Oh, balls!

I haven't been in over a week, but today I went back to the chiropractors for a good back crack and some exercises. They've made all of my exercises ball-based now which look so easy. Until you try to do them. Holy hell, I was so embarrassed! There were exercises that no matter HOW hard I tried, I physically couldn't do them. Like, balancing on the ball via my thighs then lift my leg and my alternate arm. I couldn't do it. I couldn't balance! We made some adjustments in my positioning so I could complete the exercises, but I was frustrated to say the least. What didn't help was the wall of mirrors to kick my brain back into reality. In my eyes, I looked like a seal trying to gracefully balance on the ball. It wasn't cute.

I came home with six or so exercises. I have an appointment next Saturday at the same time. There WILL be an improvement and George (the exercise guy) will notice it and compliment me on my progress. (Just so this happens, will someone call George and let him know his lines?)

On the food subject, I thought the meal plan Elizabeth gave me was too many calories. Yeah, why would I think that seeing as though she's the DIETITIAN. I'm so stubborn sometimes. Anyway, like I said last post, I'm combining her plan with WW. I ate this wonderful breakfast of eggs, toast and cheese with a snack of a pear and was completely full. I just sat down and logged it all into eTools thinking I'm going to be off track....nope. I'm only 7 points into my day. I still have 20 to go and its already 1pm. I haven't been on track like this, and not starving, in forever!

A pear for your apple bottom?

After much thought, I'm going to combine WW and what my dietitian told me to do. I prepaid for 3 months of etools, so I'm going to journal my foods online utilizing suggestions from Elizabeth instead of a paper that I've lost three times already.

I'm happy to hear Laura went back to WW since having her baby and my old partner is going to a dietitian next week. Now, I have two of my closest friends with the same goal as I. And knowing them both personally, I know exactly what they were like "before." Like if Mike can have will power and avoid Chinese food, then so can I. I think its more helpful having someone you really know on a journey like this. I just wish I had someone a little closer to me instead of them both being in PA and I'm here in MD. But, I guess I can't be choosy.

Did I mention I love pears? I do and I didn't even know it before last week. They are my new favorite snack. Did you ever think you'd hear me say I love fruit as a snack? I know--shocked the shit out of me, too.

I can't afford to be healthy

How sad is that? I honestly can't afford to eat the organic foods Elizabeth suggested. I spent $100 the other day at the store and that only got me two or three bags of food, and nothing substantial at that. Although I may not be able to afford to follow her plan to a T or see her every two weeks as she'd like, I'm glad I learned what I should be eating and when. In the past week my snacks have changed dramatically. I've learned what works and what doesn't. I'm eating fruit like its going out of style. So, I'm going to follow her basic rules, eat clean when I can, and see how it goes.

Well, I'm a few days into my diet plan and it seems to be working. I haven't had any issues with belly pain since cutting wheat out. I have to say its a little difficult eating organic all the time, especially when I'm at work, but I'm trying. Its a little more expensive so my pantry isn't exactly stocked like I'm used to. Well, the pantry still is stocked, but not really with stuff I can eat.

I have to keep a food diary just like I did with WW. And just like WW I find once I think I'm okay not to journal is the day I screw up. TOday is my screw up day. Tomorrow will not be.

Day 1

I'm not going to lie. I ate things I really wasn't looking forward to today. Like for a snack before bed, a sourdough Wasa cracker and string cheese wasn't exactly what I had in mind. But, I gotta say I'm not searching for anything to eat now. With the exception of the one craving around 930pm, I've had a good day. And honestly, that craving was more of a schedule thing than hunger. I'm a little nervous about work tomorrow. I'm working 12 hours plus its Friday, which means no meat because of Lent. I just have to keep reminding myself it is really all a mind game. I'm obviously not starving.

Upgrading to Version 2.0

Wow. Thats all I can say after my two hour visit with my dietitian. I figured the session would show me how to measure food and eat this not that, but this lady is on a mission. She claims she'll have me lose weight and get me off my prescription medicines. She told me I'm a medical mess. Not one of those medical messes that are about to die but the ones that outwardly look okay and doctors find nothing life threatening wrong so they kinda rush you out the door as they collect your co-pay. She explained how my PCOS was tied into my digestive issues from a year or so ago which ties into my issues with sleep and so on.

The long and short of it? Starting this morning I've done a 180. Because the root of most of my problems is hormone based, I have to eat clean. That means I'm going to be one of those hippies at Trader Joe's eating only organic food. She explained my body has enough hormone issues on its own---it doesn't need hormones from every other animal out there adding to the mess. She even suggests I use organic makeup, sunscreen and lotion. She's put me on a diet where I can eat more proteins (4-6 oz per meal) with a healthy fat and "certain" carbohydrates. She feels my gut issues may be related to wheat sensitivity.

She says the "average" person can benefit from eating wheat products instead of white. Thats what I thought, so all this time I traded white in for wheat. Come to find out, I'm not average, so I have a sensitivity to it which actually causes more issues. So, for the first time I had spelt bread. I was hesitant but graciously surprised that I liked it.

Theres lots more to it that I'll just leave out because I'm sure you really don't care. But I can honestly say I'm two meals in and I'm not hungry one bit. Actually, I couldn't even finish all of my lunch. I'm pretty excited about it. Plus I like that the dietitian was "excited" about me---she told me I'm a challenge for her. She sounds like me. I like challenges. I'm up for one.

New Me--Version 1.5

I'm finding out my physical therapy workout sessions (which are no joke--leave me sweaty and out of breath) are tailored for my body, my workout ability, and my goals. The generic workouts that were suggested to me in the past just don't work for me. In fact, they hurt me more. Now, I'm feeling (not yet seeing) progress and I look forward to these workouts now instead of finding excuses to avoid them.

With my "new me" for 2010 goal, I've scheduled an appointment to see a nutritionist/dietitian on Wednesday afternoon. I want to be healthier overall. I want someone to sit down and really analyze the food/drink I'm putting in my body and show me what is better for me, not the "average" person. I want that tailored program. I want to reach my goals and have someone follow me along the way.

Working it off

I earned 6 APs today! Go me!!

We're alive after Snowmeggedon 2010!

Its been a while......

Well. Where to start? Snow. Lots of it. We got hit with two blizzards in one week!! I'll have to post some pictures. Its been crazy around here. I love it, to be honest. I grew up with snow so I'm used to it. Maryland/DC? Not so much. People are aggravating me, but its not really their fault. They don't get snow like this normally, so its definitely a shock to them. People start walking in the middle of the street because there are no sidewalks shoveled. Three lane roads only have one plowed.Its all part of the experience, I guess. Definitely something we'll remember for a long time.

I started going to a chiropractor. She's great. She's confirming so many things that hurt me. Guess that sounds funny, but she's giving reason as to why things hurt me and we're working on reversing them. The best? She told me which exercises to completely avoid because they WILL hurt me (because of my sacrum issues and hourglass body shape). Which ones? Treadmill with incline, elliptical, bike riding (unless recumbent), lunges, stairmills or step machines. All the things I was doing at the gym off and on over the years and caused me so much pain I refused to go back. So, we're starting a workout plan now. I need to walk on flat surfaces/treadmills when working out. I can do the recumbent bike. I should walk backwards on the treadmill. I can workout with light weights for my upper body but can't do lunges or anything for a while until she feels I'm ready. She told me I'll feel like I'm doing nothing, which is why I avoided those things. I feel like I'm cheating if I'm sitting down in a chair and riding a bike. But, she said if I do that stuff for 45-60 minutes I'll get results.

And results, I hope I get. I've been reading a lot about PCOS lately. They say although its harder to lose the weight, the benefits are even greater. Apparently symptoms worsen with the more weight that is carried, increasing chances for diabetes. Another reason to lose? Increases my chances of having a baby. Yep....we're talking a baby. Nothing anytime soon, because I know its going to be a process, but I've read women with PCOS that lose the weight greatly increase the chances of getting pregnant. And if IVF is needed, it increases the chances the pregnancy will take. There is a pretty good chance I'd need to do IVF, so with the $ and stress involved with that, I want to be sure I do what I have to in order to be successful.

Back to normal.

I'm back to normal, finally. It felt like it took forever to get out of vacation mode! I've been doing really well with my eating, even at work the other day. I'm supposed to weigh in Thursday, which I'm looking forward to. I've lost all the weight I gained on the cruise and I'm hoping for a little extra. Just gotta keep myself on track.....