So Far so Good

Yea, they put me on Metformin... and probably a genetic brand of Trico. I already got the metformin and my blood sugar is starting to stabilize. I couldn't get Tricor because of my health insurance.... so I haven't gotten that yet.

Day one is over and so far so good! I stayed focused.
It's so funny and I don't quite understand it.... It feels great to make good decisions... to get my exercise in, and to eat the right food...... And yet I fight against it so much. And what's even worse.... when I don't exercise, don't eat right I feel awful. Why do I want to put myself through that misery? Beats the heck out of me!

I was reading (go figure... It seems I always am...) a book called "Eat & Beat Diabetes with picture perfect weight loss" by Dr. Howard M. Shapiro and Chef Franklin Becker (who is diabetic).... it is a really awesome book. It show pictures of food .... from the worst option to the best option... and it also shows like a regular breakfast sandwich from any fast food restaurant, and then it shows what you could eat for the same amount of calories (most of the time way less than the calories). I like the visuals... you can definitely see that eating healthy is a lot more food!

Anyways, at the beginning of the book in the intro they give you some shocking news on the facts of diabetes. They also discuss, in short, whats going on inside with the insulin, glucose, and pancreas. I guess what I took from this or 'shocked me' is this:


"Diabetes is not just a disease; it is also a risk factor. It is a component of what doctors have labeled metabolic syndrome - a combination of medical disorders including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), low HDL cholesterol ( the "good" cholesterol), high triglycerides and overweight or obesity. The more of the components of metabolic syndrome a person has, the greater his or her chances of suffering life-threatening complications."

Wow... I'm self diagnosing myself with metabolic syndrome. Seriously. My blood pressure is good (for now... but if I keep going the way I'm going I know it would be worse)... But all the rest of it fits in perfectly. It's such a much bigger picture than diabetes. Yesterday the doctor was going over the results of my triglycerides and the fact that my blood glucose level was a lot higher than it should be... and he said that I was on my way to having pancreatitis... (shut down on pancreas) ... I've already had it twice... If I keep it up... one day my pancreas won't start working again and then I will be a type 1 diabetic.

As I'm typing all this... I'm feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and such a fool. Why am I not taking care of myself? Why am I taking this so lightly? How am I forgetting the importance, the urgency? Arugula!

I have to keep this in the forefront of my mind at all times. I may have a good day, a good week, a good workout even..... I need to reward myself with something other than food.  I think I am also going to post my blood work results here in my office on the wall... so that I can physically and mentally see it. I may post it on the frige too...

I've also been reading through the blogs and I'm so proud of so many of you. The changes are remarkable! I know that you are on this journey for yourselves.... but you are inspiring to me! Keep up the good work!

Have a healthy and happy day!
Love Always,
Amberly

Off the deep end

Well I went to the doctor's yesterday to help me get back on track.... the took my blood to run some tests... and they did an EKG. The EKG came back looking good. However this morning I got a call from the doctor about my blood work. He's putting me on two medications, one for glucose monitoring.... and the other for Cholesterol. Has it come to this? I shouldn't expect anything less... I haven't been taking care of myself.

I started my 'new healthy eating plan' today. For those of you that read my previous entries starting at the beginning of the year... I told you that I was not to be trusted with myself. I just let myself slide thinking "I'm okay... I've been doing great... I can cheat...." Obviously I can't.

I'm going to be seeing my doctor every Thursday now just to help me keep focused and on track.
I need to take better care of myself.

More Lata
Love Always,
Amberly

Arugula

I've come to realize that I just hate eating out now. I love the atmosphere.... and I love chilling with friends.. But I hate picking out foods and not being able to completely contol what's going in my mouth. I ordered steamed veggies..... and took one bite and I knew that it was cooked with butter after I requested for it not to be. Ughh.... And I also know that the salt is out of control at resturants. Who da ever thought I'd be knocking going out to eat? Whoda ever thought I'd be missing home and wishing I was in my safe zone.

I feel bloated. I've been working out (not as much as I've liked to) but I've just felt nothing but bloated and I feel like I'm gaining weight. I feel like I look like I'm gaining weight. What do I do? I'm at my business conference.... and let's see... I won't be back to my family house until Monday.... and then I'll actually be home Thursday Night..... I miss home :o(

The only thing I can think of is to cut out my carbs... and get as healthy of protein as I can get... double up on veggies....

I hope everyone else has been having a good week!
Have a healthy and happy day
Love Always,
Amberly

Busy, Busy, Busy

I know that I have been really distant. But don't think for a second that I have been slacking off. I've actually revved up into like 8th gear and have really been burning calories. I'm packing for my business conference... however... I will be gone an entire 2 weeks. I've got a plan... and this time... NO DONUTS... lol.

I'm flying so I won't have to worry about a long drive with horrible choices. I'm really pumped about my exercise routine. Since I've been moving around so much (I literally have been cleaning the house from top to bottom) I haven't been doing my INSANITY workouts. Have no fear though... I am bringing them along.

We have a beautiful country side property with tons of acres (I think I will upload some pictures when I get back) so I have my planned workout which will take me 25 minutes to complete. I am also bringing my elastic band weight (?) I don't know the actual name so I will include a picture:

(I don't know who the girl is.... but totally digging her arms!)
These are awesome. I mean free weights are great, but these bands add resistance, and you can tote them around anywhere you go! I have 2 with different resistances (I bought them at Walmart, Target carries them too). So I've got that... and I'm also going to do sprints. I've been playing soccer and I want to work on improving my sprints as well as begin to build endurance and stamina.

I'll keep you posted as time goes by on how I'm doing. The nice thing about getting away... is I'll have a lot of extra free time. Well I still have quite a bit of paper work and I have to design badges for the conference... and it's 3am.... (story of my life)... oh yeah, and I gotta finish packing. Fun Stuff.

I hope everybody has a healthy and happy Thursday!
Love Always,
Amberly

Checkin' In

Hey guys, Sorry it has been a while since I have posted. I can't believe how busy I have been. I'm leaving on Thursday (for 2 weeks) for a business conference, Bonus I will get to spend some much needed time with my family (they happen to leave near the conference!).

Well to make my past week short and sweet.... I was on target, then off, then on.... then off.... I guess I prefer the roller-coaster ride in my life lol. Anyhow... I'm staying true to my April challenge though. I've been exercising and the eating hasn't been quite as prudy as I'd like it to be... butthenagain.... it's me you are talking to.

I've posted before about that I was doing the INSANITY Workout. Well they have a nutrition plan (not diet) to go along with it. I figured it all out and they want me eating about 2500 calories a day.... I was stoked about that... however I feel like I want to cut that down some. Of course that is also based on daily exercise (only one rest day from the program... however they do have workouts that aren't as intense so you aren't killing yourself daily). This nutrition plan wants you to eat proteins, carbs, and fats in a balanced way. It cuts out all the 'white' carbs such as flour, sugar, bread, white pasta... and replaces it with whole grains. It's a very doable for me. So I will be keeping you informed.... as well as post some awesome recipes.

Other news... I found something awesome. I've heard about it and finally tried it today. It's called Fage... it's a greek yogurt that totally replaces my sour cream! I could tell a bit of difference.... but not a whole lot!!!

Nutrition Facts

Calories (1 cup serving size) - Sour Cream 478; Fage 120
Total Fat - SC 45; Fage 0
Saturated Fat - SC 41; Fage 0
Sodium - SC 235; Fage 85
Carbs - SC 15; Fage 9
Sugar - SC 15; Fage 9
Protein - SC 6; Fage 20
Calcium - SC 1%; Fage 25%

I'm pretty thrilled with this find! I am a total sour cream lover! (as you may know.. I'm the reason the Mexican restaurants stay in business)

I have decided that I'm not weighing myself until the end of April when my challenge is complete. (I'll be away anyhow and won't have a scale) I also got really fed up last week when I stepped on it... even though that way the week that I 'expected' to be on the heavier  side.... but still I haven't stepped on it since...  besides.. I'm kinda excited about it... I'd love to step on at the end of the month and have dropped like 10 pounds...(or more).

Well for some reason... I'm in the mood to clean. I dunno why... spring I guess... but I'm getting prepared for my trip and I like to leave with a clean house. My hubby is staying home and having some family down.... so at least it will be nice and clean when they arrive.... (let's hope it stays that way for my return)

Hope everyone is having a happy and healthy weekend!
Love Always,
Amberly

March Results

Well Well Well.... another month has gone by. I'm sorry to say... I really wasn't present for this month... (as you have read... or haven't read... but I digress) However...  as much as I would love to hide it all and act like I had an okay month... (I mean... what I don't tell ya won't hurt you.... right?) that wouldn't really keep me accountable to myself. It's so funny... at times I act like I don't notice... or hide certain facts about myself... from myself..... HELLO... I'm right here... staring at a mirror and I can't really deny the FACTS... It's funny, really funny what we do to ourselves. So here are my month's results....
 

Amberly's Measurements
	Jan	Feb	March	Totals
Weight	230	220.2	218.4	-1.8
Waist	47	45	46	1
Abs	43	41.5	42	0.5
Hips	47	45.5	43	-1.5
Chest	49	46	45.5	-0.5
Below Chest	43	42	41	-1
R Thigh	27	26.5	26	-0.5
L Thigh	27	26	26.5	0.5
R Arm	15.5	15.5	15.5	0
L Arm	15	15	15	0
R Calf	17.5	17.5	17.5	0
L Calf	17.5	17.5	17	-0.5
Neck	17	16.25	16.25	0
				-2

I lost 2 inches total.... (I lost 4 inches... but gained 2 back in other places) and I lost 1.8 pounds... not great... but not bad. I can work with this.... I can move forward from here. I kept Jan results up there so you can see just where I started from.

First Day of April!!! I know that you are dying to know how my day was.... Well... Rushed... and well... Looking back now... I'm kicking myself ... (I forgot today was the first day of April) I had lunch with a good friend of mine and... 9 Enchiladas later..... I kid you not! I wish this was some kind of April Fools Day schenanigan.... But it is not. What is even sadder (makin' up the words as I go along... try to keep up)  I was still hungry after them. Now another horrible thing I must admit to you.... I didn't eat anything all day until 5pm when I had my encounter with mexican goodness. I know I know... So where do I go from here?  Well Insanity is calling my name. I think today is the day (night) that I begin my regimen.... I will let you know if I see the enchiladas again...

Other news... my husband just announced to me that he has lost 10lbs in 2 weeks.... I coulda punched him square in the jaw.... but I'm too sweet to do something like that (  ;o)  )..... I will say it is hard to hear of his great success when I have been working 10 times harder at this than he has (minus this past month cuz it doesn't count lol) but seriously.... I worked my butt off in Jan... and then intensified it with all the exercise in Feb.... only to have lost a total of 11.6 pounds. Which is another reason why I gotta make this journey truly memorable and all about me. Nobody else.

So... in triumph over this April celebration and "MOVING FORWARD" being this months motto.... I have decided to take on a challenge. Skinnyhollie is doing a 21 day challenge and I am all over this like white on rice.  Spring is here... and it's time to make the most of this beautiful weather that we are beginning to have.
The challenge goes like this... It starts April 5th - April 26th and you set a few daily priorities.

1) DAILY EXERCISE - At least 30 minutes of SOMETHING -and I am going to focus on Insanity being my form of exercise.

2) WATER - AT LEAST 100 oz. of water daily.

3) BREAKFAST - Since I have gone AWOL on my routine I need to get into my groove again.

I've actually decided I'm going to start this challenge now. So who is up for it with me? Any takers... anyone needing a fresh start. The terms of this challenge are completely up to you. Just do something different and work on yourself intensely for the next 21 days (25 for me.... heck.. I should make 30 lol )


But I have a challenge... with this challenge. I'm going to be out of town April 15 - 29th for a business. I thought that I would just bring the Insanity dvds with me... but now my husband is hooked on them. I shall figure something out... the one thing I will not do is what I did the last time I went away.... NOTHING.....


I would like to make a small goal for myself too...
My goal is for the month of April to lose 5lbs. This figures out to about a pound a week. Totally doable.
GUESS WHAT! IT'S FRIDAY!!!!
Have a Happy and Healthy Friday (and stay away from the endless enchiladas)
Love Always,
Amberly

Road to Recovery

I'm still having a little trouble getting back on track. Today was the first day all month that I really felt good (Last day of the month... weird I know). I started getting things done today. I've been talking to my lil bro all day long. Seriously, I think we call each other a total of 6 or 7 times each! Usually he calls me for advice, and this time it was me. When did he mature? He's 2 years younger than me. While he was talking to me, I kept thinking.... dang when did he grow up.... I'm always the one telling him this sort of stuff. He really made me come to terms with my life being in a stand still right now. I'm moving forward baby!

Thanks to everyone for all the nice comments I got yesterday. I love blogging! I love my support group!
Well... the Insanity program is INSANE. I can really understand where it gets it's name from. But let me tell you.... it works. I can feel it. At times it does feel like I'm totally not qualified to do it... but I'm working on building up so that I can complete an entire workout.

Well, this is just short and sweet tonight!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday!
Love Always,
Amberly