Week 2 Results

I am so happy to be done with my two week starting plan. I went to the gym this morning and it was great. I had red cheeks when I left and my feet feel like they could fall off. Lol.

I've lost five lbs so far and 20 inches off my body!

1" off bra band
2" off my bust
7" off my waist!
.5" off my hips
4.5" off left leg
3.5" off right leg
1.5" off right arm

Looking forward to more inches to come off :)

Checking in

I just want to check in and document how awesome I did in week one. I stuck with my diet and stayed at or under 1500 calories. I allowed myself a cheat day per dr. Suggestion and I feel like a pregnant cow. I ate so much sugar! I cannot wait to get back to business tomorrow.

At one point I think I was eating just because I could! Not because I was hungry. I made myself eat the rest of my chocolate bunny even when my body was telling me to stop. I just can't trust myself to not eat it if its here. I don't think I need a whole cheat day. Im too extreme with it. I think a meal is going to be a better fit.

I took my measurements when I started and I can't find the paper I wrote on. But I did remember a few and I noticed I lost a couple inches already around my bust and waist. Veerry niicce. And 1.6 lbs. I'm also on my cycle so hopefully that changes.

I did notice today more headaches and sleepiness and irritation. Could be period or diet. I know I don't like how I feel or even how it really tastes. After I've been eating whole food n fresh fruit all last week the sweet stuff isnt even really sweet. So here's to another week hope my sugar detox isn't too bad. I can't wait to get back in the gym.

Ciao

Day Two

Day 2: I woke up this morning after having a glorious dream about a beautiful buffet of food. Like something out of Narnia or on the Hunger Games train. I am still getting headaches and low energy.
I have been struggling to have only 300 calories at meals so, in an effort to offset my feelings of failure I looked to see what my trusty fitness pal had to say about my calorie intake. They thought I should eat 1500 to lose 2 lbs a week. I think that's perfect! I still aim for 1200 but, if I go over I don't get angry at myself and throw in the towel. Its a little freedom built in for my psyche.

 Still focusing on low carb or no carb foods. I am getting the hang of it but, its still hard to re-train myself and my body. At lunchtime today we had some brats from HyVee. I ate mine bun-less and watched as Nathan ate two huge hunks of carb glory. I was totally jonesin' for that bread! I would have taken even just a morsel or the crumbs but, I refrained. Every time I want to quit and eat a loaf of bread or bake a cake I just remind myself that I lost my choice in eating carbs just as I did in drinking and this is for my own good. I abuse food and use it to numb my emotions and fill my God-sized hole. That is not the purpose of food, I'm sure you know that but, apparently I don't... yet. I am learning.

 I find myself wanting to eat something sugary to make me feel better, especially at night while relaxing while these headaches plague me. I will ask myself if i am hungry or just bored. If I truly am hungry I allow myself some popcorn or fruit. Where in my previous eating habits I would have raided Ethan's lunch snacks and eaten ice cream bars. Progress. I am trying to be easy on myself as I learn and not have hateful self talk. It's all a process.

I don't know how to end my posts. Fin.

Ketosis

What is ketosis?

Normally your body burns carbohydrates for fuel. When you drastically cut carbs, the body goes into a metabolic state called ketosis, and it begins to burn its own fat for fuel.  

When your fat stores become a primary energy source, you may lose weight.

After about 48 hours of this process, the brain starts burning ketones in order to more directly use the energy from the fat stores that are being depended upon, and to reserve the glucose only for its absolute needs, thus avoiding the depletion of the body's protein store in the muscles.

What are ketones?

Ketones are substances that are made when the body breaks down fat for energy. Normally, your body gets the energy it needs from carbohydrate in your diet. But stored fat is broken down and ketones are made if your diet does not contain enough carbohydrate to supply the body with sugar (glucose) for energy or if your body can't use blood sugar (glucose) properly.

This is so interesting to me. I googled 'low-carb diet headaches'  and this is what I discovered.
 It is the WHY of what my chiropractor is having me do. I must admit that today, DAY 1: was very hard. It was a mental difficulty more than anything. I do have a solid will power to stay the course but, these headaches are killing me. I did notice I get them AFTER I eat. usually if I eat fresh fruit then it kicks in. My doc told me fresh fruit was okay to eat since it's a natural carb and not processed.
Guess I just gotta hang in. I feel like today was the hardest day ever and I had low low energy. I am glad I made it through! I did go over my calories a bit because I ate an 8 oz chicken breast for lunch.. thanks Costco! ;-) but, every single thing I put in my body was healthy and low carb that is an accomplishment for me! I feel like I should have lost 20lbs today for all the effort that was required. I hope the weekdays go by faster with a busier schedule of chauffering kiddos around.

I took my measurements today to look back as my weekly progress reports. My doc said that I would notice more in inches than weight at first so, I am really excited to get some results. If it's this hard the rewards should be stellar I figure! Thanks for reading and offering support! It's amazing to hear words of encouragement from friends. Keep 'em coming this is one of the hardest things i've had to do in life.

Much Love.

Fresh Start!

It's been awhile since I blogged or shared my weight loss journey with the world. Part of me didn't want to cause I felt like I was setting myself up for disappointment. But, SO MUCH has happened this year that has brought me to this point. I am viewing this new blogging/ journey as a way for ME to keep a journal along the way. Because this time feels like THE time. Ya know?

I will give a brief recap of my struggles that have brought me to this point and then I will follow up with my plan of action.

A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a Pituitary Adenoma (which is fine and tiny) as well as showing signs of Pseudo Tumor Cerebri also known as Intercranial Hypertension. Basically what that means is that my body does not absorb the excess spinal fluid that the normal person does and so it increases the pressure inside my head around my brain. This causes headaches and can lead to vision problems. I get to see a team of doctors who check on me regularly and I have field vision exams every six months to make sure that I am not losing peripheral vision due to my swollen optic nerves. The optic nerves are swollen due to the pressure in my head. There is no known treatment or cause for PTC but, they do suggest if you are overweight or in my case Morbidly Obese (based on my BMI) that you get into a healthy BMI range and see if that helps things. Traditionally, they try a water pill called Diamox that is supposed to flush out the excess fluid in your system. I did not take well to it as it caused more headaches and made me lethargic. I worked out a deal with my Neurologist to let me try to lose the weight naturally in exchange for getting off the medicine. That was at the end of February (27) and it is now April(11) and I have nothing to show for it but, two weeks of tracking food and working out.

I started back to the gym two weeks ago and made it there 4 times each week and have been tracking my food in myfitnesspal. I saw my primary doctor this week and she was trying to push me into the direction of weight loss surgery. My neuro was also mentioning it since I would likely qualify for my insurance to cover it. I discussed it with a few close friends and my husband and decided that would be a last ditch effort. I really don't want it and would rather to do it naturally. Besides, I need to change my eating not just tighten a band around my stomach that makes me not eat over a 1/2 C of food. This whole discussion of surgery and lapbands and lap sleeves got me really thinking. It worked its way into my brain that this was SERIOUS. I couldn't avoid it anymore I can't pretend that those things happen to other people. Other people, larger than me get surgeries. I think in my mind I am not THAT big, I am not THAT fat. It's fine! so I have a belly.. But, I think having not just one but TWO doctors tell you surgery might be an option for you. That woke me up! and I am not going out like that. I have a distorted ego and my ego does not want to be a failure. I have overcome SO much in my life, I have literally been to hell and back a few times and THIS, this is gonna be what stumps me? What gets me and breaks me and ruins me? Oh hell no! I am not going out like that.

My doctor mentioned accupuncture could be used for appetite control since I am limited on what supplements I can take with my brain pressure. I got a hold of my chiropractor and found out that he does it! Today was Day 0. I had my first accupuncture and he has me set up on a low cal - 1200 and almost no carb diet for the next two weeks in conjunction with accupuncture 3 times a week for two weeks. I am at the end, I have the gift of desperation and I know that I have to do something! I trust my chiropractor and have been seeing him since pre-Ethan. I am gonna give this go. He did restrict me from exercise for the first two weeks since my body will be adjusting and I will likely be very tired. I am bummed cause I just got into my routine but, I get it and I am willing to do WHATEVER he says! I can do anything for two weeks! and I get a cheat day so, that makes it possible.

That's the gist of it. The plan is set into motion. I did eat pancake breakfast at Avery's school so that kinda shot today if i was doing the 1200 cals I would have 149 left for the day. Saturday will be my first day though I am trying to still eat good the rest of the day. I have a headache now and he said that would happen from low carb intake. Wish me luck and I will be keeping a regular diary of my days during this two weeks. If nothing else at least for a distraction or a place to vent. There may be some profanity , be warned! haha

Let's do this!