171.8 Standing For and Standing Up Straighter

Today I started back at PVCC teaching English as a Second Language. It's funny what you take for granted. I was teaching them the meaning of the phrase "stands for" which means "means" :), and learned that most of the students hadn't known that ESL stood for English as a Second Language. (PVCC stands for Paradise Valley Community College.)

And speaking of standing, when I walked in the area where I teach, I was told that I was standing much straighter! At first I couldn't imagine why that would be or that I hadn't been standing up straight in the past, but then I got it! I've been doing a lot of core work with my physical therapist as we've been trying to get my pelvis into better alignment. So, yes!, with all that work I've been doing to strengthen my abs, I bet I do stand straighter. For me it's always been hard to envision what I really look like on the outside. I thought I'd been standing ramrod straight for quite a while now. Hmmmm.

170.6 And We Ate Out Last Night

How do I do it :) ? Changes in habits, amounts, hypnosis, and happiness can account for most of it!

Now for the bad news - my back is all messed up. It's a little ironic to me that I finally get all of this weight off thinking it will help my back and my back is laughing at me saying no way! So now I have to go to a physical therapist who specializes in treating cockeyed pelvises. Oh my! But at least there are people who are trained to help people like me and I'm very grateful for that.

And, if you weren't able to see the video, here's a new link:
http://youtube.com/jscotthypnosis

188.2 What's Going On?

What's going on here? The scale just sort of rocks back and forth rather slowly in the same arc of about a pound. Why doesn't it want to cooperate and go down a little farther once in a while? I don't have the answer but I am going to continue to ride the arc and see if I can't get it going downward. It does seem obvious that I must be eating too much. What used to be cutting back to half was cutting back enough to cause weight loss along with the exercise, etc. when I first started this weight loss program. Now I think I have to cut back even more. It's sort of like physical therapy. Once I master a certain level of an exercise, the physical therapist makes it more challenging, by either extending the amount of repetitions or making it more difficult by adding more weight, raising the level of the step, etc.. I guess I shouldn't expect weight loss to be any different.

To be honest, I haven't wanted to eat less because I don't like to feel hungry. But maybe I will just have to put up with a little hunger for a while until my stomach shrinks a little more. I don't intend to do anything outrageous or untenable, just cut back a little and see how it goes. Listening to my hypnosis CDs, and engaging my inner spirit to encourage me and guide me will help me stay on track. And, there's always sugar free gum when the hunger sets in and it's not time to eat a meal... and apples, and carrots, and celery, all kinds of good things that are healthy and taste great.

187.6 Not 50, 60 Pounds Gone!

I just came home from meeting with a new physical therapist. I jumped ship from my old one because this office is much closer to my home and I was ready for a change. I think she is going to be very helpful. The reason I wanted to start PT again is that I want to get stronger, so that I can start doing weight training and eventually, maybe, be able to play at golf again.

So, Allison, the physical therapist, was interviewing me about my recent past history and I told her I had lost 50 pounds. She was duly impressed and we kept talking and then it hit me! I have lost, not 50, but 60 pounds! It just seems so unbelievable. Is this an example of the mind and body being out of synch? Maybe, or does is the enormity of the loss too much to deal with?

When I reach my goal of 170 will I blithefully be able to say, oh yeah, and I lost 77 pounds over the past couple of years, or will I still feel a little staggered by it? I can hardly wait to find out.

202.2 A New Elliptical Record For Losin' Susan

In the midst of all the preparations for Christmas today, I went over to our community center's workout room to do the elliptical. Another record was set by Losin' Susan ~ 8 minutes and 3 seconds! Pretty soon, I won't bother with the seconds but I am still aware of each and every second! Tomorrow I head to PT for my last visit for a while. My physical therapist is hard to impress, but I would like to be able to hit the 10 minute mark tomorrow, for me as much as for her.

Food issues are going pretty well since we have been here at home over the last several days. Tonight, Dover sole and Brussel sprouts and I am really looking forward to it. I will probably go out on a limb (remember that book by Shirley MacLaine?) and add a salad! But truth be told, I can't think of what I would rather have for dinner. So, Bon Appetit as Julia would say!

201.4 Pride Goeth Before The Gain

I guess I knew in my heart that my weight would probably bounce up a little once I made a big deal about reaching 200! But, if I look at the history of this weight loss, it is certainly not a straight line.

Today I taught my last ESL class until late January and the class members brought food that is typical of their country of origin for an end of semester party. Wow! What a wonderful buffet! There were frog legs and escargots from the French student, Pad Thai, Spring Rolls, and a Tofu dish prepared by the sister (and former restaurant owner) of a student from Thailand, there were several Middle Eastern dishes brought by folks from Iran, Morocco, and Pakistan, and more. Of course, they all wanted me to try everything, and have seconds, and it was very hard. I did take very small portions of each offering, and then I just took a deep breath and reassured myself that I should enjoy the delicious flavors and leave a little of each thing I put on my plate. And, that's what I did. I will have a very light dinner!

Yesterday when I blogged about being on the elliptical I forgot to write that my physical therapist likened working out on the elliptical to running rather than walking and that is why I get so winded so quickly. Tomorrow I see her again and I know she will want me to up my time on it. I can't exactly write "no problem", but I do know I will increase my time.

And now I have to get back to work on my grandson Julien's Christmas stocking!

203.8 Beside Me In My Mind

I went back to see my physical therapist, today. After scolding me for being a little late - it was only 5 minutes- we got down to work. She runs a very tight ship. I "hopped" on the elliptical and did it for 2 minutes! I didn't feel like I had climbed Mt. Everest, but it does give my legs a workout that they are just beginning to get used to. It also works my heart, and that is what it is really all about. Because, if my heart rate goes up so will my metabolism.

So now I am looking Thanksgiving in the eye and am pretty secure that all will be well. We'll be with the Boston contingent of our family, daughters Miranda and Alee, and son-in-law Jud, and they all know what I am trying to achieve. The pressure to please people by eating will not be at the table with us. So, I can gently graze, tasting and enjoying small portions of whatever strikes my fancy.

But the day will only be partly about the food. It is really about being thankful for all aspects of my life and the people, all the people, that by being a part of my life have made it richer. This is my first Thanksgiving since I started writing this blog, and I am very grateful for every reader. I write it for me, but you are always beside me in my mind as I write.

I don't know when I will next blog since we will be traveling and I am not sure how the time will be spent while in Boston. Check in occasionally over the next few days. I may surprise you with a blog or two.

Happy Thanksgiving.

204.0 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Yesterday I blogged about using the Wii Fit at my PT's office and how much fun it was. Well, this morning, Jeff had dusted off ours and it was sitting in the middle of the living room floor ready for me to hop on. Whadda guy! So, I got on and had to answer a lot of questions as I stood on the sensor board, like my height, how much my clothes weighed (of course I said a lot!), my age, etc.. And then, it shared with me the good, the bad and the ugly!

The good is where I'll start. The good news is that, in measuring how I did this morning on some preliminary balance exercise tests, in combination with the information I gave in answer to the questions, my physical age is...53! Yay! When I did this last spring when we first got it, my physical age was 73! So, the weight loss and all my walking and pool work has enabled me to be younger and more agile! For someone who is 67 that is great news. The bad news is my BMI (body mass index), which I won't share, but it is way too high, yet down about 4 points from what it was last spring. Then the really ugly...that I am still obese! Oh, is that not one of the ugliest words in the language?

So, I have a new friend to play with every day, and a three new challenges to meet head on every day: to lower my BMI, to improve my balance and thereby become younger :), and to get out of the obese category.

205.0 Climbing Mt. Everest!

Today I went to my physical therapist. I hadn't seen her in almost 7 months because I was doing well and was able to incorporate what she had taught me into my daily life. I went back because I still have some leg weakness as a result of the first surgery, and since I am doing better, I wanted to add some new things to my workout program. What I also really wanted from her was the go ahead to try to eliptical machine. I am here to say that that turned out to be quite an event! I did it for almost one minute and you would have thought I had climbed Mt. Everest! So now I do have a real challenge and that is to get stronger so that I can really do the eliptical. Jennifer, who is 73, does it for almost 35 minutes! Amazing!

The other thing my physical therapist had me work on was the Wii Fit. I had bought a Wii Fit last spring, but started walking and just forgot about it. We had a good laugh this morning as I tried to get the balls to fall through the holes, and as I tried to ski down the hill going through the gates. And, then there was the one where I tried to hit the soccer balls with my head, while moving out of the way of the shoes that were thrown at me. For those of you who have never seen a Wi Fit, this is all on a TV screen and is probably the best way to have fun while working on balance, strength, etc.. I was working on the balance activities, since that is quite an issue for me.

So it was a good day and it's not over yet. I've walked my 30 minutes, but still want to do my pool workout before it gets too cool outside. And then there is a party tonight. I am already thinking about how I will best deal with the wonderful food that I know will be served. Small bites of what I want sounds like a plan to me.