Hooray! Broke into the 226 area today, with a reading of 226.8. I had started to wonder if that were every going to happen.
Waiting for a new pen and pads to arrive today from Levenger. What is it about pristine paper and a fountain pen that makes me want to write?
Purchased a copy of Inspiration to use to organize my thoughts about where my next 20 years will take me. I figure I have at least another 20 to be productive. I really, really like the thought of escorting cruises. We are building up the passenger list for the April Belly Dance cruise. I would like to put something together for my doc cohort. And of course, there's the Alaska one I want to take again. So many cruises ... so little time (and money)!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Jan 23 - on the move again
Hooray! I'm on the way down again. Scale has reached 227.2, so I'm almost back to my lowest.
I've cut out one of the BP meds, the amlodipine. Doc said that if my BP stayed low, I could try cutting it out, so I didn't take it today. We will see. This is a fine balancing act.
Still listening to "What Would Google Do?" ... love the chapters on individual industries. What would Google Power and Light look like? Fascinating stuff.
Don't forget to catch me on Facebook and my other blogs.
I've cut out one of the BP meds, the amlodipine. Doc said that if my BP stayed low, I could try cutting it out, so I didn't take it today. We will see. This is a fine balancing act.
Still listening to "What Would Google Do?" ... love the chapters on individual industries. What would Google Power and Light look like? Fascinating stuff.
Don't forget to catch me on Facebook and my other blogs.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Jan 19 - stuck!
After I hit the 227 mark several days ago, I have bounced back up to 229 and stayed there for a few days. Stuck! I don't see that I am eating or moving any differently. Although I have been more sedentary due to the BP meds making me so damned tired! Will see the cardiologist today and get that fixed!
So, thankfully, I am enjoying this new way of eating and haven't been too tempted to return to my old carb-laden ways ... well there was that one attraction to garlic bread, but I resisted!. I am going to hang in and assume the scale will begin to decline again.
So, thankfully, I am enjoying this new way of eating and haven't been too tempted to return to my old carb-laden ways ... well there was that one attraction to garlic bread, but I resisted!. I am going to hang in and assume the scale will begin to decline again.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
SOPA/PIPA
We now take a moment for a political viewpoint. Please contact your congressional delegation and encourage them to vote AGAINST the proposed SOPA/PIPA legislation. See this link http://www.ted.com/talks/defend_our_freedom_to_share_or_why_sopa_is_a_bad_idea.html
for an excellent TED talk by Clay Shirkey on the opposition to this legislation, presented in clear layman's terms.
Jan 18 - Slow and Steady
The scale is bouncing around. I decided to record my weight only when I am below my last recorded weight. Oh, the games we play! ... but that should give me a good indication of the slope and, consequently the speed, of my weight loss.
I continue to enjoy eating the South Beach way. I have discarded thinking of this as a "diet" and now think of it as a way of eating. It puts my head in the right space ... taking this on for the long term. Although I still have the occasional longing (not as strong as a "craving") for my refined carbs, I am pretty much able to keep them at bay.
Cardiologist appointment tomorrow, so perhaps he will get my BP meds on the right track and I can get back to feeling normal. Then to focus on the walking again!
I continue to enjoy eating the South Beach way. I have discarded thinking of this as a "diet" and now think of it as a way of eating. It puts my head in the right space ... taking this on for the long term. Although I still have the occasional longing (not as strong as a "craving") for my refined carbs, I am pretty much able to keep them at bay.
Cardiologist appointment tomorrow, so perhaps he will get my BP meds on the right track and I can get back to feeling normal. Then to focus on the walking again!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Jan 15 - the trend continues
227.0 this morning! The downward trend continues! I am within striking distance of a 10 pound loss in my first three weeks. Not so much walking lately. Still kind of tired. Although Jenn called Fri night and we talked about it. She thinks the sudden loss of simple carbs, even in the form of fruit, could cause some of the tiredness. Coupled with the new BP meds, my symptoms could be accounted for. Re-introducing fruits the last couple of days as we move to Phase 2 of the diet, so we will see if that helps.
I know I can have whole grain carbs on phase 2, but I am loathe to try to introduce them too quickly. Even whole-grain carbs can trigger my rice/pasta/potato/flour craving, so it would be easy to go overboard on, say, whole wheat pasta ... c'mon, it's whole wheat, so an entire heaping bowl of it should be good for me, right??? See how I can get myself into trouble?
I know I can have whole grain carbs on phase 2, but I am loathe to try to introduce them too quickly. Even whole-grain carbs can trigger my rice/pasta/potato/flour craving, so it would be easy to go overboard on, say, whole wheat pasta ... c'mon, it's whole wheat, so an entire heaping bowl of it should be good for me, right??? See how I can get myself into trouble?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Jan 12 - A better day
Scale: 229.4 -- broke 230!
Walked yesterday -- yay me!
Feel more energized today. Perhaps because I've gone to bed by 10 PM the last two nights. Perhaps because I just had a great lunch with a friend who sparked all kinds of ideas for my cruise business. I will comment on the direction that business is taking in my cruise blog.
Listening to "What Would Google Do" in the car. Also energizing ... so much so that I have ordered the print version so I can write all over it and underline and refer back and forth. Just can't get that same experience with e-book or audio. Everything has its purpose.
Walked yesterday -- yay me!
Feel more energized today. Perhaps because I've gone to bed by 10 PM the last two nights. Perhaps because I just had a great lunch with a friend who sparked all kinds of ideas for my cruise business. I will comment on the direction that business is taking in my cruise blog.
Listening to "What Would Google Do" in the car. Also energizing ... so much so that I have ordered the print version so I can write all over it and underline and refer back and forth. Just can't get that same experience with e-book or audio. Everything has its purpose.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Jan 11 - Yucky
First, the scale 230.6. I am pleased to be holding my own
But I am soooo tired. I still believe the new BP meds are kicking my ass. I didn't go to PEO meeting last night, but went to bed very early. Still tired when I awoke this AM. BP was 90/65 ... VERY low for me. So, here's the question I am struggling with ... do I (1) cut the Norvasc dose in half on my own and see how that works (2) leave a msg at cardiologist's office asking what to do or (3) just wait another week until my scheduled visit and see if my body adjusts?
Thoughts? Advice?
But I am soooo tired. I still believe the new BP meds are kicking my ass. I didn't go to PEO meeting last night, but went to bed very early. Still tired when I awoke this AM. BP was 90/65 ... VERY low for me. So, here's the question I am struggling with ... do I (1) cut the Norvasc dose in half on my own and see how that works (2) leave a msg at cardiologist's office asking what to do or (3) just wait another week until my scheduled visit and see if my body adjusts?
Thoughts? Advice?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Jan 10 - Stable
Scale today 230.2
Not a loss, but I wouldn't call it a gain either. I tag today as stable. One of those days when life is going along well. Did my walking yesterday. No big challenges on the horizon today. So I'm coasting today.
Not a loss, but I wouldn't call it a gain either. I tag today as stable. One of those days when life is going along well. Did my walking yesterday. No big challenges on the horizon today. So I'm coasting today.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Jan 9 - Back on track
So I kept the faith and had a wonderful dinner of fish and veggies last night. And the scale rewarded me with a reading of 230.0 this AM. Will be moving on to phase 2 of the diet, but will really only be phasing in fruits. I am a little leery of trying to put back even whole grain pastas and brown rice. Too easy to get carried away. So those will come very slowly. But I will buy some rye bread for George.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Jan 8 - It happened
As I have frequently posted here, I know there will be days when the scale does not continue on its constant decline. This morning it is 231.0. Still a great progression and I am not discouraged because of the two "wins" I had yesterday.
First was the movie theater. We went to see "Sherlock Holmes" (go see it!). Movie popcorn (without the "butter") is a must for me.The taste, the smell especially, and having a HUGE bucket are all parts of going out to a movie. So I had resolved to get the smallest bag possible. But, WHAT?, I managed to walk right past the concession stand and truly enjoy the movie without my popcorn. George didn't exactly talk me out of it as much as just ask "Do you REALLY want it?" ... Hmmm, not really. Let's see if it matters ... I can always go get some later. And I just enjoyed the movie!
Then last night, I went to game night at a friend's house. She told me ahead of time she would have chips, snacks, and pizza for "dinner". I told her I'd like to bring my own, because I was on South Beach. She was very supportive. George instructed me to tell folks I was on SB, as a heart diet, rather than just because I want to lose weight. Seems folks won't even mumble slightly or try to tempt you if they think you are eating this way to avoid a heart attack. So I built a HUGE veggie and turkey breast salad, took my lite dressing, and enjoyed the evening.
The take-away's from yesterday:
1. Ask yourself if you REALLY need/want whatever is tempting you. If the answer remains YES, then take a bite. You don't really need the whole large bucket of popcorn.
2. Tell people you are passing up their special food because you are on a diet for your heart. They aren't going to push.
3. Know ahead of time what is going to be served and prepare! Take your own if necessary and possible.
4. Stay full! I have yet to feel hungry or deprived. That is so important if you are going to be able to stay rational and be able to evaluate things as I did yesterday. It also helps immensely to have ready-to-grab good stuff in the 'fridge
Did get my walk in yesterday, but doubt if it will happen today. Today I really felt the effects of this new BP medicine and went back to bed for a couple of hours. Don't think I will have the energy for the walk. But the evening is young ... check back tomorrow to see how I do.
First was the movie theater. We went to see "Sherlock Holmes" (go see it!). Movie popcorn (without the "butter") is a must for me.The taste, the smell especially, and having a HUGE bucket are all parts of going out to a movie. So I had resolved to get the smallest bag possible. But, WHAT?, I managed to walk right past the concession stand and truly enjoy the movie without my popcorn. George didn't exactly talk me out of it as much as just ask "Do you REALLY want it?" ... Hmmm, not really. Let's see if it matters ... I can always go get some later. And I just enjoyed the movie!
Then last night, I went to game night at a friend's house. She told me ahead of time she would have chips, snacks, and pizza for "dinner". I told her I'd like to bring my own, because I was on South Beach. She was very supportive. George instructed me to tell folks I was on SB, as a heart diet, rather than just because I want to lose weight. Seems folks won't even mumble slightly or try to tempt you if they think you are eating this way to avoid a heart attack. So I built a HUGE veggie and turkey breast salad, took my lite dressing, and enjoyed the evening.
The take-away's from yesterday:
1. Ask yourself if you REALLY need/want whatever is tempting you. If the answer remains YES, then take a bite. You don't really need the whole large bucket of popcorn.
2. Tell people you are passing up their special food because you are on a diet for your heart. They aren't going to push.
3. Know ahead of time what is going to be served and prepare! Take your own if necessary and possible.
4. Stay full! I have yet to feel hungry or deprived. That is so important if you are going to be able to stay rational and be able to evaluate things as I did yesterday. It also helps immensely to have ready-to-grab good stuff in the 'fridge
Did get my walk in yesterday, but doubt if it will happen today. Today I really felt the effects of this new BP medicine and went back to bed for a couple of hours. Don't think I will have the energy for the walk. But the evening is young ... check back tomorrow to see how I do.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Jan 7 - I did it!
I feel a little like my granddaughter ... "I did it" ... we don't always know what she did, but she is very insistent! Well, I did it! I had lunch out yesterday and the scale still reported a loss. Today it tells me 230.6.
Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend. I have said before, I use lunches as my way to keep up with friends and socialize, now that I am retired. So I HAD to find some way to eat out and stay healthy. To top it off, this first foray into the land of prepared food was to Bravo, and Italian restaurant, and one of the few places I enjoy eating Italian food out (I am a little spoiled by my grandmother's recipies!). Additionally, my lunch partner was running late. So there I sat, with hot bread and olive oil in front of me, reading a menu full of yummy pasta dishes ... what a recipe for disaster!
But no!! I managed to pass on the bread ... not even a nibble. And ordered a chopped salad with chicken breast. Their dressing is already a nice vinaigrette and they don't overload the salad with it, so I didn't bother asking for the dressing on the side. That and copious quantities of diet Dr. Pepper was my lunch. I left feeling full, happy, and victorious.
THIS is how I want to "diet" ... my making natural changes in my diet (i.e., what I eat), rather than limiting myself to something that I will abandon as soon as I lose weight. I never felt like I was eating "weird" while at lunch, had a great time, and my lunch companion even ordered the same thing ... tho' she did partake of the bread, but only sparingly.
SUCCESS all the way around.
I also made it to my second mailbox on my walk yesterday. I have found out how to (correctly) get Endomondo to post to Facebook, so my consistency (or lack thereof) is public.
I am listening to "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. It contains some interesting ideas, especially as I try to expand my reach through blogging and social media. An idea I picked up yesterday was that successful "new economy" companies focus first on expanding their user (not customer) base, then figure out how to make money. Apparently this is mostly done with venture capital until the user base becomes large enough to monetize. But how does that work for those of us who are solo'ing it? He uses Craig Newmark, the founder of craigslist.org as his example.We independents, without access to up front capital, still have to eat and pay our bills. So we must have an additional source of income ... either a "day job" or living at home with mom and dad. But the point is, organizations who try to capture customers first, and keep them for themselves, are doomed in the new networked economy. Build your connections as large as possible, by aggregating or giving away content, providing search results for a focused niche, and link, link, link.
So you may see more links from my blogs and FB postings from now on. It's a brave new world after all!
Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend. I have said before, I use lunches as my way to keep up with friends and socialize, now that I am retired. So I HAD to find some way to eat out and stay healthy. To top it off, this first foray into the land of prepared food was to Bravo, and Italian restaurant, and one of the few places I enjoy eating Italian food out (I am a little spoiled by my grandmother's recipies!). Additionally, my lunch partner was running late. So there I sat, with hot bread and olive oil in front of me, reading a menu full of yummy pasta dishes ... what a recipe for disaster!
But no!! I managed to pass on the bread ... not even a nibble. And ordered a chopped salad with chicken breast. Their dressing is already a nice vinaigrette and they don't overload the salad with it, so I didn't bother asking for the dressing on the side. That and copious quantities of diet Dr. Pepper was my lunch. I left feeling full, happy, and victorious.
THIS is how I want to "diet" ... my making natural changes in my diet (i.e., what I eat), rather than limiting myself to something that I will abandon as soon as I lose weight. I never felt like I was eating "weird" while at lunch, had a great time, and my lunch companion even ordered the same thing ... tho' she did partake of the bread, but only sparingly.
SUCCESS all the way around.
I also made it to my second mailbox on my walk yesterday. I have found out how to (correctly) get Endomondo to post to Facebook, so my consistency (or lack thereof) is public.
I am listening to "What Would Google Do" by Jeff Jarvis. It contains some interesting ideas, especially as I try to expand my reach through blogging and social media. An idea I picked up yesterday was that successful "new economy" companies focus first on expanding their user (not customer) base, then figure out how to make money. Apparently this is mostly done with venture capital until the user base becomes large enough to monetize. But how does that work for those of us who are solo'ing it? He uses Craig Newmark, the founder of craigslist.org as his example.We independents, without access to up front capital, still have to eat and pay our bills. So we must have an additional source of income ... either a "day job" or living at home with mom and dad. But the point is, organizations who try to capture customers first, and keep them for themselves, are doomed in the new networked economy. Build your connections as large as possible, by aggregating or giving away content, providing search results for a focused niche, and link, link, link.
So you may see more links from my blogs and FB postings from now on. It's a brave new world after all!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Jan 6 - Still chugging along
Scale was a happy place again today ... 231.6 ... I know that won't continue indefinitely and there will come a day of no or negative weight loss. But I am enjoying it while it continues. I am 5 lbs down since last week. That curve is a little steep for the long term, but it sure is nice now.
Today will be my first test. I am meeting some friends at Bravo, an Italian restaurant. Thankfully, they have salads, so I am not stuck with pasta or pizza. I think they also have a great chicken breast in a caper sauce that should be pretty good. My downfall, if I submit, will be the pre-meal bread. So I will keep full of water and see how it goes.
Grocery shopping again today as well. It is interesting to browse the aisles with a new eye. I'll hit the fresh veggies hard. George and I love salads with tons of chopped veggies.
I did get my walk in yesterday. Made it to the neighbor's mailbox. But my fumble-fingers turned off Endomundo's monitoring as I was putting my phone back in my pocket. I know how not to do that ... just wasn't thinking. So next report will be after the walk today.
Thanks for all the supportive comments. I'll try to respond to them as I see them from now on. I appreciate it!
Today will be my first test. I am meeting some friends at Bravo, an Italian restaurant. Thankfully, they have salads, so I am not stuck with pasta or pizza. I think they also have a great chicken breast in a caper sauce that should be pretty good. My downfall, if I submit, will be the pre-meal bread. So I will keep full of water and see how it goes.
Grocery shopping again today as well. It is interesting to browse the aisles with a new eye. I'll hit the fresh veggies hard. George and I love salads with tons of chopped veggies.
I did get my walk in yesterday. Made it to the neighbor's mailbox. But my fumble-fingers turned off Endomundo's monitoring as I was putting my phone back in my pocket. I know how not to do that ... just wasn't thinking. So next report will be after the walk today.
Thanks for all the supportive comments. I'll try to respond to them as I see them from now on. I appreciate it!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Jan 5 - Day 7
The scale was kind today. 232.2 ... that's down 4.6 since last Thursday, when I tried to start South Beach (my heart had other ideas for my weekend). The SB web site fussed and me about weighing in every day, but I ignored it. As we have discussed here, I NEED to weigh every day to keep motivated.
A friend asked me in an e-mail why my cardiologist recommended South Beach and not sending me to a registered nutritionist. Don't know. However a good friend of ours is degreed in dietetics/nutrition (what is it exactly, Jenn?) and she came over last night and really, really helped with our pantry and refrigerator. We talked about my triggers ... I crave the bread/pasta/rice form of carbs. I would eat a flour tortilla with butter over other snacks in the house and would make pasta and olive oil for dinner when George wasn't home for dinner or when I was hungry. And yesterday I mentioned those Einstein's bagels (oh how I miss them). But both Jenn and the SB info say that the craving will go away after a couple of weeks.
George has it a little easier as long as I am careful about what's in the house. When he gets hungry, especially when he comes home hungry, he reaches for EASY, whatever that may be. Crackers and cheese was the go-to most recently. Where I would stop and cook some pasta or rice, he wouldn't wait. Whatever he touched when he reached out his hand. So the trick for him is to keep healthy readily-consumed items in the house. Fruit (after phase 1 when we can have it again), baby carrots (he loves those), and then teach him to reach for those rather than habit having him see only the crackers. Oops. Didn't get rid of the crackers last night in the great purge. Perhaps we should.
I have at least one dietician and one cardio nurse reading this, so I am a little hesitant to say ... YAY for being able to have salt! I have cut back, but with BP still running abt 95/59 I'm not too worried. Now, when I see my cardiologist on Jan 19 and he (likely) adjusts my meds, I will probably have to cut down. But it's party time till then!!
Had some steak last night. I actually weighed the cooked portions that went on our plates and that 4 oz was smaller than I thought. But it was filling and we had leftovers for lunch today. We combined it with a couple of cups each of mixed veggies (broccoli and cauliflower) and had a great dinner.
Lunch today was some of the leftover steak, thinly sliced, with eggs and vegetables. Yum!
Got to hit the SB web site today for more ideas and go grocery shopping.
A friend asked me in an e-mail why my cardiologist recommended South Beach and not sending me to a registered nutritionist. Don't know. However a good friend of ours is degreed in dietetics/nutrition (what is it exactly, Jenn?) and she came over last night and really, really helped with our pantry and refrigerator. We talked about my triggers ... I crave the bread/pasta/rice form of carbs. I would eat a flour tortilla with butter over other snacks in the house and would make pasta and olive oil for dinner when George wasn't home for dinner or when I was hungry. And yesterday I mentioned those Einstein's bagels (oh how I miss them). But both Jenn and the SB info say that the craving will go away after a couple of weeks.
George has it a little easier as long as I am careful about what's in the house. When he gets hungry, especially when he comes home hungry, he reaches for EASY, whatever that may be. Crackers and cheese was the go-to most recently. Where I would stop and cook some pasta or rice, he wouldn't wait. Whatever he touched when he reached out his hand. So the trick for him is to keep healthy readily-consumed items in the house. Fruit (after phase 1 when we can have it again), baby carrots (he loves those), and then teach him to reach for those rather than habit having him see only the crackers. Oops. Didn't get rid of the crackers last night in the great purge. Perhaps we should.
I have at least one dietician and one cardio nurse reading this, so I am a little hesitant to say ... YAY for being able to have salt! I have cut back, but with BP still running abt 95/59 I'm not too worried. Now, when I see my cardiologist on Jan 19 and he (likely) adjusts my meds, I will probably have to cut down. But it's party time till then!!
Had some steak last night. I actually weighed the cooked portions that went on our plates and that 4 oz was smaller than I thought. But it was filling and we had leftovers for lunch today. We combined it with a couple of cups each of mixed veggies (broccoli and cauliflower) and had a great dinner.
Lunch today was some of the leftover steak, thinly sliced, with eggs and vegetables. Yum!
Got to hit the SB web site today for more ideas and go grocery shopping.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Jan 4 - First Walk
Happy Birthday, James!
Weight stayed the same today. Not a problem -- I know I won't see a loss every day. But I will still keep on weighing every day, just for the feedback.
Didn't start my walking yesterday. Took a nap instead. Apparently new BP med is putting it way low. Today's BP was 95/59 ... that's HIGHLY unusual for me! So I am experiencing a little fatigue. I take my BP at home and can download the readings into a file to print out and take to my doc. I will be doing that on Jan 19 and will see if he thinks I need to adjust.
Did take my first walk up the driveway and to our mailbox today. Walked .07 miles in 3 mins. I love this application Endomondo. I can sign on to the web and get a map of where I have walked, along with participating in challenges. etc. It also will now post automatically to my FB account when I finish a walk. Love it!!
Am going to use the social networking stuff on the South Beach web site today. Looking to find out if I can ever go back to my beloved Einstein's bagels. One of my major downfalls was going to Einstein's several times a week and getting my "usual" ... two Everything bagels with cream cheese and a diet coke. I went frequently enough that the staff knows my name and occasionally has my bagels toasting when they see me walk through the door. Ohhh I can taste one now. I'll let you know what the SB forum folks have to say.
Weight stayed the same today. Not a problem -- I know I won't see a loss every day. But I will still keep on weighing every day, just for the feedback.
Didn't start my walking yesterday. Took a nap instead. Apparently new BP med is putting it way low. Today's BP was 95/59 ... that's HIGHLY unusual for me! So I am experiencing a little fatigue. I take my BP at home and can download the readings into a file to print out and take to my doc. I will be doing that on Jan 19 and will see if he thinks I need to adjust.
Did take my first walk up the driveway and to our mailbox today. Walked .07 miles in 3 mins. I love this application Endomondo. I can sign on to the web and get a map of where I have walked, along with participating in challenges. etc. It also will now post automatically to my FB account when I finish a walk. Love it!!
Am going to use the social networking stuff on the South Beach web site today. Looking to find out if I can ever go back to my beloved Einstein's bagels. One of my major downfalls was going to Einstein's several times a week and getting my "usual" ... two Everything bagels with cream cheese and a diet coke. I went frequently enough that the staff knows my name and occasionally has my bagels toasting when they see me walk through the door. Ohhh I can taste one now. I'll let you know what the SB forum folks have to say.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tues, Jan 3
Weight down a very small bit today, to 233.8. South Beach guidelines only want you to weigh once a week, but I feel the need to watch that number, along with blood pressure, very closely. What do you think? Weekly or Daily? Pro's and Con's?
Last night's dinner was amazing. In fact, I felt so full, I was sure I would gain some of the Christmas weight back. But NO!
And who knew you could make "mashed potatoes" out of cauliflower? And that it would taste great! Of course, there is the issue of FAT-FREE half and half that I used. So what is the other half? Rhetorical question, because George looked it up (Google of course) and now I know. If you want to know, post a comment.
Rest of the meal was spinach and mushrooms -- supposed to be stuffed mushrooms, but I just cooked the spinach and mixed with chopped muchrooms. The small amount of olive oil allowed was more than enough to cook/flavor the mushrooms. Also tuna steaks with Veracruz-like topping -- tomato (e) s, olives, garlic, vinegar ... yum! Although I will make it next time with a different fish. Perhaps we left the tuna steaks in the 'fridge too long (bought them before I checked into the hospital), but they tasted "fishey". The only part of the dinner that wasn't wonderful.
On my exercise note, George has told me that everybody's heart rate increases somewhat when climing stairs. So I will move on to walking. Have downloaded Endomondo onto my phone. It will watch via GPS and give me stats on how much I walk and how fast. Looks like fun.
Now I just have to DO IT. That's always the hangup, isn't it.
On a sadder note, if you are one of our friends who sees Ashley, please give her a hug ... her Great Dane of 7+ years passed on last night. We love you, sweetie!
Last night's dinner was amazing. In fact, I felt so full, I was sure I would gain some of the Christmas weight back. But NO!
And who knew you could make "mashed potatoes" out of cauliflower? And that it would taste great! Of course, there is the issue of FAT-FREE half and half that I used. So what is the other half? Rhetorical question, because George looked it up (Google of course) and now I know. If you want to know, post a comment.
Rest of the meal was spinach and mushrooms -- supposed to be stuffed mushrooms, but I just cooked the spinach and mixed with chopped muchrooms. The small amount of olive oil allowed was more than enough to cook/flavor the mushrooms. Also tuna steaks with Veracruz-like topping -- tomato (e) s, olives, garlic, vinegar ... yum! Although I will make it next time with a different fish. Perhaps we left the tuna steaks in the 'fridge too long (bought them before I checked into the hospital), but they tasted "fishey". The only part of the dinner that wasn't wonderful.
On my exercise note, George has told me that everybody's heart rate increases somewhat when climing stairs. So I will move on to walking. Have downloaded Endomondo onto my phone. It will watch via GPS and give me stats on how much I walk and how fast. Looks like fun.
Now I just have to DO IT. That's always the hangup, isn't it.
On a sadder note, if you are one of our friends who sees Ashley, please give her a hug ... her Great Dane of 7+ years passed on last night. We love you, sweetie!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Jan 2 already
So, into the new year I go.
Weight this AM was 234.0 ... which beats the approx 240 I came home from Christmas with! See what a short stay in the hospital will do for you?
Finding South Beach amazingly easy. Had shredded crab lettuce wraps for lunch, with a follow up of a cheese stick. Feeling full and fine.
Finding I get a little tired going up the stairs in the house ... heart rate increases ... so my first shot at exercise will be getting up the stairs without any stress. Don't get winded, just faster heart rate and a little tired. Once those symptoms are gone, I will move on to next stage.
Weight this AM was 234.0 ... which beats the approx 240 I came home from Christmas with! See what a short stay in the hospital will do for you?
Finding South Beach amazingly easy. Had shredded crab lettuce wraps for lunch, with a follow up of a cheese stick. Feeling full and fine.
Finding I get a little tired going up the stairs in the house ... heart rate increases ... so my first shot at exercise will be getting up the stairs without any stress. Don't get winded, just faster heart rate and a little tired. Once those symptoms are gone, I will move on to next stage.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Starting off
Hello all. Most of you know I spent New Year's eve in the hospital. Chest tightness and elevated blood pressure sent me to the ER Thursday evening. By Friday AM, I was checked in on the cardiology services floor (great nurses on 7 South!). Traponin test showed no heart damage but the symptoms were concerning enough that doc on call wanted a heart cath. so he could look around. I loved the patience with which he explained things. For example, he said a stress test was indicated, but since he was going to do the heart cath. anyway, he jumped right to the gold standard.
Cath. showed that area around old stent was still the same (yay!). There was a very small, new occlusion, but it was in an artery branch. Very difficult to stent in or by a branch, I am told. Doc said the stent procedure posed more risk than the occlusion. So we are treating it with some new meds.
New beta blocker, carvedilol, and additional bp med, the calcium channel blocker, amlodipine. BP came back down to normal before they released me and I feel good now. Will be checking daily for awhile. Follow up visit with Cardiologist on Jan 19.
Came home with recommendation for low-fat, low-salt diet. My cardiologist like South Beach, so George and I had gone grocery shopping Thursday, prior to the "event". Didn't get a chance to start before the hospital stay, so I an looking at a fridge full of healthy food (Jenn coming over on Wed to help weed out the old "bad" stuff).
Dinner tonight was a big salad of veggies, turkey breast, smoked ham. Yum! Snack this afternoon was string cheese. Snack tonight will be sugar-free jello, which I like alot.
I'll start with the weight postings tomorrow. Please comment so we can encourage each other to be healthy in 2012 and on!
Cath. showed that area around old stent was still the same (yay!). There was a very small, new occlusion, but it was in an artery branch. Very difficult to stent in or by a branch, I am told. Doc said the stent procedure posed more risk than the occlusion. So we are treating it with some new meds.
New beta blocker, carvedilol, and additional bp med, the calcium channel blocker, amlodipine. BP came back down to normal before they released me and I feel good now. Will be checking daily for awhile. Follow up visit with Cardiologist on Jan 19.
Came home with recommendation for low-fat, low-salt diet. My cardiologist like South Beach, so George and I had gone grocery shopping Thursday, prior to the "event". Didn't get a chance to start before the hospital stay, so I an looking at a fridge full of healthy food (Jenn coming over on Wed to help weed out the old "bad" stuff).
Dinner tonight was a big salad of veggies, turkey breast, smoked ham. Yum! Snack this afternoon was string cheese. Snack tonight will be sugar-free jello, which I like alot.
I'll start with the weight postings tomorrow. Please comment so we can encourage each other to be healthy in 2012 and on!
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