Week Before Surgery

Next Thursday my left knee will finally be "scoped!"

It is raining today, so it's stiff and throbbing. It sucks having a weather defective limb at 30.

My knees were more like the knees of a 70 year old because I spent the previous 25 years being over-weight / obese.

After I had my right knee done it took awhile to heal, and now it is in fantastic shape! But my left leg is still "crunchy" and holding me back.

I am really looking forward to having a working pair of legs again! :)

My Pre-Op physical is tomorrow and I have to get on the Doctor's Scale. It is going to be bad....

My weight has taken off like a rocket this year because my limited mobility plus lots of Stress/Greif Eating.

Since my first knee surgery last November I have gained 30 pounds. (About 3 pounds gained each month.)

It is very very very very very frustrating because I am doing what I can with what I got, and I am still slowly gaining weight.

Even being consistantly active and reaching my goals, I am still up 3 pounds this month!!! (My weight this morning compared to the weight on the 1st.) but that weight gain could be from my pending period. I hope it is just period puff and my weight will finally TURN AROUND!

I need to walk tonight...

I know that I will need to walk tonight to stay on track to reach my goal... I am sooooo not motivated to do it. :P I will try though.

I am not feeling the motivation because my reward still has not arrived from Amazon!!! :(

I reached my goal back on the 19th... and I still do not have my reward! :(

SAD JESS!!!

I will do my best to get my unmotivated butt in gear, but it is going to be hard!

Fingers Crossed.

Jess

---

7:34 PM
UPDATE!!

I just finished my workout.
1 hour 4 minutes
4942 strides
460.2 calories
4.57 miles

How I got Motivated:

I filled up my shopping cart at Amazon.com with my NEXT batch of rewards!
I have 4 more hours to workout by September 2nd, and then I can place that order.

HOPEFULLY, my first reward will arrive before then!!

Keeping it up!

I still have not "fallen off the wagon" with my "Walk an hour 5 days a week" goal.

My reward should be arriving soon. :)

Cheers!

Jess

Nice Article!

I recently read this article on Women's Health Magazine's website. I found it really interesting and thought I would share it.

Avoid Diet Roadblocks

10 surprising reasons why you aren't losing when you should be—and what you can do about it

by Nancy Gottesman

If losing weight were simple, Spanx would be just a screen name in an S&M chat room. But dieting is complicated: There are even ways to screw up without realizing it. For instance, who would ever think that working out in the a.m. or cranking the AC might be the reason you're not slimming down? Luckily, once you've I.D.'d these flubs, fixing them is nowhere near as hard as pulling on a pair of control-top hose.


Roadblock #1 Always a go-getter, you work out at 6 a.m.

What's wrong with that? Morning workouts are great—if you go to bed at 10 p.m. In a recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, women who slept 7 or more hours a night were less likely to put on weight than women who didn't. Those who slept only 6 hours a night were 12 percent more likely to gain substantial weight—33 pounds on average over the course of 16 years! (Women who slept a measly 5 hours had a 32 percent chance of gaining 30 or more pounds.) Other studies have linked lack of sleep to a higher BMI and have found that it negatively affects levels of the appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin.

Detour

Don't sacrifice your snooze time—not even for an extra-long run. And quality matters more than quantity, so taking a siesta later won't help. "In a 20-minute power nap you don't get into the deep-sleep stage," says Donna Taliaferro, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who conducts research on sleep and circadian rhythms. "You need to go through the cycles of sleep over a few hours to get the restorative rest that allows your body to work properly." Bottom line: You're better off sleeping through your workout every other day than stumbling to a sunrise Pilates class on too few z's.


Roadblock #2 You're a teetotaler (or a sot!)

What's wrong with that? Alcohol may not be the diet kryptonite you thought it was. Recent research showed that those who have a single drink a couple times a week have a lower risk of becoming obese than either teetotalers or heavy drinkers. Those who consume more than four drinks daily, on the other hand, boost their odds of obesity by 46 percent.

Detour

Go ahead and have a drink; just avoid belly-busters like a 245-calorie pina colada. Instead, raise a glass of heart-smart merlot (123 calories per 5 ounces), Bud Light (110 calories per 12 ounces), champagne (88 calories per 4 ounces), or sake (39 calories per ounce). Or mix a 100-calorie cocktail, like vodka and diet tonic or tequila and club soda. "Just make sure you drink it with some healthy food, such as raw veggies with low-fat dip or whole-wheat pita and hummus," advises Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Eating slows the rise of alcohol in your blood -- and cuts the odds you'll drunk-order the deep-fried mozzarella sticks. For a good excuse to throw one back, see WH's Top Red & White Wines and Best-Tasting Light Beers.


Roadblock #3 You crank the AC

What's wrong with that? Al Gore wants you to lay off the thermostat to save the planet. Here's how it can save (the shape of) your own ass, too: In a study published in Physiology & Behavior, researchers found that exposure to temperatures above the "thermoneutral zone"—the artificial climate we create with clothes, heating, or air conditioning—decreases our appetite and food intake. "At a slightly uncomfortable 81 degrees, the women in the study experienced a 20 percent decrease in appetite and ate 10 percent less than at 72 degrees," says lead author Margriet S. Westerterp-Plantenga, Ph.D., a professor of food-intake regulation in the department of human biology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Detour

Instead of cranking the air conditioner every time you feel a little warm, learn to endure slightly steamier conditions. Hitting the "off" button is well worth a little discomfort if it helps you lose the saddlebags.


Roadblock #4 You log extra miles on the treadmill to make up for giant meals

What's wrong with that? When it comes to dieting, success isn't 90 percent perspiration. You can't achieve lasting weight loss via exercise alone. But a new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that dieting can shrink your fat zones just as effectively as dieting plus exercise.

Detour

If you try the diet-only approach, you need a clear idea of how much you should be eating. Multiply your weight by 10, then add your weight again to that sum: That gives you the number of calories you need to maintain your current weight without activity. For example, 135 pounds x 10 = 1,350 + 135 = 1,485 calories. Eat more than that regularly, and your "loose-fit" pants won't anymore; eat less, and your muffin top will start melting away. But not so fast—before you burn your gym membership, read on about sarcopenia.


Roadblock #5 You ignore sarcopenia

What's wrong with that? Sarcopenia, in case you weren't paying attention to your medical TV dramas, is age-related muscle loss—and it can start in your 30s. If you don't take action now, you could begin to lose as much as 1 to 2 percent of your muscle mass by the time you hit 50. Less muscle means you burn fewer calories and store more of them as fat.

Detour

The key to stopping muscle meltdown is to strengthen your back, shoulders, arms, and thighs. "When you increase lean muscle mass, you burn more calories, even when you're sitting down doing nothing," says Amy Campbell, M.S., R.D., education program manager for health care services at the Joslin Diabetes Center of the Harvard Medical School. Find a strength workout in "Secrets of the Nation's Top Trainers" (page 128) and start sculpting at least twice a week. And keep it up after you reach your goal weight: Studies show that if you don't exercise regularly (60 minutes of moderate physical activity a day), the pounds can creep back on.


Roadblock #6 You're shooting for a realistic size 6 instead of a near-impossible 2

What's wrong with that? We know size 2 jeans look like they were made for a 10-year-old, but, according to a study of 1,801 people published in the International Journal of Obesity, women who set unrealistically high weight-loss goals dropped more weight in 24 months than those who kept their expectations low.

Detour
The study authors concluded that having an optimistic goal motivated women to lose more weight. And the participants who failed to reach their magic number did not quit trying to drop the weight. Could aiming for Sienna Miller's figure really help you reach your goal weight healthfully? "If you're a driven person and a lofty goal motivates you," says Blatner, "it can work."


Roadblock #7 Ever since the recent headlines, you've been popping M&Ms like they're Advil

What's wrong with that? You've heard the news: Cocoa can lower blood pressure; reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia; and possibly even prevent cancer. But the research isn't as delicious as it seems. The cocoa-bean products used in the studies are a far cry from the highly processed chocolate candy you find on the shelves of your local store. "Milk chocolate contains about 150 calories and 10 grams of fat per ounce," says Campbell.

Detour

The key here is small doses. Dark chocolate, which retains more of the bean during processing, generally has slightly less fat and fewer calories than milk chocolate—plus, it's richer, so less goes a longer way. We like CocoaVia's Crispy Chocolate Bar (90 calories, 5 g fat) or Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Stick (60 calories, 3.5 g fat). If dark doesn't do it for you, opt for low-cal choices such as a half-cup of Breyers French Chocolate Double Churn Fat Free Ice Cream (90 calories, 0 fat).


Roadblock #8 You think "water-rich diet" means more trips to the cooler

What's wrong with that? Water in your glass is good, but water in your food can have serious slimming power. In a new American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study, obese women ages 20 to 60 were told to either reduce their fat intake or increase their intake of water-rich foods, such as fruits and veggies. Although they ate more, women in the water-rich group chose foods that were more filling—yet had fewer calories—so they still lost 33 percent more weight in the first 6 months than the women in the reduced-fat group.

Detour

Fill up on food that's high in H2O. Some good choices in addition to fruits and veggies: broth-based, low-sodium soups; oatmeal and other whole grains; and beans. For other filling options, consult The Volumetrics Eating Plan: Techniques and Recipes for Feeling Full on Fewer Calories, by Barbara Rolls, Ph.D. (Harper Paperbacks, 2007).


Roadblock #9 You give up junk food today but put off joining a gym until January

What's wrong with that? Tackling one goal at a time is supposed to help you succeed. But new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine bucks that conventional wisdom. In a study of more than 200 people who smoked, had high blood pressure, and weren't extremely active, one group was asked to quit the butts, cut back on dietary sodium, and increase physical activity all at once. Another group addressed one bad habit at a time. The group that tackled all their problems simultaneously had the higher success rate after 18 months.

Detour

Combining your goals may work for the same reason job negotiations do: When you ask for everything, you're more likely to get something. Put this thinking to the test by creating a healthy eating and exercise plan and throwing all your energy into following both.


Roadblock #10 You never think about potassium

What's wrong with that? A recent Canadian study concluded that getting more potassium might help lower your weight and blood pressure. Levels measured in study participants were proportional to their diet and weight. "That makes sense," says Blatner. "The richest sources of potassium are beans, vegetables, and fruit, so the person with high potassium levels is consuming a lot of these foods, which are low in calories and are the most filling."

Detour

You should aim for 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day. Supplements may help you hit that target, but doctors don't recommend them for everyone. Try filling up on white beans (1 cup: 1,000 mg potassium), winter squash (1 cup: 494 mg), spinach (1 cup: 840 mg), baked potato with skin (926 mg), yogurt (1 cup: 600 mg), halibut (4 ounces: 566 mg), and OJ (1 cup: 473 mg).

Last updated: June 5, 2008 Issue date: November 2007
Link to Article

Do any of these sound familiar to any of you too?

Our 48 Hour Film!

In a previous post I talked about the 48 Hour Film Project.

In short, local teams competed to make an entire short film in 48 hours!


No one knows what their movie will be about until they draw a genre out of a hat! You then have from Friday at 7 PM to Sunday at 7PM to turn in a movie!


All 48 Hour Films were required to have these elements in them:


This year we had:

• Character - Buddy (Babby) Kant - A Philosophy Instructor
  
• Prop - A greeting card
  
• Line of Dialogue - "Chalk it up to dumb luck."

It was cute to see how the other teams take these elements and use them in their movies!



We had to make a "Holiday Movie." We made a Vampire movie involving Arbor Day!


Buddy Kant, "Action Philosopher," fights vampires plotting to end Arbor Day!


I am proud to presnt: "Arbor Day - Kant Touch This"

GOAL!

I successfully walked an hour last night and achieved my goal of walking 5 times a week, for 2 weeks. (I started this on Aug. 5th, a Tuesday)

I look forward to my rewards arriving soon!

I will be repeating this goal over the next two weeks. If successful - I will get my next reward just before my knee surgery! :)

I hope you are keeping healthy! :)

Jess

One More To Go

I walked again last night while watching "Platoon." I had never seen it before and it was cool to see so many actors I recognized. They all looked so young!

I walked for 1 hour for 4.45 miles, 4542 strides, and 456.7 calories.

If I walk again to night, I reach my goal! Yea! :-D

Rest Day!

I walked last night just like I planned!

I just need to walk 2 more times by Tuesday and I will get my reward!!!
(I am buying myself some items from my amazon.com wishlist!!!)

My soon-to-be-operated-on knee was not in a happy mood today, so I am taking a rest day. :)

I think I might even go to bed early and try to get some really nice sleep!

Cheers,

Jessica

New Apartment!

Aaron and I have been apartment hunting the last few weeks.

We looked at many places.

I really wanted to find a place with a nice large open kitchen, that’s close to my work and with reasonable rent.

Our current apartment has a tiny dark galley kitchen with no counter-space and no dishwasher. I don’t like cooking in there because it is claustrophobic, and everything is really old and battered. I know that if I was more comfortable in the kitchen, then I would make healthier meals from scratch.

Rent was also a factor. We were looking for the best apartment we could get for our money. Since we have two cats – that really changed the prices. Some places had no monthly pet fees, others had $10 per cat ($20), $15 per cat ($30), $25 a month for both. Then there was the varying pet “security deposits”…

After weighing the positives and negatives of each place I settled on one that was just 3 blocks from my work. It didn’t thrill me. It was another galley kitchen but with a little “window” over the sink into the living room. The rent was pretty high there, but I figured it was the best we’d seen.

We had one more showing scheduled for Sunday and I questioned about even going to it, but felt obligated to keep the appointment.

Thank God I did!!

I was blown away by the place. When we first entered there was a huge bathroom off to the right and a nice bedroom/home office to the left. Then we entered the spacious kitchen/dining and living area.

A nice dining area to the right, and a large living space to the left, then the kitchen!!! It was a fantastic large open kitchen integrated into the dining and living space with nice appliances. I'll be able to cook and still interact with guests. Fantastic!

Then off the kitchen was a stacked in unit washer and dryer, then into the Master Suite. A large bedroom, with a hallway of closets that lead to a private full bath with a large counter and two sinks!

I whispered to Aaron… “I don’t think we can afford this place!”

I then asked, “So what’s the rent here?” It turns out it was $60 less than the other place! She also mentioned that it includes heated underground parking! It was too good to be true!

We snapped up an application and turned it in on Monday. Today I learned we got the place!!!
We’ll need to schedule a lease signing and I am so excited! :)

Floorplan:



My Health News!

My latest goal is being able to walk an hour 5 days a week.

I’ve successfully walked on:

08/05/08
08/07/08
08/08/08
08/10/08
08/11/08
-----------------
08/12/08
08/14/08

And plan to walk again tonight while watching Naruto - Then it's just 2 more hours until I get my reward!! Yea!

More Knee Surgery

I will be having my left knee scoped on Sept. 4th.

I am excited about having my knees finally both repaired and ready to rock! :)