Starting weight: 70 lbs to lose
Weight lost this past week: 2 lbs
Total weight lost to date: 7 lbs
Well, I had my appointment with Dr. Foley yesterday morning. He was pleased with my weight-loss progress... he said a good rate is 1 lb a week, and for 4 weeks, 7lbs ain't half bad. :) Of course, I was hoping for more, but I only have myself to blame for not eating as well as I should have. However, it is also encouraging when your doctor is telling you you're doing a good job. I see him again in 2 months for another progress check.
I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday after my appointment... I had to go and get an SI block done. Basically, it's a steroid/cortisone injection in my lower back. I had to have an IV and get sedated, since this was not an easy injection to get. Basically, they made me happy (but still awake) then numbed up the area with lidocaine. Then they used contrast dye under an x-ray machine to make sure they were injecting the right area... the joint where my pelvic bone meets my spine. I'm so glad I was sedated. I have a nice bruise from the procedure and am a bit sore and the injection site. They told me that within about 2 days is when the steroids peak, and then my back should be feeling really good for a while. I can't wait! I will also be starting some physical therapy in the pool to learn exercies to help strengthen my back. I'll start that next week.
Another change because of this procedure is that I've decided to wean Ian from nursing. I was informed that I couldn't nurse for 5-7 days after the injection. Since he's on solids and takes a bottle well, I figured this was a good time for it. I'm a bit sad, since I wanted to nurse him for a whole year, but it will free me up for other things to help in my weight-loss.
I'll be "weighing in" on Monday to let you know my progress!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Goal-setting
Well, good news! I've lost that extra pound that I gained back last week. Now to lose a few more before I go to see Dr. Foley next week...
I've heard that setting short-term goals help you to achieve the long-term goal. Of course my long-term goal is to lose 70 - 75 lbs. That is pretty intimidating to me... it seems like it will never happen. So, I've decided to focus on short-term goals instead. Here are my current ones:
Goal #1: journal my food daily
Goal #2: lost 20 lbs by the end of October
Goal #3: wear my wedding ring again
Goa l#4: go down 1 pants size
#3 is the most important one to me. I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring comfortably since I took it off about 2 months before Ian was born. I hate not wearing it.
I will continue to keep you posted about my progress!
I've heard that setting short-term goals help you to achieve the long-term goal. Of course my long-term goal is to lose 70 - 75 lbs. That is pretty intimidating to me... it seems like it will never happen. So, I've decided to focus on short-term goals instead. Here are my current ones:
Goal #1: journal my food daily
Goal #2: lost 20 lbs by the end of October
Goal #3: wear my wedding ring again
Goa l#4: go down 1 pants size
#3 is the most important one to me. I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring comfortably since I took it off about 2 months before Ian was born. I hate not wearing it.
I will continue to keep you posted about my progress!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
OK, fine! I'll update my blog.
Starting weight: 70 lbs to lose
Weight lost last week: +1 lbs
Total weight lost: 4 lbs
So I've been avoiding blogging because my 2nd week didn't go so well. I fell off the bandwagon, so to speak. Didn't eat as well as I should have and as a result I gained back 1 pound. Not so good on Monday or Tuesday of this week, either. However, starting tomorrow, I'm back on and will be more strict than ever! I just realized that I have my 1st follow-up appointment with Dr. Foley next week. I need to make a little bit more progress before seeing him!
On the plus side, all of my bloodwork came back. The only number that wasn't in the "good" range was my "good" cholesterol. It needed to be a bit higher. Otherwise, my triglycerides were good, "bad" cholesterol was good, thyroid normal, etc. That was very encouraging.
If I wasn't nursing Ian, Dr. Foley would recommend that I take phentermine to "kick start" my eating new eating habits. I was on it once before, and hated it. I would probably not take it again anyway. It is an appetite suppressant and it makes me VERY irritable (more than my usual sunny self.) :-P
I need to keep reminding myself why I am doing this. Of course, I need to get healthy. I need to avoid getting diabetes so that I can avoid all of the side effects of having it. But there is so much more than that. I need to feel good physically, feel healthy. I need to be healthy and "there" for my kids... for as long as possible. I need to be happy and healthy for my husband. I need to take care of the one body that God has given me! I need to stop being so selfish, stop giving in to my taste buds and their cravings, and take care of me so that I can take care of my family!
I still have not had the chance to exercise like I need to. My back is still bothering me as much as ever. The decompression therapy is on hold until I can get a cortizone shot in my back. I've spent the last 2 weeks going through all of the insurance red tape to get a referral to a pain specialist, etc. I FINALLY have an appointment for a consultation next week on the 22nd. Hopefully, this will all soon be just a bad memory. I really wish I hadn't ever slipped down those stairs in the middle of the night. I need prayer for patience and for healing!
I am going to post 2 current pictures of me... and risk humiliating (or humbling?) myself to show you just where I'm starting from.
To end for tonight, here's some "food" for thought: if you want to be healthy, look at what healthy people do and do it. You're not going to get healthy by keeping your unhealthy habits.
God Bless and good night!
Weight lost last week: +1 lbs
Total weight lost: 4 lbs
So I've been avoiding blogging because my 2nd week didn't go so well. I fell off the bandwagon, so to speak. Didn't eat as well as I should have and as a result I gained back 1 pound. Not so good on Monday or Tuesday of this week, either. However, starting tomorrow, I'm back on and will be more strict than ever! I just realized that I have my 1st follow-up appointment with Dr. Foley next week. I need to make a little bit more progress before seeing him!
On the plus side, all of my bloodwork came back. The only number that wasn't in the "good" range was my "good" cholesterol. It needed to be a bit higher. Otherwise, my triglycerides were good, "bad" cholesterol was good, thyroid normal, etc. That was very encouraging.
If I wasn't nursing Ian, Dr. Foley would recommend that I take phentermine to "kick start" my eating new eating habits. I was on it once before, and hated it. I would probably not take it again anyway. It is an appetite suppressant and it makes me VERY irritable (more than my usual sunny self.) :-P
I need to keep reminding myself why I am doing this. Of course, I need to get healthy. I need to avoid getting diabetes so that I can avoid all of the side effects of having it. But there is so much more than that. I need to feel good physically, feel healthy. I need to be healthy and "there" for my kids... for as long as possible. I need to be happy and healthy for my husband. I need to take care of the one body that God has given me! I need to stop being so selfish, stop giving in to my taste buds and their cravings, and take care of me so that I can take care of my family!
I still have not had the chance to exercise like I need to. My back is still bothering me as much as ever. The decompression therapy is on hold until I can get a cortizone shot in my back. I've spent the last 2 weeks going through all of the insurance red tape to get a referral to a pain specialist, etc. I FINALLY have an appointment for a consultation next week on the 22nd. Hopefully, this will all soon be just a bad memory. I really wish I hadn't ever slipped down those stairs in the middle of the night. I need prayer for patience and for healing!
I am going to post 2 current pictures of me... and risk humiliating (or humbling?) myself to show you just where I'm starting from.
 |
| Very unflattering picture of me neck down (playing with Ian). This is my starting point. |
 |
| This is about as good of a current picture of me that you'll find. (Great one of Ian, though!) |
God Bless and good night!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Day 8 - beginning of week 2
Starting weight: 70 lbs to lose
Weight lost last week: 5 lbs
Weight lost to date: 5 lbs
Weight left to lose: 65 lbs
Sorry I didn't get to blogging after day 3. Been busy around here! We have spent the weekend potty-training Dain. This means hyper-vigilance! We also had a play date, grocery shopping, etc...
My eating has steadily improved. For the rest of the week, I was averaging around 130-140g protein a day, and around 85g of carbs a day. Yesterday I fell off the bandwagon a bit when I was feeling nauseated and ate some carbs to help settle my stomach. What's amazing to me is the immediate results that I get JUST from changing my eating habits!
One thing that I have found is that I need to eat pretty much first thing in the morning. If I don't, I will pay for it later, like yesterday. If I get too hungry, I start feeling nauseated and then I don't feel like eating anything. Of course the way to cure it is to eat something, but protein-type foods don't help when I feel yucky.
For the first week, I have been taking only half of the dosage of the metformin, to kind of "ease" into it. This is at the Dr's recommendation. It still wreaked havoc a bit with my digestive system, but this week might be a bit worse. Starting today, I'll be taking my entire dose (one pill with breakfast, and one with dinner). I'm hoping that I've adapted enough that the increase won't affect me too much.
I'm now officially 5 pounds closer to being (as my aunt put it) once "hot mama!"
Weight lost last week: 5 lbs
Weight lost to date: 5 lbs
Weight left to lose: 65 lbs
Sorry I didn't get to blogging after day 3. Been busy around here! We have spent the weekend potty-training Dain. This means hyper-vigilance! We also had a play date, grocery shopping, etc...
My eating has steadily improved. For the rest of the week, I was averaging around 130-140g protein a day, and around 85g of carbs a day. Yesterday I fell off the bandwagon a bit when I was feeling nauseated and ate some carbs to help settle my stomach. What's amazing to me is the immediate results that I get JUST from changing my eating habits!
One thing that I have found is that I need to eat pretty much first thing in the morning. If I don't, I will pay for it later, like yesterday. If I get too hungry, I start feeling nauseated and then I don't feel like eating anything. Of course the way to cure it is to eat something, but protein-type foods don't help when I feel yucky.
For the first week, I have been taking only half of the dosage of the metformin, to kind of "ease" into it. This is at the Dr's recommendation. It still wreaked havoc a bit with my digestive system, but this week might be a bit worse. Starting today, I'll be taking my entire dose (one pill with breakfast, and one with dinner). I'm hoping that I've adapted enough that the increase won't affect me too much.
I'm now officially 5 pounds closer to being (as my aunt put it) once "hot mama!"
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Day 3 - blood draw and reflections...
Total Protein: 156 g (yay!)
Total Carbs: 133 g (getting better...)
I have always had a lot of problems with blood draws, even in my "hot chick" days. I have tiny veins, which like to roll and hide right after the "vampire" finds them. I have to be super hydrated just for them to be found at all. So this morning I drank over 60 oz of water between 8:30 am and 11:30 am, which was when I went in for my blood draw. Even then the first nurse to try to find a vein couldn't, so she had to call in the nurse that is the "vein whisperer." She found a vein, stuck me and missed, and then had to find the vein again with the needle. Thankfully she did find it! I have had times when I have had to get stuck in each arm, then in the hand in order for blood to be drawn (shudder). I used to have such an aversion to needles that I would have to lie down for a blood draw. Thankfully, having babies cured me of that! :)
I'm still having major carb cravings, sweet and salty. Solved the salty this morning by eating some peanuts, and the sweet by eating some sugar-free pudding. Still feeling a bit light-headed at times, along with a few headaches. I know they will get better, so I'm sticking it out! I have found that my protein shakes in the morning REALLY help me get started and keep me on track for eating more protein throughout the day. I get my shakes from Lifetime Wellness, which were developed by Dr. Foley. My morning shakes (if I don't add anything) have 48g of protein and only 4g of carbs.
I have noticed, as I've gotten heavier, certain physical issues I never had before. I recently developed some minor carpal tunnel, which I know can be cured just by losing weight. I also have some mild acid reflux, which I'm convinced is also because of my weight. The one that's been bothering me the most, however, is that I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back. These were a result of an accident, but I believe that my extra weight is part of the reason that it's taking so long for them to heal. The chiropractor told me that even just 10 extra pounds can put a lot of added pressure on the lower spine, so imagine what 70 extra pounds can do? The extra weight isn't the only reason I haven't healed very quickly... I also have a lot of swelling that just isn't going away, even with decompression therapy. So, tomorrow I go to my GP to get a referral for a cortisone shot. Hopefully that will help enough with the swelling so that my back can have a chance to heal.
I have been feeling convicted lately about being overweight, which is one of the things that prompted my visit to Dr. Foley (in addition to my mom and hubby). Our bodies are our temples, and I've been doing a poor job keeping my temple beautiful for my Savior. It's the only one I have, and I need to take better care of it! Also, being overweight affects how I feel about myself as a whole. As a result, I feel unattractive and my relationship with my husband has suffered a bit as a result. I believe that this is also a sin on my part! I am commanded to love my husband and this should include making myself attractive to him as well! Of course God continually convicts me in all kinds of ways in all areas of my life, but this one has really been "up there" lately. So - I believe that in taking care of my body, I will also be obeying Him.
Total Carbs: 133 g (getting better...)
I have always had a lot of problems with blood draws, even in my "hot chick" days. I have tiny veins, which like to roll and hide right after the "vampire" finds them. I have to be super hydrated just for them to be found at all. So this morning I drank over 60 oz of water between 8:30 am and 11:30 am, which was when I went in for my blood draw. Even then the first nurse to try to find a vein couldn't, so she had to call in the nurse that is the "vein whisperer." She found a vein, stuck me and missed, and then had to find the vein again with the needle. Thankfully she did find it! I have had times when I have had to get stuck in each arm, then in the hand in order for blood to be drawn (shudder). I used to have such an aversion to needles that I would have to lie down for a blood draw. Thankfully, having babies cured me of that! :)
I'm still having major carb cravings, sweet and salty. Solved the salty this morning by eating some peanuts, and the sweet by eating some sugar-free pudding. Still feeling a bit light-headed at times, along with a few headaches. I know they will get better, so I'm sticking it out! I have found that my protein shakes in the morning REALLY help me get started and keep me on track for eating more protein throughout the day. I get my shakes from Lifetime Wellness, which were developed by Dr. Foley. My morning shakes (if I don't add anything) have 48g of protein and only 4g of carbs.
I have noticed, as I've gotten heavier, certain physical issues I never had before. I recently developed some minor carpal tunnel, which I know can be cured just by losing weight. I also have some mild acid reflux, which I'm convinced is also because of my weight. The one that's been bothering me the most, however, is that I have 2 herniated discs in my lower back. These were a result of an accident, but I believe that my extra weight is part of the reason that it's taking so long for them to heal. The chiropractor told me that even just 10 extra pounds can put a lot of added pressure on the lower spine, so imagine what 70 extra pounds can do? The extra weight isn't the only reason I haven't healed very quickly... I also have a lot of swelling that just isn't going away, even with decompression therapy. So, tomorrow I go to my GP to get a referral for a cortisone shot. Hopefully that will help enough with the swelling so that my back can have a chance to heal.
I have been feeling convicted lately about being overweight, which is one of the things that prompted my visit to Dr. Foley (in addition to my mom and hubby). Our bodies are our temples, and I've been doing a poor job keeping my temple beautiful for my Savior. It's the only one I have, and I need to take better care of it! Also, being overweight affects how I feel about myself as a whole. As a result, I feel unattractive and my relationship with my husband has suffered a bit as a result. I believe that this is also a sin on my part! I am commanded to love my husband and this should include making myself attractive to him as well! Of course God continually convicts me in all kinds of ways in all areas of my life, but this one has really been "up there" lately. So - I believe that in taking care of my body, I will also be obeying Him.
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