I'M NOT GIVING UP.....

This is my third year of seriously eating better and working hard to lose weight. I did pretty good in 2012 but in 2013 I had some health issues which didn't help. I put about 20 of the 40 pounds I lost back on. I haven't given up and I'm eating healthy real food yet nothing is happening. I fluctuate up and down but never actually seem to go down anymore. 

I'm eating around 1,000 calories a day and I am doing 10 minutes of cardio each day. (It's all I can handle with my COPD) I so much want to be thin again but I'm afraid my 18 years of oral steroids have done a job on my body. Also I'm on seven prescription drugs daily so I'm sure that doesn't help. I feel so lost but I am not giving up.

Believe me there is almost no sugar in my diet and only the good complex carbs that are heart healthy, yet not too may of them. It is a rare occasion for us to get fast food or even popcorn in the show. I usually bring almonds. I don't drink soda, haven't for 18 years now. I have very little caffeine in my diet, only a rare cup of coffee sometimes on the weekend. I've limited my dairy too. Any suggestions?

We have a 45 year High School class reunion in September and I'm just not sure I can face everyone. I was the size zero (0) girl all through H.S. I know people like me for me but how do you get over feeling like a failure. People are so judgemental without really knowing your story. 

I remember working on PTA 24 years ago and the male principle said something so rude to me. I had recently been seeing a specialist and he messed me up terribly on steroids. I had the moon face thing going on, it was horrible. My regular doctor finally got my steroids under control, I lost the fat face and the hump you can get at the top of your back but the stomach is always an issue. 

I haven't been on oral steroids for several years now unless I have to do a quick on and off for an infection. Recently when I saw a new cardiologist doctor I had mentioned the steroid use and he said "yes I know, I can see it."  Breaks my heart......

Sorry guys, I just need to share with people who I know care about me. You don't need to comment just pray that things will start to change.

I'M LOST

There was one time in my life when my cholesterol level was slightly high maybe 20 years ago. They have been great ever since. About 10 years ago we did a low carb diet, I lost 47 pounds back then and my levels were all perfect. It is a know fact that a low carb lifestyle can lower your cholesterol levels.

I started my low carb lifestyle mid January 2012. Had blood work done in January and everything was perfect. Went in this year, January 2013 after losing 40 pounds and my levels were both high. Doctor totally understood that most likely they are high because of the weight loss, it can change your levels while you are losing weight.

So I was put on a cholesterol lowing medication for 3 months with a recheck in April. They also recommend you go in for your blood work when you on a plateau because the readings are better at that time. Well that didn't happen to me. I was on a plateau and they are still high so he is changing the medication. I will be rechecked in 3 months again. I was so broken and lost when they called me. I have been so good and even made sure I watched my intake of cholesterol each day. So that along with the medication changed nothing! 

"The American Heart Association recommends healthy individuals consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day. A person with heart disease should eat a low-cholesterol diet and aim at 200 mg of cholesterol daily"

So now what do I do? Of course I have done my research and now I have to add things to my diet that lower cholesterol which are not low carb so I guess I will have to start watching my calorie intake a lot closer. However many of the items I already eat that are low carb are on the list. The main difference would be oatmeal and some of the higher carb fruits I've stayed away from. I have also been doing basically no/low sugar since January 2012 but that hasn't helped either :( 

Of course exercise is the best way to lower your readings and with my COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), along with an ankle issue, I have not been doing much of that so I must start a program. I do have a Jane Fonda Walk video that I think I will be able to do. So now I have to really push myself.

What has me really bummed out is that I am on so many drugs now and some of the interactions between them have some possibly scary side effects. I trust my doctor, we have been with him for 20 years and he has always been dead on right every time!

They also recommend that a quick way to get your levels down is to go on a Vegan diet. So I will try to work with that also when it comes to some dairy products. I only use unsweetened Almond Milk as it is and that is only a few times a week. I don't believe it has anything to do with meat because we basically only eat meat once a week at the most and that is either chicken or pork! Like I said I am very lost right now.....

Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers......

 
p.s. If anyone is on Lovastatin 40mg let me know.

IS IT THANKSGIVING YET?

Because I feel like this!

(no this is not an actual picture of me)

I'm surprised my bellybutton hasn't popped out

~DONE~

Enough said!