This was a weekend full of surprises. My parents came down on Friday night - we cooked dinner for my Mom - and they spent the night. Saturday morning, Mom and I got up and went to the fabric store - we are making things for the great-granddaughter's nursery (hers, my great-niece!) and needed to get the material. After that, I took her for a massage - my Dad's gift to her for Mother's Day. Then, I took her for a spa pedicure - my gift to her. So she was thoroughly and totally spoiled - which was the whole point of the day.
While I was having my massage, some great things happened. First of all, when I am lying on my stomach - historically, I have always had my arms hanging down off of the table. There is a simple reason for this - they didn't fit on the table with my body. I started out that way this time, but when my therapist came in the room, he tucked my arms under the blanket - AND THEY FIT!!! That has NEVER happened before. Then, when he got to my legs, he wanted to test the range of motion in my knees. He does this periodically. I'm still lying on my stomach - he bends one knee up, and braces himself against it - then tells me to push against him for 8 seconds. When I relax, he pushes a little harder against my knee. When I first started going to him - I could barely bend either of my knees to 90 degrees. This time - I got my right knee to about 50 degrees, and my left knee to somewhere between 40 and 45 degrees. He was impressed. Finally, when it was time to turn over to my back - I just flipped over. He commented on that - because always in the past it took me quite a bit longer - I half jokingly said it was because there was a lot less of me to turn - but really, that is the reason!
Last night, Dave and I went to pick up my car that we left at church, and we decided to do our walk while we were there! I'm up to 1/2 mile! And I bought a pedometer last night - so I don't have to guess how much I'm walking anymore. It calculates the number of steps, how that translates to miles, the number of calories based on my height and weight, and the time duration I've walked, along with whether it was moderate or brisk. As of right now - I've walked 618 steps this morning.
Tonight will be yoga - I'm looking forward to that.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Little Surprises Along the Way...
I love watching the weight come off. And I love watching the inches come off. It's so much fun to wear clothes I haven't worn in a long time. But I think my favorite things of all on this journey are the little, unexpected surprises.
This morning, as I got dressed, I got out a necklace. I wear this necklace often - it has many strands of teal blue beads. This morning as I was putting it on - I wondered if it was possible that maybe, just maybe, I could fasten it without the extender. I have used extenders for years - out of necessity. All of my necklaces have extra extenders. And guess what - I fastened it! I was so excited - and have been doing the happy dance of joy ever since. Now - just because I COULD get it fastened - doesn't mean that it was comfortable enough to wear all day - so I am using the extender - but I DID get it fastened! WHOOHOO!
Yoga last night was amazing. My teacher modified the routine a little - I have problem with one of my knees, and couldn't do anything where I was on my hands and knees. But I stretched further - got up and down off the floor a lot easier. Making progress - and loving it!
This morning, as I got dressed, I got out a necklace. I wear this necklace often - it has many strands of teal blue beads. This morning as I was putting it on - I wondered if it was possible that maybe, just maybe, I could fasten it without the extender. I have used extenders for years - out of necessity. All of my necklaces have extra extenders. And guess what - I fastened it! I was so excited - and have been doing the happy dance of joy ever since. Now - just because I COULD get it fastened - doesn't mean that it was comfortable enough to wear all day - so I am using the extender - but I DID get it fastened! WHOOHOO!
Yoga last night was amazing. My teacher modified the routine a little - I have problem with one of my knees, and couldn't do anything where I was on my hands and knees. But I stretched further - got up and down off the floor a lot easier. Making progress - and loving it!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
It's Thursday...
The work week is nearly over. I took measurements last night - I'm happy to report that I have officially lost 54.75 inches since February 10 (two weeks pre-op). The most notable losses are:
Neck - down 1.75 inches
Bust - down 4 inches
Chest - down 3.75 inches
Waist - down 2.5 inches
Hips - down 9.25 inches
Thighs - down 6 inches
Calves - down 5.5 inches
Those numbers astound me - particularly the hips, thighs and calves. I'm sure that walking has something to do with this - and it's no wonder that my clothes are falling off! How very cool!
I will try to post a new picture sometime this weekend.
Neck - down 1.75 inches
Bust - down 4 inches
Chest - down 3.75 inches
Waist - down 2.5 inches
Hips - down 9.25 inches
Thighs - down 6 inches
Calves - down 5.5 inches
Those numbers astound me - particularly the hips, thighs and calves. I'm sure that walking has something to do with this - and it's no wonder that my clothes are falling off! How very cool!
I will try to post a new picture sometime this weekend.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
10 Weeks Out...
I have lost 59.0 pounds since surgery.
I have lost 67.8 pounds since two weeks pre-op.
I have lost 118.4 pounds since my biggest! (43.05% of my total weight to lose.)
I can see on the next horizon - one of my goals is looming - I will be less than 300 pounds! Probably a few weeks out yet, but so much closer than I can remember being! It's really and truly going to happen!
I have gone back in recent days and read my earliest postings. I was so afraid that I would fail at this the way I have failed at every other weight loss program I have attempted. I've done them all - Weight Watchers (several times) - Jenny Craig (I still have some of that food in my freezer, anybody want it?) - Quick Weight Loss Center (don't even get me started) - Medifast - FenFen (I started about six weeks before they took it off the market) - Atkins - the diabetic diet - all were successful, to a point - but for me, I just couldn't stick with them. I am not knocking these programs - and if they are working for you, I am really, really thrilled. Many people have had great success on them, and if you are one of those people, you are blessed.
But I wasn't one of those people. I have cried a great many tears over my failures in this area. And it didn't feel like just a failure with a diet - it felt like a failure as person. I didn't have the will power - or the fortitude - or the ability to stick with it. Other people can do it - why can't I? Other people have success - why can't I? The heartache was, at times, overwhelming - and the cycle began again.
It occurred to me this morning that I have not cried over this plan. Not one time. I have cried tears of frustration when I didn't feel good. I have cried tears of anger or sadness over other things in my life during this journey - but I have not cried over the results from the surgery. I have seen amazing results, and can only anticipate even more. And that is something to smile about!
I have lost 67.8 pounds since two weeks pre-op.
I have lost 118.4 pounds since my biggest! (43.05% of my total weight to lose.)
I can see on the next horizon - one of my goals is looming - I will be less than 300 pounds! Probably a few weeks out yet, but so much closer than I can remember being! It's really and truly going to happen!
I have gone back in recent days and read my earliest postings. I was so afraid that I would fail at this the way I have failed at every other weight loss program I have attempted. I've done them all - Weight Watchers (several times) - Jenny Craig (I still have some of that food in my freezer, anybody want it?) - Quick Weight Loss Center (don't even get me started) - Medifast - FenFen (I started about six weeks before they took it off the market) - Atkins - the diabetic diet - all were successful, to a point - but for me, I just couldn't stick with them. I am not knocking these programs - and if they are working for you, I am really, really thrilled. Many people have had great success on them, and if you are one of those people, you are blessed.
But I wasn't one of those people. I have cried a great many tears over my failures in this area. And it didn't feel like just a failure with a diet - it felt like a failure as person. I didn't have the will power - or the fortitude - or the ability to stick with it. Other people can do it - why can't I? Other people have success - why can't I? The heartache was, at times, overwhelming - and the cycle began again.
It occurred to me this morning that I have not cried over this plan. Not one time. I have cried tears of frustration when I didn't feel good. I have cried tears of anger or sadness over other things in my life during this journey - but I have not cried over the results from the surgery. I have seen amazing results, and can only anticipate even more. And that is something to smile about!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Power Outage
The power went out last night - I woke up because the fans went off. I'm glad I didn't have my c-pap on at the time - that could be dangerous. But I didn't worry about my alarm - we both have clocks that do not lose time while the power is off. I have taken the precaution to be ready for just that event.
This morning, when I got up - there were some things that needed to be reset. Clocks on the stove and microwave, the answering machine, the digital picture frame that comes on every time. Most of these are minor inconveniences, easily fixed. But - when I went to turn on the tv to catch the traffic and weather - well, let's just say that I royally screwed that up trying to get it fixed. We have four remotes - and there is a precise order that buttons have to be pushed - and since I NEVER have control of the remote - I just don't know what I have to do. So, I did what any one would do - I woke up the person who set everything up and DOES have control of the remote (SORRY, BABE!). He always presses one or two buttons, and presto - everything works. But that is BEFORE I try to fix things. This morning, he could not undo whatever I had done. Understand, my husband is NOT a morning person. But once I got him up, he was GOING to fix this. Finally, in desperation, he turned everything off - then turn it back on again, and it worked!
Having the clock that survives a power outage is preparation. The mess I made with all the remotes is reaction. I find that it works much the same way with my choices about food. When I plan the food I'm going to eat at work - breakfast, lunch, and a snack or two - it is easy to follow the "diet" I'm supposed to eat. I make sure that there is protein - I'm slowly adding in some fruit and veggies. I know what is there and I'm not tempted to go beyond what is in my lunch box. BUT - if I am too busy or don't have enough time to pack my lunch box, then I'm liable to make poorer choices - having to rely on what some restaurant has available instead of what is necessarily good for me.
Preparation - or reaction? I have reacted far too often in my past when it comes to food choices. I'm choosing to be prepared - to make the right choices - to see a difference.
This morning, when I got up - there were some things that needed to be reset. Clocks on the stove and microwave, the answering machine, the digital picture frame that comes on every time. Most of these are minor inconveniences, easily fixed. But - when I went to turn on the tv to catch the traffic and weather - well, let's just say that I royally screwed that up trying to get it fixed. We have four remotes - and there is a precise order that buttons have to be pushed - and since I NEVER have control of the remote - I just don't know what I have to do. So, I did what any one would do - I woke up the person who set everything up and DOES have control of the remote (SORRY, BABE!). He always presses one or two buttons, and presto - everything works. But that is BEFORE I try to fix things. This morning, he could not undo whatever I had done. Understand, my husband is NOT a morning person. But once I got him up, he was GOING to fix this. Finally, in desperation, he turned everything off - then turn it back on again, and it worked!
Having the clock that survives a power outage is preparation. The mess I made with all the remotes is reaction. I find that it works much the same way with my choices about food. When I plan the food I'm going to eat at work - breakfast, lunch, and a snack or two - it is easy to follow the "diet" I'm supposed to eat. I make sure that there is protein - I'm slowly adding in some fruit and veggies. I know what is there and I'm not tempted to go beyond what is in my lunch box. BUT - if I am too busy or don't have enough time to pack my lunch box, then I'm liable to make poorer choices - having to rely on what some restaurant has available instead of what is necessarily good for me.
Preparation - or reaction? I have reacted far too often in my past when it comes to food choices. I'm choosing to be prepared - to make the right choices - to see a difference.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Crunching Numbers
I crunch numbers all day long. I make graphs and charts and track trends. I'm good at it - so, it is not surprising that I have done the same thing with the weight loss.
Not only can I tell you how much I've lost since surgery, since two weeks pre-op, since my biggest - I can also tell you the weight loss for all of those in stones (which is how my UK friends measure - and for anyone interested, there are 14 pounds to a stone). I can tell you my current BMI, as well how much it has gone down. Now these numbers probably get boring to everyone else - but since so much of my life deals with numbers, they are really important to me. And - I have a new number to add to the mix: from my biggest to my goal weight (which I recently adjusted so that it would be in line with the BMI the doctor wants me to have) - I have lost 42% of the weight I need to lose. 42%!!! That is ALMOST halfway there. WOW!
I have also added another goal - next year - sometime - I want to walk in a 5k charity event. I do not have any delusions of being able to run it - but I think if I start now and work up to it, I can do a walk. Wouldn't that be absolutely incredible? So - you keep encouraging me - and I'll keep working toward it...
Not only can I tell you how much I've lost since surgery, since two weeks pre-op, since my biggest - I can also tell you the weight loss for all of those in stones (which is how my UK friends measure - and for anyone interested, there are 14 pounds to a stone). I can tell you my current BMI, as well how much it has gone down. Now these numbers probably get boring to everyone else - but since so much of my life deals with numbers, they are really important to me. And - I have a new number to add to the mix: from my biggest to my goal weight (which I recently adjusted so that it would be in line with the BMI the doctor wants me to have) - I have lost 42% of the weight I need to lose. 42%!!! That is ALMOST halfway there. WOW!
I have also added another goal - next year - sometime - I want to walk in a 5k charity event. I do not have any delusions of being able to run it - but I think if I start now and work up to it, I can do a walk. Wouldn't that be absolutely incredible? So - you keep encouraging me - and I'll keep working toward it...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Yoga
OK - my first time out - and there was a lot I cannot do. But I did do quite a bit - and I must say - I slept like a baby, and stretching all those muscles feels wonderful! Like anything - I'm starting out slow - doing what I can do - and my instructor says that before long I won't believe how far I've come - and will laugh that I couldn't do everything right away. If you have never tried yoga - I urge to give it a try!
I have gone back and read some of my earlier posts - I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to follow through on this side of surgery. At 9 weeks out, I'm finally relaxing about that. I AM following through - I am making progress - and it shows.
I look at the back of my hands, and the inside of my wrists - and I see veins - real, honest-to-goodness, blue lines! The next time the doctor has to draw blood should be much easier. I was lying in bed the other night, and I could count my ribs! My husband said he suspected all along that I had them!
Every step towards my goal is progress - and the little signs along the way just confirm that!
I have gone back and read some of my earlier posts - I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to follow through on this side of surgery. At 9 weeks out, I'm finally relaxing about that. I AM following through - I am making progress - and it shows.
I look at the back of my hands, and the inside of my wrists - and I see veins - real, honest-to-goodness, blue lines! The next time the doctor has to draw blood should be much easier. I was lying in bed the other night, and I could count my ribs! My husband said he suspected all along that I had them!
Every step towards my goal is progress - and the little signs along the way just confirm that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)