Nothing as Planned

January 14, 2009 by · 1 Comment

This week, Taylor and I decided to join Weight Watchers together. Combined with my HIP(Hollie Incentive Program) and new elliptical machine that arrived Monday…I was mentally set for greatness to begin this week. Unfortunately, I’m still feeling horrible. Our bank accounts are anorexic until Friday. I’m sure I’m on a Dayquil hangover from 6 days of use. When I went to Urgent Care on Sunday, I was told it was an upper respiratory infection with asthma. The doctor gave me an urgent referral to a pulmonary sleep specialist, for an appointment today. I’ll be going in armed with 5 years of records of previous studies, consultations, and PFT’s. I really hope he’ll prescribe Provigil. It’s such a great medication for me. It keeps me awake and alert for work, is non-habit-forming, and has the side effect of loss of appetite. When I’ve had refills prescribed, and taken it consistently, I haven’t used food as a crutch to stay awake at work (especially right around 2:30-3:00) and I’ve also had better success with my weight loss.

I was horrified when I stepped on the scale Sunday…297. It’s the highest I’ve ever been, for the second time. After my Olestra fiasco last month, I had gotten down to 284ish. With all the holiday traveling, moving, and daily eating out (because we have no dishes yet), I suppose it makes sense to have gained this month. But this is where it stops. 297 is my official starting weight. I’m a mere 3 pounds away from my “I’ll never, EVER, be 300 pounds” absolute weight limit. It’s a horrible place to be. I will overcome it. I will fight it. And this time, I will succeed.

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Sick again today

January 11, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

I’ve been coming down with a few symptoms of a cold since Thursday, but today it’s hit me full force. I’ve been coughing, gasping for breath, and my head feels like it’s going to explode. I’m going to head off to urgent care when it opens at 10:00 am.

What is most worrisome is that Taylor told me this morning that I was snoring like a emphysematic chainsaw. He’s mostly deaf in one ear, had his other ear pressed into the pillow, and still kept waking up from my snoring and gasping.I would breath shallow for a while then stop, then dramatically gasp for air. I’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea in the past, but was more worried about the daytime hypersomnia. I have been waking up with my hands and feet tingling. My ignored C-PAP machine is en route from Michigan currently, but the mask doesn’t fit me and causes boils on my nose. It’s time to see a sleep specialist STAT. And get a Provigil prescription. When I’m at urgent care today, I’m going to ask for a note or referral to get into a sleep specialist this week.

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My first sensible day

January 9, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

I feel like I’m still really out of whack with my body, and it’s becoming frustrating. I’ve essentially been living out of a suitcase for a month, staying on couches, air mattresses and guest beds. I haven’t been able to cook much for myself, I’ve been snacking like a maniac, and eating out 1-3 meals a day. I decided today had to be “good” day for my health. This is what I’ve eaten:

Breakfast: 1 Fiber One Pop Tart, 1 banana, 1/2 cup Activa yogurt
Snack: fruit gummies and a can of Diet Dr. Pepper (not a 32 ouncer)
Lunch: Lean Cuisine, pudding cup, 100 calorie pack
Snack: a few Hershey kisses
Dinner: Mandarin Chicken salad from Wendy’s.

I know I need to plan out some better snacks. I ate candy instead of something that would sustain me. But I resisted the urge to go to Chick-fil-A for breakfast, Steak ‘n Shake for lunch, and a big restaurant meal for dinner. We’re going out with some friends to an art show tonight, and maybe I’ll splurge with a kid-sized cone for dessert.

My elliptical machine should be delivered Monday…yay!

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New Way of Working Out

January 2, 2009 by · Leave a Comment


Since 2005, Taylor and I have consistently had a gym membership. West Valley Family Fitness Center was right around the corner from us when we lived in WVC, and we got a family annual membership for about $250. Then we moved to California, and signed up for 24 Hour Fitness for $55 per month. Then we moved to Michigan, and went to Lifetime Fitness for $106 per month. There’s an LA Fitness not far from us in Georgia, but we decided to try some home equipment. I always use the excuse that I don’t look presentable for public in my gym clothes, or that I don’t have enough time to drive 10 min each way to the gym. So Taylor and I decided to give major fitness equipment ownership a try.

We researched dozens and dozens of machines, and decided on the Schwinn 430, rated as the best option under $1000 (we paid $599 with shipping). It’ll be delivered next week. Taylor also got me Jillian’s Shred Workout DVD for the times that the elliptical just doesn’t cut it. Our new condo has a pool and tennis courts available when the weather warms up. And we’re going to get a pass to Stone Mountain park for hiking and bike riding.

2009 will the the year to be active.

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Out the Window

December 31, 2008 by · 1 Comment

With all the traveling, holidays, stress, moving, and roadtripping…I haven’t been careful at all about what I’ve been eating the last week. I’ve enjoyed a lot of yummy treats! My scale got packed away, so I don’t know my net loss/gain since my 289 weight on December 12.

As cliche as this sounds, my “diet” begins January 1.

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Pre-Holiday Update

December 24, 2008 by · Leave a Comment


My body still feels out of whack. I felt like I bounced back a little on Monday in time to fly out to California. Grant and Hollie had a holiday party just before I left, and I was so proud of myself. I had half of a turkey-cheese sandwich, a few olives, three bites of jello, and some deviled eggs. And small cups of soy Nog and pomegranate 7-Up. The food didn’t even take up half of the plate. I didn’t touch the chips n’ dip, creamy soup, cheeseball, pumpkin yule log, sugar cookies, candy, pie, or other desserts.

In California on Tuesday, I went out to lunch with my old coworkers at Montclair and Chino hospitals. We ate at Rockin’ Baja Cantina, and it was the most food I’d eaten since I started getting sick. I had some chips with guacamole and salsa, surf-n-turf tacos, and all of us split a fried ice cream dessert. The surf-n-turf tacos had lean carne asada and juicy shrimp…delicious! It felt good to eat enough to actually feel full, but not totally overstuffed.

In the evening, we had the Bullock/Bluhm Christmas party. There was pizza and fried chicken for dinner, but I didn’t really like how either tasted. The frosted sugar cookies, on the other hand, called my name all evening. As the party progressed, I started getting some intense lower back pain. I’d had unusual back pain all day, but it hit me like a brick wall at the party. I started developing a little bit of a fever and general malaise, but it was so close to 9:00 pm that my favorite Urgent Care in Chino Hills was closed. It felt a lot like the pain associated with a kidney infection, and I didn’t want to mess around with an infection like that (espeically not knowing if I had C. Diff conclusively yet) I checked my ER copay ($25) and decided to go back over to Montclair Hospital’s ER. They’ve got a 2-hour ER guarantee, and I was in and out in 70 minutes. I didn’t have any infection in my urine, but was told that it was likely the after effects of all the GI symptoms over the last week. He said to rest, take it easy, and tank up on fluids.

I started today with 2 hours of last-minute shopping, but spent the rest of the day with family. I went to Trader Joes, and had the most successful shopping trip there ever! I didn’t touch all my TJ’s favorites (only bad because I can’t control my portions once I open the packages up):

Sweet Salty and Nutty Trek Mix
Chocolate-covered Edamame
Sweet, Savory, and Tart Trex Mix
Ritter Sport Corn Flake Bar
Pirate Booty

And for Christmas Eve dinner, Taylor had a micro-date to In-N-Out.

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Why Facebook isn’t always great

December 22, 2008 by · 2 Comments

My SIL Lissy tagged a picture of me on Facebook. It’s from the trip I took to Cali over Halloween. I know I’ve lost a little bit of weight since this picture, but it disgusts me. This picture was the catalyst for getting back into the mindset of weight loss. Usually when I post pictures online, I make sure they’re at a good angle, or not a full-body shot. And pictures on the couch are always awkward and ugly. My legs look about as big around as Rosie’s waist, and little Phoebe’s whole body is about the size of my forearm. I took off the picture tag once, but she tagged it again. I guess it will remain as motivation to keep working toward my goals.

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Maybe Olestra isn’t to blame…

December 21, 2008 by · Leave a Comment


I just got back from InstaCare urgent care, where I spent over 6 hours today. I explained my signs and symptoms, and was told that there is no way Olestra could have caused what I have. The most likely diagnosis is C. Difficile, but they’ll have to send out a culture to know for certain. They infused three liters of lactated ringers, and each liter took over an hour to infuse.

The upside is the weight I’ve lost this week, as well as the orders to have lots of fluids and yummy popcicles. Hopefully once I gain my energy back, I’ll be ready to hit the exercise and weight loss hard.

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Dehydration…IV or drink like a maniac?

December 21, 2008 by · Leave a Comment

My GI-fiasco of 2008 still continues to rage on. I’ve been living in the bathroom anywhere from 10-30 times a day since Thursday. I’ve been trying to drink as much water as possible, but my mouth and eyes are dry, my skin doesn’t look right, my muscles are cramping, and I feel so fatigued…all signs point to dehydration.

Within the last 24 hours, I’ve had 3-28 oz bottles of water, 12 ounces of apple juice, and probably 5 glasses of water. There’s no Gatorade here, but Hollie thinks she might have some Pedialyte. With the severity of my illness, I’ve decided to head to Urgent Care at 9 am when they open and beg for an IV, and maybe some kind of medicine to stop the intestinal earthquakes.

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Oh, no…OLESTRA!

December 20, 2008 by · Leave a Comment


On Thursday morning, I started eating some Pringles. I started getting a funky oily taste in my mouth and looked at the container. I had purchased the “Fat-Free” Pringles that contained Olestra, instead of the reduced fat kind. I’d remembered the accounts from the late 90’s and hoped that I wouldn’t be plagued by the stories of yuckiness. Unfortunately, I have been slammed.

For those that are TMI-freaks, you can read this account of the reality of the after-effects of Olestra. Or here. And this is how I felt just from a handful of chips.

It’s also possible that I picked up the stomach bug my little cousin has had all week, but regardless – I stepped on the two scales in the house I’m staying at, and I’m down anywhere from 5-12 pounds from last week in Michigan.

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