Cruising to Healthy

[brooklynfc]

Been under extreme stress (for me) lately. Won't go into detail, but those who have my FB know.

I think its finally out of my body and I'm returning to normal, but it certainly felt horrible while I was there.

It did push me to push myself though. I know exercise helps with stress, so I made sure to keep up with that while I was under it and believe it was probably my saving grace for a while. I'm not going into my weight right now b/c its still a sore subject.

I tried a new class at our Y on Monday called Body Bootcamp. I knew it was going to test my limits and it certainly did. I admit that I had to modify a more than a few moves just so I could do something instead of nothing. It challenged me it every way. Within the first 5 min. I had lower chest pains and I actually saw many other smaller people stop to "get water" and thought about stopping too. I figured that if I just kept moving it would stop and I was right. I was painfully sore yesterday (and still today) and my back is def. not loving me right now, but I made it through the whole class trying my hardest not to "wimp" on the moves. Half the class left in the middle. I completed yoga yesterday afternoon, but didn't try zumba that evening. I knew my muscles needed some rest. Tonight I will go for zumba and yoga.

I've finished "The Plan" and I think its at least worth attempting. I'm curious to see if I have the results she claims. Its a bit tricky to stick to though, a lot of "details" (or at least to me), so since my mom pointed it out to me and she controls most of the food in the house (she shops) I told her I would do it, if she did it with me. I figured this was the best way to keep focused and if we were both eating the same things it would be easier to have some control over food in the house until I can move out. Dad also has been trying to cut back on bad foods as his Chol. was up even on his meds. I think this will challenge me, but I think having someone else investing it in will help me push through.

[EmmasNana]

So Brooke, I said I would never post on here again, but I lied.

I tried "The Plan" and it is a whole lot of work in the beginning. Have you seen the thread on here about the woman wanting to loose 100 pounds? She is doing this and is doing well. You might want to check out her thread. She posts what she eats every day. I could not do this "diet". I could not get through the first week, but you might have better luck especially if your Mom prepares all the stuff you have to eat.

You might be interested in this one.
http://themilitarydiet.com/military-diet-plan/

It is very easy and doable. You just do it for three days a week and then eat sensibly for the other four. It does not give you free reign to just eat totally awful for the four days off if you don't want to regain what you lose on the three days. I am guessing it is less food than you eat most days, but I guarantee you, you will not starve to death. I actually thought it was very filling and could not eat everything on the first day. After your four days off, start the three days again. I do the military diet part Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It's only three days a week and the foods are things I actually like.

If you just hate any of the foods, there are substitutes listed. You must measure everything though. On two of the days you eat 1 cup of ice cream and 1/2 cup on the other day. When you eat a banana, you only eat 1/2, so I have been putting the other half in the freezer and will use it in smoothies later. 1/2 cup of tuna is one small can.
On the third day, it calls for 1 cup of tuna (two small cans) and I just could not do that, so I subbed for 6 oz of grilled chicken.

I truly want you to succeed.

[brooklynfc]

Life seems to be back to normal, as possible. My stress levels are gone and my grandad is hopefully on the mend though he will be in care for a while longer.

Got a new responsibility at work. I finally get to use my Theatre degree and help put together our new performing arts series here. My boss has entrusted me as the "point person" and I'm hoping that this is what she will use to push me up the ladder.

We finally got a health screening at work again. If you remember my job offered a "health program" back in 2011 to motivate healthy choices and gave us a free screening. They had to part ways with that company (it went under) and so they took some time to choose a better company. They have the ability now to do the blood test with a prick of the finger and do the screening right there. Neat, huh? Anyway. I thought I might share my numbers with you.

Total Chl: 162
HDL: 58
Triglycerides: 113
LDL Chl: 82
TC/HDL Ratio: 2.8
Glucose: 93
BP: 158/96 (The nurse and I determined that this was caused by too much sodium the yesterday as my last BP test was 110/82) But there is a history of High BP in my family and those people actually are the smallest people in my family (20-50lbs to lose). So, I may not be able to avoid high BP due to family history, but I think my 5 hours of gym time really helps keep it low. Next step is to consider my sodium intake, which I know this new plan does.

Haven't started it yet as mom has to finish the book, but she is on board. The great thing is, that if she does it with me I might get a look foods that I might be able to have at her age. I'm sure genes have at least something to do with it. I'm hopeful for this plan and excited to try it.

Good news is the nurse said my numbers were all really good and to just try and cut the sodium down and test my BP again in a week.

[Hulalovestocruise]

nice to see you back on here Brooke, my son lost his best friend on Easter so I haven't been to focused this week. I work out with my daughter and believe me it is much easier when we push each other, hopefully you and your mom can push each other. Good luck with the work promotion always a plus when you like your job. Keep up the good work.

[brooklynfc]

We found out about a week ago that my dad has diabetes. Constant thirst, he lost 20lbs, and going to the bathroom alot prompted him to go to the Dr.

My dad is 56 years old and has high cholt. high BP, but he has never weighed more than 230 or so at 6'1. So, this isn't due to weight, its the hereditary coming through. His mother had diabetes. I think she was actually diagnosed around the same age, but I can't remember.

Anyway, so now he is on a 1800 calorie diet with specific food groups to eat each meal and is on metphormin (sp). They had once thought to put me on that b/c apparently its helpful for weightloss too, but never did b/c of the side effects.

My grandad is still in ICU and now my poor mom has to deal with helping my dad with this new challenge. They've also put him on anxiety meds as he went to the ER last week with dizziness, chest pains etc. Nothing wrong with his heart so they deemed in a panic attack. My mom may need some after all is said and done.

Anyway, I can't blame mom for not wanting to deal with a "the plan" right now. Frankly, I told her we could all just go on the new diet that was prescribed for dad and it certainly wouldn't hurt us any. I'm sure with diabetes on both sides of my family it will only be a matter of time (though my grandad's is due to weight).

Meanwhile, I'm tracking with Sparkpeople and just trying to deal with each day as it comes. I'm thinking of going to the dr. b/c I've been feeling bloaty and sometimes I get pain where my kidney's are. I just have to find the time to go.

Hope all is well.

[brooklynfc]

My grandad is still in the hospital. They can't seem to get him stable enough to get him to a nursing home for rehabilitation. My poor mom is getting to her wits end with everything. I'm not being much help to her I'm afraid b/c my extra "job" at work has kept me busy on top of trying to get this house ordered. Our household is full of strife right now, though we are all doing our best to manage in good ways.

I hate to say this, but I'm kinda glad my Dad got diabetes, I think he finally understands what I've been going through all these years trying to stick to various diets. Its not easy going from eating whatever you feel like, when you feel like it to pretty much being told what you can and can not eat and when you need to eat it. I think he gets it now. Not that he was ever mean to me about it, but its nice when someone realizes its not as easy as it appears to be giving up a basic freedom b/c you simple HAVE to.

As for me. I'm steady Freddy. Sparkpeople helps and I've been the best about tracking food even when I don't really want to. I've been doing yoga more as my joints and back appreciate it more. They will cut back on classes for the summer, hopefully not completely. So yoga twice a week and one zumba is all I will have. But I think adding in some equipment and walking will fill in the blanks nicely and will also help keep my body guessing.

Hopefully, I will be in my house by July if everything goes accordingly. Went over and mowed it and cleaned it up from all the trash people threw over in it. Got a good workout from that. Narrowly missed a snack in the grass, literally. And I think home ownership will agree with me. I will have to be more active on my "off-time" and I will have to seriously consider my food choices b/c of budget (No splurges on junk food when I need to eat for the month and even less to zero eating out). Might be the best diet I've ever been on.

I'll leave on a positive note. I managed to to Up Dog in yoga classes last week. Its been something I couldn't do before and so I just did baby cobra. But I decided to try last week and managed to get my knees off the ground for at least 5 seconds each time. Just proof my body is getting stronger.

[Hulalovestocruise]

Thanks for checking in, glad to hear things are starting to work out for you. Sorry to hear about your grandpa it has to be a strain on all of you. I hope your dad is doing good on his new diet and is healthier for it. Your house will keep you busy that is for sure and a broker. Keep on keeping on.

[TDS549]

Brooklynfc, creating a healthy lifestyle, and losing weight are not easy. You comment about UpDog in yoga was awesome! Take pride in your accomplishments, there will be little ones and big ones, and they are all important.

I am glad you are using sparkpeople.com. That website is amazing. I used it back in 2007 to lose weight, and it has helped me to keep it off.

I wish you the very best. Hang in there and keep taking care of yourself.

[brooklynfc]

The decision has been made for my grandfather to have a tracheotomy. The Doctors feel it best for him to try and recover as his right lung just keeps deflating. He is in surgery today and we are hopeful that he can pull through this time and get back to at least where he was before the accident.

My dad is doing well with the diabetes, but he has been more emotional lately thinking about his own mother, my mom's dad and he is concerned for my brother and me with the heredity of the diabetes. I told him with my weight problem and the heredity I may have no chance of escaping it, unless they find a cure soon. But I told him the more I work on my weight and the more I keep up with exercise that I will have a better chance of at least staving it off for longer. I have to admit, I would not be thrilled about pricking my finger twice a day as my aversion to needles is high.

I've been coasting along with maintenance on my weight. I'm not going into the old habit of telling you guys my excuses or even that I'm okay with it. But its where I'm at.

I have been researching diabetic diet plans for women and I have found that I don't have any aversion to the meal plans I have seen. The food seems to be food I eat on a normal basis anyway, just probably not at the extent I eat it. I found a couple of 30 day meal plans. As always though, my problem is implementation. I don't seem to want to make time for myself to good for myself, too many "easy outs."

I continue my yoga and zumba classes but on a lesser schedule. I need to supplement some more cardio in someway that is not so boring as the stupid elliptical. I lose patients so quickly with it and the bike. Although I have pushed myself to be more "normally active" outside of the gym by working in the yard, helping with the mowing and garden etc.

I have found myself lately when I do not so healthy things repeating in my head as if my brain is a separate entity, "When you are ready Brooke, let me know."

[Hulalovestocruise]

You will be so busy when you get your house it will keep you motivated and motivation is a key to all weight loss. My son had a tracheotomy a couple of years ago, it was supposed to be temporary but he can breath so much better he is thinking he might just keep it. He eats and talks normally so it doesn't really bother him at all, just the look of it. When he gets sick it is a big plus because we can keep his lungs cleaned out. Your grandpa will not like it at first but he will be happy with the end result. Try to keep yourself busy and focused.