Doreen's New Way of Life (comments are welcome)

[lulu201]

Hey, WISH-sis, sounds like you had another awesome day. You are doing so well. Your walk at lunch yesterday was amazing and inspiring! I hope to get my three mile in tomorrow as soon as I get DD to school. Are you doing three miles tomorrow, too? I've got to start doing some Pilates to better stretch myself. Are you doing the Windsor Pilates still?

I'll try to stop in early a.m. to wish you well on the journey.

Good night,
Erin

 

[lulu201]

Good morning, dear WISH-sis, good morning to you. . . Can you hear me singing? I hope you have a good day, Doreen, and can feel the warmth of all your WISH friends on this COLD day.

Can you believe that we're 9 days cheat free?!!! This week or so ahead is the testing ground for us, and I know that we're going to do our right through the Danger Zone. We're going to be lean, keen, walking machines!

Have yourself a great day. Keep the Trident close at hand and stay far away from the E.V.M. throughout the day. Whatever you do, don't make eye contact with it. Resist!!

Talk to you later,
Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

Yes, Erin, I actually COULD hear you singing!!

Nine days....hard to believe! DH said this morning that he can notice that I'm thinner. Who needs the scale??!! I haven't stepped on it since Sunday and I'm not even tempted to. I just FEEL thinner! My pants are getting looser as well - soon time for a mall trip! Maybe I'll get to buy those elusive size 10s!

I'm staying home from work today. I've already stopped by the fitness club to get prices for their various membership options - OUCH! But, realistically, I do NOT want to walk miles and miles in 20 degree weather, snow, etc. If I get a limited membership (cardio equip & weights Wed. - Sun.) it's only $20 a month. However, if my family wants to come along or I want 7 day access or I decide to take fitness classes, the price really goes up. I think I'll sign up for the cheapest membership now and then upgrade if I need to. I do like the idea of working out on a treadmill so I can easily measure time & distance.

I also need to see the chiropractor this morning - my neck is "out of alignment" as they would say and needs an adjustment. It's been getting worse and worse this week because of working on a computer all day.

I have lots to do around the house as well. Those personal days really come in handy! I'm fortunate that I didn't have any major meetings or anything due today.

Goals - always the same
1. Meds & vitamins - haven't taken either yet.
2. 64 oz water - none yet.
3. Food under 60 grams carbs, no triggers, no binges - none yet.
4. Exercise - 3 mile walk - none yet.

Gee, I'd better get moving! These goals are tougher to meet when I'm at home but I'll give it my best shot!

Edit: 12:45 PM
1. Meds taken.
2. 12 oz water so far
3. Protein bar - 2 carbs - for breakfast.
4. 3 mile walk at 15 minute mile pace. Joined the fitness center and walked on their treadmill. This definitely uses different muscles - I'll probably feel them tomorrow. I have to get new shorts - mine are chafing... The rest of me feels great and could have gone further but all the research says I have to start slowly and build up to the higher mileage.

Now I'm off to find a healthy lunch! Onward to another cheat free day!

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Doe!

It's so good to hear that you feel so in control of your eating plan right now! I love that feeling. I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems with your neck. It sounds painful but I hope it's not too bad for you.

That green bean spaghetti does sound good. I'll have to run it by DH to see if he wants to try it. We're trying to add some vegetable variety to our diet.

What a good idea to pre-plan meals. I have the entire month of January planned with dinners so when I make my weekly grocery list, all I have to do is check the list and buy the ingredients we need - like you said, it makes you feel in control and makes staying on plan so much easier! Those ice cream bars sound yummy but like Lisa (Castillo Mom), I'm trying to cut down on the ice cream. I started off with two times a week and it grew to four so I'm laying off the stuff for now.

Congrats on 9 days on the cheat free challenge! Keep up the great work and I hope your sunny and positive disposition sticks with you for a long time!

 

[littleducksmom]

doe..you are still doing great.........wonderful!!!!!.....and it's starting to show physically......hooray!!!!!!! i hear ya on those elusive 10's........i have been in 12's for several months now.......i hope that by the time i hit my goal i will be in 10's.

great to see that the scale means nothing to you too........enjoy that new gym membership........now you can even push yourself further........

 

[lulu201]

Just stopped by to say "Good night, Doreen." I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight? I'm so excited about the WISH walk!!!
I just can't believe it. When I think back to where I was a year ago, I could only have dreamed that this was what I was going to be doing. And to be doing it with my WISHsis and special WISH friends. Wow. That's all I can say.

Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

So nice to come to my journal and find that others have visited - thank you all for helping me to keep going!!

Let's see if I can remember everything I ate today.....

B - protein bar (2 carbs)
L - trail mix (11 carbs), coleslaw (4 carbs)
D - tuna salad on rye crackers (18 carbs), 2 Dove dark chocolate hearts (7 carbs)
Total for the day = 42 carbs

Drumroll please......I've made it 10 DAYS CHEAT FREE!!!!! Who would have guessed, especially after the holidays when I over-indulged?? Thank you for starting our January cheat free challenge, Erin, and thank you to all the other participants!! There were several times in the past few days that I would have caved, but then I thought of all of you trying your best and I just couldn't bring myself to eat those evil carbs!!

I'm off to change my clippie and head to bed.

 

[lulu201]

Celebrating those 10 Cheat Free Days! Doreen, you are doing it! You're leading a healthy life and it feels GOOD!

I think you and I learned from our holiday experience that this feels much better than THAT! While it's hard to resist temptations sometimes, the peace of mind and the healthy body are WORTH IT! WE'RE WORTH IT!!

I hope the feeling of success and lots of follow you throughout this day and warms you up so there's a big on your face.

Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

I'm tired today and feeling out-of-sorts, kind of unfocused and fragile. Don't know if that makes sense....

I was starting to feel like this yesterday and took the day off work to try to ward it off, but I'm feeling worse today. I think it may be just the part of my cycle - a hormone thing? I am at work but I could easily have stayed in bed and slept.

I am still on the healthy living track, though. I did slack off on exercise this morning - didn't do my Pilates. I just felt like I needed the rest. At this point, the walking is more important to me and today is a rest day in that regard.

Goals:
1. Meds taken, vitamins out.
2. 12 oz down, 48 to go.
3. Splenda for my green tea (1 carb), protein bar (2 carbs).
4. No exercise today - conserving my strength.

Onward I go!

 

[A1A1]

I hope that you feel better. Your healthy attitude and eating should lessen the illness you may be on the cusp of.

Sounds like you are doing really well with exercising. Have you always been an exerciser? I never exercised, and it's been the most difficult thing to change.

Did you decide to train for walking? I could probably go back and refresh my memory.

Have a good day. Rest. Relax. Be healthy.

 

[DoeWDW]

I have never been a regular exerciser. It has always been difficult for me to start a routine and then stick to it. I don't consider myself athletic or coordinated. Having the half-marathon as a goal has really inspired me to stick with the routine though.

Snack - 2 tuna salad rye crackers (18 carbs). Total so far = 21 carbs. It isn't even close to lunch-time but I just felt like I needed to eat - very odd. I wasn't binging - my body just was feeling weak, like it needed nourishment. However, I could see today becoming a binge day if I'm not careful. Definitely a day to stay away from trigger foods - my willpower is low!

What happened to all my sunny feelings from the past week? I felt like I could conquer anything. I was on top of the world. Now I feel like a limp dishrag with no energy and no confidence. I want to curl up in a ball and hide under the covers. My healthy habits are keeping me going though. I'm so glad I have healthy food with me at work. I did peek at the E.V.M. but there's nothing good in there.

Maybe I'll treat myself to a Subway wrap at lunchtime. I'd have to walk outside in the cold weather to get it - NOT appealing at all! Or I can make a salad at the snack bar in my building. I will have to make sure I eat until full at lunch, so I'm less likely to crave a snack this afternoon.

I'm feeling - just wish I could figure out why.

 

[ZerasPride]

Doreen - I'm so sorry you are feeling down. I hate that feeling. What I appreciate the most about your attitude though is that you are not letting your down feelings cause you to cheat! Good for you - now that's progress isn't it?

I hope your sunny diposition and positive attitude come back real soon. Take care of yourself and go get that Subway wrap, they look so good on the commercials!

 

[DoeWDW]

Thanks, Lisa!

Late lunch - protein bar (2 carbs), half ounce nuts (4 carbs). Total so far = 27 carbs. I feel full so have not been tempted too much by the E.V.M. However, I feel like I could eat a truckload of chocolate!

I took my vitamins and have been drinking lots of water - not sure how many ounces, but lots.

I'm waiting for the workday to end. I'm ready to go home. We have a visit to the chiropractor tonight (never made it yesterday) and then I can go to bed early.

 

[LAinSEA]

Doreen - I love your attitude and your courage...you feel down and get right back up and get going again, very inspiring!

I may have mentioned it before - I'm on a study for PMS where they have put me on BC meds that I take consecutively so I will not have a period for 15 months (how long the study lasts). Prior to the study, I had blue moods (worst at mid-cycle) through that TOM. Since starting the meds in October I feel like my emotions are completely in balance - even though the loss of my DH's job, flooded out bedroom, flu at Christmas, bully of a Exec. Producer at work...etc. While I've always suffered from painful TOM - I never experienced the "blue moods" until I was about 36 yrs old...I'm 40 now.

Sometimes you have to keep after your doctors to get the right diagnosis and meds for your situation. (My sister's DH was first diagnosed with depression - but actually he's bi-polar and requires a totally different set of meds...the original diagnosis was because he sought help during the depression side of the illness because the manic side was pretty cool, lots of energy!) You don't have to settle for bad days, even occasionally. You are in charge of your life.

Please forgive me if I've overstepped here. I just think that you are an amazing woman. When I hear the EVM is calling to me, I think of your strength and I pass it by too.

take care,
Laurie

 

[DoeWDW]

Laurie, you have definitely not overstepped any boundaries. Thank you for the insight into your history! It's nice to know I'm not alone! Your story is very similar to my own!

I've been doing some research into PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). I have noticed that my mood changes are definitely tied to my monthly cycle. I am just past mid cycle now and that seems to be when this low mood, fatigue, over-emotionalism, etc. hit me every month. I'll feel better within a day of TOM's start. These symptoms are severe enough for me that I often miss one or two days of work at this time every month and don't get much done at work for another 4-5 days. I will need to go back to my doctor to see how we can address it but I think I need to do some more research first.

I'm already on Effexor SR for depression. It has done wonders for me for the first 2 weeks of my cycle! I am no longer miserable the whole month, now I'm only miserable for half the month! But I need to research how to treat PMDD when I'm already taking an anti-depressant.

Your story brings up another option - birth control pills to prevent the cycle altogether. However, I've been working so hard to lose weight and birth control pills seem to add 10 pounds to my weight, no matter what I do.... I guess I'll have to decide if I'd rather have stable moods and be 10 pounds heavier or if my vanity will win out.

Thanks, again, Laurie! Keep me posted on how you're doing!

 

[LAinSEA]

Unfortunately I don't know the exact company or prescription of the BC they put me on - it's a blind study. But I do know that they are very low-dose - so low in fact that if I don't take them in the correct hour window each night I experience some break-through bleeding the next day. But I do know that they have made a world of difference in just 4 cycles!

Are they making weight loss harder for me? Maybe. It was really easy in 1999 to lose 30 lbs in a month and 1/2 when I was not on any meds. But more realistically, I think I did this to myself...I was eating very little, somewhere between 500 & 800 calories per day and I think that my metabolism just shut down. I actually put on the last 20 pounds on 800 calories or less! I'm starting to drop 2-3 lbs a week now - but it took me doubling or tripling my food intake and dumping the carbs over a whole month. (My DH reminded me that yes I was 180 when we started induction...but the last time I'd weighed myself prior to that was at the beginning of Nov. when we weighed our cats...and my weight then was 189. That means I'm actually down 15 lbs instead of just 6 lbs.)

I think with your low-carb diet and all the training you're doing for the marathon, adding a low-dose BC to the mix wouldn't add too many or any lbs. Talk to your OB/GYN and see if he/she has any ideas.

take care,
Laurie

 

[DoeWDW]

Dinner - Subway turkey bacon melt wrap - 16 carbs (had tomatoes on it), 2 Dove dark chocolate hearts - 7 carbs. Total for the day = 50 carbs. Another cheat free day! This was a tough one and I'm proud of myself for making it through without cheating!!

I'm feeling better thanks to all the support here and thanks to the adjustment I got at the chiropractor's . I'm still down but not as far down as I was! What would I do without my WISH buddies?

I'm off to turn over my clippie and do more research on PMDD. Then it's early to bed so I can rest up for tomorrow.

to all of you for helping me get through the day!

 

[lulu201]

Good morning, Doe-Doe! This is your daily dose of sunshine! I hope if follows you through another wonderful CHEAT FREE DAY! How are you feeling this a.m., anyway? Know that I'm WISHing you strength to get you through!

What are your exercise plans? Do you have time to walk but at a slow, relaxed pace? Try not to push yourself. Are you at home or at work?

,
Erin

 

[DoeWDW]

I crashed this morning. I periodically am so fatigued that I just can't move very quickly for a day or two. I'm at home today and I'll be taking things slow and catching several naps along the way.

I was thinking of going to the fitness center to use the treadmill for my scheduled 3 mile walk, but I'm afraid I'll push myself too hard. Instead I've decided to do my 3 mile WATP workout, so I can stop or slow down if I need to. It's all about listening to my body and doing what's right for me. Thank you to everyone here who has helped me learn that I don't have to do it all and I don't have to be superwoman!

Goals for today:
1. Meds & vitamins.
2. 64 oz water
3. Under 60 carbs for food
4. 3 mile WATP at a pace that I can live with

I'm walking slowly but fearlessly into another cheat free day!

 

[littleducksmom]

doe.......i hope you feel more up to par soon........i wish i had some answers for you but i dont........keep up with whatever exercise you can do.......it should give you a bit more energy and better attitude........sounds like eating wise you are hangin in there.........that's a tough one ....but remember we all will looking to see your cheat clippie change daily.......hugs!!!