Springing into Spring

I love spring. Not as much as early Fall or Summer, but it is right up there. Actually, winter is really the only season I dislike, which makes me think that I should plan to move somewhere that is warmer year round. I do want to stay in Canada though, sooooo, I'm outta luck for finding somewhere warmer :) 

It's been a long time since I have gone shopping into a mall and spent the day trying on new clothes and shoes and going for lunch. Any trips to the mall right now are to quickly return something or pick up something. I park close to the store that I plan to go to and rarely stop at any stores just to "look". 

So most of my shopping has been online and I have not been buying anything because I don't go anywhere. Why would I need new clothes or shoes? But I actually do need new shoes. My shoes are starting to wear and so they will need to be replaced soon.  

I did buy 2 jackets online because I needed a transition jacket for our night walks when it's warm but still brisk.  I wanted a white one as every other jacket I seem to own is black and I think I'm small enough now that I won't actually look like a marshmallow in white! I also wanted to buy a light weight vest that would be reflective for when we are out late riding bikes or again walking at night with the dog.  The jackets arrived yesterday and they are TOO BIG! I am thrilled that they are too big but now I will have to venture back to the mall to return/exchange them. But that's ok. 

I then wondered, if I had actually changed sizes or if they were just a roomy fit, so I went into my summer drawer and pulled out some shorts that I know were tight last summer. Not only did they fit, but I honestly could go down a size. Say whaaat? 

So this weekend I will go to the store, return my too big jackets, look for some shoes and MAYBE even some smaller shorts if they are on sale. :) 

I have been much more "active" this past week. I've done a number of home workouts and have been lengthening my walks with the dog at lunch. My body feels good and I feel good! 

Weight this morning was 170.2

No news is good news?

Haven't had anything interesting happen the last two weeks so not really point in posting boring stuff. Still nothing that is mind-blowing happening in my life, which I think I'll be thankful for.  

We are all healthy. The weather is starting to turn. Things are good! 

Hubby turns 50 next month. I'm disappointed that we can't have a celebration with family and friends but it is what it is. We will still do a special dinner somewhere and the boys talked about taking him golfing so we will make sure to do something, even if it's nothing draw-dropping! 

Last time I wrote I spoke about my lab results and the fact that my doc had not called to talk about my numbers. I figured I was out of the woods... apparently not. He called monday and asked me to make an appointment to go over my cholesterol results. I'll hear him out but I know what he's going to say, and I am NOT going on any more meds. 

I have started tracking my BP daily as I want to have a log to bring into him to show him how good it's been. I think the berberine that I started (supplement) and the body movement has been helping. 

With regards to my weight and exercise. I have been moving more, I try to get in a strength training session at least 3 days a week and then I'm still doing my daily walks with Murph. It's been going well. 

My weight. I really really want to not have to focus on that damn number but I'm just drawn to it. I have been feeling better if the number rises a bit and I did think about just skipping weighing in daily but I KNOW that it keeps me focused or at least aware. I went back and looked at when I was my lowest weight 167.5 and about a month later, I stopped posting and I am pretty sure I stopped daily weighing and low and behold 10 lbs just slowly crept back on. So for now I keep weighing daily and try to not let it get to me - either good or bad. 

But for the record. My weight is down. I was 170.6 today. So close to my lowest weight. Not stressing it, not putting any specific goals on when I want to get there, but it's nice to have it just around the corner from where I am now. 

Change My Mindset

 Ok - WI Wednesday again and I did not lose this week. Stayed exactly the same at 172.8

BUT... 

Today I woke up and honestly did not care what the scale would say back to me. Normally on a wednesday morning I get a bit of nerves just before I step on the scale as I know the number that is shown back at me is what I need to "record" as my weekly number. I know the number is not actually recorded into anything official but for me it's my official accountability marker. 

But today, I didn't feel those nerves.  I think this is the reason why... 

Since my annual physical and my lab work, my mind has shifted somewhat. Not totally but I feel more excited about making my body healthy than the my weight. I figure as I make myself more healthy, the weight hopefully will just fall in line. 

After seeing some rather alarming lab numbers I decided to try and make a few changes. Some will be easy and some will not be as easy. 

I am moving more. On weekday mornings, I will take out 15-25 minutes to do a quick work out. Since last wednesday I have done 4 workouts.  2 upper body and 2 lower body. I like to do them right before my lunch and then at lunch I continue with my walk with Murphy.  I feel good.  I have done a few quick peeks at my blood pressure and it seems to be happy and not having any crazy spikes like it has in the past.  

With regards to food, I have cut back on my cheese intake, removed whipping cream and I am going to try to eat less red meat. I know I eat quite healthy as it is right now but I can always improve that as well. 

I have really  tried to limit my carbs this past week. The weekend I still had a few glasses of wine, but I counted them and although I went over my carbs on those days, I still stayed under 50!  Ideally I want to be under 30 each day. 

So although the scale did not move this week, I did and I feel so much better for it. Well not right now as  I have some serious DOMS kicking in on my legs and my arms but it's a good pain! I like muscle pain when I know I've pushed them. 

Can't be promising that I won't be stressing about the scale numbers again in the future but for now, I have a new focus and hopefully a healthier one. 

Lab Recap

So I went to my doctors last week and he was pleased with my weight loss.  It had been two years since I had seen him and although I wasn't down a bunch of lbs from then, I had lost more and that was a good sign as I would normally be heavier each year at my appointments.  So GOOD! Yay... 

He sent me for my typical blood/urine lab work and my numbers came back within a few hours after I had my tests done and they were NOT good. 

My glucose was high, my cholesterol (LDL) was high. My HDL and Triglycerides were great.  Oddly, my white blood cells were finally in the normal range when previously, they have been high, like EVERY single time I get my blood tested. So good for my WBC. 

But my cholesterol... it's high because I eat a Keto diet which is primarily fat and very low in carbs. It makes sense.  I eat fat to fuel my body so it makes sense that more fat is travelling around my body than glucose. It also explains my high glucose count as it could mean that I'm glucose intolerant. I've spent days scanning docs and videos on the internet that help explain it. It does make sense. 

So now what? Well, oddly he hasn't called yet but the call could still come in and I know he's going to tell me to change something or want to put me on more meds. Nope, not going on anymore meds. I'm not doing it. 

I feel great, amazing... better than I have in years so I don't want to change the way I eat. Yes, I'd love to lose a few more lbs but there have been so many advantages for me to eating this way that I don't want to change it. I have more energy, I don't take naps during the day anymore, I love eating veggies and love the taste of them, my skin is so much improved and my gut health is great! 

He will want me to change my diet. I can make some adjustments here and I will try this for awhile. 

I have started drinking 1 chia seed water a day - 3 tsp chia seeds, water and lemon juice (let it sit for min 30 minutes before drinking). Tons of fiber for my body!! Plus it is reported to decrease cholesterol levels so let's go! 

I am also going to cut down on my cheeses a bit and limit my red meat to once a week or maybe even once every two weeks. I don't eat it much but I can cut down my cheese for sure. 

I am also going to stop having heavy whipping cream in my coffee in the morning. It was extra fat but I really don't need it.  Maybe these tweaks will also help the final few lbs that I want to lose. 

So that's my thoughts on this right now. I'm fully expecting him to call me at some point this week and I'm dreading it but I do have a bit of a plan, so hopefully he's willing to listen to me and work with me on this. 

My numbers:  measured in mmol/L - to convert X 38.67

Glucose 6.1 (normal 3.6-5.5) 
Cholesterol (total) 6.2 (normal 2.0 - 5.2) 
LDL 4.2 (1.5 - 3.4) 
HDL 1.6 (> 1.1)
non HDL 4.6 (< 4.3) 
Triglycerides .9 (< 2.3) 
 However - 
HDL / Total chol s/b > .24        62.4 / 239 = .26
Total chol - ldl - hdl sb < 17       239 - 162 - 62.4 = 14.6

My weight this morning was down 1.4 from last week 172.8