I finally came to the end of another difficult week. That hemorrhoid I got a week ago Sunday was murder. It was incredibly painful for a couple of days, with the pain finally diminishing by Thursday. During this time, I was very nauseated -- probably from the pain, but the nausea was also nearly gone by Thursday. The hemorrhoid was still huge, but I Googled MedMD and MayoClinic and they just confirmed that this was normal and it would either shrink on its own, or I could go to my doctor and have it broken. I decided to let nature take care of it. Unfortunately, Thursday night it broke open on its own throwing me back into immense pain and nausea, now accompanied by quite a bloody mess. I warn you all again -- NEVER PUSH ON THE JOHN!!!!
Here's the good stuff though. Last week, even in pain, I managed to complete 4 days of walking 10,000 steps or more. I watched my eating, and I ended up losing a pound. By today, I've dropped another half pound and am completely out of pain, and I'm working hard to get in at least 4 days of 10,000 steps/daily per week. While my body is not quite back to my peak firmness of February, I see a big improvement. Now, here's my coffee story.......
For years and years I was the coffee maker in the family. About 2-1/2 years ago, Clint decided he wanted to learn how to make it. I suspect that he sometimes worries that I might drop dead and he wouldn't know how to do anything. We have a Cuisinart coffeemaker with a timer, so it can be set up the night before and one can have fresh, hot coffee waiting for you when you arise. (Of course, I am usually up VERY early, so I often flip it on manually, but it's nice that the coffee and water are already in the brewer). Clint really loves this coffee making duty, so I relinquished it to him. Sometimes there are glitches....twice in the past couple of weeks he has forgotten to fill it with water -- a key ingredient that definitely makes the coffee (grounds) taste better.
The most important duty of the human coffee maker is to choose and blend the coffee. We both like a rich, medium-heavy blend with no bite and no Starbucks-burnt taste. When I was drinking my coffee a few mornings ago, it was so delicious that I realized if I had to choose between something to give up forever -- coffee or ice cream -- I would choose ice cream....and you all know how much I love ice cream.
Anyhow, lately Clint always keeps playing with the blends and this drives me crazy. He will brew it so magnificently some mornings that I am in bliss. Other days, he throws some new concoction together that tastes weak, or bitter, or just not very good. I get annoyed because when he makes a fabulous brew, I ask him to make it that way all the time. But he can't seem to help himself from fiddling. So yesterday, after two disappointing coffee mornings in a row, I announced that I was reclaiming coffee making duties. He pouted, but as he was drinking his coffee this AM, he kept raving about how wonderful it was....and it was. In case you're wondering, it was a blend of Kona and an organic dark coffee called Velvet Moon.
Maybe you're wondering why I'm going on about this....it's all coffee, right? Well, it occurred to me after reading a lot of blogs this week, that our weight loss journeys are a lot like my morning coffee. You need key ingredients (exercise, reduced calories) and a device to make it work (dedication), and whatever comes out should equal coffee (weight loss). But some brews are better than others, at least for me.
I, myself, have seen a faster weight loss when I reduce carbs, and I can live without sugar, corn, and empty carb snacks.....but I LIKE and plan to continue to incorporate moderate amounts of bread, potatoes, rice, yams, bananas, etc. into my daily meals. I feel bad when I read blogs from people who are cutting carbs, and then they get to a point where they really want them. Some people have sounded guilty and almost anguished when they start eating carbs, even if it's only a couple of slices of bread. Maybe they need to consider changing their blend.
During these past few months when I wasn't feeling well and had a lot of difficulty exercising, I tried to keep my eating under control. I had a couple of bad weeks, but for the most part I continued to watch my portions and not eat too much junk. Nevertheless, without exercise, my weight slowly began to creep up a few pounds. At this time, I began to Google every conceivable diet that I had ever or never tried. I read what other bloggers found successful -- but those diets seemed to work only for the period of time the people were on them.
Those who remained at or near a goal weight all seemed to have the same things in common -- they watched their portions, ate balanced meals with occasional snacks, and exercised.
As I worked my way through diet descriptions and reviews, I was mostly turned off by the rigidness of some, the authoritative sermonizing of others, and the wackiness of many. Once again, I finally came to the conclusion that what I had been doing for the best part of two years worked best for me. I briefly thought a couple of weeks ago that I might go low-carb, but I've decided against it. I like food -- I don't want to give anything up (except junk food, and most sugar).
My weight loss may be a little slower (probably a lot slower) than those on low-carb diets, but I know that this delicious blend works for me and is something I can live with for the rest of my life.
I just checked my Jiminy and see that I've walked more than 8,000 steps today -- there's still time for me to reach 10,000 so I'm off to do that.
Wishing you all luck in finding your delicious, satisfying blend of exercise and eating. Goodnight all.
Of course, I continue to monitor my steps with my beloved Jiminy ("let your conscience be your guide") also known in some circles as an Omron Pedometer with Health Management Software. I've stopped trying to push for 10,000 steps for awhile, but still manage to get in 4,000 - 5,000 each day. I am having a stress test soon to try to find out why I am having such annoying shortness of breath.
