New Beginning Update

Well, I completely forgot that I started this blog in whatever year to track my running and that I eventually was tracking other health events, too.

Today, I got the urge to write about my current situation, considered starting a blog to track myself, and then here we are--it already exists, I just need to get it going again.

So...I guess I started this thing in 2007. I was twenty-eight or something.

It is now 2024.  I am 45 years and 5 days old.

When I was 44 years and 363 days old, a week ago, I went for an annual health physical with a new provider in this new place where we live.  As a part of that checkup, we went ahead and did blood work to get a baseline at this new provider.

Today I was called with the results of the bloodwork, and basically I feel like my not taking care of myself for the last couple of stressful years has finally caught up with me and run me over.

I have not been eating well, sleeping well, or moving much, and my bloodwork reflected that.

Ironically, I had great plans to start this summer strong by waking up with the sun and going for a walk to get this ball rolling, but I have not done that yet (day 7 of summer vacation currently) and yesterday, I was lamenting how I'm not so great at self-discipline if I do not have intentional support or what one might call "a kick in the pants" to do the thing.

Welp. Today was my kick in the pants.

So, I need accountability to..
- Get moving more.
- Make better dietary choices.
- Lose some excess weight/belly fat.
- Take my medication as directed.

Sounds like it should be easy...but, blah.

Stats for today for posterity and comparison:

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 179

TSH: 10.0

A1C: 10.5

Diabetes Prevention Class #9: Manage Stress

I will say that this sabbatical has been pretty good for stress management.  I mean, except for the part where my kids are driving me crazy.  BUT, I'm not sleep-deprived, and I'm taking care of myself.  Those are all good things! 

Today, our lifestyle coach had a diffuser going when we entered.  It was amazing how that peppermint combination smell just made me take deeper breaths!  She also had some calming music.  At the end of the class she took us through a breathing exercise that was extremely calming.  Yes, this was very good.

I tend to carry stress in my shoulders, neck, and in my eating habits, so I loved that this lesson was a part of the overall scope and sequence of the course.  So good!

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Last Week's Weigh-In: 182.3 
This Week's Weigh-In: 181.7
Change: -.6 pound

Diabetes Prevention Class #8: Shop and Cook to Prevent T2

Yeah....I'm just trying to tell myself that I've been eating less Halloween candy this year than in years past, so I'm doing better than before!  Maybe that will work, haha!  Whooo...tough week with the sugar.

This week we talked about shopping and cooking, and I'm not the primary person who does most of these things, but I do remember when I had gestational diabetes and spent three hours at the grocery store looking at labels.  My husband called to find out where I was!

I'm going to try to make a trip to the store by myself this week and see what I  can do.  I've been snapping pictures of labels and food on scales on my phone.  I'm really trying!  It's forward momentum on the whole!

I would love to get to the point where we plan meals, but we're not there yet.  I have been subbing out Coke Zero instead of my regular "fully-leaded" Coke, so I feel like I'm getting a small win there, even with the not-so-good-for-me-sugar-substitute. 

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Last Week's Weigh-In: 184.9 
This Week's Weigh-In: 182.3
Change: -2.6 pounds

Diabetes Prevention Class #7: Burn More Calories Than You Take In

This week I won a t-shirt for turning in my two weeks of calorie trackers!  "Ask Me About Diabetes Prevention", it says on the back.  It will make a good workout shirt, LOL.

Some interesting facts we learned today.  1 pound = 3500 calories.  If you want to lose 1 pound a week, cut 500 calories a day.

We were given a sheet of paper that had last week's weight and the number of calories we would need to take in to maintain that weight (mine was 185 pounds, and 1681 calories).

The conversation this week centered on healthy swaps and also reiterated paying attention to serving sizes.  We talked about which Halloween candy has fewest calories (Milky Way, haha) because that's going to be a booger this week!

Pressing on...
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Last Week's Weigh-In: 185
This Week's Weigh-In: 184.9
Change: lost .1 pound

Diabetes Prevention Class #6: Get More Active

Wowza has this food tracking opened my eyes.  I mean, food labels are on my foods.  Why have I not been paying attention??  My weakness is eating out.  That food might be "healthy" but it is high calories...the servings are enormous!  So, I'm going to try to eat half and take half for later for future restaurantal endeavors.

That coffee I like in the mornings?  DD French Vanilla Swirl with cream? It put me over on calories two days this week.  Had I resisted, things would have been okay.

We had a get-together this week with some homeschool friends, and again, I may have overdone it, but I tried to practice moderation.  Halloween candy and snacks are going to do me in! 

Anyway, this week was about getting more active and about adding resistance training--we received a resistance band to use with our workouts.  This is for sure one area that I will need to get a little more vigorous in--walking, even on hills, is not going to be enough in the long run.  Not if I want to meet my goals.

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Last Week's Weigh-In:  188.9
This Week's Weigh-In: 185
Change: lost 3.9 pounds

Diabetes Prevention Class #5: Track Your Food

Yeah, so this was the week.  For two whole weeks we have to track our calories.  I'm am tracking carbs, too, because that's what I had to do during my gestational diabetes, and I'm just curious.

The big thing has been paying attention to labels and serving size.  I am mostly appalled.  This week we were given a set of measuring cups and spoons to help us keep serving sizes in mind.  I even got out the food scale that has only heretofore been used for Pinecar Derby.  I am on a roll with this measuring thing!

I did lose my wheels a little bit when I had a piece of delicious pumpkin roll that a friend made (holy moly, that was delicious!).  Also at a birthday party...there was a taco bar, so I ate some chicken by itself to "protein-up" after I ate a second piece of the cookie cake cookie (two pieces with cream in the middle!!).   I'm a mess, but I'm moving in the right direction!


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Last Week's Weigh-In: 189.4
This Week's Weigh-In: 188.9
Change: lost .5 pound

Diabetes Prevention Class #4: Eat Well to Prevent T2

This right here is why I need someone to hold my hand.  I have no self-control when it comes to Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.  As I'm eating them, I know that they are terrrrrible for me.  I'm a sugar addict.

This week's class was a fantastic reminder that I can do this.  We talked about servings and what the plate should look like.  It's not rocket science, people, but I seriously needed a swift kick in the pants to remind me.  Allison came and did a guest demonstration on sugar content in beverages and serving sizes in fruit (with sugar content)--they have a lot of neat props over at the DANC that will make your stomach churn if you see how much sugar is in "no sugar added" juice.  Blech.  We also talked about carb intake.

Seriously, though, this information is common sense, but not common practice--at least in my life.  So, this is where we try to make good choices (but also know that next week we will have to begin tracking, so I'm eating like I'm going to have to track my food next week and not this week, LOL.

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Last Week's Weigh-In: 190.8
This Week's Weigh-In: 189.4
Change: lost 1.4 pounds