Just from the start here, I want to say that this thread isn't about discussing Weight Watchers, Atkins, or any other 'fad diet.' We all know that the word "diet" can just mean what we eat, and doesn't have to have anything to with proscribed menus that dictate what we can and cannot eat.
As many know, I used to be just over 450 lbs and was living a miserable life. Some can be that weight and be mobile and happy, but not me. I decided that I was tired of being in pain 24/7 and of needing assistive devices in order to get around (cane, walker sometimes, and then the finishing move was the delivery of a wheelchair), so I determined that I had enough and was going to lose weight and create a total life change. I started just over three years ago, losing almost 120 lbs, and then have pleateau'd for at least a year now. It gets harder and harder to lose, and have been losing and gaining the same 4-8 lbs that bounces back and forth.
I have a few diseases/disorders/syndromes that often get in the way of being able to kick up my exercise very much -- like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis and lymphedema. I also have knees that, according to my ortho doc, are in need of replacing (I have a laundry list of other health things going on, but I'll leave them out of this for now). Still I exercise almost daily (5-6 days per week, so far), and try to concentrate as much as possible on healthy eating, not eating huge amounts, and avoiding the things I crave (why don't I ever crave steamed veggies???), substituting, instead with whole-grain items and lots of fruits.
So, I'm not really losing more weight at this point, and I'd like to because I'll be moving to an area with lots of stairs. But the fact is that I overall feel better and my endurance is a bit better. I know that if I get discouraged and give up, I'll just gain it all back and more, as has happened to me every other time in the past, whether I was on a fad diet, or had just changed my eating and exercised more (usually it was fad diets, though). So I'm trying to concentrate on the health aspect and keep that as a goal.
I'm interested in hearing from others who are eating healthy, or who want to, and would like to hear about what you are doing towards that end.
I start my day by first sitting at the computer, sleepy and googly-eyed. I then take a shower, put my compression garments on and do my Body Flex exercises.
Body Flex is something I've been doing almost the whole time (except when I slacked off for a while), but the workout has changed. I have kept some of the old moves while adding in the new, and what I like about it is that the combination of deep-breathing and stretching that is included in the workout usually energizes me. That's important for someone with chronic fatigue and fibro, as when I'm exhausted and hurting, exercise is the last thing I want to do, but it is also one of the things that will ultimately make me feel better. It's when I'm having a very bad CF/fibro day that exercise can actually make me feel worse, and on those days I either do a bit of the deep breathing stuff or nothing.
However, I have had some overall better days since starting on a routine listed above, and then after exercising, I take Norwegian Naturals cod oil, a magnesium, zinc, vitamin C and D liquid and a liquid that helps joints (has glucosamine and controitin and some other stuff in it). Finish it off with Emergen - C vitamins. I eat breakfast (the deep breathing exercises should be done on an empty stomach), trying to have some good protein (turkey sammich -- on a good quality wholegrain bread -- a small omlette, tuna sammich, or the like) and add to it a good bowl of fruit and maybe a little cheese. After, I take some pro-biotics. Yes, it is all a pain in the ass, but yes, it's also helped.
I try to eat fish at least a few times per week, and adore the wild alaskan salmon sold at Costco for about $12.50 for six fillets. It's pre-seasoned and packaged separately, and one of those with some veggies and fruit and I'm good to go for dinner or lunch. I do eat lots of other things for my meals, but won't bore you with it all in the first post.
So tell me, what is your routine? What are you wanting to do and be when it comes to your physical being, and how do you plan on getting there?
As many know, I used to be just over 450 lbs and was living a miserable life. Some can be that weight and be mobile and happy, but not me. I decided that I was tired of being in pain 24/7 and of needing assistive devices in order to get around (cane, walker sometimes, and then the finishing move was the delivery of a wheelchair), so I determined that I had enough and was going to lose weight and create a total life change. I started just over three years ago, losing almost 120 lbs, and then have pleateau'd for at least a year now. It gets harder and harder to lose, and have been losing and gaining the same 4-8 lbs that bounces back and forth.
I have a few diseases/disorders/syndromes that often get in the way of being able to kick up my exercise very much -- like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, arthritis and lymphedema. I also have knees that, according to my ortho doc, are in need of replacing (I have a laundry list of other health things going on, but I'll leave them out of this for now). Still I exercise almost daily (5-6 days per week, so far), and try to concentrate as much as possible on healthy eating, not eating huge amounts, and avoiding the things I crave (why don't I ever crave steamed veggies???), substituting, instead with whole-grain items and lots of fruits.
So, I'm not really losing more weight at this point, and I'd like to because I'll be moving to an area with lots of stairs. But the fact is that I overall feel better and my endurance is a bit better. I know that if I get discouraged and give up, I'll just gain it all back and more, as has happened to me every other time in the past, whether I was on a fad diet, or had just changed my eating and exercised more (usually it was fad diets, though). So I'm trying to concentrate on the health aspect and keep that as a goal.
I'm interested in hearing from others who are eating healthy, or who want to, and would like to hear about what you are doing towards that end.
I start my day by first sitting at the computer, sleepy and googly-eyed. I then take a shower, put my compression garments on and do my Body Flex exercises.
Body Flex is something I've been doing almost the whole time (except when I slacked off for a while), but the workout has changed. I have kept some of the old moves while adding in the new, and what I like about it is that the combination of deep-breathing and stretching that is included in the workout usually energizes me. That's important for someone with chronic fatigue and fibro, as when I'm exhausted and hurting, exercise is the last thing I want to do, but it is also one of the things that will ultimately make me feel better. It's when I'm having a very bad CF/fibro day that exercise can actually make me feel worse, and on those days I either do a bit of the deep breathing stuff or nothing.
However, I have had some overall better days since starting on a routine listed above, and then after exercising, I take Norwegian Naturals cod oil, a magnesium, zinc, vitamin C and D liquid and a liquid that helps joints (has glucosamine and controitin and some other stuff in it). Finish it off with Emergen - C vitamins. I eat breakfast (the deep breathing exercises should be done on an empty stomach), trying to have some good protein (turkey sammich -- on a good quality wholegrain bread -- a small omlette, tuna sammich, or the like) and add to it a good bowl of fruit and maybe a little cheese. After, I take some pro-biotics. Yes, it is all a pain in the ass, but yes, it's also helped.
I try to eat fish at least a few times per week, and adore the wild alaskan salmon sold at Costco for about $12.50 for six fillets. It's pre-seasoned and packaged separately, and one of those with some veggies and fruit and I'm good to go for dinner or lunch. I do eat lots of other things for my meals, but won't bore you with it all in the first post.
So tell me, what is your routine? What are you wanting to do and be when it comes to your physical being, and how do you plan on getting there?
