One of my dear friends is doing this as well. We text and/or chat daily about what we've eaten, what the scale says, our frustrations and our thoughts through this process. My quest is to get healthier, become more fit and not get so discouraged when shopping for new clothes. I do not have many of the problems associated with being overweight. I am grateful for that. Low blood pressure runs in my family and even at my heaviest my blood pressure was low, my cholesterol in the normal range and no diabetes. The health issue that was really the catalyst for doing something about my weight was my hiatal hernia. I will always have it, however by losing weight I can lessen the symptoms that are so bothersome. Already I am feeling better, I know the medication is a big part of it, but losing 29 pounds takes pressure off my diaphragm which in turn reduces the pain and problems the hernia has caused.
Last fall two different surgical groups recommended a Nissen Fundoplication to fix my hernia. The long term side affects and potential problems really got me thinking. I am believer that anytime you can make lifestyle choices to solve a problem without surgery, then it's win-win. The surgeons told me that medication and losing weight "may" help and I had about a 50:50 chance of seeing an improvement. That was enough of a motivator. I jump started things with 80 mg of prilosec a day (per Dr's orders), yes 80 mg - a normal dose is 20 mg per day. My symptoms calmed down after 4 weeks and I've have since weened off the high dose. I only take 20 mg a day now. Prilosec is an antacid and in my case less acid means less vomiting. And that's a good thing!
When I started this quest for better health I didn't tell anyone aside from my immediate family, sister and dear friend who joined with me. It's not that I want to keep it a secret, it's just that it's MY journey, MY quest, MY thing. I didn't, and I still don't, want advice from people on what to eat, what not to eat. I feared people would question my food choices. It isn't their journey, it's mine. I am doing it for me, and me alone. I do think that's why it's working for me, right now at this time in my life.
Now that I've lost 29 pounds people have noticed and it's nice to get complimented that I look good. But when someone tells me loudly in a public place with others (whom I don't know) very close by "you've lost a lot of weight and you look good", I just want to have the floor open up and suck me in. It's embarrassing, you might have well just said "now that you've lost weight I realize how terrible you looked before". It's nice that you think I look good and are happy I lost weight, but tact and decorum would be appreciated. I've vented now, I'm over it. Moving on.
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This is what I just ate and boy was it delicious. 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on a slice of Sara Lee Delightful Multi-grain bread and one apple. I think the peanut butter will have staying power, which is good because I've been so hungry the past few days. This was after a banana and a hard boiled egg about an hour earlier. I think my increased hunger is because I really upped my exercise while in New Orleans on a business trip with my husband. I had to work out more to enjoy some of that yummy creole cuisine. The extra exercise is good, I feel my legs getting stronger (and smaller) with each workout. WW point count on the day = 6. Egg (2), Peanut Butter (3), Bread (1), Apple (0) and Banana (0). No deprivation for me!
I am pleased and proud that I have been able to lose weight through the holidays and while taking several trips (a week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, four days in New Orleans, a week in Seattle, WA). My mind is definitely in the right place and here's to the next 10 pounds. I know I can do it. I owe so much of my success so far to my amazing, supportive husband. I've experimented with new recipes, rid the cupboard of junk food and he hasn't complained once. In fact, he's lost about 8 pounds. He is such a blessing!
Time to get on the exercise bike!
