Even if I have to buy a new one! :)
Just kidding. Not long ago I was diagnosed as being insulin resistant. This is a fancy term for someone who is on their way to getting Type2 Diabetes. Essentially, my body in a fit of pique at my abusive treatment over the years has decided that refusing to process the insulin in my body correctly will show me("HA!" says the body, "HA HA!"). Of course, being me, my body knows that I am entirely too vain (thanks, Mom). So every pound added as a result of poor eating, little exercise, and I admit, a bit of depression, was like equivalent to 10 in my mind's eye.
You see, I grew up in a house of slim, short women. Yes, yes, ok my sister did get a little pudgy in highschool, but then she dropped the weight. Thus, leaving me the "full-figured" one of the family to stand out like a (albeit curvy) sore thumb. Granted, at the time, I thought at a size 10, that I was FAT. Having reached a MUCH bigger size than that, I really want to take a trip back in time and boot myself in the butt.
That was in the past, though, and I have digressed from my story (surprise?). Today I am highly overweight and now have the added challenge of a metabolism that will not metabolise. My doctors have recommended a few things:
- A 1500 calorie-per-day diet low in carbohydrates (read: sugars), high in fiber, high in protien, and low in fat.
- An exercise regime of at least 45 - 60 minutes of cardio with a minimum of 20 minutes at my peak heart rate - somewhere between 117 and 145.
- Sleeping at least 7 to 8 hours per night.
This sounded daunting. My natural inclination to put everything off until the last minute also applied to doing something about my weight problem. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to be a full-time mom, full-time employee, full-time student, and full-time health conscious individual and still get somewhere between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.
See the challenge? There are just somethings in the schedule that are not flexible, like the time my son has to go to school and the time I can pick him up from aftercare. Those times equal exactly 8 1/2 hours allowable for my job. So this means, taking a maximum of 30 minutes to eat healthy.
I thought at first I couldn't do it. So, I asked for a quote to have my most hated area of bodyfat removed. What a pipedream! The cost is completely out of my feasible income, unless I get a magnificant raise that doubles my salary... yet another pipedream! So... back to reality, I go. What can I really do? What is really feasible?
I spoke with my boss and asked if I could come in around 9 or 9:30. He, thankfully, agreed. In exchange, this means I have to do some work from home in the evenings. Granted, I've loaded up my already minimal 'at home in the evening' time, but I felt that the need to exercise on a daily basis and a focus on wellness will in the end enable me to be better engaged at work, at school, and at home in the long run.
I spoke with my child. I explained that I needed to excercise in the morning in order to be healthy.
We talked about the need to go to bed a little earlier, getting up a little earlier, and going to school a little earlier. We do have some challenges with this. Like me, my child loves to sleep - once you can get him to sleep that is!
We talked about the importance of exercising and eating right, something I had not been doing with my child to this point, and it is something that I want to instill before it is too late; before my child, too, faces the same physical challenges I do. As much as I love how much my child looks like me, my child also is built like me.
Then, came working on getting into the routine. Believe it or not, I like getting on the treadmill and working my heartrate. The time seems to go by very quickly for me. I don't read a magazine or a book. I don't watch the television. I listen to music.
When I was younger, I loved to go out dancing. Once the music started, I would have to be exhausted, very thirsty, or in need of the w.c. before I got off the dance floor. I'm talking easily 45 minutes straight of shakin' my groove thang. So, putting on music that I like, and just getting my body moving is wonderful. I sing (silently of course) and even boogie a bit (looking like a dork.. I don't care!). By the time I am done, I am energized and in a very good mood. I like this feeling up business! After so many years of feeling down, it's a wonderful, wonderful feeling. My only complaint is that it takes something like 45 minutes for my hair to dry, but don't even suggest a haircut... it's not going to happen!
Now comes the eating better part. This is the part with which I have the biggest challenge. I LOVE food. Food IS love, just ask my Nana. Ok, well, she passed away, but you get the point. I spent quite a lot of time with her when I was younger. She loved to feed me, and ohhhh the wonderful things she made... stuffed cabbage or peppers, pork with sauerkraut, potatoes, and barley, carrot cake with cream cheese dressing and maricino cherries, banana bread, chicken noodle soup (not from a can)... and when she cooked she made enough for an army. I swear her greatest joy was watching us stuff our faces. "Eat! Eat!" she'd say.
Today, I find that even now if someone comes for a visit my first question is "Are you hungry? Do you want me to make you something? I got... " I cook for a family of 10, even though there are just 2 of us. Back to the eating better part - obviously portion control is a problem. I eat because something just tastes good, not necessarily because I am hungry. Then comes the high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet on which I have lived for decades. Just for the record: more fat = more flavor.
In order to conquer my eating challenge, I have found an online calorie counting journal so I can keep up with the number of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats I am consuming in a given day. Although, a diet can fail if there is not enough variety, I have a fairly standard plan of action for a menu. Why a journal? Everything I have read says to keep track of everything you put in your mouth so you can have a better understanding of what you consume and when. Being more cognizant of the quanitity of stuff that passes my lips is the first step toward eating better. The next step will be to replace my more high-fatfood loves with something a little more low-fat or non-fat.
Anyway, today is Day One of the body-seige. Feel free to provide some rhetoric and propaganda.
For the record:
This is where I begin:
- Height: 5'3
- Weight: 249
- Neck: 16 inches
- Shoulders: 55 inches
- Breast: 50B
- Chest: 45 inchest
- Waist: 48 inches
- Hips: 56 inches
- Thighs: 28 1/2 inches
- Pants: 24/26
- Shirts: 20/22
- Jackets: 24/26
How is that for bravery? I have published my embarrassing statistics for all the world to read. Maybe now I'll get off that size 56 butt and do something about it!
Now for the Day 1 Menu:
Breakfast:
- 1 cupKashi Whole-grain puff cereal
- 1 cup 1% milk
- 1 cup coffee, no sugar
- 1/4 cup blueberries (~24berries)
Lunch
- Mini-salad - 2 cups iceberg lettuce, 1 cup mushrooms raw, 1/4 cup Kraft natural shredded cheese, Kraft zesty italian dressing fat free
- Southbeach diet - Caprese Chicken entree
Dinner
- Ginger-curry chicken - my own recipe - chicken breast, bellpeppers, curry, ginger, lime, and garlic for flavor, long-grown brown rice, mushrooms
Snacks
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1 orange
- 2 Yoplait Light, peach and strawberry yogurt.
Total Calories Consumed
1,491
Excercise for today is cleaning house. Wee.
:)
I will work to keep you updated on my progress or even if I fall off the wagon and give up!
