~*Kamikaze Kahlua's Life*~

Diet update ~ 29lbs down ~ 22-32lbs to go

When I started a medication Feb 4, 2014 I noticed I was losing a little weight. This was no easy feat! In 2009, a dr put me on a sleep medication for 9 weeks. And for 9 weeks, he let me gain 5lbs/week, totalling 45lbs. And it didn't go away once I was off of that medication. No matter how I ate I stayed around that weight. So, this year when I started losing weight with the new medication, I started to make changes to my diet. First, better & healthier snacks. I tend to snack more than eat meals. Then in April, I gave up my energy drink habit. I only drank them because they taste good. They're actually an expensive habit as well. I went beyond that & have reduced my overall caffeine intake. Even get a grande decaf caramel frappuccino with extra drizzle (when I remember). Then I borrowed a blender from my aunt to make smoothies. I made them as often as I could knowing with my tight food budget daily would be tough. I was able to have them daily as dinner (they're 430 calories) in June. I should this month as well. I also eat chicken strips, yogurt, cheese sticks and occasionally Progresso pot roast or lentil soup or brown rice & black beans. I use the app My Fitness Pal. Snacks are Fiber One or Special K protein bars. I plugged in my goal weight & it said I needed 1400 calories a day. It just went down to 1350/day with losing 1lb/week. When you exercise you can put it in & get extra calories. I'm human, I still like my mint cookie crunch ice cream (120 calories per scoop) & white chocolate Magnum bars (250 calories). I do indulge in occasion. What can I say? ;)

I was mistaken by my BMI. I was reading the chart on the app wrong. It's close to "normal" but not quite there. I'm still technically "obese" by BMI standards. But once I lose the next 3lbs, I will have a 24.9% BMI making me fall into the "normal" range. Should happen within the next 3-4 weeks. Though I did make a decision to cure back in my carbs by giving up on my morning bagel. They accounted for 52g in carbs. So, *maybe* I'll drop the weight a lil faster.

I have no idea why I didn't think of this sooner! I have a dresser that is mostly storing various items, including my old work pants, capris, jeans & shorts I haven't worn since 07, which happens to be the last time I showed my full body online. So, today, I went "shopping" in that drawer. I now have a second pair of jeans, khakis, "black" khakis, capris that I can roll up so they don't look hideous on me as they usually do on my long legs & shorts that aren't so short they reveal all when I sit down. I also tried on my old Adidas basketball pants that I wore in HS, college & beyond. I don't know if I stretched the elastic over the years with the weight gain but when I put them on, they literally fell to the floor. They have no way to stay up on me. I've offered them to a friend who is working through her own diet journey.

At the dr today, she really saw the 29lbs I've lost. She's very proud that I've done this on my own, without help. (At one point we discussed seeing a nutritionalist.) And given so far it's been through only food modification. I take meds for cholesterol & triglycerides. I started fish oil which made a HUGE difference. I asked to check the levels & if still within normal limits if I could drop the meds & use my fish oil, diet & exercise for 3 months and recheck. That's what we're doing.

My next step is adding in yoga (my DVD is yoga for weight loss). I want to use it to build a little stamina (I know it won't do much) and help build core. And as much as I HATE the darn thing, getting on the elliptical. I don't care for the leg & arm movement as I find it awkward. However, it's at home AND it's free. It's been 5 years since I've exercised. I'm going to start with 5 minutes. From there add 2-3 minutes as tolerated. I'll eventually get the hang of it (even the whole arm/leg movement) and have a good stamina. This will also help my cholesterol further. Really hoping I can get good results in 3 months so I don't have to take an extra 2 pills a day.

The reason for the 22-32lbs left, dr wants to see 22lbs, my goal is 32lbs. It's still a healthy BMI of 20.4% when I checked. I may get to 22lbs (healthy BMI of 21.9%) & call it good. We shall all see. You know I will show you all the new & improved me!!!