Down 61 pounds and still going!!!

I have lost 61 pounds and I am still going strong! I realized today that I am 3 pounds away from being 100 pounds lighter than I was when I had my Gastric Bypass 12 years ago. I am very proud of myself! I haven't had such a great workout time though. The weather has been unpleasant so April/May has not been very good for Running outside. I still go to the gym a few days a week but I do not push myself as hard. I am still on point with my Caloric intake. In fact, Wendy's has a new Berry Almond Salad that only has 426 calories and it is FANTASTIC!! Its Raspberry Vinaigrette is the best that I have ever had! The berries are fresh, the chicken is seasoned perfectly! Awesome!!!  I usually get the half order and its perfect and less calories! I eat Salads everyday of some sort. I love all the fresh veggies and fruits that are coming in season right now.
I need to go shopping again. I have been buying shoes. The new clothes that I just bought are too big already. I feel good about myself. I have been tanning,, I don't want to hear how bad it is. I love the bronze glow, I think it looks healthier.

I have not felt this good about me in a long time! I like it!!!
Keep moving forward!

Its all Greek to me....

Salad that is! I am on a Greek Salad kick right now. I literally have had one EVERYDAY for the last 2 weeks. It all started when I went clothes shopping. Den and I had lunch at his favorite Burger Place and I saw Greek Salad on the menu. Tired of the boring and not wanting the fattening salads I opted for the Greeks Variation. Well lets just say that they should stick to burgers. I was disappointed to say the least. That sparked my desire for the tasty take on a plate of greens.
I love the Feta and the Olives. I have several versions and I have decided that my version is my favorite. I use Romaine lettuce, Cucumber, Grape Tomatoes, Calamata Olives, Reduced Fat Feta, Dried Cherries, and Roasted Almonds. I lightly dust with Mediterranean Seasoned Sea Salt, Pepper, Balsamic Vinegar and Very little Olive Oil. It is yummy!!
However after several of them I did notice that I was retaining water BAD! I realized that all those Olives are loaded with SALT! So I did cut back. I have added a picture of the Salad I made last night. Try one they are a great change from the usual.

OK so i caved...haha

Well I said that I wasn't ready to buy new clothes. But since I was running out of thing that fit, I caved!! Monday I went shopping for just a few items. I thought I would just add a couple of articles to my closet. So I have been wearing things that I had hung on to over the years and some stretchy yoga pants. I had an idea of what size I needed. I was at Lane Bryant, I cannot wait until I do not have to shop at the "Specialty" store, the clerk was hounding me. I so hate that! Really, if I need you I will come get you. Don't stalk me while I shop. Any hoodles. I was looking at crop pants. I like longer capri's cuffed and not tight legs. While I was talking with the clerk the Size question came into play and I said what size I felt I was, the look on her face was that of disbelief. My insecurity kicked in and I thought she was thinking "Girl you are bigger than that!" SO I start making excuses for my baggy sweats and so on!! She asks to start a dressing room for me and I decline, cause as much as I dislike pushy sales people I dislike dressing room full length mirrors!! I shop around for a few minutes find my spoils and head to the counter. I even opted for a denim skirt with leggings. After the "Look" I got from the clerk I was second guessing my size choice the rest of the day! I need to have more self confidence. Later that evening when I was dressing for bed, I decided to try on my skirt. Afraid that it was going to be tight and I would look really bad. I decided to face my fear, to my surprise it was too big! When Den came in the room I asked him what he thought and he said that if I wanted to wear it longer I may want to exchange it. I decided to keep it, it might shrink. When I wore it to work yesterday I had to roll the waist down one time and I did wear the legging's under it and it was cute. Today I wore a pair of Crop Pants, same size, also big. I don't have to undo them to take them off. I probably wont wear them long but I am so excited that I was wrong!! I really do need to build the self esteem and stop seeing myself as the old me. She did not believe that I was that size because I was smaller. That is a good feeling! Just another accomplishment along my journey. I still have many more sizes and pounds to lose. I have mindsets to overcome.
I live in real world where sometimes life sucks! I still have to work on my coping skills. I had an opportunity recently to blow it bad!! I was feeling sorry for myself and I was feeling like I just wanted to stuff my feelings and resort to old behavior. I didn't give in. I dealt with my issues and I moved forward. We are having very bad weather right now. Like very scary weather. I have only made it to the gym once this week. I can't run outside because I don't like running in the rain. I am going to the gym tomorrow. I have another 5K in 2 weeks just 2 days after my 43rd Birthday!! I am happy with my accomplishments so far, but I am not finished, no where near!!
Thank you and Keep moving, be it up, out, forward ect just keep it going!!!

have I mentioned...

I have tweaked several recipes and tried different sweeteners. Some are like baby laxative! NOT GOOD!! Went to the movies and had some sugar free turtles, Den bought them for me, IDK why. Anyway was not a good movie for me!! Couldn't wait to get home. One morning I put Truvia and Sugar free Coffee creamer in my coffee and then had a not so friendly morning. For some reason I just cant stand the way Splenda tastes anymore. Since everyone seems to be against it now, I guess that it a good thing.
I picked up Agave Nectar at the grocery store looking for an alternative to Sugar for Den. He does like Honey but it is too thick in some things. I made some Strawberry Shortcake and sweetened the berries with it and they were GOOOODDD!!! It has about 30 calories a tablespoon so I am using it in moderation. It is yummy. I have Stevia but it is not my favorite. I do like Truvia, it really does taste like sugar. However after the Coffee exp I am leery. I have become used to unsweet.
Some replacements are good, I do like the Lays Light Chips made with Olean. I remember when that first came out, everyone was saying how you spend your day in the bathroom. The product was pulled and redone. Now its all good!! With 75 Calories per serving and they taste like Classic Lays, its a great substitution.
Turkey sausage not so much. Reduced Fat Jimmy Dean sausage is pretty good. Whole Grain Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Den said it is not the best. Just figure out a way to add a serving of veggies to it he will never know.
It will be 2 weeks tomorrow that he started drinking the Aloe Vera juice and taking the Digestive Support enzymes. He is 100% off his Ulcer and acid reflux meds. He has not had 1 tums! He is eating Pizza, chili, hot dogs, ice cream. All his usual junk but he is digesting it all and healing his digestive tract with the aloe. I am amazed at how well he is doing! He is telling everyone! He now has his dad on the stuff. I never thought that he would quit chewing tobacco, and he did a year ago this month. We thought that he would always live with ulcer pain and acid reflux. I feel that he has been given a miracle. The fact that he is SOLD on this now. That is awesome!!
Changing your lifestyle is easy just do it one step at a time but keep moving!!

I feel the need to clean out my closet and buy new clothes

So far I have not had to buy new clothes except for bras! LOL!! Funny how those are the first articles that cease to fit!! Anyway, I have only bought yoga pants and sweats. I still had some smaller items that I clung to with the hope that I would fit in them again someday. The weather is getting warmer and my oversized sweatshirts are not cutting it any longer. My ideal outfit is Jean Capri's and a Sweatshirt with Flip Flop's. I would love to feel comfortable in Women's cut Tee Shirts and Shorts, but just not there yet. My sister told me once that I need to see myself thin so that I will stop dressing frumpy. It is hard to adjust your brain as the body changes. I am still so self conscience about areas that I think need a tent to cover. I am just not one of those girls that will wear tight jeans with the muffin top and tight shirts looking a sausage casing, I mean really! That is not attractive. Friends don't let friends wear that kind of stuff! I give permission to anyone, please tell me if you ever see me in attire that makes me look like the Michelin Man, I promise that I will not get mad. Can you tell that I am less than ready to shop? I don't know why. I am down 53 pounds and lots of inches, but I am just not wanting to shop until I lose about 20-30 more pounds. After my Gastric Bypass I was a shopaholic. I used to love to shop for shoes, not so much now. I like perfume, my fave right now is Flower Bomb by Viktor and Rolf. I love make up. Clothes not so much. I will get there, I know I will. I am happy with my results. I will like it when I am about 2 more sizes smaller. I am looking forward to Miss Me jeans, lol. I want a pair of those so bad!
I will continue my journey and adjust my brain as my body shrinks, and in doing this I have to Keep Moving!!

No one gets Fat cause they hate food!!

In my quest to a healthy lifestyle, there are things that have not changed. I love to cook and I love good tasting food. I have tweaked my recipes and substituted ingredients with more healthy ones. I love to use Greek Yogurt in place of Sour Cream in dips, I am now using Stone ground Whole Wheat Flour, and  I love Spicy Mustard on Sandwiches and no Mayo!!! Today I discovered Agave Nectar, yum!! Tonight I made Oven Fried Chicken Steak with Sausage Gravy, it was so good and only 300 Calories. With mashed Cauliflower and baked sweet potato it was a perfect dinner!! For dessert, yes dessert!! I made Strawberry Shortcake with Sugar free Angel Food Cake, Fresh sliced strawberries sweetened with Agave Nectar topped with Sugar free cool whip. At 115 calories it was even sweeter!!
Dennis is liking the changes. I must say it makes life easier when he is ok with whats for Dinner. I have a recipe for Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies made with White Kidney Beans and Brownies with Black Beans, I think those ingredients I will keep secret.  I have added a link to my Chicken Fried Steak recipe. Try it it was very good!!
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1590886

Last week I said that Dennis was taking Aloe Vera juice and enzymes for Gluten digestion, well it is working! He is feeling better in a week!! Almost immediately the Digestion Support capsules went to work! He has not complained about stomach upset and has no more Gluten issues. He said that the Aloe Vera juice is really helping with the Ulcers. He hasn't taken Omeprazole in a week. That is his Acid reflux medicine. He is doing better!! Much better!!! He has added Magnesium to the mix. I am just so happy that he is feeling better. Maybe I can get him to do a 5K with me soon.
The weather is nice and nothing makes you feel better that to keep moving!!

Oh no skin is heading south!!!

The one thing that I am not liking is my skin right now. I can lie to myself but pictures DO NOT LIE!! I saw a picture that my Esthetician  posted up on Facebook and I did not like the lines on my forehead. Ok so its time to Re-do the Botox. I smiled in the mirror and I had some lines around my dimples that were not there before. When brushing my teeth yesterday I noticed lines around my mouth. hey I thought only smokers got those! Then tonight I downloaded some pictures from last Saturday's 5K and I saw what sent me into instant depression, my face has fallen!! It is now time to seek medical attention. My Esthestician talked with me about a new machine that she has that plumps skin and in 12 treatments will reverse the signs of aging. Ok I am going to give it a try but if it does not work, I am going to have a lift. I was already prepared to have a tummy tuck and lipo on the problem areas but I just cant take what is happening to my face. My friend said that my skin will figure it out but I am thinking NO its going to get worse. I may be over reacting but I have never liked the whole looking older thing. My face looks like 40 miles of bad road! Not liking that at all!
We all have our vanities. Some women are worse than others. Even though I was Fat I still liked my skin and I felt I had a pretty face. I still had my assets. Not so much right now LOL. Be real there are things that we all want to change. I don't care who you are you have a wrinkle or a roll that you want gone! I want them all gone but I will start with the accordion on my forehead! I mean did I really frown all my life? My mom was right, my face stayed that way! All the years of sleeping in my make up has caught up with me. No do overs. Crap.
Now I get a dose of TCA Peels and Retin A with this Lunch Time Face Lift Facial thing. Since I am not spending money on Fast Food I will gladly spend it on my face right now. I know women who learned how to ride a Harley after 40 and some that went on elaborate trips. Well I am getting my face back.
Sorry if its not your bag, I had to vent.
Keep Moving, I know that I will get in shape.

I hate plateaus

I really hate hitting a plateau! I play with my diet and up my calories and I actually lose weight. Weird! I also realized that I was not drinking enough water. After the 5K I got a bad headache that lasted until Monday. The cause was dehydration. I have drank so much water this week that I feel I could float away.
I started strength training this week and boy am I sore. My body hurts very bad. I feel like I have been run over by a herd of wild bulls. Why do I feel 18 in my mind but 90 in my body? Lol
While using the weight machines I sat in front of a mirror wall with a full body view of myself yuck! I am losing weight from my feet to my mid thighs and then from my forehead to my ribs. Why can't it all just meet in the middle? I felt like Jabba the Hut sitting there. My face is looking droopy! WTH! I really need Botox in a bad way. I am loving the results, but I will need to see a Plastic Surgeon. I want body parts put back in their proper place. To put it nicely.
Back to Plateaus. I just hate it when you are kicking your butt at the gym and eating right. Counting every calorie and watching every item you eat. Simply just doing everything right. Then it's weigh in time and nothing! 2 weeks go by and still no loss or only a very small loss. That is very frustrating. What do you do? Some give up. I sure have wanted to. But I press on. I have upped my calories and increased my workouts. Changed the routine. Sometimes it still takes a day or two but it still breaks. What I find that has worked great is I don't do the same thing everyday. I change my caloric intake depending on my workout. I eat more protein on the high burn days. I eat light on non workout days. Your body thinks your killing it whenever you diet. So it will go into survival mode. It will burn muscle and store fat. It takes as much as 21 days to convince your body that your not killing it. Don't cut your caloric intake too low. Find out what your body burns daily then add exercise. Set your intake based on that number.
Just keep moving while you figure out what works for you and burn more that you take in.

Aloe Vera Juice

In all my reading I learned that Aloe Vera juice is very good for you. In trying to help Den feel better I suggest to him that he needed to start drinking this stuff. Well he was less than enthused. With Den in tow we ventured to "Mr Nutrition Market" in Van Buren Ar a very knowledgable health food store. They were so helpful in pointing us in the right direction with Enzymes to aid in food digestine. The best find was Georges Aloe Vera Juice. Tasteless and colorless. Looks and tastes like water but 4oz a day packs a health filled punch.
Health benefits include Essential Ammino Acids, Anti Inflamitory agent, Collegen and Elastin repair, Daily dose of vitamins, daily dose of minerals, regulates weight and energy levels, immune support and function, and aids in healthy digestion. At $24 a gallon it is pretty cost effective. I figure it can't hurt. If it does only half of what it claims I will be happy. After making Den aware of what his diet is doing to his over all energy or lack of and just what is in his food, he is getting more receptive to changing gradually. None the less some change is good.
I am usually not a big vitamin and supplement fan. I read a long time ago that your body doesn't adsorb very much of the tablet form supplements, and that if you eat right your body will get enough of what you really need. Well I am not too sure of that now. Still not a fan of tablet form supplements, however there are liquid vitamins and powder greens that are better absorbed. In all my studies I have learned a lot about food, additives and preservatives. Not really liking what I am reading. That is a whole other topic. I wish I had a Trader Joes or a Whole Foods here. I am happy that I do have a local market that has some items. A Dr told me that if you can't "Hunt it, Fish it, Pick it from a tree or bush" you shouldn't eat it. I am thinking that is a good rule. A lifetime of convenience has given way to common like-minded eating habits that die hard.
Join me in the 30 day Aloe Vera juice challenge, in doing so Keep Moving!

Overwhelmed

First off I did a 5K last Saturday and I finished in 56:28 minutes. Last time I finished in 58:12 minutes. I had hoped to finish in 55 minutes. I came close. The point is that I finished. I am working so hard to do this. I am proud that I finish this race. I am doing another 5K in May and I hope to finish faster and run more.
I read everyday. I look for articles about healthy living. Diets for running nutrition, diets for healthy intestinal digestion and on and on. I read an article tonight about Gluten. I can't believe how much of our food that is processed with Gluten or a product made from Gluten. Just how bad it is for you. So on one hand you should eat whole grains then on the other hand no wheat. I live in an area with very limited resources when it comes to Grocery Stores. This is when I need an Whole Foods. The nearest one is in Little Rock. In reading this I began asking Den questions in the article about health symptoms and he answered yes to almost all of them. I told him that he was possibly Gluten Allergic. It will take a move of God to change his eating habits. I call him the processed food king. If it does not come in a box he is lost. I have changed some of that but he is a hard nut.
I am tired of being tired. I really want to feel better and have a better quality of life. So much change is so overwhelming. I don't want to burn out. How do you find a happy medium? How do you change a little step at a time? Have you ever tried cutting out wheat? I looked in my pantry and wow, I would throw most of all of it away. I am trying to keep it simple. I eat the same things all the time. I do try new things and I add to my list of acceptable foods. However simple right now is better.
No matter what I do I Keep moving, that is what helps me get the weight off!

Does vacation mean a free for all?

So when you go on vacation do you take a break from diet and exercise? Most people do only to gain at least 10 pounds, then beat themselves up when they get home. I went on vacation last January. I live in an area that doesn't really have my favorite eateries. So when I went home I was ready to indulge. Well I quickly thought twice. I did have In & Out Burger but I only ate about half the meal. I ate at Cheesecake Factory. I ordered a Chicken Salad Sandwich, a salad with non fat dressing. I had the sandwich cut in fours and ate my salad first then one slice of the sandwich. I left the rest on the table and had no dessert. I did hit the treadmill that day as well. I went to Me n Eds Pizza where I ate salad and had part of a personal size pizza. I ran along the San Joaquin River in the rain. I went to La Boulangerie where I enjoyed coffee and an almond croissant on the patio. I did eat celery and carrots also. I did manage to lose a third of a pound. It was still a loss. I enjoyed myself but I didn't over do it. I still exercised. I made a lifestyle change. I am not just doing a short term diet. I am changing the way I think and the way I look at food. Also I have made exercise a part of my life. I have added it in my schedule. So when I go on vacation it is just another day in my life. I may make some different choices and I will adjust for the day however I am in this for the long haul. I want to have a better quality of life in my latter years. It is that important to me.
No matter what you do just keep moving!

So I'm not a scholar..this is about weight loss and getting healthy!

First off I know how frustrating it can be to read a post that has poor grammar and misspelled words. I apologize. I am the worst speller and I try really hard not to run on and on. I am writing this on an iPad and it spell checks me. If I get carried away and forget to pay attention to what I am typing, it will change my words. Sometimes not good. So I am sorry. Please bear with me, as I will improve.
I went to the gym this morning. Our weather is the pits! It was cold and rainy this morning. I did 30 minutes and burned 340 calories on the Elliptical. I love that machine now. I am just so happy that I can actually stay on it. It's just weird how when I start to exercise, no matter what I am doing, I just can't get going. I have a harder time in the first mile than in the last. Once I am in my zone I can go forever.
This Saturday is Den's 40th birthday. Since I live in. The real world, I had to think of him and what to do for him. I am running a 5K that morning. I did tell him that I was getting healthy so that we could have a long life together. Since he is thankful, it wasn't what he wanted for his birthday. I don't blame him. On Sunday's we have dinner at his grandparents. This Sunday I invited his cousins and their families and decided to order a cake. Yes a CAKE! I went to the fanciest wedding cake place in town, it is his 40th, he is having a hard time with this birthday. So I asked her if we could do Red Velvet (his fav) with buttercream tinted light brown with a out door theme of rocks and mountains with a stream. I took her a toy Jeep to add to the scene. Instead of "Happy Birthday" it is going to say "I ain't ready for the junkyard yet" haha. While I was there I was asking questions and making choices they wanted me to taste frostings. I know what they taste like thanks, no you need to try ours. Ugh! Ok a small taste. Cake really isn't my thing. Thankfully! I asked his grandma if she could pick up the cake for me so he doesn't see it, she asks me what would he like for dinner, he tells me LASAGNA..oh my..and he wants me to make it. Thats a problem! My husband loves my cooking. Hmm can I pull off turkey lasagna, whole wheat pasta, non fat ricotta with egg whites? IDK? If he doesn't see. I might be able to change some ingredients but not all. My solution is make two. One healthy one not so much. Lucky for him it's his birthday and I don't cook like that everyday. I know that in the real world there will be times when I will be eating an occasional meal that is not the best for me. It just means move forward. It's just a meal. It's not a free for all. Still portion control. Still calories. Whether it is a wedding or a birthday I will face those times. This is why I must Keep moving

Frustrated But working through it!

As we know life does not slow down for us! I have been juggling workouts with work. Trying to get enough sleep and take in proper calories and nutrition. I have been preparing for a 5K and hoping to finish faster than I did last time. At times I am so hungry I can't stand it. There are days that I burn 700-900 calories in training. That makes me hungry. I try and eat more protein and fiber to stay full, but that does not always work. Yesterday I did 3.68 miles and burned 700 calories on my morning workout and spent the day starving. I had whole grain cream of wheat with a banana pre work out 174 cal, 1 egg 1 slice whole wheat toast 2 slices lean bacon unsweetened ice tea post workout lunch 300 calories, fuji apple 70 calories snack, 1/2 lean hamburger patty grilled on 1/2 wheat bun with tomato, lettuce, dill pickle, mustard, sliced potato oven fries 354 cal dinner, almonds 127 cal snack. I was so hungry all artfully that I could have mowed through the kitchen all day. It was a good thing that we were not home! I am just so frustrated. I just don't know what to do to keep the hunger away. I fear that I will fall. I don't like that. I do not want to blow it. This might be normal to some who are used to working out. I am not that person. So what does a chronic over eater do in this situation? The old me would have just said screw it and headed for the drive thru line, but I am not the old me. I am however still learning. I will always be fighting.
Tomorrow it is going to be cold in the morning so I am going to the gym. I will be doing 3 miles on the elliptical. I am hoping to run outside by Thursday so that I will be better prepared for Saturday. My goal is 55 minutes. That is doable. The next will be May 14 and I hope that by that one I will down 12 pounds and I will finish in 47 minutes.
I am challenging you to set a goal, just a short term goal. Make it realistic then strive to achieve it.
While you are reaching your goal keep moving!

I have lost 52 pounds! I am on my way!

Since December 2 2010 I have lost 52 pounds. No quick fix! No miracle diet! Just plain old fashion diet and exercising! You have to burn more than you take in! You have to count calories and you have to MOVE YOUR BODY!
Cardio will burn the fat and build your vascular system and strengthen your immune system. It all works! Make time for you and exercise. You will love it! Well you will love the results.
Try it this week..keep moving!

You are what you eat..diet can control many diseases and disorders

We live in an age where we hear more and more about ADHD, ADD, Ticks, and Autism. there are many Medical professionals that believe we as a nation have are unhealthy based on what we eat. The level of preservatives in our diet is alarming. We are always in a rush to get the kids to practice and dance ECT and we live on drive thru food. The Doctors are more than ready to hand out pills for this and that. But what if you took a really hard look at what you are feeding your kids? What if you learned that your Childs diet was the culprit in causing that Vocal Tick that has been getting him/her detention, would you do everything in your power to change it? If you were told that cutting Dairy, Soy, Corn and Gluten out of your Childs diet would take care of their ADD ADHD would you change the diet of the family to help that child? In many cases this is exactly what is going on in many families today. Removing all these major factors from the Childs diet and replacing them with all natural preservative free foods will change their lives.
I would recommend a visit to a Holistic Dr for testing. This is for everyone. Find out all about your body from the inside out. Take the necessary supplements and enzymes. Build your diet around what they tell you. If you have an intolerance to gluten or dairy then cut it out. Take a bar of margarine and place it on your counter for a month. It won't change. It won't melt nor mold. Weird. What is it doing to your insides?
I have had this conversation with 2 parents who are doing just this with their kids to combat these issues, and it's working. I have read where Autistic kids are responding to diet changes. If you at the end and feel you have no other avenue, just try it. What do you have to lose?
Keep moving for your health

People piss me off...hello it's called an addiction!

I have no patience for ignorance. I was just on Facebook, I rarely ever pay attention to the all the Pages I have Liked. Anyway I saw something that caught my eye on Jason Aldeen's page. He posted a Video that was made to raise awareness for COPD. My dad died of COPD. I'm a little sensitive to the matter. I chose to read the comments. Well some idiot thought it would be cool to shown her intelligence by commenting "I am an RN people have COPD because they smoke and we are supposed to feel sorry for them?" well needless to say that struck a nerve. Even if you feel that way keep it to yourself. In watched my dad suffer and then die from this disease. Not good. He would have taken it all back if he could. I had to let her know just what I thought of her and that I doubt her job was an RN. Oh and that I thought she was a female dog. Sad as it is smoking is an addiction. We all know the warnings that it causes cancer, and low birth weight and on and on. Still a lot of people smoke. It's hard to quit. I myself don't smoke but my addiction is with food. I have turned to food for comfort and have used it to stuff feelings and on and on. Like any other addict we all know the risks. Heart disease, diabetes, stroke ECT. But we ignore it and hide. Unlike smokers food addicts can. Try and deny our problem. I was good at that. I would eat in secret. In my car. I wouldn't smell like food like a smoker would smell like cigarettes. I could pretend I hadn't eaten all day. I could not go into a store to pay for gas because I would buy chips and candy. I still have to pay at the pump. Like all addicts I have to know my triggers.
In April 2009 I was told, after a routine Doctor ap, that I had a heart attack. My GP sent me to a Cardiologist and they read my EKG and confirmed that yes that is what it says. I had a Nuclear Stress Test and Echo Cardio Gram and Blood Tests all to learn that no I had not had a heart attack my cholesterol was good blood pressure normal but my one valve was enlarged and there was a small amount of scar tissue on my heart. The Dr said that all of this was due to weight. If I lost the weight the valve would return to normal and the risk would lessen. I was scared. I started to eat right and I did everything that they told me to do. Then we moved. I became depressed and old habits came back and I started doing old behavior all over again. The risk to my health was not even enough to make me keep up the change.
The night that my dad died, 7 out of 9 people that were in his room lit a cigarette when we hit the parking lot. I yelled at all of them and told them how stupid they were that they all just watched my dad die from smoking related illness. I drove straight to Mc Donalds and drown my sorrows in a fish fillet.
Unlike other addictions, we all have to eat. It is knowing when not to eat that is the question. I have learned that food is fuel. It is not my comfort or my friend. It really isn't my enemy either.
I have had heartless people snicker and make rude comments behind my back about my weight. It doesn't feel good. You don't know what people are going through. I can guarantee you that anyone with an addiction does not want it. No matter what it is. I spent years hating myself and the way I looked. I wanted to be rid of this weight. I just did not know where to start. I now am on the right track but I will fight this everyday for the rest of my life. I will always be in recovery.
This is a very sensitive subject for me and I did not want to expose this side as it is personal. However ignorant people just irritate me. I just had to rant.
Thank you and this is why I Keep Moving..because don't take it for granted.

Am I hormonal or just plain losing it?!

In May I will be 43, yuk!! I'm sorry but I really do hate the fact that I am getting older. There are times when I actually forget that I am old, in my mind I am still 18ish. Maybe that is why I am pushing so hard to be athletic now before I completely fall apart. LOL!! Anyway, I have been having these days lately, more than I care to admit, that I just feel blah! Sometimes almost sad. For no reason! I ignore it and push past it. I find that I feel better if I workout on those days. There are times that I feel like I could just snap. I have to stand back and count to ten. As much as I hate to admit it I am probably on the verge of menopause. I have not had hot flashes just yet thankfully. I am going to break down and go to a local pharmacy that specializes in Biodentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. I think that I need to get tested. I remember when my mom went through this and I vow to not make my husband or co workers suffer. I can just feel the crabby (that is being nice) well up inside me. I hate it! I just want to run away from myself. Now it doesn't happen all the time. It kinda started yesterday and is still hanging around today. Little things irritate me like sand paper on my skin. I mean stupid little things. When I think about it, even I am like "really?" the last time I remember feeling like this was right before Christmas. Then it was uncontrollable crying for no reason. Now I can control the crying but everything makes me cry. I feel silly. I try and act like it's my allergies. Even if it isn't sad or tear worthy, I still cry. All of this behavior is just out of charachter for me. I just go from raging lunatic to crying fool in 2.5 seconds. I just don't know when it is going to hit. So lucky me I think that I am entering that stage yay! Hmph!

I hit my 2nd goal..yay

Goal 1 was the 5k and today I hit 50 pound weight lost. I have found that setting little goals along my journey is making the bigger picture not seem so big. In all my failed attempts at weight loss I was so overwhelmed by the larger scheme of it all that caved under the pressure. Early on this time I just set small more reachable goals. That way as I accomplish them I am pumped to take on the next. Goal 3 is the 5k on April 2 which by the way is Den's 40th birthday. I finished the last one in 58 minutes this one I hope to finish in 55 minutes. That is shaving a minute off of each mile. I actually hope to do better but I want to be realistic.
Keep moving and changing the way you look at food it works!

It's all relative..but wow

A calorie is a unit of energy. 3500 calories is equal to 1 pound of body weight. This is why to lose weight we need to take in less than we burn so we burn what is stored. When I started exercising I would come close to death and only burn 200 calories on the treadmill. So I quickly began to look at what I was putting in my mouth. So today I did this little equation
There are 3.4 calories in 1 Plain M&M Candy 17.6 Football Fields in a mile. If you walked a 26 minute mile you would burn 9.15 Calories in walking 1 football field. So are 3 M&M's worth a football field? When my friend Melissa runs a Marathon she burns 4500 calories. That is 26.2 miles in 5 hours of constant running. Thats 11:45 minutes a mile and 173 calories a mile. Yesterday I burned 570 calories on 2.87 miles walk/run and a 1 mile bike ride. I haven't been on a bike in years. Today I am sore, very sore! This information is nothing new to most people but it was a huge eye opener to me. The other day I was talking to a friend during our morning workout and she didn't know that a pound was 3500 calories. Today I saw the calorie value of an m&m and it made me think. Funny how my thoughts have changed. However if this is old news to you please forgive the redundancy. I am still trying to wrap my mind around how it takes me 3 grueling miles of sweat and agony to burn off the equivalent to a piece of chocolate cake. I hope you look at a football field and M&M's differently. LoL
Keep moving

Quinoa.. weird name awesome benefits

I like to add new items into my meal plan. Some things have been a hit and some not so much. Quinoa is one that has been a hit. Pronounced Keen-wah it's a small grain with a big punch of goodness. It is grain like and full of protein. Can be used for breakfast cereals, breads, salads, side dishes or main dishes. The possibilities are endless. It has a natural nutty flavor that is light so it picks up the flavors of the spices that you add to it very easily. Tonight I am making a Curried Quinoa with chili powder as a side dish with grilled chicken. I think that Dennis will eat that and not care that it is good for you. I am trying to get away from white rice and potatoes, Quinoa is a nice transition. If you have issues with Gluten, Quinoa is Gluten Free and very easy to digest. I am excited about just how good this is for you and all the ways that you can prepare it. Having a picky eating eater in my house it can be a challenge to get him to eat foods that are good for you and that taste good. When you only eat 1500 calories a day you want to make sure those calories are beneficial.
Try adding new items into your diet and mix up flavors to see what works. I like spicy and fresh. I use lemon and curry a lot. I love Red Roasted Curry. I am also breaking away from the salt shaker. I add spices for flavor. I use Turmeric with orange and thyme and tarragon with garlic. Play around some will be good but don't be afraid to experiment even if it bombs. Trust me it might bomb, even Paula Deen has had bad days.
And as always Keep Moving!