SBD: Update

Just a little update since my last post. I am still concentrating on weight loss. On December 14th's weigh in I hit 17 lost total. I didn't lose anything between that weigh-in & the next on December 21. Christmas & The New Year came; I gain 1.5 lbs and have stalled at that weight for now! Looking back at my numbers from the first time doing this, I see that a plateau is normal for my body at this point in weight loss mode. So I am just plugging along! If the pattern holds true, I'm due for a big loss at the weigh in after next! ;)

SBD: Monday Weigh in

Down another 2 -- 14.5 total!

I will post my menu plan sometime tomorrow. Bob is out of town (returns tomorrow afternoon), Olivia works, and tomorrow we will go out to eat, as is the tradition when one of us returns from a trip out of town. Therefore, there was no urgent need to plan the Monday or Tuesday menus.

SBD: Weigh In

Down another 1.5 for a total of 12.5!

SBD: Week 2 Begins

Weighed in this morning...
Down 4.5...

According to my journal from my "original" diet, I lost 12 pounds the first week. Isn't that insane? At that time Phase 1 was SO drastically different from how I ate that the pounds just melted away. I wasn't expecting the numbers I had the first time and am very please with my loss.

Yes, I Can

I have spoke over and over about my battle with weight here! I am determined to get this extra weight off & keep it off. I will be 40 in March & want to be at a healthy weight -- good blood work numbers aren't enough for me because I know I could be doing more. My main probably is the bad habits creeping back in -- the worst of those habits is meal skipping! I started South Beach Diet Phase 1 (again) on Monday.

As of Monday's weigh-in, I have 63 lbs I would like to lose. I did not reach my high weight again, but I was close. Why do we do this to ourselves? UGH!

So, the countdown begins...

Cough Update

The medications my doctor gave me for the cough seem to have done their job. I still have a slight cough, but nothing like it was two weeks ago. The end is finally in sight! Woohoo!!

Health Again

This has just not been a good few months for me health wise. I absolutely know it could be worse, but I don't like it. For the second time in less than a month, I ended up in bed early Saturday with a migraine. I got quite a few migraines before I had Olivia. I had maybe one a year after having her. I have had three in the last two months & two of those have been within the last month or so. I don't know if they are related to the other issues, if they are a side effect of or triggered by medication, or just simply a "cycle" my body is just going into. If they continue, another visit to my doctor will be in order. Boy, she's going to think I am a hypochondriac or something. ;)

On the Mend!

I think I am finally beginning to feel like myself again. Not 100%, but I am hopeful I am near the end of this cold.

It was not fun!!

This is My New Year's Day

January 26 must be a good day for me to begin something!

Five years ago today I changed my eating habits. More than half the weight has crept back on! I am still eating healthy (most of the time), but had kind of stopped "moving" in the couple months. I did maintain the loss of 6 lbs from the fall.

That brings me to what I started doing today! I started "moving" again! I went to a local indoor pool and swam a little over 1/2 a mile! It felt so good to be back in the pool again. I don't think I have swam since the triathlon! YIKES!

Weight Loss Journey

I have moved to Phase 2 and am down 1 more pound -- coming off slowly, but at least I found something to get the number on the scale going down rather than up. The 2 weeks on Phase 1 must have been what my body needed to get moving.

I spoke with my doctor last week and am going to continue with what I am doing until early Feb. She will test my thryoid levels again & we'll discuss the need for seeing an endo then. Other than the uber slow metabolism all the symptoms that motivated me to have my thyroid levels checked are gone so I don't think there is any reason to run to a specialist at this point. When we have my numbers in Feb, it may paint a completely different picture, but for now I am comfortable with this path.

SBD Week 2

Forgot to update you all on my weight loss progress from week 2 of phase 1. I lost 2.5 lbs from Nov 3 - Nov 9. That brings my total to 5, and more importantly, I had to buckle my belt one notch smaller. :)

South Beach Diet "Revisited"

Most of you probably remember my post earlier this year about trouble with weight gain and other symptoms that had me thinking I had hypothryoidism. Most symptoms are gone or aren't as severe, but not the weight gain. I have gained more weight since then. I still eat healthy foods and appropriate portions, I exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Since nothing seems to be working, I have gone back to South Beach Diet Phase 1.

I never "left" SBD, but none of my doctors suggestions have worked so this is the last resort. If going back to the SBD Phase 1 works, I will move on to Phase 2 to lose that weight that has crept back. If Phase 1, again, does nothing, I will schedule another appointment with my doctor who will probably refer me to an endocrinologist.

My fingers are crossed that this will work!! Today is Day #2!

One Year Later

One year ago today my dad had a major heart attack and emergency bypass surgery that required more than a month long stay in the hospital. Those first weeks were a roller coaster of emotion. I am so glad those days of initial worry are behind us. There are, of course, new worries, but right now he is doing really well physically.

I love you dad!

Not Hypo

Oops...saved as a draft instead of publishing this baby!

Well, all my blood work came back fine. My cholesterol wasn't just fine -- it was excellent! :) I credit that to eating whole grains & good fats! Thanks to learning South Beach Diet way of life! :)

I do not have hypothyroidism at the moment, but the doctor believes my body could be headed in that direction since my number was on lower side of the normal range. She will test again in a year. If I don't start feeling better and my metabolism doesn't speed up, she will refer me to an endocrinologist.

For now, she had a few suggestions for boosting my metabolism based on the food/work out journal I keep. She thought my caloric intake was a little low for the amount of activity so she suggested I raised my caloric intake about 100-150 calories. She also suggested adding one more strength training workout to my week. I am going to make those changes and see how it goes!

Anyone know of other ways to boost a slow metabolism?

Am I Hypo?

Both my mom and grandma have hypothyroidism, and I currently have more than one of the symptoms. They have crept up in the last few months. I have done a bit of reading on it in the last few weeks and have decided it is time to see my doctor. I will be having blood work done tomorrow and will see my doctor next Wednesday. It could very well be nothing, but I will not ignore my body when it is trying to tell me something.

I have gained 20 lbs in less than a year -- nearly 15 of that has been since mid-March. I eat right most of the time, I exercise, and there is no way it is 15 pound gain in muscle. I had to buy bigger clothes. My nails are brittle, my hands & feet swell, I have lost a small portion of my left eyebrow. (A few other symptoms I have may be considered TMI for my blog so I will spare you the details...LOL!) :)

These all could simply mean I am getting older and need to adjust my lifestyle again, but with thyroid disease in the family I think it is wise to rule that out.

Thursday Thirteen #36

Every month has it's share of observances and awareness campaigns. I thought today I would list some of them.

Thirteen Observances & Awareness Campaigns During November

1. National Adoption Month

2. National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

3. American Diabetes Month

4. National Epilepsy Awareness Month

5. Great American Smokeout

6. National Healthy Skin Month

7. National Hospice Month

8. Lung Cancer Awareness Month

9. National Marrow Awareness Month

10. Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

11. Prematurity Awareness Month

12. PH (Pulmonary Hypertension) Awareness Month

13. Tie One On for Safety Campaign (Red Ribbon)

I found this information at polhy.com! There are quite a few more.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Time for Your Mammogram?

Today is National Mammography Day! Is it time for you to schedule your mammogram? I made my appointment today for my November mammogram. Don't put it off...

Early detection saves lives!

Hooray for Dad

Olivia had the day off school so we headed over to visit my dad. He has lost about 30 pounds and looks slightly too thin, but he has his color back. He has moments of dizziness, but those are getting less frequent. He has his color back rather than that icky color he had in the hospital and for the last couple weeks. He has taken a turn in the right direction! Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and support in those difficult days.

There are still some issues, but now add income & insurance to the mix. At the end of October, his short-term disability will run out along with insurance. Short of a miracle, there is no way he will be able to go back to work which means they will have no money coming in unless he qualifies for Social Security. He has a meeting with someone at the SSA next Monday! Please say a little prayer that it will all work out!

This is where I put in a plug for long-term disability insurance. Check your disability policies and make sure you have sufficient coverage!

Thursday Thirteen #23

My 86-year-old grandmother was diagnosed with osteoporosis about two weeks ago. She met with her doctor yesterday and will be taking a once monthly osteoporosis pill along with doubling her dosage of calcium/vitamin D.

She is the type of woman who sweats the small stuff. Complains about her health when she should really be thankful because is in really good health -- especially for an 86 year old! There are many, many people far younger deal with much more than she ever has. She is freaking out about having to take a pill and already worrying out which side effect she is going to have. (For those who don't know she reads every letter of print that comes with a medication and every time says she has one of the side effects about 12 hours after taking the new pill.)

To help her understand her diagnosis I have been doing a some reading on osteoporosis. I thought I would share some of the risk factors for those who may not know them. Some I knew. Some I did not.

Thirteen Osteoporosis Risk Factors

1. being older than 65

2. breaking a bone after age 50

3. having poor vision, even with glasses

4. starting menopause before age 45

5. having a close relative with osteoporosis or who has broken a bone

6. smoking

7. having more than two alcoholic beverages several times a week

8. being underweight

9. having never gotten enough calcium

10. being inactive

11. falling

12. having one of the following medical conditions: hyperthyroidism, chronic lung disease, Cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic hepatic or renal disease, vitamin D deficiency, Cushing's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis

13. taking one of these medicines: steroids, cancer treatments (radiation, chemotherapy), thyroid medicine, anti epileptic medications, immunosuppressive agents.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Two Little Words

The two little words ALL CLEAR mean so much! Today I am thankful a dear friend heard those words from her doctor! Praise the Lord for many answered prayers!