The Road to Better Health-Update 1

Well its been only a few days, 4 to be exact, since I got my health report from my Doctor.  I've been doing really well with taking my meds and sticking to the protein diet! I picked up my script for the thyroid medicine on Sunday, so I didn't start taking it until yesterday because you have to take it on an empty stomach.  So, I take the Synthroid in the morning when I first get up, and the Niaspan at night.  The flushing isn't so bad any more.  I had a night of "flushlessness" the night before last, unless it just didn't wake me up, and a minor episode last night around 4AM.  It only lasted about 15 minutes, and seemed to affect the upper half of my body only. 

I have noticed I've been -excuse the term- peeing A LOT.  I'm not sure if it's the meds or the protein diet, but I don't mind. I feel like I'm cleaning my system out and the pee is pretty clear.  I go regularly about every hour.  I feel like I'm in the bathroom an awful lot, but it also makes me feel like I'm losing weight.

I've decided to stay off the scales until my Doctor's appointment in 2 months.  I will know I'm losing weight by the way my clothes fit (or should I say don't fit-hopefully they will be too big in 2 months!).

I've been eating as much protein as I can.  I have a Revival Soy protein shake every morning and then another around 11AM or so.  I make one in the morning before I go to work and take the rest with me for my morning snack.  I have a salad for lunch and usually cheese and/or tomatoes for a mid afternoon snack, and then high protein for dinner, like meat and a salad or veggies.  It's been pretty easy so far.  We did get pizza for dinner tonight because my son and son-in-law were painting the family room and it was just too chaotic to try to cook something.  I did only eat the cheese and meats off the pizza and was pretty satisfied. 

I've also increased my liquid intake.  That attributes to the extra peeing I'm sure, but I know I'm not drinking THAT much to increase it so much.  I bought a bunch of those powdered mixed you add to a water bottle.  I made sure they have no calories or carbs and I usually drink 2 of those a day, plus my regular intake of coffee which is 2 to 4 cups, plus the 2 protein shakes.  The liquid helps keep me satisfied between meals too.

I will keep you updated periodically as often as I can find time to post!

On the Better Health Bandwagon Again

Friday, yesterday, I went to the Doctor.  I had gone 2 weeks prior to get all my issues checked out: achy hips, achy foot, numbness in foot, light headedness, etc.  My dr. said the light headedness was probably because my ears were full. I have an appointment with a foot dr. on Monday to get that checked out. But, I haven't had an annual exam in over two years, so she had me get my blood work done and come in for the lovely pap-smear.

My blood work results were: My sugar is good, my blood pressure is good, my bad cholesterol is somewhat high, but not terrible; but my good cholesterol is "dangerously low", my tri-glycerides are high, and my thyroid is low.  So, she prescribed me some Niacin tablets and some thyroid medicine.  Not to mention the medicine she prescribed for my achy hips. Oh, and not to mention the anti-biotic and Mucinex-D I was on for the sinus infection I ended up having in the middle of these 2 visits!  (I went to Quick Care for that.) And I am taking a pro-biotic for digestive health. I feel like a walking medicine chest!

The Niacin medicine is weird. It causes "flushing". Flushing, for those who don't know (like me) is when you experience warmth, itchiness, swelling and faintness ALL OVER YOUR WHOLE ENTIRE BODY! I experienced it at 6 o'clock in the morning this morning!!! You take the Niacin at night and the directions suggest taking aspirin or ibuprofen 30 minutes before you take the Niacin, as these help the symptoms of flushing.  Well, I didn't take it before I took the Niacin, but I did take some aspirin when I was experiencing the flushing.  Flushing is an awful feeling and if I didn't know what it was I would have freaked out!!! When I got up to take the aspirin, I felt like I could have passed out, my whole body was itchy, swollen and hot! Thank goodness it only lasted about 1/2 hour! The Niacin is to help raise my good cholesterol and lower my tri-glycerides.  If she hadn't said my good cholesterol was "dangerously low", I probably would have chosen not to take it.

The other advice she gave me was to get on a high protein diet, like South Beach.  Those of you who know me, know I have done the South Beach diet before and hated it.  I just hate all the meat and cheese! I get so sick of it.  Well tonight, Kara (my niece) and I went grocery shopping and we picked up lots of salad fixings, some good meat, lots of nuts and some yummy drink mixes with no carbs. Kara would like to lose a few pounds too so we decided to work on this together.

It's difficult to adjust your lifestyle, especially your eating habits! I love breads, cereal, tortillas, chips, and stuff like that.  The sweet stuff like cookies and ice cream aren't so hard to give up, but the bread and cereal are for me! I got some soy milk to make my Revival Soy protein shakes with since I can't mix any fruit in them.  But I did discover I can put peanut butter in them...yummo! I also got some summer sausage for a snack with cheese.  Tonight Kara and I made a tomato soup of sorts with tomato sauce.  We seasoned it with garlic powder, chili powder, salt, pepper and cilantro.  It was yummo!  We added a little mozzarella cheese and it was like eating cheese stix, but without the breading.  A nice little concoction!

Anyway, I'm on the road to getting healthy and losing some weight! I really want to stick with it this time.  I think with Kara doing it and our friend Kim, I just may be able to!  I'll try to keep you all up to date with my progress each week, as sort of an accountability.  If anyone else would like to join, that'd be great.  I'm competitive, so if I know someone else is doing it too, I will stick with it better!