Week 20, Day 4

Since Adam has been sleeping on the couch (while he's been sick, it's easier for him to breathe propped up on the couch instead of laying flat in his bed) and my exercise equipment is in the living room, I've been doing what I can upstairs in my room. That leaves pretty much my resistance bands and leg lifts. Which I guess isn't too bad since every bit helps. I'm up to 100 lifts per leg. I remember when 15 was hard to do!

I noticed the difference in my legs this evening when we went to Walmart for a bit. First, I no longer park as close to the door as possible. I have a handicap parking tag because of my asthma, but right now I don't really need it, and it's nice to walk a bit extra. Then inside the store I noticed I had gone all the way around and wasn't tired -- I could have gone quite a bit more, but Adam was very tired and ready to go. He looked really pale and I felt really bad that we had gone out. I thought it might do him some good since he's been inside most of the week battling mono. But I guess it still has him pretty much knocked down right now. Odd for me to be the energetic healthy one! I'm not ready for a marathon yet, but surely even that can't be beyond the realm of possibility even for someone like me?

I've been pretty good about food today and yesterday. A sandwich and salad yesterday, and today I had a bit of ravioli and we went out to dinner at Fuddruckers. (I'm so suggestible -- a friend of my Bridget Murray Law, mentioned Fuddruckers in a Facebook posting today, and somehow I couldn't stop thinking about it after that!) I wouldn't normally advocate going to a place like that, but it's one of Adam's favorites, and he needed some cheering up. I had a half a buffalo burger and brought the other half home. I also ate a few fries, Adam had a few, and we left the rest. I know buffalo is a very lean meat, so I felt pretty good about ordering it, but even so, I'm not used to eating anything with that much fat content. It's weird -- I used to eat burgers and stuff all the time (the food of the gods, I was sure!), but now it's so rare that when I eat like I did tonight, I can actually feel the difference in my gut. It's not bad -- I didn't eat enough for it to cause discomfort. But I definitely am craving some veggies now!

Today's Tip:
Still thinking about drinking soda pop? It's tempting -- I had glass of root beer with my half a buffalo burger tonight. I don't believe I'll be making that mistake again, though. Not after what I found in my email inbox when I got home. This is from "House Calls" newsletter, a service of www.healthiernews.com:

Researchers tested 90 soda and water samples from 30 different fast food restaurants in Virginia's Roanoke Valley. In all, 70 percent tested positive for some form of bacteria--and many of them were resistant to one or more of 11 different antibiotics tested on them, according to the study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology.

The researchers found 48 percent tested positive for coliform, 17 percent tested positive for Chryseobacterium meningosepticum and 11 percent tested positive for E. coli. They also found species of Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas, Candida, and Serratia.

In plain English, that means there are lots of nasty germs living in those soda machines.

The bacteria appear to love the plastic tubes that send soda (and some of the bacteria) into your cup. Since customers don't touch those tubes, the researchers believe restaurant workers with dirty hands are likely contaminating them--ironically, probably when they're cleaning them.

Looks like someone's not reading those "EMPLOYEES MUST WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER USING THE RESTROOM" signs.

The researchers tested bottled soda to use as a control group and found no contamination. But there are plenty of other reasons to avoid those, too.

Soda has been linked to tooth decay and obesity. Even diet soda can help you pack on pounds--studies have found people who drink diet sodas actually gain weight, and may be even more prone to diabetes.

In other words, unless you want poop soup in your soda, stay away from the stuff at restaurants. Not a bad idea to stay away from it altogether.

Week 20, Day 2

There's nothing quite like having a sick kid who doesn't want to eat to push your own appetite way down to the lower levels. I've had two small bowls of simple lettuce salad today and will have a sandwich in a bit. Probably only about 400 calories total for the day at the most. And that's okay! I've done leg lifts and squats until I feel like my leg muscles will never stop burning -- and that's okay, too. Adam says he's lost 10 pounds while he's been sick. Tough way to lose weight. I want to drop the pounds, but not that way. I like this gradual approach much better!

Today's Tip:
I've been trying really hard to always have some kind of breakfast. I've learned that it's really the best way to get your metabolism revved up for the day, and I need all the help I can get! The right cereal can be a great breakfast. My favorite is hot oatmeal. But on days when I don't have time to cook oatmeal, a bowl of cold cereal is fine, too. But not all cold cereals are created equal! We all know, of course, the Fruit Loops are not health food. Heck, they're not even really FOOD! But what about the others that may seem okay but you're not sure? The writers at Eat This, Not That have a new list that helps, "The Best and Worst Cereals". According to them, "The average American consumes more than 160 bowls of cereal a year, so picking the right box could mean knocking 15 pounds off your waistline yearly and infusing your diet with massive doses of vital nutrients." Check it out at: The Best and Worst Cereals

Do you have a favorite cereal? Let me know! Mine is Cascadian Farm's Flax Right with Pomegranate and Raspberry Clusters. mmmmm....Yummy! Not on the Eat This, Not That list, but still the best I've ever had! Organic and it easily holds me until lunch -- VERY important!

Week 20, Day 1

Ah ha, 218 pounds. Down from my beginning weight in September of 259. Only 19 to go to get myself under 200. 'Bout stinkin' time!

My back still hurts -- losing weight has not helped that. I had several weeks when it didn't hurt, but the cold damp weather of winter seems to have brought back the pain with a vengeance. That's okay. It doesn't stop me anymore. It slows me down. I go for a bit, stop until it abates, then get right back up and go some more. But nothing stops me now.

Eating right is easier. My appetite is not gigantic anymore. It helps that I have switched to smaller plates. I fill up a salad-sized plate and feel like I really indulged, when in fact I have eaten very little in comparison to what I used to. Plus, I stay busy so I don't think about food so much. I've also turned off the TV more -- so I'm not exposed to so many commercials tempting me to eat their yummy food. Food today: two bowls of cereal and a cup of veggies. Exercise today: 20 minutes of walking, 10 minutes of leg lifts, and 15 minutes of weight work.

Biggest Loser is on again tonight. And the question each week is always, "What have you done lately to make yourself proud?" Good question. Do you have an answer? I do!

Today's Tip:
Celebrate! Each week you make progress ---even a little bit of progress --is a cause to be proud. You didn't put the weight on overnight, and you won't take it off that quickly either. But as long as you are working toward your goal, you ARE winning the battle! Again I say CELEBRATE! It will make the rest of the journey easier if you remember to thank yourself and stop long enough to appreciate and celebrate the progress you are making.

Week 19, Day 7

I've taken a week off from writing in A New Suit. It's not for lack of things to say. Quite the contrary, I've had too much to say. My head's been swimming so much it's hard to sort it all out and write it down. The long and the short of it from a weight loss perspective is that I've at least maintained my weight this past week. I don't know if I've lost; I'll weigh in tomorrow and know for sure. But I'm certain I haven't gained. I've had a few indulgences -- yesterday I had a small bit of ice cream for a treat, for instance, but I worked it off. And I've kept active, walking more than I have in awhile, and keeping up with the weights and stair-climbing.

Dad's surgery is scheduled for March 1. He and Mom will be staying with me the night before. And if he survives the whole ordeal, he wants to stay with me a day or two before heading back to Iowa -- and hour and a half away from his cardiologist. I'll be going back with them for a couple of weeks to help with his recovery. So that gives me about a month to increase my fitness level to be ready for the task. Dad does most of the household chores and caring for Mom, so I'll have my hands full. The work I've been doing already to make myself stronger came at a good time. I don't really care anymore about the 50 by 50 Challenge I set for myself. I just want to be able to help my parents. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Today's Tip:
We can't see what the future holds in store for us. Losing weight and getting fit right NOW (and every day we work toward that goal) makes us ready for whatever lies ahead -- ready to handle the challenges and ready to thoroughly enjoy every moment of the good times.