Man in the mirror day 10!

Good day to you all reading this post! It's Saturday and I have taken a few days away from my blog in order to concentrate on getting things up and running. I have been in the gym four days this week and even took an ab-workout class and it was killer let me tell you.
I figured that if this is going to become habit that I have to work out in order to promote fat burning.
Yesterday I received my monitor, weight scale and blood pressure cuff from V.A. Hospital. I am part of the Move Program through V.A. which helps veterans loose weight. I also have a pedometer which measures my steps and calories burned. There is a bit of reading and studying to do but I don't mind at all. I look at it as an investment in my health and future!
 Oh! A quick update: I wanted to tell you that I am on day 10 of the Yoli Better Body System and have lost 8 pounds thus far! The most important change has been in stomach mass. I noticed that I am a lot less bloated since I am off the dairy and high fat carbs. I feel lighter and have more energy by far. I know it sounds crazy for only being 10 days into it but I feel great! It's amazing what a little will power can do. I also wanted to add that I have developed a wake/ sleep schedule as I believer proper rest to be important in mental and physical health.
Let me give you a tip on eating better. If you happen to be a veteran please stop in and see your physician before starting your workout. I was able to get a full run of lab work done and get with the Move Clinic in order to help in my transformation and what's more it was free! The important thing is that you will receive a booklet to help you determine portion size and a portion plate. Every morning I wake up and weigh in through the tele-health system. I also check my blood pressure which is key because I have had some major blood pressure issues over the past 13-14 years and it has reached the point that I am on 3 different pressure pills.
My goal has been to loose 14 pounds in 14 days. I am down 8 pounds and am getting ready to go to the gym on day 10. I am not trying to set any records here but trying to develop healthier habits that will change my life! If I can just get my workout music in tune with what I want to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I like hip hop and fast beat music with a few cool down songs. Maybe I can get my son to help in that department.
This was breakfast: YES whey / protein shake, 4 oz. bacon and egg white omelet. I'm full!

 

 

Well, I am going to work on my music and head to the gym! Please feel free to comment and share!

~ David

 

Man in the mirror day 6

3/10/14

Just a quick update before bed time. I am on day six of my 30 challenge. I just can't believe how good I felt today as I went to the V.A. Hospital. I met with a Dietician to discuss the Move program with her and will be utilizing the telehealth program. My online equiptment will be coming in the mail in 2-3 business days! Yeah!
Today my wife Maria and I went in for our first workout at the YMCA. I decided to do about 1/2 hour of cardio and stair climber. I did a little upper body free weights. My pedometer said that I walked well over 4,000 steps today. My surgery foot is a bit soar but I think that is par for the course.
Tomorrow is my carb day. I am feeling well rested and not as bloated. I will update more later, so far so good!

Man in the mirror.

3/6/14

Today is day two of my Yoli Total Body Transformation and I have to say this is going much easier than I thought! I've learned to schedule my eating and drinking every few hours so as to prevent hunger pangs. So far today, I only had two episodes of grumbling in my stomach and I believe that is due in part to having to leave the house before my steamed fish was done and coming back to eat an hour late!
Aside from the blog I have started a diet journal which I will incorporate a bit of information from that into this blog. Well, as I stated before today is day number two and I have recruited my wife Maria to join in the transformation with me. She and I agreed that we would not use the "D" word as it carries a negative connotation so we look at it as a "transformation".
I'm feeling pretty good as of this evening. I have only had one bowl movement today and I hate to talk about that but felt it is important to mention with the increased fluid intake. Today, I have been taking it easy. My wife and I discussed going to the gym and working out soon so we went to the YMCA to see about a family membership. I am a firm believer in developing new routines for my new lifestyle. Hopefully routines will become habit as it's said it takes six months to develop a new habit so I don't expect any miracles this soon into it.
Today I am spending my time working and reading over the materials a bit at a time. I think this will be a gradual learning process. I am excited because my sponsor called me tonight, Dr. S and told me that I am scheduled for a "dynamic team momentum call". I like the idea that someone is calling to check up on me and see how I am doing. It gives you a sense of assurance that you are looked after within the community of friends and that your not in this alone.
As of today I am still not sure what my lab values are from the Doctor visit yesterday. I am anxious to see what my cholesterol, LDL and HDL are. I have been in a fairly good range due to the pravastatin. I am on three different blood pressure medications and the Doctor is wanting to increase my dose again. I am not to happy about that so I am praying this diet helps.
In reading over the materials again tonight it looks as if I am suppose to choose lean meats with low sugar, preservatives and nitrates. I guess the turkey hotdog was a better choice for supper than the beef then.
The reading material tells me to listen to my body: if you feel hungry eat more protein or enjoy a small serving of low-carb vegetables: asparagus, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, or peppers. Well, that is good to know. I had a really tough time tonight before my dinner shake around mid'late afternoon snack time so I had a hand full of peanuts. I figured it would be alright because my two turkey dogs weighed a little less than 4 ounces. I like to weigh things because my wife has a food weight scale and is a cook but it's not a requirement.
Wow! It looks like I have a free day on day number seven! Woo hoo! Tomorrow is day three and meal day so I get to eat a 500-600 calorie complex carb along with a protein. I think that I will try a half cup of brown rice with a seasoned pork chop. Mid-late afternoon I get to enjoy some veggies so maybe a cup of salad since lettuce only contains two carbs.
On the back of my 30 day transformation pamphlet there is a place to describe why I have chosen the Yoli Better Body 30 day transformation challenge. I want to share that with you all! The reason why I undertook this challenge is simply because I got tired of feeling like poo! I began to notice how big I was in the family photos shared on Facebook. I have not been able to get into a pair of decent jeans in over two years. Most of all I cannot enjoy the activities that I use to with my wife and kids. I can't "suit up" either and that really stinks because I'm a firm believer in looking good. I think dressing up and putting on the Ritz so to speak is good for your self esteem.
My goals are ultimately focused upon overall health I suppose. You see I started getting poor circulation in my legs this year and developing coldness and loss of hair. I am worried about peripheral vascular disease so I am going to have my Doctor do a Doppler on me to check my circulation flow to the lower extremities.
In looking at the "why" it asks how much weight do you want to loose? I told my Doctor friend that I could stand to loose about one of her in weight. Haha! It's hard to admit but 100 lbs. would put me at or near my ideal weight. I feel I will be able to enjoy activities more. I'd like to go swimming again without running and grabbing a towel to drape around me afterward.
Hmmm... measurements I have covered in my first blog post but let's just say a size 46 waist is a bit to much. You know it's time to loose weight when you put on your belt with a boomerang. No, on a serious note though it has even become hard to clean myself properly after using the bathroom because my right shoulder has some degeneration with all of the weight at night. I even wake up with my arms having fallen asleep. It's time to do a little toning I'd say. Weight lifting is suppose to help burn fat so tomorrow it's the gym.
Well, that is about it for me tonight. I have a phone conference with not one but two Physicians tonight! I really feel spoiled. I am so happy that I decided to take the steps to change my life! If you are struggling with your weight or have a similar story please come and find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/john.d.massey. I would love to chat with you about your struggles and what you have planned for the future. Signing off for now. ~David :)

Man in the mirror.

3/5/2014

Well, here we go! Today is day one of my Yoli Better Body System makeover! I finally got tired of living the same sluggish life, trapped in the muck without any hope of escape. My Doctor friend suggested this diet system as a way to transform my life physically and financially.
First a little information about me and I'm holding nothing back. I am 40 years old and unemployed as a male Nurse. I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and depression due to a heart condition called cardiac branching of the LAD better known as the "widow maker".
You see somewhere along the way I forgot to take care of myself. I remembered what one of my nursing instructors once told our class in nursing school, this was when they use to literally have a weigh in for students. The class of student nurses was told, " if you can't take care of yourself then how do you expect to take care of your patients?" I think about the morbidly obese students in our class and the difficulty they went through trying to keep up emotionally and physically.
My heart just bleeds for those who did not make it due to their weight. I now find myself in the same position bordering morbid obesity, depressed and ready to throw in the towel literally. You see for the past year I have been working closely with Doctor's and therapists from the V. A. Hospital. Last year I was hospitalized for my depression after having reconstructive foot surgery and acute myocardial infarction, a.k.a. "heart attack". The Doctor told me I would be on blood thinners and cholesterol medication for the rest of my life. Let me tell you it's a horrid existence on all these pills!
It has been a long hard row to hoe as they say and I am no where near being out of the woods. The good news is that my heart condition is stable aside from my blood pressure which can be a major issue. I am on three different blood pressure pills now along with everything else in the cabinet. I take a hand full of pills in the morning and a handful at night and this is no way to live life.
You see, my Doctor friend told me, "I am a Doctor and have to prescribe medications for patients but as my family we do not take pills." She has opened my eyes to the overuse of prescription medications and the under use of natural herbal remedies our ancestors depended upon daily.
My hopes of starting this new life changing transformation is to 1. stay alive long enough to enjoy seeing my children grow as young adults and 2. Live life to the fullest without my weight or anything to stop me!
My current stats:

40 yo. Male
277 lbs. (obese)
ideal weight: 150-185 .lbs.
chest measure: 50 in.
hips measure: 50 in.
waist measure 46 in.
thighs 29 in.
arms 16 in.
BMI 38.85
2 week goal: loose 14 lbs.


I'm all about results and this is the reason that I started this blog in order to hold myself responsible for my own health! Plus, I am a bit anal retentive with statistics being a nurse and all. :) I want to understand everything about my health and this includes what I am putting in my body. I feel as if this is my way out of the muck! You see something that no one knows, even my close family members is that my depression got so bad that I had to write a daily schedule and post it on the fridge just to remind me to get up, brush my teeth, take a shower, eat, etc. I don't want to get back to that!
Because someone reached out to me I am reaching out to you who reads this. I want to "pay it forward" as they say! I want to give more than I have received and if this helps me then my goal is to help those who are struggling with their weight and other issues like me.
As we speak the left side of my heart is aching and my legs are cold. I know that I need to get up and allow the blood to circulate a bit so I will be back. Oh, it's time for a mid-noon snack anyhow.
Lord help me! I can't find my wife's food scale. Well, I should have prepared a little better. I am eating two turkey hotdogs plain for lunch. I think it's key to keep the fat burning going so I am not eating any carbs today. I think I need to prevent that hungry feeling so that I don't get hypoglycemic and start a ravenous feasting session. So far so good and I don't mind missing the hotdog bun. Condiments seem to be a must so a little ketchup and mustard.
According to the reading materials that came with my kit, day one of the fat burning cycle consists of just setting around! Ha! I actually thought of walking a bit but thank goodness I decided to go over the trifold brochure again. According to the reading it's common to experience slight fatigue due to reduced caloric intake and I should avoid working out on days 1 &2.
Well, lunch was 2 turkey hot dogs so I will make tuna in water my mid-late-afternoon snack to cover my 2-4 ounces of protein. No rice to eat with it. Let me say that again, no rice. Ah! It looks like a shake for dinner. Well, if this is going to be successful it has to be a gradual lifestyle change of choosing healthy living foods and this is going to be tough because my wife is a Baker! I want to be able to get in my jeans again and not hate myself in the mirror! Most of all I want to put on my suit and tie again. Look at this Midwesterners!