It's been a little over ten months since the hurricane in Florida. One heck of a year looking back, it's hard to believe how much has changed.

Things I lost and gave up were my job, my home, a very unhealthy relationship with a sibling, and smoking.... although my addiction to nicotine continued with nicorette lozengers until two months ago.

Things I've gained... new perspective on life, self esteem as far as not accepting my former role of being a doormat and punching bag, dignity, self respect, new opportunities as far as travel and occupation,,,


And.... 28 pounds

This morning I still felt bad about this. I went away over the last two days and cried because I looked like a cow in the cute little outfit I wanted to buy.

The weather here in Northern Michigan is cold and damp, being over weight makes it even more difficult and painful to my bones.... they aren't happy right now and neither am I.

I made a comment in a post this morning about having gained weight. It reminded me of the past year and all that has happened and how far I have come since then. The obstacles and odds I over came to be where I am today. So I accumulated a little baggage I hadn't intended on, but today I can proudly say it's not emotional baggage... I'm finally free of that.

Now however.... It's time to get "Back on Track" physically and let go of the physical baggage I've been lugging around.

I'm hoping creating a post for incentive, support, and a little help/suggestions will help me to stay on track and stick with it. My goal is to loose at least 20 pounds by November... more is possible and preferably.

Right now I am in a lot of pain... my joints, muscles, feet, and hands hurt all the time. Bike riding intensifies the pain, so walking is better, but then my one foot starts causing me intense pain. It's very frustrating, but I'm determined to do it and get healthy again.

Anyone else who wants to join in with getting back on track, jump on in and lets do this.

Life throws curve balls all the time and once in a while..just once in awhile. it throws you life changing curve balls. From reading your post you deserve a lot of credit for enduring what you did and a life changing curveball.

I wish you best and I know you have the fortitude to reach your next goal

Thanks greeneyes, I appreciate what you said. I know there are plenty of people out there who have had even harder curve balls thrown at them. Maybe some are even here on Mingle2. Hopefully this thread will help others as well who maybe aren't quite so happy with their situation in life.

Good luck, River.

Thanks klc. I saw the doctor a little over a month ago concerning my hands. He said it was carpal tunnel, gave me a high dose of aleve and wrist/hand braces. But it's more than that. I may have a pinched nerve in my neck and have a hard time moving after I've sat for a while.

I have an old wound on my foot, a hairline fracture that wasn't properly cared for when it happened years ago. So that ends up aching every now and then... plus I have a bunyon on the same foot.

Lol, I feel like I'm falling apart. The extra weight definitely isn't helping. I remember back in 2001 when I was 190-200 pounds I could barely move in the winter time... lived in Northern Michigan. After dropping 65 pounds in 6 months, I felt so much better and most of those aches and pains were gone.

My whole life has been about balancing my emotions and over coming emotional trauma and other psychological stuff. I felt grateful on some level that I at least didn't have to endure physical pain on a daily basis. I can honestly say now that I have empathy for those who do have constant daily pain... it's not fun to live with.

Mine I know will be eased once I loose the extra weight, at least most of it.

I'll check into MSM, thanks.

I was thinking of some kind of lubricant, lol. Engines work better when they are greased, so it makes sense to me that my joints will work better if I give them the proper supplement that adds lubrication God that sounds so funny

Thanks cat!

You are welcome

For me it is my grandkids and my sons that made me strong.. when I really needed it

1 1/2 months ago I had emergency open heart surgery and I am still recovering. Getting stronger every day. I came as close to death that a person could. Valves, Arteries.. everything, taken out and replaced. The pain I endured was like not other pain I ever felt and it was the knowledge that there are people who really love me that wanted me better. That is the strength I used during those long sleepless nights.

Sometimes just knowing you are loved and needed is the best medicine and the best incentive to push on.

Yes it is... I'm glad you made it through that, for your sake as well as your family's.

Thank you for sharing your story

Some things you might consider;

~ people who quit smoking often do gain weight.
~ people who are stressed out a lot often don't gain weight.
~ compulsions can change. In rehap I learned about the nature of compulsions in over-eaters and alcoholics and they warned us that removing one compulsion can cause another to manifest unless you get control of the complusive thinking. The book "Search For Serenity And How To Acheive It" by Lewis F. Presnell helps with understanding compulsive nature.
~ not only how much you eat but what you eat has a lot to do with weight gain as well. I posted a video that is very informative here a lil over a year ago http://mingle2.com/topic/534390 Here is the original site http://nucific.com/3harmfulfoods/?gclid=CMu2lazw29QCFVE8gQodqaMHTw

~ I'm not sure how old you are but age also plays a part in how weight is gained and lost.
~ attitude can also help or hinder you.
~ pain also play a major role in weight gain because feeling pain prevents you from pushing the burn.
~ in the meantime, wear clothes that are comfortable and make you look good because looking good and feeling good go hand in hand.

Remember one thing, if nothing else, some of us like you just as you are.

Thanks Tom

I'm still watching the video, very long but very informative!

Amen.

Yeah, I just watched it again to see if it was on point and it is.
I see some of me in it too but it doesn't explain my lack of appetite or the constant pain in my abdomen (its medical).

Still great info for anyone battling weight problems.

Thanks Blake and klc

It makes a lot of sense to me where I'm concerned. I kind of figured she was going to try and sell something at the end though. I will do some research on the info I wrote down and check more natural ways other than taking a pill.

The supplement isn't a bad idea, just that once you start it you pretty much have to continue and there may be natural food sources that can produce the same effects.

Hi river .. have you thought about swimming .. great for sore joints, fat burning and muscle tone ., a heated pool can be therapeutic in cold weather . Not sure if the place you work has a pool ., gym or sauna . Yoga and Pilates both really relaxing and fun with a friend .

Just remember exercise is accumulative ., you do not need to go hard out . We are doing a step programme at work to raise funds for cerebral palsy . We wear a pedometer and the goal is to do ten thousand steps a day .. amazing how much you move without realising it .

If you can't access a gym ., you can make your own weights ., filling a lite bottle with water or smaller bottles with sand . Greet for toning your arms and shoulders . Resistance bands are cheap to buy and can help with muscle tone ., there are so many free online routines that you can do to suit your day and time .

The quickest change you can make is to reduce your carbohydrates .. and eat more protein . (Providing you have no kidney or medical issues ) the Atkins diet was one of the first diets to promote this type of weight loss and it has scientific backing that it reduces diabetes and promotes weight loss . Look at your eating pattern . Try to avoid eating late in the evening ., if you do ., avoid carbs ., choose fibrous vegetable carbs rather that starchy carbs like rice , bread , pasta, potatoes . There are modified low carb diets where It is okay to have starchy carbs but they are eaten before midday and portions are small .. Fruit is also limited ., yes it is healthy but is full of fructose which the body converts to glucose . it does the same with carbohydrates .

As already mentioned .. I think a food diary is a good place to start . Knowing what your baseline calorie intake is important to help decide what mine work best for you . You may only need to make some simple changes . A slow weight loss that can be maintained as part of your lifestyle is the best goal

Thanks Blondey... that helps a lot. The diet you spoke of is more like what I did before and was part of the lifestyle change I made that kept the weight off and kept me feeling healthy. Unfortunately and obviously I didn't stick with what works.

The closest pool is at the Grand Hotel. I can arrange to go there once a week for a couple hours. It's only $15 to use it so that's not bad. I have the lake but am unfamiliar with the currents and it's definitely NOT heated, lol.

No gym or sauna... actually Mission Point Spa might have a sauna, I'll call them today. Most places you have to be staying there to use their facility. Mission Point and the Grand Hotel allow the public to use some of their services but not all.

Yoga is once a week, I just have to find out where. The brochure isn't clear about the place or time.

There is a trail that I can walk if I'm able to get away. It has 205 steps as part of it. And there are a couple others on the Island that are around 150. The biggest challenge with that is getting away from the Inn.

Love the idea of resistance bands. I remember when I worked in PT as an Rehab Tech we used those with the patients. And I will check online programs. I have down time at the Inn, just can't leave unless all the guests arrive. Some days they don't arrive until 7 or 8 at night so it's a lot of waiting.

I discovered yesterday that my kitchen is perfect for doing leg exercises. The counter tops are spaced just far enough away from each other that they can act like exercise bars or something to hold on to when doing leg lifts or squats.

I definitely think checking out a start up program will benefit me, that way I don't over do it and end up quitting because I've exhausted myself. Thinking back to the days working in physical therapy, they always started out slowly and built up. I have a tendency to over do it and stop short of the results.

I'll keep a diary this week of my intake. I've already made a few changes but will still document so I can see the actual intake and what needs adjusting.

Thanks again!

I wish you and anyone else who joins in all the strength in the world


You got this!

Thanks Johnny

Yeah, you can tell she's got to sell something for the company that sponsors her video but the info leading up is pretty good.
I remember a late-night commercial that talked about acidity and alkalinity that made sense too.
Most of us just don't understand our own bodies.
We are media-hyped into believing that things are good for us just so the products get bought.
Another thing that people don't realize is just how much sugar the ingest.
As we get older, our metabolism slows down and type 2 diabetes is common.
Next dr visit have doc check your A1C levels. Blood sugar rises and falls but A1C gives kinda like an average reading. If its high, you may be diabetic and not even know it because your body compensates.

Swimming is really good.
Plus, you can check around and see if there are any Aqua Zumba groups in your area. You can also do Zumba without water but water is more fun.
Another thing you might consider is power walking and power sitting.
Basically, you just tighten your muscle groups repeatedly. You can even do this in bed before you go to sleep. You pick a muscle and tighten it, then relax it and repeat. When you walk or sit you tighten your stomach muscles as if someone is about to punch you in the gut and you are getting ready for the punch.
Breathing exercises also help a lot in getting the clean air into your system for healthy cells to be properly oxygenated.

The most important thing you can do and already have is the will to make the change. The hard thing is to keep the focus.
Get some sticky pads and write yourself lil reminders.
Might help you keep your focus.

Thanks Tom!

I had my blood work done in March, it's all good. If anything I have more of a tendency to be hypoglycemic and have lower than normal blood pressure.

While I'm here on the Island, it's probably best to assume I am property bound and can't go anywhere other than a short walk to the store. My schedule is sporadic and pretty much every day I am expected to be available from 6am until 8pm, sometimes 9pm. I do get a chance to get away, but it's not guaranteed or consistent as to when or even if it will happen daily. Three more months and I get to leave :))

I can leave now or after putting in my notice, but I won't do that. If I want to get another seasonal job I have to complete the seasons I start or it won't look good. Plus it will put my employers in a really bad situation if I were to leave early.

Attitude and stress definitely play a role in getting healthy or maintaining health and weight loss and weight gain... This makes it more challenging since I can't stand my job on most days and am just trying to make the best of it and do the best job possible until I can get the heck out of here, lol. I would probably feel differently if I had a normal schedule :)

I like your idea about power sitting, hadn't thought of that. When I walk around the property and to the store, I do the power walk and tighten things up, it seems to help.

My living area is a common area as well for guests... sticky notes won't work, but maybe something that symbolizes my goal and is not an eye sore to the guests. Great idea, thanks!