2 Weeks on the Nutrition Plan

When I started Cameron (My nutritionist) told me that before we can even deal with the weight, we have to increase my energy. Currently I am suffering from severe arthritis pain in my knees and my back. I can't walk very much which limits my exercise, and I am so tired all the time. So this made sense to me. What was very educational was learning the effect that carbs, sugar and preservatives can have on a woman's body hormonally and with regard to energy levels. So my first challenge was to cut out the sugar, eliminate the starches..bread, rice, potatoes etc. I will post more factual information on this later, but what I am beginning to understand its affect on my blood sugar levels. Two weeks now, and I don't feel so uncomfortable after I eat. I don't have the racing palpitations after eating pizza or bread. I can't say that my energy levels have improved yet, but I can see the importance of having a schedule and slowly incorporating new habits. My last post told of my first three challenges. This week I am to:

1) Add 4 cups of greens into my diet. The vegetables are to be greens from the top 10 greens for women. Kale, Artichoke, Dandelion Greens, Asparagus, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Cabbage, Arugula, Broccoli and celery. Its amazing how many nutrients are in these top 10 vegetables.

I get two cups of greens out of the way really quick by adding them to my protein drink in the morning. It turns the shake green but there isn't any taste to it, and then I know I have gotten in at least 2 cups. I love vegetables so its easy to incorporate. Another option is Barlean's Greens, a powder that you can add to a shake, but for me the Kale works great, and adds more fiber.

In my meeting with Cameron we evaluated my progress. Looking at it now, I didn't do too bad. I think getting my schedule down to eating every four hours and not eating anything after 7:30 was probably the most challenging. I don't have children, my husband and I get home very late, and we eat big dinners.

But, I have adjusted to it as I am learning that if its too work, I have to believe in it. The meetings every two weeks are good for me. It makes my want to fill out the food journals so that we have something to review in order to see areas I need to improve.

Some tips:

1) Yogurt has too much sugar. If you eat yogurt, eat Greek unflavored yogurt and add fresh fruit.
2) If you have difficulty thinking up something to eat, think protein and vegetables first.
3) Your body metabolism is highest in daylight. This is when you should be eating.

Highs and Lows of Bad Eating Habits.

I hired a holistic nutritionist today. After losing 100 pounds with gastric bypass surgery, and still holding on to bad eating habits, I decided it was time to learn something about my health. I began the nutrition journey this year because I refuse to go another year being labeled obese. I don't want to be overweight, I don't want to be rail thin. I do want to be healthy. I want to be able to climb mountains with my nephews and not worry about falling. I want to be able to hold a baby on my lap and not get winded while playing a game of freeze tag. So today the journey began.

I researched the options, and found someone that I feel is a good match for me. Someone who will call me on the carpet when I beat myself up, or don't admit to my mistakes. Someone who will be there when I need to talk it out, and not let me off the hook when I steer off the plan.

I have three challenges 1) to increase my energy levels, 2) to lose weight and 4) to find a routine that will work for me with my work and personal schedule.

Interestingly she told me that as women age, one of the biggest challenges we face is our energy. I have felt exhausted over the past three years, and I blamed it on all the weight I was carrying around. Don't get me wrong, the weight does slow me down, but she assured me that by eating right and following a few simple rules, I can get my energy levels more regulated.

The first three rules I have for this journey: 1) No sugar. 2) No breads 3) Eat every four hours and nothing after 7:30pm. The weight will probably not come off until I get this routine down, and the plan is to develop a discipline of healthy eating so that each week we can incorporate new goals into the mix. Let's see how it goes.

What to look for when choosing a nutritionist? For me, I went to a website that offers nutritionists by city. I read through the biographies and credentials and narrowed my search to 5 possible coaches. I then sent an email requesting more information. I narrowed the search down then by the response or lack of response, whether they provided a free initial consultation, and the resources they offered. To me cost was important, but I opted for a little higher cost based on the level of service I received from the beginning. Cameron Rupprecht in Alexandria, VA offered experience, compassion and was excellent with follow through. When I talked to her I felt she was really listening to me and developing a program that was personalized for me specifically.

She didn't expect me to "do it all at once" but developed a series of small goals over the course of the first week. Every two weeks a new discipline was added. I will post more as I go. If you feel classified as obese, and want to participate in a place where you get support and encouragement in a non threatening environment, please join me and feel free to share your story here. My goal is to change the way America treats the obese, one person at a time.

Hurdle Jumping or Puddle Jumping, its all the same.

Last week my Mom was home with an injured shoulder and my Dad was out of town. I worry and know how difficult it is to get around and get things done. No car, no one to talk to, so three days last week I took off work early and headed home to visit, get Mom out of the house and just provide some company. It appears it was a great thing not just for Mom but for me as well. Because as I get older, I appreciate my parents so much more. I don't mind listening to what they have to say, and I actually enjoy laughing, talking and coming up with plans and ideas. I also like looking back at the past.

On one particular day my Mom and I were talking about what we enjoyed as kids. I was having a difficult time with that. I couldn't think of any one thing that I truly was passionate about, that I kept as a hobby, continued through my life. I wasn't a collector, I wasn't a real sports enthusiast, although I swam, played tennis, softball, basketball, etc. But I didn't really excel at any of it.

And then I blurted it out: "Food". I don't know why I said it, but I think there was a lot of truth in that comment. Not to mention that it was the third visit of the week and already my Mom and I had been to Wegman's three times as if that was all we had to do: Shop for food.

My Mom looked at me in bewilderment and said, I am surprised you said that. I was too, but then she told me that when I was in modelling school in high school one of the instructors had told me that all I ever think about is food. And I came home that day upset and shared that with my Mom. I don't recall it but it must have had an impact.

But now over the past few weeks even before this I have felt that there might be some truth to that comment. Its been lingering in the back of my head for months now. That I eat food as though its filling some void, some hole in my life. I can't seem to get enough of it, can't say no to things I don't need.

As I began to analyze this thought I realized that its true in quite a few areas. But food seems to be doing the most damage as I am struggling with a huge weight issue. So where do I go from here? Its definitely something I am much more aware of. I know I can change, I just have to find the passion and desire to do so.

Journalling for a Healthy Life.

Well, I decided that this is the year for better health, and what better way to begin then to start exercising more and watching my weight. I had heard that it helps to journal what you eat but since I honestly believe that I eat like a Rabbit (very little)and I have my husband believing it too, I didn't think it would do much good. Well, let me tell you...I wrote down my caloric intake religiously the first day. Anything I popped into my mouth, I wrote down. At the end of the day I told my husband what I had eaten and asked if he thought it was much food. The truth was "IT WASN'T MUCH FOOD", but it was "ALOT OF CALORIES", 4200 calories to be exact. (You know, if you want to lose weight that number has to be below 3500). I was in shock, I still am. And I am journalling regularily now and becoming much more aware of what is going into my mouth, when it goes in, and why. A handful of peanuts here, 2 dove chocolates there, skipping dinner, popping a roll in my mouth. Doesn't sound like much does it? Well, the math speaks volumes. An ounce of cheddar cheese, can easily become 4 ounces in my day (I Love Cheese), a handful of peanuts can easily become two. I don't think I will journal for the rest of my life, but I will until I have a better understanding of the food that I am eating and its affect on my health.

I am not a meal planner, I skip meals often, I nibble alot, I don't exercise much even though when I do I feel wonderful! In this crazy little head of mine, I actually believed that for as little as I was eating, I should be bone thin! Right! Think again. It won't happen if you don't know the calories you are putting into your body. Its true, you can eat more and weigh less if you eat smart.

Three goals for this week:
1) Keep a food journal every day this week.
2) Continue to exercise one day a week.
3) If I clean up my crafting room, I am buying the cricut machine.

How is that for motivation?? :)