SUNNY89's SparkPeople Blog

Meal planning

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:34:20 EST

Every week for years I have sat down and prepared a weeks worth of dinner menus. This weeks is real hard for me. REAL hard. For the first time in a very long time, since maybe around 2007, I am really commited to losing this weight and making my lifestyle dream a reality. So when I sat down to make my weekly menus and I started plugging my numbers into my weight watcher calculator I discovered how very unhealthy we have been eating in this house lately. That makes me just want to cry, because...

My first Weight Watchers meeting

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 20:38:03 EST

So I am doing my best this week to make this all happen. I went to my first weight watchers meeting. I was doing the program online and after the news the doc gave me and some other factors I decided to go to the meeting and check it out. It was nice. The scale at the meeting was 3 pounds better than the one in the clinic. Darn those clinic scales. So the meeting is Tuesday night which works out great because that is my day off from work.

Since Tuesday I have worked out both days. ...

The visit to the doc

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 12:14:29 EST

I had a med check visit with my doc this morning. She said that my blood pressure was elevated. She said that my A1C test indicated borderline diabetes.

We talked about my weight and what I was doing in regards to my health.

I talked to her about some of the things that I have learned this last year. I talked to her about some of my fears.

She told me that some of my fears would really not be an issue for me. She told me that I need to get my weight under co...

The next step

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:28:09 EST

I am in a November challenge. The overall goal was to lose five pounds by Thanksgiving. I won't make that goal. The underlying aspects of the challenge were to eat within calorie range, drink 8 or more glasses of water, get in activity and encourage a team member. On most of these things individually I failed. Though the challenge wasn't a total waste of my time.

In the course of the last month I have set up a system to have balanced meals in place daily. I have joined a gym until...

Good choices.

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:43:22 EST

Yesterday my husband and I took the bikes out for a ride. We went 4.5 miles. Not long for some but I was sweating. It felt good. It was a nice day to get out. I enjoyed it. Would go again.

Came back to have a slow cooked chicken. Did real good with calories for supper. Didn't over indulge in the evening. That felt good.

This morning I had to fill up the gas tank of the car. The gas station offers free coffee with a fill. If I get the free coffee then I want a doughnut an...

A family supper

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:30:16 EST

I had my parents over last night for supper to celebrate my son's 17 birthday. Usually I would have eaten my way through the night.

I was a little concerned last night because we recently borrowed some money from my parents and was afraid this would come up in conversation and cause tension. (It was never brought up, whew).

On the menu, at my sons request, was tacos, nachos, salsa and chips, white rice, salad, tomatoes, lettuce, cheddar cheese, sour cream, hard and sof...

Day 1 again

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:50:18 EST

So yesterday was my first day eating better. I didn't do too bad. I didn't eat any fruit or veggie. (Some things never change). I drank water. I have to log my food. I don't think I ate enough. (though as I said I haven't logged it yet)

I did pass up candy and chips and junk at the Dollar General. I thought about it and then NO!! Move on. I passed it up. What a good feeling that is now. At the time I really thought I needed the candy. I was ok last night without it.

Tod...

I am back

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:43:59 EST

It has been way too long since I have been on SP. I have made horrible food choices. I didn't gain all my weight back so that is great. I did make bad choices though and that is never a good feeling.

I am back though and that is what counts.

What am I ready to do now that I am back?
* Drink 5-6 glasses of water, iced tea, tea daily.
*Do exercise 3 times a week of 30 minutes a session.
*Eat NO HFCS.
*Eat some fruits and veggies.
*Eat closer to my ...

The weekend

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 12:31:54 EST

I do ok all week long. I struggle (don't think I am sailing along on smooth waters, yet) but then the weekend comes and it is like a hurricane settles in.

My exercise gets all messed up. Sometimes I can't find the time. Sometimes the tv is used by others. Sometimes others complain about the dvd making too much noise, or Mom makes my room bounce when she exercises. I finally hollered at all involved in t...

Discovery

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:40:49 EST

Today I logged my food, both online and in my notebook. For the first time in ages. I ate enough food that I am not hungry. I feel satisfied. I am within my calorie range for the day. My issue now for the rest of the evening will be coping with NOT eating anymore tonight. I have the urge to eat even though I am not hungry. I am not really bored either. The food is just on my mind. This is where my problem lies. In getting those thoughts out of my mind and getting past this anxiety phase. If ...

vacation week

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 13:00:56 EST

This week I have been on vacation. I haven't really done too bad on eating. Though I do know for a fact that I have eaten way too many calories. I have set up the menu planner now on my food log. This way I know what a day should look like. A road map.

We got in some walking on Monday. I went in for an ultrasound on Monday to help determine the source of some pain I have been experiencing. The results ca...

Buckle down

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:01:45 EST

As a kid my Dad use to tell me "You need to buckle down". As a kid that was an insult to hear that. It meant he thought I wasn't doing enough. In what he was talking about then, I still think it was an insult, in that case I was doing the best I could.

As it refers to today and my weight loss. I needed to buckle down. The last couple of weeks I have buckled down. I pulled it together and did the work I needed to get the job done. There is always room for improvement. I didn't exerc...

Anniversary weekend

Mon, 31 May 2010 12:12:55 EST

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNZH-emehxA
Shania Twain "You're still the One"

Saturday was our anniversary. Seventeen years ago to the day we walked down the aisle. Scared young adults, pregnant with our first child and not having a plan as to how we would ever make it one year let alone seventeen. Seventeen years married to my husband. Not too bad considering when we were married everyone told us we would never make it. I know it was motivation to keep pushing on. ...

Ramblings from the third week in May twenty-ten

Thu, 27 May 2010 21:14:33 EST

It has been a long week. The heat earlier in the week really got to me. Luckily I was off from work for all but one day. The older I get the worse the heat is affecting me. The doc has done what she can. I know with all my being that losing this weight will make a huge difference. I nor the docs can assure me it will resolve all my heat issues as the first time the heat became an issue I was in college and only slightly overweight (not like the morbidly obese person I have become.)

...

Choices

Sat, 22 May 2010 10:54:31 EST

So last week I was real motivated. Super motivated to make all these changes. I bought some healthy food. I ate the healthy food (in moderation). Only to realize I can not buy that kind of food on a regular basis (it simply cost WAY to much). Luckily in the cost area the farmers market is gearing up. In today's grocery flyer they are advertising some nice prices on fresh fruit. I can still make this happen it just won't be easy for me. I can't just whip out the check book and write a check an...

A new fave breakfast food

Tue, 18 May 2010 11:24:04 EST

So I bought this can of "QUICK COOK" steel cut oats a while ago. I hadn't made any yet. This morning with my new motivation to make this new weight goal I decided to go for it and take a chance. OMG they are wonderful. Not mushy like traditional quick cook oats. They have texture. They have flavor.

I made mine with a splash of milk in the bottom of the bowl. Put in the oats cooked on the stovetop (done in 6 minutes). Topped with 1/2 pint of raspberries. Yummy. Lots of fiber. Will ...

Getting ready for the Turkey Trot

Mon, 17 May 2010 12:05:43 EST

I saw the doctor today for a BP med check. My BP is down to a heathy range. She is happy about that. She is changing it up just a bit to see if she can get some of the water out of my body. So that is all good news.

As I was sitting in the waiting room I was thinking to myself. Thinking now is the time to get down to business. Summer is approaching. The kids will be out of school. Schedules loosen up a bit for us. I really want to do the Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving and I would li...

May check up

Sun, 2 May 2010 09:41:46 EST

It has been a month since my last blog post. Weight wise the scale has not moved. I have made good food choices. I have made some poor choices BUT I made them all and I am content with the choices I made last month.

I got on the elliptical more last month than any month previous. I am determined to make exercise as much a part of life as drinking water now is. There was a time when drinking water was the hardest thing in the world for me. Now it is second nature. There are even ti...

Finding the Good stuff

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 09:17:03 EST

My new scrip for the BP meds is working ok with my system. I am much thirstier now. Don't really care for that. The heat gets to me. Never have liked that anyway. I am determined to do my exercise and eat healthy. It has been warm here the last several days. That means that as a heavy person it just weighs me down that much more. I get so HOT. I do not handle heat well at all. If I lose some of this weight I won't be as uncomfortable. My clothes don't fit the way I would like. Only I can do s...

One day at a time

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:20:58 EST

I am back from the doctors office. My prescription for blood pressure meds is being filled.

I still feel somewhat defeated. Yet at the same time, motivated. I asked the doc flat out how do I get off these meds? How will we know if I can get off them? So I have my answers. Now I need to do the work. Today and every day.

It is going to be hard. I know that. I have been messing around with weight loss the better part of 20 years. I also know that I can do it if I set my mi...

Daily weigh in?

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:32:45 EST

I read an article in Prevention magazine that stated that researchers of a particular study found that people who weigh themselves once daily were more likely to stay on task with regards to their weightloss goals.

It got me thinking. How often do I sabatouge myself? (the answer is A LOT) If I weighed in and saw the daily fluctuations would I be more inclined to stay on task? I think for me the answer is YES. So I decided what could it hurt by weighing myself every morning? So I h...

Working on my new normal

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:18:45 EST

I had a real good day calorie and food wise yesterday. I must admit it was real hard though. I ate when I was hungry. That was easy. The hard part was making good choices. Choices that would satisfy me a while.

Today is grocery day. So I will buy more fruits and veggies. I am trying to snack on fruit and veggie instead of junk. That is still real hard as well.

I know I will get through it because I can look back on my struggle with getting rid of soda and McDonald's in m...

I am ticked...

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:43:17 EST

I am so ticked off right now.

I went in this morning for my weekly blood pressure screening. The number at the clinic was the same it has been since this journey began. No higher no lower.

The numbers from the monitor I bought and have at home have been high since I bought the machine. So because of the high numbers on the monitor at home the nurse jumped on me. I asked "why should it matter? (I know it matters if the numbers are high) what I was really asking is --may...

The week in review

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 08:12:59 EST

Today is weigh in day. I knew it wasn't going to be a good day to look at the scale because it wasn't a good eating week. I had several times through the week where I made bad food choices. Why? That is always the question. It was a tough week around here emotionally. I turn to food. I am working to find other solutions but I am very aware that is going to be a hard thing for me to change. Change will happen but I suspect that to be the last thing on the journey to change.

I boug...

Exercise first thing in the morning

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 07:48:28 EST

Yesterday morning, after coming down the stairs from a good nights sleep I looked at the elliptical machine in the corner. I just had my Gibbs slap from the LORD last week so I know that I need to make exercise a commitment in my life. So I decided then that instead of sitting in front of the tv or the computer for the first 20-30 minutes of the morning I would get on the elliptical and exercise. So that is what I did the last two mornings.

I have started to try to figure out why ...

A Gibbs slap

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:41:16 EST

So I saw the doctor on January 13. That is when she prescribed my new eating and exercise plans. She told me "I HAD to get my blood pressure down to a healthy number". I heard her, but was still in a bit of denial. I have been doing the eating part but not really the exercise. The number on the scale wasn't moving. No surprise. Yet at the same time I had a decent desire to stay off blood pressure meds. (which she will prescribe if the number are not lower at my follow up visit.) That follo...

Made this weeks goal

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:27:54 EST

I said in last weeks blog that I would lose 1.8 pounds. I am very pleased to report that I did. I actually lost 3.4 pounds. Way to go. (Had to toot my own horn).

How did I do this? First I had hubby lock up the Girl Scout cookies. When I want some I tell him and sets out how ever many servings I want for the day on the counter. I just don't have the self control to not overeat these yet. We also haven't been out to eat this week. Money is real tight this week due to a vehicle rep...

Next week will have a 1.8 loss

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:55:10 EST

Ok so I got on the scale this morning and it was up. I expected that. I am at 283.8. I am going to be at 282 next Friday for weigh in. I can do that.

I logged my breakfast. I am dropping off kids at school and then coming home to put supper in the crock pot so that will be a no brainer. I can log that too.

I am picking up the Girl Scout cookies today before hubby goes to work. He will be locking them up. I can't have them in the house under my own control yet. I will e...

Things are looking a bit better

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:48:22 EST

I haven't been very active this last week. I have noticed that when we go out to eat (which doesn't happen often) things seem saltier than they use to. I have actually gotten to the point the Mcdonald's taste icky. I never would have thought that would ever happen. Those of you who have followed my blogs know that my battle with the evil arches has been a long one. I can now say that I have the upper hand (for now) in that battle. That feels good and yet in some ways sad. Sad because for year...

Moving on

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:40:03 EST

We had some major snow fall on our world the last couple days. I am not fond of snow anymore. I got my activity in thanks to the snow. That is a good thing. I have been fighting the urge to eat bad things. It is a constant battle but one that I know I can beat.

I see the counselor today with my husband. I have been having lots of very vivid and strange dreams this week. I have been having some feelings towards the garbage of the past with my sister and parents as well. I think of ...

Why did I blow it this week?

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 07:31:34 EST

I have been trying to get this whole deal down. The eating in the calories, the eating the right food, the exercise, the liking myself, the communication with people. It is a lot. I know how needed it all is. So then why did I mess up so bad this week. There has to be a reason.

To fill you in on how I messed up this week. I ate tons of bad food. Yes I believe some food is bad. To be bad a food has little nutritional value and has an emotional attachment to it. What did I eat that w...

50 things about me

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 07:21:06 EST

If you've are reading this, you have the honor of copying all these goofy questions and writing your own responses! Paste these instructions in the body of your blog.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 4:30 AM

2. How do you like your steak? medium well

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I never go. The Simpson's movie.

4. What is your favorite TV show? General Hospital, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Suze Orman, Dave Ra...

The greatest albatross

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 06:51:50 EST

I have lots of thoughts running through my mind this morning as I am writing this blog. I am going to take them as they happened.

My last blog talked about my challenge with exercise. How I view my elliptical machine as an albatross (sometimes used as a metaphor to describe an encumbrance) . I don't like the feeling of not getting the exercise done and not being marked off my day. I complain about doing it. Yet I don't want to be on the BP meds that I will be on if I don't follo...

Low day

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:42:42 EST

I have been battling a sinus infection since Saturday. If it is not cleared up by Friday I will be seeing the doctor again. I have been taking my blood pressure readings. Not seeing any downward trend on that. The doctor didn't give me a time frame just said DO IT! NOW!!!

I have been doing my best at exercise. It is still a challenge. The dumb machine sits in the room next to the computer room, so I see the albatross as I sit and type. I see it when I sit and eat in the dining roo...

Feeling good about my choices

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:01:01 EST

Even though I am scared of the unknown I must admit that I am even more scared of the chance of being diagnosed with high blood pressure and requiring meds. I am taking this seriously.

I was on the eliptical this morning. I have that done for the day. Does it feel good? Having my workout complete and off my "to do" list feels good. The "glow" kind of feels good. I am still too new to exercise to truly appreciate it for what it is. I am still doing it though. I also went for the ext...

Fear of the good, fear of the bad.

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:58:54 EST

Ok so since seeing the doctor last Wednesday I had one great week of exercise and then this week. This week has only 1 day of exercise done. I can redeem that and exercise today and tomorrow.

Why is this so darn hard for me to change? Possible answers, thoughts-- I am just lazy. I am overwhelmed. I am scared. I am complacent.

What am I afraid of? Failure. Succeeding.

I know that seems like a stupid answer. I am afraid of failing at weight loss. I am already ...

I was pushed off the ledge

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:40:10 EST

So Wednesday I saw the doctor. I got the results of the blood work she had ordered. They come in as: Glucose 100, Total cholesterol 126, Tri 119, LDL 59, HDL 43, blood pressure 140/82, weight was down 10 pounds from my pap visit with the OB/GYN in Sept. 2009.

Personally I would like to have seen more weight loss BUT I hadn't been exercising. Doctor really liked the weight loss though specially over the holidays. I had been eliminating HFCS from my diet. It is gone completely. No ...

Making progress

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:41:54 EST

Last week the scale didn't move much. I understand why. I am retaining water this week.

I am back on the elliptical as of this morning. That is awesome. I have been following the bootcamp challenges as best I can. Some are way over my ability in my current weight but I move the entire time. Some of the videos have been awesome. The stretching has been great.

Eating I need to start using a food journal again. It is a valuable tool. I find out so much honesty when I use ...

Spark you body bootcamp start

Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:22:19 EST

I start this boot camp weighing 282.6 pounds. My measurements are 53.5 bust, 48 waist, 54 hips, 29.5 right thigh, 17 right fore arm.

My weight loss goal at the end of the challenge is to be at 277 pounds.

My goal is to do all the exercise challenges and increase my exercise levels.

2010 is my year!!

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 08:42:44 EST

I have been battling weight for most of my teenage life and all of my adult life. I know what I need to do to accomplish my goals. I have learned this last year that I have some emotional issues that are making weight loss a real challenge. The last two months I have been meeting with a counselor and working on those issues. I feel real good about this year being the year I see my results.

I have an appointment with my family doctor Jan. 13 to get the results of lab work to see whe...

A good weigh in

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:14:18 EST

I had a weight loss on the scale yesterday. I am excited about that. I am working on a new neighborhood challenge. In which my goal is to leave my current 280 pound range and get to the 270 pound range. I am going to do this by Jan. 29, 2010.

To make this happen, many of you who follow me on my blogs know that my family and I have recently started eating only whole foods. We eat single ingredient foods. No added preservatives. No high fructose corn syrup. That is a biggie for me. ...

One week eating real food.

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:41:36 EST

So we have been eating only whole foods no boxed foods since 12-12. Well all of us except my son Alex. He is still very against the whole idea. The biggest challenge I am having is bread. Bread is a big change from gummy, gummy white bread to sandpaper. I am AMAZED at how many breads have high fructose corn syrup in them. I really don't want to have to bake my own bread. I don't have the time for that and it just doesn't stay shelf stable for long. Cereal is another challenge. Most of them ha...

Hubby is all on board. UGH!!

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:33:52 EST

Monday Dec. 7 I talked to my husband about changing what we eat to only whole foods. Not so much processed foods. At first he really dragged his feet. This weekend he surprised me and told the kids we were having a family meeting about food. I looked at him and said "Huh, about food?"

We are eating the processed food we have in the house and then going to eat more fruits and veggies and less processed food. I never really thought he would be on board with this. Now I am a little sc...

Making a lifestyle change a habit

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:07:32 EST

I am logging my food today. I have such a hard time with this. I know that each day I do it I cement it in my brain as a good habit forever. My challenge is getting to the point where it is a habit.

It really is beyond the point of I don't like to exercise and that I don't like the taste of fruits and veggies. I just need to make these healthy changes or I will die sooner than later. I know that sounds extreme but if what the doctor suspects is true that is the path I am on. I don...

Some big changes need to come

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 16:10:12 EST

I have always been considered healthy even though I am overweight. This morning I went to the doctor because of some sinus issues. She is concerned about blood sugars and high blood pressure. I have a physicial scheduled in January to see if these are real issues. I was always able to rationalize my weight as long as it didn't affect my health in a major way. I am seeing now that in reality has been affecting my health a long time. I just didn't want to see it. That way I didn't have to take ...

New discoveries

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 09:42:14 EST

This weeks assignment from the counselor is to get in some exercise even just 15 miuntes a couple times this week. I am going to go this evening.

I was eating good yesterday until the craving for some chips and dip hit. I logged them on the tracker. Ouch. The rest of the day I made good choices.

I definitely do better when I eat and cook at home. It helps with my budget and with my weight loss. I am not always keen on cooking. I would much rather hit a restaurant. I need...

A visit to a counselor.

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 18:29:10 EST

Wednesday I went and saw a counselor who among other things deals with weight loss and obesity issues. I know that at times, I have not always pulled my weight in this weight loss journey. I also know that other times, I did everything I knew humanly possible to loss this weight. Some times I have felt great on this journey and other times I have felt totally defeated.

I want to win this journey. To do that I have come to the conclusion that there are plenty of things eating me. I ...

A plan

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:57:44 EST

Thanksgiving is over. The day went well. The family issues were there in the background. Got a call from my Dad today telling me "I need to try to get this to work out. I am the oldest afterall." Same old tale. I will be seeing a counselor about these issues. They have taken up way too much of my time and thoughts and I need some help in deciding what is healthy and what is not.

I also did some digging online today and found some more direction on my weight loss. I now have a plan...

A breather and thanksgiving wish

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:43:26 EST

I am taking a break from weight loss this week. I am not blowing it and pigging out but I just need some time to let the dust settle. Saturday 11-28 I will be back on with a new game plan. Christmas is too short of a goal. I am thinking of shooting for the Super Bowl as my next personal challenge. Some things in my personal journey have become quite clear this week. That helps me on my weight loss journey because the two really are holding hands.

I wish every one a very blessed and...

Thanksgiving challenge wrap up

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:59:25 EST

Ok so I didn't meet my Thanksgiving challenge. Here is how I did.

My weight tracker is tracking my goal to lose 20 pounds by Thanksgiving. My challenge goal weight is goal is to be 273.4 pounds!! To accomplish this I need to lose just shy of 2.25 pounds a week for the duration of the challenge.

Start of my Thanksgiving challenge weigh in 9-18-09-- 293.4
9-25-09--287.6 - 49.6% body fat = 5.8 pounds lost!!
September monthly weight loss goal=2.25 pound loss