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.

Week 18, Day 7

It's been a great day. Awesome business meeting this morning, great call from Dad this afternoon, and tons of stuff got done. Super! I got busy early and forgot to do breakfast, and I had a grilled chicken salad for lunch that stretched into dinner. I got it at Sonic when I took Adam to work -- only 250 calories of yumminess. And it was surprising large. I used to get salads at Burger King, but for the same price I get about half again as much at Sonic. So I think it's my new favorite fast food. However, I'm pretty sure I'm going to want a sandwich or something later. Still...good calorie maintenance today.

Exercise confession -- nothing but the usual today. I wanted to get in a bit more work, but I was glad to fit in time in spite of being busy. That means when life gets back to normal, I'll still be able to maintain a fitness regimen and keep this whole thing going. No going back to the way things were!

Today's Tip:
Chilly weather seems to bring out the desire for comfort foods more than other times in the year. You can enjoy comfort foods without packing on the pounds. Nubella, a division of Quality Health, offers this free ebook with all kinds of recipes for yummy, diet-sensitive Comfort Foods. As for me, I think I would make a few substitutions -- whole wheat pasta, a bit less cheese, only the top crust on the pot pie instead of a full crust, etc. But these are yummy recipes that really don't need a lot of altering to be diet-friendly. Enjoy!

Click here for recipe ebook>>> FREE recipe ebook

Week 18, Day 6

I like being able to get back out and around. A few short months ago I would have hesitated to go to an event without Adam there to help me. Yesterday I went to my nephew's wrestling meet on my own. I didn't go sprinting into the building, but I got there without needing any asthma meds, and my nephew got 2nd place. A good day!

I'm frustrated at not being thinner, though. I am getting impatient! Now that I am able to do a bit more, there is more I want to do. I'm sort of trapped in a limbo between the crippling obesity and the fitness I want. It's been a few months since I've needed to buy new jeans, so clearly I'm not making the progress I need to. My arms are stronger and my lower legs are doing fairly well. But my hiney is still huge. I've seen it in the mirror. Appalling! And my lower belly seems to have taken on a life of its own and refuses to budge. With a fused spine, there is a limit to exercises I can do to get rid of it, so I'm feeling stuck. Any ideas?

Food confessions
Yesterday was a fast food day. I got word about the wrestling meet before I had eaten breakfast and too late for me to eat any at home. So I stopped en route and got a ham omelet sandwich from Burger King. I dunno. 290 calories. By comparison an Egg McMuffin across the street would have had 300 calories. No big deal. I guess they both would have filled me up about the same. The omelet had 8 grams of sugar, compared to only 3 grams of the McMuffin. But the omelet had slightly less saturated fat. Either way, I was starved 3 hours later. Oatmeal at home would have lasted me longer. But that's okay. sometimes life requires different choices.

However....after picking up Adam from work, we both were hungry and Sonic was on the way. I was going to have a salad but didnt' see one on the menu. I'm sure they have them, right? But there was a car behind us, and Adam was tired. So I got a grilled chicken sandwich --400 calories, far better than the cheeseburger at 620 calories-- with lettuce and tomato, no mayo. I also "cheated" and got a root beer. The sandwich was good, but the root beer --something I used to love-- tasted awful, like some nasty chemical concoction that shouldn't be consumed (which I didn't...I waited and drank water at home).

Today I've done better, with a cup of wheat flakes for breakfast and a half a sandwich for lunch. I don't know what I'll have for dinner, but I'm not very hungry, so I don't think it will be much.

Exercise confession
Umm...not much. Although yesterday was pretty good. When I got done at the wrestling meet, I went to the store and did my usual up-and-down-every-aisle walking. And I'm staying consistent with my weights. I've had a hard time putting in time on my bike -- it hurts my tailbone, and sitting in the bleachers for 3 hours yesterday started the weekend with my tailbone aching. Today's not over, though, so I hope to get a bit more movement in.

Today's Tip:
MSN's Health and Fitness channel has a great slideshow titled "10 Secrets of the Effortlessly Thin". Here's a sample:

They don't skip meals
There are two problems with skipping meals—and thin people are careful not to fall prey to them. Going more than six hours without food will slow down your metabolism, plus you'll likely get so desperately hungry that you'll grab anything (as opposed to something healthy) and eat too much of it. "Thin people keep their gas tanks [i.e., their stomachs] between one-quarter and three-quarters full all the time," says Fleming. The best way to do that is to eat frequent mini-meals every three to four hours.

To read more "secrets" of the thin people, go here>> 10 Secrets of the Effortlessly Thin

Week 18, Day 4

I saw a video clip today from the Biggest Loser where trainers Bob and Jillian were discussing what to do to keep Michael on the ranch. I guess it's not so good to appear to favor one contestant over the others, but I think they're worried that if he goes home now -- only 2 weeks into it -- he'll die. He's the heaviest contestant ever, beginning at 526 pounds. I can see why they're concerned. One of the things Jillian said was to cut his calories to 800 and remove all carbs. Wow. That's not a lot of calories at all! She's always the one who says that you shouldn't cut too many calories or your body will start holding on to fat, thinking it's starving. I was worried that maybe I wasn't eating enough, but I think I'm going to aim for about 800, too. For a little while anyway. I think actually that I'm already near there. And I really want to take as many pounds off as I can before we get knee-deep involved in the medical stuff with Dad. We haven't heard yet what the doctor has decided, but no matter what the verdict, it will be hard, and I know I will have a harder time sticking to this diet then. The more weight I can take off now, the better it will be. So...I'll drop my calories as much as I can without driving myself nuts, and I'll increase my exercising from one hour to two -- incrementally, but as quickly as I can tolerate.

Food today -- two yogurts for breakfast, a half a sandwich for lunch, and a bowl of peas and rice for dinner. Exercising isn't done, but it's mostly the usual stuff -- weight work on my arms, recumbent bike, leg lifts. I've had a sinus headache all day, so all I've really wanted to do was lay down and hope the pain goes away. But at least I've gotten a little bit done.

Today's Tip:
I write for a living, and I can tell you for a fact that considerable time, money, and effort is spent in advertising to make you believe. To believe that something containing "natural ingredients" is safe, never thinking that hemlock and arsenic are natural, too. To believe that "fortified" means better, not realizing that products like white bread must be fortified because the heavy processing completely strips all nutrients out of what used to be a wholesome product --and to make you actually believe that Cocoa Puffs and Lucky Charms are a wholesome, healthy way to start the day because they are "fortified". To believe that "corn-fed" beef comes from cattle romping freely through pristine cornfields instead of being force fed in crowded factory feedlots sub-standard corn that's not fit for human consumption, nevermind that cows are not biologically fit for digesting corn, and thus need antibiotics to offset the ensuing damage. And so today's tip is to never EVER believe the hype on the front of a box or can of food. (In fact, are you sure it's even really "food"? Don't believe it.)

Week 18, Day 3

I was off to a good start this morning. Lots of energy. Did some leg lifts upstairs and some weight work on my arms. I'm still having trouble getting the heavier weights over my head without a LOT of pain, but I'm doing much better with curls and lifts. I intended to go out for a walk this afternoon. But good intentions are only half the battle. The other half never materialized. Adam is still not feeling well, and I just stayed inside with him and worked on the computer. Oh well. The evening isn't over yet. I hope I rev up my internal energy enough to at least spend some time on my bike. I really want to lose that remaining 22 pounds to get me under 200. I just gotta want it badly enough to work at it a little harder. But where'd my energy go? I feel like a deflated balloon right now. ::sigh::

I have eaten okay today -- better than yesterday, for sure. I had a cup of whole wheat cereal for breakfast. A bag of peas and a few noddles for lunch. I'm about to have some yogurt and a half a sandwich. And I'll probably have a bit more yogurt later on. Actually, as I think back to a year ago, I'm eating a LOT better than before. No fast food. A lot more meals at home. And a lot less mindless munching. Yayee!

Today's Tip:
Interested in how many calories you burn in an exercise session? Here's a link to an Exercise Expenditure Chart on Jillian Michaels' website: http://www.jillianmichaels.com/lose-weight/expenditurechart.aspx Exercise Expenditure Chart

Week 18, Day 2

I was escorting my dad all over the hospital today for tests, back and forth, north tower to south tower and back again, and it was really nice to not have to constantly ask every little bit if we could stop and sit so I could recover before we went a little bit further. (We'll know the results of the tests in a few days -- please keep praying for him.) I don't know if he noticed what I could do, but I know he always noticed and felt bad for me before when I couldn't go very far without needing to rest. It's nice to not be obviously worrying him now.

I've eaten well ...and not...today. I had yogurt and a banana for breakfast. Then once the tests were over at the hospital, Dad was hungry and wanted to get lunch. I had meatloaf and mashed potatoes -- no gravy, no butter. I don't know if the potatoes were a good choice or if I should have gone for the green beans or carrots -- the only other veggie choices. But the beans and carrots looked really overcooked. So I felt okay with the potatoes. And then for dinner...and this is where I really failed...I had a soda and a Kit Kat. I couldn't help it. My dad has something wrong with him that he has slim chances of surviving, my mother is getting more frail each day, Adam is sick, I hardly ever get a chance to talk to First Son now that he's busy with Wifey, Little Man, and work (I miss him!), and ...I just needed some chocolate and a fizzy drink. Okay, yes I know I could have helped myself and I didn't actually *need* a soda and a Kit Kat. And tomorrow I won't have either.

On the plus side of my development of my new suit (besides eating only 1 Kit Kat instead of the 6 I wanted to), I did a lot of walking at the hospital today, I did some weight work with my arms (and yes, they still hurt from moving up from 8 pound weights to 15 pound weights, but not as much --yayee!), and I'm going to spend some time on the bike tonight. Not too bad for the day. It helps that my back hasn't been hurting. This is the first day in a couple of weeks that it hasn't hurt. I think the warmer weather has helped. And the lack of pain has helped me be more active. I'm eager for another 50 pounds to be gone -- it's gotta be infinitely easier to move around when I'm not carrying that added weight with me.

Today's Tip:
The fitness DVD that First Son and Wifey got me for Christmas is awesome. For those of us who can't be on the Biggest Loser ranch, this is the next best thing! And now Amazon is having an awesome sale on fitness DVDs. Save up to 50% on Fitness DVDs! Click here to go straight to Amazon before their great sale ends!!!

Week 18, Day 1

A couple of days ago I switched from 8 pound weights to 15 pounds. I was ready, and the added weight isn't impossible to handle. But it's sure not easy. I liked easy. I'll like this better when 15 pounds doesn't hurt so much. In fact, I think I'll do a little bragging about it. I will have earned it. :)

Speaking of earning some bragging rights, I'm at 221 today. Perspective is everything. There was a time when I would have been appalled at weighing 221. Today I'm delighted. Only 22 pounds to go to get under 200! I know for sure I can do that by my birthday. Heck, I'm pretty sure I can do that by Valentine's Day! In Sept 2007 I weighted 279. The thought of being this close to being under 200 completely thrills me!

Last night Adam and I went out to eat with friends. They wanted to go to Cracker Barrel. For those of you who are unfamiliar with that restaurant, it is a place with yummy down-home country cooking, complete with veggies soaked in fat, meats covered in gravies, and king-sized servings of all kinds of goodies that really aren't good for anyone watching their waistline. And I'm a complete sucker for their chicken and dumplings and their blackberry cobbler. Massive quantities of both. Last night was a big test for me. But I was good. I think so anyway. I ordered the meatloaf dinner. I've had the meatloaf there before, and I don't think it's full of a lot of bread and fillers. It has ground beef, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, and of course an egg to hold it together. And for the side dishes that come with it --and they don't have much that's healthy to order from since most of the actual veggies seem to be laden in grease -- I ordered corn, hash brown casserole, and dumplings (my favorite thing on the menu). I ate the corn, most of the meat loaf, half the hash brown casserole (which isn't like a full-blown whole casserole, but rather a small dish of cheese covered hash browns), and two bites of the dumplings. Adam ate the rest of the dumplings, and I left the rest of the food behind once I was full. No dessert. I didn't even look at the dessert options. And I was okay with all of it. Actually, I was surprised. I was looking forward to the dumplings, and they tasted kind of like cardboard to me. I don't think they've changed, though. I have. So...I still like Cracker Barrel, and it's a great place to go for comfort food. And now I know that I can go there and not completely blow my diet. It was a good night.

Today's Tip:
Dieting can sometimes be like walking across a field full of landmines on a beautiful Spring day. You have the advantage of knowing where the landmines are, though. You have to be careful or you're going to blow it, but you do know what your temptations are, what foods you ought to stay away from, what places and times of day cause you problems. Be careful and diligent. But also enjoy the scenery as you cross the field, and stop to smell the roses once in awhile.