Nancy’s Weight loss Journey 5 Yrs & Counting

I decided last week to take a few days off from exercising. I’ve been going at it 5 days a week, 2 hr classes on average; so about 10+ hours a week. Not only that I did 210 push-ups the Sunday befire. Dang, it took a good 5 days to get rid of the sorenss.

Yesterday I went back after 4 days of nothing. I felt a drug addict; wanted to workout but must not. I read somewhere, or heard I think, on one of Jillian Michael’s radio talkshow, that after a few months of consistantly exercise, that a break is good. The break period can be from a few days to even a month.

Went back to the gym yesterday; I mean my 2nd home. I had a lot of fun. We did the Best of 5 in kickboxing. Then yoga. My weight day is Thursday. So I added tri-cep dips in between vinyasas to get some upper body strength conditioning in. I think I did about 60 of them because my shoulders and chest are sore as sh*t. I’m not sure if I’m going to take a long break like that again. I missed it too much.

So today I’m trying to find the best gym to workout at. I have kickboxing planned but need one more hour of cardio added - spin class maybe??????????

Haaa, I swear, I hate PMS. It makes me be short and ugly. I work for a gas analysis manufacturing company in Orange County. Great, stable job with opportunities to do more and make more money. I just have to get back to school and get a degree in Business Management and Accounting.

This is our busy season; a lot of government agencies and schools put in late orders to use up the money in their budget before year end. Little tidbit, my boss and his wife are the owners, and for the last 30 years it’s their baby. They are in their 60’s. So my wonderful, sweet boss hires an assistant. It’s a friend of hers who’s also in her 60’s; simply because the friend needed work and we need help (I need an extra hand). She’s a wonderful lady. I always get along well with older people because I respect my elders and always try to learn from them. She’s been here almost two months. For those two months she only took over one easy assignment - or so I thought, that the assignment is easy because it is for me. 7 TIMES - FOR 7 TIMES NOW IN 2 MONTHS, I gone over and over the same freakin’ issue. I’ve addressed it several ways but it’s not sticking. I told her - I’ve shown this to you several times. I took you through the process several times. You have to do it and learn. There is no other way. No matter how many times we went over the same freakin’ issues and procedure, she is still fuzzy about it. And for the 5TH FREAKIN’ TIME - she asked me how I learned how to do the assignment and I told her, I was not trained by anyone. Someone gave me a piece of paper with instructions on it and I followed it. Everything I’ve learn is on the job and by doing it myself. No one taught me. To insinuate that it’s easy for me because I’ve been in this line of work ticked me off. No lady - I freakin’ adapt. I learn on the fly and get going with it. I can’t afford to ask the Boss how to do something 7 times - do you think she would retain me if I did that? And dear lord, it’s only 1 task. I can’t move on to the next one if she can’t grasp this easy assignment.

Today I have $250,000 worth of capital equipment to process and get out the door. I spent almost 1 and 1/2 hour with her over the above task. It’s taking up too much of my time. An assistant is suppose to help me not the other way around. I just have to find a way to address this with boss lady because this is a friend of hers of more then a decade.

I’m going to bang my head against the wall right now.

Haaaaaaaaaah

Ok, at least I’m not binging - venting here helps.

Wow, there is so much to catch up on. Last week my honey decided to be a computer whiz, poor soul, ended up messing up our internet connection; thus I didn’t have access to my beloved Buddyslim all weekend.

We’re in our busy season at work; I have a ton of paperwork to review so I can’t be on here as much as I want. Hopefully I’ll have some free time later on this afternoon. Despite the economy being in the sh*th*le, we’re doing well and at 100% capacity in production; meaning I’m busy as hell with my orders.

My boss hired an office assistant for me, but she’s driving me crazy half the time. Oh well, will do the best I can with what I have.

In terms of working out, I’m taking a 4 day hiatus from my exercise routine. It’s tough because I’m so use to working out a few hours a week. But it’s neccessary to do this every few months. Or else I risk overtraining my body. Tomorrow I return to my workout routine of kickboxing and yoga.

I”m trying to stay upbeat - there’s a lot going on in my personal life that is dependent on an appointment my honey has with the court system this afternoon. Keeping my fingers crossed. It’s either my baby is coming home or I get a ride to LA to pickup my car. Very stressful right now.

In terms of food, I’ve been eating badly but a lot less food. I ate a croissant last night at midnight - all stress related. Not hungry, just mindless eating.

My heart is beating fast, my palms and feet are sweating - hoping things goes our way.

Last night after my 1/2 hour abs class we started setting up for Lift. One of my friends, whom I used to hang out with all the time, started chatting with me. She knew me at my heaviest, at my first weightloss, through my gain and now. She said at the end of our conversation,”Wow, your skin is glowing. It looks so clear and beautiful” I told her one word “WATER!!!” And proud of it. And to think, I forgot to put on my moisturizer that morning. Even at a party a few weeks ago, I was told that this time around I look so much better then I’ve ever looked in my life. Even though I lost 70 lbs in a year, I did not do it right - I didn’t drink enough water nor ate well enough - so I was smaller but I wasn’t necessarily healthier or healthier looking.

So my questions to my fellow friends and buddies, what kind of feedback are you getting from your families and friends? With all the exercise, eating good food, vitamins and drinking water that we do - are others noticing the change in you?

Yes!!!  “Cayenne pepper”

I’ve blogged in the past about the company I work for.  We manufacture gas analysis equipment for the government, universities and QC facilities.  We’re an envirnomentally friendly company.  My boss and his wife are co-owners and Chiefs.  They are the most down to earth people you could meet.  They are very “green”, live a very healthy lifestyle,  which in a way has helped me stay on the road to living healthy myself. 

My boss is very liberal, his wife a Democrat - we’re all very politically conscious.  We all watch the presidential debates and have lively discussions about it daily.  I’m not going to say who I’m voting for because it’s not meant for Buddyslim.  He doesn’t believe in mainstream media; thus the reading material we have on hand are the one published by small groups, very liberal groups.

Amongst the reading material I found something that grabbed my interest.  It’s a book about a guy, who at 47 had 2 heart attacks, had heart by-pass surgery and left for dead by his doctors.  Along his journey he met a woman who suggested he eat Cayenne Pepper; he laughed it off - yeah right, like what can a simple herb do for him.  After one of his last doctor visit - he realized his docs don’t care about him or his life.  If you are not a success story, you are a failure.  He was dying and the only person who cared was him.  So he left the office and went and bought a 69 cents bottle of this pepper.  He took 3 teaspoonful and thought nothing of it.  Well, that was his last doctor visit.  From the moment he started integratng CP into his diet, he was clear of any heart attacks and have not visited a doctor’s office once.  All this happened in the mid 1970’s.

So I did my own research on this powerful herb.  It’s been used for thousands of years by many people. 

QUOTATION  Many herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most useful and valuable herb in the herb kingdom, not only for the entire digestive system, but also for the heart and circulatory system. It acts as a catalyst and increases the effectiveness of other herbs when used with them.

Cayenne is a medicinal and nutritional herb.  It is a very high source of Vitamins A and C, has the complete B complexes, and is very rich in organic calcium and potassium, which is one of the reasons it is good for the heart.  

YOUR HEART     Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks within 30 seconds.  For example, when a 90-year-old man in Oregon had a severe heart attack, his daughter was able to get Cayenne extract into his mouth.  He was pronounced dead by the medics, but within a few minutes, he regained consciousness.  On the way to the hospital, he remained in a semi-conscious state, but the daughter kept giving him the Cayenne extract.  By the time they got  to the hospital, he had fully recovered and wanted to go home and mow the lawn.  The doctor asked what she had given him, as he said it was the closest thing to a miracle he had ever seen.

Capsicum (cayenne pepper) is said to be unequal for its ability to boost circulation and increase heart action. Capsicum exerts a variety of desirable actions on the entire cardiovascular system. It has the extraordinary ability to enhance cardiovascular performance while actually lowering blood pressure. Capsicum has an energizing effect on the entire system. It has traditionally been used for overcoming fatigue and restoring stamina and vigor. It is a natural stimulant without the threatening side effects (palpitations, hyper-activity or rise in blood pressure) of most other stimulating agents. 

It is a good idea to always have some Cayenne extract on hand for emergencies.  Dr. Anderson carries capsules of cayenne with him in the car and whenever he goes hiking, backpacking or mountain climbing.  He says, “You never know when you may find someone having a heart attack or some other emergency.” 

PAIN   Capsaicin cream is well established as a modestly helpful pain-relieving treatment for post-herpetic neuropathy (the pain that lingers after an attack of shingles) peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain that occurs most commonly as a side effect of diabetes, but may occur with HIV as well as other conditions), nerve pain after cancer surgery and arthritis.  

 The potent, hot fruit of cayenne has been used as medicine for centuries. It was considered helpful for various conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including stomachaches, cramping pains, and gas. Cayenne was frequently used to treat diseases of the circulatory system. It is still traditionally used in herbal medicine as a circulatory tonic (a substance believed to improve circulation). Rubbed on the skin, cayenne is a traditional, as well as modern, remedy for rheumatic pains and arthritis due to what is termed a counterirritant effect. A counterirritant is something which causes irritation to a tissue to which it is applied, thus distracting from the original irritation (such as joint pain in the case of arthritis).

Well, what do you think sits on our lunch table besides raw chocolate bits?  CP!! So I had some today.  Not bad.  I think I can do it.

This is an herb - nothing more, nothing less - so if you want to spice up your food and get some health benefit from doing it- I say why not.  Also, it’s natural and cost a few dollars for a bottle at the grocery store.

Ok!!! I think I’m going insane! I have to blog this or else I will get in my car and start searching for a spot to get some greasy oh so good but not good for the wasitline food. I hate PMS! She’s visiting me a bit early and I’m on one right now. Thank God I’m at work and there’s nothing bad to eat. So worried about how I’m going to handle being home tonight.

The logical side says to stick with my meal plan. I already ate 2 hard boiled eggs (don’t laugh Anj) with rice, 3 small guavas for breakfast. Right now I have a beautiful romaine salad w/ honey mustard dressing waiting for me but I don’t want to eat it. Then I have a chicken breast w/ whole wheat wrap waiting for lunch but I dont’ want it. The thought of eating any more healthy food makes me want to throw up.

I found myself googling spots to eat -thai, vietnamese, french, fast food - I don’t care I just want something to fill this desire to eat delicious food.

I just want to get past this binging raging period. Lord help me.

The I’m not so hungry because I had food poisoning didn’t last long. Hehehe. After kickboxing and yoga I was starving. I ate dinner which was high in protein. But sadly enough I went back around 11 pm for some peanut butter yummy and ate the rest of my muffin from the night before. Don’t want to think about the calories. All I know is I kicked arse in both classes and that makes up for the midnight snack. Almost forgot, did get some upper body training in; every time we go into chaturanga in yoga, I injected 5 push-ups before going into downward facing dog. So I did about 45 push-ups or so.

My brother, being unemployd and all, had time on his hand to climb his girlfriend’s guava tree yesterday. I got home and had about 25 lbs of guave in my fridge. Good freakin’ lord. So I read up on the healthy benefits of guavas.

Guava is Beneficial in the following cases :

Prolonged menstruation
High blood pressure
Poor circulation (strengthen the heart)
Congestion of the lungs
Acidosis
Asthma
Catarrh
Obesity
Scurvy

Guava Contains :

Vitamin C the skin of guava contains more than 5 times Vit C than that of an orange.
Vitamin A and B
Calcium
Nicotinic Acid
Phosphorus
Potassium
Iron
Folic acid
Fiber

Nutritive Values of Guava : Per 100 gm.

Vitamin A : 250 I.U.
Vitamin B : Thiamine .07 mg.;
Niacin : 1.2 mg.
Vitamin C : 302 mg.
Calcium : 30 mg.
Phosphorus : 29 mg.
Carbohydrates : 17.1 gm.
Protein : 1.0 gm.
Calories : 70

So for the next week or so my main fruit source is: GUAVA I eat it skin, seed and all in it’s raw form.

Today I have to take a day off from working out. Been at it 2 hours a day for the last three days - 2.5 on Monday. My whole body is sore. Tomorrow will be my lift and my date with the stairmaster.

Oh hittin’ up Costco for my food supply for work today. I usually stock up on organic bread, fruits, cottage cheese, non-fat yogurt and veggies. I am not buying eggs. So tired of eating it daily for the past 2 weeks.

Yesterday, 2 hours before gym time and in preparation for my workout I tried to get my fruits in. I started with a big peach but it didn’t taste right. I went on to my pear and it didn’t taste right either. I ended up eating a nectarine and some of my chili. Well, my 3pm snack didn’t sit too well with me. I started having a stomach ache right away.

So I went to the gym still feeling full, which normally doesn’t happen because I give mself 2 hrs to digest my food. So I felt bloated and my tummy was playing with me. I got to the gym 1/2 hr before kickboxing so my instructor called me in to participate in step. I had fun; I looked goofy because I rarely do steps but I did my thing and considered that my warm up for kickboxing. I was having a hard time in kickboxing because I still felt bad; but did it and got a good sweat, not my best work, but enough to get a good hour in. Then came yoga. Did that but felt queasy the whole time.

The food poisoning hits full force once I got home. On top of feeling sick I was up till about 4am because Rodney was working on an art project. Luckily for me, this FP had a short run; just 12 hours.

I think the peach was bad and it went through my system really quick.

Hoping for a better day today. I’ve been forgetful lately - last week was my workout shoes, today my workout bras. Normally I have extras in the car but lately I’ve been too busy to check. So gotta go home midday to get it so I can do weights and some cardio for 2 hours. No classes today - just my own routine.

Reasons why we have a hard time losing weight. And how I loss weight and hopefully permanent weightloss

Our environment
We are a nation dependent on easy transportation – that of automobile, train, plane, etc.
In an ideal world I would not drive to work. The best mode of transportation would be bike. It would be a great exercise, about 10 miles to and from work. Problem is the safety factor. Even though there are bike lanes I’m afraid I’ll get hit by one of our many car happy people who likes to drive 50 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Prepackaged food and Fast food crazed nation.
Albeit it economic or social reasons, many of us eat fatty fast food and prepackaged food. It’s fast, easy and cheap. All that stuff in the middle aisles of the grocery store are bad for us – usually made with unhealthy fat, a ton of salt and sugar which leads to food addiction.

A quote I found that I find so true “If you don’t feel happier being lighter than you do when indulging in the momentary gratification of eating food which is bad for you, then figure out why. The human mind and heart are opaque, and hard to untangle. If self-destruction (Thanatos) or self-sabotage is ultimately more rewarding than being lighter, then you have to ask yourself why that is so and work until you get the answer. Yes, we all resist admitting we have a problem we can’t solve, and there is still a stigma about seeing a psychiatrist or counselor. But there’s really no substitute for understanding what’s going on inside you. I did it (for depression), and I recommend it. Many people would be better off spending the money they waste on diets (wasted in the sense that their weight loss is only temporary) on some counseling to resolve the issues which underpin their unhealthy lifestyle.”

I completely agree. When I lost my first 70 lbs, I was not happy. Even though I was lighter and fit into clothes I only dreamt of, I was not happy with me; thus I was not happy with my weight loss. Ultimately I gained 30 lbs back.

Instant gratification and I want a pill solution.
You see those ads on TV – Lose 30 lbs in 30 days or take this pill and you’ll lose weight without changing your food habit or exercise, etc…or try this fast or that fast.

They are full of BS. You can waste your money on propaganda; personally I’d take that money and invest in a personal trainer or gym membership. It doesn’t work and will never work in my opinion. There is no shortcut. Simple as that. Either you commit yourself to it or you will continue to yo-yo diet for the rest of your life. Evolving a healthy lifestyle takes daily effort and a lot of discipline. There is no instant gratification. You will have good days and bad. Embrace it all because it will make you stronger at the end of the day.

Cutting calories is only part of the equation; exercise is essential.
Another great quote: “The diet industry is built upon the edifice of calorie-counting; exercise is always mentioned, but basically it is dismissed because it’s unprofitable to everyone but gyms. If going to a gym works for you, then great; if it doesn’t, then you have to find some other way to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.” I love going to the gym because I found classes and exercise that sparks my interest. If the gym doesn’t work for you, find activities that would work for you. Oh, and not having time is a poor excuse for not exercising. We can find time – again, it’s all about commitment to you.

Personally, I try to work out every inch of my body through lots of cardio, strength conditioning, yoga for flexibility and peace of mind and Pilate’s for a strong core. From breathing to sweating, each activity is important and vital to successful weight loss.

I also find setting mini goals helps me. I get excited when I set small goals because they are easy to tackle; thus if I can tackle a small goal I can tackle any goal.

A month ago if someone said to me, “in one month you will do 200 regular push-ups” I would look at them like they are crazy. But I did it. I set mini goals and worked my way up. Meeting goals encourages me to go further and push beyond my comfort zone.

Exercising isn’t enough–you have to change what you’re eating, too.
NO DIETING!!!!!!

Eating well is something advocated on buddyslim time and time again. Eat healthy food and everything else in moderation. Drink your water, eat your fruits and veggies, get your fiber in, and take your vitamin. Don’t deny yourself of anything. If you crave something, just have it NOT the whole box but a small portion. Portion control is key, as many of us know.

I notice we have a lot of soda addicts on BS. Just think of it this way, if you were to drink a can of regular soda it has about 150 calories, two of those and you should be in the gym and on the elliptical for 40 minutes or so to burn it off. Cut the soda and you save 300 calories easy.

Water, it doesn’t taste like anything but so important in the weight loss process. Additionally, water gives you beautiful glowing skin – less make-up for ladies who wears too much already. I get less and less acne these day and I contribute that to my water intake.

And if you do binge or give in to your craving – DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP FOR IT. Just let it go and move on.

Deprivation doesn’t work. Being moderately good does work.
It’s ok to have a slice of pizza or some fries once in a while. Deprivation leads to only one thing – binging.

Weight loss takes time.
From personal experience I can tell you that losing weight takes a lot of time and effort. But don’t ever give up; eventually the changes you’ve made will be noticeable.

IE – as many of my buddies know from previous bogs I was at a plateau for 3 months. Many times during that period I felt discourage but I NEVER GAVE UP. Even though I was not losing “weight” my body was changing. My face is smaller, neck bones are showing, my toes don’t look fat, my fingers look slender – even though the scale show the same number over and over again, my healthy habits were paying off big time.

So take pictures ladies – of your progress – so on those bad days look at them and remind yourself of how far you’ve come on your journey.

”Diets don’t work because they are a priori temporary. Make changes in your daily habits, which will automatically stay with you your entire life. This isn’t as hard as it seems. Some morning yoga or Tai Chi Chuan, an afternoon or evening stroll, finding a low-calorie dessert you like, these types of things aren’t that difficult. “

Reward yourself when you meet goal. Whether it’s a new outfit, candy bar, date night, favorite dinner – reward yourself for your effort and you’ll continue on meeting goal.

I set a goal this morning for 140 push-ups, more then I’ve done at any other time.  Well, I did my 140 plus an additional 70.  I did my 2 minutes of planks; will do a few planks to finish off the night.  I also drank more the 132 oz of water; hehehe I’m retaining enough of it because I’m a bit bloated.

So, I failed with food yet again.  Although I’m within my 1400 calories, my bad self had to eat 4 pieces of onion rings and a few fries from Carl’s Jr.  So dinner will be very light.

Night is not over yet.  I hope I can make it through the night without grazing or eating more bad food.  Darn family,there out to sabotage me. :)  J/K

Tomorrow I’m going to my favorite kickboxing and yoga class.  Can’t wait for it.