Period + Trip = Not Good :(

Last Sunday I was in a car at this time riding down to Urban, IL for work.

I worked there Monday and Tuesday from 5 AM to 6 PM in the Hospital supporting the nursing staff.

Wednesday was another travel day, driving the 4 hours back to Wisconsin, then flying out to
Philadelphia! Thursday and Friday I worked at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Then yesterday, I finally got to fly home!!

It's been a busy week. I did not take time to really "exercise" because I was running around hospitals and through airports, etc... The majority of my meals this week were in hospital cafeterias. It was so hard to eat healthy. On top of all that - my period started at 12:45 AM (EDT) Friday Morning. AGH!

I hope this doesn't sound too whiny or that I am making excuses... but I just feel so over whelmed by it all.

I was 156.50 this morning... Last time I posted my weight here it was 153.50. That's three pounds this trip and my period added to me. Which isn't really that bad. Nearly typical for this time of the month.

I'll get to work on burning it off again, but it feels like I never get anywhere. There is always something that comes along and throws a wrench in my works.

I will be able to eat healthy this week and get back into my usual routine!

I just need to remind myself that even though I gained three pounds since the 15th, I still have over 130+ pounds that I have kept off for good. It's just these last 10 keep finding a way to come back! ;)

Cheers,

Jess

Tough Times Ahead

I was sick on Monday and Tuesday with that same recurring throat aliment. I feel a painful tightness or a “catch” when I swallow, speak, yawn, or even turn my head the wrong way. Last month it was diagnosed as GERD, but after a month of a restricted diet, and taking medication… It’s still there!! So my doctor sent me to a specialist.

The specialist x-rayed me eating barium-laced pudding and cookies. (Fun, fun...) But they still don’t know what’s wrong! Argh! On the plus side though, they did conclude that what is wrong with me is not GERD! Yeah! Spicy food here I come!! Oh! And I CAN EAT CHOCOLATE AGAIN!!!! Hallelujah!

Even with the “Welcome back chocolate” celebration I had, I am down another quarter pound. I was 153.50 pounds this morning! That’s 3/4 pounds gone in June so far! :-D But now things are going to get tough!

This Saturday is a big Family Reunion POTLUCK. You know, Grandma’s extra special homemade baked beans, potato salad, “Death by Chocolate”… Too much food that tastes way too good. It is going to be hard!

After the Potluck, Aaron and I are going on a “dinner-and-a-movie” date because I’m going on another week long business trip starting Sunday.

Next week I will be eating every meal at a restaurant. (Plus, the stress of traveling, and working 13+ hours in a healthcare setting...)

Last business trip I was able to come back the same weight as I left! Hopefully I will be just as successful this trip. I will be vigilant with my meals, and make time to do something healthy no matter how “tired” I am.


AM Weight 153.50

Elliptical
==================================
47:39 min, 4.05 mi, 470.1 cal, 6436 strides

My New "Toy"

As you may remember, I was in Physical Therapy for my tailbone a few months ago. I had been using a stationary bike for the majority of my exercise… but with my broken bootie, I couldn’t use it!

My therapist recommended I try swimming, or an elliptical trainer for aerobic exercise because of my bad tailbone, and “crunchy knees.”

I have very sensitive skin, so spending hours each week in a pool was not a viable option… and I did not want to join a gym, just to stand in line waiting for the ONE piece of equipment I can comfortably use… So we decided to save up to buy a really good elliptical trainer for our home.

While we researched machines and saved up, I gained about 7 pounds with my restricted exercise regimen. I did a lot of weight training, but no cardio. I gained about 1 ½ pounds each month. I’m pretty sure most of it was muscle, and tried not to get alarmed as my weight climbed.

Memorial Day Weekend we drove down to Loves Park, IL to shop for an elliptical trainer! I fell in love with the Precor EFX 5.21i. Precor invented the elliptical trainer, and had over 250 patients on their machine, and wow, could I feel a difference!





It was delivered and assembled on 5/31/07, and I’ve used it nearly every day since then! :)

I’ve dropped half a pound, and WOW, does that feels so good! ;-)


TODAY'S STATS
=====================================

AM Weight - 153.75

Exercise - Elliptical Trainer, Heart Rate Program
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48:00 min, 447.7 cal, 5638 Strides, 3.93mi


Breakfast
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
110 Fat Free Yogurt
55 ¼ c. All-Bran Buds

AM Snack
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
180 Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars

Lunch
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
240 2 slices 12 Grain - Whole Grain Bread
80 4 slices Natural Turkey Lunchmeat
35 1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss Cheese
10 Lettuce

PM Snack
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
140 Banana


700 total calories so far today.


I haven’t heard anything back from People yet.

Cheers!

Jess

Might be in People Magazine?

I was contacted by People Magazine about my weight loss!!!!

It is so exciting! One of the first things they asked me though was if I was willing to pose in a bathing suit!

I said "Sure, why not?" I mean, I already have 'bathing suit like" pictures on my blog!

Wonder Woman - Halloween 2006

"My Virtual Model" - March 2007

I hope they pick me! Nothing is confirmed, but I thought I would share!!!

YEA!

Jess

More GERD Information

Last week I decided it was time to contact the doctor about my symptoms (Acid reflux, nausea, throat restriction... basically, heartburn in my throat and upper chest.) after a rough couple of days.

Everything I ate that can trigger GERD is in bold below.

It started with a date to a Laotian Restaurant, Vientiane. (Vientiane is the capital city of Laos.) Aaron and I love hot food, and they let us order our appetizer of Laap ******* (7 stars) HOT!

Laap is the unofficial national dish of Laos. It is most often made with chicken, but can also be made with duck, turkey or fish. (We had chicken.) The meat is minced and mixed with chili, mint, lime, and optionally, assorted vegetables. Roughly ground toasted rice is also a very important component of the dish.

It was fantastic! It was so nice to have a restaurant that will serve us food that is super hot!! At home we normally eat foods that are crazy hot. When we have guests over I try to "tone it down," but I am still accused of "trying to kill them" with the hot spices.

For our man dishes we both has a deep fried shrimp dish. (Shrimp in a General Tso’s chicken batter.) Then we went home to have some chocolate ice cream to cool things off.

The next a night we went out to sing Karaoke at a smoky “townie bar.” I drank a Sugar-Free Red Bull with Blue UV, a shot of Captain Morgan, and then a Moose Drool Beer. I got hungry, so we ordered a Cajun Chicken Pizza with sour cream!

So yeah… after that. I was like, "I need to see a doctor." I’ve had these symptoms for years but never saw a doctor until after that.

Now I am on acid reducers and a restrictive diet to help my esophagus heal the next few months, but now I feel like I have nothing left to eat. :-(

Restricted foods:

Fried foods, such as burgers, fried chicken and fried fish
Foods prepared in butter or oil
High-fat desserts, sauces, salad dressings, gravies, mayo, etc…
Creamy soups
Chili
Citrus fruit, sauces and juices
Peppers
Garlic
Onions
Foods with a lot of extra cheese
Tomato-based foods, including ketchup
Caffeinated beverages
Alcoholic beverages
Chocolate

Okay, I don’t eat greasy fired foods frequently, but NO CHOCOLATE?! NO TEA!? No awesome ethnic foods!? Basically all the food we have in our house, I can't eat. *SIGH* I’ll have to figure out something I CAN eat that doesn’t bore my socks off...

G.E.R.D. & Identity Fraud

Some evil punter somehow got my PayPal information and ordered stuff using my account information!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luckily, PayPal stopped the purchase and limited my account for protection. I am working with them to restore my account's security, but I am really upset about the felony offense committed against me.

Then I get an angry e-mail from site the Felon got stuff from saying "You didn't pay us for the stuff you downloaded!" I wrote them back and said that fraud had been committed. I am working with PayPal to resolve this, and that I am the victim of ID theft. :(

The thing that upsets me the most about all of this is that I have been the victim of Identity fraud before!!! I have taken measures to protect myself, and that is why I feel extra violated. :(

I am so stressed out and it just gets worse.

I was recently diagnosed with G.E.R.D too, so I have to cut out lot of the food I used to enjoy... Mint, Chocolate, Citrus and Tomatoes.

I now take acid reducers daily and OTC products for heart burn / acid reflux relif.

I will do my best to live healthy with my delicate tummy. Thank god it is the weekend. I need to relax!

:-)

Everything is bigger in Texas…

I was worried about gaining weight while on my recent business trip to Plano, Texas. In the past I gained between 5 - 10 pounds per trip due to eating in restaurants for every meal, and not finding time to workout.

This time I was very careful with what I ate. I did my best to eat as “normal” as possible. I didn’t order rich meals or stuff myself silly. I just tried to make the best choices I could, and stopped eating when I felt full. I also made it to the workout room at the hotel one night and did 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer and some free weights to work my arms!

When I got on the scale after getting home I cheered!

For the first time EVER I came back from a business trip the same weight I as when I left!!! I am so happy!! :-) Once I get my reimbursement check for my travel expenses… I will pick up a reward for this awesome accomplishment! :) I think I might get Popotan, or Hare and Goo! Or I might get a box set of the New Doctor Who! Maybe even IMAX tickets to the midnight showing opening night of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix… Ooo!!! Now that has merit! I’ll ruin it by Aaron and see what he thinks!

Cheers!

Jess

Flying out of Dallas Tomorrow

We'll see how I did in Texas soon! I think I did okay, but I am so SORE and TIRED from working such crazy hours in the Hospital, and getting barely any sleep. It sucks. I know that sleep is important to good health too, and I am suffering. I will try out the Hotel's Workout facillities tonight! Should be FUN! :) I hope it stops raining so I can swim! :) (The pool is outside. :)

I think I might have the hang of this "Staying fit while on Business travel" thing... maybe.
All I know is my "skinny jeans" still zip up on day 5... and that RULES! :-D

New Reward is on the way!

Last night we ordered my latest reward from Amazon.com!





AI YORI AOSHI!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Complete Box Set!)

I think I have GUSHED about how much I love this Anime before! It is a super cute lovely tale of a guy and a girl that are perfectly in love each other but have to keep it a secret. (Shhh! ;)

As Children Kaoru and Aoi were engaged and the plan was for Kaoru to take over the Family Businesses. However... after years of abuse from his grandfather, Kaoru leaves and breaks all ties to his family. This leaves Aoi without a finance! (The marriage was more like a business deal to join the companies.) But Aoi can love no other! She has spent her whole life wanting to be his wife, and is willing to leave her powerful family to be with him. Aw! :)

Then things get complicated when they try to live together under the guise of a Landlady, and tenant... and lots of cute girls keep moving in that all have crushes on Kaoru! So they have to hide their affection for each other, PLUS Kaoru has to fight off the advances of at least 4 other women! Too Cute!

I got this reward for making a psychological goal.
"Learn to Recognize Real Hunger VS. Cravings."

I've been so good about realizing that I don't "NEED" chocolate, ice cream, or whatever my mind is screaming "GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!" Like a toddler being dragged from the toy aisle.

When I think of my cravings like that... it's been easier to stop them. I got my reward for being a "good girl" and not whining for treats.

Now I don't have guilt when I have sweets because I know "The Adults" are in charge. ;)

Cheers!

Jess

Texas Bound and....

I will be heading to Texas for work May 4th - 10th.

Business travel means eating out every meal... and that is never easy on the waistline. :) But I think that I will do all right! I am pretty much in "maintenance mode" now. I'm excited about it! My first "Go-Live" in a Hospital!

OH! Cool stuff!

I helped make a movie this weekend for a 48 hour Film Project! It was so much fun!! The movie should be up on youtube later this week and I will post a link.

How 48 hour Film Project Works:
7 PM on Friday night - We are given our movies criteria.
1.) Our Movie had to be a "Road Trip."
2.) Our Movie had to have the prop "Christmas Lights"
3.) Our Movie had to have the character "Ray Roberts - A Handy Man"
4.) Our Movie had to contain the line, "That was smooth as butter."

We instantly started brainstorming and kept coming up with cool ideas until about 10.
At 10 PM the script writers broke to take the ideas and make them into a movie! They labored through the night. I think they finished the script at around 3:30 AM...

9 AM on Saturday we all got back together to film it! It was lots of fun! We did most of the filming by London / Kroghville! My character had no lines but did one of the most dangerous "stunts" in the film! ;) I don't want to spoil it for you, in case you want to see it. :)

This is the second movie that I've been in. I should look or the file off the other one, maybe stick that on the youtube ;)

Well the cat is now sitting on the keyboard, so I have obviously spent enough time on the computer! ;)

Take Care!

Jess