With so much weight to lose, its hard to not get frustrated at how slowly the scale is moving in the right direction. But, I am not in this just to change my shape, or my size, I am in this to reclaim my health. Or at least that’s what I tell myself when I hear the call of naughty nibbles.

Today is day 19 of being on the straight and narrow and honestly so far so good. I am not obsessing about calories, just trying to eat smaller servings of healthier fare with a much heavier focus on fiber, fruits, and vegetables. (My digestive system is complaining about this, believe you me)

The original smoothie I was drinking for breakfast went through a couple of changes.  I tried adding spinach leaves for a while, but found it got watery too fast.  Then I decided to cut its calorie count, so I would have more wiggle room the rest of the day.  Right now my smoothie is 1 cup of water, 2 cups of frozen fruit (give or take a couple of stray berries, cherries, or peaches), and a scoop of protein powder.

This, and an almost daily diet coke (for the caffeine I need so desperately), carries me through happily until lunchtime when I eat about 1 cup of whatever I have handy for lunch (this week it has been Jasmine rice, and homemade (and vegetarian) Indian food).

As a snack I eat 2 or 3 dried apricots, a mini box of raisins, and a couple of fresh strawberries (or baby carrots depending on what’s in the fridge).

For dinner I eat whatever I’m feeding the family.  But the focus is on a lot of vegetarian dishes (like pasta with mushroom sauce) or other kinds of lighter fare (like tonight’s cod and shrimp with vegetables).  But I focus on only having one small serving and enjoying every bite.

Snack is pretty much a thing of the past.  A couple of times Gamer Dude and I have shared some Guiltless Gourmet tortilla chips and salsa.  A few times I’ve had fat free yogurt with some honey on top.  But, generally I just don’t have anything at all.

Almost 3 weeks in and I haven’t really cheated.  I haven’t felt deprived.  I’m beginning to think I can actually stick to it this time around.

Yea me!

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:diet, dieting, weight loss

As of this writing my only celebration is my continued journey on reclaiming my health.

GamerDude and I had our follow up appointment today with our GP.  This is the summary.

• We have to go in on May 21 for repeat blood-work and then a week later to review results.
• GamerDude has until our next appointment to get his cholesterol and blood sugar down or he is joining me on the medication bandwagon.
• My blood pressure remains high, although taking a few deep breaths allows him to get a reading in the safe range.
• My hormonal blood work shows that I am still not in menopause despite the removal of my ovaries 5 years ago – proving the presence of an ovarian remnant – and explaining why my pain is creeping back up to pre-hysterectomy levels.
• The scale moved a couple of pounds in the right direction since we were last there 6 weeks ago.
• My Prozac dose was increased.
• I have a script for some kind of steroidal medication to deal with some scalp eczema I’ve been self-treating unsuccessfully for the last year and a half.
• Our dietary changes were all approved with the exception of flax seed.

My goal is to try and lose 15 pounds before we go back, stick to all of my healthy eating changes, and maybe even get in to see my gynecologist.

On the way home I ran in to the health food store and bought more fat free yogurt (I am starting to live on the stuff) and picked up an unflavored and unsweetened soy-based protein powder to use with our shakes.  Not only will this trim a bit more cholesterol from our diets, but it will trim a bit more sugar from GamerDude’s as well.

Other than that, its just another day in Mama Kelly Land.  I am keeping my fingers occupied with my super secret side project (to be revealed, hopefully, on June 1) and my brain busy trying to convince myself that my health is worth the extra money at the grocery store, the extra effort, and the loss of potato chips and bacon-horseradish dip.

I plan on spending the rest of the weekend doing my usual cooking, some additional cleaning and de-cluttering, watching TV with my girls, and probably drop the car off for repairs.

Happy Ostara one and all!! May the budding earth and returning warmth brighten your hearts and lighten your spirits.  May you each be truly blessed.

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:diet, health, life, Ostara

… but the health food store sure can!

Tonight, I dropped the girls off at Tae Kwon Do and dashed over to the neighboring shopping center where there is a health food store. I am determined, one way or another, to reclaim my health and as we are just about a week before Ostara (and more importantly a few days ahead of Gamer Dude’s monthly check) it seemed a fitting time to start making some major changes in what I’m putting in my mouth each day.

I bought a bunch of supplements. Green tea and chromium to boost my metabolism from its present slow as a slug rate. I plan to (hopefully) be able to have the caffeine in the green tea replace my morning coffee (and the fat and chemicals it contains). An omega 3-6-9 supplement for heart health. Nature’s Plus – Animal Parade Kid Greenz since with my digestive issues (no gall bladder and bowel adhesions) often cause any intake in greens to cause an increase in pain.  And I finally broke down and spent the money on supplements I can found in my research several months ago (Nature’s Plus – Source Of Life Green/Red Bilayer Tabs) because they contain all kinds of trace levels of whole foods.

I also bought some fat free strained Greek yogurt (love this stuff!), local honey (to help the allergies), an acai-pomegranate-cranberry juice blend, and some whey protein powder.  The latter two will be used to make smoothies for breakfast every morning along with frozen and fresh fruit I have to buy tomorrow at my supermarket.  I also picked up raw almonds (a few a day for “good fat”), Guiltless Gourmet Blue Corn Organic Baked Tortilla Chips, and some ingredients for some dishes I’m making this coming weekend.

In other news, GamerDude and I are talking again about a home business idea we came up with 5 years ago and, right now, this is looking like not only do I have to get off my tail and start blogging more regularly here again, but I am going to have a whole new blog/website to get up and running too.  Thus, my motivation for jumping on the bandwagon with both feet and trying to get myself on the path to wellness.  On the bright side, this probably means I’ll be getting a new laptop sooner as opposed to later.

Finally, my thanks to those who took the time to leave kind words on my last post, or who have held me and my family in your thoughts. Words alone cannot express how much it means to me.  The wonderful thing about the Internet (as was summed up in a recent episode of House) is that no one ever has to be alone again.  All of you …  every day … keep me from feeling alone …. and I love and bless you for it.

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:diet, health, life, supplements