Changing Things Up

Wow, I have been gone from my blog for a very long time. Things got really frustrating with the weight loss and I was having a bad attitude. It turns out that my doctor should have never put me on the thyroid meds. It caused my insomnia and all the weight I lost on it (about 10 lbs) came right back on. In fact, it slowed my metabolism way down and I didn't lose any weight for months. Then in the month of March I got so frustrated (and had a lot of stress) that I basically binged my way through the month. I got on the scale on Monday and was up to 235. That scared me really bad, I don't want to gain back all that I have worked so hard to lose. I am back at it but I am doing it the old fashion way this time - counting calories. I bought myself a BodyMedia Fit. I absolutely love it! It keeps track of how many calories I burn, steps I take, calories I eat, moderate and vigorous exercise, etc. It has really encourage me to exercise. At any point during the day I can look at it and see how much more I need to do to reach my goal. My goal at this point is to have a 1000 calorie deficit each day so I will lose an average of two pounds a week. As of today I am down 4 lbs. so I know it is working. I'm not going to give up!!

Survived the Holidays

Well I made it through the holidays and stayed on my program. I am still not losing weight. The weight I lost with the thyroid pill came back. I ended up not continuing with the pill since it was no longer effective and my insomnia started at that time. I am still not sleeping or losing weight unfortunately. This is getting frustrating....

New Thyroid Pill

Last month my naturopath took me off of my thyroid pill. Two weeks later I got insomnia, so he put me back on a different one. The new pill works great! I still can't sleep though, which is a big bummer. I don't know if it's related to the thyroid, my age, weight loss, or stress. I've had a lot of stress lately. The lady I took care of passed away. My mom has been diagnosed with cancer, again. My daughters work situation is dangerous right now. Then we have the issue that can't be discussed. I have a lot on my brain and don't know how to turn it off. I have tried everything from herbal concoctions to prescription pills and nothing works. So, I pray. I guess that someone I love must need a lot of prayer right now.

We went riding quads over the weekend, and had a lot of fun. When I got home and on the scale it read 216.4. That means I lost 8 pounds this week!!! Pretty amazing and exciting after such slow progress I have had the last few months. This brings my weight loss total to 85 pounds. That is more than my Mary weighed. I have lost a small person at this point.

I Survived Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was extra special because it was my daughter's 20th birthday. She is an absolutely wonderful, godly young lady that I am very proud of.

I didn't have any trouble sticking to the diet over this holiday. I made non fat gravy and oatbran bread stuffing with sausage in it. Yummy!! I think I will have to do that more often and not wait for Thanksgiving. My family even liked it as well as their stuffing. I was dreading a eating holiday, but it wasn't a problem at all. Amazing! I even lost weight this week and am at 224.

Back on Dukan again

Well I went up a pound on the other diet, and the cravings were getting stronger day by day. I didn't wait for Thanksgiving to switch. It was nice to have a break and eat some fruit but I think the Dukan is the only way for me at this point. I still haven't cheated on either diet but I sure was tempted on the lo-cal one! I was worried that it was going to be hard to switch back to Dukan, but it was quite easy and almost a relief to be back doing what I know best at this point. I lost the pound I gained so I am still at 226.

It's working and it got me to halfway!

Praise the Lord! The change up worked. My daughter is so smart! I am now at 226. I have officially lost 75 lbs and am halfway to my weight loss goal! So very exciting. I am going to continue it until Thanksgiving and then I think that I will go back to the Dukan diet. It is such a nice break from 6 months of eating meat and veggies, I actually get to eat fruit several times a day and some grain products. I feel like I am cheating because it is such a treat after not having any for so long. I do notice that I feel hungry more often even though I can eat as many veggies off the list as I want. I am having a few cravings but I am not sure if that is pms stuff or carb related. I have been able to keep a handle on it though.

Everyone is noticing now and all the time. It is so encouraging to hear them tell me how great I look and how proud they are of me and to keep up the good work. It is very helpful on days that it gets discouraging.

Something new

My daughter gave me a suggestion and since she is a wise young women I am going to take her advice. I have been contemplating this since she suggested it on Thursday. But, frankly, I am very fearful to do something different than what had been working. I am afraid that I will lose control and go back to eating anything and everything all the time. I finally decided to take the plunge and I am going to try it. It is the Rotation Diet. For 3 days you eat 600 calories, next 4 days 900 calories, than a week of 1200 calories. Than you repeat the first week. I am going to try it for a week and see if the weight will start moving again. You have a menu you follow. It is almost the opposite of the Dukan diet so it might trick my body. I will report back to what happens.

Week 27 and 28

Okay, I didn't post my weights when they happened because not much has happened. I stayed the same at 231. It is getting really frustrating that the diet that seemed to work so well, isn't working so well anymore. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. My body has never liked to let go of the extra weight so it has been unusual that the Dukan diet has worked so well. I think my body has figured out that it was losing weight and has decided to rebel and quit losing. I am not sure what to do about it. I have even been trying to exercise somewhat regularly.

Anyway, I had my birthday on the 28th. My daughter and I went to the Women's Retreat at camp Tapawingo that day. It was so encouraging. Everyone noticed that I had lost weight, several people shared that since they have seen me do it, that it has encouraged them to try and lose weight also. They even told me that I am their inspiration. I am not sure what to think of that! It makes me know that I have to continue this battle and figure out once again how to get my body to let this weight go.

Week 26 - Wow, that's a long time!

So, I guess I have been on the Dukan Diet for six months now. That seems so amazing. It seems like I was just telling my family that I was going to try this crazy diet for a month and now it's been six months. As of today, I am down 70 pounds. I was 231 this morning and had lost another 3 pounds. That is the most I have lost in awhile so maybe the apple did the trick, or maybe not.. I now know that it probably didn't hurt me. I will probably have a piece of fruit once a month just because I think it is healthy for the body and it didn't give me any negative side effects.

In six months
*I have lost 70 pounds (2 3/4 lbs a week)
*Gone down 4 sizes in clothing
*Gotten off one high blood pressure pill
*Lowered my cholesterol
*Have more energy
*Have better self-esteem
*Been able to do things easier and better

Has it been worth it? I have had to say no to a lot of the foods I would like to eat. But as of today I am not upset about not having them. I don't even remember everything I said no to. At the time it was hard, but so very worth it. I can't wait to be normal weight and God willing, I will have a much longer, healthier life to enjoy my family with.

Looking forward to the next six months.

A strange occurrence

There is a strange occurrence that has been happening lately. I noticed it the first time on Sunday when we were at the beach, and I assumed if must be a fluke thing. But then it happened a few days later when I went to get the mail. And then again today when the dog was heaving. I am not sure what is causing it or if it will continue to happen, since it hasn't happened in many years. Are you wondering what it is? Well, I have been jogging, a slow jog, but a jog still the same. It surprises me every time my body does it, but it hasn't killed me yet.

I cheated - on purpose!

I had an apple a couple days ago! :o I have been losing really slowly. It seems like the last few months I keep playing with the same few pounds going up and down. I researched how to break stalls and a lot of the suggestions were to go off diet for a day. I was too scared to do that so I had an apple. I have been wanting fruit since I started this diet. I thought about it for several hours before I was brave enough (I have a fear if I deviate from the diet that I will totally lose control). I sliced it into thin slices and took a bite. My thought was, "yep, that's what an apple tastes like, it's sweet and juicy". "hmm, it's just an apple". I was totally surprised that I wasn't excited about it or anything, it was no different than eating a piece of meat or zucchini. I think this diet has actually changed my thoughts about food! Praise the Lord!!! I think I am getting healed from this addiction to food.

Week 25

Wow, it's hard to believe how long I have been on this diet and been able to stick to it. Today when I weighed I was at 234.1. Things are still coming off slow. But, I guess that slow is better than not at all, or even gaining. It doesn't look as if I will meet my goal of halfway by my birthday. I am going to try and do more on the elliptical so there is still a chance.

The elliptical whooped me!

Wow! I am so out of shape! I could only (or was only willing) to do 10 minutes on that thing. I had sweat pouring off of me like I had never had. I have gotten on it 4 times since I got it for 10 minutes each time. I am hoping to up my time next week. It works though! I got on the scales and was back down to 234. I ordered the Jillian Michaels Lose Weight workout to use with it. I am sure it will be hard for me even though it's only level 1. I hope it arrives soon.

What happened?!?!?

Okay, I got on the scale this morning and it said 242. What happened?!?!? I did several all protein days and didn't deviate from the diet, and even exercised some. Six pounds gained - something is not right. This weekend I had sucralose and didn't drink my water could that have caused it? I could see several pounds - but not six! I am getting really frustrated with this ol' body.

On the upside of things, I was able to find an elliptical on craigslist this weekend. I used it this morning and it whooped me! I was only able to stay on it 10 minutes and at that point I had sweat pouring off of me. I am hoping this is what I need to get the weight coming off again.

PP days are what it takes

I got on the scales today and I was at 235.1. I guess I needed to do things the way I should do them and not the way I wanted to do them! That's 4 pounds for this week! I am so thankful that the scales are moving in the right direction again. I need to lose 10 more pounds to be at the halfway point. I would love to be there for my birthday which is on the 28th. I think at this point I should be able to reach that goal.

Things are probably going to get more hectic with my life. I have been asked to do my caregiver job 5 days a week instead of just 3. I am already stressed with the 3 but after praying about it, I feel that God put us on earth to be servants to one another and right now He is asking me to serve them. My family has said that they will help out at home more so hopefully it will work. I spent the weekend spring cleaning so things would be easier to keep up on. I only have a few more rooms to go. It sure feels good to have everything clean and in it's place.

Where are my posts....

....must be lost in cyberspace. I hadn't been on here in about a month and I just realized that my August posts are gone.

As of today I weighed in at 239.4. The scales are still coming down but very slowly. It seems like the last month I have been playing with the same 3-4 pounds. I have been frustrated with life and kind of down in the dumps especially since the scale isn't moving much, so I haven't been posting. I think that is part of my problem with the scale not moving and since it is veggie season here in Oregon I started eating veggies every day. I figured lean meat and veggies I will still lose a lot a weight. Well, I was wrong. I am starting back today to PP days and PV days instead of all PV days. I have also started T-Tapping again. I have actually done it three times this week. My other problem is that I am slacking in drinking water. I am anxiously awaiting my newest order of Capella drops to put in my water. I am going to try some Flavet ones this time. I will let you know.

I am so excited, someone finally noticed that I have lost weight! It took over 45 pounds to be lost - but they noticed. My friend came over last night for a BBQ and when we were alone she said that she noticed that I had lost a lot of weight. I told her thanks for noticing. This make us for all the frustrations I have had on this journey lately. She made my day!

After this, I am going to be brave and post a few photos (I don't know how long I will leave them up). The first is me at the start and then second is when I had lost 25% of what I want to lose. I have since then lost an additional 8 pounds. I still look at my before picture (and even current one) and am so appalled at what I let myself become.

No more dairy - what am I going to do?!?!?

I finally went to a naturopath to try and get better. It seems to be helping. He took me off of dairy today though! I spent the day having a big pity party for myself, and bawled all morning. Why does food or not being able to have food have such an affect on me? Why is it so important to me that I would actually cry? When I was driving home I was so tempted to pull into every fast food place I passed. I figured why not, I am a lost cause now. But then I prayed for strength and kept going. It has been a hard day. I have been wondering how I am going to stay on this diet and not have dairy. I already can't have eggs. That means only meat on protein only days. I don't think that will work. What am I to do?!?!

Post edited: Later t0day as I was bawling to my daughter that I couldn't have dairy now, she suggested that I try eating veggies every day with my protein and see if it will work. I am so glad I raised such a smart girl! I am going to give it a try and see what happens.

Week 13

The steroids must have left my body because the scale is going back down. I am now at 258. Still coughing though.

Week 12

I don't like these steroids. I am up 4 pounds and weigh 262.3. It is so frustrating to work so hard at something to have it waylaid because you had a reaction to a shot you didn't need. I am still feeling horrible and only get a few hours sleep at night due to coughing.