Sharika_O

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Having a rough time getting myself back on track at 100%.  For me, the option to not have temptation all around me isn't entirely possible.  Having kids and my granddaughter living with me makes it rather difficult at times.  I have an idea I'm going to try but am going to wait to reveal it until next week this time.  I want to see if my idea works.  I have been sticking to my 2-3 protein shakes a day.  I do have to drink more water though... seriously lacking there!

Found out late last week that part of the culprit to my weight gain and increased appetite has been a medication I have been on for at least 4 years.  My doc has agreed to let me come off of that.  I hope that helps curb the appetite issue.  Again, only time will tell.

Well I am off to get my Sunday started.  Just wanted to check in and say "hi" as well as give an update.  Scale has been playing games with me since I also tend to retain water.  I'm sure once I start drinking more H2O I'll be fine.

Later!

Happy Aloha Friday!

This week was a bit of a rude awakening for me in that I realized I didn't want the setback of regain setting the course for my year.  I have been doing a gratitude journal as well as affirmations as often as I can.  Rereading much of what I have clipped or written down.  Here are a couple of affirmations I wanted to share with you that have pointed me in the right direction.

The Only Time You Should Ever Look Back Is To See How Far You've Come...

Life Isn't About Waiting For The Storm To Pass.  It's About Learning To Dance In The Rain.

And my favorite one...

You're So Hard On Yourself.  Take A Moment.  Sit Back.  Marvel At Your Life: At The Grief That Softened You, At The Heartache That Wisened You, At The Suffering That Strengthened You.  Despite Everything, You Still Grow.  Be Proud Of This.

I made a promise to my late daughter many years ago when she was alive that I would never give up on her.  Often times I feel her presence and a little voice saying, "Ama, I'm not giving up on you.  You shouldn't give up on yourself either."  This is me not giving up on myself!

I can lose this regain!  The first steps are being taken:

1. Back to the 2-3 protein shakes a day.
2. Little to no carbs.
3. 80+ oz of water per day.
4. Exercise for 30 minutes a day.
5. Quality sleep.

As for today's menu:

• Pre-B – Nature Valley Peanut Butter & Chocolate Protein Bar (12g); Mushroom Coffee w/ Stevia, SF Italian Sweet Cream creamer, fiber
• B – Isopure Protein Coffee w/ fiber (51g)
• S – smokehouse almonds (1/2 snack pkg) & Mini Babybel Light cheese (6g)
• L – 1/3 of Zaxby’s Cobb Salad w/ Grilled Chicken
• S –
• D – Isopure Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Shake (51g)

Did my 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer this morning and as of 3PM I have drank 51 ounces of water.

Today is a much better day than yesterday.  Yesterday I was feeling out of it but not just because of the weight regain.  My sleep med had me feeling out of it yesterday because I didn't have quality sleep the night before.  Hubby has been stressed with his job and was doing a lot of tossing and turning.  Needless to say, I had no energy for anything at all.  I did manage to keep to my protein shakes though and ate a semi-sensible dinner.  I say semi-sensible because there was pasta involved.  NOTE TO SELF: Let the hubby know when you are trying to lose weight because otherwise he won't know.  Hubby wanted to surprise me with a Valentine's Day dinner at home.  He went to our favorite Italian restaurant and picked up dinner.

So today is a new day and I'm doing really good. I got my 30 minutes in on the elliptical trainer this morning.  I'm working on my 2nd protein shake of the day and only had a handful of almonds to snack on earlier.

MY MENU FOR THE DAY

B: Isopure Columbian Coffee protein shake (50g)

S: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee w/ Chiaga and Lion's Mane, stevia and 1tbsp of SF coffee creamer; Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds (1/2 snack pack)

L: Isopure Mint Chocolate Chip protein shake (50g)

S:

D: Pork Adobo and steamed asparagus spears (current plan)

Until later... 

Hello Everyone!  Good Thursday morning to you.  It's me again.  I am still battling with regain.  As much as I would love to lay blame on others for my failure, I know better.  In the end this is my tool and no one else can make this weight come off other than me.  I have a good idea of what I need to do diet-wise but am also going to be focusing more on both resistence training and sleep.  My goal is to lose this 40 lbs of regain by my 45th birthday next May.  That puts it at about a pound a week... doable I believe.

I am going to not only utilize the support forums here on OH but also am going to be diligently maintaining a Food & Mood Journal as well as my food journal on My Fitness Pal (using this to track my calories, carbs and protein).  I am also looking into when my local support groups meet.  I'm not one for being very social but I keep reading how important being with a support group is.  I'm waiting until my new insurance kicks in before getting a much needed checkup with my surgeon.  Hoping to have that scheduled in the next couple of weeks.

So I have a plan of action and my goal.  Here's to patience, perseverence and self-motivation.  I CAN DO THIS!

So today was my first weigh-in since getting myself back on track.  I'm happy to say that I'm down to 149 lbs - a drop of 6 lbs since last week Friday.

My hubby commented that he could see my face was thinning back out again.  My clothes fit better than they did; still a bit snug but feel better.  My carb cravings have subsided quite a bit.  There still there but not screaming at me all the time.  I've caught on that when I start wanting them that either I'm only thirsty or I need more protein.  So I opt for the water first, then I wait about 20 minutes.  If I'm still "craving" I opt for some jerky or cheese but something small if it's between meals.  One aspect that has been a bit rough is dealing with the headaches.  They have sucked!  I think they're more related to the decreased sugars than anything else.

I'm going into the weekend maintaining the course - high protein/little-to-no carb diet (about 100+ grams a protein a day), lots of water (80+ ounces a day) and my exercise regimen.  I have averaged about 1000 calories a day from food; exercise is shaving off about 230-270 calories a workout.  I was concerned at first with the low calorie intake but my energy levels have been really good and I haven't had hunger issues.  I'm journaling EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth.

What's awesome is that my family is very supportive.  They haven't just been cheering me on but also incorporating much of the same diet regimen - just a lot more veggies/fruits than me.  They've cut back on the starches but not to an extreme.  The kids have taken a new liking to exercise; hubby not so much.

Well that's it for me today.  Take care.

Sharika

Time is such an interesting element.  You either have way too much of it or not enough.  Some people swear by time management while others just go with the flow.  In my case, I have learned to slow down and enjoy the time I have.  This includes time for meditation.  It includes time to enjoy my meals.  Time to exercise.

Today I was planning on taking my kids and grandchild to the YMCA but had to switch gears and wait on a delivery.  I had planned on some weights and cardio before time in the sauna.  Weights will have to wait until Friday.  I did about 50 minutes of cardio today by jogging/walking the treadmill (iFit is a great tool).  I managed about 110g of protein on thd day and 70oz of water.  Not feeling hungry at all or craving sweets either.  Today was a good day! Made the most of my time and rolled with it...

Sharika

The last couple of days have been really good with respects to my diet.  I've logged more than 100 grams of protein each day and drank about 90 ounces of water as well.  For the first time in a long time I don't feel bloated.  I can say that because of the complications I had following surgery that gluten and lactose have been issues for me.  Becoming bloated is just one side-effect they cause.  I'll leave it that I've been IBS free the last 2 days and am a happy girl.  I'm not due to weigh myself until this Friday so stay tuned.

Sharika

Somehow my Day #2 blog post went poof...

Thank you, Internet!

I had a great reminder from a fellow OH member that I have to share.  Weight loss is more about the diet than anything else.  You can exercise until the cows come home but it won't help if you eat back all of your calories burned.  I was also reminded to focus on the WLS basics - dense protein first, veggies second and lots of water.  Fruits and carbs are last on the list.  I'm going to focus on the first three to get the Carb Monkey off my back.  Starting tomorrow I'll share more on how the diet phase of my quest is going as well.

Thanks to NYMom22 for the awesome advise!

Sharika

So I feel as though I have hit a setback when it comes to my weight.  Until about a year ago I had been doing really well keeping my weight in check following a very complicated RNY process in early 2012.  Now I have started back on old bad habits and letting depression take over.  I've managed to put back on about 30 pounds in a rather short amount of time and am a bit upset but with myself.

I have enlisted the help of my family to get back on track and am hoping that will help me.  That and getting back to the basics - mindful diet, exercise and restful sleep (one area that's very elusive for me).  My plan is to track what I eat daily using My Fitness Pal.  I also plan on using it for tracking my exercise - to which I just got a membership to the YMCA and also have a treadmill here at home.  There shouldn't be a reason for me not to get some sort of exercise.  I also have my Gear S2 that needs to be put back to better use.  Also, I have a good sleep app that is going to get used once again as sleep is very important as well for recovery and health.

Fell free to follow along with me.  I'm going to try and make this a daily check-in.  Positive thoughts are always a plus from those going through the same trials as one is going through...