Our Back Porch: Hello & an Update

Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half sorrow.
A Swedish Proverb

Hello & an Update

Posted by MN~Sue on 4/5/2005, 5:20 pm

Hi Friends,
My new lifestyle of changed diet and exercise is going very well, as far as me sticking tightly to it. I am still charting everything I eat and my exercise. I don't find it a nuisance, but a motivator and to keep me on track. I can easily count my daily total carbs that way, that are restricted, due to diabetes.
I am up to 2.4 miles on the treadmill per 1 hour session and trying to do it every other day. So, I am walking 2.5 mph for 2 miles and then the remainder of the time is a slow warm-up and cool-down pace. I would like to start using the treadmill every day as that is recommmended for diabetes control, but with my FMS it is recommended that I give my muscles one day of recovery, so I am trying to be careful in that respect. I am thinking about trying every day, with alternating the degree of workout and hoping that might work for me. I sure do love our new treadmill; it is so nice. I love the lap graphic on it that shows you your progress around a lap, which is 1/4 mile. When you finish that amount, the diagram refreshes and starts over. It keeps a tally of your miles as you go below it. It is a nice smooth walking treadmill. It also shows calories and fat burned, gives you your pulse, mph, pace, distance, etc. It even has 2 fans built into it ~ that is really nice to have! That is Terry's favorite accessory. You can program it with computer programs (we're not doing that) and set up a personalized program that changes speeds and incline, etc. (also not doing that). The hour just flies by on it, as I watch TV at the same time. I am always amazed how quickly it goes by! I usually feel like I could do more, but I am trying to be smart and not cause an injury or FMS flare that would then prevent me from doing it! I am gradually increasing mileage and pace and so far so good.
The weight still seems slow to come off in respect to the drastic changes I have made in reduced calories, type of food, exercise, but I guess if you figure 1-2 pounds a week that is recommended, I am on that track. It was just weird though - the first 6-8 pounds came off quickly (as it usually will) but then it would go up and back down and I seemed to hit a plateau that early on. Now more weight has come off, but slowly. I am sure that is probably good though, better to lose it slowly than too quickly. I just was hoping I hadn't been eating too few calories and my metabolism had slowed too much, due to it. Otherwise, I am fine with the pace of my weight loss. I am down about 15 pounds, in 33 days.
I am also cutting down my amitriptyline I take for FMS, to see if I can do okay without it. I know it causes weight gain. I am hoping that with the thyroid treatment and menopause putting my endo into remission (it also helped treat that pain), I can do okay without it. I was told by a pharmacist at one time, that since I have been on it long term, even though at a tiny dose, I should still wean myself off it, so I am taking one every other night and then will probably cut that pill in half and then stop it all together and see how I do.
Guess that is all for now...
Love,
Sue