Another Milestone

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Just a short blog to let everyone know that I weighed in today. I have lost 4 more pounds. I have now lost 60 pounds!!!!! I cannot put into words how great I feel. I have 40 pounds to go by December 31st. My goal is 25 more pounds by October 16th. Then 15 pounds from then to the end of the year.

Thanks for following my progress. Comments, questions or just to chat; contact me at healthierfaith@bellsouth.net. Just click on this link. Faith

Bittersweet Success

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Yes, bittersweet success is what I feel today. I got my lab work bad from the doctor. My cholesterol is 165 and the LDL and HDL and well within the target range. My A1C is 6.2 which is also below the 7 or 6.5 (depending on who you talk to) range. BUT!!! the doctor is not going to reduce or eliminate any of my medications at this time. Since my next appointment is in six months I will have to wait until then and try again to get this done. I was so sure that she would at least reduce the medications so of course I am very disappointed!!!!!

I refuse to have a pity party and let this discourage me from trying even harder to continue on this healthy road. I am switching up my cardio. I am on level 8 of 10 on the elliptical machine and I now switch the programs between cardio-hill intervals-weigh loss-strength. The variety helps alot. I still burn around 600+ calories during my 30 minutes.

I am facing new challenges now. The weight seems to come off slower and I am so tempted to eat less. I will talk about that next time!!!

Thanks for following my progress and listening to me chat as I become healthier!! Remember to contact me just click on this link: healthierfaith@bellsouth.net. I look forward to hearing from you!!!!

Doctor Appointment

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 KJB

This will be a short blog. I will have more to say when my lab results come back next week. The doctor was very pleased with my progress. I was in to see her in April and have lost 20+ pounds since then. My blood pressure was good and she was please with my heart and lungs. She also advised that depending on the results of my blood work she may decrease my medications. The best part of the visit is that I do not have to go back for another visit for 6 months. For 10 years, since I was diagnosed with diabetes I have been going to the doctor every three months for blood work. She indicated that if I continue on the same healthy road I may be able to come off the medications. This is my goal!!!

I also have something to share with you. Many have told me that they do not comment to the blogs because of the hassle of an ID and Password. Well I have come up with a way to make it much easier to contact me. I have an email address you can send your comments to. Just click on healthierfaith@bellsouth.net. If you click on this link I think you will be able to just drop me an email with any comments, questions or even advise. I look forward to hearing from all of you!!!
Thank you coming along on my journey to a healthier lifestyle. Faith

Six Months Into My Journey

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

It is hard to believe that I have been on this journey to a healthier lifestyle for six months on Wednesday July 16th. I am amazed at the changes I have experienced in these months. So many little things, as well as the big things, have changed.

I have so much more energy!! I do not have the aches and pains I did have!! At 56 years old and 351 pounds, believe me, you have aches and pains from the time your feet hit the floor in the morning until you lie down in the bed at night. Now I am ready for each day!! I get so much more done in the course of a day. I sleep so much better. I have seen a great improvement in my blood sugar and my breathing. I have lost 56 pounds now. I weighed on Saturday and lost another pound and several inches.

I weigh 295 and have gone from wearing a size 30-32 to a size 24-26. All of my clothes are too big and I have been shopping twice in order to have something to wear. I am getting into clothes that I have not worn for years. Oh yes--I have (or had) a regular clothing boutique in my closet. A vast selection of sizes and styles. I do not know about others but all my "large" life I have varied in size, one diet after another, and either kept the large clothes as safety nets or the small clothes as wishful thinking!! But not anymore. I have cleaned out my closet and plan to get rid of the big clothes because with the help of the Lord, Body Deminsions Fitness and Living Lean Meals I will not go back to wearing them ever again!!

I have a doctor appointment on Friday July 18th and am anxious to see if I can come off some of the meds!! It will be interesting to see what the doctor says and of course I will share my visit with all of you. I plan to have a full blood panel to check how my cholesterol and A1C are doing. I will share those numbers with you as well.

Thanks for following my progress. I would be glad to hear from you!! Faith

New Picture

January 2008 June 2008

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

It has been a while since I last blogged. I have been very busy. The pictures above are of me when I first joined the gym in January 2008 and of me as I reached my last goal on June 16. I have lost 55 lbs!!!!

I have set my new goal of 30 pounds by October 16. The Fourth of July holiday was great. I took a few days off from work and since Living Lean Meals was on vacation I was able to try my hand at making my own healthy meals. My husband and I bought a nice gas grill and away we went. With all the fresh veggies available at the Farmer's Market I have done real well. I weigh in this week so we will see.

The cook outs for the holidays were not too bad this go around!! Of course the proteins grilled to perfection were fine in moderation. Then there is the baked beans, potato salad, homemade ice creams, etc. I chose to eat protein (3 ozs) and just a taste of slaw. There were steamed potatoes and I had a very small portion. A little desert (I will share that recipe with you) and only two small plastic spoon bites of homemade pineapple ice cream. Not too bad.

My sister made this really good dessert. I had a small piece. She took frozen strawberries (no sugar in them) and put them in a bundt pan. Made sugar fee strawberry jello and poured it over the strawberries. Then she took an angel food cake and pressed it into the bundt pan down into the jello mixture. Put it in the frig and let the jello set. Turned it our on a plate and filled the center with light cool whip. It was really good and not too high in carbs or calories. I had a small piece.

Well I will blog more after I weigh this week. Thanks for tuning in!!! Faith