03/07/2011 11:22
Finally Broke the Curse...
YEAH! I finally broke that plateau that I have been hovering on for God only knows how long. Amazingly enough, it was on a week where my diet was so-so and I didn't get any gym time because I had a cortisone injection in my elbow and my ortho doc made lifting off-limits and he didn't have to tell me to avoid krav maga because there was no way I could punch and throw elbow jabs with a red, painful, swollen elbow. It was also the week I had strep throat and another bout of bronchitis with it, so I pretty much stayed in bed if I wasn't at work. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked to step on the scale and see that I had LOST weight, HIT my 10% goal of 230#s...and then passed it by 2 #s! Whoo-hoo! I was in such disbelief that I actually got back on about a dozen more times to make sure it wasn't a fluke or the way I was standing on the scale! LOL
This weekend, the Arnold Fitness Expo was in town, so my brother and I spent the weekend hanging out there. It was crowded as could be, but it was a great chance to taste a bunch of nutrition drinks and bars, reinforce that no matter how hard I try, I really can't stomach the taste of any of them, and get some motivation and inspiration to hit new goals. I got a couple of free diet and exercise books while I was there and I'm thinking that I need to change up my eating plan. I'm finding it difficult to stick to the new WW points plus system. I agree whole-heartedly with the nutrition science behind the new system...it really makes sense. Where I start to have issues, and I've heard this from others, is that not only is it more complicated (maybe this is because those of us that have been lifetime WW dieters have the old system memorized...I can recall bitching about that when I 1st started points years ago)...but my main issue is that it leaves you hanging when you go somewhere and you're lucky to know the calorie content of an item. Since WWPP took out the calorie element to encourage you to eat foods with better nutritional content, it kind of leaves you hanging in a situation where a restaurant may only give you a calorie count. IDK I'm not sure where to go with that right now and my future with WW is hanging in the balance. There are so many diets out there that it makes your head spin. I'm a medical professional, so I tend to be fairly analytical of diets and would rather stick with a tried and true, clinically proven diet like WW as opposed to a fad diet.
For the moment, I'm re-evaluating the contents of my kitchen, analyzing the times of day and moments when my diet goes horribly wrong...shocking that it's usually after being starved for 12 hours and diving in when I get home, I'm stressed, or getting ready to start my period. Phentermine seems to be losing its magical hold on me. I take it, have energy (love that), but it doesn't seem to be helping the appetite when I need it most. I need to talk to my doctor about that. I think it's about time for my 3 month vacay from it anyway. On the up side, it has helped me drop almost 30 #s during a hard winter when my physical health was keeping me from doing it on my own, so I can't complain TOO loudly! The good thing about going to something like the Arnold Fitness Expo is the freebies and discounts, I got a free book called Body By Design, and 2 discounted books: The Eat Clean Diet Recharged and The Paleo Diet. My trainer is a disciple of the Paleo Diet, but I've heard great things about the Eat Clean Diet. My main search right now is trying to find something that I can stick to in a life like mine and it will meet the needs of my hubby and brother, who are big foodies and I have to cook for them, too. Hubby hates anything healthy, is a major gourmand and of course, he complains that he weighs a whopping 180#s. My brother works out a million hours a day and eats like a horse, eats healthy, but wants protein, protein, protein. Hubby is only here part time since he is still living most of the time in Detroit finishing his residency. When he's here, he wants to eat out. He wants to eat out at nice restaurants. Nice restaurants DO NOT cater to the dieter. It's hard to say no to yummy foods. Hubby LIKES my cooking, but he doesn't want me living in the kitchen when he only sees me a couple of times a month. SO....my search continues for a diet that will allow me to live normally and not have to be in isolation from my guys.
I need to be better about logging my food again. I have my LiveStrong app on my iPhone. I love it. I've just been unorganized lately. Being sick, trying to keep up with everything by myself since my brother is not inspired to ever help me under ANY circumstance (he can work out at the gym for 4 hours at a time, but 15 minutes of helping me with chores kills his "bad knee."), hubby will help, but he's not here and when he is, I feel like I need to drop everything to give him 100%...in the meantime, I feel like my house is out of control, my parent's house needs to be sorted through and either sold or rented, and I'm so damn busy taking care of everyone else, that I fall out of the picture. I think I"m giving up other people's bullshit for Lent. This whole Wonder Woman act is getting old and overwhelming.
I'm finally feeling better as far as my health goes. Strep is gone, bronchitis is gone, elbow feels better. I'm going to physical therapy today for my elbow to learn some exercises to strengthen my arms so I can get rid of this tennis elbow. If this weather would let up, I'd really like to dig my bike out of the garage and get outside and play since I haven't gotten to enjoy playing outside in years: 2004-2007, I was working like a mad woman to pay off bills that my ex left me; 2008-2009, I was stuck in school and dad was sick...2010, I was stuck in a cast. I'm ready for some sunshine! I haven't been on vacation in years and I can't tell you the last time I got to go outside and enjoy myself. Of course, I can't think of the last time I got to enjoy myself without feeling guilty because I should be doing something like cleaning house, etc. It would be really nice if my brother would start pulling his weight. I've tried everything imaginable to try to motivate him to help me. He thinks I'm a nagging bitch and usually tunes me out. It's getting old. Mom did everything for him because he was her baby. Now I have a 31 year old man who is strong and capable of helping out who would prefer to sit on my couch and watch tv all day when he is here, or go out clubbing on the weekends. He's taking advantage of the fact that I've always been responsible big sis and I think he thinks that I am happy having no life and not getting to do anything but serve everyone else. GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
Oh well, enough complaining. It's getting me nowhere fast and only making me mad. Spring weather has got to be moving in soon and Bethany's plan is to start detoxing...starting with my house and my parent's house. I can't stand to live like this anymore and it's affecting the rest of my life...and there is going to be a certain brother who is going to be really upset when I start throwing out whatever I deem as trash and giving the rest to charity if he doesn't start pitching in. If he won't listen to my words, maybe my actions will get his attention. If it's not trash, don't throw it on the floor or in my way! Humph! Next on the agenda is to stop letting other's drama get in the way of my happiness. I simply do not have the capacity to shoulder other's issues anymore, especially when they are not doing anything to change their situations. I have enough problems to take care of myself. I'm giving up my second job. I'm spending my days off focusing on what matters to me. Yes, for Lent, I'm giving up other people's bullshit. It's fattening and causes high blood pressure.
So here's to Lenten Give-ups! LOL