Diabetes Clinic–Visit 4

Just a quick update:

Weight: 210.8 (-1.8 from last visit)

BP: 114/72

The doctor I saw this time was another new one (to me) and I liked her. She explained my some tests I had a few weeks ago and was very encouraging. She said the clinic’s goal is to help patients lose weight and keep it off and she thinks, for me, 1 lb a week is a perfect rate of loss. She said I could lose more, and people do, but the goal is not to lose weight but to keep it off this time, which has always been my struggle. I didn’t ask her name, but I will when I go back in two weeks, I really liked her.

Not much else going on. Still job hunting. Still reading and walking a lot.

The job hunting has picked up, I’ve had a few interviews and am scheduled for second interviews for two positions, both in Hamilton, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that one of them works out. They are both good but there is one I would choose over the other, if I had a choice, but at this point, beggars can’t be choosers!

I’ve won quite a few books in the last few weeks from GoodReads and also through contests by BookCrossing members so I’ve not been short of reading material and I’ve been writing reviews, which gives me something other than cover letters and resume writing to think about.  My book blog is at: BookEnz and Bookshelves at http://www.bookenzandbookshelves.blogspot.com .

The weather is still crazy cold; –21 C again today and tomorrow and going out to the clinic in the cold yesterday triggered a flare up, everything hurt today, but epsom salts work wonders and I am feeling somewhat better tonight.

I won a pair of walking shoes as well, from Vionic. They are very pretty and extremely comfortable. I will write more about them later as well as the walking challenge they are promoting.  It was great to win them as my running shoes are quite worn out and I wasn’t going to be able to replace them until I was employed again.

I won a pair of Zen Walkers.

Diabetes Clinic - Visit 3

Today was my third visit to the Diabetes Clinic I am going to instead of Weight Watchers. It's basically to weigh in every week, check my blood pressure and get general weight loss/diabetes advice. The clinic also does weight loss surgery and the doctors there really, really push it.  There are a group of doctors and a group of educators and I don't always see the same ones. 

Last week I saw both an educator and a doctor who made me question if I even wanted to go back. They were both very condescending. The doctor actually told me that I had zero chance of getting to my goal weight and staying there, the only way would be with bariatric surgery.  I told her that I knew several people who had succeeded with diet and exercise and had kept weight off for over 5 years and some over 10 and she said they would eventually gain their weight back. I found her to be so discouraging and so negative that it took all my resolve to not get up and walk out. Today was to be my test of if I was going to stay with the program or not.

Today I saw the doctor that runs both clinics (he was the first doctor I met with) and he was wonderful. The first visit I told him I wasn't interested in bariatric surgery right now and he did tell me the risks and benefits and said if I changed my mind to let him know. He didn't mention it again today and he was pleased with my 4 lb loss in two weeks on my own (i.e. not following their program yet as I just received my caloric goals today).

Based on my lifestyle, age, RMR test and maybe the colour of the sky today, they want me to aim for 1500 calories a day based on 55% carbs, 25% protein and 20% fat.  

On my own the last two weeks I've been 1100-1300 calories, 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat so it's not far off. I haven't done anything drastic. The biggest change was cutting out diet pop and ensuring I avoid wheat and sugar.  He did want me to increase my calories by having 2 snacks a day but I am honestly not hungry when I eat this way. Unless I let sugar tempt me - I don't need to eat every 2-3 hours. Every 5-6 is fine. I will try and increase my meals a bit to get closer to 1500 and see how it goes, but I know from past experience, I lose better around 1200 calories average/day.

He said that as long as I keep losing and my bloodwork comes back ok, there's no reason to change what I've been doing.  Even the educator was so encouraging and helpful. Hopefully if I get last week's doctor again I can just clench my teeth and let her ramble and ignore her. 

It's an OHIP run clinic and program so I can't pick and choose which doctors I want to see for this program but I am guaranteed to see today's doctor at least once a month as he's the head of the program.

Today's doctor also said that getting to a goal weight is not his goal for me. It's to get to a weight that is healthy and sustainable for the rest of my life and he said that may be 10 - 15 lbs over my ideal weight but that is better than 70 lbs over my ideal weight if I can sustain it rather than get to 130 and then go back up to 200 in six months. He said the statistics are that most people regain their weight in within 5 years, with 75% gaining back all they lost and more, in the first 24 months. He was encouraging though that I didn't have to be one of those people and that he was determined that he do all he can to help me be the successful statistic.

They also have classes and seminars about nutrition and cooking which look interesting and I may go because I always believe that being informed is a good thing.

I mostly signed up for the program because I just can't afford Weight Watchers while I am unemployed and really I do best when I can weigh in each week, this has the added bonus of them monitoring my blood work and my meds as well so I don't need to go into Toronto every three months to see my endocrinologist unless there is a problem or a major change is needed. 

As well today was a beautiful day, weather wise. No wind!!! It was cold for sure, but no wind which makes a huge difference and bright blue skies and sunshine. I walked several blocks instead of waiting for the bus and then walked a few more just because it felt so good to be outside and not be chilled to the bone.

I think I'll do a weekly recap here on my blog just to keep track.

Keep in mind, the 'weeks' aren't always full weeks and sometimes are more than week.

Visit 1 - January 29 - Weight: 216.6  BP 120/78

Visit 2 - February 7 - Weight 215.2 BP 122/80

Visit 3 - February 12 - Weight 212.6 \BP - Not taken.

Visit 4 - Scheduled for Feb 19.

Oh if you're on MyFitnessPal, I'm downwardtrenz - friend me!!!

Well it's a new year.

I haven't been blogging just because I haven't had anything to say really. Winter is always very hard on me, the darkness, the cold...and this year even more so because it is extremely cold this year compared to the last few years and being outside for even 15-20 minutes when its -20C triggers a fibro flare up that puts me in pain all of the next day, so there are time I'm a bit reclusive. Add to that, that there is nothing 'new' in my life to write about.....and well here it is, a new year.

That's not to say all is bad. Except for not having a job, life is going well. This job search is taking far longer than I comfortable with and although I know December/January are not great job hunting months, my benefits don't get extended an extra two months just because there were so few job postings for those two months!

Health wise, I am doing ok. I'm sitting about 215 lbs which is a gain from where I was before I became very ill with the first fibro flare up just over a year ago, but it is coming down from my highest last Winter when I went from very active to a couch potato almost overnight.

Since the cold is keeping me inside, I'm walking up and down the stairs in my apartment building for about 20 min each day and when it is warm enough, I walk outside for 30-60 min.  Food wise, I am still avoiding processed foods unless I am served them at someone's home and then I eat one or two mouthfuls to be polite and focus on the vegetables and proteins.

I am still in love with my FitBit but forget to wear it a lot of days as I've gotten out of the habit. I'm using MFP to log calories and I am weighing in at the Diabetes Clinic once a week to give me some kind of accountability and keep me motivated since I can't afford WW whilst unemployed.  Thankfully, my diabetes has remained controlled and there are no worries there.

I'm not sure what I want this blog to be anymore - I don't feel like writing about losing weight, when clearly - this is not my forte!  That doesn't mean I am settling where I am or am accepting this weight, it just means, I think I've said anything I (or anyone else) could ever say about this process and there's nothing new.

For now, I think I'll use it as a log like I did in the very beginning.

I have still been reading all your posts although I don't comment much and I know some of you keep up with me on FaceBook, which is awesome to see you doing so well ! I have to give a shout out to my Blogging and FB buddy, Cowgirl Warrior who never, ever ceases to inspire me with her positive attitude and her refusal to do anything but her best. Reading your posts brightens my day and gives me so much encouragement.