My Fitness Pal

Hey MFP - thank you SO MUCH for helping me this week.  I literally could not have made it without you.  I've tried all kinds of eating plans:  vegan, all veggies, paleo, wheat belly, weight watchers, low fat, low carb, high protein, ........... the list could go on and on.

I stuck with them alf  For a week.  Or maybe just a few days.  The problem was consistency.  I just couldn't survive.  I couldn't hang in there.  I gave up.  I felt deprived and it was hard to eat what the fam was eating.  It was almost impossible to eat out at a restaurant.

The hunger made it impossible to function.  I was literally hungry all the time.  ALL.THE.TIME!  Nobody got time for that!

Then like a star from Neverland, here came My Fitness Pal.  Balanced, reasonable, and most importantly, doable.  Yes, I've made it six days.  Six whole days which included a 3 day weekend trip out of town!

The app assigns calories for the day broken down into protein, carbohydrates, fat, sugars (a little redundant but I still reference it.)  Vitamins and other nutrients are also calculated for you.  All you have to do is enter the name of what you are eating.  Or you can scan the barcode with your smart phone.

Last week I entered my stats:  height, weight, age
I measured my neck, waist and hips and entered the results.
It just takes a second to enter what I'm eating.

Nope.  My new pal is not paying me.  I'm just excited that I found something that is easy and doable.

I set my goal to lose 1.5 pounds a week.

Today was the end of week 1.  Do you want to know the results?

Okay...... drum roll......

beginning weight:  223.8

Today:  222.2

Do you know how long it's been since I've lost a pound?  EVEN ONE POUND?  a long, long time.

Oh one more thing before I leave:  Dr. Oz Show today.  Did you watch?
He worked out a "deal" with fast food lovers.  Go ahead and go a couple times a week.  HOWEVER the food you choose must add up to 500 calories or less.

Go here to see what to eat where:  Dr Oz's 500 Calorie Fast Food Meals

My first benchmark goal is to be 215 by Halloween.
My second benchmark goal is to be 199 on January 1 2014

Toodles

First Things First

Way back in December 2012 I declared it would be "THE YEAR OF ME!"  I've put myself last on the list for too, too long.  With all 3 children graduating their respective schools, I made the decision that it was time for ME to pay some attention to ME.

And so it began with P90.  Power 90 by Tony Horton.  NOT the P90X.  Wasn't sure Totally sure I wasn't ready for the XTREME so I did a search on amazon and found his first workout series online.  Ordered it.  Pushed play.  In fact, I pushed play every day for 90 days.  (I think I missed only twice and even those days I made up later)  By May 15 I had lost one size.  I felt stronger and leaner.  I had lost 8 pounds.  Pretty sure I wouldn't make the cut for the infomercial, but I was still satisfied glad I managed even this much.

After the whirlwind graduation month and the summer trips and then moving my middle child into a university dorm 5 hours away, I was tired.  T.I.R.E.D.  Those 8 pounds I lost back in the spring?  I found them.  Plus a few more.  Dang.  Frustrating.

With school back in session and my life settling into a normal frenzy, I once again decided it was time for me.  And this time I also decided I'd do things opposite.  It's going to be OPPOSITE DAY as they say on NickJr.

First things first:  Medical Checkup.
Did I tell you about my gynecologist appointment?  Total frustrating and disappointment.  I had my brave face, my determination, my questions.  I was ready.  I did not get a question in.  Well, maybe one.  I asked him if my medication could be causing the struggle to lose even a pound.  The answer?  "It takes a lot of effort to lose weight"  And that was it.  Wow.  I felt shell shocked when leaving.

Dr. Oz says if you don't get the answers you want from the first doctor, find a new one.  So that's what I did.

The next Friday morning I found myself in the office of a new doctor.  I had made an appointment for a full physical (minus the pap smear which I did manage to have done at the disappointing GYN office)
I was to show up starving fasting.

I received the results of my bloodwork yesterday.
Thankfully everything was normal.  EXCEPT my blood sugar.  138.  Normal is under 100.  So I need to return in 4 months for a recheck.

Secondly:  I found myfitnesspal.com.  Entered my health info and statistics.  And the program gave me a free chart that calculates calories, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals.  For the next 30 days I'm staying within the default limits.  I may decide to add more protein and lower the carb allowance but for now I'm sticking with the recommendations.

Other opposite things I will be doing:

weighing and measuring.  (I used to eye ball it)
weigh daily (I know, they say weigh weekly.  But that's what I've done in the past.  And this time I'm doing the opposite)
eat less fruit (Weight Watchers got me in the habit of eating fruit for a snack for zero points.  But wow, the sugar in fruit may be a problem for me.  I'll see how it is in 4 months)
Think about ME when I'm at Kroger - true story.  I usually buy for everybody else and then try to eat around them.  Yep.  True.

Current Weight:  223  (I KNOW!!!!!!)
Goal for Oct 31 Halloween:  210
Goal for Jan 1 New Year:  199


I'll keep you posted.

Kick in the Pants

They say you have to hit rock bottom before you can start to climb back up.

Friday morning I went to the doctor for a complete physical.  Hearing the information was helpful and welcome.  I asked for help and I got many answers.  But it wasn't until today - when the email arrived - that I hit rock bottom.

"Please log into your medical account to see a new message from your physician."

I logged in.

Name, address, email

Female

Married

Then I saw it.  OBESE.  What?  I know I'm pudgy.  I know I've ignored it for a long time.  But my jeans still fit.  And I'm always up and down 15 pounds.  I feel fine.  My blood pressure is normal now.

But there it was.  

OBESE

What was that thump?  That was me hitting rock bottom.  Wow.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I have ignored it long enough.  Seeing that word next to my BMI sent electrical shocks through my body.  Wow.  

After the initial shock, I googled "measuring my BMI".  Anything above 30 is obese.  And I'm well above that.  I've never seen it in print.

Okay.  Well.  Whew.  Now what.  I can't just look at that word and go on like nothing happened.  

Besides, I like a well thought out plan.  

I was standing in the grocery store line waiting to check out and read over the magazine headlines.

Lose 10 pounds in a week with no hunger

Lose 2 size by Halloween

How she dropped 50 pounds eating chocolate cake for breakfast!

So, that last one - I made it up.  But it'll probably be a headline next week.  

Finally I whispered a sincere, private prayer.  

My Heavenly Father,

You formed me.  You created me.  You know me.

I need your help.

I know that You always give the best to those who leave the choice to You.

So, I'm leaving the choice to you.

Guide me to the steps toward health.

Push me there!  

I'm leaving the choice to You.  

Me

I managed to check out and drive home.  I couldn't wait to start.

What am I doing?

I searched online and found Myfitnesspal.com. 

I entered my information.

The program automatically keeps track of calories, protein, fat, sugar, sodium.  

The program sets goals in each category.

Onward to health.  I'll let you know.

Patti

D Day

Doctor's appointment in the morning.  8:15.  Thank goodness it's early because I can't eat or drink beforehand.  I'll be caffeine deficient for sure.

Decision Day.  After blood work results return, I'll have some decisions to make.

Doughnuts will not be considered.  (just had to put another D word)


My workout this morning - Core Cardio for those who have P90X - almost killed me.  I survived.  Barely.

Hurry up tomorrow.  Let's get this over with.

Begin Again...

I'm fine with the planning.  I can use excel and create a spreadsheet on any topic, print it, distribute it and delegate.

Planning:  check

Getting started - beginning - that's the part I struggle with.  I have been known to procrastinate.  Other things take precedent.  Other thing and other people's needs seem more important than my own.

Maybe it's a female thing.  I'm sure it's a "Mom thing"  I look around at other Moms and see them taking time for themselves and I wonder how they do it.  I notice they are letting other things "go" in order to make me time.  And yes, ME TIME is important.  I get that.

I get real satisfaction out of a clean kitchen.  Weird?  Maybe.

A good day to me is sorting and organizing, purging and cleaning.  Seriously!  Why would I kid about that?

I recharge with alone time.

Honestly,  I don't have the energy to add a friend.  I have flashes of wishing I had a friend.  Then I snap back to reality and think about the time and energy it would take...... and I lose interest.

And so I tend to be friends with the one I"m with.
Love the one you're with.
I follow that philosophy.
The downsize is I never bond.  I never form a true relationship.  As soon as I leave the room, poof, I'm forgotten.

Nothing is going to change unless I MAKE IT CHANGE.

Here's my plan.  (like I said, I'm good with planning)

Health:  I went to a new doctor a few weeks ago.  Let me back up.  I had my yearly appointment with my GYN.  I got no information.  And I had questions written down to ask!  I spoke with the nurse at the beginning of the appointment and related my questions.  I saw her taking notes.  But then my appointment ended so quickly that I was caught off guard.  One minute Doc and I were chatting in his office, the next minute he called the nurse in to ask about a mammogram facility and while she was helping me set up that appointment, he went to the next patient.  Uh, huh?  WTF?   I'm finished?

I could have made  scene and demanded for him to return and answer my questions.  Yes, I could have done that.  But frankly, that exact second I gave up.  I told the nurse I was leaving.  And that's what I did.  I left.  Walking to the car I got even more angry.  Nope.  Not going back.

I walked into my house and called a doctor that I had seen several years ago.  Made an appointment.  That was the first part of my plan.

My appointment with this doctor went much better.  She answered all of my questions.   She reviews the medication I was taking and prescribed something new.  Within 3 days I felt so much better.  My headaches are gone.  My energy has returned.  It's a new day.  (I do have a followup appointment Friday so I'll let you know...)

Medical checkup:  Check

Next:  Getting in shape

I'm not working this school year.  That's a story in itself.  I'll save it for another day.
my plan is to make ME my job.  P90X - get ready.  I'm coming back.  

Cross your fingers

......because I think my computer is FIXED.

I worked on it for hours.

I won't go through what I did step by step because that, too, would take hours.

But hey, I'm typing.  And not seeing the spinning beach ball of death!  So that's good.

The true test will be if I can get into my photos.  I'm almost "scared" to try.

Meanwhile, I've missed you, blog.  I have so much to talk about:

Edward Snowden _ I'm obsessed with this story

Paula Deen - what in the world?  I still can't.............. wow

Husbands - I still have mind

Children - I survived THREE graduations this spring

Pets - My dog had surgery.  We were worried about him for about a week but now he's back to normal.

Fashion, shopping, housekeeping, vacations, eating, exercise, dust, .............. the lists goes on and on!

Happy to be back.

Come on Betsy, hang in there another year.  Then maybe I can upgrade to a newer computer

Toodles

Hard to blog when.....

I'm experiencing major computer problems.

I think old betsy is suffering through her final days.

And to think I lived 25 years on this Earth without a personal computer.  Mind boggling.

The silver lining is while my computer is in the shop I will have time to design a whole new blog.  And I am ready.  It's been fun making notes and jotting down ideas.  I love a new project!

*****

This morning Betsy seems to be feeling well.  She hasn't frozen or hesitated.  Okay maybe she's hesitated.  I'm just glad I'm online.

So Ironman and I survived the Graduations.  Remember, I had 3 graduates.  And then the following weekend my nephew was married and we drove 6 hours to the ceremony.  The following weekend we were so tired.  I haven't been that tired since I was caring for a newborn.  Now that is tired.  I think yesterday we finally agreed that we felt recovered.  Back to normal tiredness.

My new fangled blog will have a "what's new with you" day.
So for now I'm going to tell you something new.  IN fact, I haven't told anybody!  So you are the first to know.  Aren't you lucky?

Here goes:  I am in a secret email relationship with Kit Horton Caldicott.  Do you know her?  Her brother is Tony Horton of P90X fame.  She has a blog:  getfitwithkit.com.  And her primary focus is women in their 40s and 50s.  Bingo!  I read a few blog posts and was inspired  So I commented.  And she emailed me back!  So much fun.  Do you find it's easier to ask questions of someone you can't see? And they can't see you?  She is happy to help.
Here are a few questions I asked:

Should you eat low fat or low carb?
I understand the clean eating philosophy and the real food (if it grows in your grandfather's farm...) way of eating.  How do you keep that going?
Basically, how can I lose weight and not feel deprived?  And in my 50s, with so many other things going on in my body, how do I do it?  Basically that's been my question:  HOW DO I DO IT?

And now she is going to set up a weekly phone call with me.  WOO HOO!!  For free!  I've never had a personal trainer.  EVER.   Nice to have someone willing to guide and advise.

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The Engineer graduated WITH A JOB.  It was a thrilling, exciting day.  I was proud and happy and excited and relieved and giddy.  All at once.  He has already been employed fulltime as an Environmental Engineer for 2 weeks and got his first real life salaried pay check!  HE CAN PAY HIS OWN RENT!!  So exciting.

Dancer Girl got her braces off.  Had to have some cosmetic procedure on her front two teeth as they were not shaped in a way............ they were basically angled.  So she had a space that the dentist filled. Looks beautiful.

I.T. girl purged her high school belongings.  Wow!  She felt great doing it.  And she found some funny stuff.  (I forced her to save it.  File it. )

********

I feel like I should keep going since Betsy is cooperating.

Until next time.  Toodles