ENJOYING NEW FREEDOM IN THE SPRING!

Spring is finally here! I feel a new spring in my step too, literally. My shoes were starting to get loose so I bought a new pair that fit me better and laced up my old shoes tighter.

To underscore my foot changes, I have very little foot pain and no leg cramps as compared to almost constant pain a few months ago. Last fall, I couldn't walk across the uneven lawn because it hurt my feet too much. A walk around the block was too far and was so discouraging. I attribute the turn around to improved new eating habits with lots more exercise.

So here's the latest update on my quest to conquer diabetes

• lost 2 1/4 inches waist measurement
• lost 2 3/4 inches hip measurement
• gained 2 1/2 lbs lean body muscle
• lost 4% body fat
• lost 12 pounds

Yesterday I attended the grand opening of the beautiful Herriman Rec Center with my family. Here are three of my darling grand daughters who ran with me.

I pushed my year old granddaughter around the crazy indoor track, catching up with several family members in the fun run. When we saw them ahead, I started running. I think they were kinda shocked to see I could run and pass them up.


The rec center offered a number of special classes too. Kristin, Leslie and I enjoyed participating in the Zumba dance class. I was overwhelmed to see that I could move along with my girls in such a fun activity. Of course I didn't last as long as they could, but it was really a lively exercise option. We learned how to shake it to the fast paced music!


Robert and I started cleaning up the garden and yard this week. It felt so good to be able to weld around the wheel barrow with ease. I walked up and down our little hill in the backyard, something I had a lot of foot pain doing last fall.



During the week we rode the bikes provided by Kristin and Steve around the neighborhood several miles. We even rode to the nearby bike shop and bought new bike helmets. I made me feel more secure. So fun to breeze all around!



There are nice little things to notice as I make gradual improvements in my lifestyle. The blood sugar numbers are more consistent with only a rare high. I'm hoping the doctor will adjust my medication again, as I have several lows each week now.

Another important change I've noticed is the guilt of not taking care of my health is leaving. I can concentrate on other things because I'm not discouraged about what my body is doing. I promise to keep trying even when I fall short of my goals some days. I pray the Lord will continue to bless me to reach my best self.

It's time for a great new start, IT'S SPRING!

VACATION-Here I Come!

Now for the big test, can I stay on track when I'm off my routine? Even when you have big plans to stay under control, it is still a challenge. We went to St. George for a week to get out of the cold and see the warm sun. We found it!

Before we left, Robert and I stopped off at the Diabetes Expo to get a little more motivation. We met some good friends, Claudia and Gary Danielson,

and stood in lines together to get all the goodies (new monitors) and a free A1C test.

It was exciting to both get lower welcome numbers. So we started our trip with great encouragement to keep trying.

Arriving in Dixie to the spring-like weather with beautiful blue skys and light breezes, was additional encouragement to be active. Thank you so much to our hosts, my brother Kevin and his wife LaRee. They loaned us their bikes to ride as well as use of their beautiful home. (I rode first time in years.)

It felt like I was nine years old again!

I'm hoping to feel comfortable on one soon as I signed up to ride in the 25 mile Diabetes Tour de Cure ride in June. (More about it in a future blog)

We walked all around the subdivision, went hiking in the red rock mountains of Zion and just enjoyed the sunshine. I just felt like moving.

I visited my 86 year old Aunt Erva Miller who lives in a senior village there. She is my new inspiration.

She says she walks 3 miles a day, generally on her treadmill, because her neighbors can't keep up with her in the neighborhood.

She doesn't want to hurt their feelings!

We even found a local health club to work out in.
They also had a morning class for seniors, "Silver Sneakers", that we attended. It was so fun, I'll have to find one here at home too.

When some of my grandkids came on the final day, I ran with them a short way to the playground. I haven't done that for a long time, it was exciting to see that I could do it again, even for a short way.

I put on some of last summer's clothes that were tight when I last worn them, now they are comfortable. Whoo!

Well as a final note, I feel and look more fit than I have in a long time. The vacation was just what I needed to keep going strong!

Week Six - Exercise vs Medical Intervention

So part of my mindset about making the changes in my life to get healthier has to do with all the medical issues coming my way. I told you about my eye damage due to the bigger issue of diabetes. There are also problems with my feet hurting all the time. (I even asked for and got a handicapped license plate.) Sleeping was becoming miserable too, trying to breathe. The doctor ordered a sleep study in January. It showed I had sleep apnea and oxygen levels as low as 60% during the night. The study recommended I be given 3 liters of oxygen with a mask. Wow! That's a lot of issues due to being overweight!

So just think of all the medical costs associated with that. I am on the edge. Do I want to spend the rest of my life fighting my body fat? Going to doctors, taking pills, breathing treatments, unable to enjoy an active life?

NO!

I'm committed to working hard at changing what I can. Exercising and eating better is going to take the place of my former self. I'd much rather make an investment in a healthy lifestyle than seeing the money go down the drain for unnecessary medical costs. Learning how to exercise and do weight training has been really fun so far. I'm looking forward to getting outside and trying new active things. My sister, Tammy is an inspiration to me. She is so cute and looks great!

So here are the little milestones for this week:

• my neck circumfence shrunk from 45 cm to 39 cm this month



• my fingers feel slimmer



• carrying in groceries is easier



• the garbage cans are easier to move around



• I can lift two 8 pound free weights over my chest 30 times



• the eye problem has not gotten worse, the eye doctor said due directly to my efforts



• three more pounds have come off



• I walked down eight flights of stairs this morning at the hospital

Week Five - A Little Setback :(

Ok, so I'm a real person, not an actor trying to sell Jenny Craig!

I've had to pull back a bit this week and figure out how to feel better. I have been quite achy after my workouts since I stopped taking my pain medication 10 days ago. I just didn't feel like moving extra and lost my happy!

After talking it over with my sister, Cindy and my daughter, we decided I probably stopped taking it too quickly and without consulting my doctor first. Now that I've resumed my med, I'm feeling a lot better already. The pharmacist said it will take a few days to kick back in again. My trainer also agreed to cut back on the most streneous exercises until I can handle them again.


Now on the bright side, we re-evaluated my body changes.

• I'm still down 8 pounds, but I've lost 3% body fat!


• The lean muscle mass has increased 2 1/2 % with


• 2 inches off my waist and


• 1 3/4 inches off my hips.

I'm satisfied with that for now.


Here are some other things I've noticed this week:

• My watch band is getting loose


• I can take the stairs easier


• Cinnamon is delicious


• I can pedal the bike with less effort

Week Four - Progress!

I'm seeing some good progress this past week in my quest to get my health in control. My attitude is good and I am enjoying the improvements in my life. Thanks everyone for your encouragement, it has helped keep me going. Here are some key changes:

touch my hands behind my back

enjoying some new foods in my diet like water cress, edible pea pods, Carbmaster Yogart, fiber and protien bars, and of course lots of fresh fruits

walking all around BYU without getting tired

my waist shape is coming back (noticable only to me right now)

stopped taking my regular pain medication that I've needed for about 5 years

can play indoor soccer with my little grandsons

8 total pounds have come off so far

Now just so you know, I've had some hard workouts this past week, bringing me to tears twice. I call the workout equipment at the gym, torcher machines, especially the leg extensions (am I any taller?) and the excerise called the Plank. Well I got past those gureling sessions thanks to my terrific trainer. She told me I could do it and I did. I'm so proud of myself today. I know I could have been a strong pioneer woman because I've already achieved things I didn't know I could.

I love the tracking site for my exercise, meals and glucose http://www.livestrong.com/. It keeps me in balance throughout the day. Well here we go into another productive week!

Week Three ( a little prolog)

When I started this experience, I decided that Weight Watchers, although a great program, had not motivated me enough in the past, so I decided to sign up for a personal trainer at the South Jordan Rec Center. Maybe like some of you, I had some strong negative feelings about myself when signing up at the gym like being ashamed, feeling discouraged, not sure I could make the changes required. I was afraid I couldn't move enough to make a difference.

As we sat near the entrance, Kristin pointed out the many people coming into the recreation center who were using canes, cripled over, and much fluffier than I was. It was so surprising to me that all those people were not letting their situations keep them from moving! I had to wipe away my tears and show more faith in my Heavenly Father, that he would help me. And he has. My attitude has completely turned around. I really look forward to exercising by myself, with my grandkids or at the gym. I'm still a novice so don't expect too much yet but here's a pic from my workout at the gym yesterday.



On another note, I visited a retina specialist and he examined the eye damage I mentioned earlier. He was very encouraging, saying we have discovered it very early and if my diabetes is in control and blood pressure decreases, it may repair itself! Yahoo! I'm on a roll.




Eye exam results. Picture of eye rettina.
The damage is near the dark spot in the center.

Week Two

Milestones from week 2 include:

• snowshoeing in the canyon for the first time
• walking down the stairs like a normal person instead of side stepping (I've done this for the last several years)
• enjoying the taste of sweet fresh fruit because my taste buds are compensating for the lack of sugar in my diet.

I'm feeling happier and more in control of my life, eating comfortably on much less than I used to. Working with my personal trainer, Laura Butters, twice a week has been very refreshing and quite motivating, but not as difficult as I imagined. She's my new best friend! Well, maybe not today, I'm pretty sore.

On the stat end of things (for Scott's benefit), I've dropped 20 points on my blood pressure, lost 5 pounds, and the doctor decreased one of my medications by half! Good things already.

Thanks everyone for your support.