Getting my health back.
Jul. 6th, 2012 11:35 amI have started back on the road to getting healthy again. My blood pressure is out of whack, my blood sugar is consistently running high (150 g/mL this morning), I have no energy, and walking around the grocery store is enough to cause me to break out in a sweat.
It's difficult for me because I did all this once before. I got exercising, lost weight, and felt good. And I was actually running and was more in shape than I'd ever been. Then I started going crazy, then my dad got sick and died, and I just fell off the wagon completely. I feel a lot of guilt with that. I'm sure I could go back and find journal entries about how I was never gaining the weight back and everything. Part of this process is letting go of that failure and remembering that I'm starting from scratch again. To not get discouraged because I can't make it through the easy level on the workout video or that I have sweat pouring off of me. And to start over with eating as well. Pull out the measuring spoons and start doing all that again. I have to get things under control.
Weight 318.0 pounds
This is 4 pounds over where I started 7(!) years ago losing weight. It is down from 329.5 in March. I pulled the scale out and will be stepping on every morning. I know this is unconventional, but it worked for me last time. It helps keep me in check and helps me track what foods are good/bad for me. I need to lose 100 pounds.
Blood Sugar: 150 g/mL
This is what is scaring me "straight." My mother takes 4-6 shots of insulin a day, and I don't want to end up like that. I am hoping if I can take off the weight that number will drop back to normal range without medication.
Blood Pressure: high. kept in check w/medication. This is something else I'd love to get rid of the medication for. I think it will come down as well if I continue to exercise.
Exercise: I tried my Biggest Loser cardio max DVD for the first time in forever yesterday. Oof. It was HARD!! and I had to stop several times. I really want to start walking again, but it's been so danged hot that I don't think I can outside yet unless I go early in the morning. I'm also having a really hard time getting up and moving in the mornings, and my medications (the effexor and the beta blocker) make exercising more difficult too soon after I've taken them. So for now I'm going to shoot for 2 or 3 pm and just do as much as I can with the DVD. It's more than I've been doing so it's gotta be helpful. I'll try walking some maybe next week when the temperatures cool down a little.
Diet: This is going to be hard as well. For starters I'm going to cut back on the amount of fats I use to cook with and try for more fruits and veggies and fewer starches. As always portion control is my biggest enemy so that needs attention as well. I am also going to keep an eye on sweets and added sugars, but not cut them completely out. I am also a big proponent of "real" foods (i.e. full fat dressings, regular jello as opposed to sugar free, 100% juice instead of diet) because I hate artificial sweetners. I will just need to use these things in more moderation. I also got to quit the fast food. Just can't have it. Period. End of story. For the weight loss part of the diet, I'm going to count calories again. It worked last time. Right now I'm just going to count how many I eat, but my goal in the next week or so will be to eat 1500-1800 a day.
Well, wish me luck.
It's difficult for me because I did all this once before. I got exercising, lost weight, and felt good. And I was actually running and was more in shape than I'd ever been. Then I started going crazy, then my dad got sick and died, and I just fell off the wagon completely. I feel a lot of guilt with that. I'm sure I could go back and find journal entries about how I was never gaining the weight back and everything. Part of this process is letting go of that failure and remembering that I'm starting from scratch again. To not get discouraged because I can't make it through the easy level on the workout video or that I have sweat pouring off of me. And to start over with eating as well. Pull out the measuring spoons and start doing all that again. I have to get things under control.
Weight 318.0 pounds
This is 4 pounds over where I started 7(!) years ago losing weight. It is down from 329.5 in March. I pulled the scale out and will be stepping on every morning. I know this is unconventional, but it worked for me last time. It helps keep me in check and helps me track what foods are good/bad for me. I need to lose 100 pounds.
Blood Sugar: 150 g/mL
This is what is scaring me "straight." My mother takes 4-6 shots of insulin a day, and I don't want to end up like that. I am hoping if I can take off the weight that number will drop back to normal range without medication.
Blood Pressure: high. kept in check w/medication. This is something else I'd love to get rid of the medication for. I think it will come down as well if I continue to exercise.
Exercise: I tried my Biggest Loser cardio max DVD for the first time in forever yesterday. Oof. It was HARD!! and I had to stop several times. I really want to start walking again, but it's been so danged hot that I don't think I can outside yet unless I go early in the morning. I'm also having a really hard time getting up and moving in the mornings, and my medications (the effexor and the beta blocker) make exercising more difficult too soon after I've taken them. So for now I'm going to shoot for 2 or 3 pm and just do as much as I can with the DVD. It's more than I've been doing so it's gotta be helpful. I'll try walking some maybe next week when the temperatures cool down a little.
Diet: This is going to be hard as well. For starters I'm going to cut back on the amount of fats I use to cook with and try for more fruits and veggies and fewer starches. As always portion control is my biggest enemy so that needs attention as well. I am also going to keep an eye on sweets and added sugars, but not cut them completely out. I am also a big proponent of "real" foods (i.e. full fat dressings, regular jello as opposed to sugar free, 100% juice instead of diet) because I hate artificial sweetners. I will just need to use these things in more moderation. I also got to quit the fast food. Just can't have it. Period. End of story. For the weight loss part of the diet, I'm going to count calories again. It worked last time. Right now I'm just going to count how many I eat, but my goal in the next week or so will be to eat 1500-1800 a day.
Well, wish me luck.