I weighed myself this morning, and I lost a tiny bit more, yay! I'm at 220.5 today. :) That's only a 3/4 pound loss since the last time I weighed in (on October 29th), but it's a 1 1/2 pound loss since Monday, so I'm still happy with myself. November seems to have been a total waste, though. I can't do that with anymore months! Time is running out.
Anyway, I'm happy with this loss. I hope to be down to about 218 by next Friday, which by the way happens to be the 10th - exactly nine months before my wedding! If I'm at 218 on Friday, I'll have nine months left to lose either 83 or 78 pounds, depending on what final weight I end up settling on (135 or 140). It's definitely something that can be done, but there isn't any wiggle room for lost months anymore!
This afternoon I go to get the halter monitor on. I have to get it at 2:30, and I'll be wearing it for 24 hours. Then hopefully next week I'll have some answers as to what the heck is going on!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
In which I go to the doctor, maybe for good reason, maybe not, who knows?
So I talked to Jim about the heart flutter thing, and he told me in very different words that a trip to the doctor may be a good idea, and if he had to take me himself on his day off, he would. :)
I called the doctor's office this morning, and got an appointment at 11:30. When I told the doctor what was going on, she said they'd do an EKG in the office. There's only one problem - you have to be laying down and still for the EKG, and this flutter thing only happens when I'm moving around. (This doctor's office doesn't have a stress test set-up.) But I walked up and down the halls and got it fluttering, they hooked up the electrodes and I laid down, and of course my heart was beating all normal by then, so it read normal.
She told me I could go see a cardiologist, or I could get them to set me up with a 24 hour halter monitor. I chose to go with the monitor. I have to go tomorrow at 2:30 to get it hooked up, and apparently I'll keep it on until 2:30 on Saturday (I wonder if I can shower with it on? Or take it off to shower and put it back on?), and then next week they'll read it and tell me if anything is happening when it flutters, or if all is normal.
Also, I know I shouldn't weigh myself everyday, but I tend to when I'm behaving. I was VERY good at home last night. So good! I was proud of myself. And this morning the scale was down a pound, woo! I love when being good pays off. :)
I called the doctor's office this morning, and got an appointment at 11:30. When I told the doctor what was going on, she said they'd do an EKG in the office. There's only one problem - you have to be laying down and still for the EKG, and this flutter thing only happens when I'm moving around. (This doctor's office doesn't have a stress test set-up.) But I walked up and down the halls and got it fluttering, they hooked up the electrodes and I laid down, and of course my heart was beating all normal by then, so it read normal.
She told me I could go see a cardiologist, or I could get them to set me up with a 24 hour halter monitor. I chose to go with the monitor. I have to go tomorrow at 2:30 to get it hooked up, and apparently I'll keep it on until 2:30 on Saturday (I wonder if I can shower with it on? Or take it off to shower and put it back on?), and then next week they'll read it and tell me if anything is happening when it flutters, or if all is normal.
Also, I know I shouldn't weigh myself everyday, but I tend to when I'm behaving. I was VERY good at home last night. So good! I was proud of myself. And this morning the scale was down a pound, woo! I love when being good pays off. :)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Doing Well
Last night I heated up a TV dinner (Lean Cuisine cheese ravioli), sat down at my desk and started to eat, and then went, "Oops!" Then I got up and went to the dining room and ate at the table. Hee.
But that little slip aside, I've done very well with my new rules so far. I had two snacks at work on Monday afternoon, instead of the one I said I was allowed, but it fit into my calories, so I didn't beat myself up over it.
So far so good! I just wanted to check in to let you know the rules were working so far. :)
I also went to the gym on Monday, after three weeks away (I feel like I should hide after admitting that). I was bad! I decided to take a week off, and then my knee started hurting (it still does a little, by the way, but not as bad), so I took that week off, and then it was Thanksgiving week and the gym was closed two out of the three days I could have gone, and I decided not to go the one day I could have (last Monday).
Ahem. I feel like I'm in confession. I went back on Monday, though, so I'm getting back on track with it!
I do have one concern now, though. Since mid-week last week (about a day or two before Thanksgiving), I have been feeling what I'm calling heart flutters. My heart seems to jump or flip (I know it's not really flipping, but it almost feels like it is), or flutter, sometimes. It doesn't do it when I'm sitting at my desk at work all day, but when I get up and walk around, it does. It doesn't hurt, it just feels funny. I also don't have any lightheadedness, dizziness or shortness of breath, so I don't think anything serious is wrong. Still, it's unsettling, and I'm thinking I need to go back to the doctor. I don't want to, and I can't afford the $20 co-pay right now, but I might have to do it anyway. Oh, and it didn't do it at all when I was on the elliptical on Monday, which I thought was strange (it does when I walk, but not when I am basically running on that thing? Why?).
Does anyone who reads this have experience with this type of thing? If so, I'll take any words of comfort or caution or whatever that you may have to share.
But that little slip aside, I've done very well with my new rules so far. I had two snacks at work on Monday afternoon, instead of the one I said I was allowed, but it fit into my calories, so I didn't beat myself up over it.
So far so good! I just wanted to check in to let you know the rules were working so far. :)
I also went to the gym on Monday, after three weeks away (I feel like I should hide after admitting that). I was bad! I decided to take a week off, and then my knee started hurting (it still does a little, by the way, but not as bad), so I took that week off, and then it was Thanksgiving week and the gym was closed two out of the three days I could have gone, and I decided not to go the one day I could have (last Monday).
Ahem. I feel like I'm in confession. I went back on Monday, though, so I'm getting back on track with it!
I do have one concern now, though. Since mid-week last week (about a day or two before Thanksgiving), I have been feeling what I'm calling heart flutters. My heart seems to jump or flip (I know it's not really flipping, but it almost feels like it is), or flutter, sometimes. It doesn't do it when I'm sitting at my desk at work all day, but when I get up and walk around, it does. It doesn't hurt, it just feels funny. I also don't have any lightheadedness, dizziness or shortness of breath, so I don't think anything serious is wrong. Still, it's unsettling, and I'm thinking I need to go back to the doctor. I don't want to, and I can't afford the $20 co-pay right now, but I might have to do it anyway. Oh, and it didn't do it at all when I was on the elliptical on Monday, which I thought was strange (it does when I walk, but not when I am basically running on that thing? Why?).
Does anyone who reads this have experience with this type of thing? If so, I'll take any words of comfort or caution or whatever that you may have to share.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Rules
It's no secret that I've been struggling with this whole weight loss endeavor for a long time. Not much progress is being made, despite the time I've spent writing here, and since I can't afford to start a weight loss program like Weight Watchers right now, I'm kind of on my own. And this is something I should be able to do! Being on my own should not be an issue. But as anyone who is struggling with weight loss knows, doing it alone is not only hard, it can feel impossible.
So I've been thinking about that tonight. My wedding date, that seemed so far away when we set it, is creeping ever closer. What was 13 months away when we set the date is now just, what, 9 1/2 months away? Something like that. I need to lose about 80 to 85 pounds, so that means I have JUST enough time. If I start losing it NOW.
So what can I do to make sure I'm more successful? Well, I did a web search on that, and came up with a page that gave me some great tips - things I already knew, but that I hadn't thought about. The main idea was to set rules on when/where I can eat.
For me, the most obvious rule to set to go along with that is:
1. No eating is allowed at my home desk.
When I'm at home, especially when I'm alone (which is fairly often, given Jim's work situation), I sit at my desk for most of the time that I'm awake. I watch TV, watch stuff online, play my Sims game and, oh yeah, eat. It's easy, it's comfortable, and it needs to stop. So. New rule - no eating at my desk.
I think that's really the only rule I need to make at home. I don't really spend any time sitting on the couch unless Jim is home, and then I don't eat as much junk (I'm half convinced I'd be at my goal weight now if he worked regular hours - or we'd just be snacking together, which is more realistic). So unless I start just moving the food from the desk to other places, this rule is good enough for home.
The problem is, though, what do I do at work? I sit at my desk for most of the time I'm at work, and I'd love to say no eating there. But I need to have an afternoon snack, and I can't really go anywhere else to eat that. So I think these are the rules I need to make for work:
2. Eat breakfast at home before I go to work, if possible.
3. No morning snacks (I eat lunch at 11:30, so morning snacks really aren't necessary).
4. Only ONE afternoon snack allowed. That means one banana, one 100 calorie pack, one granola bar - one thing and that's all. I don't need more than that.
5. No more taking chocolate from the front desk. We have a woman who keeps a supply for the office, and it's all too easy to go grab some, and it's always four or five pieces, not one. So, no more.
These five rules pretty much cover all of the areas where I overeat, so if I follow them, I think they'll help me a lot.
I should probably add a rule about eating out, too, but I only do that with Jim on the weekends, and the stuff I get isn't too horrible, usually, so I'll stick to these rules for now.
My second idea is to work with Jim on this. I'd love for us to weigh each other once a week, and congratulate each other's successes, and help monitor each other's eating. But he's dealing with a lot of stress at work, his hours aren't even close to normal, and right now I know that isn't an option. We'll see what 2011 brings for that.
Anyway, for now I'll follow my rules. And I'll keep checking in here from time to time to let you all know how I'm doing. :)
So I've been thinking about that tonight. My wedding date, that seemed so far away when we set it, is creeping ever closer. What was 13 months away when we set the date is now just, what, 9 1/2 months away? Something like that. I need to lose about 80 to 85 pounds, so that means I have JUST enough time. If I start losing it NOW.
So what can I do to make sure I'm more successful? Well, I did a web search on that, and came up with a page that gave me some great tips - things I already knew, but that I hadn't thought about. The main idea was to set rules on when/where I can eat.
For me, the most obvious rule to set to go along with that is:
1. No eating is allowed at my home desk.
When I'm at home, especially when I'm alone (which is fairly often, given Jim's work situation), I sit at my desk for most of the time that I'm awake. I watch TV, watch stuff online, play my Sims game and, oh yeah, eat. It's easy, it's comfortable, and it needs to stop. So. New rule - no eating at my desk.
I think that's really the only rule I need to make at home. I don't really spend any time sitting on the couch unless Jim is home, and then I don't eat as much junk (I'm half convinced I'd be at my goal weight now if he worked regular hours - or we'd just be snacking together, which is more realistic). So unless I start just moving the food from the desk to other places, this rule is good enough for home.
The problem is, though, what do I do at work? I sit at my desk for most of the time I'm at work, and I'd love to say no eating there. But I need to have an afternoon snack, and I can't really go anywhere else to eat that. So I think these are the rules I need to make for work:
2. Eat breakfast at home before I go to work, if possible.
3. No morning snacks (I eat lunch at 11:30, so morning snacks really aren't necessary).
4. Only ONE afternoon snack allowed. That means one banana, one 100 calorie pack, one granola bar - one thing and that's all. I don't need more than that.
5. No more taking chocolate from the front desk. We have a woman who keeps a supply for the office, and it's all too easy to go grab some, and it's always four or five pieces, not one. So, no more.
These five rules pretty much cover all of the areas where I overeat, so if I follow them, I think they'll help me a lot.
I should probably add a rule about eating out, too, but I only do that with Jim on the weekends, and the stuff I get isn't too horrible, usually, so I'll stick to these rules for now.
My second idea is to work with Jim on this. I'd love for us to weigh each other once a week, and congratulate each other's successes, and help monitor each other's eating. But he's dealing with a lot of stress at work, his hours aren't even close to normal, and right now I know that isn't an option. We'll see what 2011 brings for that.
Anyway, for now I'll follow my rules. And I'll keep checking in here from time to time to let you all know how I'm doing. :)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Update
I'm not weighing myself this week, due to the impending menstrual cycle of doom (I can feel the bloat hitting already), but I did well this week! After going off the rails last week, I hit Monday running! Well, figuratively, anyway. I stayed within my calorie limits Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, yay!
And then Thursday hit, and I did pretty well until evening. Jim was at work, and I ran into that "I'm alone, so I must eat" mentality. I tried to fight it, but I ended up eating some extra 100 calorie packs and granola bars, plus some crackers and a piece of cheese. D'oh! Oh well. I obviously still need to work on that.
I haven't been to the gym this week, though. My knee is still hurting, and I wish it would quit and go back to normal already. I can pretty much keep it under control with Advil, though. Oh, and last night I got out my old step from a Jane Fonda step aerobics video I had in the 90s, and I stepped up on it over and over again while watching TV (my knee twinged a little, but not bad)! That might be worth doing sometimes, because my heart rate actually did go up to my target heart range within about 10 minutes of stepping up and down.
Anyway, I'm keeping on keeping on. :)
And then Thursday hit, and I did pretty well until evening. Jim was at work, and I ran into that "I'm alone, so I must eat" mentality. I tried to fight it, but I ended up eating some extra 100 calorie packs and granola bars, plus some crackers and a piece of cheese. D'oh! Oh well. I obviously still need to work on that.
I haven't been to the gym this week, though. My knee is still hurting, and I wish it would quit and go back to normal already. I can pretty much keep it under control with Advil, though. Oh, and last night I got out my old step from a Jane Fonda step aerobics video I had in the 90s, and I stepped up on it over and over again while watching TV (my knee twinged a little, but not bad)! That might be worth doing sometimes, because my heart rate actually did go up to my target heart range within about 10 minutes of stepping up and down.
Anyway, I'm keeping on keeping on. :)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Of Knees and Diet Failures
Last week was not a good one in diet land. I'd been messing up with food. I didn't go to the gym on Monday because Jim was home and I wanted to spend time with him, not at the gym (we don't get to spend nearly enough time together). The gym was going to be closed on Friday for some reason. And then I said screw it, I'm taking the week off. So I didn't go to the gym at all last week. I didn't work out at home. I ate whatever I wanted, and that included chips, cookies, McDonald's - a lot of crap.
But today is my time to start over! I'm committed to counting calories every day, and sticking to my range. I'm going to hit the gym every day that it's open, if I can, and if not, and on the days when it's not open, I'll work out at home.
Sounds good! There's only one problem - my knee has been bothering me a little since the end of last week. I didn't do anything to it, as far as I know, it just hurts when I bend it in certain ways. But it wasn't too bad.
Until last night. I went to bed, and it hurt when I moved from my back to my side, and curled my legs up in front of me. Every time I moved toward the end of the night, I woke up in pain from my knee. It doesn't hurt when I walk, but if I bend and lift it, the pain flares.
I don't quite dare workout without getting it checked out, so I called the doctor's office this morning and got an appointment for today. We'll see how it goes!
But while working out may be sidelined if the knee needs to rest, the diet isn't! I'm sick to death of counting calories, but it's the only way I can be sure not to overeat, so Spark People is once again my best online friend. Bah.
And really I'm just sick to death of the whole dieting thing, but you know what? It's how it has to be. I can't stay 221 pounds, I can't keep eating a non-stop diet of crap. Things have to change. And now is the best time! (I'm also sick of writing these "I'm starting over" blog entries, but what can I do? I'll try to make this the last one I write.)
(Besides, my wedding is less than 10 months away now! Those size 8 jeans aren't going to fit if I don't get my act together!)
I'll let you all know how the knee turns out.
But today is my time to start over! I'm committed to counting calories every day, and sticking to my range. I'm going to hit the gym every day that it's open, if I can, and if not, and on the days when it's not open, I'll work out at home.
Sounds good! There's only one problem - my knee has been bothering me a little since the end of last week. I didn't do anything to it, as far as I know, it just hurts when I bend it in certain ways. But it wasn't too bad.
Until last night. I went to bed, and it hurt when I moved from my back to my side, and curled my legs up in front of me. Every time I moved toward the end of the night, I woke up in pain from my knee. It doesn't hurt when I walk, but if I bend and lift it, the pain flares.
I don't quite dare workout without getting it checked out, so I called the doctor's office this morning and got an appointment for today. We'll see how it goes!
But while working out may be sidelined if the knee needs to rest, the diet isn't! I'm sick to death of counting calories, but it's the only way I can be sure not to overeat, so Spark People is once again my best online friend. Bah.
And really I'm just sick to death of the whole dieting thing, but you know what? It's how it has to be. I can't stay 221 pounds, I can't keep eating a non-stop diet of crap. Things have to change. And now is the best time! (I'm also sick of writing these "I'm starting over" blog entries, but what can I do? I'll try to make this the last one I write.)
(Besides, my wedding is less than 10 months away now! Those size 8 jeans aren't going to fit if I don't get my act together!)
I'll let you all know how the knee turns out.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
One More Thing...
I knew as I was publishing that last post that there was something else I wanted to say, but I couldn't remember what it was. And shame on me, because it was good!
Last night before I went to bed, I decided to try on some shirts that have been too small for me to wear to work. In particular, there was one black shirt that I got from work. It was bought for orientation 2009, and we were supposed to wear it a couple of days during orientation 2010, but I couldn't, because it was too small, and WAY too tight.
Well, last night, that shirt fit again! Woo! I would have worn it today, but I wore one of our work shirts yesterday, and didn't want to wear two in a row. But still, progress, yay! Even if the scale isn't coming down very quickly, at least I do have proof that the exercise is working!
Last night before I went to bed, I decided to try on some shirts that have been too small for me to wear to work. In particular, there was one black shirt that I got from work. It was bought for orientation 2009, and we were supposed to wear it a couple of days during orientation 2010, but I couldn't, because it was too small, and WAY too tight.
Well, last night, that shirt fit again! Woo! I would have worn it today, but I wore one of our work shirts yesterday, and didn't want to wear two in a row. But still, progress, yay! Even if the scale isn't coming down very quickly, at least I do have proof that the exercise is working!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)