Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[keenercam]

Okay, good start to March with 50 minutes of exercise last night. Can't believe I ate all my AP points, but I've read I should be doing that all the time, so I am not even going to think about it. 5K walk on Saturday. Hoping my achilles tendon is less painful by then. Made an appt with the doctor for next Thursday to talk to him about it. Will hope for some quick resolution.
Unfortunately, with work so crazy busy I have so little time now to journal, etc. Trying to stay on top of all that, but figure sticking to the plan and exercising are more important than writing about it.

 

[sarahsmom73]

I hope your achilles feels better soon!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Hi Cam

Oooooh I can relate to the achilles tendon pain! I have gotten it a few times since I started running. I know one time was definitely due to improper running shoes. I'm not sure about the others. At one point I used a gel arch support insert and it really helped. Hope the dr has some words of wisdom. Do share when you find out!!!!!!! Right now I'm battling knee pain. Blah!

I usually eat all my APs, too. I *try* to not use my flex though.

You are doing great-- keep up the great work!!!!!

Sunny

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Jen & Sunny! I can't believe I am doing this and staying on track for this long. I really think the exercise is the big difference for me this time. I just feel so much healthier. I actually have to remind myself that I am not fit, that I have to take it easy and not overdo it.
Sunny, everytime I see your 70 pound clippy, I am so blown away and inspired. I can't even imagine losing that much -- you must be so proud of yourself.

Well, I took it "easy" last night and only did 5 miles on the bike and then 1/2 hour upper body nautilus stuff, thinking I would give my achilles tendon a break. Still painful today. Howard said I really need to stretch it for at least 5 minutes before I hop on a treadmill or bike. The real problem with that is that I am so self conscious about sitting on a mat at the gym and stretching and if I do it (stretch and warm up) at home before I go, by the time I get to the gym, my muscles aren't warm any more.

Okay, I haven't challenged myself to go outside my comfort zone in a while, so I guess it is time. I am challenging myself to sit on that mat tonight at the Y and stretch for 5 minutes before I get on the treadmill.

 

[Strings]

Hi Cam,

I understand how you feel. I don't like stretching in front of people either. I just do it. It is a necessity for a safe workout, and everyone is focused on their own workouts.

Keep up the great work.
Beth

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Beth. I went there with every intention of doing the stretching thing but the mat was wall to wall people, some of them working with personal trainers, and I didn't want to wait. So, I biked 3 miles before stepping on the treadmill for 2 moderate miles at a pace just around 18 minutes a mile. Tomorrow night I will do something very low impact in preparation for Saturday. And I WILL stretch tomorrow night and Saturday morning.

Well, here I am 8 weeks post-surgery. Hard to believe 8 weeks ago, I was barely conscious at this time and definitely did NOT believe the doctor as he told me I was cured. I can't even believe now the person I was then. Sure, I am still fat. But my outlook has changed. I can do something about it and I am. I have hope again. It's been about 10 years since I felt hopeful. There were more times than I can count including through the three previous surgeries, when I really wondered whether I would live to see my daughter graduate high school. I couldn't even imagine living long enough to see my son graduate-- I was diagnosed and rushed to a hospital when he was just 19 months old. I hadn't realized until recently that I wasn't taking very good care of the body that I am in partly because I didn't really expect to need it too long. Besides all of that, I am really lazy, and my "illness" was good enough reason to not exert myself. After all, if the doctors were concerned about me exerting myself, I definitely shouldn't do it, right? And the food? Heck, life is short! Eat dessert first and often. After all, it's not as if anything I could have done would have changed the very serious flaw in my heart. Why not feel sorry for myself and indulge myself?
So, there is where I was.
Here is where I am. Taking a day at a time, sure, but always now with my eye on a long-term and somewhat ambitious goal. Once in a while, I take a real good look at this body and know it has such a long, long way to go. But, tonight, I have no doubt at all it will be here for the "long run." Who knows, maybe someday I will "wog" the half! After all, Mickey is there! What more motivation could this girl ask for?

 

[sarahsmom73]

Thanks for having such a positive outlook! I needed that today! You are an amazing woman! Keep it up!

 

[keenercam]

Well, I did it! Walked a 5K in less than an hour. 3.1 miles in 54 minutes and 50 seconds. That will be my exercise for the day, and it seemed so much more real than walking on the treadmill -- my walking buddy and I are going to try to find a place to walk outside, maybe on the walking path at our local shopping center, around the fountains -- I have to find out what the path is like and the distance of it.

Stayed on plan yesterday, too, even with going to the movies -- ate two healthy choice hot dogs on wonder light before we went, and took light popcorn, almonds, and low carb kit kats with me, with a bottle of water. What a great day. I am sure I burnt some serious calories laughing so hard at "The Pacifier" too. Vin Diesel was adorable, too, with those gorgeous brown eyes!

After the 5K, we went to where they had all the food and I ate 1/2 banana and 1/2 philly pretzel, and think it is getting so much easier to stay on plan. Lisa -- ZerasPride -- said something so profound in a recent post when someone was talking about temptation -- "I know what that [fill in the blank] tastes like -- I don't need to taste it" or something like that. I keep telling myself -- I know what that tastes like -- I don't need it. I have NO idea what THIN feels like, so I will work to be in a position to see what that feels like. My WW leader used to say "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels". I can't wait. Even though I don't weigh anything near my lowest of my adult life (189 on my wedding day 20+ years ago), I know I am more fit than I have ever been in my life. And getting better every day!

Doing this one day at a time. Can't wait to cross that finish line in Disney. I can't even imagine . . . but trying to imagine it keeps me going!

 

[DisnyMama]

Cam, I am so proud of you for doing so great in the 5K!!!

Accomplishments are definately more satisfying. Have a wonderful and successful rest of the weekend.

Take care,
Shannon

 

[sarahsmom73]

WTG CAM!!!! You are doing great! Just think! You'll be wearing a Mickery medal soon!

 

[keenercam]

Oh, criminy! It is 11:12 pm and I have been in my office since 8:30 a.m. and another 5+ hours yesterday. I am soooo totally FRIED! Thank God Howard brought food for me and my secretary -- subway 6" turkey w/lettuce, tomatoes & sweet peppers; a garden salad w/ff dressing; and a bag of light chips. Just ate a 3pt fat free brownie -- YUM!!! I am not even going to think of any more food tonight. Just have to meet this midnight deadline and get home to bed without falling asleep. Glad I had a fat free brownie here as I was certainly feeling I was entitled to an indulgence -- that really hit the spot.
Really bummed because I didn't get to exercise today -- I had no idea I would ever feel this needy about exercising. Now I really regret a day when I can't exercise.
More tomorrow. . . when I am conscious!

 

[sarahsmom73]

Cam!

Take care of you!

 

[keenercam]

How the heck am I going to get through this day? I am so wiped out. It is a heck of a time to give up caffeine, but I HAVE to figure out whether it is hampering my weight loss. Staying awake without it should be a challenge. Right now, I need a nap already and it is only 8:15 a.m

Well, at least I worked out last night -- 6miles bike (30:10); 1 mile elliptical trainer (16:05); and upper body circuit. 70 minutes total. Then had small bruster's frozen mint chocolate chip yogurt. Yum. Was good at wendy's for dinner too -- small chili over baked potato and side salad with no dressing.
Today will be another crazy busy day at work, with emergency brief due at 5. Have to keep reminding myself we will be in WDW in only 18 days -- that will keep me going.
Down only a pound this week -- that darn scale. Total on WISH since 1/17 (7 weeks) is only 11.5 pounds.
Haven't even had a chance to check in on other journals and see how everyone is doing.
Geez, the dratted phone.

 

[pettyone]

Have to keep reminding myself we will be in WDW in only 18 days -- that will keep me going.

Yea!!! I'm soooooooo green with envy!!! You're going to have a blast!!

BTW: I think that 11.5 pounds is awesome!! Although you're frustrated, remember how much better you feel and how hard you've worked...you have been rockin'!!!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Hi Cam,

You'll make it through the withdrawal and feel great soon-- I promise! I gave up caffiene 3 years ago and don't miss it one bit. But it sure was tough at first.

Your weightloss is great, don't get discouraged if its not fast, slow is the way to go for long-term success. You are doing great!

Sunny

 

[Strings]

Hi Cam,

You are doing awesome. 11.5 is a great number since january. Good luck giving up caffiene. you will feel better eventually, I've heard. I've never even attempted it.

Have a great night,
Beth

 

[DisnyMama]

Hi Cam,

About 2 years ago I gave up caffein on my doctors advice due to we thought that maybe it was irritating my stomach. I love coffee and loved my caffein which I still miss to this day but I have done just fine without it. Actually, I do not have the highs and lows during the day. I stay at a pretty even pace all day as long as I watch my sugar intake. I do drink coffee just decaf and I drink caffein free diet coke (religiously). By the way, your weight loss is steady and consistent. Just think of the stamina that you now have to get through work days such as the ones you are experiencing. I am so impressed with your continued excercise regimine that you really push yourself to stay with. The proper eating and the excercising are now a part of you

Be good to yourself and take care,
Shannon

 

[sarahsmom73]

Make that 17 you lucky stick!!!

Bash that scale if you need to!!!

 

[keenercam]

Wow. I cannot believe I haven't been here in days! It has been such a busy week with craziness at work and doctors' appointments.

Everything went really well at Hopkins on Wednesday -- the doctor who did my surgery was so thrilled to see how well I am doing and I had my first normal EKG in more than 10 years. I asked them to print an extra strip for me and I am going to have it framed for my office, to remind me of my second chance.

I have been doing very well with staying within my points, but find I am snacking more, using the extra points I get for exercising to be able to eat fat free unsalted pretzels and fat free pringles or other chips. I am trying to eat more points earlier in the day, rather than hoarding them for dinner and late night eating. I am also forcing myself to meet the milk and vegetable requirements every day. And tonight I will go shopping for a good multi-vitamin, hoping to find something with calcium, since my mother has osteoporosis.

I have not had any caffeine at all over the past several days. Severe headaches the first couple of days, but I think I am past that now. Hoping to see a marked improvement in the weight loss, switching to decaf coffee.

Saw my family doctor yesterday for severe achilles tendonitis and to talk about my general health now that I am exercising so much. His eyebrows went up when he realized my official weight loss since 1/6/05 is 19 pounds -- I don't think it is that much, but he insists on running some blood tests to be sure everything is okay. Heck 19 pounds in 63 days isn't THAT much!?!?!? I actually think I should be losing much, much more. Since 1/17, on my home scale, I had only lost 11.5 pounds in 7 weeks -- that is nothing! I swear, if my tests show I am hyperthyroid or something like that and they attribute the weight loss to that rather than me busting my butt dieting and excercising, I am going to freak.

I see my regular cardiologist today, who I last saw in September. He will be thrilled to see me doing well and CURED!!! since he originally diagnosed me and had me rushed to a hospital in February 1995. Hoping his ego won't be injured, that I went to Hopkins for this latest procedure, rather than his local colleagues.

On to more important things -- exercise is going great -- going to the Y nearly every day for at least an hour. Really dependent on doing that, feel very unhappy if I don't. Hoping this will sustain.

work beckons.

 

[keenercam]

Did TM tonight -- first mile was 17:24 and the second mile was 17:09. Also did 4 miles on the recumbent bike in less than 20 minutes. Hoping to get to the gym tomorrow after dropping Jenn and her friend off to rehearsal, and before the craziness of the show starts.
Made cookies tonight and had absolutely no desire to eat any. Of course, looking at the nutrition information and seeing that one cookie was 130 calories and 6 grams of fat almost made me sick to my stomach. Good.