Time to turn this puppy around!

[jennz]

Well it's time to turn this puppy around! Of course the "puppy" I'm talking about is more of a beast, meaning the extra 80 pounds I've been lugging around. Actually it was only 20 and all of a suddent 60 more jumped on for the ride!

I had started a journey toward healthy living and was doing pretty good, then in April my mom found out she had 2 weeks left to live. I'm still amazed - how can they tell it's 2 weeks? Of course I dropped everything and went from Indy to Orlando to be with her, took dd out of school, and I will never regret that. I had planned to walk while I was there and continue to eat healthy. I figured that would at least give me some energy and I wouldn't feel as bad. That only lasted a few days, then it was drive-thru's on the way to/from the hospice house, and walking in and out the door. My mom passed away and I came back to Indy and it took me several weeks to get back to a routine and not have to force myself to get out of bed (and stay out of it!) every day.

Okay so then I'm doing a little better and going to start exercising, my doctor ran some tests (because she said I look awful) and my D was very very low and my sed rates very high. She helped me with my D ("she" is my endocronologist) and told me to go to my gp for my sed rates - that's on my to-do list. I am feeling much better now and started taking a few strolls/week - about 3/4 mile. My muscles feel very weak! I am also playing on the wii fit.

In 1 1/2 weeks I leave for Orlando for 3 weeks with dd again to stay with my dad, who is currently undergoing chemo and radiation for stomach cancer. This will be a rough trip, since he also wants me go through my mom's stuff. I was going to wait until I got home to start eating healthy but enough excuses already - it's time!! I can walk while I'm there and make healthy choices.

So...anyone who would like to follow along, feel free to post! I can use all of the encouragement I can get! My current goal is to come up with some goals!

 

[jennz]

Woo hoo - my first victory! Went to grab a snack,the chips were calling me but I ignored them and just finished a yogurt and glass of water. So I'm feeling good about that.

 

[momof2minnies]

Jennifer so sorry to hear about your Mom and hope your Dad is hanging in there.

Good luck on your weight loss journey- post here and we will chime in and offer support.

Have a safe trip

Linda

 

[treehugnmama]

Jennifer I am so sorry about your mom. You have a lot on your plate right now so to speak. I also had 80 pounds to loose. I was done 35 of the 80 but then life happened (dad in hospital with advanced kidney failure) and I did the same thing grabbed drive through food on the way to and from hospital.....needless to say I am up 20 of the 35 i lost

I have recomiitted today and have about 70 pounds to loose so I am with you!! It is the small choices that make a difference one pound at a time we will get those pounds off. I try to look at each pound off as a pound of butter....that is a lot. 10lbs is a bag of potatoes!!!

It will be tough while you are away but you CAN do it.

 

[jennz]

Jennifer so sorry to hear about your Mom and hope your Dad is hanging in there.

Good luck on your weight loss journey- post here and we will chime in and offer support.

Have a safe trip

Linda

Thank you. Please chime in - that will keep me motivated.

Jennifer I am so sorry about your mom. You have a lot on your plate right now so to speak. I also had 80 pounds to loose. I was done 35 of the 80 but then life happened (dad in hospital with advanced kidney failure) and I did the same thing grabbed drive through food on the way to and from hospital.....needless to say I am up 20 of the 35 i lost

I have recomiitted today and have about 70 pounds to loose so I am with you!! It is the small choices that make a difference one pound at a time we will get those pounds off. I try to look at each pound off as a pound of butter....that is a lot. 10lbs is a bag of potatoes!!!

It will be tough while you are away but you CAN do it.

I'm so sorry about your dad. It's so hard to see our parents like that isn't it? It's hard with anyone, but your parents...the entire relationship shifts.

We can do this! 10 pounds is a bag of potatos - WOW! I have never thought of that and now I have that great visual!! I also thought 10 pounds, that's not much (out of 80, you know?) but that's a lot!! Carrying that into the house is heavy, no wonder my knees get sore!!

Today has been a good day - health eating y'all! That just cracks me up, my 11 year old dd says that to me to help me stay on track. She's like a bobble-head doll "healthy eating healthy eating." I wish I could get one made with her saying that!

Tonight we're having a surprise movie night at home for DH and I got some low cal low fat wontons for me to go with their pizza. I also "discovered" Target's baked flavored chips,the salt and vinegar ones - I'm going to have to put those in individual size baggies for snacks, they are tasty.

 

[jennz]

Okay so not a good day - I'm a huge crab right now. I think it's just because I'm tired. I have actually had a good day up until I ironed for an hour - ugh. Not to mention not a huge calorie-burning activity! I started wearing my pedometer again today and that went about like I thought it would, a low 2000 steps. Ugh again. I knew I really needed to schedule exercise time in when I started working from home, since most of my day is spent sitting at the computer now (before I was walking around a class and school) but today's the first day I've actually measured it. I'm seriously thinking about getting up tomorrow morning to walk - I've just been so darn tired. However - if I do walk or exercise maybe I'll have more energy, right??

 

[treehugnmama]

I have an office job so I know what you mean!!. I walk on my lunch for an hour. we have a biggggg hill it takes me 30 to go down and 30 min to come up. I never want to go but always feel better after going.

could you schedule yourself a lunch hour??

Try putting your pedometer on your arm next ime you iron

I had a good day today too.....hope you have a good day tomorrow too
we are one day closer to our goal

 

[jennz]

I have an office job so I know what you mean!!. I walk on my lunch for an hour. we have a biggggg hill it takes me 30 to go down and 30 min to come up. I never want to go but always feel better after going.

could you schedule yourself a lunch hour??

Try putting your pedometer on your arm next ime you iron

I had a good day today too.....hope you have a good day tomorrow too
we are one day closer to our goal

Great idea about walking during lunch! I actually never thought about it - I was so focused on having to get up early to do it. Thanks!

about putting the pedometer on my arm while ironing!! I love it!!

Yes one day closer to our goal... I think today I might come up with some mini-goals.

 

[momof2minnies]

I would love to sit down every once and a while at my job.10 hr days with only a 30 minute lunch break and that's it.It is a surgery center and my whole body is crying by the end of the day.

It takes me a day or 2 to recover from work.It stinks.I am really feeling it these days and I am not sure why.

Keep going, sounds like you are doing well,
Linda

 

[jennz]

I would love to sit down every once and a while at my job.10 hr days with only a 30 minute lunch break and that's it.It is a surgery center and my whole body is crying by the end of the day.

It takes me a day or 2 to recover from work.It stinks.I am really feeling it these days and I am not sure why.

Keep going, sounds like you are doing well,
Linda

I would be aching too...that's a lot of standing and moving. And you run marathons on top of that! Awesome! I think I'd get home and sit on the couch.

 

[jennz]

Okay so yesterday the wings from Pizza Hut Wing Street were calling to me VERY LOUDLY...but I ignored them! Yes I'm patting myself on the back! Instead I had a low point burger w/96% lean meat and a few baked fries and corn - tasty and satisfying!

My goal is to walk 4000 steps a day...I came close yesterday at 3600, today will be even more since dd is in a parade and we'll be walking to that. Ultimately my goal is 10k per day.

We pack up for a 3 week trip to my dad's in Orlando this Friday - this car trip will be challenging for eating healthy. I always do really well up to the point when we stop at a convenience store. Then it begins... Does anyone have any suggestions? I thought about stopping only at rest areas but I will need to gas up!

 

[jennz]

I think I have an idea for my lunch...I just found a recipe for boneless buffalo chicken bites, 4 points from ww, toss them on a salad and that would be tasty and satisfying... I can pack that in a cooler. I guess I can eat outside while the troops go in to eat (it's me, dd,11, dd's bff,11, and her mom driving down) unless there's a place with outdoor eating. OR I can get a drink while they eat and then eat in the car while my friend drives...typing this out helps!

 

[jennz]

I can't believe it's 4 days since I posted...it slips away so quick! My eating has been ok, not over eating and that is good. Also not walking - I'll change that today! I really need to get a routine, I do well with routines.

 

[jennz]

I'm baaaacccckkkk...so...my trip to my dad's didn't go too well health-wise. I ended up - up. 10 pounds. I stayed at my dad's for 2 weeks with dd and her bff (both 11) - that was tough, going through my mom's things. Then dh flew down and we stayed at SSR 5 days - very relaxing! No parks this trip and it was great.

On to today...right now my legs ache on the sides by my shins when I walk for over 15 minutes, so I am going to walk for shorter periods of time a few times a day and build up my muscles again. I am also playing on the wii fit, which I'm actually a little stiff from the next day! lol I'd love to get the EA Active...maybe that will be a goal... DD has started to back to school so I am working on getting a routine down that INCLUDES exercise

So far today...walked 15 minutes (1/2 mile or so I need to check that!)

Bfast: coffee, fat free hazelnut creamer
weight control oatmeal, cin. flavor, 2/3 c milk
snack: cantaloupe
lunch: lean ham on 2 slices light wheat bread, baked doritos, 2 choc chip cookies, diet coke

 

[jennz]

So far so great...I've continued my walking and my legs are barely sore now, I'm up to .8 mile in 16 minutes, a HUGE improvement! I've also started on our bowflex 3 times/week last week and feel stronger already.

I have also cut out carbs, which of course helped with the weight loss. As off today I am down 7.2 pounds over the past 2 weeks. I know it won't keep coming off at this rate but I am glad to have it gone!!

DD is home sick today. She was sick yesterday and just miserable so I didn't leave her to walk or work out. I'm hoping today she'll be feeling better so I can do both. And of course I just want her to feel better!

 

[jennz]

So...today is my 4 week mark of walking and South Beaching it...I am officially down exactly 13 pounds, for a total of 14 pounds gone. 1 pound away from my next clippie! So WHY am I ready to quit? Each day for the past 3 days has been a struggle...a struggle to walk, a struggle to make healthy choices...just a mental struggle. I would have thought I'd be coasting right now. I am eating food I enjoy, I don't really want anything in particular...sigh.