Exercise is terribly annoying. Do I want to get up early on the weekends and walk my two miles? Nope. I'd rather snuggle with my sweetie and dogs. Do I want to walk 2 miles after working a 16 hour shift? I'd rather do most anything. But I do it, everyday. Why? It helps me lose weight and improves my cardiovascular health.
Studies have shown time and time again that exercise, especially aerobic exercise, helps you lose weight faster and keep it off than just dieting alone.
I have found hiking to be rather enjoyable. I like nature, and hiking gives me an opportunity to see flora and fauna up close. It is good exercise, and carrying a backpack counts as strength training. GeoCaching is an activity that can also be done while hiking. It is kind of like hide and seek, where someone hides a Cache and you find it. I also enjoy bike riding, and have plans to start that again soon as soon as I work out the issues my gears have been having.
I have been told by my physical terrorist, I mean, therapist, that I need to work on my core strength. So I am looking into that currently. I've been told hula hooping is great core exercise, and for some odd reason it appeals. I also have one of the Gold's Gym videos, but the chick annoys me greatly. So, we will see.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Introduction
First of all you may be wondering what in the world 'flensing' means. 'Flensing' is a word used to describe the removal of blubber from a whale carcass. It may sound cruel, but it fits. At my heaviest I weighed over 340 pounds. Even though I have a large build for a woman that much weight on a 5'8" frame is not a pretty site.
Not only was I overweight, I was an uncontrolled diabetic, often times with my blood sugars so high my at home meter would not read them (and the one time I went to the ER for it the meter there would not read it either. It had to be done in a lab and was well over 900.), hypertensive, had hypothyroidism, and high cholesterol. And I had joint and back pain. Not great for someone in their mid 20's.
I have always been over weight. At my smallest I was a size 14. And petite I am not. I wear a size 12 in women's shoes, and have shoulders most men envy. I am an Amazon. Not matter how hard I try I will never be a 100 pound waif. It just isn't in my genes. And I am ok with that.
As of this morning I weighed 249 pounds. This means I am nine pounds away from loosing a hundred pounds from my highest documented weight. I have decided to start this blog to tell of the things I have found that worked, the things I found that did not work, and to discuss the things I haven't tried yet.
Back in October of 2010 I had a Halloween party at my home. The next day a picture of me was posted by a friend of mine. It showed me sitting in a chair and four distinct rolls (my boobs, and three fat rolls, all the same size.) were all I could see. I looked like a gross pale, fat, grub worm. I decided at that point I had to do something.
I had tried diets in the past and had failed. Every time I craved something I couldn't have and got side tracked. So this time I decided I was going to change my diet, not go on a diet.
The first thing I did was stop drinking soda, fruit juice, and sweet tea. I just drank water, and lots of it. It kept me full, and kept me hydrated. I have even discovered that many times when I thought I was hungry I was just thirsty.
The second thing that I did was only eat meals when I was hungry. This was actually harder than it sounds. So many times I would be going out with friends and realize I was not hungry in the least. So I would sit and drink my water or iced tea and visit while they ate. I actually had some folks tell me they were uncomfortable with this, and I politely explained that I was doing myself no good by eating when I did not need to. Most understood. Some didn't.
After that I slowly started modifying the things I ate. Being a diabetic I knew carbs were bad, so the ones I left in my diet where the ones that take a while to digest, like whole grain. I stopped eating breads and pastas, and refined sugar, and started eating more brown rice and quinoa and fruit. This transition took several months. I found it difficult at first to give up my sweets, as I love to bake, but soon found that it was a rare occasion that eating a treat was worth the calories. Often times I could get by with eating just a cookie or small pie slice. It took a lot of will power. One of the positive side effects of whole grain is the increased amount of fiber i take in, which helps you feel fuller and *ahem*, poop more.
Another thing I did was buy a calorie counting guide, like the CalorieKing reference book. This pocket sized book gives you the fat, carbs, protein, fiber, and calories in most any food or fast food out there. Being able to see these values helped me to make better choices.
Other than that, switching to fat free dairy was the only other thing I have done diet wise so far. And it is working well. I am taking only a half tablet of one of the two blood pressure medications I was on. I was able to stop the other completely. I am taking only one of my diabetes drugs and I am looking at lowering the dosage soon. And for the first time in my life my cholesterol and triglycerides are normal.
My typical day starts with oatmeal with cinnamon and a banana mashed into it, made with milk. Lunch is a can of black beans and salsa mixed together. Dinner is a large mixed greens salad with tomato, cucumber, green olives, feta cheese, salsa and grilled chicken. Snacks are whole fresh fruit or nuts, and occasionally popcorn. I aim for 1200-1500 calories a day and rarely ever feel hungry.
I do cheat. I still eat pizza, fried chicken, and cookies. I just do so infrequently and in small doses. I have found that the best way to kill a chocolate craving is to give in. I love the Dove Promises Dark Chocolate with Almonds. I take one square, and let it melt in my mouth slowly. By the time it is gone, I am happy, and have only had about 43 calories and 4 grams of carbs.
So this is where I am currently. I have lost 91 pounds in 10 months. I am taking less medicine for my health problems. I look better. I feel better. And people notice.
So hopefully we will be celebrating my loss of 100 pounds soon. We can lament my blood sugar woes, mostly hypoglycemia due to too much medicine. We can learn from our mistakes and do better tomorrow. We can do this.
Not only was I overweight, I was an uncontrolled diabetic, often times with my blood sugars so high my at home meter would not read them (and the one time I went to the ER for it the meter there would not read it either. It had to be done in a lab and was well over 900.), hypertensive, had hypothyroidism, and high cholesterol. And I had joint and back pain. Not great for someone in their mid 20's.
I have always been over weight. At my smallest I was a size 14. And petite I am not. I wear a size 12 in women's shoes, and have shoulders most men envy. I am an Amazon. Not matter how hard I try I will never be a 100 pound waif. It just isn't in my genes. And I am ok with that.
As of this morning I weighed 249 pounds. This means I am nine pounds away from loosing a hundred pounds from my highest documented weight. I have decided to start this blog to tell of the things I have found that worked, the things I found that did not work, and to discuss the things I haven't tried yet.
Back in October of 2010 I had a Halloween party at my home. The next day a picture of me was posted by a friend of mine. It showed me sitting in a chair and four distinct rolls (my boobs, and three fat rolls, all the same size.) were all I could see. I looked like a gross pale, fat, grub worm. I decided at that point I had to do something.
I had tried diets in the past and had failed. Every time I craved something I couldn't have and got side tracked. So this time I decided I was going to change my diet, not go on a diet.
The first thing I did was stop drinking soda, fruit juice, and sweet tea. I just drank water, and lots of it. It kept me full, and kept me hydrated. I have even discovered that many times when I thought I was hungry I was just thirsty.
The second thing that I did was only eat meals when I was hungry. This was actually harder than it sounds. So many times I would be going out with friends and realize I was not hungry in the least. So I would sit and drink my water or iced tea and visit while they ate. I actually had some folks tell me they were uncomfortable with this, and I politely explained that I was doing myself no good by eating when I did not need to. Most understood. Some didn't.
After that I slowly started modifying the things I ate. Being a diabetic I knew carbs were bad, so the ones I left in my diet where the ones that take a while to digest, like whole grain. I stopped eating breads and pastas, and refined sugar, and started eating more brown rice and quinoa and fruit. This transition took several months. I found it difficult at first to give up my sweets, as I love to bake, but soon found that it was a rare occasion that eating a treat was worth the calories. Often times I could get by with eating just a cookie or small pie slice. It took a lot of will power. One of the positive side effects of whole grain is the increased amount of fiber i take in, which helps you feel fuller and *ahem*, poop more.
Another thing I did was buy a calorie counting guide, like the CalorieKing reference book. This pocket sized book gives you the fat, carbs, protein, fiber, and calories in most any food or fast food out there. Being able to see these values helped me to make better choices.
Other than that, switching to fat free dairy was the only other thing I have done diet wise so far. And it is working well. I am taking only a half tablet of one of the two blood pressure medications I was on. I was able to stop the other completely. I am taking only one of my diabetes drugs and I am looking at lowering the dosage soon. And for the first time in my life my cholesterol and triglycerides are normal.
My typical day starts with oatmeal with cinnamon and a banana mashed into it, made with milk. Lunch is a can of black beans and salsa mixed together. Dinner is a large mixed greens salad with tomato, cucumber, green olives, feta cheese, salsa and grilled chicken. Snacks are whole fresh fruit or nuts, and occasionally popcorn. I aim for 1200-1500 calories a day and rarely ever feel hungry.
I do cheat. I still eat pizza, fried chicken, and cookies. I just do so infrequently and in small doses. I have found that the best way to kill a chocolate craving is to give in. I love the Dove Promises Dark Chocolate with Almonds. I take one square, and let it melt in my mouth slowly. By the time it is gone, I am happy, and have only had about 43 calories and 4 grams of carbs.
So this is where I am currently. I have lost 91 pounds in 10 months. I am taking less medicine for my health problems. I look better. I feel better. And people notice.
So hopefully we will be celebrating my loss of 100 pounds soon. We can lament my blood sugar woes, mostly hypoglycemia due to too much medicine. We can learn from our mistakes and do better tomorrow. We can do this.
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