Amz

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Although I haven't completely abandoned all my other weight loss efforts, I've recently been going in a different direction with my introspection (psychologically and perhaps spiritually as well).  I've mentioned this book before, but I decided to explore it more thoroughly and even pruchased a few more of her titles.

The most recent and perhaps the most life altering, has been, "Breaking Free From Emotional Eating".  If you havne't read it or heard of it, I highly suggest you read it before going under the knife!  I found it so intriguing that I wrote out an outline of the entire book...bullet points that I think are intriguing and worth keeping nearby when I take notes on the second read.  This particular book explores the dynamics of emotional eating and gives deliberate and construcive steps to be aware of why and how you eat.  It's been miind blowing for me!!

My weight had recently spiralled up to 224 and I am currently back down to 210...in only 3 weeks!!  Why?  Because I took the time to ask myself a key question, "Am I Hungry"?

There is so much more to be learned from this process, but I do bellieve I am on the way to a healther weight.  Not because I found some magic bullet, but because I am taking the time to look at what I'm doing to myself and why I'm doing it.

So, I've now done all the DVD's except for the Cardio Party & Live DVD's  -- I'm working my way up to those.

The Kit includes the following DVD's:
The Basics DVD is about an hour long.
The 20 minute workout is great for beginners -- gets your heart rate up in a short amount of time.
The Ab Workout is 20 minutes long and well worth the effort as I have mentioned before.
The Tone & Tighten video is about 45 minutes long.
The Cardio Party is about an 45 minutes long and the one I'm going to try by August.
The Zumba Live video is hard core!!  Ultimately where I'd like to be by the end of summer/September!

Current schedule:
Monday - Tone & Tighten
Tuesday - 20 Minute Workout & Ab Workout
Wednesday - Tone & Tighten
Thursday - 20 Minute Workout & Ab Workout
Friday - Tone & Tighten
Saturday/Sunday - 20 Minute Workout or 1/2 of the Cardio Party or Ab Workout with one day of rest!

Sounds like a lot, but since I'm not walking I think it's good to try and keep myself moving as much as possible.

We'l see how I do!! 

After several weeks of feeling depressed about my current situation(s) I got back on the horse last night.  I haven't been walking much.  I kind of gave up because of the need to continuously wear an ankle brace due to the discomfort I was feeling afterwards.  I may need to give up walking all together, or just revisit it once I lose some substantial weight.

So,  I decided to do the 20 min. Ab workout after watching the infomercial for the 'umpteenth' time!  I'm so very glad I did!!  It is surprisingly easy, as far as the steps go.  I was surprised you could get so much done in such a small amount of time!!  My whole core is REALLY sore today and it's encouraging that something this cool and sexy could do so much for body and mind!!  I plan on trying the Cardio Party CD soon, but am tryng to pace myself simply because I have burned out so quick on other programs.  I'll do a program, do it until I hurt myself and then completely walk away from it.  I don't want that to happen here. 

Well, I got my Zumba kit last week and have done it twice --- just the basics!!

Although I have rhythm, I have difficulty with some of the movements but that's okay.  I'm just learning and will get the hang of it eventually.  I'll need to continue wearing dance shoes instead of athletic shoes, as the athletic shoes stick to the wood floor when I try and slide or twist.  

One other more important thing is that I will need to do either Zumba or Walking...I cannot do both!  I am having such issues with my right ankle that if I do one thing a day, it is very difficult to try and do the other for the simple reason that my body does not want to cooperate!!  Today I did my walk early in hopes that my ankle would recover by this evening, and that did not happen.  I still have a tightness and swelling that only will go away with an overnight up on a bed.  I'll have to do one or the other every day to keep my excercise up.  So I guess I will need to resign myself to the fact that this is the best I can do for now and not beat myself up, and be thankful that I can still get out of bed on my own, walk and dance.  Not everyone has that opportunity!! 

So here's another thing that has came to my attention after doing this test.  My appetite has become much smaller since I did the 5 Day 'Reboot'!!

Several times this week I've eaten HALF of what I used to post-op!!  After about a year post-op I had given up on myself and my weight loss and started eating carbs like there was no tomorrow.  Once I made the decision to do this return to basics way of eating, I've slowly returned to a much more manageable appetite.  I have to admit, I do have days where I feel like I just can't get enough bread, however what I've realized is that this need may be hormonal.  There is a tendency for me to be get this one particular craving pre-menstral.  It will be something I need to practice dealing with, but the good thing is that I've recognized it and can keep it in check as I go through this process.

It's been a while since I blogged about this subject but I thought I should mention something really important.

As you remove yourself from particular foods you will obviously feel the benefits of those changes.  However, when you decide to visit those foods that affected your stomch in a bad way...it will return!!  In fact it is possible that you will experience discomfort with a new round of foods that may not have affected you before.  It may just be that you become more aware of what's going on in your body, but I don't recall getting this sick previously.  So, I'm going to start considering these foods in my own mind the way I would consider a food allergy...if I don't want to get that reaction again, I'd better stay away from it!!

I highly recommend anyone who is considering having any sort of surgical intervention or has any weight issues, read this book!

I just finished listening to it today, and have to admit I'm going to start it again on my next walk.  It is eye opening to realize that my whole life have been stiffled because I use food to anesthetise my feelings.  It's important to note this book is not life changing in that I will not stop eating, and become saintly and thin.  I will still have issues with food, but here in this moment I feel liberated, like the flood gates of my emotions have been released and like little children on the last day of school they get to run and laugh and be free!

I began listening to Geneen Roth's book, "Women Food and God:  An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything".  Extremely insightful and a little disturbing.  This issue of oppression by self loathing and food as anesthesia are topics in this book which I saw on Oprah today.  Will post any small revelations as they are revealed to me. 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/28/police-woman-bites-man-called-fat/

Well, I completely failed to blog on day 5, but I have good news!!  After going all the way up to 220 lbs. I stuck to my guns and got back down to 214 once I applied myself!!  Woo hoo!!! 

I think what may have happened is that my body though the 'bad carbs' were going to be a regular thing and it began to store it as fat.  Then when I switched to the low fat, high protein 5DPT program, it released all that excess water weight I had been holding on to!!  Six pounds is a lot of water, but snacking on protein probably was a big factor as well.  I get hungry every 2 - 3 hours, so I snacked on proteins and had a small salad with some salmon with dinner.  This included the protein shake I had for breakfast, so I KNOW I got all my protein in!!

The biggest deal to me is that I am using considerably less insulin and still maintaining fantastic blood sugars!!  Any kind of processed carbs just causes discomfort and water retention.  Any kind of heavy fat causes, well more visits to the bathroom than I care to share!! 

The water drinking has been easier once I added sugar free tea/lemonade/punch packets to my BIG water bottle.  One with and one without per day!  Also since I was extremely anemic, I found it absolutely imperative that I take my vitamins each and every day!!

As I feel more comfortable and as my ankle heals, I'll be able to go for my walks again...before the weather gets too hot!! 

I'll continue to blog as I figure this out and hope that I can help anyone who needs it!!

Amz