To Answer Appy's Question about Weight Loss

I thought I would answer it here since more of you may be wondering how I am going about losing weight.

Well, I've been around the block long enough to know that I have to change my life style rather than "diet". I have something called PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) which long story short means that my hormones and insulin can be out of whack even though I am not a diabetic. I do take one medication daily for 10 years now that regulated part of it. The other part they try to treat with diabetic medications, but I was allergic to them. This means that I have to be really careful in my approach. I have been dealing with this since I was a teenager and an official diagnosis 12 years ago. On a daily basis it doesn't really effect a thing, it is more just an extra challenge to being a healthy weight, and I also don't ovulate, which is okay with me because I don't really ever want kids anymore anyways.

The great thing is that the surgery I had for reflux got me feeling so much better that now the act of changing my lifestyle to a healthier one is coming a tad easier. I have been trying not to have very many starches and to get my carbs from mainly fruit. I also eat a ton more veggies. I am also choosing mostly fish and chicken breast. I drink water or diet snapple green tea, but the tea is only a couple times a week.

I get my calcium from cheese rather than milk because cheese is another source of protein for me.

Here is a sample of what I have been eating for a day.

Breakfast:
1 string cheese (mozzarella) and a piece of fruit
or
half order of scrambled eggs at my cafeteria with a little bit of cheddar cheese worked in
or
1 slice of wheat bread and 1 egg over medium

Lunch:
1 pouch of tuna with 1 tablespoon mayo and no bread
cucumber slices
fruit
or
veggies and chicken
fruit

Dinner:
Veggies and Chicken. I make these up on the weekend. I take all sorts of fresh veggies (huge batch of them) and some boneless chicken breasts and chunk them up and then steam them with teryaki sauce until they are tender. I start the chicken before i add the veggies so they are fully cooked and the veggies only get tender. This keeps the nutrients in them. I use yellow sqaush, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, sweet peppers, asparagus, baby corn, snap peas, green beans, etc. All fresh. I make the huge batch on the weekend because I hate cooking after work, and this way it is all portioned out in dishes ready to go at home or for taking to work.

Snack:
fruit or serbet

Another thing, I only have "treats" outside of the home. I won't bring anything but these healthy foods into my home. If I want an icecream cone or some other treat I will go out and have it in moderation. I also try to choose healthy in restaurants, like fish and a baked potato and veggie...or something similar. I have very little bread, rice or pastas or potatos, and not even every day.

I don't cheat the night of weigh in once it is over like I used to for years, because that doesn't help anything.

I also have been walking. I am up to 5 walks per week now. I plan to max it out at 30 minutes per walk. I am at 20 mins per walk right now. When I hit 30 I focus on getting faster and then eventually may walk with some light weights in my hands and such to keep intensifying it without actually adding more time.

I know this has to be a lifestyle chance to lose weight and keep it off and to give my reflux surgery it's best chance to last for many years to come. Also because of my PCOS I am always going to have to work a little harder than someone without it to keep my metabolism working FOR me rather than against me.

Lucky I have a good support system. My friends and family are supportive, and Sam and I have my weight loss group. I go every Tuesday night and we weigh in and talk about our goals for the week and our struggles and we stay in touch with each other through the week too.

Right now my main goal is just to feel the best I can possibly feel. I don't have a set number attached to that. I just want to commit to a healthier lifestyle and do it.

Another thing, I am not allowing any more take out food to enter my home. If I don't feel like eating what is in my house, then I have to physically leave my house and go get something. I can't be ordering a pizza because I don't want chicken or veggies. When I have pizza it needs to be a decision I make because I simply want it, not for some other reason, and then I have to go to a restaurant to get it. I have not had pizza since before my surgery 9 weeks ago.

See I do actually enjoy food too. In my family freaking everything revolves around food. Family parties have to be planned weeks in advance because we all have to decide on this great menu. LOL. I am trying to make my life revolve around healthy food now...and take joy in every bite of veggies and fruit and be thankful I can eat them and how great I feel every day now.