So here I go…again. Jan & Feb I took of 21 lbs I have been terribly wishy washy with my diet since March and have managed to put it all back on. I keep having stops and starts – nothing lasting over a week or 2. So in an attempt to get it together once and for all, last night I went and saw a nutritionist. She is part of a gym in our area, but the gym is part of the community hospital, so they have a large cardiac rehab, a nutritionist and all kinds of classes on diabetes and heart stuff. So it’s not like a Gold’s gym kind of thing. She is small, pretty and she glowed with a look of healthiness. Seems like all nutritionists have that glow. Anyway, I liked what she had to say. She plans on keeping me between 1600 – 1800 calories. She said my daily caloric expenditure was about 1600. She put together an exchange plan for me, mapping out 3 meals and 3 snacks and telling me how many carbs, protein, fats to have at each. In order to reduce my cholesterol, she wants me to get 20-30 grams of fiber a day. 70 oz. of water. She didn’t get on me about the vegetable thing, which I really liked. She had an attitude of let’s take what you like to eat and make a healthy diet out of it. She has clients that have been seeing her for a year or 2 who have lost over 100 lbs.
She put my goal weight at 183. Seemed high to me, but she said we’d adjust it when we got there. I would be sooooo thrilled to weigh 183. So we went and weighed…308.5. Ouch!!! On my scale this morning I was 301.5. But it was late in the day, I had all my clothes on (no shoes) and different scale. She said I’d need to pick a scale and I choose hers. She said she’d like to weigh once a month. ONCE A MONTH!!! I weigh twice a week – minimum!!! She said to watch how I feel and how my clothes fit. You know when your doing good. This way the daily or weekly ups and downs don’t get to you. I said “I’d try”. She said I could weigh weekly if I wanted. I think I’ll try the once a month thing and see. Maybe it’ll help me stick to it longer since I am not getting the results right away. That may prove to be the toughest part!!
It wasn’t very expensive - $40.00 for the 1st visit and $20.00 an hour after that. But if a meeting is only 30 min, then I only pay $10.00 (and most follow up visits are). So we scheduled to meet every other week.
Then as I was getting ready to go, I asked her about the Weight Management classes on the schedule for Tuesdays & Thursdays. She said that it was a 12 week program that was starting on Tuesday. As a group of about 10-12, you meet on Tuesdays with her and you have to turn in your food logs and she reviews them, then you work out (as a group in a separate area) with a personal trainer, and then on Thursdays you work out with a personal trainer. She called it “resistance” training, with bands & stuff. When I asked how much she said $192.00. For all 12 weeks!!!! Wow. Hmmmmm. Let’s look at this, seeing her twice a month, and following my plan best I can or seeing her every week and also seeing a personal trainer. What would someone who was really serious about weight loss choose. Pretty much a no brainer. Ahhh, but there is a catch. Tuesdays & Thursdays are not good days for me. Every other Tuesday I get my nails done. Every 2nd Tuesday is Bunko. Thursdays I go over my mom for Survivor, CSI and ER. Doing this would mean re-arranging my whole life. Worse even, it would mean NOT getting my nails done. For me, one of the few things that I truly enjoy is having nice nails. It’s my thing. I cannot justify being gone from Steve & Jacob twice a week and then take a 3rd day and get the nails done. But then I thought, what would look better, nice nails or Sandi THIN!!! Hmmmm, not much to think about. So last night I told my husband and my mom that I was going to turn our lives upside down and join the 12 week program. Hey – If you do what you’ve always done, your going to get what you’ve always got!!! No more!!!
So as I sit here filling out the paperwork, I’m scared. Scared of failing, scared of doing what I’ve always done. Lose, gain. When the program finishes, I will then switch back to seeing the Nutritionist twice a month. But I must try. I must be positive. I feel like I have chosen a very healthy path. Something that could and will be for life.
I know that one of the most important things will also be the support that I get from all of you. Gaining or losing, you guys are always there for me. Thank you for that!!
Sandi, your program sounds great - try not to be afraid of failing. You'll never succeed if you don't try. If you fail, you'll try again. I know I probably sound like Pollyanna, but I really believe this. You seem like such a positive person in other regards, so just let that attitude flow into the weight loss part of your life. I'll be rooting for you!
Wow! How exciting to be on the cusp on a new adventure like this!! I'm jealous. It takes a lot of guts to shake up your life, but those who do reap great benefits. You go, girl!!
WOW!...This sounds sooo good!...I am excited for you!..Sure wish there was a plan like this at my healthquest...maybe their is?..I will check?
What I like most ...is that it is so organized. I have found in my many weight-loss adventures...the more organized...the more likely you will have success! I wish you lots and lots of luck..
I can see that baby dust floating above your head now!
Good for you for making such a big decision and for being so committed to it! They say a change is as good as a rest, so I can see this big "disruption" of your life providing even more benefits than you may first think. It does sound like a really well-balanced, organized plan of the type you can immerse yourself into, body and soul. I'll be so interested to hear your on-going progress and, of course, the results after 12 weeks. I bet you won't disappoint anyone, most importantly, yourself!! Go for it!
WOW!!!! such a lot of change!!! and major shakeups in routine. but to tell you the truth, it might be just what you need! not only does this program sound FABULOUS [with accountability and support and others in the same boat and a plan and people who are paying attention to YOU], it also gives you a chance to focus on taking care of yourself!!!! it'll be a whole new way of life and maybe that's what will ultimately help you!!!
and don't forget... all this$$$ is probably tax deductible as medical expenses...
Sandi,
I am so excited about this! I can't wait to hear about your progress! Make sure you tell her about your support group here: she'll surely give you a pat on the back!
What I love about you (I've told you this before!) is that you don't ever give up here. You don't hide from us or take weeks off when you don't have scale success. You always come back! That discipline will surely serve you well!
I love that you're doing this for yourself. The TV shows will be there later, the Bunko girls will understand, the nails, well...maybe once a month or some other sort of compromise. It will all work itself out. Good luck!!!
Sandi - I am REALLY proud of you. It sounds like you are REALLY ready to do this - because I know that I am not ready if I can't give up things for this weight loss. Dr. Phil is HUGE into that in his book. I am SO PROUD, you can do this girlie! WTG for making amazing decisions.
I'm so proud of you!! Such big steps, and I agree with everyone else, it takes big changes to get big changes and you're definitely doing it.
Just because you feel like you've failed before doesn't mean that you will fail this time. I spent years and years getting up every single morning with a diet plan in mind, and I usually blew it by lunch. It took finally making some big changes to get big changes, and that's what you're doing this time.
Keep up the great work, and I'm so excited to hear how this all works out and you're an inspiration to all of us to keep on going.
Sandi--wow! Good job! I'm so glad you're making these changes for yourself, and I'll be eagerly looking to see how it's going for you. I imagine there will be ups and downs, but you're making a wonderful commitment to yourself and your family.
Sandi...
Sounds like a great program. I KNOW you can do this. AS always, you sounds so positive...and the nutritionalist does too!!!! Remember...the weight is not gonna come off overnight (although, I get sucked into this thinking sometimes, too) And 12 weeks sounds like a great start....not too overwhelming. Best of luck...you CAN do this!!!!!
Giving it another go
I can see that baby dust floating above your head now!
