Saturday, February 28, 2009

Triggers

I have been thinking about what triggers overeating for me. A lot of times, I find myself eating when I am bored and especially when I am feeling down. Now that I have been logging food and blogging I have become more aware of these triggers and try to avoid them. If I am bored, I can put on my iPod and dance or if I am feeling down, I can do something positive like calling a friend or reading something positive and get over that feeling instead of just stuffing my face.

On a side note: I went to Costco with Danielle and she was making a large batch of spaghetti. She bought two 6 lb. packages of meat. When I lifted them up I thought "Wow, I have lost over three of these packages!" They were heavy! I can feel the difference with the 20 lb. weight loss but that really put it into perspective.

Until next time...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Landmark

I haven't been blogging for a few days because I have been dog sitting. It always throws me off schedule but this was just for 3 days this time. Sometimes they go for 10-14 days and that really throws me for a loop. I was well prepared this time and it really helped. So meanwhile... I have lost 20 lbs!!! I am so excited! It is a nice landmark amount. It makes me feel like I could do another 20 and another 20. It seems more achievable that way instead of saying I have 100+ pounds to lose. I am still not "formally" exercising but plan on doing it starting this weekend. I am sure that will help!

Until next time...

Friday, February 20, 2009

Blowing it

So yesterday was a total wash. It was the first time this year that I just ate whatever and didn't log it. I felt full. I felt crappy. It sucked. Alas, today is a new day and I am back on the wagon. These days are going to happen and I need to acknowledge them and then move forward instead of caving in and saying... "Well I blew it and now I don't care anymore so I will continue eating crappy." That isn't going to happen this time. I am in a good mood and back on track! Plus, today I will bet getting my Digital display band back. This is the part of the body bugg that tells you calories burned, how many steps you have taken and number of minutes doing moderate activity. To me it is another motivator and I broke the band so I reordered one. It beeps and tells you when you have achieved your activity goal for the day! It is like your own little cheerleader and I can use all and any encouragement...

Until next time...

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Zero is a good thing

Well I did not lose any weight this week. I am disappointed but I am thankful. Thankful that I did not gain. I knew eventually that this would happen. Now is the time where I need to get moving more. Whether it is at the gym or at home or even walking around my building at work... the LG Creek trail is at the end of our parking lot for goodness sake! It is beautiful walking along the creek!

I need to schedule it just like anything else. I must also remember to make "ME" a priority. Often, I will focus on others and their needs but I will be useless to them and myself if I don't start exercising regularly.

Until next time...

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Aha Moment

Everyone seems to be talking about their Aha moment. I would say my Aha moment came with the diagnosis of the sleep apnea. Realizing that there is one more thing that I have to endure because of my weight. I just knew something had to change. Since it was close to the end of the year, it was just as easy to start on January 5th. That is when Nicole gave me the bodybugg. Seeing the numbers and setting goals that were attainable, I could finally see that there was a solution and hence the light bulb went on.

Until next time...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Bypass Surgery

About a year ago, my General Practitioner mentioned Gastric Bypass Surgery. It was a major blow to the ego. Almost as bad as hearing the diagnosis of MORBID OBESITY. I told my Dr. that I would take it into consideration but that I was scared. I did quite a bit of research on both the Gastric Bypass surgery as well as the Lap Band. I pretty much ruled out the Gastric Bypass surgery right away. Too invasive. The Lap Band was intriguing. It was less invasive and still covered by my health insurance. The results did not come as quickly as the Bypass surgery but still very effective. There are a lot of follow up appointments for the next 3-5 years after and I don't know if I could make that commitment.

I want to do this on my own! I don't want to have surgery to lose the weight. I think there are going to be life lessons to learn doing it the "natural" way. I have been reading more success stories and NONE of them had surgery so if they can do it then so can I!

Until next time...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Progress not Perfection

I was reading Prevention magazine this morning about some weight loss success stories and one gal said the key to her success was aiming for progress not perfection. There is a lot of validity in that statement. One of the reasons that prevented me in the past was that I have to acheive perfection. I have to lose weight and everything HAS to be perfect. Well how realistic is that!?! I have made progress and continue to make progress and that is AWESOME. I don't have to be perfect. There are going to be pitfalls in this journey but I am focusing on progress not perfection!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Facing Future

Facing Future is the name of a CD by an artist named Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He has the voice of an angel, let me tell you. You may have heard of him. He did a wonderful version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow that was popular in the early 90s and was used in some ads like eToy. He died in 1993 at the age of 38 due to weight related complications. At one point, he weighed 769 lbs.

I like the term Facing Future because I can't look back anymore. It is easy for me to slip into depression thinking of all the time I have squandered and not done anything about my weight. The past is the past and I can't change it now. I CAN however make peace with it and Face the Future knowing that there is a plan. I CAN become a stronger person, I CAN win this battle even at 42!

Until next time...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Another pound!

Well I am down another pound! Wahoo! That makes for a total of 17 lbs! That is incentive to break the 20 pound barrier!

One thing that I never ever ever ever want to do is go back. Seeing 300 on a scale is one of the saddest things I think I have ever experienced. Even though it was ME who gained it - I thought I would just die. Seriously, I just wanted to sink into a hole, hide out and wallow in my miserable confusion. Taking 8 pills a day, 2 insulin shots and sleeping with a mask just about pushed me over the edge.

But low and behold, Nicole gave me the Bodybugg and I started seeing changes... I was actually aware of what was going in my mouth. Being accountable and seeing it in writing really helps.

Another thing that has been helpful is that I am not depriving myself. I have had a brownie, a small piece of chocolate and a bagel with cream cheese. I am just not eating the WHOLE thing. I am trying to change my lifestyle so allowing myself to at least taste these treats and not eat the whole darn thing seems to be working for me.

Until next time...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

January - Bringing you up to speed

Since I am starting this blog in February, I thought I would bring you up to speed on January. I started using the Bodybugg on January 5th. My friend Nicole gave it to me. She had received a new one for Christmas and thought it would be ideal if we were both doing the program at the same time.

Since January 5th I have lost 16 lbs! The Bodybugg is a great tool. I highly recommend it to anyone who is battling a weight issue. I am a visual learner and the Bodybugg software puts everything in perspective. It seems so simple when you think about it. Your output must exceed your input to achieve weight loss. One simple sentence but actually seeing it on a bar chart REALLY helps me!

I haven't really started exercising on a regular basis yet. I have done some extra walking and dancing with my Ipod but I have yet to make it to the gym or do any "formal" exercise. So that is my next course of action. Incorporate exercise into my regimen. I will probably start out 1-2 days a week at the gym and increase it from there. I have been paying for a membership at 24 Hour Fitness so it will be nice to actually USE the membership.

Until next time...

Welcome

This is my first time blogging so please bear with me. Welcome to my page! I am hoping that this will help me stay on track and provide some insight on the daunting task of losing over 150 lbs. According to the "statistics" this is how much I need to lose to be in the "Normal" weight range.

Like most people that have a weight problem, I have been on lots of diets and have lost and gained the same weight over and over again. So you may ask, why is it different this time? My biggest motivation this time is twofold.

One: I am Type II Diabetic and was diagnosed in 1997. I took oral medications in the beginning but they stopped being effective, so I had to start doing insulin shots. I have been doing 2 shots a day for almost two years.

Two: I was recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and have to use a CPAP machine. It really helps me sleep better but I just HATE the fact that I have to use it. I want to ditch this machine BIG TIME.

There are many other reasons but those are the two biggies (no pun intended) Hypertension, High Cholesterol, etc...

I have always done things in my life on "my" schedule. Meaning, I don't necessarily conform to the standard time lines in life. For example, I got my Bachelors Degree at 30 years old while working full time instead of doing it in my 20s. If I had to do it again, I probably would have done it earlier but it didn't work out that way.

I am treating this just like I did school. I have a plan, tools, support and the DESIRE to succeed. This time I am ready to face whatever it takes to achieve my goal!