Helen and Kelley Joining Forces Across the Miles for Better Health: Kelley's Blog Journal

Kelley's doctor's visit

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:01:06 GMT

KELLEY:

I went to the doctor! Thyroid is fine so now to look to other solutions for the plateauing.. I am going to start using DietPower again tomorrow and deal with calories only no points. Going to keep a really close watch on it.

My A1C was 5.4 down from 5.5 last time. She took me off my Januvia which is 150 a month. She told me to start the glucophage back as she would want that for the heart benefits

Cholesteral was 142 , triglycerides 128 HDL 42 (up from in the low 30's last time) and LDL was 73. Said my kidneys and liver tests came back great also. Some of my liver enzymes are a little low but she said not a problem at this point. She thinks it is because I have gotten so healthy in the last 6 months. She checks my liver as my cholesterol meds can affect it and make readings high.

My hemoglobin is a little low which explains the cold. I am to work on eating as many iron rich foods as possible and she will do an anemia panel the next time I am in there (6 months).

So needless to say I am on cloud 9.

I am observing karate next Monday night and my brother and I are starting classes next Thursday night.

I might be the biggest one there but I am not going to care! Doing this for me not them.

With my weight of 219 an hour work out is said to burn 1093 calories. We will see.

Kelley

Wake up and see the glory

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:44:00 GMT

March 6, 2008

KELLEY:

Wake Up and See the Glory

This is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that talks about waking up and seeing the glory of God. When listening to it the thought of how glorious we were made by God comes to mind.

For how many years did I not see that and in the process do damage to my body. I am in the process of reversing the damage. I want to shout from the rooftops to others please don't be complacent and one day wake up with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Of the three, type 2 diabetes takes a constant vigil and I wish no one had to go through the constant finger sticks and in some cases insulin shots. Even when mine is totally reversed, I will continue to fundraise for a diabetes cure. That cause along with the American Heart Association and the American Cancer society will be my pet causes for the remainder of my life. I have had family members die from heart problems and cancer and several are living with diabetes everyday as I am.

Yesterday was my ten-month anniversary on my weight loss journey but it was also the first ten months of the rest of my life being healthy and fit. I am working on making my body what God intended when he created me.

On the Biggest Loser this week they talked about the contestants losing weight, getting fit, and being an obesity survivor. I will be so proud on the day I can say I am an obesity survivor! When I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2002, my BMI was 51.4 and my weight was 290. I am now at 219 with a BMI of 38.8 with a total loss of 71 pounds! The last 10 months I got serious about the weight loss and lost 45 of that 71.

You would never have seen me reading fitness / health magazines, books, or internet articles before I started this journey. I would not have been concerned about the nutritional information of food. All that and more are a daily part of my life now. As the old slogan used to say, you've come a long way baby, yes I have and I will go a lot further in the coming weeks, months, and years!

Ramblings

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:23:04 GMT

KELLEY:

March 4, 2008

Ramblings

Yesterday, I picked up my contacts. It is going to take some getting used to. I have worn them before around '99. It is not the putting in and taking out that is going to be the adjustment. My glasses were for nearsightedness, astigmatism, and I had invisible bifocals. The contacts correct nearsightedness and astigmatism so I have to wear reading glasses for close up work. For most of the day at work I have reading glasses on. I have been asked why I would want to do it like this. If I have glasses why not keep what I had. For the freedom and awesome vision, I have the other times with just contacts. It is another world with your peripheral vision back.

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist on the 19^th. Cannot wait to see my blood work results! I am sure she will be pleased with my progress.

I have gotten two co-workers to join Curves. One I have been giving advice too and talking fitness to for a while as she has been trying to improve her health and weight for some time. Her first time at Curves was today and she said it kicked her butt! Did not realize how out of shape she was but said she really pushed it! That is what I do every time and like I told her why should you do it if you are not going to get the maximum benefit. There are many people I see there that are just playing at fitness and using it for the social hour. I would not waste my money if I were them! If I tell my endocrinologist I work out 6 hours a week she might faint! We have never talked fitness before but I am sure she will be proud!

A woman in WW made a remark a couple of weeks ago and I would love to have told her a thing or two. The leader was asking who participated in a regular exercise program and I was about the only one that raised my hand. She asked how much I worked out and I told her. The woman behind me said she did not have time for that! I wanted to say I do not either BUT I make the time! I use my lunch hour for Curves three times a week and the other I do right after work before I go home. If I can work 54-58 hours a week and still make time for working out anyone can they just have to have a desire and I think that is what that woman was missing DESIRE!

When I went to the eye doctor for my appointment last week the receptionist who has been with my doctor for years did not know who I was! What a great NSV. I walked in the same time a man did. He went to the desk and I sat down. She asked him if I was with him. He said no! I said no and she recognized my voice! She said there was no way she would have recognized me on the street. That I had lost a lot of weight and got my haircut and didn't look like the same person! How good did that make me feel! I saw him last in October '06 before I started my fitness / weight loss journey in May '07.

Well I guess I have rambled on enough! Till next time!

Cheating is Allowed, NOT!

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:00:55 GMT

KELLEY:

February 20, 2008

Cheating is Allowed, NOT!

            This blog entry springs from an incident that happened in water aerobics yesterday. This class is conducted in the format that you have your own area of the pool and are told to do a move down and back. This is unlike my Wednesday night class where the instructor and you as the student do a specified move for a certain amount of time. In the Monday and Tuesday class, you can get ahead of the other students and be on another move, that the instructor has specified, while others are finishing the first one. It is a good workout but at times very unorganized.
            Last night we had several new people and when on was being slow she told them cheating is allowed. In other words, you do not have to do the laps completely so you can be caught up with everyone else. She said it several times during the 45 minutes.
            I am usually behind myself, as I go in deeper water per lap than she does and the other regular members do. I go to where I can just touch and they stop 35 – 40 feet earlier.
            The cheating is allowed started me to thinking last night. To get to the point where we are overweight or obese we have cheated ourselves in more ways than one. In some cases, like mine, I cheated myself out of my health. My type 2 diabetes was not preordained I brought it on myself. Yes, I am doing something about it now to reverse it but what I would give to never had to deal with it.
            We cheated ourselves out of activities we might have enjoyed because we were too embarrassed by our weight to want to be seen. An example is going to the gym. Before I started this weight loss journey you would never have saw me in the gym, as I was so out of shape and unfit. The typical gym rat fits the profile of what the public considers the ideal body and that was not me. Now I will go with the rest of them and am not embarrassed to be seen in a swimsuit, as I would have been before.
            We might have cheated ourselves out of good friends, as we never tried to get to know people. Never made the first move as we were of the mentality no one wants fat friends. Then some people do, as being with fat folks makes them look even better. Therefore, we get used as a pawn in their little games and become their false friends.
            I will continue not cheating myself out of anything I want to do or accomplish. Becoming who I need to be and what God intended for me to be is the most important thing to me. In my book, cheating is a dirty word from now on!

Plateaus and other ramblings

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:56:39 GMT

KELLEY: February 18, 2008 Plateaus and other ramblings I have stayed the same for the last three weeks but at least the scale is not going in the other direction. I am going to try eating 1/2 to 3/4 of my activity points this week and see if with increased activity (to 6 hours a week +) that maybe I can bust out of this plateau . I just have to remember that this is a long journey without an end as even when I reach goal I have to be concerned about what I eat and exercise for the rest of my life. I have had two victories this week of the non-scale variety – reducing my Glucophage by half and putting on a 14/16 blouse I had bought months ago as an incentive and it fit! Wore it to work on Friday. I have almost filled my mp3 player up with six gigs of music. I am going to use it on Fridays when I go to the gym and walk or use the cardio equipment. It is going to be a day for whatever grabs my fancy. No set scheduled activity other than showing up at the gym right after work. I have an appointment on Feb 26th to get contacts. I had them in the past and really miss the difference in vision with them versus glasses. With good goggles, I can wear them in the pool and actually see where I am going! I will still have to wear reading glasses when I am on the computer to compensate for the fact that bifocal contacts are not available. But that is okay a small price to pay for seeing freely. I got my 20 lb charm for TOPS on Thursday night. I started there mid August as another means of support. I really enjoy the meetings and I was made contest coordinator, as up until the point I joined they never had anyone that wanted to plan future contests and be responsible for coordinating ongoing ones. I keep a contest always going. Right now, we have two. One will not be over until the first of December. It is a yearlong contest and everyone seems to be having fun with it. I have had several smart comments about my new haircut from coworkers that would love for my new life plan to go by the wayside. They always say something no matter what I do good for myself. One needs to lose weight and says every few days she is going to do it but just continues with her old habits. It is like I shouldn't be bettering myself but oh well! I can't be responsible for her choices only mine and I know I am doing what is right for myself at every turn. Till tomorrow!

NSV, Happy Dance, New Haircut, and Respecting Yourself

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:38:01 GMT

KELLEY: February 14, 2007 NSV, Happy Dance, New Haircut, and Respecting Yourself The scale has not cooperated for the last two weeks, have been maintaining. I have not been going in the opposite direction and that is a good thing. I do have a non-scale victory and am doing a happy dance over it! I was having blood sugar lows at night just 2 or 3 hours after eating a four carb serving meal. I decided to experiment and instead of taking 2 500 mg Glucophage XR with my evening meal to take only one. That solved my problem! My sugars are normal at bedtime and low normal on arising in the morning. Monday, I went to Curves at lunch and was going to water aerobics after work. After leaving work, I found my sugar was low so I drank 12 ounces of skim milk and ate a banana to get the levels up enough to be able to exercise. Well, it would only come up to 80. 70-110 is normal and there was no way I could put in an hour of water aerobics without it being low afterwards or midway through with that starting blood sugar so I went home. I decided to do the same with the Glucophage in the morning (only take 1 pill). I did bring an extra one to work to take just in case I needed it BUT the experiment was a success and all week I have halved my dosage. My sugars have been normal except right after eating. They get back to normal 2 hours after a meal just as the endocrinologist wants. Therefore, I am doing a happy dance that my body is handling the sugar better and I am on my way to being diabetes medicine free! A coworker said since I have been doing so well losing weight and being concerned with my health and eating that I needed a new haircut to celebrate the new me! I had told her I had an appointment this afternoon after work so she helped me find a new style in one of the magazines. Therefore, I am doing the daring thing and changing styles after probably 5 years! She is right I am a new person, a very different person from this time last year and a new haircut is just what I need to complete the new image! Yes, I still have 90 pounds to go but it is just putting one foot in front of the other and seeing the goal get closer and closer. Would have said finish line but this journey is never finished. If you stop upon reaching goal, you will be right where you started from sometimes in the future. It is a daily task you have to tackle! I have some much respect and love for myself that was not here 12 months ago. As Jillian has said on her radio show if you think more of yourself so will others and it have been evidenced in my relationships with co-workers. Do not get me wrong my relationships were not bad or strained with them but they are different now. I think they see I respect and care for myself and they respect and care for me more in return. Got this Italian proverb in my email and it says it all: Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back into the same box. No matter our economic class or social status in life, we are all just as important as the next person and we need to remember that and hold our heads just as high as theirs!

Celebration on my 43rd Birthday

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:54:29 GMT

KELLEY: Celebration on my 43rd Birthday February 8th I turned 43 years old today and even though there are no big spectacular plans for the occasion, I am celebrating in my heart! I know I have written about this before but it is unbelievable what a difference a year makes! I was taken to lunch by a coworker today in celebration and was told to choose anywhere I wanted to go. I picked a nicer class restaurant downtown, as I knew I could get a good healthy meal without feeling deprivation with a nice atmosphere. I ordered a house salad with low-fat ranch and a baked potato with salsa and low-fat ranch on the side. My beverage of choice was water with lemon. On the way back I was reflecting on the fact that I was able to enjoy myself without overindulging and in the process make good food decisions that ultimately have an impact on my future. I will be starting back my workout routine on Monday after this week of TOM and am so looking forward to it. I miss it so much when I do not go. Guess I have gotten so used to the endorphin rush that when I do not have it I miss it and feel something is wrong. If you told me a year ago, I would be exercising and enjoying it, I would have told you that you had lost your mind! Yesterday, I was going up a hallway at work and a woman I am friends with was coming toward me. At the same time, a man I work with was in front of me quite a bit going the same direction as me. The woman said hey skinny minny and the man turned around and called me by name asking a question. I said I am not skinny minny yet but getting there. She said well you must be, as Mike knew whom I was talking too. Made me feel good! A friend from one of my online weight watcher support groups was on Rachel Ray yesterday. She has lost 138 pounds in a year. Bob Greene was on there and he said, "You have to tap into how much your life is different now that you've dropped that weight. It involves realizing that weight is simply a symptom. It is about living your life and giving yourself a more meaningful life every day. As long as you view it that way, that's going to keep you on the straight and narrow and continuing to live that way." That is my attitude now and will continue to be and I cannot wait to see what the next year brings!

Blood Sugar and Weight Loss

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:55:55 GMT

KELLEY: Blood sugar is part of everyone's body chemistry but is a concern for every minute of my day. I have been blessed that I only have to be on oral medications. At one point, I was taking a medicine for diabetes that could cause low blood sugar. Every night before bed, I would eat an Extendbar to keep my blood sugar up while I was sleeping. I was waking up many nights very sick to my stomach as my sugar had bottomed out. In came Januvia, in my opinion, the diabetes wonder drug. Away went the nightly snacking at bedtime, as it does not cause the lows. HOWEVER, as I have lost weight and my body processes the sugar more efficiently I have found that I do still experience lows at some times. One such time is after exercising vigorously as my body is pulling from the sugar sources for fueling my workouts. I have combated that by consuming a protein and carb serving about an hour before working out. The time that is really causing me problems lately is during my monthly cycle. Blood sugar always does weird things during that period of time, which is well documented. I am experiencing lows just a few hours after eating my evening meal and right before bed. I have always budgeted a few flex points for extras in the evening but Saturday was a real doozy. As I had already used some extra points I ended up with having to use 11 of my weekly points allowance of 35 for the day as my sugar was low at bedtime. The last few days I have been eating light during the day so I can have a bigger dinner with more carbs and if a low comes on, I can treat it with food without worrying about using a bunch of weekly points. Sunday I only used 3 extra points and last night 2. I am very grateful that there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel for me in relation to my diabetes. I can and will survive all these bumps in the road and they can be managed with planning. It will be the most marvelous day when I can throw those pills away. I am looking forward to seeing my A1C test results next month at the endocrinologist.

Looking Back and Forward to the Future

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:49:47 GMT

KELLEY: The month is almost over! I turn 43 on the 8th of February. I was just thinking how much healthier and in better shape I am than this time last year. What a difference a year makes. I have not been sick one time since starting WW and adopting a healthy eating lifestyle. I am not working the program from the aspect of you can have anything just as long as the points are there to use. I eat nothing fried, watch my fat grams, no fast food, restaurant food is planned beforehand to have healthy choices (only a select few I go to), limit processed foods as much as possible, buy organic if available, lots of fruits and vegetables, a stickler for my daily sodium intake etc. I think you get the picture. So many times I have had to hold my tongue at work when I see others putting garbage in their mouths. I also am trying to set an example at home as to how you should eat to lower cholesterol, lose a few pounds, and get healthier overall. That is a tough one and really has not worked. I do cook very healthy meals and my adult brother who lives with me eats what I cook, but with oversized portions. Do not know what I weighed this time last year but the 44 pounds since May 5th (WW anniversary date) feels good and has really made a difference. Clothing size there is a big difference also. I was wearing a 26W jeans and I can fit into a 22W with room to spare. Have not tried on a 20W but will the next time I am in Wal-Mart. My tops were 24/26 and I am comfortably wearing 16/18. I even put on several 14/16 I bought a while back as incentives and they fit just still a little tighter in the bust than I like them. Exercise wise I would never have worked out before! Now I enjoy it and when I do not go for some reason, I miss it. Afterwards it feels awesome like you are on Cloud 9! Guess that is the endorphins and probably a big reason I hate not doing it. I go back to my endocrinologist mid March and I want to have lost 50 pounds total by then. She was so pleased in September when I had lost 25 pounds on her scale. She said I should lose another 20 by March but I have almost surpassed that and am looking forward to seeing her with at least a 50-pound total loss. I have 90 pounds to go to goal BUT that 90 pounds is as doable as the first 44 were. I look forward to everything the future holds for me! I am sure there will be bumps in the road but as the song says the future looks bright, I got to wear shades!

Activity, Weigh In, and cleansing physically, spiritually, and mentally

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:52:55 GMT

KELLEY: Had a great past week! I joined the local university rec center on the 18th at a 3rd of what the local Y would cost me due to being an alumni. The good thing is that it is state of the art! Opened in April of 2007 after being destroyed in a tornado in 2004 or 2005. Their indoor walking track is made out of recycled Nike shoes along with the flooring under the cardio equipment. There are 2 racquetball courts that I would like to learn how to play. I am trying to convince my brother to drop his Y membership and join too. He knows how to play racquetball and I suggested maybe he could teach me but that didn't get too far. I haven't used their weight equipment but they have a 5,000 square feet area devoted to weights. They also have 3 basketball courts, volleyball court, and an awesome swimming area. I am enjoying water aerobics classes two evening a week after work. Monday evening was usually my Curves time but now I am going to Curves at lunch. Don't want to give up my resistance training. I will be measured again this week to see what I have lost inch wise. Tonight I start swimming lessons after water aerobics. They run until April 14th. I can swim as it was a requirement to get my college degree. If you didn't pass swimming you didn't graduate no matter what else you had done. I want to improve my stroke technique. I wear glasses but have had contacts in the past. With my tax money, contacts are on my list so I can actually see in the water with the use of water tight googles. They also have personal trainers at a very reduced rate. Comes to about 10 dollars a session. I have to wait till I go to my endocrinologist in March to get a physicians clearance form completed and I will definitely be on board with that! I also had an awesome week on the scale! Lost 3 pounds down to 220! Don't remember when I was this size! Sometimes in high school and I graduated on 1983. Twenty five years or longer – unbelievable! Got this verse and devotion in my email this past week. It really spoke volumes to me! It is the way I feel so self confident. I look strangers in the eye, smile, and speak in passing. I never would have done that before losing these 44 pounds. It just feels awesome to know I am doing everything to get my body into tip top shape and that I actually enjoy working out! 1 Corinthians 6:11 . . .but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. In many respects, dieting is like a washing away of fat. What greater joy is there than to step up on the scales and see the pointer a few marks to the left of where it was a couple days before. When we lose, we feel cleansed, and the cleansing is not just physical. Emotionally we begin to feel better about ourselves. Our guilt, our poor self-image, our pain all begin to wash away, too. This is the best washing of all. We are renewed both inside and out, and we become a fitting and holy temple; a righteous dwelling place for the Lord! Today's thought: Each pound lost cleanses me physically, spiritually, and mentally. I dreamed over the weekend that I was being trained by Jillian. It was such and awesome dream and how great would that be to have just 1 training session with her! She is definitely an inspiration for me as she was an overweight kid that turned it around. I have been really considering getting a graduate degree in exercise science in the next couple of years. It can be done online through my alma mater. If the opportunities were available around here when I get to my goal I would love to become involved in training. I think this comes from loving my body for the first time in years and seeing the importance trainers play in changing people's worlds!

Glorious Creation

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:22:10 GMT

KELLEY:

January 18, 2008
Glorious Creation
            On the way to lunch today, I heard the song by the David Crowder Band entitled Everything Glorious.   It has always been a favorite but I think for the first time I really heard the lyrics today - You make everything glorious, and I am yours what does that make me?
            That really made me think especially since I was a little down this morning.   I weighed 222.1 on Monday and had 6 workouts planned for the week Monday - Sunday.   I have been eating between 1500 – 1700 calories a day and burning at least 400 during each workout session. Today will be my 3 rd session of the week so I am going to fall one short but 5 is still excellent.
My weight Tuesday - yesterday was fluctuating between 222.5 – 223.7, still never back down to the 222.1.   My sodium intake has been a little over 1500 mg a day but not much. 1 teaspoon of salt is 2000 mg so I am trying to figure where the weight is coming from.   If it is water weight how? I know some carbohydrates cause your body to hold water but I haven't eaten any more than usual.   The final straw hit this morning on the scale 225.6 and I know my salt was in a good range for yesterday. I am drinking more water than usual today and eating potassium rich foods to try to see positive results at weight watchers in the morning.   I would rather not go to the meeting than see a negative result at that scale tomorrow. But I will go and face the music even if my scale doesn't cooperate before the meeting tomorrow.
Then, I started thinking is my body trying to kick itself into starvation mode because of the exercise burning so many calories.   Counting this past Sunday, I have already worked out 3 times in 5 days. I am going to make an effort to eat a little more when I burn so many calories working out to keep that from happening.
All that said to get to this point; I was gloriously made by God who had a plan and purpose for me.   My body is the temple of God but for many years I used it as a garbage dump.   I am working toward making my body what He wants it to be but until that final masterpiece is created I am a work in progress.
If I don't see the results I want on the scale and know in my heart I have done all I could and given it 150 percent from my getting up to my laying down, that is all I can do.   Instead of beating myself up wondering why or what if be proud of the strides I have made towards being the person God wants and getting as healthy as possible.
Kelley

Visualization and Weight Loss

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:28:31 GMT

KELLEY:

January 15:

Visualization and Weight Loss
Weight loss is a mental game and once your mindset is right and you are onboard 100 percent you will succeed.   Visualization plays a large part of that. You have to be able to envision yourself at your ideal weight. If you can't visualize yourself at your goal weight you are sending yourself a negative message that it can't be accomplished.    With visualization your mental image of yourself at your goal weight is transferred to your subconscious which begins working on making your body match that mental image.
            Your subconscious mind looks after your vital functions, is the cause of your good and bad habits, controls your muscles, and is responsible for your body fat composition.   My being overweight is a result of years of bad eating habits. Habits that are the result of many varying factors some I am sure I am not aware of.   By mentally preparing myself to lose weight, I can enlist my subconscious mind in breaking those bad habits. As an example, I haven't had a diet soda in 24 days.   I have been drinking water 99 percent of the time but also red and green tea along with milk and light juices. I had at least a 60 ounce a day diet soda habit that I quit cold turkey on Christmas Eve.   My subconscious helped me conquer that as I have had no withdrawal symptoms and not one relapse. I knew to be the healthiest I could be that had to go and it went with no regrets.
            We need to practice mental imagery everyday. See ourselves at our ideal weight and make the images as real as possible.   Visualize yourself receiving compliments from friends and coworkers or laying on a beach somewhere in that bikini.
            Some would say I obsess too much on the weight, losing it, and always wanting to make the healthiest choices not splurging even during the holidays.   I say that I am doing what is right for me and using my mind to guide me to my final destination. Once reached it will be a lifetime of continuing my good eating habits and exercise regimen to stay there.
            Weight loss is not a direct route from A to B but in reality a winding path.   Not sure who said this but we need to remember," Life is not a spelling bee where one mistake wipes out all we have done right."

Today's Workout and Sodium Induced Water Retention

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:27:03 GMT

KELLEY:

January 14

I started my workouts back today. I listened to Jillian's podcasts at work today.   In one of them she said don't say before your workout you are going to have a tough time in the gym today instead stay I'm going to have a KICKASS workout today.
So before I went into Curves today I said I am going to have a KICKASS workout today and I did!   I normally burn 370 calories in 30 minutes but today I burned 450 in the same amount of time. I really made an extra effort and gave it 110 percent throughout.   I will do the same tomorrow. I have my workout clothes packed ready to go!
I have been trying new recipes every evening but I have got to be more conscious of my sodium for the day.   I had been staying below 1500 milligrams a day but the last 2 days I have almost doubled that. Tonight I had pork with sauerkraut and apples along with low fat low calorie biscuits but didn't take into account the salt when planning.   I am sure the scale will probably show a weight gain from water retention in the morning.
I am going to have to be very, very, very, conscious in the future of the sodium. Tomorrow evening, I am having chili and had a lower fat version of cornbread planned. I will still make the cornbread but for my other family members, who aren't watching salt, and I will have some low salt crackers instead. Chili has about 450 mg of salt per cup alone and I think that will be a good alternative.   From history, I know that salt really affects my weight day to day because of water retention. I am drinking over 100 ounces of water a day but even that doesn't help if my sodium isn't kept below 1500 mg.
Water retention just bums me out every time. I guess I just want smooth sailing from point A to point B without any little blips on the screen.   I have been at this now for 8 months and will continue this lifestyle for the rest of my life. So much has been accomplished in a short time.   I have got to continue to be proud of my accomplishments and realize this is a journey not a destination! Just because the scale is up as a result of water retention, when my eating and exercise have been on the money, it is not the end of the world and it will be gone in no time!

My Sunday, Preplanning Meals, and Workout Plans

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:19:56 GMT

KELLEY:

January 13

   I had a very productive Sunday. I preplanned all my evening meals and then went to the grocery store and purchased the items that I didn't already have in the pantry.   I didn't preplan my breakfast and lunch as I eat those meals at work. We have a small refrigerator in the office that I keep stocked with essentials and a shelf under my desk with cereals and boxed snack items.
   I started working out again after getting over TOM. I did a Leslie Sansone Weight Loss Walk DVD. It is a walk aerobics workout that really gets the heart rate pumping. I burned 557 calories in 54 minutes according to my heart rate monitor.
I will be going to Curves tomorrow after work. Beginning this week, Curves will be a 4 workouts a week routine.   I will be going every afternoon except for Thursday, which is TOPS meeting night. I am contest coordinator so I have to be one of the first ones there so I can get results as people get off the scale.   I am going to make that my off day.
   Saturday is my Weight Watchers meeting and then off to work for 4 or 5 hours. I am going to make a point of doing a workout video or one of Jillian's circuit workouts when I get home. Sunday I am going to work out in the morning and afternoon, Jillian's circuit workout and one of my workout DVDs.I do have a Leslie Sansone Evening 1 Mile Walk and Legs workout and if I feel up to it some nights after Curves I will put that in.
   For dinner, I made a new recipe, Vegetable Coleslaw. I have a new recipe planned every evening this week as I was working on having as many ingredients on hand already to work on reducing the grocery bill some this week.   It is just really outrageous what food costs these days and to eat healthier and cleaner is even more expensive. If any recipes are just really awesome I will share them.

VEGETABLE COLESLAW
1 cup broccoli florets, shredded
1 cup cabbage, shredded
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
1 cup carrot, shredded
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons relish, sweetened
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dill
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon celery seed
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¾ cup fat-free mayonnaise
In a large bowl, combine all vegetables and toss.
In a small bowl combine all dressing ingredients. Toss with vegetables in the large bowl.

At the Weight Watchers meeting on Saturday, I was up a pound which I attributed to TOM. Even though I didn't exercise the past week I did stay within my points so I know it was water weight. That pound was gone this morning and I am sure there is probably still some water weight lingering. From history I usually have a pretty awesome weight loss the week after so we will see Saturday.
I will end with a motivational quote: The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore. Dale Carnegie

Everything is Possible if You Believe

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:40:35 GMT

KELLEY:

January 10
We had some pretty bad storms that came through here this afternoon. A tornado touched down several times in the town of Caledonia, MS, about 15 miles away.   It did some pretty heavy damage to the school and the football field. The kids were all still in school but had taken cover and thanks be to God no one was injured.   A school bus even ended up on the roof and the parking lot looked like a bomb had gone off.
Times like these make you count your blessings. Blessing can relate to health and weight as well.   Yes, I am overweight and still classified as obese by the BMI scale but I still have blessings to count health related. I have never been hospitalized and the only surgery I have had is right ACL reconstruction, which isn't major.   At the time you couldn't tell me that because of the long rehab and recovery. For the first 2 or 3 weeks I am sure my mother feel it was major with all the extra work I caused by not being able to do things for myself.   I am a type 2 diabetic but even that has an upside as I am on oral medications instead of insulin.
With the weight loss I have accomplished of 41 pounds, I have made great strides in several areas. My A1C, which is your average blood sugar for a 3 month period, is running normal just like someone WITHOUT the disease.   That was 3 months ago when I went to my endocrinologist. They are running in the lower range of normal now as my two medications Januvia and Glucophage do not cause low blood sugars but I have had several episodes of low blood sugars after exercise and at night before bed.   That tells me that my body is processing the glucose better and that along with the meds is causing a low. That is one of my major goals for 2008 get off the meds!   You can not imagine how happy I will be when that day comes.
My cholesterol and triglycerides have to be lower than the average person's because of the diabetes.   Diabetics don't die from the diabetes but from heart disease and stroke. My cholesterol was 136 and my triglycerides 142 when taken at our work health fair the beginning of December.   My blood pressure averages 90 over 60, but I do take medication for that also. What a wonderful day it will be to throw all my medicines out the window and that day will come as long as I keep making the right decisions for myself diet and health wise as I work to reach my ultimate weight loss goal.
I received this in my email today and think it is very appropriate for this topic:
Everything is Possible if you Believe
There are no real barriers to your success. You must simply overcome any doubts you have about your ability. Your self image prescribes the limits for your accomplishments. It prescribes the area of what is possible with you.
Don't be afraid of living. Believe that life is worth living and you will create that fact around you.   If you see yourself prosperous, you will be. If you see yourself as broke, that is exactly what you will be.
You will never succeed until you believe you can succeed.
As a caveat, belief is not everything as you have to take actions to make your dreams come true. I am doing that, taking action. Some coworkers would probably call me obsessive / compulsive for always being careful about what I eat and not partaking of companywide meals BUT I am taking that action and doing what is best for me to improve my health and future

Kelley January 9th

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:06:08 GMT

January 9
KELLEY:

Today was a pretty good day! I spent over 5 hours at work sitting watching them work on my computer.   A database was having issues and it took some time to fix. Without computers in this day and age we would be lost. So needless to say my day wasn't very productive at work but overall a good day.
I bought a top from Mariska Hargitay's site the first of last month. She plays Detective Olivia Benson on Law and Order SVU.   She has a great website and has created The Joyful Heart Foundation for survivors of sexual abuse and molestation. The tops are handmade and the sizes up to XL are fitted but website says sizes run small.   You can order plus sizes but they are looser fitting. I got into an XL (16-18) several months ago but said I would order the XL anyway and if it was too small I am losing weight so it would fit later. Well it arrived too tight so I hung it in the closet. For Christmas I received a pair of Capri pants with purple in them that matches the top. I had nothing other than neutral colors in my closet I could wear with the pants because of no matching top. I wanted to wear the pants so thought what the heck I will try the blouse on since I did lose 13 inches in December at Curves and voila it fit!   Made me feel on Cloud 9 and I got several compliments on it!
It is the little things like this that really mean the most in terms of your weight loss journey.   The little things make you work that much harder toward the big things.
I came home and made Baked Doritos casserole and got rave reviews from my family. It is 6 Weight Watcher points per serving and is served over shredded lettuce. I am going to include the recipe here in case anyone wants to try it.
Baked Doritos Casserole
Servings 8
Points: 6
1 pound 90% lean ground beef (can substitute turkey)
½ pound Light Velveeta shredded
2 tablespoons chili powder or taco seasoning
1 can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel tomatoes
6 ounces of Baked Doritos (flavor your choice)
Brown ground beef, then add taco seasoning or chili powder, cream of chicken soup, and Rotel tomatoes.   Crush Doritos and pour half in a 9 x 13 casserole dish sprayed with Pam, then add a layer of the meat mixture, then half the cheese, another layer of chips, then meat mixture and finish off with the cheese.   Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve over shredded lettuce.
I haven't posted any workouts this week but will be starting back full force in the next few days.   TOM I don't exercise as I have a tough time. I will be going to Curves starting next week 4 times instead of 3. My center isn't open on the weekends and I attend TOPS meetings on Thursday evenings after work so I am going to go the other days.   This weekend is supposed to be pretty so I am going to try to recruit my brother to go to the River Walk with me. It is a secluded place with a trail winding through the woods so not safe to walk it alone.   Nothing has ever happened but can't be too careful. I am also going to order or buy a speed jump rope to use doing Jillian's circuits.

January 8 for Kelley

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:24:23 GMT

KELLY:

January 8
Today has been a good day overall. Two people at work, whose opinion I value, told me how proud they were of me being dedicated and losing the weight.   There was a company-wide lunch today and as always I chose not to partake and stayed with my preplanned healthier meal.
With my weigh in on Saturday at 223, I am 30.61 percent to my final goal. I am taking it in baby steps though setting mini goals for myself.   The weigh in Saturday also took me to my lowest weight since October 17, 1998. I have my weigh in book from Weight Watchers then and on that date I was 224. My next mini goal is to have lost 20 percent of my body weight which will be at 215.   Then 200 here I come!
I watched Biggest Loser Couples tonight and it sent so many thoughts through my mind about my weight loss journey.   As I said in the about myself section of this site my mom has said several times she feels responsible for my weight problem. When I was a child I didn't know what good eating habits were but as I got older I knew better and I am responsible for everything that has gone into my mouth.   I am being responsible and taking control now and not letting myself be a puppet of my emotions or what other whim comes along and says eat that, a little won't hurt.   But those little licks, bits, and tastes not worked into your daily calorie allowance or points allowance add up and with them come the pounds and inches.
As I have said in my Weight Watcher meetings, weight loss is all in your head. It is mental and as long as you have the right mental attitude you will be a success.   Willpower is not even a blip on the radar as it has no bearing on your success or failure.
A quote and an exercise really hit home with me. Your best helping hand is the one at the end of your own arm (Swedish proverb).   Get out some of your favorite hand lotion. Lovingly massage it into each finger and all over your hands as you read these words. No food gets into my mouth that my hands have not put there. Only an invalid or an infant is spoon fed, and I am neither. I can stick my pointer finger in a can of frosting or use it to dial a friend or e-mail a relative.   I can use my thumb and finger to mindlessly eat potato chips or cookies, or I can use the pair to pick up a pen and write in a journal, compose a poem, or scrapbook.   I can put my two hands together to pick up a spoon and eat mindlessly from an ice cream container, or I can use them to tie up my shoe laces, open the front door, and head out for a walk.   When my two hands get together I can eat more than is appropriate, or I can use them to hold a book, work at the computer, knit, crochet, paint, etc. When I use the power in my hands, I can clap, cheer, and congratulate myself on making the most of my own power.   Trace your hand onto a piece of paper and write the words – I've got the power in my hands to control what goes in my mouth! And post it where you can see it often.   Well, Hip Hip Hooray! Just like the old Power Rangers on kids' afternoon TV, we've got the power the mighty power right in our very own hands!
130 will get here! It isn't a matter of if that goal will be reached BUT when I reach it!   I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished and I will continue to give the gift to myself of losing weight and getting healthy.

Kelley's Story Up Till Now

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:06:37 GMT

I am 42 years old and have been overweight since around the 6th grade. 130 was my weight then so I never remember living life without being overweight. My mom became a single mom when I was 9 due to a divorce and she has told me several times it was her fault that I got overweight. She thought since she could afford it if I wanted it let me eat it. She remembers me going to McDonald's and eating 2 big breakfasts by myself and us going to eat pizza with my brother, 8 years my junior, and eating a very large pizza with no problem.

I turned into a bookworm in school and studying was the course for the next 10 years through college. I never was involved in any extra curricular activities unless it was something to do with academics. I am sure a bunch of that was my weight related lack of self esteem.

I remember in high school having to go up stairs for a class and always meeting a group of three guys that were coming down that would sing " There she is Miss America". I didn't even know them just who they were and that made me feel good (NOT!)

I lost some weight over the years but always gained it back. In May 2002 when I started the job I have now I weighed 290 pounds at the physical. Within 2 months I was diagnosed as a Type II diabetic and put on oral medications. Between then and May of 2007 I lost down to 264 without trying. I am sure it was because of some of the meds I was on.

I started Weight Watchers in May and have lost 41 pounds through weighin on 1/5/08. I was on Weight Watchers previously and my all time low weight was 224 in October '98 so I am at my lowest since then at 223 today. My goal is to lose at least 40 pounds for 2008 and to get off my oral meds. I am combining eating healthy and losing weight as they are two different animals but can be done together you just have to work at it. Avocado and nuts are healthy but calorie dense as an example. You don't want to eat a bunch for weight loss purposes. I have cut out diet sodas and today is day 14 of drinking water only.

I also want to serve as an example to my mom, brother, and aunt who have cholesterol problems and all could lose some weight some more than others. I want to inspire all to get more active.

My workouts consist of Curves, workout DVDs, using a local gym, and when it gets warmer biking, walking outdoors, and water aerobics.

I will make my goal, it is not a matter of making it but a matter of when!