I also wanted to include in the post, some pics of my new apartment. I love this place, it's across the street from the park and a beach.
Yesterday I went to the library to return some books and then to Whole Foods to get some good "clean"healthy foods and on to aldi for cheap produce.
Here are some of the things I purchased.
After we unloaded the goods at rhe apartment, I got dropped off at the mmovies to see "Inside out" a Disney film, since it was a birthday outing for an 11 year olds birthday. I was able to walk and sit easily inside the theatre and I was in no pain at all. After the movie, we went up on the roof of the parking garage to have the party but it was barricaded, so we had it one floor below the roof. It was too kool. I sat in the truck, because I can't stand that long. Then I had them drop me at a bus stop with a shelter, where I could sit and wait on the bus. I refused their offer to take me home, since they live about 15 miles from the bus stop and about 25 miles from me. They have twins in tow, who were sleepy and upset. I enjoyed my free bus ride and got home about 1 1/2 hours later. I am getting over my fear of being out by myself, since I have so much strength from the daily exercise. What a great day and I still had strength to spare. Another fear overcome. Oh yeah.....
Exercise
I exercise for 30-45 minutes a day, every day. I do cario every day and then resistence training. I have hand weight and leg weights. I started out with 3 pounds hand weights, but, now they are too light, so I use two 3 pound weight together when I do my upper body resistance exercises. I will have to get some 8 pounders soon, but these will have to do for now. I started out with 2 pounds in my leg weights but, I'm up to 8 pounds per leg now. I have gained so much strength on each leg, knee, and ankle now, that I'm amazed. I let go of the rollator at the end of March. I no longer needed it. I now only use my cane and then only outdoors. yipee ki yey!! The exercise makes all of the idffrence in the world. They say that I need two knee surgeries, but, after 58 days of 30 minute exercising and drinking smoothies daily, I have been healed of all arthritis pain. I have stiffness but, no pain, unless I stand up too long. I'm really trying to avoid thoose two surgeries, if at all possible. I don't like exercising but, it works wonders for my attitude and my health. I might start the day, not wanting to exercise, but, i do it anyway and halfway through , i start to feel wonderful and light. Those endorphins kick in and do their job of elevating my spirit. Since, I know that this happens every day, I RESOLVE, that I will exercise every day, no matter what. I know things happen and I sometimes i can only exercise for less than my daily allotted time or I have to exercise later in the day. But, I commit to exercise daily, because I matter, my health matters to me, I'm learning to take care of me, to love myself more.
Medications
I visited my doctor for refills on my meds on June 19th. He was amazed. he gave me a high five. He took me off the diabetes med-Metformin, which I was taking once daily. My A1C had dropped to 6.0 from a high of 7.0. He also reduced my blood pressure meds and my pain medication. I had already dropped them from 3 times a day to once in the morning before seeing him. It was a good visit.
Weight
I have dropped 22 pounds and lots of inches in the last 3 months. I'm so happy. I wore a shirt buttoned yesterday that I was not able to button 3 months ago. it was nice and loose on me.
Accountability Partner
I now have an accountability partner. She doesn't play. She tells me like it is. When I'm rebelling with the food or doing something else stupid, she rebukes me. She sends me articles on clean eating, videos, encouragement and health tips. She went through the book "Made To Crave" with me and we completed all the questions at the end of every chapter. After reading that book, I realized that this is a lifestyle change, that will never end. There is no end and I go back to eating that crazy, disease causing stuff again. No way !!!! There are some foods that I might never have the freedom to enjoy again, but, if I want to enjoy a good quality of life, this is how it has to be.
Foods
I now have a smoothie, consisting of a green ( spinach, kale or collard) celery, carrots, berries, bananas, protein powder, cocao, agave nectar every morning after my exercising. I usually have 32 ounces. I also have 1-2 ounces of sunflower seeds. I am supposed to only have 1 ounce of them. I'm still working on that. Here's one picture of me juicing, which i do on odd days.
Later on in the day, I have crispbread with guacamole, feta and dried cranberries or carrots with hummus or some type of healthy snack.
For dinner, I have a great salad with about 6 different kinds of lettuce, feta, dried tomatoes, raspberry viniagrette,fresh garlic, onions with dried cranberries and raisins. on top of this I had something like Beyond Chicken or Beyond Beef or Quinoa burgers. I decided last week that I just cannot do real meat, for moral, ethical and many other reasons.
Evening snack- Smoothie, if needed
Note: I was having peanuts as an evening snack, but, I could never get a handle on eating the right amount, so I eliminated them for now from my lifesttyle.
Let me give you a picture of my day.
Alarm at 5:30am to wake me up out of the groggy state. I take my meds, which make me sleepier, which is why I take them at 5:30 am, so I can sleep the effects off for a couple of hours and then start my day.
7:30 or there about I get up, journal, have bible study and prayer.
10:30-I exercise for 30-45 minutes, after which I have my smoothie immediately.
I then get cleaned up and get dressed.
2-3 pm-Snack time
6-7 pm-dinnertime
9-10 snack
12-1am- bedtime
God is blessing me with miracle after miracle. I expect more miracles in my life as I walk in this new journey to health. My thinking, is changing, my nervous system is changing, my ideas about my body and my life are changing.
Just think last year this time, I was just learning to walk again and was in a wheelchair most of the time, to me just using a cane now and going to festivals, parties, the beach across the street from where I live. I'm living again. Thank you God! What a miracle!
