Losing Weight... Again

So, if you saw my before and after photos, they're pretty impressive, huh?  Shortly after that, my thyroid started to malfunction, and I gained all the weight back, despite my diet and exercise.  At that point, honestly, I felt so lousy, though, that I stopped taking care of myself for a while.  It's taken about 3 years to stabilize.

By stabilize I mean feel healthier more of the time than I feel cruddy.  Between the my hypothyroidism and fibro, I thought I'd never feel stable again.  But, I seem to be in some sort of remission at the moment.. for over a month straight, really.  I still have sleep-it-off days, but most of my week is good.  Today I wasn't tired all day- surreal!

So, I have gone back on the strict diet and joined a weight-loss competition with some relatives and friends.  We've done 4/8 weeks so far.  I'm down 5.69% body weight and 11.8 pounds so far since Jan 1.  I actually lost about 7 more pounds during the fall. I still have quite a bit to go, but I know I'll get there if I don't lose hope.  I'm actually 6/26th in the contest, so that's not terrible.  I'd love to win some of the money, but that's not the main goal here (only because I only have so much control over whether I win or not!)

Here's a chart of the year so far (yeah, I know you can tell my weight- and that's okay):

I realize that keeping my numbers in my head causes discouragement for me.  I always think I'm doing more poorly than I really am, so then I want to give up.  I also think about my ideal weight, which at 5'0" is somewhere between 120-130, but it's not smart to focus on the final goal, just today's goal.  I find that using www.myfitnesspal.com helps me a lot; that is where I got the chart.  They have a free website and app which keeps track of weight, inches, calories, and exercise.  I don't do the calorie part, because I'm on the strict diet, so I feel that's sufficient for me.   Friday morning is weigh-in.  So I then eat something I want that's not on the diet after that.  And then I behave the rest of the week.

I've also been able to exercise fairly consistently.  You'll notice in the following chart, there's a week of nothing- that's because once a month I spend most of my time in the fetal position watching Netflix.  But I've been able to walk to work many days (I live 5 blocks from work) and I'm doing yoga, water aerobics, and belly dance (I'm in a troupe here) pretty regularly.

With my health being inconsistent, I realize that this won't always be the norm.  I've found that there are times when I realized, "it's not time to lose weight right now," which, yes, is discouraging, but it's just a fact with chronic illnesses. And that's okay.  No point dwelling on it too much.  Stress makes symptoms worse, after all.  

One more thought.  This summer I was up to 193 or more pounds.  That's ridiculously high for me!  And I have an eating disorder mentality about my own weight and how I look in public- usually, this means voices in my head telling me I shouldn't go out in public at that weight.  I absolutely don't feel this way about anyone else, and I know it's wrong.  So, to counter this, I performed with my troupe for the first time this summer, at that weight.  I'm not the belly-baring type, so I wore a tank underneath, but I will do that no matter my weight.  That's just me.  But, I didn't let my weight stop me from doing something I wanted to do.  If you're struggling with yours, don't let it stop you.  

Me and my daughter at Renaissance Faire, summer 2014

I will add some recipes in a couple of days.  To be honest, my hands hurt from the rain, and I just want to cuddle with the dog and watch Criminal Minds for the rest of the night.  

Artificial Sweeteners, Sugar, or None of the Above?

A couple of years ago I mentioned briefly that I was reading up on artificial sweeteners and that I didn't want to give up Diet Coke.  But, the more I read, the more I realized I really needed to.  Here are a few facts that swayed me:

-Artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and Splenda, which are legal in the US, are banned in Europe.
-The can actual make cravings for sweets worse.
-Studies are showing a connection between these sweeteners with cancer.
-They're also linked with weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes.
-It can cause symptoms like fibromyalgia.  Huh.

There are many places I've looked for this information.  I'm not going to source them all, only because I haven't kept all of sites I've looked at.  Here is a video from Dr. Oz if you're interested: http://www.doctoroz.com/artificial-sweeteners-disturbing-new-facts.

The bottom line is, I couldn't conscientiously consume these anymore, and I wanted my daughter to decide not to, too.  I'm the one who introduced her to diet sodas, and I wish I hadn't!  Fortunately, she did decide to get off these types of sweeteners.

So now what?
Because we both have low blood sugar issues, I didn't just want to start eating sugar.  I do have some, but it's usually in something like ice cream so it has the protein to counteract it.  I certainly wasn't going to start drinking regular sodas.  I admit I went through a mourning period, much like the one I had for my ex-husband- I lost something I thought I had, even though it wasn't real in the end (TMI?)

I decided to give stevia another chance. It's a plant that you can grow in your yard; the leaves are naturally sweet.  I usually buy packets of it, but I hate the bitter aftertaste, though, so I started reading up on it, and it turns out that it is only bitter when too much of it is added.  So I now put very little and add a bit at a time until it's where I want it to be.  I never just dump a whole packet in.  Side note with stevia- the newest "versions" of it are mixed with artificial sweeteners, so read the label!  I don't get mine from the regular grocery store, only the health food store, and even there I check the label to make sure there is nothing added.

It doesn't really help me with soda- I've just given it up (except for every once in a great while, I'll have a small amount of regular Dr. Pepper).

But, as I got off of the diet drinks, etc., it felt like my ability to breathe oxygen improved... I know it sounds weird, but my capacity to breathe without getting winded increased.  That's a little freaky, right?  And I did take a sip of some a few months after I quit, and it tasted horrible!  I couldn't drink it anymore; it was so chemical-tasting.

So that's my sweetener story.

Hey, I'm Back!!!

Well, that was a bigger hiatus than I expected!  Right after my last post, I got suddenly really sick.  I was so exhausted, I though I was having a bout of Epstein Barr, which I've had twice before- it lasts for months.  But no, there's more!  I couldn't think straight for more than 15 seconds at a time.  I began to get super paranoid about stupid things.  My depression hit hard during this time. All my regular physical symptoms were magnified and I gained all the weight back.  It was awful.  Finally, we figure out that it's my thyroid malfunctioning. If you ever get it tested, make sure they check your T3 and T4.  They usually only check one.

My theory on hypothyroidism is two-fold.  One, I think people have it a lot longer than the tests show, so we have to wait until the numbers are right before doctors can do anything.  If they give medication without the matching numbers, it can cause a heart attack, so I really can't blame them, but it still stinks.  I was on Synthroid for quite a while, but I didn't feel better enough on it, so I asked if I could switch to Armour Thyroid, which is awesome!  I'm a little disappointed that I didn't automatically feel like a normal person, but I'll take what I can get.  Two, I've read some theories that fibromyalgia may be related to the malfunctioning thyroid, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that turned out to be true.  The symptoms are so similar, it's scary when they're coming from all fronts and becoming completely unmanageable.

It's been a year or so now that I started to feel like I was getting back to my normal level of chronically sick- life is all relative, isn't is?- but my energy has been very inconsistent.  I could walk to work quite often, but I'd been too dead to go to an exercise class the whole semester!  I was so irritated.  Fingers crossed I can have a little more smooth sailing this semester- if I haven't mentioned it before, I'm a professor, so I only think in semesters.

So, I'm back and very motivated by so many new followers suddenly.  I hope I can help when you don't have the energy to think.  After all, that is my purpose for this blog.  I sure wish I had had something like this when I was beginning my foggy journey.

Here's a smoothie recipe that I am drinking right now. Mmmm-mmm-mmm.

Strawberry- Coconut Smoothie
1/2-3/4 cup of cream
1 cup of water
8 strawberries
1 T of chia seeds
1 cup coconut flakes- fresh ones from the health-food store. Grocery stores only have sugared.
I packet of raw stevia- be careful about the kind in the regular grocery stores; they are something tinged with other sweetners (which I am off of, finally, but that's a story for another day).

Blend.  Drink.  Happiness.

Italian Meatloaf in Zucchini Boats

This recipe is from Allrecipes.com.  I altered it slightly to make it fibro-friendly.

Ingredients

• 1 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/4 cup grated carrot
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 (26.5 ounce) can spaghetti sauce, divided [Hunt's has sugar-free sauce or make from scratch]
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Scoop out and discard zucchini seeds, leaving the hollowed-out shells. Sprinkle the garlic salt into the hollowed-out zucchini, and set aside. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and garlic until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3. In a mixing bowl, mix the ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs, basil, carrot, and Parmesan cheese together with the onion mixture. Stuff the zucchini halves with the meat mixture, and place them into a baking dish. Spoon about half the spaghetti sauce over the zucchini, covering all the meat and allowing sauce to drip down the sides of the zucchini boats.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the meat is no longer pink in the center and the zucchini are tender, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the zucchini, and return to oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Heat the remaining spaghetti sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat while the zucchini boats are cooking. Serve the zucchini boats with the additional sauce on the side.

Hello, again, and Breadless BLT

Whew, it's hard to remember to write here during a semester.  Also, honestly, I haven't felt well for a couple of months.  I think it's mostly stress-induced fibro garbage.  I'm finally starting to get past it, though.  (Then, of course, it started to snow, but that's just painful, not the same crippling fatigue, depressed garbage I've been fighting lately).  Anyhoo...

I got this recipe through another blog: http://www.notmartha.org/.

To make bacon cups, form foil over the back of a muffin tin (She said she considered spraying the foil with cooking spray to avoid sticking), then covering/weaving bacon around each bump- she said it has too be a rather thick weave, as the bacon thins out as it cooks.  Put the muffin tin over another pan to catch the drippings to avoid fire.  Cook at 400 degrees until the bacon is crispy.

Fill with arugula or other lettuce and cherry tomatoes.  I haven't tried this yet, but I will add a dollop of mayo with some pepper on it when I do.

Italian Tuna Pâté and Ginger Grilled Pork Tenderloin

I'm always on the lookout for something out of the ordinary to keep the boredom away.

Italian Tuna Pâté 


- 1 can (6 oz) tuna packed in olive oil, lightly drained
- 1/4 c tightly packed fresh parsley leaves
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 T lemon juice
- salt and pepper

1.  In a food processor, pulse tuna and parsley until parsley is finely chopped.
2.  Add butter and lemon juice; process until smooth.
3.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with blanched, low-carb vegetables.

Ginger Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Marinating overnight is best, but you'll need at least 2 hours.


- 1 pork tenderloin (1.5 lbs)
- 1 c. dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1.5 T. grated fresh ginger
- 1 T. soy sauce
- 1 T. sesame oil
- 1/2 packet sugar substitute
- 1.5 garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 green onion, thinly sliced

1.  Combine everything except onions in a resealable bag.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
2.  Remove tenderloins and discard marinade.  Heat gas grill to medium and grill tenderloins 15-20 minutes in covered grill turning occasionally, until and instant-read thermometer registers 150-155 degrees.  Slice, garnish with onion, and serve immediately.

Today's recipes come from Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution.

Stuffed Mushrooms and Self-Challenges

I love stuffed mushrooms, but the recipe I grew up with requires breadcrumb.  These don't, and they're delicious.  For my daughter, who doesn't like mushrooms, I just didn't add the stems in the mix and made "invisible" mushrooms for her- blobs of the filling on the pan.  I got this recipe from my cousin, Meredith, who got it from thepioneerwoman.com.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Prep Time: 30 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 25 Minutes  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 24 ounces, weight White Button Mushrooms
• 1/3 pound Hot Pork Sausage (or ground beef)
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
• 1/3 cup Dry White Wine
• 8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1 whole Egg Yolk
• 3/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preparation Instructions

Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts.

Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside.

Brown and crumble sausage or beef. Set aside on a plate to cool.

Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.

Pour in wine to deglaze pan, allow liquid to evaporate.

Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.

In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk. Stir together with Parmesan cheese.

Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up.

Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

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So, the insurance at the university where I work has issued a challenge for six weeks: 

-walk 10,000 steps a day

-drink 64 oz. of water a day

-talk to a friend every day (easy)

-eat a healthy snack every day (easy)

-use technology (computer, tv, games) for 2 hrs or less, besides for work  

I didn't realize how hard it is to get 10,000 steps in unless I'm going to the gym.  I did park at the far end of the parking lot the farthest distance from my office for half the week, but even with that, I had to do something more than that to get my time in.  Three days of the week I have an extra hour between classes, so one of the days I just went for a long walk around the neighborhood adjoining the university.  That was nice, but it won't be practical every day.  During the summer, I was a gym junky, but I find it very difficult to get a routine going during the school year- my work load builds up, I have less time with my daughter (so I don't like taking evening time to go to a zumba class), and I don't do well early in the morning, and the classes they do have don't mesh with when would work for me.   I can go walking on the track at the PE building, but that gets boring and I give up when I'm bored. I wish they had zumba and such at the university itself, but it's a small campus, so there aren't classes like that, the same way they have it at a gym.  And each part of the university gym is a la carte; I find it a bit confusing, honestly.  I have some Wii games, like Wii Fit, but I'm inconsistent on my own.  I need to come up with a solution this week!

As far as water, I did find out that 20% of the water goal can come through foods.  Whew.  Also, I was somewhere recently and dying of thirst and bought an Aquafina- I never had that brand.  I love it!  It almost tastes sweet.  That has helped me down more in a day.  I still have a hard time believing someone 5'0" needs the same amount of water as someone 6'0", though!

The technology one has been hard.  I've been fatigued lately, which justifies me being on the computer more (of course it does), and my daughter and I like to watch Bones episodes while we're doing other things.  We're on a Bones' kick, in fact.  We watch it on Netflix, so we're behind, like in most series.  We just watched the one that explained who Gormogon and his assistant were.  We both cried.  Wow- devastating.

The point is, having the goal helps me at least have a clue what I'm doing, even if I'm not reaching the goal all the time. 

Well, that's me, checking in.  I don't know how often I will write now that the semester has started, although I am better organized during the school year, sadly, than during the summer. I did find a couple of good recipe books that I will look through soon, so I can add some more recipes on here.