I'm a skinny girl, but not a healthy girl. My resting heart rate is in the 90s, I have borderline high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a kidney disease. This is my quest to get healthy, but I know I can't do it alone, so I am building a village of supporters through my blog.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Making Changes....

About two months ago, my husband went in for his annual physical. Truth be told, the visit was really driven by the fact his refills on his cholesterol medicine ran out. Neither of us expected much more from the visit than a new refill for his medications, so were both taken by surprise to find out that his blood pressure was high, his sugar was borderline high and according to the doctor, he was overweight. He was told he needed to go on a low salt diet modeling a South Beach approach to eating. The doctor wanted him to lose 15 pounds. He was giving him 30 days to try and get his blood pressure down, and then he would start him on blood pressure medicine.
Jimmie

The news hit us particularly hard. His brother had passed away suddenly and without warning of a massive heart attack five years ago. At the time Chuck had a full work-up done including a heart scan and walked away with a good report card. Now five years later, and almost three years post retirement, he had a completely different report card, and not only did it frighten us, but we found ourselves asking, "How did this happen?"

Chuck's lifestyle hadn't seemed to change that much over the years. When he traded his uniform for a suit, he still belonged to two gyms and even had a workout room he took advantage of at his office. But when he started to truly look at his actions through a microscope, he had to acknowledge that when he travelled he tended to miss work-outs. He also tended to eat heavier meals as he often had working dinners out, and he tended to be more stressed.....a bit ironic, since his last job involved being shot at. Since Chuck travelled a lot these small changes combined with age's naturally slowing metabolism was all it took to tilt the see saw in the wrong direction.

We immediately went to the grocery store and started ferreting out low sodium products. When we really started looking at the ingredients for sodium content we were stunned to see just how much sodium was in all of the foods we regularly ate. One of our favorite Sunday treats, chili dogs, was now off the menu (at least on a regular basis). It was quite eye-opening  when we discovered that even the low sodium chili  contained over twice the recommended sodium content. This was going to be a challenge, but to make matters worse, as we looked into the South Beach recommendation, we had to come to terms with the fact that we defined carb addiction. Our pantry was filled with pastas, and I had always modeled our meals after the "one starch, one vegetable, one meat and one bread" approach. If Chuck was going to be successful, I knew I needed to change my habits as well, and that would be a challenge. I could probably live without pasta, but I wasn't sure I could live without potatoes.

So we set out on a different approach to eating about two months ago. We emptied the candy bowl, and filled it with fruit. When my daughter came home to roost and complained, we set a small candy bowl in her room just for her and her friends... out of temptations way. We geared our meals towards meats and vegetables, and we cut out almost all starches and most sweets...I still allow myself a few desserts a week ...you just can't give up everything. We discovered Atkins low carb bars for the afternoon snacks, and they taste surprisingly like candy bars, but I have to admit, they fill you up, not leave you wanting more.

Chuck After
Chuck Before
Chuck made the commitment to working out while on travel and trying to make healthier choices at restaurants as well, and his efforts have paid off. He has lost 25 lbs, lowered his blood pressure and is looking pretty fine. I'm finding that this new approach seems to agree more often than not with my tempermental stomach which has been an added benefit for me. What I've really discovered, however, is the key to success seems to be working together as a supportive team. Making changes hasn't been all that hard because we've been making them together.



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Gold Stars and Report Cards....

It's been awhile since I posted last, and I've started receiving some friendly notes from my village asking how things are going. Thank you to my friends and family for caring enough to keep motivating me! That is exactly the encouragement I was looking for when I began this. I knew the road would get tough at times and I would need silent support pushing me along the way, and you have never let me down.

This past month has been particularly full, and I find myself looking back to the first calm months of the year longingly. Simple days filled with an exciting new journey. Little did I know that my little quest would turn out to be the lifeline I needed to handle the challenges ahead, but I have always believed that God has a plan for the way ahead, and I think he opened a door that he knew would help me through the difficult days ahead.

In the past month, both of my children have returned home, and that is my silver lining. I know they are only perched for a short while, but I savor the time. It will be hectic and crazy days ahead, but filled with love, laughter and support while one waits for her loved one to return and the other steps forward in a new direction.

Needless to say, it has been a challenge to remain true to my efforts, but if I had to grade myself, I'd give myself a "B" for my work-out grade. I've continued working out despite the craziness, but have only just been meeting a regular schedule and have not been pushing myself to reach the next challenge.  On the blog grade...clearly an "F". I haven't been writing! On the nutrition side, however, I'd give myself an "A". I've made some pretty significant changes in my eating habits this past month prompted by changes directed for my husband from his doctor. I think I have finally found a healthier menu that works for me...but that is a subject for another day!

As GPA's go, the tally might not seem too high to anyone else, but as report cards go, I have to say, this one feels great to me. The old me would have garnered "F"s all around last month; the new me recognizes that sometimes a "C" average rates a gold star and perhaps a celebratory massage! I still haven't quit!