated. 

Saturday was busy with shopping and running errands and I didn't work out like I expected but I did walk quite a bit.

Sunday,  Eggs for breakfast and a bottle of crystal light.  For an early dinner, we had Hamburgers and pork and beans and chips.  I ate two burgers (I really should have stopped at one), 1/2 cup of pork and beans, and 1/2 c of chips.  I ate 1/2 small slice of cantaloupe for dessert. More carbs than I should have but still not as much as normal.  But that night we went to a church activity and I ate the dessert they served.  I am sure it was full of calories but I ate 1 small serving instead of 2.  Truth is I didn't enjoy it that much.

I am trying to not eat extra helpings and eat sensibly. I am also trying to not deprive myself, because I know that I won't stick to it.  I am trying to drink plenty of water and stay away from the soda.  I know that even diet soda is not good for you.  I am trying to get off the caffeine.  I know it is not good for me.  Also I understand that if you drink a tall glass of water before you eat, you will feel full faster and then eat less. I will drink lots of water. 

I have gone on WebMD and printed out portion size guides.  I am going to laminate the fridge one and post it on the fridge.  This should help the kids with serving sizes.  I am also going to laminate the wallet size on and keep it in my purse.  This should come in handy for the rare times I eat out.  I printed out the healthy shopping list but I don't think it will work for me.  I need to plan menus and shopping lists from those menus.  We have a lot of venison in the freezer and some fish that needs to be used and the menus will be revolving around that. 

WebMD has a food and fitness journal you can print out as well.  Problem is it is a full size page.  I think it would work better if it was 1/2 a page or two columns printed on the landscape setting.  I will try to adapt it to fit my needs or maybe just use it as is.

I AM OBESE!!!!

Me 3/19/12

For years I have been "heavy".  Not too bad just "plus sized".  These are lies I told to myself.  I am pretty even though I am large but pretty starts to fade the larger you get.  The pictures I have of me are always startling.   I can't believe that it is really me or that I've gotten this big.  Scales don't lie.  A few months ago I topped out at 320 lbs.  Enough is enough.  Time to face the truth.  I am Morbidly Obese. 
 

me in 2003 @ 200#

Even though I am morbidly obese, I do not have the typical health problems.  I am not diabetic.  I do not have high cholesterol.  I do not have high blood pressure.  I do not have sleep apnea.  I do not have heart issues.  So it was easy for me to ignore my weight as it climbed steadily higher.   Oh I did diet from time to time.  In 2003, I lost 80# doing the Atkins Diet.  I was able to do it for several months. I got down to 200#.   I felt great but I was not changing habits, I just substituted low carb versions of the junk I've been eating all along.  The cost of the food and the stress of my husband being in Colorado eventually added up.  I went right off the diet and of course put the weight on.  In 2008 I got up to 300# and freaked out.  Once again hubby was in another town and I needed to get the house sold but this time I was workng as well.  This time I started counting calories and changing what I ate.  In three months I was down to 270# and still losing.  But once we were all together in Georgia I didn't stick to it.  So once again I am huge. 



Me in 2009 back up to 280#

A year and half ago I had a health scare.  Nothing to do with my weight but a big scare. Fortunately it was just a scare and I am as healthy as ever.  But the doctor, who was seeing me for the first time, handed me a pamphlet on the Lap-Band.  I spent 6 months looking into it, determined up to the very end that this was my answer.  After some very serious consideration I abandoned the idea.  I know what to do to lose weight.  I know that I can lose weight.  Last spring I was given reason to suspect that my husband is diabetic.  After many months of nagging (and having a child rat him out to his doctor), my suspicions were confirmed.  I have spent the last 9 months learning how to deal with his health.  My weight went up to 320#.  I am a stress eater and chocolate is the biggest comfort food in my life.  Brownies specifically.  I have been out of control.

Fortunately for me, the company I work for, John B Sanfilippo & Son Inc, is concerned about the well being of their employees.  For the past few months I have been working with employees from all 5 of the plants to come up a wellness challenge.  This includes a weight loss challenge and a walking challenge.  Now don't get me wrong, I've done the walking challenge before and lost a few pounds.  I just didn't pursue it with the attitude of getting well.  As soon as the challenge was over I stopped walking. 

The last picture of me resembling a Ball, 317#

Anyway, while doing research for the challenges, my friend Kris found out that the insurance company has a fitness program.  $25 a month to go to member fitness centers and do their basic fitness package. Plus you can go to any of the fitness centers on the list in any town.  The Bainbridge Curves and the Cairo Fitness center are both members.

We had the wellness fair at work was on 3/16.  Kris did an excellent job of getting several different health providers there and they all took our insurance.  One of the providers was the Curves in Bainbridge.  Of course we are on a tight budget and I hate to spend money on exercise.  But on 3/18, I dropped in at the Curves.  After learning more about the program and deciding that I can do it, I joined the fitness program and got myself into Curves.  My initial visit was on Tuesday 5/23 and my first work out was on Wednesday 5/24.

My current goal is to get down to a size 16 and/or 200#.  I will go to Curves after work, before driving home to Cairo.(60 min commute) So I will still have some energy.  I have 3 workout outfits so no excuse there.  Curves is open until 7:00pm so no excuse there.  Plus I have done 3 workouts this past week.  I can do this!  It is not a eventually as you get thinner you will be able to do this.  I can do it NOW.  I know that as I get healthier, I will do more reps and have to work harder to get my heart rate up.  But right now in this shape I CAN DO IT. 

I invite you all to join me as I attempt to walk/run down the path to wellness.  Some victories may be small and some may seem silly but I will celebrate them all.  I will also be honest about weight gain and other set backs.  I hope there are some out there who will join me, if only in spirit.