Hip Hip Hurray

My hips must be getting smaller. I’m finally down to a size 14 jeans. My 16s were getting baggy so we went to the mall and I tried on a size 14. I was so happy that they fit. It has taken a few months and a lot of hard work. The trips that we have been taking recently haven’t helped either. It is really hard to eat right when you go on trips. I’m also happy to report that our trip to Cowan Lake for my birthday was very nice and I didn’t gain any weight.

I’m Only Human

Last week Clarence and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary. We decided that we were going to eat whatever we wanted on our anniversary. We had steak, baked sweet potato, dinner rolls and blackberry cobbler with ice cream for desert. I ate a lot more than I should have but it was a special occasion and as I said before it is o.k. I also didn’t exercise for the four days that we were gone. We ate a lot of fruits and vegetables and lean meat the other three days but didn’t exercise. The key is to eat right and exercise. You have to do both. I gained two or three pounds but some of it is water weight. I’m now back on my regular routine and the weight is starting to come off again. We are leaving again next week for four days but we plan to eat right and exercise.

Special Occasions

Clarence & I will be celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary on July the 8th. We have reserved a cabin at one of the state parks from the 5th to the 9th. I won’t say which state park. We don’t want company. This is going to be a challenge trying to not eat to much of the wrong things. We will have a few bottles of wine without a doubt. We will also have steak and all of the trimmings including dessert. That will just be for the one day. The other days we will try to eat the right foods. As I have said before it is alright to splurge every once in a while.

Finally

I finally got down below 210 lbs. I have been bouncing between 218 and 215 for a couple of months. I have been pretty busy and on my feet a lot and I retain a lot of water. It is very hard to stay on a healthy eating routine when your not losing weight. I want to cut back more but Clarence tells me to keep doing what I have been doing and the weight will come off. It is a lifestyle change, not a diet. I’m happy to report that I’m now 208.4 lbs and on my way down. My next goal is below 200lbs. I’m not going to get discouraged because Clarence and all of you won’t let me.

Good News

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea six years ago and I have been using a cpap machine ever since. I don’t know if you are familiar with the machine but it forces air into your throat to keep the airway open while you sleep. People with sleep apnea quit breathing because the airway temporarily collapses while they sleep. When I was tested six years ago I stopped breathing 15 times that night. I went back for a checkup six months ago and the doctor said that since I lost over one third of my body weight that the insurance would pay for me to be retested. We decided to wait six months so that I could lose more weight before he retested me. I was retested last week and I got the results this week and he said that I just had a very mild case of sleep apnea and that I don’t need the cpap machine anymore. That means no more hose to get tangled up in and no face mask that leaves marks on your face for half of the day. It is a blessing when you need it but it is also a blessing on the day that you no longer need it. Most people never get off of the machine. This goes to show you that there is hope.

Update

I am still losing weight but it is a lot slower. I thought I would just give you an update. I have lost a total of 118 pounds so far. I went from a size 30 jeans to a size 16 and they are getting loose. I have gone from a 3x blouse to a medium. My motorcycle helmet went from a 1x to a medium. My wedding ring was getting too big so we went to the jeweler yesterday to have it resized and it was a size 13 and will be a 10 ½.

I have spent a lot of money in new clothing and other things but the results of my weight loss is well worth the money. Last year I would have been spending money on medical bills because I was sick a lot. Now I spend money on things that we like to do like motorcycle events and weekend getaways and lots of other activities that I wasn’t able to do before. I’m really proud of myself. I have accomplished a lot.

Camping & Eating Healthy

This holiday weekend we went camping. We have a popup camper that we tow with the motorcycle. The camper isn’t very big but it has a queen size bed and is very comfortable. The last time we went camping was before I lost the weight and I didn’t enjoy myself. Clarence had to do all of the work because I wasn’t able to help him. I also couldn’t join in on the activities and I felt like I was keeping Clarence from having fun.

What I wanted to talk about was what I had to eat on this trip. Friday morning we went to Bob Evans and I had oatmeal with fruit in it. Friday afternoon I had a lean hamburger with onion, and string cheese wrapped in lettuce. ( no bun ) Later that night I had and apple and string cheese for a snack. Saturday morning I had bacon, one egg and two small pancakes with sugar free syrup. Saturday night I had one hamburger wrapped in lettuce, a small amount of baked beans and potato salad. I had a special K breakfast bar and a glass of red wine for a snack while sitting around the campfire. Sunday I had bacon, one egg and two small pancakes again. Sunday evening I splurged a little and had two Johnsonville brats on buns. I’m only human. I had string cheese and a glass of wine for a snack. Monday I had the same breakfast and for supper I had steak and sweet potato without butter or brown sugar. For snack I had a handfull of baked wheat thins and a glass of wine. I had coffee with my breakfast and drank plenty of water during the day. I usually have more fruits and vegetables when I’m at home but it’s hard to take all of that when your camping.