Still “Weighting”…

The sun is far from going down on my behavior modification.

We had our appointment with the dietician today, after having to reschedule twice due to work conflicts for the both of us.

Embracing changes in diet has been gradual, but evidently effective. I am down twenty seven pounds. Jim is also down. It’s a good thing. Our blood work that we had done recently also reflects the lifestyle change.

What also is nice is that I have approached the whole concept as not a diet, but indeed, a lifestyle change. I wasn’t looking to drop five pounds a week. A half pound or pound or two a week was much more realistic. I didn’t care as much as I wanted to keep off what I had lost.

Since the beginning of April we have both embraced this journey. I can honestly say I have been eating as I would want to for the rest of my life. The shocking part, for me at least, is that I really haven’t been hungry for the junk that I normally would have reached for. For me, this was the hardest part ,initially. Hey, I am a big fan of crumb cake …not to mention other things…

So, the “weighting” for change is an on-going process. As long as we keep off what we have lost, and feel better, we are ahead of the game.

End of Term Malaise

I put up this shot of one of this year’s Gerber daisies to brighten my mood.

I worked all day today and don’t have to work tomorrow , as the testing that had been going on at school, and I had been assisting with, is over.

Quite honestly, when they had informed me of that, I was relieved because I sure can appreciate the down time. At the same time, I experienced an ache in my throat that spelled out one thing to me.

School is almost over. Gee.

I have been working for a few years as a class aide, but this was my first term as a substitute teacher. I came to this job thirty years too late. Hah! Actually, I can probably say that this job at almost sixty has been a blessing.

The blessing comes in a number of ways. I have never been more active as I have been this term, an I also have been moving with more of a purpose. It is coincidental that my dietician visits help give me more incentive to knock retirement weight off, but also the students I deal with help. I mean, seriously ? I have never picked up some many pencils off a floor in my life. The great thing about that is my back isn’t talking back to me when I do that. I have to admit that is a pretty good feeling. The satisfaction of having students listen and actually give me positive me feedback, and even questions, was good for my soul. My years of education and the subject matter actually was translatable, and I was glad for that. Between Jim taking me in and me walking home, I am working on getting some muscle tone back that has been sadly missing for a while. I could go on and on.

Most of all, the students are awesome in their own way. As I type this and remember that they will be going on to a new grade with new teachers, maybe some of them will remember their own Mrs. C.

I know I sure won’t forget them. Hey, I read “Good-bye Mr. Chips”. I know what it’s all about.

Class dismissed.

Surprises? No”Weigh”

After a great day with my second graders yesterday, I had to dedicate today to the Parkway “shuttle”. That is, I had two appointments within 4 hours and it seems as if I spent today in the car.

The first appointment was with my physician. The awful cough, evidently, was a benchmark of a sinus infection. Now I am on the road to recovery from that lousy bug. Never mind that the pollen is so thick, and the physician admits that it is playing a role, but it’s my Philadelphia sinuses that are basically screwed up.

The second appointment was the dietician. After two months, I am down eighteen and a half pounds. It’s coming off slow and steady, which, I know, is how it should be. Jim has also lost about the same amount as me. We had participated in a health fair on Saturday and both of our cholesterol levels are down, reflecting the change in out diet. As Jim would do anything to avoid medication, he was elated with the results.

So for now? We are going to keep on keeping on. Stay tuned to how the sixty and over crowd make out with getting some health on the right track and shedding the pounds

Tricking My Metabolism

It is Thursday and it has been nice being home with Jim and not being two ships, passing in the midday, as it were. We got a bit accomplished, and with the fiasco of last night’s dinner out as the exception, it’s been pretty good.

I have found the time to tweak my foods this week. By that I mean slipping a nonfat yogurt in when I think my body was looking for carbs. It has been a week for more salad, and I am surprised at how easily my body is adapting to it.

Kasia has been keeping me on my toes also. It’s incredible that the longer walk has her looking for it, that is, walking more frequently. That has been a plus for the both of us.

Of course, to spite my Claritin -D and Mucinex input, I always get to appreciate the new things in bloom that are gorgeous. How the lilacs bring me back to Mays past. It is also a reminder that Jim’s birthday is coming up, along with Mother’s Day.

I made it through Easter pretty well, and if I keep mixing up my walking, with biking and the like, I should hopefully be ok in May. Actually, I’ll find out on Tuesday, which is the next dietician’s appointment.

“Weighting” for Good Health

It was a beautiful day today, albeit colder thanks to the current winter storm hitting the midwest. For example, I’m wearing polar fleece over a sweatshirt as I type this. Will it stop my weight-loss mission?No way.

Our local hospital,in conjunction with our registered dietician and a few other physicians and nurses, ran a healthy eating program at a country-club located in our vicinity.The program started at 6PM and at 5:30PM, they offered us healthy choices for dinner. There were various salads with light dressings that were very tasty. I had the spring mix with sliced Granny Smith apples and walnut halves that was really good. Jim also opted for this choice. They offered hummus and sliced veggies and dip in addition to fresh cut fruit. The offerings were cantaloupe,pineapple,honeydew and grapes.

It was a 1 1/2 hour program and definitely worth the time and attention. Now, if I can shake this cold?

I’ll feel great!

Weight a Minute!

Between the exercise of walking Kasia further, school and counting carbs and calories, I am officially down 12 1/2 pounds.

Take the picture above. Where Jim and I go out for dinner on Thursday nights, they have introduced this roasted red beet salad which is delicious. Six months I wouldn’t have thought so. Incredible what accountability will do.

The dietician looked at me as though she didn’t think I would do as well as I did on the scale. Easy to do, when you are tired of lugging the extra inches on your body.Our appointment today gave us a few ideas on trying twists in the menu to keep us satisfied and keep up our good work.

So we are going to keep on keeping on. This appointment marked one month since the initial appointment with the dietician. I’m going to keep doing what has been working for me, and not kill myself, as I realize that an almost 60 year old body goes slowly in some areas. Fortunately, there is no race. My body is happy, and I intend to keep it that way!

Wait,…no….Weight

Say hello to my little friend…… my calorie guide.

I have been working, according to the dietician’s rules, trying hard to watch carbs while working between 1200-1500 calories.

It’s been working. The hardest point ? Fish!!!! I went into this, as they say ” not a fan.” I have come to like mahi-mahi. That’s about it. Perhaps I will come to gladly appreciate it more. It is hard, being a shellfish fan, but I am willing to keep trying. This change will be for the better; this I know. I’d like to be able to enjoy my retirement in better health.

So I am lighter, as of this writing. The trick is being able to keep it off.

Stay tuned!