ObesityHelp

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IM me on Yahoo: kiskadee_seven

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Find me on MySpace and be my friend!

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I always thought I was fat. I am from a family of small people. My mom in 4'10" and I am an amazon at 5'7". I am the youngest of seven children (hence, my name). We are all many years apart. In fact, while my mom was pregnant with me, my sister and a sister-in-law were both pregnant! I went to the same Junior High School at the same time as 3 neices and a nephew! Anyway, they were all tiny and it made me feel fat. I look back now and realize I wasn't even overweight, but this view I had of myself was forever ingrained in my brain.

I began my weight gain when I got married at age 21. I weighed 135 (and thought I needed to lose at least 20 pounds). My weight gain was steady until I began taking Actos, a diabetic medicine. In about 6 months I gained 70 lbs!

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GOALS
Actos Weight (66lbs) - Oct 3, 2005
Quit Smoking Weight (25lbs) - Dec 12, 2005
Century Club - Dec 23, 2005
College Weight (25lbs) - Jan 16, 2006
After Baby Weight (45lbs)
Pregnancy Weight (15lbs) -
Bicentential -
Marriage Weight (40lbs) -

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January 20, 2005 -
Ahhhhhh. Why won't the scale move?

January 19, 2005 -
One of my resolutions this year was to design an exercise regimen and change it up as needed. I have decided every month I will change it slightly. At the first of the month I will change the weight portion and midway I will change the walking.

I have slightly altered my walking regimen. Before I was walking at a brisk pace for 2 miles (I built up to 2 miles) four times a week. Now I am going to follow this schedule:

Monday - 1 warm up lap. 1/4 lap as fast as I can, 3/4 lap at brisk pace for 6 laps, 1 cool down lap.

Tuesday - 1 warm up lap. 6 brisk laps. 1 cool down lap

Wednesday - long distance walk

Thursday - 1 warm up lap. 1/4 lap as fast as I can, 3/4 lap at brisk pace for 6 laps, 1 cool down lap.

Friday - 1 warm up lap. 6 brisk laps. 1 cool down lap

Saturday/Sunday - rest/make-up days

We'll see how this goes.

January 16, 2005 -
Yipee! New mini-goal has been reached! I have lost my college weight. I've lost 116 lbs in less than 8 months. Now it is on to losing the weight I gained after my son was born.

The oatmeal didn't work. Adding artichokes was no help. The colace made me sick. Now I have started taking Benefiber. I sure hope this is the answer.

I went to the Austin OH get-together Saturday. I had a nice time and met a couple of great people. Pictures are on my yahoo site. The link is at the top of the page.

January 11, 2005 -
The scale moved! The scale moved! My BMI is below 40. I am no longer severely obese.

January 6, 2005 -
OK, I haven't lost any weight in 6 days. This is ridiculous. The colace made me sick. I was so dizzy and it didn't work, even after 3 days.

I continue to change up my diet. Fiber must be added! I am now eating:
B - 2 oz chicken breast, 1 oz ff cheese
L - 2 oz chicken breast, 1 oz ff cheese, 2 C salad w/3 T light dressing, .75 C artichoke hearts
D - 2 oz chicken breast, 1 oz ff cheese, 2 C salad w/3 T light dressing, .75 C artichoke hearts
S - Oatmeal w/t light Country Crock, sf cocoa

Nutritional Info:
Fat: 9g
Carbs: 79 g
Fiber: 16 g
Protein: 57g
Calories: 581

This will vary slightly depending on the salad dressing I use.

I sure hope this gets me "moving" again. Oh, and the scale too.

The nurse called with my lab results. She said everything looked great! Cholesterol - 140! A1C - 5.6! Woohooo!!!

January 3, 2005 -
New Year's day was a disaster! I indulged in some Doritos and dip. Made a meal of it! I was soooooo sick. I went to bed about 3 pm and didn't get up until 6:30 the next day! It was so awful. Hopefully that is a lesson learned.

New Year's Resolutions
I resolve to do my best to reach the goals I set for myself.

1. Make a friend.
2. Make healthy food choices.
3. Design an exercise regimen and follow it. Revisit the plan and make neccesary adjustments. Be accountable to the regimen.

I haven't lost anything in days. I am rather depressed about that. I added oatmeal for breakfast for the fiber. I haven't had a bowel movement without MOM for weeks. I am waiting for my lab results to see the doctor. God, I hope that is soon. I also took Colace last night. So far no help.

December 26 2005 -
Christmas is over. It was wonderful. Everyone seemed happy and I survived the day without sweets. I indulged a bit, but truly it wasn't that bad. I had 3 tamales (not all at once) and several chips/crackers and dip. All in all not too bad. I haven't gotten on a scale and don't plan to for a few days.

Today I was not feeling well so I didn't work out. I am going to regret it after indulging the past few days. I will get back on track with food and exercise tomorrow. It is so difficult with all the junk food in the house!

December 23, 2005 -
I did it! I did it! FINALLY - I have lost 100, count them, 100 pounds! I am so excited! Woooohoooo! Seven months to the day post-op.

I have been on the lunchmeat diet for 2 weeks now and have lost 12 lbs. I am going to try to keep it up for another 2 weeks. I am not sick of the food, I just wish I could have other things too. But, even at the rate I am losing, I will be lucky to reach my goal for the month. I am trying so hard to get to my goal weight within 18 months. It doesn't look promising. Oh well, I am half way there.

I can't believe I have lost 100 pounds! Yea me!

December 13, 2005 -
I've been on the new diet for 5 days and have lost 5 lbs. Here is what I am eating:
B - 2 oz ham
1 oz ff cheese
L - 2 oz chicken
1 oz ff cheese
1 1/2 C salad
2 T light dressing
D - 2 oz turkey
1 oz ff cheese
1 1/2 C salad
2 T light dressing
2 cocktail dill pickles

I hope to keep this up for 1 month. It is too boring to do for very long, but I am desperate to get my weight loss on track.

I had my first WOW moment! After months of reading about everyone's exciting news finally something has happened to me. I was at my lawyer's office this morning in the waiting room and I looked down and my legs were crossed! Not my foot on my knee like a truck driver, but crossed like a lady. I haven't done that in I don't even remember when. I know I weighed less than I do now. It was really cool. I have been crossing them all day just to make sure I still can.

December 8, 2005 -
Well, after over six months I have lost only 86 pounds. If I had only 100-125 to lose, I would feel I was on the right track. But, I needed to lose more like 225. So, it looks like I am failing at this.

I am starting a new diet and exercise program. I am hoping to be able to keep it up for one month. My goal is off the chart, but if I am to turn this around I have to go for the impossible.

I really, really don't want to fail at this - I am out of options.

December 6, 2005 -
Mom came home yesterday - finally. I still have to go and help her everyday. I sure hope I can get my life back on schedule soon. I have no time to work out or walk.

I didn't lose any weight last week. I was so disapointed. I only have five pounds to make my next goal. On the bright side, I didn't get sick even once last week.

I think I broke my little toe last weekend. So I guess walking is out for a while. It is red and swollen where it is not black and blue.

November 28, 2005 -
My mom is doing much better. She is still in the hospital.

I got sick twice this week. Once after I was upset with one of Mom's nurses and again after eating some leftover turkey. Maybe someday the sickness will stop.

I still didn't exercise or get enough water, but I am starting again today with my exercise routine.

After no weight loss last week, I lost 8 pounds this week! Five more pounds to my next goal.

November 21, 2005 -
Mom had her surgery. It has been a rough week. She was in ICU for 4 days. She is still confused and so very weak. I am not sure when she will get out of the hospital.

I have really fallen on my regimin. I have not exercised or eaten right. I have not come even close to having enough water on any day since the surgery. I am just not sure how to get back on track. It is so hard. I am at the hospital from morning til night and when I come home every muscle and bone in my body is screaming.

Saturday I dumped on my lunch, steak, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas and corn. I ate in the hospital cafeteria. They must have added sugar to something. I was so sick. Flushing, shaking, nausea, it was awful!

November 14, 2005 -
It has been a rather boring week. I did really well taking my vitamins and exercising. I kept my calories below 1000. But, everyday I seemed to drink a little less water. I REALLY have to work on that.

My goal for the week - keep up the vitamins, exercise and caloric intake. DRINK MORE WATER!

I hadn't thrown up in over a week and was actually believing I was over it. Then tonight - blah. I had Southwestern style baked chicken breast (2 oz), angel hair pasta (.25 C) and a spear of asparagus. I have had everything before except the asparagus, but I doubt that was the problem. I ate slowly, chewed it well. I just don't know what happened. Maybe it is because I haven't had enough h2o. It seems I read someone's post that said they had problems when they were dehydrated. One more reason to increase my water intake.

I took my mom to the hospital this morning to pre-register for surgery. She is having back surgery Wednesday. I am so worried. She is 83 years old. She is in rather good health, although she has a heart murmer and an irregular beat. I just hate that she is having this surgery, but I can't stand her in so much pain. I am trying to keep only good, positive thoughts.

My son is doing well in school. He is a freshman in college. He got an 82 on an algebra test, the highest grade of any of the professor's classes. And he got an A on his English paper. I am so proud of him.

November 6, 2005 –
Viactiv makes calcium too. The calcium is actually really good. I didn't get the Cardio workout I was hoping to get, but I did walk for 45 minutes at the grocery store. Not what I was hoping for, but better than sitting on the couch. I found a new web site, fitday.com. where you can log your food for the day and keep track of your nutrients and activity and other junk. I exceeded my water goal!

Goal for the day - drink 50 oz of water, log food intake.

November 5, 2005 –
I found a chewable vitamin I can tolerate! It is called Viactiv. This is so great! I didn't get in all my water yesterday, but I came close. I did my weights: bench press, back press, front press, tricep extentions, concentrated curls.

Goal for the day – Get a little cardio workout, write down everything I consume, drink 64 oz of water.

November 4, 2005 –
It has been over 5 months since surgery and I have lost 73 lbs. I have many, many more to go. I worry about how much I eat. My stomach seems able to hold more than it should. But, I am not eating what I used to and I am still losing, slowly but none-the-less losing. I struggle daily with drinking enough water and ‘phantom’ hunger. Thank goodness my sweet tooth has abated. I generally have a cup of sf cocoa and it satisfies me. I still crave sodas, but that too is easing up a bit.

Goal for the day – take vitamins, drink 64 oz water, workout

May 31, 2005 -
I had my surgery. It was without a doubt the worst experience of my life! I have never been so miserable. I had constant anxiety attacks while in the hospital in addition to horrible pain. I could barely take more than a few steps when I was released to go home.

I couldn't eat or drink anything for a week. I didn't get a good night's sleep for 2 or 3 weeks. The pain was unbearable. I am allergic to all adhesive and my stomach was just one GIANT scab. I got a little bit of infection in my drain hole. I had more than a couple of regrets about having the surgery. I shed more than a few tears worrying about what I had done to myself.

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