LYNDA519's SparkPeople Blog

35 and counting ...Update

Sun, 2 Sep 2012 21:32:03 EST

I have lost 35 pounds, two pants sizes. You know pants sizes are an important indicator.

I have gone off of SparkPeople for awhile and suffered from it despite the weight loss. I would have lost more if I hadn't wandered. We all know wandering causes problems.

My health hasn't been too good. Back injections for pain, and now the pain is back. Back pain is from more than being overweight, I have injuries, but the weight doesn't help. My other health issues improve, get wo...

21 pounds

Sat, 9 Jun 2012 14:40:56 EST

Not sure what happened, but I double checked and I have now lost 21 pounds. I'll take it any way I can get it!

I'm hoping I will be feeling good enough to make it to the gym more next week. I hope to alternate as many days as I can, workouts every other day and pool every other day. I'll have to see as it is quite expensive for me to travel back and forth to the gym. I have to pay a lot of toll not to mention the gas. I have to just do it and know the changes in me.

I o...

I lost 19 pounds and some inches

Fri, 8 Jun 2012 13:17:07 EST

A lot more to go, but I have now lost 19 pounds and some inches in about 6 weeks. Yay! Watching my calories and carbs and exercising as I can when I can.

I had one really bad physical and emotional day this week, but I got back on the positive side and recovered.

My doctor today told me he was amazed that despite all the diagnoses I have, I keep going and keep trying. I have been called a survivor by many many people, but I want to be a victor!

I am listening...

Spiraling

Wed, 6 Jun 2012 19:17:53 EST

Received bad news yesterday and the weather has turned cooler and it has been raining on and off. All of that spells a bad time with fibromyalgia and my neck vertebrae decided to jump in and mess with me. I am in a time of depression, anger and difficulty.

I am managing to stay pretty much in line with the food, but there was no way I could work on any fitness routine today. I am hoping tomorrow will be better.

Gym plus

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 12:35:25 EST

I ended up joining the rehabilitation hospital's gym that includes the therapeutic pool. I signed up for the 3 month combination membership, that will give me the opportunity to see how I am doing and if I want to switch gyms or continue. This gym has the recumbent machines which are very important to people with back problems.

I did better than I thought I would. I am now doing 20 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the recumbent step machine, then I usually try to do other...

Decisions Decisions

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:24:09 EST

Everything I put in my mouth is a decision. I intentionally make decisions about that, whether it is for good or for bad. My intention is to make every decision a good decision. I try to always check the SparkPeople planner as I plot out my food for the day. Sometimes that gets vetoed by bad decision, but as I said, I am getting better. I do have to be careful about the data input for foods, I have caught bad information and had to go and research and get the correct information. I have even ...

Why earn Sparkpoints?

Tue, 29 May 2012 08:11:40 EST

I have heard some people say they don't understand the point of Sparkpoints and they don't waste their time doing them. I'm going to share my perspective.

There are days that I am too busy to try to earn extra Sparkpoints, the Sparkpoints for reading, taking quizzes etc. I have been in Sparkpeople before and didn't really see the point. Things are a bit different this time.

I see the Sparkpoints as opportunities to motivate me toward my goals. Reading those articles he...

Curves - 7th Visit

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:26:19 EST

I am a bit disappointed that I have had to change my circuit of machines at Curves - due to my back situation - on the recommendations of my physical therapist. When I started going to Curves I said "I will do what I can, when I can." With that, I meant I would keep going.

Each time I feel much better after going to Curves and my blood glucose readings are lower. I know it is helping me in many ways.

I got to Curves today, a Thursday, and it was almost empty. I didn't re...

Vertebrae Aggravating Me

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:18:59 EST

I have quite a few vertebrae that "don't behave." Each section of vertebrae has its own issues.

Lately my cervical and lumbar vertebrae have been most aggravating. I have a numb and weak left leg due to damage, that has been going on for twelve years and the doctors just figured out the cause. I have a lot of nerve damage throughout my body.

The latest problems - my right leg. Several times lately the right hip and knee have been excruciating. It is one of my lumbar ver...

55th Birthday

Sat, 19 May 2012 19:53:15 EST

Today is my 55th birthday and my bengal cat's 2nd birthday. She has brightened my life in so many ways.

We had a very good day and it is a beautiful day!

We went to Trader Joe's this morning, it is 20 miles from where we live, and my husband hadn't been before. It was my first time actually going through the entire store. We were both impressed with the quality of the products, the prices and the no-frills attitudes.

I refuse to eat fish - even farm-raised fis...

Curves - 5th visit

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:48:13 EST

I went to my 5th Curves workout this morning. I got there earlier than I meant to, I had an appointment I was trying to get to on time. When I got to Curves, the Zumba class was starting. I could stay and watch and then workout, or I could leave and come back later in the afternoon, because of my appointment. I chose to stay.

I am going to try my first time with Zumba next Friday, but I will only do the dance part first, then later add the machines. I am still slow on getting on an...

Busy week

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:11:55 EST

Wow, I hadn't noticed it has been a few days since I posted.

I was sick with a migraine yesterday, and high blood glucose went with it. My glucose readings were great the day before, so I have to think the migraine and the blood sugar was related.

I know the workout at Curves is helping my blood sugar to be lower.

Right now I am staying about the same on the weight, but I know that won't stay the same long. I have almost lost 5% of my body weight which is s...

"SparkMe" Gallery

Mon, 14 May 2012 20:32:03 EST

I made a new album in my IPhoto program nicknamed "SparkMe." It is and will be a collection of random photos from my past, put in chronological order. I have a photo from my husband that he took Saturday and as much as I HATE my photos, I will get him to take regular photos to put in that album to have a continuing chronological order that will show my progress to my goal.

I have a photo of me in October 2010, one month before I went to the lapband surgeons to see if I could get a ...

Curves Exercise Day 3 of Trial

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:13:22 EST

I received Curves "money" today for completing 3 days of coached workouts.

I can really tell the difference in just a week, less than a week. My health varies a lot, particularly with exacerbations in my health, but I am able to do the workout in a quicker time, with no help getting in and out of machines, trying to stay with the 30 second turn to the next equipment process. I can tell my strength is getting better and I am noticing more tone already.

It really encourage...

Very nice day

Sun, 13 May 2012 16:13:05 EST

Roses my husband brought me Friday.

After I woke up, I started doing exercises and stretching before getting my shower. We have A LOT of exercise equipment, most of it is packed up and away because of renovations. I still can do what I can do with what I have.

I would have liked to have gone to church but Mother's Day is kind of difficult for me at church, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the chu...

Having technical problem making posts

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:59:47 EST

If I go to my blog and click on "Add a Blog Entry," it never works, never ever works. I have to figure out each day a way to do it differently, and then try to remember what I did the last post. I have to go to my SparkPage then enter my Blog, then make an entry that way. I don't understand what the problem is, I have posted it in technical help & assistance.

Physical Issues with Food

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:44:43 EST

Tonight I had dinner and I had problems toward the end and afterward. I was having trouble swallowing and getting the food down.

I have a lot of trouble swallowing at times. That is a situation that the GI doctor attends to and I have had to have my esophagus stretched before because it is too small. I also have had Eosinophilic Esophagitis, but that is supposed to be in remission.

I have had to give myself the Heimlich Maneuver one day when I was driving down the inte...

Mexican food fix

Sat, 12 May 2012 09:59:02 EST

I lived in Texas for over 25 years in Houston and San Antonio. There's a lot of good Mexican food and Tex-Mex food in those cities! We have a couple of pretty good Mexican restaurants here in the Richmond area, but still not like we are used to and not in the healthy zone. I can make almost anything in the Tex-Mex food category and I have learned over the years to adapt foods to be healthier.

One Mexican breakfast I make is the following recipe. I have diabetes and I have to watch ...

Boogie during commercials

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:57:43 EST

During the day if I have the TV on, I am beginning to get up and boogie during the commercials. I think this will have a big impact on my energy level.

Glucose levels today have been good.

Curves - Day 3 of Curves Trial

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:46:10 EST

I went to my second Curves today, alternating days as recommended. I can tell a difference between the first day and today. I am enjoying it, but I am still learning the equipment. I wish they would add a picture of what you should do to each piece. Maybe it is just me.

Next week I plan to go Mon, Wed and Fri.

I added the green drink today. My nutritionist loves for me to do that, but I have to work it into my carbs for the day and I was able to do that today. My green d...

Sweet & Salads

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:48:02 EST

I have had two large salads today and a protein drink. I also had a Kashi granola bar. That was better than some other chocolate or sweet choices I could have made. I guess I should be happy in that. I am fighting each day.

Tomorrow I go back to Curves for my second day.

Curves - Day 1 of 30 Trial

Wed, 9 May 2012 14:19:24 EST

I went for the first day of the Curves 30 day trial period. Went through the paperwork process and then spent over 60 minutes going through the machines. Since I have a weak left leg and balance issues, I will have to be extra cautious. I have pretty good upper body strength.

HB = 85

I think it will be very helpful and I look forward to the changes in my strength, vitality and shape.

Overcoming Cravings

Mon, 7 May 2012 08:33:20 EST

I know one major thing I need to overcome: cravings.

I always thought everyone had cravings. I am learning that is not true. It isn't always for desserts. Sometimes I feel like Italian, Mexican food etc., have cravings for specific food. That is okay when I can fit the cravings into my nutritional plans, but I have to overcome the emotional cravings for foods.

I am still in pain with my neck. It is a beautiful day and it would be a good day to walk, if it wouldn't make m...

Extruded Disk in Neck

Sun, 6 May 2012 21:43:55 EST

The good: I lost another pound.

That bad old extruded disk in my neck hit me out of the blue today, wrecking my plans. It was a 10 at least. I had to end up taking the pain medication I refuse to take unless I am in excruciating pain.

I wanted to walk today and go to the grocery store - all things my husband was around to help with. It hurts to pick up anything at all, to turn my neck, to lift my neck etc.

Normally this hits me when I wake up and my husband...

Cinco de Mayo Meals

Sat, 5 May 2012 18:21:44 EST

I cooked three meals on a Saturday! Insane.

I preplanned all my meals last night in order to get the nutrition advised by my nutritionist. I still need to eat more calories, but I am focusing on getting the carbs to what she says I have to eat since I am a diabetic now. Protein is one thing that is usually difficult for me to meet.

I like the features this provides diabetics now. I used to use Sparkpeople a long time ago when there weren't so many features. I like the fa...