Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Diet Update 07.22.14

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!!!

Friday, June 6, 2014

My Goodreads Account - Books I'm CURRENTLY Reading

kamikazekahlua's currently-reading book montage

A Bend in the Road
Color Me Grey
Criminal Minds: Sociopaths, Serial Killers, and Other Deviants
Dying to Survive: Surviving Drug Addiction
The Executive's Decision
How To Lose 10 Pounds In A Week - The Ultimate 7 Day Weight Loss Kick Start
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children


kamikazekahlua's favorite books »

My Goodreads Account - Books I WANT to Read

kamikazekahlua's to-read book montage

3 a.m.
The Addict: One Patient, One Doctor, One Year
Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love and Myself
Alex Cross Series by James Patterson
April Shadows
Bad Cat: 244 Not-So-Pretty Kitties and Cats Gone Bad
Bittersweet Dreams
Black Cat
Broken Flower
Broken Wings
Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption
Cat
Cats for Dummies
Celeste
Chasing Sunsets
Child of Darkness
Christopher's Diary: Secrets of Foxworth
The Classmate Murders
Cloudburst
A Cold Day For Murder


kamikazekahlua's favorite books »

Thursday, June 5, 2014

My Goodreads Account - Books I've Read

kamikazekahlua's bookshelf: read

1st to Die
2nd Chance
3rd Degree
4th of July
The 5th Horseman
All That Glitters
Annie's Baby: The Diary of Anonymous, A Pregnant Teenager
The Basketball Diaries
The Beach House
Beach Road
A Bend in the Road
Binding Ties
Blue Rubicon
Body of Evidence
Bridesmaid Lotto
Brooke
Butterfly
By Nicholas Sparks: The Notebook
Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul:  Celebrating Pets as Family with Stories About Cats, Dogs and Other Critters
Chicken Soup for the College Soul: Inspiring and Humorous Stories About College


kamikazekahlua's favorite books »

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Online Quizzes - Chicago PD/Fire...

So, decided I'd shake things up and post my online quiz results from today on my blog rather than Facebook (and the link to post on Facebook was void anyway). It was to see which Chicago PD and Chicago Fire character you're the most like. I wrote my thoughts first and embedded the results & the character's personality information after. :) At least I can say I blogged recently...lol!

Chicago PD - so this was surprising. Voight is the bad guy...seriously! Dude went to f'ing jail last season on Chicago Fire! Shocking that he got to stay on the force. But, what it has to say about his personality is actually true...so I have to give credit for that one.

Chicago Fire - this one fits me PERFECTLY! And having seen the show and what Matt has gone through - I can totally relate. This one, I get much easier than I do the Chicago PD (even though in the end, I agree).