Well today I bit the bullet and while I was at the Rec, I asked Thomas to weigh me. I have been walking 3 miles every other day now for eight days. I feel so good when I am done. I am still very fatigued but I am hoping that when they get the sleeping oxygen right, that will be alleviated. Anyway, I took the leap of faith and I weighed 195 pounds. That is 70 pounds less than I weighed two years ago but now is the time for me to get in gear and take off the last 40 pounds. I really do believe if I use the band as a tool, walk as I train for the April half marathon, and eat right, I can do it by August which will be two years with the band.
I know I should look at the fact that I have weighed 195 pounds now for a very long time but I am eating healthy and not feeling deprived of some of the things I enjoy. I just have to exercise to increase my burn so that more fat will go. Considering we went on vacation and I have been under an incredible amount of stress, I think I have proven to myself that I can maintain now.
I just have to lose the last 160 sticks of butter.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A Fresh Start
I got a call from the Doctor about my blood work. Interesting! Everything was fine except for my Vitamin D count. I am at 20 which is considered quite low. The doctor would like the count to be between 40 and 100. So they ordered a prescription vitamin D. Vince opted for the liquid due to the fact that the capsule was quite large. The price breaks the bank. However, low vitamin D count can contribute to weight gain, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and decreased immunity. I started with the first dose of that last night when I returned home from my visit out west.
Then today the Doctor called again. The sleep (at home) study that I did last Saturday night showed that about 20 times during the night something happened but most significant was that much of the night for three minutes at a time, my oxygenation went quite low. In simple terms, my brain is not getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen leads to fatigue during the day and can cause strokes. Now this was a wake up call because my grandfather and my mother (his daughter) died of stroke related causes. So now I go see a pulminologist (due to my insurance) and have a full blown sleep study. Stay tuned for these medical events. I could do a TV show with all the activities going on. The PA asked many questions about sinus infections, snoring, grinding my teeth, talking in my sleep, etc. I answered "yes" far too many times. If I can begin to go to sleep and feel rested when I awake, I will be a happy camper. The PA said I would have to start sleeping with oxygen and time will tell about a CPAP (whatever that is?).
I have set a goal for myself. One of the baseball player wives is a marathon runner and when I saw her at the wedding (see former posts), she encouraged me to enter a marathon. Now reason would tell you that this almost 63 year old non-runner thought she was crazy. She went on to tell me that many people walk marathons and that some walk 1/2 marathons. She continued by telling me that people cheer you on and everyone gets excited when you cross the finish line. Needless to say, I bit. I have always thought it would be fun to complete a 5K but as some of you know me, I never settle for less than the best, so I am opting for the 1/2 marathon. I have asked my daughter, Allison, to walk with me. She has been encouraging me to walk alot. What better way for us to go than together. She is pregnant, by the way, and just perhaps, the three of us could finish the walk together. We are planning for April. She will be seven months along and I think I could keep up with her then. I walked three miles today in 55:45. The training begins.
Then today the Doctor called again. The sleep (at home) study that I did last Saturday night showed that about 20 times during the night something happened but most significant was that much of the night for three minutes at a time, my oxygenation went quite low. In simple terms, my brain is not getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen leads to fatigue during the day and can cause strokes. Now this was a wake up call because my grandfather and my mother (his daughter) died of stroke related causes. So now I go see a pulminologist (due to my insurance) and have a full blown sleep study. Stay tuned for these medical events. I could do a TV show with all the activities going on. The PA asked many questions about sinus infections, snoring, grinding my teeth, talking in my sleep, etc. I answered "yes" far too many times. If I can begin to go to sleep and feel rested when I awake, I will be a happy camper. The PA said I would have to start sleeping with oxygen and time will tell about a CPAP (whatever that is?).
I have set a goal for myself. One of the baseball player wives is a marathon runner and when I saw her at the wedding (see former posts), she encouraged me to enter a marathon. Now reason would tell you that this almost 63 year old non-runner thought she was crazy. She went on to tell me that many people walk marathons and that some walk 1/2 marathons. She continued by telling me that people cheer you on and everyone gets excited when you cross the finish line. Needless to say, I bit. I have always thought it would be fun to complete a 5K but as some of you know me, I never settle for less than the best, so I am opting for the 1/2 marathon. I have asked my daughter, Allison, to walk with me. She has been encouraging me to walk alot. What better way for us to go than together. She is pregnant, by the way, and just perhaps, the three of us could finish the walk together. We are planning for April. She will be seven months along and I think I could keep up with her then. I walked three miles today in 55:45. The training begins.
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