Back to a Healthy Me

It’s Been Awhile

It has been a very busy past two months and now that things have settled down, I need to continue to share my journey. At this point, I’ve been able to steadily maintain my weight between 125-129 lbs since December. This is great since I have not been following my healthy lifestyle like before I did in the late part of 2011.

I still have cut down and have stayed away (a majority of the time) from processed food, food containing gluten and wheat. I have allowed myself to indulge but in moderation. What I have not had a chance to do is work out. I tried to the other day and I had a really bad asthma attack, so I have to find out what is going on to get that under control.

Anyway, I will keep moving along on my journey and will try to share what I can.

a year ago at this time…

I just finished organizing and throwing my company’s annual meeting and holiday party. Last year, during the meeting, we introduced ourselves and shared one “special” fact about yourself. Last year I shared that I bought P90x and haven’t used it in 2 years. Fast forward to this annual meeting…I shared that while I was on a project last year, I gained 25 lbs. Today, I’ve lost those pounds plus 10. I felt really great to share this wonderful feat. I stood on the scale and saw the number at 125!  I haven’t been this weight since I was 30 years old. 

Before our corporate event, one of our employees asked me how I lost all that weight and that I was an inspiration. That was very touching. So I’m going to continue to keep at my pace and share.

Giving thanks

As we walked around the WTC Memorial last week, I remembered walking through that area 10 years ago in February 2001.  George and I had a romantic getaway in NYC to celebrate his new job and we were newlyweds. This was his first time in NYC and we had an amazing time. 

Anyway, George and I took the subway down to Battery Park and made our way to WTC. I remember looking up between those two buildings in awe. But the place was dark, grey and desolate. There was no life, no energy at that time.  Maybe because it was a Sunday. George had his architectural moment of taking photos and appreciating the buildings. Then we walked up and were on our way to the Empire State Building.  We went up and again, looked out from the observation deck and looked at the Towers.  The view was breathtaking and we were able to appreciate it better from that vantage point.

Fast forward to 9/11/01.  I received a call from my friend at 8:00 am and she tells me to turn on the TV.  I’m sitting there and I see the 2nd plane fly into the other tower.  My mouth fell and I was stunned. I was about 7 months pregnant and George was on an overseas business trip in Europe. I didn’t know if he was in the air or how I was going to get in touch with him. Our world turned upside down that day like it did for many others. I was worried about my aunts that lived in New York.  I was worried about the people there and worried about how my husband was going to get home safe.

Now fast forward to the day before Thanksgiving Day 2011.  I am back in NYC with George but now with both our sons Maximus and Nolan. We are walking around the WTC memorial in the same place George and I walked around 10 years earlier. Where there were two large towers, now stood two pools of cascading waterfalls and names of people I didn’t know, but people nonetheless that I felt sadness for then and now. It was a sobering experience, yet, what was once an area that felt desolate, dark and grey is now an area that was beautiful, green, full of people and full of life. 

As my sons and I touched the names of these people, I felt the warmness that I didn’t feel there before. How odd and how bittersweet this experience was.

Then I looked at my family…the loves of my life. This was the perfect vacation to be with them and to be thankful that although 2001 was a year of sadness and pain, it was also the year that George and I visited NYC together as newlyweds.  This was the city that our first born son Maximus was conceived and he was also born in December 2001, on his grandmother’s birthday.

So last week after spending a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with my family and my best friends, I am thankful that we can spend these moments together…and remember.

Ta da…

I stepped on the scale today and to my amazement (because I haven’t been following the diet religiously this week) I lost 3 more lbs!  I haven’t been this weight since I was 30.  I am 7 lbs to my goal weight.

I worked out five times this week and maybe that helped :).  Not too sure.  Although she is kind of scary, I’ve started the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred workout. After 3 days I started the workout #2. But it does get boring, so I have to see what I can do to mix it up. It does kick my ass, so I guess it’s doing its job. 

I can’t give up bread…

Sorry folks, you can.  If I can give up rice and bread; you can give up your bread.  I know this might sound harsh, but here’s the truth…

Whether you eat white bread or wheat bread…it is still processed. A majority of bread is treated with a variety of chemicals from the ground to production in over to “bleach” the flour and prevent it from sticking - such as:

• insecticides
• fungicides
• benzoyl peroxide or chlorine dioxide (known to cause cancer)
• methyl bromide
• nitrogen trichloride
• alum
• ammonium carbonate
• nitrogen peroxide

These hidden ingredients can cause:

• allergies that manifest as bloating, diarrhoea, eczema, asthma, headache or general malaise or lack of energy
• leaky gut syndrome
• growth of unfriendly toxin generating bacteria in the gut
• slowing of bowel transit time, so toxic substances are in contact with the bowel for longer

And don’t get me on gluten and yeast products (this will be for another day).

When I was younger, I didn’t read food labels.  Since having kids, I have started but more so in the past few months.  I don’t want to sound like I’m standing on a soap box, but I have seen the difference in my body in the past 3 months by giving up this food staple. My allergies are all but gone (except for my mild pet and environmental allergies) and my asthma is almost non-existent unless it’s connected to my pet/environmental allergies.  I use to use my inhaler on a daily basis and take allergy medicine daily.  Now, I use my inhaler once or twice a week and my allergy medicine once or twice a week.

I am no longer bloated and I have more energy than ever.  Anyway, stay away from this bad filler if you can.  Or at least in moderation. I am trying to ween my kids off of bread…but I have tried to get the bromide free, gluten free breads.  This is a work in process.  

I challenge you to give up bread.  Do it for a week.  A week will turn to two weeks and then a month…and you will see the difference.

Protein and calories

The first week of my diet, my body’s goal was to train it to utilize my stored fat (much of it) for energy. Here is the breakdown of protein and calories:

• Very lean protein: 35 calories/oz
• Lean protein: 55 calories/oz
• Medium fat protein: 75 calories/oz
• Cottage cheese: 90 calories/half cup (2% milk fat)
• Plain (0% fat) Greek yogurt: 15 calories/oz

Very lean protein (1 oz):

• Ground turkey
• Chicken (white meat, no skin)
• Turkey (white meat, no skin)
• Cod or haddock
• Halibut, trout, flounder or grouper
• Egg whites (2)
• Deli meat (1 gram of fat or less)
• Smoked salmon
• Tuna
• Shellfish
• Eggbeaters
• Canadian bacon
• Tilapia

Lean protein (1 oz):

• Chicken (dark meat, no skin)
• Turkey (dark meat, no skin)
• Pork (lean chop, tenderloin)
• Lamb (roast, chop or leg)
• Veal (roast, lean chop)
• Deli meat (3 grams of fat or less)
• Beef (USDA Choice or Select, lean)
• Ground beef (90% lean)
• Salmon
• Herring (not creamed or smoked)
• Turkey bacon

Medium Fat (1 oz):

• Ground beef (75% lean)
• Short ribs
• Veal
• Corned beef
• Prime rib
• Ground turkey
• Egg (1)

This is taken from my first week menu of food as guidance from Medi Weightloss Clinic.

The 100 oz of water a day should include at least 16 oz of fluid that contains electrolytes, such as Smart Water, Powerade Zero, Vitamin Water Zero.  If you don’t get enough fluid during the day, and you don’t have enough fiber, it may lead to constipation.  So remember to drink your water and have your fiber (psyllium supplements).

That First Week

You are probably going to think this diet is too restrictive the first week. I will tell you now, I wasn’t hungry, irritable or tired.

Daily Supplements:

• multi-vitamin 
• calcium 
• vitamin D3 with K 
• omega 3
• hoodia
• psyllium (fiber) 

Diet consists of:

• 600-1000 kcal of lean protein
• mustard, salt and pepper for taste
• 100 oz of water or diet soda or tea, which included vitamin water with electrolytes 
• No strenuous exercise for the first week

I had a food diary that helped me input the information. Remember this is for the first week only. You will be integrating veggies and fruit next week. Also, if you have a smart phone, download the Calorie Count app. That will help you determine how many calories you are eating. If you have a food scale too, that would be great.