Lab Work

I recently had labs performed so that I could get better life insurance. I couldn't do that before because I weighed too much. It's great to know that my health is good enough now that I can better take care of my family in this way.

• Blood Pressure: 108/72
• Glucose - 78 (normal 70-110 mg/dL)
• Fructosamine - 1.85 (normal 1.20-2.10 mmol/L)
• A1C Estimated Average Glucose: 5.3 (previously 5.5, normal 3.0-6.0)
• BUN - 20 (normal 6-25 mg/dL)
• Creatinine - .68 (normal .60-1.50 mg/dL)
• GFR - 100.22 (108 previous, normal 68-117 mL/min)
• Alkaline Phosphatase - 65 (normal 30-115)
• Total Bilirubin - .61 (.10-1.20 mg/dL)
• AST - 52 (previous 29, normal 0-41 U/L) - this is high, not sure why
• ALT - 64 (previous 36, normal 0-45 U/L) - this continues to go up, not sure why or if it's something to be worried about
• Gamma Glutamyltransferase - 14 (normal 2-65 U/L)
• Total Protein - 6.2 (normal 6.0-8.5)
• Albumin/Globulin - 2.4 (normal 1.1-2.3) - high, not sure why

• Cholesterol - 158 (previous 157, normal 120-260 mg/dL)
• HDL (good cholesterol) - 65 (normal 25-75)
• LDL (bad cholesterol) - 86 (60-190 mg/dL)
• Cholesterol/HDL Ratio - 2.43 (normal 1.50-5)
• LDL/HDL Ratio - 1.32 (normal 0-3.6)
• Triglycerides - 32 (previous 45, normal 10-200 mg/dL)

Side benefit of losing weight is that my teacher dress up outfits are so much more fun and easy to put together.

Week 66 - Surviving Thanksgiving

I just got my school pictures back. What a difference a year makes!

I didn't realize I'd let a couple weeks slip by without an update. Whoops! Thinks continue about the same. I am still two pounds from my goal. I really need to buckle down and just get there!

I did pretty good over Thanksgiving. I was controlled and kept my weight in check. The only bad thing is that I ate stuffing. After not having bread for a year, eating stuffing about killed my gut. I was in serious pain. 

I shared some advice with my clients that I want to document here just so I have it for the future.

Eating During the Holidays

First of all, remember that everything is a CHOICE. Get rid of thoughts like "I HAVE to eat this." or "I CAN'T eat that." You can do whatever you want. You are in charge of your own life. No one is telling you what you can or cannot do. 

What you can't do, is control the consequences of your choices. Those will come whether you want them to or not. So what you need to do is ask yourself what do you want most? For example, yesterday, they delivered donuts to teachers. They brought them right to our classrooms! I had to ask myself, what do I want most - a donut (which is so yummy and melts on your tongue) or to feel good in 30 minutes (because later that donut sits heavy in my stomach and makes me feel sluggish)? I opted to skip the donut. It was a quick decision, but the consequence stayed with me. We make hundreds of these kinds of decisions every day - and they're not just about food.

So take a minute and think about what you want most over the holidays. How important is the food to you? (There is no right or wrong answer.) How does that play into your traditions and family time? Is there a way to modify current traditions to make them healthier? What will be some of your biggest challenges? Regardless of your choices, make sure they are INTENTIONAL and not REACTIONAL. I'll write more about this next week.

Tips for eating during the holidays.

• Don't put serving dishes on the table. Keep them on the counter and fill your plate from there. You will eat less if you have to get up to fill your plate.

• Only put three things on your plate at a time. Often you will find that you are full after the first three things. 
  
  
• Stop when you are full (meaning satisfied, not like you're going to explode).

• Use a smaller plate.

• Eat veggies and protein first.

• Stay busy. We eat more when we're bored or watching t.v.

• Don't graze. When the meal is over, put food away in closed containers.

• Drink lots of water. Don't drink alcohol, soda or sugary drinks.

Week 63 - 4 Pounds to Go

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 154

Total lost: 82.8 (142.5)

While my weight is the most obvious change in my life, Optavia has brought so much more change. This week I did an analysis of my overall health and then compared it to the same analysis I took when starting Optavia. I have grown a lot. My overall well being is better.

It's taking forever for these final 5 pounds to go, but I'm down to 4 and hopefully they will fall off soon!

Week 61 - Happy Halloween!

For years our family would do a Halloween theme. It was fun to dress alike and I hope it made memories for my kids. But I hated the way I looked. I would find the easiest costume possible and usually it was something huge and shapeless to just try and hide myself. One year I just threw on my daughter's pop up princess castle. My life is so different now. I love dressing up. I love that everythig fits. I like the way I look. There is so much freedom in that.

Today a nurse came to the house to give me a quick physical because I'm getting better life insurance now that I've lost weight. On her scales, I weight 150! That's my goal weight! But I'm still going to go by my scales, which unfortunately still show me at 155. 

She was surprised because my blood pressure was so low. It's never been so low. I don't think it's a concern because my mom's blood pressure is always low and I feel fine. I'll keep an eye on it just in case. She took it three times: 90/58, 80/58, and 86/60.

Week 60 - 5 Pounds to Go!

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 155

Total lost: 81.8 (141.5)

Inches lost: 47.25 (61.25)

BMI down: 14.5 (23.5)

I lost another half pound this week. Not much, but slowly and surely I'm getting to my goal. I've started calling my coach every evening so we can both touch base with each other and share our day. This added accountability has helped me stay on track with the little things. I really want to hit my goal by Thanksgiving and I know it's completely possible.

The dress I'm wearing in the picture is from Walmart. It only cost $1! The cool thing is that I can go to a clearance rack and find things that fit me. My options are so much wider now that I'm smaller. The freedom that has come to so many areas of my life through this healthy lifestyle is liberating. 

I am hoping to be able to share this freedom with others and bring them the joy that I have found.

Week 59 - Creeping Closer

I hit a new low today - in a good way! I'm in the 155's! I'm getting closer and closer to my goal. I know it's within my reach and it's completely up to me to get there. I need to fall back on the habits I've been building and be an actor not a reactor in my life. I plan to be there by Thanksgiving.

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 155.6

Total lost: 81.2 (140.9)

I have decided to try and grow my Optavia business. It has grown so much this year with very little effort from me. I've decided to put some effort into it and just see what will happen. I would love for more people to find the happiness and health that I have found.

A year ago, I had no idea that my life could be where it is right now. I don't take that for granted and I am so very grateful.

Week 58 - Will I Ever Get There??

See that girl in the middle of the picture? Near the back? She looks amazing! She looks confident! She isn't tired. She could do this for hours. She is me! I love that I like how I look.

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 156

Total lost: 80.8 (140.5)

I didn't lose any weight this week. While I'm disappointed, I'm not surprised for a couple of reasons. First, I lost three pounds last week so that was a huge loss and it's common to not have much loss the following week. Secondly, and probably more importantly, I was casual with snacks again. If I am not careful with almonds and cheese, everything slows down. 

I really want to just be in maintenance and sometimes I think I'm living like I'm already there. Six pounds is soooo far away, but yet it's so close. I want to be there by Thanksgiving. I know I can do it!

And in the meantime, I'm going to put this right here to remind me of how far I've come.