PhotogGal's Journal

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09 August 2016

Weight:	Lost so far:	Still to go:	Diet followed:
113.0 kg	1.7 kg	42.7 kg	Reasonably Well

(2 comments) Losing 6.0 kg a Week

07 August 2016

BEGINNING AGAIN

Yes, I'm back, and I'm starting over again as if I've never done this before. So much has happened, and I sort of dropped out for quite a while. During that time, I never really gave up. I just stopped keeping notes and doing the work required to makes the scales go down and stay down.

I weighed in at TOPS last Thursday night a 253.0 pounds, so I am going to use that as my new starting weight.

In spite of not really trying very hard to lose weight and getting very little exercise of any kind, I have made SOME progress. I am an admitted sugarholic, and one of my weaknesses was eating a bag of Tootsie Roll Midgets once a week, either all in one evening or over a two-day period.

In an effort to stop eating them, I decided to envision the little brown rolls as constipated dog poop. It must have worked, because I haven't had any now going on three weeks!

Sadly, I'm still eating sugar now and then (the latest a bag of bite-size York Peppermint Patties over a multi-day period), but mostly I'm keeping it to expensive, thin, dark chocolate bars with at least 70% cacao, and eating only one serving (4 thin squares or 1 0z.) a day.

I'm happy to report that the bulk of my sugar cravings have subsided, and I'm drinking far less Diet Coke also, as I have been slowly replacing it with LaCroix Sparkling Water in various flavors.

A TOPS friend has suggested that I join the YMCA near my house and offered to meet me there 2-3 times a week for the Silver Sneakers classes. I will probably do that, since my Medicare supplemental insurance covers the cost of the Silver Sneakers program.

I've always been sort of reluctant to go to the YMCA as I feel clumsy and stupid when it comes to knowing how to use the machines and stuff, but if I have a friend there with me, perhaps it won't be so bad.

Because of my bad hip, there's a lot I still can't do, and I'm still sleeping in a recliner. But I recently got a new car (Toyota RAV4) that is much more accommodating to my needs and is easier and less painful for me to get in and out of.

Other changes I've made is to visit local farms and farmers markets to buy fresh produce and fruits in season. What a different that makes to my taste buds!

There are more changes to come. The only thing that has not changed, is my passion for photography. It's one thing that keeps me going and makes me truly happy.

Weight:	Lost so far:	Still to go:	Diet followed:
114.8 kg	0 kg	44.5 kg	Not Applicable

(2 comments)

12 January 2016

Haven't written in a couple days at least. On Sunday morning I had a major health scare and know that I should have called 911 but for several reasons didn't want to.

I had stayed up rather late Saturday night and woke up around 5:30 a.m. I sleep in a recliner, and went I raised it back up to a sitting position, I suddenly realized that I was extremely dizzy. At first I thought something had happened to my eyes while I was sleeping. I had to use the bathroom so stood up holding onto my walker and walker ever so slowly holding onto that thing for dear life. If I even turned my head slightly, the room started spinning.

I was able to make it to the bathroom and back to the chair and fell back asleep for another almost four hours. When I woke up again, I felt exactly the same -- super dizzy. I made my way to the kitchen and took my blood pressure. That was surprisingly good compared to usual, but I got that little symbol that indicates an irregular heartbeat. I figured I had gone into A-fib while sleeping.

Like an idiot, I just kept monitoring my BP, stayed home and took it easy the rest of the day, hoping I would feel better as there were important things I needed to take care of yesterday. I did, however, call the office of the arrhythmia specialist first things in the morning, talked with the doctor's nurse and gave her all the facts. After consulting with him, she called me back and asked if I could come in tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

I had seen him for a routine follow-up in late November, and at that time, he took me off of Amiodarone -- a highly toxic drug I was taking to regulate my heart rhythm. Apparently, I should have stayed on it. I'll find out in the morning what the options are. I just hope he's not going to suggest some type of procedure. The last time I had one (a cardioversion), I was delirious at the time due to low blood sodium levels and didn't know what was happening, but if I were to do it now, I'm pretty sure I'd be freaking out more than a bit.

Thank goodness I woke up feeling great yesterday and have had no further incidents. This time, at least, my heart went back into sinus rhythm on its own.

(5 comments)

08 January 2016

So I went to TOPS last night, and it was very motivating. First, a former member, who I have stayed in touch with and invited to our Christmas party, even though he's no longer a part of the group, came back and rejoined. He suffers from depression and is diabetic, and he needs our support, so I'm glad at the Christmas party we made him "feel the love" and want to return for that friendship and support he badly needs.

As I mentioned in my last journal entry, last night's weigh-in was a fresh start. And what a great start it was! I was down 6.4 lbs. from my pre-Christmas weight! How I managed to do that with all the temptations of the holidays I don't know, but I want to maintain the momentum!

I have a lot of running around and business to take care of today, but when it's raining tomorrow, I'm going to sit down and do some planning for the week ahead.

(2 comments)

06 January 2016

STARTING OVER YET AGAIN

It's a new year, and I'm ready for a new beginning. Unlike past years where I made a bunch of New Year's resolutions that quickly fell by the wayside, this year I've only made one big one, and that is to improve my health. Considering that I've been using a cane or walker for the past two years since I was hospitalized, that's a tall order.

I may have mentioned before that I am a candidate for a full hip replacement, but my cardiologist strongly urges me not to pursue it. I have limited range of motion and bone-on-bone pain (with no painkillers), so life has not been easy. That combined with years of bad habits and poor eating has me needing to make some major changes if I want to have any quality of life as I rapidly head toward my 70s. If I'm ever going to do it, THIS IS THE YEAR!!!

I belong to TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), and we start fresh every year. The first weigh-in of the year is tomorrow night, and that will be my starting point. I really have not made good use of the Fat Secret site, and I think that will go a long way in helping me succeed. Every little bit helps, right?

(3 comments)

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