I like working out. Exercise class was fun. Having thirty minutes on the treadmill listening to my music is great. The feeling I got completing a personal workout goal was great. I grew up in an active family. My dad was a distance runner. We were on the swim team in the summer. Swam during the day. Fall was swim team at the Y and gymnastics after swim practice. As an adult I did exercise classes, worked out and did spinning class with my husband. For along time I didn't see the connection between what you ate, exercise, and how much I weighted. Lots of things helped me put everything together. A big part was when I found out about my PAH and right side heart failure. Over the years my arteriovenous malformation needed embolismed to help with the pain. In 2007 I had an emblozation. I left the hospital with an upset stomach, shortness of breathe and heart palpitations. Before the end of the week I was back in the hospital. After a two week hospital I had a PAH and right side heart failure diagnoses.
Two thing helped me realize I needed to do something about my weight. I felt really bad. So bad that when anyone mentioned my weight I didn't care. While recovering I realized I didn't weigh that much when I was pregnant. Who ever thought my weight would be almost 200 pounds. Our health insurance was offering a rebate to anyone who joined Weight Watchers. You had to pay in full, were only allowed to miss three meeting and the insurance company got your results. The rebate made me want to give it a try. After talking to my husband he wanted to join to. That was great. We had support at home.
Because I was working we ended up going to different support meetings. My first meeting was not bad. You stand in line and step on the scale for a total stranger. I am 5 ft 5. My starting weight was 189. I was upset with my self and grateful no one saw the scale. The lady who saw my starting weight was very encouraging. She told me I didn't have much to lose, then pointed to her before and after picture. The weeks I gained weight because of fluid retention she was understanding. Every week I got in her line. My first meeting, I was the only newcomer. After telling the instructor about PAH, her first words were follow your doctors advice first. All she knows is the program. I still follow her words today.
The first couple of weeks were frustrating. Along with counting points I had to look at sodium. Yes we got starter recipes. We didn't have most of the ingredients in the kitchen. I never liked math let alone counting points and keeping track of what I ate. So I decided to try new things with an open mind. We bought bananas, carrots and any fruit in season on sale in the house to snack on. I tried lots of new things for dinner. Who knew chicken could taste so good. I marinade chicken in mustard and lemon juice. Before 2007 I didn't like any kind of mustard. I made fish for dinner using just the microwave. I can make three kinds of chili, better than my mom. We still have steak. Now we have one steak and split it. Yes there are time I think I'm going to scream if I see another baked potato. But I make great baked steak fries. Fried rice takes time but I getting good at making it. Because of right side heart failure I don't have much of an appetite, so I started eating only when I was hungry and stopped when I was full. That seemed to work for me. I did not count points.
Because of fluid retention my weight loss was up and down. That made losing weight very hard and frustrating. My husband Dave lost weight every week. Doing it together helped. Dave learned to cook. If I found a recipe I liked, one of the first things I looked at was the sodium contain. Who knew ketchup and spaghetti sauce have so much sodium. We now have a kitchen full of spices. It had been a long time since I used the crock pot. The last time I opened the canned soup, added water and put the meat in. Crock pot cooking has come a long way since them. Now a days you brown the meat, add fresh vegetables, spices. No more canned soup. That adds way to much salt. Last Thanksgiving we cooked a small turkey for two in the crock pot. It turned out great and we had leftovers for a couple of days. Don't get me started on healthy microwave cooking and why I like fish.
I have to do whats best for me when it comes to exercise. Because of PH, heart failure issues, and I can not feel the bottoms of my feet an issue left from chemo. After breaking my foot I do things at my pace. The walks might be slower by I'm walking. In Ohio there are lots of reasons its hard to exercise every day. As the days get shorter I'm only about to go with hubby and the dog on the afternoon walk. Snow and bad weather will make even that walk harder for me. In bad weather I try to use my environment for more exercise. If possible I make an extra lap around the store.
My doctor keeps telling to to focus on what I can do not what I use to do and quit letting pride get in the way. That is really hard for me. We went to an Indians baseball game this July. Our last row seats were hard for me. Baseball games mean LOTS of walking. The last two flight of steps were straight up. I had to stop twice. My brother saw that.
I am learning my mom and dad had good ideas about food and exercise. My mom only bought one box of cookies every two weeks. We had one box of sugared cereal every two weeks. That's enjoying something you like while eating healthy. I still eat chocolate and ice cream. Just not every day and in smaller amounts. I like to cook again. Since 2007 I found out fast food isn't fast. What I can make is fast, tastes good and low in salt. I have given up the salt shaker. Found is better with less salt. Exercise is what you make of it. Start small and do something every day. My husband Dave and I have kept our weight off since 2008. Teamwork helps. He loves to cook. I get new food ideas from all kinds of places. On Twitter I found someone who's blog had the best ideas about easy,cheap, low salt homemade pizza. We had pizza for dinner last night. Reward your successes. I like the occasional peanut butter cup. Shopping for a smaller size never gets old. Yes I still look at my skinny reflection whenever I can and smile. My weight today is 153. Tonights dinner is opened back fried chicken made with corn flake crumbs with my baked steak fries and cole slaw.
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