Trying to Get Back on Track is Hard Work!

It has been a while since I’ve posted. And, in my absence, I’ve noticed that when I’m off track, I also am working nearly 20 hours per day, stressed out and getting no rest.

I went on vacation back on July 25^th—to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and every since I’ve found it hard to get back on track. I’ve tried and was successful, for maybe ½ a day, and once even an entire day.

But that is all in the past. Today is a new day and I declare today “Back on Track Day.” Before I went on vacation, I was down to 177, that is a 24-pound weight loss, but this morning, I weighed in at 184. I think that’s good, considering I’ve eaten fried chicken, pizza, Taco Bell (my favorite), Bing cherries, butternut squash, Doritos, bean dip—okay let me stop right there. You get the picture.

I was shocked to find out yesterday, after nearly devouring an entire butternut squash, that those things have 16 grams of carbs for ½ cup. I was flabbergasted. So I guess the next time I have butternut squash, it will be on Thanksgiving, when I make my famous Butternut Squash Soup.

I’m not looking for a great amount of weight loss this week, but more of a cleansing. But, after that, I plan on dropping the weight like flies. My overall goal is to lose a total of 60 pounds and that will put me around 120 pounds—by my 45^th birthday. I’d like to think I’m still on track. I have to admit that I haven’t done much exercise. By the time I close the door in my office, it’s between 4am and 8am. I take little power naps during the day, but I know I need a full 8 hours sleep at night.

One positive thing I can report is that my sugar count has been under 125, usually ranging from 95 – 118. This is awesome, considering what my sugar numbers were, (400-650). As I’ve reported in posts past, I refused to take any more insulin. It was messing up my system and furthering my fatigue and sickness. There were days I couldn’t, our shouldn’t have gotten out of the bed, because I was so sick from that insulin. And I was on two types. All I have been taking is Janumet—one before bed, and watching my carbs. So, I am very excited about that.

I’m currently looking for forms of motivation to get these pounds off and get completely off meds, while implementing exercise as my regular daily routine.

Until next time, make it happen!

43 In 5, 4, 3, 2 . . .

Tomorrow I turn the big 4-3 an today my hubby took me to Red Lobster for dinner. Why Red Lobster? Well because I love seafood, and on my low carb diet I can eat all the lobster, crab legs and shrimp that I want. And I did. However, my “coach”, (that’s what I call her) is going to be disappointed to learn that Red Lobster brings you these awesome buttery biscuits with your diet coke. And since they brought four to the table, I didn’t think it was fair to let my husband eat all 4 of them so I had 2. But besides that, I was on my best behavior. I had a garden salad with blueberry vinaigrette and broccoli.

Tomorrow I start my 3x3 workout regimen. I’m starting with 3 days of cardio for an hour. I love to dance so I sprawl out in my master bathroom (it’s THAT big) and in front of the Hollywood Mirror and dance until my heart’s content. THEN . . . I will add 30 minutes of weight lifting three days a week, all, until I can work up to 5-6 days a week without killing myself.

So, the real reason, I wrote this blog post today, in addition to the one I will write tomorrow with my update stats, I wanted to show these photos my husband took of me today. They are a little blurry, because it was raining and they were taken with my cell phone. The photos don’t do the dress OR my figure any justice. But that’s okay, because I have no intention of stopping here. I have sixty more pounds to lose. Funny thing is, I don’t see the pounds disappearing much on the scale, or not like I’d wish them to, but I can tell I’ve lost inches. The dress shown in this photo on this post is a size 9.  I have not worn , or have been able to wear, this dress since 2005. A few months ago, I couldn’t even get it over my hips, let along zipped.

The photo (headshot) with the red background shows the last time I wore this dress and the others are from today. All I can say is Thank you Jesus,  and, size 7 here I come.

Stay tuned for my status report tomorrow. Until then, have a wonderful evening. 

Check in for 6-5-12

Howdy folks! I wanted to check in and give you an update on my transformation process. I have been struggling and struggling hard. Although I’ve never done “crack” or any other kind of drug, I think I have an inkling of a feeling as to what they go through when they go through withdrawals or when they are being weaned off the drug. 

I’m on a low carb diet and if you could be a fly on the wall, you’d swear that I was feigning for some type of drug. I had no idea how dependent my body was on sugar. I didn’t realize how I would be without it. My attitude has been altered, I find myself a little more moody and snapping at my husband. (Poor guy . . . so glad he’s understanding and loves me.)

I was a little disturbed and disappointed that I had not been dropping the pounds as I had hoped that it sent me into a mental funk. Thanks to one of my biggest supporters (B.C.) she triggered a thought during one of our daily talks. My “Aunt Flow” was in town and that very well could be the reason, compiled with the low carb diet, that I was so cranky, so tired and felt like hell. And, the fact that I hadn’t lost much weight didn’t help the situation. 

Well, “Aunt Flow” cleared out this morning and since she’s left, I’ve felt a tad bit better and I lost another pound. So right here, right now, I feel much better than I have in the last week, and I’ll take it!

Hubby and I would walk occasionally, but I had not done any strenuous exercise in the last week because my body was not happy about the low carb diet I had put it on, without its permission, so I didn’t want to do anything strenuous. However, this week, I will add light weight lifting and aerobics three times a week to my plan. I feel that a light workout can only add to the weight loss and get me back into the groove of working out on a regular basis. As for the weights, as I lose weight, that last thing I want to see is sagging skin, so I will add them three times a week as well until I can work up to six days a week. 

I am not past this phase by any means, because if I see anything that looks like chocolate, I’m ready to attack. So, pray for me. LOL. 

My sugars have come down, although, they are not where I want them. I stopped taking my insulin as it puts me into hypoglycemia on the low carb diet. My daily readings have been between 204-215. That’s still too high, however, it’s much lower than the 300-400 it is on a normal basis. And, I have not seen any 500 or 600 spikes. That’s always a good thing. 

One thing I have noticed is that my vision has become a bit blurry. I got new glasses and they are a bit worthless. So, at this point, I cannot tell if the blurriness is due to the new glasses, the high diabetes numbers or the low carb diet. 


Stay tuned. 

Progress Report May 30, 2012

It’s a beautiful day outside, but I won’t be able to get out and enjoy it. I hope everyone is having a great week so far. I’ve had a headache since late yesterday, and I had a big drop (82) in my blood sugar and now it is back to its normal high levels. Can you say yo-yo?

My first day of my progressive transformation went pretty good—until after 11:00pm. This is normally one of my issues with eating. I am a night owl and a work-a-holic, so I may work 12-24 hours a day, but I work most nights through the wee hours of the morning. I’m usually laying down for a nap, when most are getting up to get their day started.

If you lost the link, you can find it here (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ymjauthor). I will also post it on the side bar. Here you’ll be able to see what I eat on a daily basis. As you can see that for the past two days, with the exception of the lifesaver and peach I ate yesterday to get my blood sugar back up, I’m doing pretty well. You should also be able to tell that I am on a high protein, low carb diet.

Monday night, I did about fifteen (15) minutes of weight training. I was to start going to the gym last night, but realize that this diet so far has left me overly tired and with low blood sugars—running on a treadmill or lifting heavy weights at a gym is not the idea thing for me right now. Once my body gets used to this way of eating, I will get back into working out vigorously.

I will say, though, I’ve lost 3 pounds since Monday. That’s good news to my ears. I’ll keep you all updated on my progress. 

Welcome to My New Journey

Taken 5/27/12

Hello Folk I’m back and I’m on a mission. I’m on a journey to improve my life In various aspects to include physically. And here is where I will document my journey of weight loss. In a matter of two weeks, I will be forty-three (43) years old.  More than half my life is behind me and I intend on making however many years I have in front of me the best that I can. My health history has been no secret, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, breast tumors, ovarian tumors and a host of other health issues have certainly  posed challenges for me since 2000. I’ve gone from a size six (six) to a size eighteen (18) and yo-yo’d in between. At current, I am teetering between a size nine (9) and a size twelve (12).

I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Well folk, this Weight Chasing Diva is sick and tired of being sick and tired of being sick and tired! I’ve tried diet after diet, after diet.  I did try Weight Watchers and did lose weight on it, at first. After a while, either it stopped working, or I did. Well, as the song goes, It’s a new day! And I want to feel gooooooooooood!

To you, I say, welcome to my journey. Encouragement, enlightenment, affirmation and tips. This is a no negativity zone,

Taken 5/27/12

I will be keeping a good and exercise log at my favorite place, My Fitness Pal http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ymjauthor.  I will be posting progress photos here on the blog as time progresses.

In addition to obtaining the obvious health benefits that come with being healthy, I have set a goal to lose seventy (70) pound by my forty-fifth (45) birthday. That means I have two years to achieve and sustain this goal. This afternoon, I weighed in at a whopping one hundred eighty-eight (188).  So, as you can see, I have a ways to go.

So without further ado, welcome to my journey!