Week 1 wrap-up

Progress will be slow and steady.

Week 1 results:

May 4, 2013  weigh in


Height: 5'8"
Weight:  246 lbs

Loss of 3 lbs

Plan Results:

Food:  Green Juicing 4 of 7 days, No protein smoothies this week, though I did buy the supplies.  I successfully limited wheat by reducing sandwiches and will continue in that vein.  Reduced sugar by avoiding the sweet treats I keep in hand for the other residents of the house.  Definitely ate more vegetables, but had a little too much ground beef.  Need to up the fish and chicken meal plan!

Exercise:  Walking is to start in Week 3, but this week I started more exercising by spending 3 hours  in the yard.  Activities included weed whacking, cutting down small trees and fallen branches, raking, picking up and disposing of debris.  There was a lot of bending and lifting and perspiring, even though it was a coolish day.  This week includes more of that, plus leaf scooping from the pool cover and pool to get ready for water delivery and pool opening.  Also on the agenda will be some intensive house cleaning.  Company is coming at the end of May and the house needs a bit of work.

Goals progress:
Goals throughout the journey:

1.  Report weekly progress  Check!
2.  Find some great recipes to tease my palate - found a few, but haven't made them yet.
3.  Try one new vegetable or spice each week - Not sure about this one, but definitely was hitting 'normal' this week.  Oh, except for the mint in the vitamin water!

Weekly goals:

Weeks 1-2: Juice 5 of 7 days each week, gradually reduce Caffeine Free Diet Coke intake while adding water as a replacement until reaching 1 per day.  Eliminate sandwiches to reduce carbs and sugars. 

Progress was made on the weekly goal.  As I said above, juicing 4 out of 7 days.  I have reduced the CF Diet Coke a bit and have added up to 1/2 gallon of vitamin water a day.  Current recipe:  Lemon, cucumber and mint.  I have ingredients on hand  to try strawberry, blueberry and lemon.

I cut back on lunch sandwiches, opting for salads with protein (tuna or chicken) on 6 of 7 days.  Turkey sandwich, with one slice of wheat bread on the 7th.

On my way and feeling successful!  Craving a sweet cake and ignoring that craving!  ;)

The start of something big...

or someone smaller!

My sister and I recently returned from a lovely vacation in Cancun, Mexico -- a time to relax and recharge.  We spent most of our days in leisure -- lounging poolside, warming in the sun, floating in pool, strolling along the white sands of the Caribbean.

One day we went snorkeling, which while a great deal of fun, could not be called leisurely!  The tour was on a schedule:  x amount of time for snorkeling, x amount of time for lunch, x amount of time in the tourist town on Isla de Mujeres.  It all flew by much too fast as we were moved here and there through the schedule!

As is often the case on vacation tours go, a professional photographer was on hand to capture the moment for us and, of course, sell his finished product.  We bought two of three photos, deciding we didn't want to pay $15 for a photo of the whales in the water - we looked HUGE!  I wish now we would have purchased that photo.  It would be the BEST before shot of me ever.  If the TV camera adds 10 lbs to a person, a "from the boat while you are in the water" shot seems to add 25 lbs.  The reality?  It didn't ADD those 25 lbs.  They are there, taunting me.

Well it's time to say a final Adios! to that extra baggage once and for all. 

I'm approaching 54 years old and have carried this extra baggage for way, way too long. I've decided by 55, I want to be healthier!

Today I START!

Before photo - taken at the Holiday Inn Arenas, poolside, Cancun, Mexico.  That's me on the right.

Starting Stats:

April 27, 2013


Height: 5'8"
Weight:  249 lbs

Plan:

Food:  Green Juicing, protein smoothies, limit wheat and sugar, eat more lean proteins and vegetables

Exercise:  Start with stretching and walking, utilize the pool when it opens for the season.

Goals:
Goals throughout the journey:

1.  Report weekly progress
2.  Find some great recipes to tease my palate
3.  Try one new vegetable or spice each week

Weekly goals:

Weeks 1-2: Juice 5 of 7 days each week, gradually reduce Caffeine Free Diet Coke intake while adding water as a replacement until reaching 1 per day.  Eliminate sandwiches to reduce carbs and sugars.

Week 3 - continue with the juicing/eating/drinking plan above, add walking around the neighborhood working up to two complete circuits of the wishbone streets.

(More weekly goals to come.)

ULTIMATE GOAL:  170 lbs

The plan is achieve the ultimate goal by my 55th Birthday on May 13, 2014.  That means average weight loss of approximately 6 lbs per month.  A totally achievable goal!   I will be working with my doctor, getting regular check-ups, while I move to a healthier me!


I MUST REMEMBER:
 
It took almost 54 years to get where I am, I won't change over night. 

Forgive myself my errors, learn from my missteps and keep moving forward, even if I wobble off the path!

Aaaaaaaand sheeeeeee's off! 

First step taken - green juice for breakfast today, glass of water at my side...

Starting the New Year in Style

New Year 2013 crept in silently.  We did watch the New Year's Rockin' Eve Dick Clark tribute and countdown and we almost got to the ball dropping, but Mom pooped out.  I watched it online.

While I was watching ABC that night I realized I have been forever old.  Odd at 53 to believe that, but really - rockin' eve?  I'd rather have Guy Lombardo-like entertainment.  Actually, when I was 20 I preferred the Guy Lombardo New Year's Eve.  I often flipped over to whichever channel had the big band countdown so I could hear Auld Lang Syne big band style.  I was singular in my preference.  My companions on any given New Year's Eve preferred the Rockin' version.

Watching this year's show, I was semi-tallying the "I've seen them", "I've heard of them," and "Who the heck is that?" observations.  I think there was an even split - but the overarching category?  "I could do without seeing this act/singer/spokesperson ever again!"  I believe that applied to every single act/person!

Old, I am you.

The fact that my yearly upper respiratory infection was beginning may have put an extra layer of "I don't give a darn, it's just another day" on the festivities.  The infection took hold of my son first.  We visited the Doctor on Jan 2.  Diagnosis: a flu and infection.  It took him three full days of antibiotics, rest and alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen every four hours to even hit his fever.   He seems to be on the mend, no elevated temperature by Friday evening.

Jan 3 about 1 PM, I could feel the aches building and a slight temperature and that punched in the face/chest feeling I get with upper respiratory infections and sinusitis.  Temperature was hovering around 100F, when I finally got home from work and took it.  Friday, I called the doctor's office when the opened, explained my symptoms (identical to my son's) to see if they could call in meds for me, or if I'd have to come in.  Receptionist said doctor "would surely want to see you, but he is fully booked today".  She asked for my call back number to let me know either way.  Luckily, my doctor knows me, knows this is an annual event, and trusts that I know my body.  He had them call in the z-Pack prescription.

Two doses of the Zpack and the alternating Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen every four hours seems to have knocked the temperature down.  I still have some body, joint, muscle achiness, though not as bad as it was.  Cough is now more productive, which is a good thing, though it adds to the body aches at my lower rib cage.  I believe I am also on the mend.

I bought masks to wear around Mom and Aunt, so I wouldn't breathe my germs all over them.  I have been washing my hands like crazy.  Unfortunately, Mom got at least a head cold out of it... either from me or from getting out of the house last Friday and this Friday for her basal cell carcinoma surgery and follow-up.  I was so hoping she wouldn't get sick.   She is sneezing and has a runny nose and a slight cough.  We'll keep our fingers crossed that it is just a head cold.

I promise not to be a whiny blogger all the time, but felt the urge to share my new year fun.

See you next time.