Meds Update Part II

I won’t get into all the ends and outs of my Dr. appointment, way too much to write, but I’ll give you the part that pertains to weight. First of all, she said that she did not believe that the Phentermine caused the murmur, but that it’s possible that it made the murmur, that was likely already there, more noticeable and pronounced. So if the Phentermine isn’t causing you any symptoms then I would continue taking it. I would if I could. Instead she put me on Wellbutrin. It’s actually a depression and anxiety medication, but one of the side effects is weight loss. Usually I dread the side effects of medication, but this one I like! She said that people taking it, that are not trying to lose weight, lose about 15 lbs a year and those that eat right and exercise while on it, can lose about 2 lbs per week. She also said that anyone that’s married and/or has kid’s experiences depression and anxiety at some point, so it will help with my stress level as well. She said it was great for emotional eaters…ME. I’ve been taking it for 3 days and I can really tell a difference. I don’t get hungry as often and I’ve noticed I haven’t been snacking between meals. I don’t even think about it. It’s strange. The best part of it is that I’m not all jittery and buzzed like I am when I’m taking the Phen. I’ll keep you posted.

Friday Baby!

So after you get the info on those Dr.'s you talked about a couple of post ago let me know!

Glad to know that (not that you have murmur) but about the meds because you know I have taken them, too. I have some left and was going to get back on but I think I will change my mind after reading that!!!

I missed the second half of biggest loser. Brian set the timer for one hour but that is okay! I am going to do some reading online and catch up. (*Note to Self* Call and get DVR hooked back up.)

This week I did "okay". Before I got sick I had made plans with a co-work to walk before work. We met up Wednesday morning and because of running late only got a small walk in. (We bring extra clothes, shoes, etc. so we can freshen up afterwards.) So then we got a good one in at lunch and had subway. I have decided that instead of trying to try them both at once I am going to work on just the exercise first. Make it a habit (at least 30 days or so) and then focus on what I drink and make that a habit and then focus on the food. It will take a while this way but like we always say ...... we didn't get like this over night so it is going to take just as long to lose it!!

The week in review

Well I haven't been posting my calorie intaking, but have been counting them. I splurged a few times this week and had 2 1600 calorie days but that's still lower than what it would probably have been. I weighed in this morning at 214.9, so we are headed in the right direction. Now if I can just keep it up!

Meds Update

If I’ve already told you all this, I apologize… I don’t think I have though. As you know I was taking Phentermine several months ago and I also took it for 2 months in late ’05. Well I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I was feeling exhausted, achy, unmotivated and I was having some chest pain too. She discovered that I had a heart murmur. They did a bunch of lab tests as well and everything came back normal. I had to go for and echocardiogram to determine the extent of the murmur. I go back this Friday to discuss. She told me to stop taking the Phen until we figured out what was going on. She didn’t say that the Phen caused the murmur, but I have my suspicions. I didn’t have a heart murmur before I took it (I had a complete check-up before I ever started it) but I do now that I’ve taken it for a little less than 3 months in total. 12 weeks is what the FDA approves. I liked taking it; I was never hungry and I had tons of energy. It was so easy to eat well. I’ve been thinking about other alternatives and then I stumbled upon an article in this week’s “Woman’s World”. It’s about diet pills and it compares the different ones. It also speaks to OTC options. It had some really good info, so I thought I’d share just a little of it here.

Phentermine – hits the brain’s appetite center and greatly reduces hunger, not the same as the killer Fen-Phen (although it did contain Phentermine, the Fen part was the deadly one), approved since 1959, approved for 12 weeks of use and should not be used by patients with heart or anxiety problems!!

Meridia – boost brains chemicals that extend satiety, approved since 1997, great if you struggle with portion control, doesn’t eliminate the urge to eat completely but that’s a good thing because it lets you develop skills to stay slim after you stop taking the meds, should not be used by patients with sleep or blood pressure problems.

Xenical – disables key enzymes and keeps 33% of fat calories from being absorbed, studies show people that took it lost 93% more weight than those that didn’t, approved since 1999, besides blocking fat calories; it gives you a stomach ache if you eat too much fatty food therefore encouraging you to avoid it which cuts calories even more, great if fatty foods are you’re weakness or if you have a health condition that keeps you from being able to take other diet pills.

Chromium Picollinate (OTC vitamin) – helps control a hormone that causes cravings and belly fat, the supplement most linked to lower levels of body fat, 400 mcg daily can eliminate intense sugar and carb cravings, especially beneficial for patients with big middles, up to 800 mcg daily is considered safe but check with your Dr. first

Calcium – (OTC vitamin) – stimulates the release of fat from cells, latest data shows that exercise burns 30% more fat in patients who get extra calcium, for maximum fat loss get 1200 mcg of calcium (from supplements or low fat dairy) and keep your total calories around 1200 a day.

So I guess I’ll add CP and Calcium to my shopping list.

Hey cuz...

I watched a show on Discovery Health last night called "YOU: The Owner's Manual". There is a book as well. It's by the 2 Dr's that are always on Oprah. Anyway, it was very interesting and very motivating. I'm going to go by the book today. It's not a diet book, it's just about living healthier and living longer. It's hard to explain everything that was in the show. I wish you could see it. Do you have the DH channel? They have a DVD set too (not the same show on DH, but probably better, it's twice as long as the show)

DVD http://shopping.discovery.com/product-59710.html

It explains how you can completely change your health in as little as 2 weeks. They follow the story of a lady that begin by drinking 4 6-packs of soda each day and ate high fat, high sugar foods. She didn't exercise either. After 10 weeks following the suggestions in the book, she had lost 20 lbs and looked 10 years younger.

The basics are that you only eat things that come from nature and only allow "treats" every now and then and in very small portions. You're not supposed to eat any foods where these words appear in the first 5 ingredients (sugar, high fructose, enriched, and 3 others that I can't think of. As for exercise, it's pretty mild. 30 minutes of walking each day, 60 minutes each week of cardio that makes you break a sweat and 30 minutes each week of weight lifting.

Once I've read the book, I'll comment on it more.

Walking

Well I read an article this weekend about walking. I was doing good...we had even joined the gym. So I am going to try something. I am going to walk AT LEAST 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks and not really change the way I eat and see how it helps. Just on the walking. Maybe if I do good on that I would be more motivated to eat better....

VERY GOOD POINT!!!

...about how we would be even bigger if we hadn't been at least half a**ing it for the past 9 months!! I like the way you think!

I used to use the expensive and time consuming excuse too, (ok I still do) but I just have to remind myself that heart disease and diabetes is very expensive and time consuming as well... not to mention deadly!!!

So True...

....your post below. Had we just hung in there all those times. This is not a good excuse but one none-the-less....it is just so time consuming and expensive to diet. Yeah I know...those are negative thoughts but I get discouraged because I so badly want to be small, small, small!!! UGH!!!! Okay - we can do this, we can do this, we can do this, we can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well a positive out of all of this...had we never tried at all...even if it is off and on imagine how big we would be!!!!

Monday - Traci Stats

B - Yogurt - 90, cup of coffee - 35
S - Banana - 80
S - Protein Drink - 60, Cheese toast - 120
L - Lean Cuisine - 250, Tomatoes and Cucumbers with Spritz Dressing - 40
S - 100 Calorie Pack Cookies - 100
S - Fat Free Pudding - 100
D - Homemade Sweet and Sour Chicken and Fried Rice - 650

Total Calories - 1525
Total Water - 12 oz (gotta work on this)
Total Exercise - Walked for 30 minutes (while pushing a stroller with a 45 lb kid)

One day at a time.

Ok, so remember last week's post about how I was going to get back on the wagon and start posting, blah, blah, blah?? Well, that lasted all of one day, the posting anyway. The counting calories...well that lasted 2 days! What is up with me? I get so fired up and then 3 days into it, I fizzle out. The obvious answer is that I must not really want it. BUT, I do want it. I guess I just don't want to work for it. I've posted about this before and I still don't understand it. Rather than analyze it though, I've just got to but last week behind me and start fresh today. I'm just going to take it one day at a time. I'm not commiting to being on point for the rest of the week... I'm focusing on today and today only. I'll think about tomorrow when tomorrow gets here. So here's to today!

PS - When going back through the old posts and searching for the post that I liked to above, I realized how many times we have both said that we are starting again. Just think if we had really done it all those times before, we would be done with this site and wearing our skinny jeans right now!

Life Change

Have you ever come to a place in your life where you feel like you just need a change. My life has been so crazy lately. I can place no blame anywhere. Just life, you know? People change, people grow apart, arguments happen, no one is right or wrong but simply stating their American born right of having an opinion. Sometimes we just end up being different people. It is no ones fault, it is life, it happens. So today I am soul searching...life is feeling good...even with all the stresses I am facing now. Hopefully sooner than later I will be over this hump but in the meantime I am trying to enjoy the journey!

All About The Mindset

Well. I. Sure. Have. Had. A. Horrible. Mindset.

I am telling you I have been stressed to the max....as I know you have!!!! It seems like the more stressed I am the more food I force down the hatch! SO today - it is all about me!!! Brian is going to leave in the morning to go to drill. I am going to get up come to work with an open mind tomorrow. Pick up Baylee go home and "unclutter" my house Friday night and Saturday. I may get a pedicure and get my hair done. I might work on playing "catch up" at work. Then Saturday night a good friend of mine and myself may catch a late move or go "wal-marting" or get some coffee or something.

So you are thinking...what does all of this have to do with weight loss???? Well I think alot of my problem has been clutter and unorganization make me stressed...not to mention the past years drama building up on me.....when I am stressed I eat...so this weekend is going to be all about DESTRESSING!!!! In turn I will hopefully have a better mindset to start a new diet plan on Monday!!!

The Enemy

The evil Krispy Kreme monster reared it's ugly head again today. This morning as I walked down the hall towards the kitchen at work, I smelled the sweet, sweet smell of the enemy that was about to be in my face. I turned the corner and saw the spread... two dozen glistening hot donuts.

So what did I do?

I did what any woman does when faced with an enemy... I walked by them, stuck my snobby nose in the air and completely igmored them as I headed for the fridge to grab my yogurt. I grabbed the yogurt, turned around and walked out the door; not before I turned around and stuck my tonque out at them though.

So take that Mr. Krispy Kreme. You've won this battle one too many times and now it's war!

Bring it on!!

Play Ball

Ok, so I know I've said it a dozen times over the last few months... but this really is a new start. I really am back in game and ready to win!! I weighed in this morning at 216. Considering that I've pretty much blown it for the last few months, I'm actually pleased with that. I had gotten down to 209 for two days, but I would say my official lowest weight from the last time I "played the game" was 213, so I guess 3 lbs in the last 4 months isn't that bad. However it is a move in the wrong direction and it's time to put a stop to it.

So beginning today I will start tracking my food intake. I'm going to continue counting calories, but I'm not going to allow so much sugar and white flour foods. I've followed the Body For Life program in the past with great success so I'm going to stick with their food and exercise program, but still count calories. The one thing that BFL incorporates into their program is a "free day". Saturday will be my free day, but I'm still going to count calories and set my limit at 1600. I have to go grocery shopping before I can truly start BFL, but I am going to start counting calories today.

So here's to the first day of the last time that I say I'm back in the game..

B- Mini Whole Wheat Bagel w/T Polamer Jam - 160 / Coffee w/ cream and S & L - 40
S - Slice of 2% Cheese - 68
L - Ramen Noodles - 300
S - South Beach Bar - 100
D - Shrimp Alfredo - 265 / 2 rolls - 180
S - Fat free pudding - 100

Total Calories - 1213
Total Water - zero
Total Exercise - 30 minutes of walking

At A Loss

I AM A SLACKER

That is me alright. A blogging slacker!!! The summers are always so crazy for me because I am not on a schedule! Now that my daughter is back in school maybe things will be easier for me! I am going to TRY to blog at least once a week! No one may even be out there reading it but it is strange how my little personal blog - or my online diary - keeps me in line! It is like when I have pushed away from blogging everything else falls apart. I haven't figured out the link yet but I just know today I am getting back on the wagon on a lot of things in my life. One of the many things I need to do is update my pictures! Ha! They are a little outdated but in time it will happen!

I am still working as a paralegal, my daughter started 3rd grade, cheerleading (which by the way me and one of my best friends are coaching), gymnastics and I am going to school full time online through a local community college! Whew! Well sorry it has been awhile guys but I am back!!! Happy Labor Day!!!

MOTIVATION BABY

I am feeling great now that I feel - just because of our two post we are on the wagon!!! So I am not going to make my goal Christmas this year. My goal is what we have talked about for years and what we plan on doing in May. NEW YORK CITY HERE WE COME! So we know we want to go no matter what right? Why not make the trip more enjoyable by feeling better about ourselves? WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

Dear Diary

We are accountable. Accountable for what you say? Ourselves and each other! I agree 100% with what Traci has said below. No one else may ever read this site...it may just be Traci and Tiff telling the world (or no one in particular) how life is! So I am just as guilty as Traci as not blogging. Reading your blogs Traci make me feel more motivated. I was so excited to see there was actually a post on this site! It has been awhile. So not only are we accountable to ourselves and our children but we have to be accountable to each other. To see you on here makes me more motivated to go with it! When we were blogging I was losing weight but the minute one of us slacks off BOTH of us slack off! So from now on I am going to try to remember it is not just me on here. I have to keep doing this for you, too! I am from now on going to be just accountable for your struggles as I am my own!! We CAN do this. The fact that we have even kept this site up is impressive in itself! That is step one!!! We just need to move beyond that! We can do it!!!!