New Regimen

Lots of changes at work has pushed me to be better organized and prepared. Health wise, I have been exercising 6 days a week for about 7 weeks now. I am keeping an exercise log on a mini calendar. School now starts at 7:50 am. My new regimen is to wake up at 6am, exercise for 20-30 minutes, shower, dress, eat, leave. We pack lunches and lay out our clothes the night before so there is no wait time. Leave at 7:25am. I feel strong, tighter, and more confident. this past Monday I moved up to 10 pound weights. At the end of September, I need to get lab work done for my cholesterol. Here are my stats. 205lbs., neck 16, arm 14.25, bust 45.75, waist 40.5, gut 45, hip 43, thigh 23.5, calf 15.5, ankle 9. Total inches 252.50.

Summer Update

I went to Zumba at school until May. Felt really good and strong. Ate healthy salads most days at school. Didn't really lose any weight, but felt smaller in size. Summer hit and I haven't exercised at all, unless you count mowing grass, and I have a lot of grass to push mow. Finally had a doctor checkup and it was bad news. Cholesterol 256, HDL 39, LDL 172, Triglycerides 226. doc wanted me on Crestor, but I want to make more lifestyle changes, going on meds is a bandaid for the real problem, which needs fixed or you can never go off the meds. I've got 2 months to try to bring those numbers down and then get rechecked. If they are not coming down, I will go on Crestor for 3 months, continuing to make more lifestyle changes. I do not want to become chemical soup. I am taking 2 Cholest Off (plant sterols, stanols) in the morning with water, eating Cheerios for breakfast, eating lots of vegetables. Had another UTI so didn't take vitamin or other supplements. Will start with Fish oil, co enz Q10, green tea, and possibly Artichoke extract. So here are my current stats: Neck 16.25, Arm 14.5, Bust 45.75, Waist, 42.5, Gut 45.5, Hips 43, Thigh 23.75, Calf 15.75, Ankle 9. total 256 inches.

Uh Oh

I didn't buy any pre-packaged lunches for this week. I'm planning to pack healthy salads all week. The problem is Parent-Teacher Conferences are this week Tues and
Thurs. from 4-7pm. I'll need to plan ahead so I'm not late for work. Going without those frozen meals is a little scary, I've been eating those for so long and they make mornings easy, just grab and go.

February Update

Had a very nice visit with my daughter, Coral, and her 2 children this last week. We both want to lose weight, get in shape, and are trying to do the Total Mom Makeover. The author puts a lot of information and ideas in a short amount of time, which I find overwhelming. I need time to process what she advises and to figure out how I can best utilize that info in my life.

Started a food journal. The Eat-Clean Diet Companion by Tosca Reno. Got it off of Amazon for $5. My middle is shrinking. Here are my stats from February 13, when I started recording my meals. Weight=208. Chest=46 Waist=42 Thigh=24 Calf=15.5 Hips=43 Arm=13 around bicep.

Now is where things get exciting. I lost 3 pounds!! Today my weight=205 Neck=16.25 Arm=14.25 around bat wing, Chest=46 Waist=41.5 Gut=44 Hip=42 Thigh=24 Calf=15.5 Ankle=9. total inches=252.5

February 2012

Health issues have been on my mind. I've been trying to do research by reading books, magazines, or anything I can find on health, wellness, physical fitness. I don't want age related or weight related illnesses. Zumba started again at my school and I go Wednesday and Friday. Patty has added toning to the class and it is quite a workout. I've lost 3 pounds this week by eating cleaner and exercise. Here are new stats: Total inches 252.5

Neck: 16.5 Arm 14
Bust 46 Waist 41.5
Gut 44 Hip 42.5
Thigh 23.5 Calf 15.5
Ankle 9 Weight 207

New Year's Resolutions 2012

They say if you make your resolutions public you will be more likely to stick with them. So I thought to share mine here, even though I don't think anyone will ever see them.

*Get more sleep. I do not get enough sleep, or good quality sleep. I have trouble falling asleep and tend to stay up reading, youtubing, or movies until my eyes are closing. So for 2012 I will try to get ready for bed at 10pm and in bed by 10:30pm.

*Drink more water. I try to do this already, I've read if you pee clear that is good, strong yellow urine is a sign of dehydration, etc. Some days I drink a lot of water, others I get to busy or the water is not convenient.

*Regular exercise. This is one of the hardest resolutions. I know from the past year's experience that I feel better and tone up nicely when I exercise. It is the time to do it and the energy to do it that stops me.

*Nutrition. I have no will power to not put bad, non-nutritious food in my mouth when I am hungry. I resolve to prepare and plan ahead so that I do not reach that starvation stuff my face feeling. I resolve to try to only eat healthy, nutritious food that will benefit my body.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Educating Myself

I've been doing a lot of reading. Tosca Reno's Eating Clean books make a lot of sense to me. The magazine For Women First has a lot of tips and reports on current medical breakthroughs, Suzanne Somers reports on bioidentical hormones and toxins in Forever Sexy (after 40). Beauty Detox also reports on food toxins. I am thinking about taking nutrition courses to further educate myself. One theme I am picking up on is SLEEP. I don't get enough or good quality sleep. On a side note, I didn't renew my tanning package at Thanksgiving, worried about weather and having to make a trip in town during winter weather. So I've tried tanning lotions. I finally have skin a nice tan color and the varicose veins don't show as much.