Downsizing Update Week {20}

Hi Friends,

I'm here during American Heart Month

To bring you my {20} week 

Downsizing Update

Here's what the numbers tell me today

Down - 46 pounds with 39 to go

Down - A total of 28 inches - Hard to believe

Also down a couple of dress/pant sizes

But more importantly

And the reason I agreed to add the information below

Is because my health is SO much better

I used to become short of breath often

I had heart palpitations in the evenings/at night

My cholesterol was 254

I was pre-diabetic

And, in general, I didn't feel well

In September at my regular well woman check up

Mr doctor 'gave me the what for'

And told me I needed to make changes

Or I would end up with many health issues

Related to my being obese

 Today, {20} weeks into making daily changes

I feel so much better

My cholesterol is down into the normal range

I'm not longer have any heart related symptoms

No nighttime indigestion or reflux

My BMI when from 36.9 to 30.6

Still in the obese range but certainly a lot 

Closer to overweight than before

And soon to be in the normal range

Although this is Not a paid sponsorship or advertisement

I wanted to add the following Heart Healthy Tips

From the American Recall Center

Do something Healthy for your Heart Today

 

And now,

The final sneak peek at my back yard mural

The base coats are about complete

I won't be adding anymore sneak peeks 

Until I complete the wall

Maybe....

Blessings To All

DownSizing Update ... So To Speak

It's been 8 weeks 

Therefore it's time for a downsizing update

Down 21 pounds

Down 11 inches

Happy to have survived Thanksgiving

Without too many indulgences

Enjoyed a Super Fun Day

With my siblings and mom

And a few of our kids

My brother is in town from Idaho

So this afternoon we will ALL hang out together

I think that means 23 of us :)

Have a super week

I start my December Daily Tomorrow

So looking forward to the Christmas Season

Blessings!!

 

Down Sizing

I'm on a journey

And I've kept it off of social media

But it's time to share

Weight was never an issue for me when I was younger

But after a complete hysterectomy at the age of 26

With the many adjustments of synthetic hormones

And other challenges I was facing at that time

I began to gain weight quickly

I've attempted various diets and programs

With some success but none of them were long lived

In the few years since Mark passed

I have allowed myself the pleasure of eating whatever I wanted

Whenever I wanted it with no real thought to the damage I was doing to my body

In recent months it has become more of a health issue

So, I decided, with Lots of prompting from my doctor, 

That I needed to make some Major changes

Thus, the Journey began

After some research, prayer and understanding my own needs

I decided to join NutriSystem

It's strict, well planned, and exactly what I needed

As sad as it may sound

I really needed someone (plan) to make the bulk of my decisions for me

 It has been easy

The food is good and I like what I am seeing

Today I begin my second month

What happened during the first 28 days

Downsizing

Pant size: down 2

Inches: down 7

Pounds: down 13

Ummm....Yes, I am one happy adventurer!

Why am I sharing now

The journey gets tougher as you go along

I rather love support and encouragement

I don't have my Mark around anymore to nudge me in the right direction

 So, once a month

I hope to chat and share here in hopes of being encouraged

And nudged toward my health goals

Next week I go for my annual lab work

I'm hoping to see a nice decline in my cholesterol

My blood pressure is already better (yay)

Thank you for allowing me to share

NOW

Here are a few photos of Halloween

A Few Sweet Visistors

My youngest and one of his buddies

Yes, they went out and came home with 

Waaay too much candy

 

K~Baby

 

K~Bel

 

K~Bug

 

My 3 Beautiful K's

Besides the fact that they came late

Had already been out for a couple of hours

Were rather tired and wired

They are still beautiful girlies!

And make the Nana's heart Smile

Weight Loss Wednesday

PLATEAU

In geology and earth science, a plateau, also called a height plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain.

In weight loss it is a area of the scale that also flat lines and is called Frustration. HA

In the photo above you can see the plateau areas surrounding the Grand Canyon.  We took this trip for my 50th birthday a few years ago.  I cannot believe I actually went out and stood on that cliff, I am so afraid of heights, yet I trusted Mark so much. 

I must learn to trust the Lord just as much. Learning to look to Him for my stability in life as well as my grief walk has been challenging but important.  I must also learn to trust Him in my health walk as well.  I've realized in recent months that I put a large portion of my trust in Mark which allowed me to lessen my trust in my Savior.  Don't get me wrong, I trust God with everything I am, yet, it was easy to find security in my Mark.

Now, it really is God and me!  In looking at this photo I see that there truly was not much security in our position, not much depth under out feet, and nothing to keep us from falling. At times in this health walk, I have found myself in that same vulnerable place, standing on the precipice of life and death, making choices to hold on tight to God or let go and allow myself to fall.  I'm thankful that when we fall or seemingly fail, God is NEVER too far to catch us:)

Though my weight loss has been minimal during this portion of my journey, I have learned lessons that will last a lifetime.  So, I keep forging forward, seeking the newness of each day, holding tight to the hand of my Savior and trusting in His grace.

I've added a Linky Tool and would love for you to join my by linking your healthy tips, recipes, and weight loss success stories here so we can all 'link' arms and help one another as we journey toward great health.

Weight Loss Wednesday #4

It is funny how when we are young and are waiting for a special day to arrive, we think it will Never get here.  And then as we age, it seems we cannot slow time down to even catch our breath.  So it is with my Weight Loss Wednesday posts.  How quickly the week passes and how slowly the scale moves.

No, I didn't really throw the scale in the pool last week but I wish I had.  I haven't lost a single pound during the past 3 weeks.

15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  Romans 7:15-18

As I ponder the scripture above, I find myself saying those exact words, "I don't really understand myself".  Not in all things of course, but in this area of my life, I struggle with doing what I KNOW will be healthy and beneficial and succumbing to the temptations around my world that are Very unhealthy.

So, I continue on, seeking His guidance and attempting on a daily basis to do what is right, healthy and good for my body, and at the same time trying not to beat myself up when I do err.

How about you?  How has your week gone?  Have you made any life changes that are helping you to become a Healthier You?  Please share!

Weight Loss Wednesday #3

It is true that my swimming pool is located only 4 feet from my bedroom window

It is also true that it would only take a gentle toss for my bathroom scale to reach the bottom of said pool

Enough said:)

With that in mind

I choose to make WLW a function of success

And not of failure

Instead of focusing on the scale and actual weight loss

I have decided to focus on two goals per week

Which I will work toward

Over the next week these will be my two goals

I am taking the above 2 lb each weights to the office

I will use them a couple of times per day

It will be healthy for me to take short breaks from long projects

To use these weights to help reduce stress

And strengthen my arms, shoulders and back

My second goal will be to reduce my soda/sugar intake

I am pre-diabetic

My blood sugar is high but not quite in the diabetic range

My plan is to Not allow it to reach that range

Drinking caffeinated drinks is not something that I ever do

However, Sprite has become a daily habit

Do you know how much sugar and how many empty calories are in a 20 oz bottle of Sprite?

Let's just be honest and say: A LOT

So, cutting out the Sprite this week is my main focus

Using the weights at work is my second focus

I am excited to see how God unfolds the week ahead

And I look forward reporting back next week

With my progress as well as another set of goals

AND...

Maybe I'll just get that scale out from the bottom of the pool

Join in if you have a tip or goal to share

I'd love to support you

Blessings for a healthy week!

Weight Loss Wednesday #2

I have not photo to share with you tonight!
It's been a busy week and I just ran out of time.

It is also true that my weight did not go down this past week.
Yet, I made some healthier choices and feel good about them.

Thank you for your great comments and encouraging words to my last WLW post.
How would you like to join me?

I am looking into adding Mr. Linky or one of those link up thingies.
What are your thoughts?

Would you link up and share your story?
How about recipes and health tips?

As I am being encouraged to get healthy
I would love to be an encouragement to many of you.

Please leave comments and let me know.
I sure would Love for you to journey with me.

One thing I did do this past week was to visit my PCP.
I have my labs done and just got the results back yesterday.

As they are not sitting in front of me I may not remember much
However, I do know that my:
Cholesterol was high, but not as high as it has been in the past (228 this week)
Glucose was high and I am still pre-diabetic
Vitamin D was quite low (16) should be more than 30

I'll be making more changes to my (poor) eating habits in the weeks ahead
And praying that in 3 months, when we retest, I will see some marked improvements in my numbers

I still need to make that appointment for my mammo ~~~
Ok ~ Ok ~ I'll do it soon!!!

So, that's my WLW update!
Please join me in becoming a healthy partner in life!!