Bonnie's Journey to Fitness

Can I do it?

28 years ago, and even then I struggled with my weight.  But at least I felt comfortable enough to wear short cut-offs with knee socks!  Only in the ‘80’s.  And wouldn’t this picture make a great album cover?

This week was an interesting one.  At the weigh-in today, I was down another 1.5 lbs.  That makes 12 lbs in 6 weeks.  Two more weeks to go in the TWR Biggest Loser competition.  My goal is to lose 20 in the 8 week period, so that means I have 8 more to go (but another 30 to lose after that).  Can I do it?

I found myself struggling with achy joints - one of the pleasures of aging.  Yesterday I was able to get a massage from one of the best, … Nepa, you rock!  Today after my weigh-in and workout, I went to Chinatown and saw an herbalist.  I really don’t like taking pills - even the over-the-counter ones, so if I can find a  natural approach to help ease the pain - great!  Here are some suggestions she gave me:

1.  Pine bark extract (I’d never heard of this before today).  It’s called a Pycnogenol and is extracted from the bark of French (what’s wrong with American?) pine trees, and evidently has been shown to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.  There was a study published in International Immunopharmacology that said “healthy people who took 150 mg of Pycnogenol before breakfast for five consecutive days had significantly lowered levels of enzymes responsible for triggering inflammation.”  So … she recommended I take 60 to 100 mg a day to relieve the every day pains and if it’s really bad, try 200 mg a day.

2.  Take a 1/2 teaspoon of tumeric powder with warm water at least 3 times a day.  Wonder what it will taste like?

3.  Omega-3 fatty acids.  I already take an Omega-3 supplement every day and she recommended I add ground flaxseeds on my oatmeal or add a handful of walnuts to my yogurt or salads every day.

4.  Start juicing.  I have a couple of friends who make a juice every morning (either vegetable or fruit).  And have thought about starting … but the idea of buying another piece of equipment made me hesitant.  She recommended fresh carrot juice with fresh lemon juice.

Hopefully one or all of these alternatives will work!

Now as I plan out next week, I’ve decided to go into over-drive.  I am going to workout with my trainers for an hour, Monday thru Thursday, plus Saturday.  On Sunday I like to take a 4-5 mile jog/walk (that is if the snow holds off until evening), and then come home and do 100 crunches on my stability ball and if I still have some energy - 100 prisoner squats.  Friday will be my off day.

The diet.  I’m going to try for 1200 calories a day this week.  Eating every 3-4 hours, with the majority of my calories at lunch (say 500).   I do have a couple of friends who eat 800-1000 calories a day - but this does not seem like enough, especially if I plan to workout hard for the majority of the week.  I am going to strive for 10 servings of vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit.  Just hoping I can get in enough protein. 

I’m experimenting this week with protein powders too.  I visited the local GNC store, and picked up a variety of sample packets.  Some range from 30 calories w/5 grams of protein.  Others go as high as 200 calories w/20 grams of protein.  I made sure all were low in sugar.   

With these tweaks, hoping I can lose 8 lbs in two weeks.  Can I do it?  Or am I being unrealistic?  We’ll just have to wait and see.

And the journey continues.