My Life Plan Journal

Blah.

I hate the holidays. 

I’ve been so bad, and gained back about 5 pounds.

It’s back to the grindstone and a return to my minimum of 3 days per week workouts at the gym!

Happy New Year!

So, okay, I decided to be a dork one day and wear both the Yamax and the Omron pedometers at the same time.  I did this for two days in a row, the first being an average day of get up, go to work, come home, walk the dog and neglecting my calisthenics, and the second being my average day of get up, go to work, go to the health club and work out, come home, walk the dog and then relax. 

The first day, the pedometers were right on with each other. So, they’re both equal in their accuracy. 

It was on the second day, however, that proved which was most valuable to me.  The answer?

The Omron.

The Omron and Yamax were in sync up to the point that I reached the health club. The Yamax didn’t record any of my efforts there, while the Omron did record my exercising as well. 

So, now the Yamax sits in a drawer as a back up should I lose my new Omron http://viagrasstore.net/generic-viagra/.

I’ve been really bad the past couple of weeks, and what’s more, is that I know I’ve been bad, and know when I’m about to be bad, but … I still do it. Then I give myself a lecture on why that was dumb and make myself repentent … only to be bad again.  It was getting sick that did it; it got me out of rhythm and now, I have to get back into it.

I’m thinking of buying myself a really cute size 14 … something.  Hang it up to display it with a note saying, “And YOU! could wear THIS! if you be good!”

Once upon a time, I thought 53 was old.

Now?  I know for a fact it is.

Except that … I don’t want to be old, and so, I don’t consider myself old and I do everything UN old that I can.

So, I got some new goodies for my birthday; or rather, one in particular that I just love.  Tony got me a Kindle!  Now, perhaps we won’t be buried under thousands of books… Though of course, there will be books that I buy the actual book rather than an electronic version.

Displeased with the Yamax pedometer, I thought I lost it last Saturday after I returned home from the gym.  Perhaps it sensed I didn’t like it and sought its escape.  I thought maybe … there was a chance it fell off around my car and would (ha ha) still be there.  A slight chance it fell off IN the car.  I ordered a new one, an Omron like the first one I lost flagyl metronidazole.  Of course, a couple of hours later, I found the Yamax in my car. 

I got the Omron today, so tomorrow, I’m going to wear BOTH … and see which one is the most accurate.  I already know which one is the most comfortable.

Today is Tony’s birthday; he’s quite pleased with the super nice widescreen flatscreen monitor I bought him.  It’s … nice.  Better by far than mine.  But, it makes no sense to get myself a new one; my current flat screen works great.

For our birthday, Tony took me out to dinner at Red Lobster.  You betcha I went way over my calorie limit.  I had to have a Margarita. Just one.

It was well worth it.

I don’t much like this new Pedometer; I miss my Omron.

While I like that it’s got a cover that you keep closed, so that wearing the pedometer doesn’t look like you’re wearing a pedometer if you don’t want to, there are problems I’ve encountered. 

One problem with the new pedometer is that you have to be so very exact in how you wear it in order for it to count your steps.  The bigger problem is the clip; it’s not very accomodating. 

With my Omrom, I could clip it to my underwear and thusly keep it hidden away while I’m at work, or out and about in the world and not wanting to advertise that I’m wearing a pedometer.  I tried this with the Yamax, and for some odd reason, it doesn’t register the steps taken.  The Omron had a nice large clip with the arm device much like a clothespin, so I was able to clip it over things like a leather belt I would wear with certain slacks or over thick workout clothes.  The clip on the Yamax is very tight, with no arm device, and you can’t clip it to anything thick. In fact, it warns you not to (the reason I see is that the clip will most likely break).  The painful problem with the Yamax is the small safety clip that you attach to another item of clothing in the event the pedometer slips, the leashed safety clip will prevent you from losing it.  That clip is very painfully sharp.  The safety clip on the Omron was smooth and gentle.

I bought myself a few new things last night.  I am now officially in a size 16 again.  I am happy dancing.

Last night, I cheated and … I didn’t care.

Okay, I did, but at the same time, I was in a funk, and knew it and so I ate more of my late night snack than I should have, and therefore zoomed to about 2,200 calories for the day.

I had a perfectly miserable day at work, starting the day with weighing myself and seeing that despite the fact I had been ill for four days, and hardly ate anything, somehow, I gained two pounds!  Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, my day at work started with a major (and I mean — MAJOR) fight with my boss, and very nearly did I get up and walk out permanently because frankly, I don’t need the stress. 

After work, I headed to the gym and pushed myself a bit, working off the frustrations.  I was sad to see the pool with only two people in it; a perfect night to have brought my swimsuit http://indiansovaldi.com/…

I was doing good until I curled up, propping up my leg, to watch some TV.

I got up this morning and weighed myself.  I lost the two pounds I gained, plus another two more.

Okay, I feel better.

It’s Friday too.  TGIF!

Because this blog is new, please read each linked page above (Background, The Start, et al) to get you familiar with my story.

Okay, not reunited specifically, but I got my new pedometer.  I really like it.  It’s a Yamex Digi-Walker, and one of the top pedometers out there.  It has some features that I don’t particularly like over my lost Omron, but it’s much more accurate.

I read an article today that I’d like to share regarding “Treadmill Desks.”  These are, quite simply, treadmills that have a desk set up, in which the worker can walk their way to health, while typing on their computer, etc.  Though the article talks about a person doing this 8 hours a day, uh … I’d go for it for maybe a couple of hours a day. Tops.  Here’s the link:

 http://www.ahiphiwire.org/News/Default.aspx?doc_id=202045

I’ve been in a big salad craving mood this past almost couple of weeks.  It was that salad I had from McDonalds that started it all.  Not that it’s a bad thing.  I’ve just gotten more inventive on putting together a nice salad, and sprang one of my creations on Tony last night.  It had the usual lettuce, tomato, cucumber, chopped spanish onion, a few spanish olives, and a hard boiled egg.  But, for an added taste, I sauteed mushrooms and chopped red onion in extra virgin olive oil and piled this atop the cold salad. Yum! And I’m hooked on raspberry vinaigrette, my new addiction.  The store brand where I shop, I find tastes the best, with far less junk in it, including fat and calories, so I can be decadently liberal and free of guilt.

Because this blog is new, please read each linked page above (Background, The Start, et al) to get you familiar with my story.

I sit here and have to chuckle, because there are people that make too big of a deal out of things that aren’t important.  Like, a message board for a roleplay chat room.  -rolls eyes-  There are far more interesting things to get one’s panties worked up in a bunch over.

Well, I ordered a new pedometer.  Of course, I know that I will find my lost buddy now for sure, but, I look at it as … I will have a back up buddy in case one of them decides to poof again to pedometer-nirvana, or wherever it has vanished to.  Hopefully, I’ll get it within a couple of days.

I’ve lost another 5 pounds, which has me dancing happy.  Only 6 more pounds to be out of the 200s! I’ve already met the goal my doctor set for me before we meet again in December. I have a different goal that I hope to make before that date.

I even indulged last week and had a southwestern grilled chicken salad from McDonalds.  I haven’t eaten at McD’s in … a long long time. The salad was delicious, and even with the dressing, was under 500 calories for a very fulfilling meal. 

I spent over two hours at the gym yesterday, and I feel … great.  A good hour was spent in the weight circuits, always starting off with 30-40 minutes on the bike.  I nudged up the level starting yesterday as well; the lowest level is just not effective enough for me.  After a good hour, maybe a bit more than that, of sweating off the calories, the weight circuit near-empty so I was able to do a complete overall body workout, I headed to the swimming pool … which was pretty crowded.  At least there were no children coming for swim class anymore, so it allowed for the full pool to be used.  I swam and worked out in the pool for another hour before heading to the showers and then to the grocery story before heading home.

Tony has lost weight, too, not that he particularly needed to.  I’ve tried to get him to come hang out with me at the gym one weekend day, but he doesn’t like gyms.  I can’t blame him, really, because I honestly would prefer to have my own personal home gym, a room set aside like I once had before, and a private swimming pool to boot.  Maybe, when we win the lottery.  -chuckles-  Until then, I’m stuck stowing away my stuff in a locker amidst a bunch of naked Chinese ladies.

I’ve read a lot of complaints the other day about Bally’s, but frankly, it has me scratching my head at the denseness of some people.  There were some about bad conditions at specific clubs, but most were complaints from people that they didn’t know they were signing a contract?  Um, I mean, if you’re going to sign something, don’t you want to know WHAT you are signing before you sign?  Don’t you bother to READ before you sign? Ask questions?  There was one complaint that was a bit frightening, though whether or not it was true is another matter; the complaint was regarding a club in Manhattan, in which the person alledged that all of the employees had access to personal files and she was now being stalked.

Bally’s didn’t get an easy sale from me.  Not only did I demand a complete tour, especially of the locker room and shower room, to determine the cleanliness of the gym, but I didn’t agree to a sale right away. It was several months down the road that I signed and then I sat there and read the entire thing before I did sign, and I was met not with annoyance but rather with respect.  When the girl came in to do the contract, and put my personal information on the computer, I asked her pointedly who had access to that information, and was assured that only herself, the other account specialist and the general manager did.  I wrote their names on my copy of the contract as she watched and then made HER sign to that effect.  In this age of identity theft, it’s always best to be proactive in such things rather than later discover you’ve been victimized.

After this week, pushing myself now up that higher level at the bike, and perhaps trying to get in a half hour minimum of swimming and pool workout on either a Tuesday or Thursday night, I’m considering pushing to add a fourth day to my workout schedule.  Already, I go Tuesdays and Thursdays after work, and either Saturday or Sunday morning. 

Live and enjoy life…

Because this blog is new, please read each linked page above (Background, The Start, et al) to get you familiar with my story.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I got home yesterday evening and took a shower … and somewhere along the way misplaced my Pedometer.  I didn’t realize it until I reached for it this morning…

Not that I make the 10,000 steps these days, or get that close to it as I had been prior to the leg explosion, but I like to keep an eye on how physical active I am.

Egads!  I have to laugh though.  Monday. Labor Day. I didn’t even do 1,000 steps.  It was a holiday after all…

Now that Tony is back to work, I can get back on track with my diet better still.  It was wonderful to come home and find him cooking up dinner, and they were healthy, but heavier than what I like to have for my dinners.  Not only is it better for you, but I prefer my heavier meals to be my breakfasts and lunches.  Not only does it provide you with better opportunity to burn off those calories you consumed, but for me, a lighter evening meal means a better sleep.

I never made it to the gym over the long holiday weekend, due to the fact that Tony started a project of painting the apartment while he was home on his vacation, and we used that holiday weekend to finish it. 

But, I did make it to the pool last week, and discovered that the women who complained that the water was cold must have no blood in them at all (the water was perfect), and … the pool is not overly chlorinated.  According to them, the water rots your bathing suit right off of you.  Granted, it has more chlorine than I would put into my pool back when I had a house with a private pool, but that’s just it; it was a private pool.  When you have several people with varying levels of hygiene, damn skippy I want that water a bit more chlorinated…  It was fine; it didn’t burn my eyes and my hair didn’t turn insta-green.  My swim suit is still intact, too.  Perhaps they don’t realize that you should … uh … RINSE out your suit well after swimming?  Regardless?

There was a HUGE platter of nice, plump, delicious bagels offered at the office today.  I was so good; I amazed myself.  I love bagels and I miss them, but oddly, I don’t crave them.  Rather than a bagel, I got out my container of Yoplait Orange Whip! yogurt, which was more satisying and healthy, and a whole lot less calories and fat…

In my research, I found several great articles on obesity and treatments. 

Two main things in our foods are causing us to get fat and unhealthy – and both of them are man made.

• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Hydrogenated Oils

It doesn’t matter what kind of hydrogenated oil it is or if it is partially hydrogenated or any level of hydrogenation. 

The reason they’re bad for us, is because we were not meant to eat them! 

The basics of what we eat are carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and our bodies’ basic system of energy is based on sugar. The real kind found in fruits and vegetables. Most of the foods Americans enjoy, even the so-called “healthy” foods, have high fructose corn syrups and or hydrogenated oils. Our bodies turn hydrogenated oils into Trans Fats.

Do NOT believe those labels that say NO TRANS FATS!!!   Turn the package over and read the ingredient list. If there is ANY hydrogenated oil in any form (partially, et al) in the ingredient list, there ARE  trans fats!

The hormones in our bodies are largely based on fats; the good kind which come from natural foods: mono and poly unsaturated fats. We need fats in order to make hormones. Saturated fats (the bad fats) are found in most meats, therefore, the leaner the meat, the less bad fat.

Americans have the highest instances of obesity than any other country in the world, and it may be due to the bacteria in our intestines. 

Treatment of obesity may very well one day include altering your intestinal bacteria!

Ever notice how some people can eat anything and not gain weight, while others eat small amounts and still gain?   Studies show that it may have to do with their intestinal microorganisms; good and bad.  Scientists are seeing how bacteria can alter carbohydrate metabolism and how that impacts how calories are absorbed. No wonder yogurt is always thought of as a good diet food!

A good number of people don’t realize that not all yogurt is good.  You want a yogurt that contains live bacteria; you’ve probably heard the term: probiotic ici.

Frozen yogurt is high in sugars and doesn’t have nearly the nutritional benefits of good old plain organic yogurt. Ounce for ounce, non-fat plain yogurt has more calcium, protein, and B vitamins like folic acid, niacin, and riboflavin than frozen yogurt. Plain yogurt is also easier to digest for people who are lactose intolerant. I grew up on plain yogurt and even today, it’s the best tasting of all.

The most important reason I like plain yogurt is because it’s a probiotic food.

Approximately 400-500 species of bacteria live in your intestines; some of the bacteria are good, and some of the bacteria are super big-time troublemakers, which sets the stage of your intestines as a battle ground between the two.  (Anyone suffer IBS?  Good old stomach-ache-food-didn’t-settle sort of thing?)  The good and pathogenic bacteria compete with each other for nutrients and living space on the colon wall and vagina. In a normal, healthy person, the good bacteria predominate. But oral antibiotics can kill the good bacteria, and expose your stomach to invasion by dangerous bacteria, such as Salmonella and E.coli. 

Probiotics are live bacteria which when ingested can help the good bacteria in the colon thrive, therefore improving the bacterial balance in the intestinal flora. The most common example found in food is the lactobacilli in yogurt. Microorganisms Lactobacillus bulgaricus are added to milk to make it ferment into yogurt. Lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacilli, break down certain carbohydrates and produce lactic acid and short chain fatty acids. These acids cause the environment in your colon and vagina to have a low pH, in which it is difficult for pathogenic bacteria to grow. Beneficial bacteria also produce hydrogen peroxide and other compounds with “antibiotic” effects which can prevent the proliferation of invading bacteria and yeast infections. There is also evidence that having good bacteria balance in the intestines can promote a stronger immune response in the presence of bacterial invaders in people who regularly consume lactic acid bacteria.

Your natural bacteria not only protect you from bad bacteria, they also synthesize nutrients like vitamins K, B12, and biotin, as well as short chain fatty acids. Short chain fatty acids, which are used as energy by the intestinal cells, are produced when the good bacteria metabolize certain carbohydrates, called prebiotics.

Our bodies cannot digest prebiotics, but the lactic acid bacteria do digest them for energy. Once digested, these products are used to support the intestinal walls as well as the growth of beneficial bacteria. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are prebiotics widely available in plant foods. Good sources include broccoli, kale, green cabbage, onions, garlic, bananas, oranges, whole wheat, oats, barley, rye, and chicory root.

If you have a good wheat bran along with a yogurt for breakfast, you are providing those bacteria some good nourishment to better work!

While it is true that all yogurts are made using lactobacilli for fermentation, not all yogurts still have live cultures in them by the time it gets to you, even if it’s in the ingredients list. The bacteria may have been added at some point, but after pasteurization, there is no bacteria left. Many brands add live cultures after pasteurization, so there is enough to do some good. The way to tell which yogurts do have live cultures is to go to the ingredients list. There will be a list of ingredients separated by commas, and then a period at the end of the list. If the bacteria were added after processing, the bacteria will be listed after the first period. If the bacteria were added during processing, the bacteria will be listed before the period. Recently, many brands have been listing the ingredients in one place and then adding a label to read “with live active cultures” followed by a list of the bacteria that were added after pasteurization. They don’t have to tell you if the bacteria have probiotic effects or not, so you have to look for them yourself. Good ones to look for include Lactobacillus acidophilus and the Bifidobacterium species (but you don’t necessarily want too many species in the same yogurt because they may compete with each other instead of with the bad guys!).

Additionally, the longer you keep the yogurt, the fewer bacteria will remain alive, because oxygen breaks it down. So don’t wait too long after purchasing to eat it!

In some cultures, plain yogurt is a staple. Being where I live, those cultures are prevalent, and so it’s easy for me to obtain good plain organic yogurt. 

Plain yogurt is a great substitute in any recipe that calls for sour cream. It can also be used as a topping in burritos and baked potatoes, and eaten with spicy dishes like in Indian cuisine. Plain yogurt mixed with real fruit and natural granola makes a great breakfast, snack, or even dessert.

For less fat and lactose and more calcium, protein, and vitamins, choose nonfat or lowfat yogurt over whole milk yogurt. And for less risk of hormone contamination, choose organic yogurts whenever possible.

What Probiotics can do for you!

• help the good bacteria thrive in your tummy
• maintain an acidic pH environment
• produce hydrogen peroxide which is tough on bad bacteria and yeasts
• produce compounds with “antibiotic” effects to also protect you from bacterial invaders
• help feed the stomach cells
• stimulate the immune system

Another FYI, Stonybrook Farms is one of the few yogurts that uses the good sugars…

I just know that my IBS is past-tense; history.  I haven’t had a problem with any gastrointestinal issues since I’ve started faithfully eating my probiotic yogurts! 

Enjoy life and live!

Because this blog is new, please read each linked page above (Background, The Start, et al) to get you familiar with my story.

Yesterday was my third wedding anniversary and I feel like a new bride.

I had my visit with both the vascular surgeon earlier this week and things went well. He prescribed (knee high) compression stockings, to help heal the leg. He encouraged me to continue with my workouts; no doubt as I keep losing weight, my veins and all that will continue to heal all the faster.

My visit with the endocrinologist went equally as well. She poured over the notes that I had obtained from my ex-physician, and told me that no where in those records could she find any labs that showed I needed thyroid hormone; he had completely misdiagnosed me. Yay. My blood results were excellent; my sugars way down, my bad cholesterol, though never abnormally high, were lower still (Cheerios DOES work), and the good cholesterol had moved up to a better range. Cool beans.

Better still: I weighed in at 210 pounds!

While she only set a 5 pound goal for me by time I see her again in December, I have set my own personal goal by then to be out of the 200s. Forever.

Last night, cuddling with my husband, he searching for those rolls of fat to grab and finding none, made my night when he said, “Wow! You HAVE lost a lot of weight…”

I am back on track now, both in my eating habits and with my workouts, and it feels good to do so. While that week of cheating while on vacation provided me with some delicious meals, they were, in all honesty, not particularly satisfying. Sitting down to a nice simply, healthy meal, satisfies both my mind and my palate so much better. Add in a good workout, and I’m quite sated, mentally and physically.

It’s going to be a long hard road to reach my ultimate goal, but I’m almost halfway there.

Without surgery.

I’m proud of that. I’m proud of me.