Week 84, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1339
Fat: 20g (14%)
Carbs: 119g (36%)
Protein: 162g (50%)
Weight this morning: 130.4 (One week ago: 129)
Calories burned in exercise today: 264

Nothing much today besides laundry and a lot of walking. The wet season is setting in right on time. It tried to rain today, but by tomorrow we'll be seeing the real storm roll in, then it will rain all day Saturday and into Sunday.

I'll be back posting on Sunday with how the weekend went. Until then, have a safe and happy Halloween!

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, overweight, obese

Crap and Double Crap

Calories eaten yesterday: 1236
Fat: 26g (19%)
Carbs: 105g (34%)
Protein: 145g (47%)
Weight this morning: 132.2 (One week ago: 129.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 377

Crap. How can I gain 2 1/2 pounds in the last week when I am eating so little?!? :( My body hates me and the thyroid meds are only making me hungry instead of regulating my metabolism. I hate this. I still have a non-existent metabolism and take two medications that make me hungry! Argh!

Double crap. I checked the weather forecast and it's supposed to rain all day on Saturday. Looks like Brad and I won't get to do our walk. :(

Today I finally made it back to the gym for the first (and only) time this week. It took an energy drink along with my morning coffee to get me going, but I had plenty of energy after that. I spent an hour and 20 minutes on weight training, including some lower body stuff along with all the upper body work since I didn't get a lower body day this week.

After this I did 31 minutes on the crossramp elliptical and walked to work when I got off the train.

Tomorrow is laundry. I am not sure what the Friday afternoon plans are. I have a doctor appointment in the morning, followed by an appointment at the Red Cross. Whether or not I give blood I am then taking the bus home. After that, who knows? Brad is staying late at work, so I may just walk up to my local Safeway and buy my basic groceries there. I am having Brad get my salad the day before so I won't need to go to the one in Alameda (only the store in Alameda carries the big bags of salad).

I'll let everyone know on Sunday how everything worked out. Friday is Halloween so I'll be all dressed up in my peasant dress and hope to hand out little plastic Halloween rings to any kids that come around. Brad and I also want to stop by Lisa's Halloween party at least briefly.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, overweight, obese

Thyroid Bruising, and Vitamin D

Calories eaten yesterday: 1160
Fat: 22g (17%)
Carbs: 100g (35%)
Protein: 136g (48%)
Weight this morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise today: 228

I'm back to gaining weight again on incredibly tiny amounts of food. *sigh* 0.4 over where I was this time last week.

Lots of walking today - up to the bank, down the the train station, took the train, then walked to work from there. I stopped at WalMart for some stuff, including granola bars. Brad and I are hoping to do a long hike this Saturday.

Hope to hit the gym tomorrow now that I am recovered from my overtime.

I have a possible hopeful sign that my thyroid issues are getting better on the meds. I want so much to believe that it's helping me, but I also don't want to get my hopes up.

Anyway, at church on Saturday I bumped my leg really hard against one of the couches in the office. I was sure I would have a big bruise since it was really hard hit. Yet when I looked at my leg, there was no bruise! I also seem to be getting fewer bruises overall. I'm crossing my fingers that this is a real change due to the Levothyroxine.

I'm taking more Vitamin D because my levels are too low and I need to get it up, so starting now I'm going to take 4000 I.U. a day, or four tablets.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, overweight, obese

Week 84, Day 2

Calories eaten yesterday: 1335
Fat: 19g (13%)
Carbs: 125g (38%)
Protein: 143g (43%)
Weight this morning: 133.4 (One week ago: 133.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 111

I was sooo beat when I got home last night. I cooked up some Cream of Wheat for today and tomorrow, scooped the cat's litter box, and had my bedtime cottage cheese along with one of those 64 calorie beers. After what I have been through the last few days I deserved it!

I took 3mg of melatonin, two Benadryl, and two Xanax. The cats were chasing each other around and fighting, but they finally settled down and I slept about 9 hours. I wanted to sleep another hour, but I had to get to work. I'll try to do more catching up on sleep tonight.

I have to say, the melatonin has really helped me. I have always had trouble sleeping and I seem to fall asleep much easier when I take it.

This morning I walked down to BART, but needed to buy salad at the Safeway in Alameda so I caught the 50 bus and got the salad. I got off the bus about a 10 minute walk from work and walked the rest of the way.

As many of you know I have my employer take $40 out of each paycheck and set it aside for me - sort of like a savings account. Last week I asked for $150 of the $220 they are currently holding. I wanted it by Thursday, but it came today! Wow, that was fast. This will enable me to pay a couple of bills and buy food until the next payday. I am hoping to set some aside for next Saturday as Brad and I are hoping to do a loooong walk.

The cats are still an issue. Last night they were both very energetic and running all over the place. Some of it was play with something they considered a toy, and some of it was fighting with each other.

They fight and provoke each other even with the Feliway plug-in. I am hoping things will get better. I'm feeding them in the bathroom again and opening it up to them more often. I just have to move the shower curtain to keep Xena from hiding behind it. Eventually I would like to move the litterbox back in there without Xena guarding it.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, overweight, cats

Week 83 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Week 81: 139.4 (+0.2) - Week 82: 137.6 (-1.8)
Week 83: 137.8 (+0.2)
Total loss: -14.2

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1315
Fat: 20g (14%)
Carbs: 109g (34%)
Protein: 135g (42%)
Weight Thursday morning: 129 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 200

BBQ at my brother's house so couldn't count calories today.
Weight Friday morning: 128.8 (One week ago: 130)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 72

Weight Saturday morning: 133.2 (One week ago: 130.4)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 277

Friday I baked homemade oatmeal cookies from scratch. I need to post the recipe. I took the recipe on the Quaker oatmeal package and made substitutions to make it more healthy. My sister liked them (I saw her Friday night - see below), and the people at church actually ate the rest. One lady asked me for the recipe so I need to write it down for her.

Friday night Brad and I had dinner at my brother's house so I couldn't count calories. I did try to be good. I had baked cookies Thursday night and I ate several of those. At the dinner I had some of the snacks (celery with peanuts butter, some chips and salsa), plus Diet Pepsi. My sister was there, and her baby, plus my brother and his wife and their son.

At dinner I had wine, the equivalent of perhaps half a biscuit and no rice. That left the battered catfish which I did eat, and a small portion of the dinner salad, which was very carby and covered in high fat bleu cheese dressing. I guess I could have done worse, but I'm not happy about not being able to stay on my diet.

Saturday was much worse. I ate way too much, much of it just because I liked the taste and not because I was truly hungry. After church Brad did some work on his car while I was inside cutting veggies for the coming up week. I also made sandwiches for Brad and I to eat at work. Brad took me into work and I worked 7-11 p.m. On the way home we stopped at McDonald's so I could get a hot fudge sundae. I craved something sweet.

Brad got up about 6 and went into work to work 7-11 a.m. I got up at 8, walked down to the train station, took the train, then walked into work from there. I dropped my stuff and, since I was early, went for a walk in the area. I clocked in about 11 for my 12 hour shift.

I am zonked. I was so tired I can barely think. Bleh. I am going home tonight and knocking myself out with some Melatonin, Benedryl, and Xanax. I'm sleeping in tomorrow and not even going to think about the gym until I have recovered from the last couple of days.

Back on plan today and hoping for a good on-plan week. :)

A small gain on the scale this week, but I wasn't able to be on plan on Friday, so two days off plan and a small gain - I can live with that.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, San Francisco, overweight, fitness, weigh-in

No weekend for me...

Calories eaten yesterday: 1330
Fat: 21g (15%)
Carbs: 116g (36%)
Protein: 160g (50%)
Weight this morning: 129 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise today: 200

Still don't know what will happen tomorrow. I'm supposed to see April and Renato and Rob and Julie and Marina. I called April today to get Rob's number (I had accidentally erased it) and Rob was with her and she said she would call me tonight about a time to hang out tomorrow. I'll give you all a report after the weekend.

Saturday is church and then I am working 7-11 pm, then I have to get Brad off early Sunday for him to work 7-11 a.m., then I am coming in at 11 to work a 12 hour shift. So lots of overtime. Too bad the money is already spoken for!

So I don't really get a weekend this weekend. I get a half day Friday before having to do "family" stuff, and a few hours Saturday between church and work. *sigh* Hopefully next weekend will be better.

Today I walked to the laundromat and back. The donut shop was all closed down so I didn't get my one donut hole. I settled for a handful of peanut butter M&Ms from one of those 25 cent candy machines.

Today's payday and the money is already gone. That $90 lab bill did me in, plus my water bill came and it was $50, so that's $140 of unexpected expenses. It wrecked my budget. I asked the guy downstairs for some of the money they set aside from my paycheck. He said I have $220 and I asked for $150.

Brad and I still want to do the 17 1/2 mile hike around the loop in Lafayette/Moraga. Hopefully next weekend (the day after Halloween).

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, obese, overweight

Personal Training, Session 4 & Vitamin D

Calories eaten yesterday: 1204
Fat: 18g (14%)
Carbs: 113g (39%)
Protein: 136g (47%)
Weight this morning: 129.8 (One week ago: 131.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 220

Had my last personal training session today. Meka still couldn't find the paperwork William had on me, which sucks. He'd written down what we did and there were a lot of good ideas and how heavy to lift, and now they can't find it?!? I know 24 Hour Fitness; it will never turn up. I feel like I've been gypped. I needed that paperwork.

Meka didn't push me very hard. Male trainers are definitely better. They push you harder. The only exercise I felt like I was dying on were the ab exercises. Everything else I could do fairly easily.

I continued with weight training after our session ended, doing some exercises we didn't do. I tried a little different post-workout snack - fat free cottage cheese with whey powder. Less fat is good after a workout, plus this cottage cheese has less calcium than what I was using. My carb snack was Cream of Wheat. It's a medium GI carb instead of high, but it's high in iron and I really need the iron. After these, I walked to work from BART.

Looks like Vitamin D is a problem for me, too. I asked about this on the Thyroid forum and got this reply:

I wrote to and heard back from Dr. Cannell over at the Vitamin D Council, who said it is as I guessed....Here's his reply to me:

Vitamin D 25, total...39...range is 20-100 (my readings)

is the important one, level should be 50 or higher, not 39

So I guess I need to increase the amount of Vitamin D I am taking. Lupe downstairs does sell D3 but she gave me just plain old D. I'll finish that bottle and then get the D3. I paid Lupe for the Vitamins C and D I bought but never paid for, bought some more Melatonin, and asked if she could find 3mg tablets so I don't have to take three of the 1mg she sells.

Tomorrow is payday, but all the money is already spoken for, especially with Christmas coming up and the unexpected $90 lab bill. *sigh* I still haven't paid my Internet either and that is due.

At least my new debit card was in the mail when I checked on Tuesday, so now I don't have to pay for everything with cash. :)

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Prop. 8, my low ferritin, and upcoming insanity

Calories eaten yesterday: 1260
Fat: 21g (15%)
Carbs: 112g (36%)
Protein: 152g (49%)
Weight this morning: 131 (One week ago: 133)
Calories burned in exercise today: 194

Before I say anything else, let me urge everyone to get out and vote on Nov. 4, and if you live in California, please vote YES on Prop. 8.

I was sent a link to this video that talks about Prop. 8 and its ramifications to all people in California and the rest of the country. Don't think that just because you don't live in California, Prop. 8 won't effect you because as California does, the rest of the country will eventually follow. The video is well worth watching no matter which state you live in.

Ok, moving right along...

I'm still trying to attack this iron problem. Today and tomorrow I'll try 2 servings of Cream of Wheat. Today I had it for breakfast and snack. Tomorrow I will use it as my carb serving after my workout, and a snack. So far no bloating from eating it, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Calcium inhibits iron absorption and I have been eating a cottage cheese with extra calcium. The whey protein I have is pretty high in calcium, but that can't be helped.

Today I went out and bought some fat free cottage cheese that is much lower in calcium. Also, between the non-fat cottage cheese and the Cream of Wheat (which is also fat-free), that will get my fat down, a good thing in a post-workout snack. Fat slows down digestion and you want fast digestion after a workout.

Next time I go into the doctor I'm going to ask him to hold off on any more blood tests for now. Give me a chance to see what I can do to get the levels up since I made lots of mistakes in the beginning, such as taking my calcium and iron pills together. I'm also going to ask that my thyroid meds be raised, preferably to 100mcg. I don't think the 75mcg I'm on is enough for me, but don't feel I need labs run. Give me 100, give me time to stabilize on that, and then rerun them.

Today I walked to BART, took BART into the City to get my mail, took BART back, and walked to work from where I got off.

Tomorrow is my last personal training session.

This coming weekend is going to be insane. S. at work finally picked out the two half shifts I can have and of course she picked two Saturdays. So I will be working 7 pm-11 pm this Saturday, and Saturday December 20.

The problem with this Saturday is that P. is taking Sunday off so I am filling half his shift, meaning I have to be back at work at 11 a.m. I see no gym sessions in my future next week. I'll need a couple of days to recover from that lack of sleep.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, gay marriage, Prop. 8

Even More Work Woes

Calories eaten yesterday: 1285
Fat: 24g (17%)
Carbs: 108g (34%)
Protein: 153g (48%)
Weight this morning: 133.4 (One week ago: 136.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 296

Leg day for me at the gym. Did one hour of leg and ab training, then walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a 1% incline. I could really feel that in my butt!

Things are still up in the air with S. at work. I think she is dragging her feet hoping it will all go away. The ill-considered decisions made in the heat of the moment way back then gave her the false sense that she was totally innocent; she is playing that card now. Because her and I were told to work it out between ourselves she blames me for all her trouble, thinking that I am the one punishing her.

And now I find out that she will be given an opportunity to make up the hours she loses to me. How is that fair? I didn't get to make up the hours I lost. I simply lost them and suffered for it financially. But she gets to make them up if she wants so she loses nothing. :-p She is still the favored Golden Girl. :(

Tomorrow I am going into SF to get my mail. I have my last personal training session on Wednesday.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, obese, overweight

Week 82 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Week 81: 139.4 (+0.2) - Week 82: 137.6 (-1.8)
Total loss: -16.4

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1347
Fat: 21g (14%)
Carbs: 90g (27%)
Protein: 160g (48%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 250

Calories eaten Friday: 1389
Fat: 19g (12%)
Carbs: 92g (27%)
Protein: 134g (39%)
Weight Friday morning: 130 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 265

Weight Saturday morning: 130.4 (One week ago: 130.6)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 334

My weight is down from last week because I didn't pig out on Mudslides or real pizza yesterday, or pig out on potluck food at church. I tried to eat semi-sane at least. :)

Ok, the weekend. Friday the money from Dad came, so when Brad came over we went to the bank to deposit half and get the other half in cash for groceries. We went to Safeway and I got what I needed. It was nearing sunset at this point so we settled for a walk along the shoreline right by the shopping center. We walked for about an hour 45 minutes.

Saturday after church we came home and I wanted to bleach my hair. I found I had no gloves. So we walked up to the beauty shop and I bought a box of gloves. Brad helped me with the bleach, but when I washed it out only the top was totally blond. Some of the hair is still brown and some still have residual green color from the blue dye I put in so long ago. My hope is to get red Clairol and dye my hair in the next few weeks.

After that we hung around the house a bit, then went out to Applebee's since Brad had offered to get me a Mochatini earlier that day. He got a beer and the cheese stick plate, and allowed me to have another Mochatini.

On the way home I started thinking about a latte so we stopped at Starbucks and I got a skinny caramel latte, the last petite vanilla scone they had, and two brownie bites. Brad got some special new coffee they have and a Rice Krispie treat.

Then we went home and had low-carb pizza for dinner. I used the soy-based crust. I know I'm supposed to stay away from soy, but I want to eat what is in the house. I just won't buy anymore.

Today Brad drove me to the gym. I forgot my iPod and called him and he brought it to me (he was right in the area), then decided to talk with one of the counselors and got a guest pass. I didn't ask how long it's good for. So he watched me do my wight training and then walked on the treadmill while I ran. I did what I did last week upping the speed from 5.2 to 5.9 quicker than usual and running for 3.13 miles - just over 5k. It took 32 minutes but gave me an incredible endorphin rush!

We might do the 17 1/2 miles Lafayette loop next Saturday (skip church), but there's a couple monkey wrenches in the mix.

1) Brad has to work 4 hours next Sunday morning (7-11 a.m.), and I have to be in at 11 a.m. to work a 12 hour shift.

2) April called me Friday and is in town this week. The only day I can see her is Friday when she will be staying in San Leandro with our brother.

3) Due to the situation at work with S. I do not know whether I will be working a half shift on Friday and/or Saturday. I'm trying to be as agreeable as possible to reduce friction, but she is pissed and out for blood. I told April I would do my best to see her Friday, but if I do get off at 7 pm I know we will be up late since they are all night owls and don't have to be up early on Saturday morning.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, San Francisco, overweight, fitness, weigh-in

More drama at work

Calories eaten yesterday: 1363
Fat: 28g (18%)
Carbs: 122g (36%)
Protein: 157g (46%)
Weight this morning: 131 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 250

Walked to the laundromat and back, then to the BART station, then from where I get off the train to work about 4.7 miles total.

I forgot to mention something yesterday. I got a $90 bill for lab tests. This was for the Free T3, ferritin, Vitamins D and B-12, etc. $907 total, Lupe negotiated a 50% discount with Quest labs, and so my portion came to $90. But without the discount it would have been $180. This doesn't include the adrenal tests I had done recently, nor rerunning the ferritin and all the thyroid tests (TSH, Free T3 and Free T4), and the TIBC and iron the doc ordered. I don't even want to think about that bill!

The good news is that the two Vitamin D test made up $500 of the $900 bill and those won't need to be run again. My levels were on the low side, but okay, and I am taking a supplement every day now. My levels were probably toward the low side because D is fat soluble and I eat a very low-fat diet.

The drama with S. at work continues. J. and Brad told us to work it out, but she is getting pissy that she's not being allowed to skate on this matter. Oh horrors. She's getting punished. She can't even think that I've been punished already by coming in on my vacation day. She just forgot that she agreed to the shift and feels that's okay. I wish I could share the whole e-mail exchange, but let's just say that she's now threatening my employer with the California Labor Code. LOL! And saying that her planned vacation time should count as the time she misses. I have tried my best to work it out with her and be reasonable.

But as Brad said, she's not a Christian and is acting in accordance with the world. The thing is that she would have had her ass fired for what she did in the real world.

She finally said that she wants me to work ALL of next Friday, not really an option as I don't want to work past sunset. I'll make an accommodation for 7 p.m., but I do not want to work until 11, especially when I have to be up so early Saturday. S. is just going totally psycho. If and when boss J. gets involved it will not go well for either of us, especially me since I seem to be his least favorite right now with S. being the Golden Girl. :-p

This doesn't even touch how she keeps messing up the daily report. Every week when I come in on Sunday I get an old report. Near as I can tell, the old reports being sent out start with her, then get copied through the weekend by everyone else. This week I hid some code in my report. We will see where that code disappears.

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Personal Training, Session 3 & Cheat Days

Calories eaten yesterday: 1199
Fat: 28g (21%)
Carbs: 92g (30%)
Protein: 149g (49%)
Weight this morning: 131.6 (One week ago: 132.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 262

I had session 3 of my personal training today with Meka. She's a black girl I have never noticed before. I was put with her because the trainer I started with is no longer with 24 Hour Fitness. She was good, but didn't push me hard enough. I think she was feeling me out though and our last session next week might be very different.

She wanted to focus on lower body, but I wanted to do more upper body stuff so we did and I learned a couple things along the way. This is my favorite part of personal training - learning stuff I can incorporate into my workouts. I told her what William had told me to do as far as sets and reps.

---
Here is part of an e-mail that I wrote to someone who e-mailed me. This section is about cheat days:

About cheat days:

They don't last all weekend, just one day. For me, that's Saturday. I have tried to stick to plan and count calories that day and it just doesn't work because I have church that day and they have snack out to eat and a potluck lunch every week. It was driving me crazy to sip a protein shake while everyone else ate lasagna and mac n cheese, etc. What I normally do now is load up on the peanuts and some of the other snacks and then wash dishes instead of eat lunch. I will have a small serving of something bad if I like.

I don't normally have pizza and Mudslides and other similar stuff that day. Lately I have been craving more bad stuff and my hunger has been out of control. I think the craving for bad stuff is because I'm allowing too many carbs in my diet, which gives me cravings, and the hunger is from my newest medication. My Celexa (been on this for 5 years) makes me hungry, but the thyroid med I recently started on has just sent my appetite into overdrive. I was okay on the the 50mcg, but going up to 75mcg has made me ravenous and it sucks. I'm told this is a common reaction to thyroid meds.

I know I have to get the cravings under control and not give in to my appetite to restore sanity to these cheat days. I don't recognize the person I have been lately, especially the last few weeks. I have done sane cheat days before and that's the real key is keeping them sane. I seem to have lost my mind lately on cheat days.

Lately my cheat days have been more like binge days and that is unacceptable.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight

Week 82, Day 3

Calories eaten yesterday: 1310
Fat: 28g (19%)
Carbs: 116g (35%)
Protein: 152g (46%)
Weight this morning: 133 (One week ago: 132.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 167

Slept in a bit and took it easy today. Walked to the BART station (30 minutes), took BART, then walked from that station to work (30 minutes). Tomorrow I go in for my third of four personal training sessions, and my first with a woman.

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Internet Insanity

Calories eaten yesterday: 1327
Fat: 27g (18%)
Carbs: 117g (36%)
Protein: 151g (46%)
Weight this morning: 136.8 (One week ago: 134.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 324

Today I am blogging about Earthlink. They insist on automatically charging my credit card every month and swear up and down that automatic payment is the only way I can have service with them. I went round and round with one particular person today. Due to the automatic payment issue I had to cancel my debit card, so now I have no way to pay any bills online until I get a new one.

Currently I have to call them every month, complain, and have them reverse the charges to my account. The problem is that if there's no money there, I get dinged with a $33 overdraft fee. I tried to cancel my service, but nope, there's a huge early termination fee.

A little later someone from Earthlink called me and we discussed the issue. He says that I can send a check in every month by the due date (20 days after the bill is generated) and that not everyone feels comfortable giving out their credit card number. The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Sometimes you have to raise holy hell.

So hopefully this is solved, but we will see. I hate the thought of going back to checks, though. :(

---
I have been under a lot of stress. Boss J. is still mad at me, compounded because I've been forgetting to clock in about once every couple of weeks, meaning he has to go into the time clock and manually change it.

And no one here - except Brad - understands (nor do they care to) what these thyroid meds are doing to me and the conniption fit my body is going through now that it's getting the hormones it needs, but is not used to having. Why do I get the diseases that require lifelong medication?

---
Today I went to the gym and did one hour of lower body work followed by 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill. I walked to work from the BART station. I'm no longer using a monthly pass so bus rides either have to be paid with cash or my 10 Ride card.

I'm exhausted. I'm going to assume it's my horrible ferritin levels. I'm taking my iron supplements and eating Cream of Wheat. I'm not sure I can do any more.

The photos from the church costume birthday party are up. I didn't take many because Brad and I couldn't stay long. What I have starts here. Navigation is on the right hand side. I'm still working on the photos I took later that night of going out to pizza at LaVal's and drinks at Applebee's.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight, Earthlink, Internet

Week 81 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Week 81: 139.4 (+0.2)
Total loss: -14.6

In case you are wondering, I am planning on purging the above list when I reach 100 weeks and just include my first weigh-in, and then weeks 100 and onward.

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1307
Fat: 16g (11%)
Carbs: 112g (35%)
Protein: 140g (43%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 292

Calories eaten Friday: 1451
Fat: 20g (13%)
Carbs: 111g (32%)
Protein: 119g (34%)
Weight Friday morning: 129.2 (One week ago: 129.8)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 177

Weight Saturday morning: 130.6 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 0

Calories burned in exercise today: 439

Brad and I walked on Friday, but he was tired and we did a much shorter walk than usual. I felt more energetic, but oh well.

Saturday was church and then the costume birthday party afterward. I wore my Ren Faire peasant dress to church. We didn't stay long at the party. It might have been nice to, but I work Sundays and have to prepare. Brad washed and portioned the green beans (he even took off the tops!) and I portioned the chicken and cottage cheese, got my pills ready for the coming week, and cooked some Cream of Wheat for the next couple of days.

I uploaded some photos to Flickr, then we went out to dinner at LaVal's pizza. Brad payed for the pizza (we split a small one which wasn't nearly enough food). I was going to pay for the beer, but they couldn't get their network to connect to run my card and ended up saying the beer was free. It was a pitcher that costs $10 so that was good.

Afterwards we went to Safeway so Brad could get some cottage cheese. I got one of those huge slices of cake and ended up eating most of it because Brad didn't want even half.

Brad said something about Applebee's which made me think that yes, a Mochatini sure sounded good. Brad ordered cheese sticks and I munched on a couple while waiting for my Mochatini. After the Mochatini I became possessed and ordered the Mucho size Mudslide. I rarely get then and have never had a Mucho size before. I don't know how many calories the Mucho size has, but the regular size seems to be around 800 calories, so the Mucho might be around 1100 maybe? I believe the regular is 16 oz. and the large is 22 oz. After that huge drink I had a Bahama Mama, though I did ask them to go light on the grenadine syrup. They must have because I could definitely taste the alcohol.

We went home and the eating frenzy continued for me, even when I wasn't hungry. I hate it when I stuff myself when I am no longer hungry. So of course I showed a gain for the week because the pizza, light beer, and fru fru drinks all went straight to my belly and hips. I must get my cheat days under control!!!

Today Brad drove me to the gym and I did one hour of upper body and core weight training, then ran on the treadmill for 3.13 miles - just over 5k. It took 32 minutes. Brad picked me up and drove me to work. We had time so we stopped at one of the walking trails and walked for 40-45 minutes. Hey, I have to work off the horrid number of calories I binged on last night!

After the weight training, running, and walking I am so tired. It's probably my low iron levels. I wonder if maybe I should cut back on giving blood. I think I will still try to donate on Halloween (if I pass the iron test), but may cut back after that. I just can't resist the chance to donate on Halloween of all days. ;)

Tomorrow I hope to do a lower body workout, do some sort of cardio, and then walk to work from BART. Tuesday I can sleep in, Wednesday is my third personal training session with a female trainer, and Thursday is laundry.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, San Francisco, overweight, fitness, weigh-in

Week 81, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1373
Fat: 29g (19%)
Carbs: 120g (36%)
Protein: 152g (45%)
Weight this morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 131)
Calories burned in exercise today: 292

I walked to the laundromat and back, put away my clothes, walked to the BART station, then walked from my stop to work, stopping at WalMart for a refill of my thyroid med and a few items - 1 hour 45 minutes total.

I haven't talked about my cats lately. The relational issues are getting worse again with more hissing from Xena and more paws and claws from both. I have noticed that Abby is trying to take over Xena's bed on my bed and I bet Xena resents that and smells her scent. I sprayed Xena's bed with the spray type Feliway and am chasing Abby off whenever she settles there.

The Feliway is also running low and that may be effecting Xena's behavior. I need to get more since it does seem to help Xena to be a bit more calm. Cat fights are breaking out more lately and I will bet anything that it's because the Feliway is running out.

So I need to hit Petco tomorrow at the shopping center where the grocery store is. Dad's check should be coming soon so hopefully that will help me get through the next two weeks. Today was another dismally small paycheck so I will need that little extra to pay for this cat necessity and buy food.

I've stopped using the monthly bus passes. I just haven't been using $70 worth of rides. I've been walking a lot anyway, so now I will just do more. I bought a 10 Ride pass and sometimes I will just use cash. For example, with the 10 Ride pass I pay the standard $1.75 per bus ride - no discount. But when I get off BART I can get a transfer that will save me 25 cents, so I am better off paying with cash. This means keeping ones and quarters with me at all times.

I used all of my Commuter Checks this month to buy two $64 BART tickets. I am chronically running out of BART fare so this will really help. I purchased my 10 Ride bus pass with cash. I still have one monthly bus pass sitting around. I'll hold onto it for now. It won't expire until a couple months after the next fare increase so there's no need to worry about it right away.

One lady at the thyroid forum swears that my increased hunger is because the thyroid med is revving my metabolism. Here's the thread. So where is the weight loss if my metabolism is going up, hmmm? :-p I'm probably undoing it on Saturday because I just eat everything in sight. :-p

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Week 81, Day 4

Calories eaten yesterday: 1130
Fat: 22g (18%)
Carbs: 103g (38%)
Protein: 124g (44%)
Weight this morning: 132.4 (One week ago: 132.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 287

My weight is up a little today. I know it's because I ate Cream of Wheat yesterday. I'll eat it more to see if it bloats me and just deal with the slight scale changes from carbohydrate water weight.

The last two weeks I have been hungrier than usual. I am not sure if it is the increase in my Celexa dose (three weeks ago) and/or the increase in my thyroid meds (two weeks ago). Either way, it sucks. And it's not like my metabolism is higher and I'm losing weight because I'm not.

Decided to skip cardio today. I walked up to the Safeway to buy a few items (like a 10 Ride bus pass), then caught the bus to the gym. I did one hour of upper body weight training, caught the train, then walked to work from the train station. I stopped at WalMart on the way to pick up the Celexa prescription I put in yesterday, and transferred my thyroid med prescription over by bringing in the Costco bottle from home. I also got more WalMart brand Crystal Light, Cookie Crisp cereal, a new pill cutter, and WalMart brand Benedryl.

Tomorrow is laundry.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight

Ferritin Follies

Calories eaten yesterday: 1345
Fat: 28g (19%)
Carbs: 114g (34%)
Protein: 155g (46%)
Weight this morning: 132.2 (One week ago: 131.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 181

I am soooo sore today! My thighs and butt are killing me. But it means that yesterday's workout was really good! :)

I have been super hungry the last couple of weeks and sneaking more little treats here and there. :( I hate myself for that and don't understand where this increased appetite is coming from. My metabolism is way too low to handle much food.

Ran into the City today. I walked to the BART station, did my errands in the City, came back, and walked to work from the station. My 9 million step token was in my mail - a nice surprise. I have been so focused on getting to 10 million than I didn't even notice I'd passed 9.

I've been trying to wrap my head around my low ferritin (iron) levels. Looking at my food journal stats, I am getting very little dietary iron and way too much dietary calcium. The last thing I need is a calcium supplement. Calcium prevents iron from being absorbed, so I am not getting the full benefit of the pills I take.

My plan:
1) Immediately stop all calcium supplements. My multi-vitamin packet includes two calcium tablets. I can try to get Brad to take them; otherwise I'll just throw them away or save them up and give them away to someone at work.

2) Buy some Vitamin C from L. downstairs as Vitamin C increases iron absorbtion.

3) Take more iron tablets. Buy a stool softener to prevent constipation. Stool softeners, unlike laxatives, do not cause dependence from what I have read.

4) I may include more Cream of Wheat in my diet (50% DV of iron). Wheat may bloat me, though, so this may not work.

So that's the plan. As it it, with my ferritin so low and barely passing the iron test last time I gave blood, I may very well fail this time around. I have got to get the iron problem corrected ASAP. At least one person thinks that a lot of my symptoms may resolve if I just get the ferritin up.

Oh, I forgot to record it so I am taking a bit of a guess, but near as I can tell I made 4,000 miles walked last Saturday, Oct. 4. :)

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Thyroid & adrenal test results

Calories eaten yesterday: 1372
Fat: 30g (20%)
Carbs: 113g (33%)
Protein: 163g (47%)
Weight this morning: 134.6 (One week ago: 133.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 287

Went to the gym and did lower body work. It's been so long since I had a leg day and I have lost some strength. I torched my poor legs and I can tell I will be really sore tomorrow. I was too tired to run on the treadmill so I just walked for 30 minutes and covered 1.91 miles.

Since my trainer left I am trying to get set up with a new trainer. So far it's not coming together, but I'm sure they can find me someone who can work on my schedule.

I promised I'd post my test results today. Here they are. There's some good news and some bad.

My previous readings (before medication):
TSH: 4.07 (0.4-4.5)
Free T3: 149 (230-420)
Thyroxine-Free (T4): 0.9. (0.8-1.8)
Ferretin: 23 (10-154)

My new readings (on 50mcg Levothyroxine):
TSH: 3.68 (going down!) (0.4-4.5)
Free T3: 280 (going up!) (230-420)
Thyroxine-Free (T4): 1.0 (0.8-1.8)
Ferritin: 13 (I gave blood Sept.5 and this test was Sept.26)
Iron: 80 (40-175)
TIBC: 321 (250-450)
Transferrin saturation: 25 (15-50)

So I am converting T4 into T3. My T3 has gone way up, but my T4 has only gone up 0.1. I read on the thyroid forum that Free T3 should be 325 or more and Free T4 should be 1.1 or more.

My iron still sucks. Other than having to stop the iron a few days before the blood test, I've been taking two iron pills a day. If I take three I get constipated, but maybe I should just take three and add some fiber tablets? I've got to get the ferritin up.

Any thoughts on the iron at 80, the TIBC, and transferrin saturation? I don't know anything about those readings.

The only "bad" food I’m still eating is some red cabbage. It’s part of the salad mix I use. I’m going to try to use a different (more expensive) type, but my money is so limited that I may be forced to use the mix with the red cabbage. (It’s mostly iceberg lettuce, but has carrots and red cabbage added.) I guess I can just pick out most of the cabbage.

---ADRENAL---

Total cortisol: 13.8 at 10 a.m. (8-10 a.m. should be 4.6-20.6)
Free cortisol: 0.47 at 10 a.m. (8-10 a.m. should be 0.07-0.93)
Plasma ACTH: 18 (5-27)

Someone on the thyroid forum said that my numbers are fine - that too high or too low isn't good, so I guess my adrenals are okay.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight

Week 80 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58: 139.4 (+2.8)
Week 59: 136.6 (-2.8) - Week 60: 134.6 (-2)
Week 61: 137 (+2.4) - Week 62: 138.6 (+1.6)
Week 63: 137 (-1.6) - Week 64: 137 (-0)
Week 65: 141.8 (+4.8) - Week 66: 135.4 (-6.4)
Week 67: 136 (+0.6) - Week 68: 139.2 (+3.2)
Week 69: 137.2 (-2) - Week 70: 138.2 (+1)
Week 71: 136.4 (-1.8) - Week 72: 140 (+3.6)
Week 73: 139.4 (-0.6) - Week 74: 140 (+0.6)
Week 75: 137.6 (-2.4) - Week 76: 141.6 (+4)
Week 77: 136.4 (-5.2) - Week 78: 139 (+2.6)
Week 79: 138.2 (-0.8) - Week 80: 139.2 (+1)
Total loss: -14.8

Body fat on Tanita scale:
Year start: 26.6%
Last month: 23%
This month: 24.4%

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1382
Fat: 21g (14%)
Carbs: 102g (30%)
Protein: 157g (46%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131 (One week ago: 132.6)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 264

Calories eaten Friday: 1386
Fat: 21g (13%)
Carbs: 95g (27%)
Protein: 132g (38%)
Weight Friday morning: 129.8 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 374

Weight Saturday morning: 131.4 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 243

Calories burned in exercise today: 322

What a crazy weekend. Friday afternoon Brad and I went walking along the San Leandro coastline. Saturday after church he took me to see the new Catholic church down by Lake Merritt - Cathedral of Christ the Light. I took a lot of pictures, but the mausoleum downstairs was closed and we weren't even allowed to look around down there. We were chased off by a security guard. It will take me a while to get the photos up on Flickr, but I will eventually.

After that we came home and I dug out and tried on (for the first time in years) my Ren Faire costume. Everything still fits except the original belt is waaaay too big, so I will have to use a more modern belt. There is a costume party at church next week so I need to get it washed for that.

After that Brad and I made a big mistake and went for a "short" walk (of over an hour). We had lost too much time between the church and the costume and it started to get dark and I was stressed because Saturday I need to prep stuff for the coming week. I guess Brad felt bad for me so he chopped some Romaine lettuce for me and portioned baby carrots. I portioned out the chicken breast into baggies and put them in the freezer. I also got my pills ready for the next week in the organizer.

I finally kicked back with wine and lite beer and watched some TV.

Today Brad drove me to the gym and I did a full workout - 1 hour upper body weight training and 30 minutes of running. Whew! I felt great afterwards, but very tired! Then we walked over to the cathedral to see if the mausoleum downstairs was open, but it still wasn't. I got a few more pictures.

We stopped at WalMart on the way to work and I spoke with the pharmacist about my meds. Two of them are covered under their "$4 prescription plan" that they tout on TV, but the one that isn't (Xanax) seems to be more expensive that Costco. The Celexa would cost about $15 for three months instead of the $10 they advertise because I have to take 1 1/2 pills a day instead of just one. They do carry the Mylan generic Levothyroxine, the same manufacturer that Costco carries, so I will probably switch my anti-depressant and thyroid medications to Walmart as they come up for renewal.

My thyroid and adrenal tests came back. I'll posts them tomorrow, along with the old thyroid tests. There's some good news and some bad, and much that I have no clue about and need to research.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health, exercise, San Francisco, overweight, fitness, weigh-in

Week 80, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1211
Fat: 26g (19%)
Carbs: 106g (35%)
Protein: 142g (46%)
Weight this morning: 131 (One week ago: 132.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 264

Walked to the bank and back, the laundromat and back, to the bus stop down by the train station, and then got off the bus early for an extra 10 minutes of walking.

I don't recall getting my Commuter Checks for September, but I talked to Gary and he at least gave me my October checks a bit early so I can buy some BART tickets (I've been using cash). I'll probably just get a 10 ride bus ticket instead of the monthly since I doubt I'm using the bus enough to cover the cost of the ticket ($70): Brad drives me some places and I do a lot of walking for exercise even when a bus is available.

The cold I had was really minor. I didn't feel run down except for a couple of days and didn't have to miss any work. :)

Tomorrow I plan to walk with Brad and hopefully get some in Saturday, too. It might rain Friday and will likely rain Saturday so who knows? I'll still want (need!) to walk, even if that means getting soaking wet and changing clothes afterwards.

Technorati tagged: diet, low fat, weight loss, health club, exercise, fitness, weight

Life, & my reply to "Anonymous"

Calories eaten yesterday: 1203
Fat: 25g (19%)
Carbs: 109g (36%)
Protein: 138g (46%)
Weight this morning: 132.2 (One week ago: 130.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 206

Crap. I'm up a half pound from yesterday. It must be the Cream of Wheat I had for breakfast yesterday. :(

I logged into my checking account today to see how my balance was and learned something new. In 1997 Great Western (my bank at that time) merged with Washington Mutual, and now Washington Mutual is merging with Chase! Changes, changes. Looks like Washington Mutual failed. The Wikipedia entry on Washington Mutual is up-to-date and provides a bit more information.

I'm still not feeling 100% yet and still taking the Zicam, but it's the first of the month so I have a new monthly step goal to make. To get my steps up I left my house, walked down to the 50 bus, and started walking the route. I made it all the way to Alameda Towne Center (formerly Southshore Mall)! Fitday says 3.6 miles and it took me about 1 1/4 hours. :)

Tomorrow is laundry and Friday Brad and I will go walking, so I guess I'll make it to the gym just once this week.

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To the anonymous person who was too cowardly to sign their own name and left a nasty comment (which was deleted - you must sign your name and their are tactful ways to make a point): the "cocktails" - indeed most of what I bought that day - was paid with cash from vacation days I had already cashed in for the express purpose of having a day off! "All those cocktails" were on my one vacation day - my one and only vacation day out of 365 days!

People who get a regular vacation each year don't understand how important that one day was to me. That was my entire vacation, dear Anonymous, for the entire year. But I understand. You also don't believe that I deserve even one vacation day in a whole year.

Try looking at the whole picture before you go casting stones. Is this the way you treat people in real life?

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