Strive for Five

OK - So - I have very different goals than you all do.  Well - actually very SIMILAR goals, but with a different end in sight.

I had my gall bladder out last summer - over a year ago - and I have not exercised significantly since then.  I could probably list every bit I have done off the top of my head.  It is NOT much.

My weight has been rising.  That is par for the course.  I did that big leap summer 2012, and have just done little, gradual climbing ever since then.  However, recently I feel like I have been worse than normal - maybe it is just the Halloween candy - or maybe because winter is coming and my joints are aching more.  I finally weighed myself about two weeks ago and I am not as high as I thought, but WAAAAYYYY higher than I thought I would ever be.  I will weigh in tomorrow with a number.

My experiment with seeing a specialist was mostly a failure.  My weight held steady the whole time.  I had several tests done and I found out that I should be eating 1800 calories a day, my breathing is slightly restricted, but didn't respond to inhalers, my bp, cholesterol, etc are good and my blood sugar is elevated - but not yet into what is considered pre-diabetic (which seems silly - like pre-menopausal - aren't we ALL?).  Oh - and I am not yet entering menopause.

So - My goals are to increase my proteins and healthy carbs (no - butterfingers are not considered healthy carbs!) I can't promise I will hit five each day (nine is RIGHT out!) but I will try.  I will also try to drink more water.  I have been really really bad lately - and I swear I am feeling it in my kidneys (or my gal bladder grew back and is impacted again...).  And I am going to clean up my living room enough to be able to do the 10 minute exercise DVDs that Katie and I used to do.  That was the only time I actually saw progress. 

I am going to avoid weighing myself.  I think I will do this just once a month - I need to focus more on how I feel, what I am eating and how active I am.  Losing or not losing weight is just too frustrating for me. 

I mentioned this to Sarah recently - the 30 pounds I gained over the last year has been the first time I felt the impact of it physically.  Maybe it is because it happened really suddenly - but more likely it was because I stopped exercising at the same time.  I now feel like I have to train just to be able to go up and down my stairs and to the mail box!!!  I know I would regain energy pretty quickly - but the mental barrier that is in front of me right now is the worst I have ever experienced.  

So - final goal - I am going to try to approach my body image and weight with a positive attitude.  I am going to look at these goals NOT as a way to lose the extra 125 pounds I have on board, but more as a way to make myself as healthy as possible so I can push you old ladies around in your wheel chairs when we are all 90+ years old!