All Or Nothing? August 17, 2009

I read an article one time with a comment by a person who is pro-choice. That person said, basically, if the pro-life movement wasn’t so “all or nothing” many types of abortions *might* very well be illegal. Is that a good point?

However, this post isn’t about abortion. It’s about food.

I am struggling with losing weight. Ok, well, I lose about 5-7 pounds and then bounce right back up the scale the next week. My body is liking this extra 25 pounds. I wish I was the kind of girl who could throw up her hands and say “so be it” and get on with my life wearing double digit pants sizes.

But, I’m not.

And, I am not looking to be the next bulimic or anorexic walking the runways either. I just want to be healthy. I want to be strong. I want to feel well again.

I have a couple of things against me. My knee. My foot. My baby. My appetite.
Alright, more than a couple.
You get what I’m saying though. Obstacles.

I can’t exercise like I want to. Physically, it is impossible right now.
I can’t diet like I used to. I am nursing a growing 7 month old baby boy and he is hungry a lot. That means I am hungry a lot and so I need to eat a lot.

However, I can exercise. I’ve been doing Pilates and lifting light weights off and on for about 2 or 3 weeks. I’ve been sick, though, too. And so it’s a snail’s pace until I am well again. But… exercise is good no matter what form it takes. It is much better than doing nothing.

Diet though. The one I love better than all others is the South Beach Diet. I tried to get back on that wagon a few months ago and almost fainted one day. Then I got a visual migraine that lasted an hour and prompted me to call my husband and warn him that I may need him to come home so I could go to the hospital. That scared me. So, I resumed my normal eating habits and all is well. It’s apparent that I needs me carbs.

What then?

Has anyone ever seen a fat vegetarian?

I am considering becoming a part-time vegetarian. I wouldn’t be doing it for the animals. That’s for sure. Who flippin’ cares about cows or chickens? Ok. Some people do. Maybe a lot of people do. I don’t. Dumb smelly animals to me. So, y’all know it’s not that.

But, I love vegetables. I even love veggie burgers and fake chicken made from tofu. I like tofu just sauteed in with some veggies a la Chinese restaurant style. Sprouts… yum! Lettuce… yum! I can make a mean dinner w/out any meat just using what spices I keep on hand regularly and a little neutral tasting coconut oil. MmmMmm Good!

Seriously. That all sounds good to me.

Does being a vegetarian have to be all or nothing? If I eat some fish a couple times a month or have a hot dog at a birthday party does that make me a vegetarian misfit? Like I’ll be expelled from the vegetarian club? Somebody will come hit me upside the skull with a wet noodle for breaking the laws of vegetarian?

I think I want to become a part-time vegetarian. What could it hurt?

Have you ever considered
being a vegetarian? Do you
know anyone who is?
Talk.

Blogger Fitness Challenge February 18, 2009

Check-in week 1.

I didn’t do as good as I intended this week. My mother-in-law had her wisdom teeth pulled and so she’s not been here helping. I knew she was helping a lot and keeping me sane, but I didn’t realize how much until a week without help. But we’re doing fine and my house isn’t the disaster I thought it would be. I’m even caught up on laundry. Yeehaw!

Anyway…

I didn’t lose any weight. I did get out and walk twice and jumped on the trampoline with the kids twice. I also paid more attention to my veggie intake. Overall, I am satisfied with my week. I am cutting myself some slack since I just gave birth a mere 5 weeks ago and had major abdominal surgery in order to do that.

How did you do?
Check In.

Blogger Fitness Challenge February 11, 2009

Ready. Begin!!

Wednesday will be the weekly check-in day for our online fitness challenge.

For today just state your goals. If you want to include your stats, by all means go right ahead. There are a few rules, but they are NOT rigid. The ultimate goal is for us to be healthier and happier. That’s it. Bottom line. This is not a competition. It is a motivator. That being said let’s get to the “rules”.

• Check in once a week. You can tell how much weight you lost, how well you stuck to your diet plan, how much exercise you accomplished, what you’ve learned about yourself and your limits, how you pushed harder, how you quit diet soda and stepped up the water intake, how you feel, your victories, etc.
• If your goal is to lose weight (like me), then please post how much you lost. Initially you might lose quite a chunk, but then it will taper off. Realistically, 2 to 3 pounds a week is awesome.
• NO DIET PILLS. This is for our health. It’s not to end up in the ER with some sort of cardiac emergency because we were stupid and tried to lose like 40 pounds in 5 days. Be smart!!

Alright ladies and gentlemen — here’s to your health and mine. I’ll comment later on with my stats and goals. I’ll tell you this right now though — I am giving myself almost a full year. If I get there before Jaxon’s first birthday, awesome. But that’s my time frame. Good Luck!!

All Clear February 10, 2009

Saw the OB doc today. He was happy to see me and Jaxon again. He said the delivery and such was textbook, couldn’t have been easier, couldn’t have gone smoother. That made me happy.

All clear.

I can exercise and lift my children again and do all my normal daily life things. Four weeks and I’m tip top. Yeah!

Know what this means? I. Can. Exercise.

Did you read that?

Starting this Wednesday I will begin walking, Yoga, and Pilates. So that means I’ll do my best to check in every Wednesday with my progress.

Ready. Set. Let’s get in shape and lose some weight. GO!!!!!!!!!!!

Who is with me?

Hypo vs. Hyper November 13, 2008

Gestational Diabetes is nothing to mess around with. I’m sure any form of Diabetes is dangerous when the Diabetic ignores his or her diagnosis and diet. Right now, as I type this, I have gone hypoglycemic. It is a terrible feeling. Since I have started diabetic meds it is important that I eat regularly, including snacks, throughout the day.

I got home from picking up Brianna and within minutes I was shaking and dizzy. Uh oh. I took out the glucose meter to check my blood glucose levels. Before I left to go get her it was 99. That’s a check 2 hours after breakfast and it’s a good number. Just an hour later it was all the way down to 68. Not good. Hypoglycemia starts at 70 for a diabetic. I knew something wasn’t right.

Immediately I popped open the jar of mixed nuts and started munching. Then I got the strawberry yogurt out of the fridge and slurped it down as fast as I could. I’ll recheck my sugar levels in 5 minutes. If they’re still too low I’ll eat an apple or maybe a peanut butter cookie. I don’t want to spike it, but I also need to get a bit above 70.

It happens fast. If hypoglycemia is left unchecked a diabetic person can lose consciousness. That’s not in the mix for me. Who would help? It is important that I am aware of the signs at all times.

Hyperglycemia is a bit more dangerous as I understand it. This is what fits me in the category of Gestational Diabetic. When I don’t eat right and take meds my blood sugars are elevated. Two hours after each meal my magic number needs to be below 120. If I have 2 slices of pepperoni pizza, for example, my number is usually around 175 as a diabetic. That’s a major no-no. Pasta, potato, rice, anything high in carbs or white flour or sugar will all make my numbers escalate.

The problem with this, besides the dangers to my health, is that it could affect the unborn baby in one way or another. The most obvious is high birth weight. The other problems that are much more serious are low blood sugar in newborn infant, trouble breathing, and still birth.

So it’s a bit complicated and takes some getting used to. I don’t like checking my blood levels 4+ times a day. It hurts and it’s inconvenient. I’d rather eat a baked potato with my steak rather than a side of broccoli. I want the occasional sweet treat.

It’s not just my good health that is a concern. When the health of another person depends on you and what you eat and how you monitor “things” then a new determination surfaces and you gain a self-control you may not have realized you have.

Strangely, I’m sort of thankful I’ve had this disease 3 times now. I have learned so much about how the body uses food for fuel that the transition from being a pregnant diabetic to a non-pregnant woman who needs to lose 50+ pounds is smooth. This is why I love the South Beach diet. Its menu is centered around the glycemic index — a very important tool for a diabetic.

My number after all of that drama is 91. The nuts and yogurt worked like a charm and I feel back to normal now. Off to eat lunch — a healthy one of course.

Personal Trainer September 10, 2008

Over the years I have been an on and off fitness freak. When I decide to lose weight, I go for it. I get myself all motivated and there is no breaking my stride. Well, until something terrible derails me — like a miscarriage. But, aside from anything traumatic, I will exercise and eat right to a “T”.

I have never hired a personal trainer to coach me. I have done my research. I know what will keep me on track. I mix it up a lot. I try to make it fun and challenging enough that I won’t lose interest. There is nothing more boring to me than walking on a treadmill or doing whatever you call that on an elliptical trainer. Yawwwwn!!!

However, now that I am 35 I wonder if I should hire a trainer. By the time I am released for the type of physical punishment I like to put myself through, I will be much closer to 36. That and I will have birthed three children to boot. Flabber flubber. Ick!!

There is a local woman who likes to put the smack down on her clients. She’s expensive. She’s serious. So serious that it is rumored she will quit a client who doesn’t do what she says inside and outside of the gym. I have seen the results though. The two women I met who go to her are freaking beeee-uuu-teeee-ful!! Both are toned from neck to ankle. Their deltoid muscles made me drool. Their biceps and triceps gave me unbelievable envy (no underarm jiggle). Their thighs didn’t touch (imagine that!). Their stomachs were rock hard 6 packs. You could bounce a quarter off of their butts. Their calf muscles looked glorious. I was sick (I mean ill to the bone) with envy. I was sooo jealous I almost couldn’t function right. Oh, and they were BOTH 40+ years old. Mmm Hmm.

My sister-in-law used to go to this woman too. My sister-in-law is beyond gorgeous. She used to be a model. That was years ago, but the beauty hasn’t changed. She’s drop dead beautiful. Glamorous too. She could easily pass for red carpet Hollywood any day of the week. Anyway, she said this woman was so tough she couldn’t walk normal for days. She gave up.

I don’t know how extreme of a trainer I want. But I think I want to try. Most gyms have child care. I was thinking I could take Brianna to school and then take the other 2 to the gym with me while I work out. Then I could pick her up afterwards. That would give me about 2 hours to get a good workout 5 days a week. Perfect! I’d have the weekends off.

So have any of you ever hired a personal trainer? If so, what was your experience? Do you recommend one?