I'm 10 day's in on the Fit for Life program and 9 pounds down! WOW!
Now we all know some of that is water weight, but it's still less weight I'm carrying around, my friends!
The plan is super easy to stick to, more so than I ever thought. Eating out is easy:
***salad with steak and no dressing @ The Thirst Lion for Administrative Professionals Day
***steak & steamed veggies @ Applebees
FOOD - update
I'm realizing the only food I really like are the bars, cereal, drinks, shakes and the apple cinnamon puffs. I'll admit to cheating a bit - when visiting my home town I HAD to have my favorite chinese food - but that didn't derail me! I would recommend ordering only 1 box of things until you try them, though my coach will swap out anything I don't like (cheese pizza puffs & eggs).
Mixing the tropical fruit punch drink with either diet Mt. Dew or diet Sierra Mist is amazing! But make sure you let it sit and settle for awhile - otherwise it's all fizz.
The lean & green is great - especially using recipes from:
http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com/p/medifast-recipes-only.html
The spaghetti squash with sauce (I used ground turkey, tomato puree & a few italian seasonings)..was very yummy!
The benefits: my energy is up, way up and I'm sleeping better.
I could not be more pleased with the program so far.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Let the journey begin.....Day 1
I've started my weight loss journey. My health coach, Teresa - it's strange to call her that because she's been my friend for about 11 years now - is AMAZING. Supporting, and the most positive, non-judgmental person I have EVER met!
I weighed myself this morning and at first it was depressing, but then I turned it around to looking at it as a challenge. An albeit pretty big challenge, but I am trying very hard to stay positive. I know that each day will be a new day and I know that I will falter, I am prepared for that, at least I think (and hope) I am.
I started today with a big glass of water and a peanut butter crunch bar - at first it was delicious, but after a few bites it became rather blechy....but it was so small it was easy to finish.
Teresa warned my husband that in 3 days he may want to not be around me. The sugar will be cleared out of my system and I'll get grumpy and moody. Once I get over that hurdle it will be better and I will start to have more energy.
Here we go...thanks for coming along on this journey with me, it's nice to have company.
I weighed myself this morning and at first it was depressing, but then I turned it around to looking at it as a challenge. An albeit pretty big challenge, but I am trying very hard to stay positive. I know that each day will be a new day and I know that I will falter, I am prepared for that, at least I think (and hope) I am.
I started today with a big glass of water and a peanut butter crunch bar - at first it was delicious, but after a few bites it became rather blechy....but it was so small it was easy to finish.
Teresa warned my husband that in 3 days he may want to not be around me. The sugar will be cleared out of my system and I'll get grumpy and moody. Once I get over that hurdle it will be better and I will start to have more energy.
Here we go...thanks for coming along on this journey with me, it's nice to have company.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
A new beginning.....April 2013
I am starting a new journey. The frustrating, difficult, time consuming, exhausting journey.....into weight loss.
This is going to be my journal during this journey - the good, the bad and the ugly! Yes ugly.
I am starting the "Take Shape For Life" program with my long time friend Teresa as my health coach. She will give me as much or as little support as I need.
You can find her web page: http://makingchanges.tsfl.com/
I'm excited while nervous at the same time. I've never kept an honest journal/blog about my weight before and it's going to be hard to put it in writing for others to see. I might not publish all of my entries, but I'll do my best to be honest and hopefully I can encourage someone else with their journey.
We all are on a difficult journey of some kind (personal, emotional, physical, spiritual).....the best way to succeed is to surround yourself with positive and supportive friends and family. I am extremely blessed to have both!
My journey begins as soon as my order arrives.....I can't wait.
This is going to be my journal during this journey - the good, the bad and the ugly! Yes ugly.
I am starting the "Take Shape For Life" program with my long time friend Teresa as my health coach. She will give me as much or as little support as I need.
You can find her web page: http://makingchanges.tsfl.com/
I'm excited while nervous at the same time. I've never kept an honest journal/blog about my weight before and it's going to be hard to put it in writing for others to see. I might not publish all of my entries, but I'll do my best to be honest and hopefully I can encourage someone else with their journey.
We all are on a difficult journey of some kind (personal, emotional, physical, spiritual).....the best way to succeed is to surround yourself with positive and supportive friends and family. I am extremely blessed to have both!
My journey begins as soon as my order arrives.....I can't wait.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
~WEDNESDAY WISDOM~
~WEDNESDAY WISDOM~
I decided to write a letter to my 15 year old self, here goes.
Dear 15 year old me,
I know that today is difficult and all you want to do is fit in, be pretty and thin and have fun (oh and that boy to ask you out). School work seems pointless and Mom & Dad seem totally stupid. Here is some wisdom gained by your 43 year old self......
Love fearlessly, but honestly. Don't let anyone put you down, hold you down or make you feel smaller than you are. You are beautiful. You are kind. You are smart. You are important. If you don't take care of yourself no one else will!
Family is the most important support system you will ever have, make it strong, make it a priority and it will never fail you. Always, always, always treat others the way you would want to be treated. Never never never judge someone else. Everyone is fighting their own battles (and most of them you will never see) so be of kind heart.
Be open to new experiences but not afraid of them. Laugh more, love more, dance more. Not everyone will agree with decisions you make, but if you made them for the right reasons (and only you will know if you did) then stand by them. If you didn't then it's never to late to change your mind - EVER!
When you become a mom (and you will) everything your parents ever did for you will take on a new meaning and importance. You will understand why they did everything they did and finally appreciate them and all they did for you! And that will make you an amazing mom (even though at times you will question this).
I love you - life will be beautiful if you only stop to smell the flowers, dance in the rain, and laugh often.
Sincerely,
43 year old me
******************************************************************
What would you tell your 15 year old self if given the chance?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
~WEDNESDAY WISDOM~
My rambling thoughts for the week.....
~WEDNESDAY WISDOM~
Working mom's are in a tough spot, even in this "advanced"day and age.
We are judged, questioned, guilt ridden (right up there with "Catholic Guilt"),
unappreciated and/or under-appreciated and the list goes on.
Don't judge, it hurts us all. As my mother says "don't judge others
until you walk a mile in their shoes"!
***************************
There are very few things that we have control over.
I call it "your circle"....you are the only thing in your circle is YOU.
Therefore the only thing you can control is YOU;
your actions, your reactions, your respect for other,
the caring and compassion you have, and your words.
***************************
The Dictionary defines respect as:
"A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something
elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements."
I disagree with this definition - to me respect means
"allowing others their own opinions, values
and ideals without judgement or degradation"
We need to respect each others differences and opinions,
we DO NOT have to agree with them, or stand behind them or support them,
but we do need to allow them.
The caveat with this is that there are those who use this definition
for their own evil ideals -
where is that line drawn and who has the responsibility
(note I did not say privilege) of drawing it?
You? Me? Government? God?
***************************
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sleep WHAT??? et duex
Part two of the sleep drama unfolding in my household.
As you hopefully already read about the observation part of my sleep study I won't bore you with too many details of the testing phase. The testing phase is where they hook you up to all of the wires (yes AGAIN with the brain waves look) but this time they have you try all different masks and head gear for the CPAP which you get to sleep with while they play with the air pressure all night to find the correct setting/parameters!
The CPAP is a "continuous positive airway pressure" machine that forces air into your airway so you can sleep without interruption caused by UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome), sleep apnea, snoring etc.....I'll spare you the details and just say that after a LOONNNG night falling asleep around 2-3am I now have a Bi-PAP machine.
I didn't know there was such a machine.
The air pressure required on the CPAP to stop my UARS was about 11-12 but when I exhaled I would fight the pressure of the air. At 3am they switched me to a Bi-PAP. The Bi-PAP has two air pressure settings one for inhalation (higher) and one for exhalation (lower) which worked perfectly.
So I now have a pink headband that holds a nose pillow (no kidding that's what they call it) on my face, that is connected by a very long tube to my Bi-PAP machine. I kind of look like a Dr. Seuss character with a long snout.
We've named the machine Edna, for some reason it seems to fit.
Thankfully the puppy isn't bothered by the machine (it's actually quieter than my floor fan) so he still snuggles with me. I on the other hand am having a hard time adjusting to sleeping with this mask on....it's been almost a week now and I only woke up 2 or 3 times last night. I'll keep trying - may need to try a different mask as the pillows seem to move around and then I feel like I'm suffocating and I think that is NOT the point!
So sweet dreams to all and to all a good night.................................
As you hopefully already read about the observation part of my sleep study I won't bore you with too many details of the testing phase. The testing phase is where they hook you up to all of the wires (yes AGAIN with the brain waves look) but this time they have you try all different masks and head gear for the CPAP which you get to sleep with while they play with the air pressure all night to find the correct setting/parameters!
The CPAP is a "continuous positive airway pressure" machine that forces air into your airway so you can sleep without interruption caused by UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome), sleep apnea, snoring etc.....I'll spare you the details and just say that after a LOONNNG night falling asleep around 2-3am I now have a Bi-PAP machine.
I didn't know there was such a machine.
The air pressure required on the CPAP to stop my UARS was about 11-12 but when I exhaled I would fight the pressure of the air. At 3am they switched me to a Bi-PAP. The Bi-PAP has two air pressure settings one for inhalation (higher) and one for exhalation (lower) which worked perfectly.
So I now have a pink headband that holds a nose pillow (no kidding that's what they call it) on my face, that is connected by a very long tube to my Bi-PAP machine. I kind of look like a Dr. Seuss character with a long snout.
We've named the machine Edna, for some reason it seems to fit.
Thankfully the puppy isn't bothered by the machine (it's actually quieter than my floor fan) so he still snuggles with me. I on the other hand am having a hard time adjusting to sleeping with this mask on....it's been almost a week now and I only woke up 2 or 3 times last night. I'll keep trying - may need to try a different mask as the pillows seem to move around and then I feel like I'm suffocating and I think that is NOT the point!
So sweet dreams to all and to all a good night.................................
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Sleep WHAT???
My lovely doctor (don't get me wrong I LOVE her) has been pestering me for weeks to get a sleep study done, thinking my snoring could be sleep apnea. Finally at the urging of my son who said, "mommy if you get the study done maybe they can fix your snoring so you don't wake me up at night" (he sleeps across the house from me). OKAY OKAY OKAY I get it!
I signed up for the overnight study, with the reassurance from a few people (you KNOW who you are) I know who have taken it that it's not that bad. I have one word for those "no longer friends" - LIARS!
I arrived at the sleep clinic at 7:30pm and was escorted to my private room - which is a miniature hotel room without the potty (only a sink/mirror, nightstand & bed). "Each room is quiet, sound-attenuated" - if attenuated means you hear everything then yes their web site is correct The technician is very nice and you have DISH television to watch, water, tea, etc. Once you're ready for bed (in your jammies) they come in and "hook you up". This whole process takes an hour - no joke!
Then the technician (or the stalker as I've begun to think of him) tells me to lay still, he's going to run diagnostics on the leads and turn on the camera - yes the camera, as if I weren't freaked out enough, now I know they are watching me (this confirms the stalker-ishness of my technician don't you think). There is a microphone in the room so they hear every cough, sneeze, moan & fart - yes everything we ALL do when we sleep but don't admit in public.
The stalker then tells me do several movements to establish a baseline. Roll your eyes, move your toes, fake snore, breathe thru your nose.....then you are free to go to sleep. oh SURE!
Like it's THAT easy. You see I LOVE my bed, my house, my puppy curled up next to me. I do not sleep well in strange places.
I'm are expected while being hooked up to more leads than a car battery and being video taped and audio taped in a strange bed without my hubby or puppy to go to sleep. I am convinced that whomever came up with this idea never actually tried it themselves.
After tossing and turning for what seemed like an eternity, normally I would've gotten up & gotten a drink of water but I didn't want to "speak and be heard" by the voice of God watching over me so I just suffered in silence. The stalker came in at 1:00am to fix a lead that had come loose, when I asked he said I'd gotten a good hour of sleep. Obviously his definition of "good" and mine are on two opposite ends of the good/bad spectrum!
After the longest night of my life - truly - the stalker returned at 6am to wake me up. All I wanted to do was get the leads OFF OF ME and run out the door screaming all the way home (after stopping first to go potty). But alas, after getting dressed and trying to get the goo off my face and out of my hair I thought I should brush my teeth. HINT: do NOT forget your toothbrush for a sleep study...thankfully a washcloth worked just fine. After about an hour the doctor came in, after reviewing the study results and we talked......
The story does not end here - I have to return to the sleep study hovel and spend another night so they can find the right treatment (machine) and the correct settings.
I'm sure you're asking yourself WHY IN THE WORLD would I subject myself to another night of torture (I know I am). The answer is simple. I am tired of being tired. I wake up tired, I'm tired all day, I cannot remember the last time I truly felt refreshed upon waking up.
So - in 4 nights I will begin my quest for sound sleep and return to the den of sleeplessness for one more night of impossible sleep.....hopefully my knight in shining armor on his gallant white steed will find me and whisk me away to his castle in the sky...................oh wait that's a totally different story.
I signed up for the overnight study, with the reassurance from a few people (you KNOW who you are) I know who have taken it that it's not that bad. I have one word for those "no longer friends" - LIARS!
I arrived at the sleep clinic at 7:30pm and was escorted to my private room - which is a miniature hotel room without the potty (only a sink/mirror, nightstand & bed). "Each room is quiet, sound-attenuated" - if attenuated means you hear everything then yes their web site is correct The technician is very nice and you have DISH television to watch, water, tea, etc. Once you're ready for bed (in your jammies) they come in and "hook you up". This whole process takes an hour - no joke!
- There is a sensor on each calf (the wires go down your pant legs).
- There is a sensor on each side of your chest.
- There is a strap on your tummy and one on your chest to "guide all the wires".
- There are about 5-6 sensors on your scalp (yes your scalp, and the icky gooey wax they use to attach them is uber difficult to remove). My hair looked like a rats nest in the morning!
- There are sensors on every muscle in your face - no I am NOT exaggerating.
- There is a sensor in each nostril and one that goes in front of your mouth to gauge your breathing.
- Then last but not least there is an oxygen sensor on your finger.
Then the technician (or the stalker as I've begun to think of him) tells me to lay still, he's going to run diagnostics on the leads and turn on the camera - yes the camera, as if I weren't freaked out enough, now I know they are watching me (this confirms the stalker-ishness of my technician don't you think). There is a microphone in the room so they hear every cough, sneeze, moan & fart - yes everything we ALL do when we sleep but don't admit in public.
The stalker then tells me do several movements to establish a baseline. Roll your eyes, move your toes, fake snore, breathe thru your nose.....then you are free to go to sleep. oh SURE!
Like it's THAT easy. You see I LOVE my bed, my house, my puppy curled up next to me. I do not sleep well in strange places.
I'm are expected while being hooked up to more leads than a car battery and being video taped and audio taped in a strange bed without my hubby or puppy to go to sleep. I am convinced that whomever came up with this idea never actually tried it themselves.
After tossing and turning for what seemed like an eternity, normally I would've gotten up & gotten a drink of water but I didn't want to "speak and be heard" by the voice of God watching over me so I just suffered in silence. The stalker came in at 1:00am to fix a lead that had come loose, when I asked he said I'd gotten a good hour of sleep. Obviously his definition of "good" and mine are on two opposite ends of the good/bad spectrum!
After the longest night of my life - truly - the stalker returned at 6am to wake me up. All I wanted to do was get the leads OFF OF ME and run out the door screaming all the way home (after stopping first to go potty). But alas, after getting dressed and trying to get the goo off my face and out of my hair I thought I should brush my teeth. HINT: do NOT forget your toothbrush for a sleep study...thankfully a washcloth worked just fine. After about an hour the doctor came in, after reviewing the study results and we talked......
The story does not end here - I have to return to the sleep study hovel and spend another night so they can find the right treatment (machine) and the correct settings.
I'm sure you're asking yourself WHY IN THE WORLD would I subject myself to another night of torture (I know I am). The answer is simple. I am tired of being tired. I wake up tired, I'm tired all day, I cannot remember the last time I truly felt refreshed upon waking up.
So - in 4 nights I will begin my quest for sound sleep and return to the den of sleeplessness for one more night of impossible sleep.....hopefully my knight in shining armor on his gallant white steed will find me and whisk me away to his castle in the sky...................oh wait that's a totally different story.
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