Another Manic Monday

 Weight this am - 171.4  

Treadmill - 47 minutes at 2.8 (1 mile at 2.0 incline) for 3 miles

And ... up we go again.   That damn 169 just keeps waving at me as I sit here and hover around 2 pounds out.    I was hoping to be there by the end of September.   Obviously that isn't happening.    Reset my goal date to Oct 15...which is also my goal date for 165 so we'll see what happens.   

Going to try...no.   Going to DO an exercise DVD tomorrow instead of treadmill.   Something like Tai-Bo if I can find that.    Maybe 21 Day Fix.   Just modify exercises and do squats or weights for the ones I cannot do (Surrenders I am side-eyeing you)   I need to switch it up a bit

Getting Closer

 Weight this am - 171

Treadmill - 47 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

I finally hit a new whole number.    I'm within 2lbs of my next goal now.   And just over a pound til I see a 6.   It feels so close and yet so far away.    I'm just wondering if I can get there by Wednesday, since that is not just shot day but also New Dose Day. 

I did a speed step on the treadmill today to get my 3 miles in quicker.   It worked. I'm thinking of starting to switch up exercises.   Do Treadmill on like 3 or 4 days and commit to doing a workout video on the other days.   Something more than just 10 minutes.   20-40 depending on the intensity.   I think that might help switch things up.   I'd really like to tone up and decrease my arms and my stomach.   

My MFP celebrated me today for 18lbs down.   The problem I'm having is that I still can't get rid of any clothing.    You'd think with an almost 20 pound loss, that something would stop fitting.    I know that my clothing fits better now.   And I can wear some of my t-shirts again without looking like an overstuffed sausage.   B.U.T.  ... I would really really like to be able to pack SOMEthing away.   

Soon, right?    Hopefully soon. 

Two more days til I go up another dose.   

Saturday In The Park

 Weight this am - 172.2

No Treadmill

Specifically Saturday at Arts In The Park/Shakespeare In The Park.   We went to go see our friends do Hamlet and then wound up out with some of the cast afterwards.   That was nice.    

Of course we met up at Crust so I had pizza and, this time, wine.   Very Very small pizza...lol

I miss the camaraderie of doing shows.   Love my theatre friends.     It's nice to start getting back in touch with people again.  In Person

Friday = A Drop

 Weight this am - 171.2

Treadmill - 52 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

Meet-up at the Brewery was so much fun.   Had a slice of pizza and a couple of beers (3 sampler and 2? half pours over 3 hours)   I was saying last night to my accountability group - this will either cause a jump or my body wanted a cheat day and will drop.   

And here we have a 1.2 pound loss.   LOL.   Bodies are weird.   I would really really like to hit my next goal of 169 so I can do photos again.  

The 160's feel like they will be an interesting change.   That is the weight I didn't really log.   The void of Covid.  That land between the BEFORE and the AFTER

Thursday Meet-Up

 Weight this am - 172.4   I would really appreciate this trending downwards again sometime soon.  

Treadmill - 52 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

I'm feeling like I did when the scale was getting close to the 70's.   SUPER impatient and just really wanting it to continue to trend down (even slowly) instead of the see-saw effect.    It's like 171 was a tease and then the scale goes...nope.  rebound.  

Tonight is supposed to be a meet-up with a secular group down in Old Town.   Should be fun, hopefully.   

Looking over my charts and I know the thigh measurements aren't totally accurate. I'm pretty sure I was measuring higher up for a while there but that's ok.   It's still something to track. 

I have definitely adapted to the medication because I am hungry much more frequently.   I'm having more trouble falling asleep too.    However the desire to drink anything is still suppressed, which is great.   I was definitely drinking way too much.   I think it was a leftover from 2016 and then the 2020 lockdown.   

Breaking Habits. 

Time to Push - Week 8 Day 1

 Weight this am 172.6 - Lost 1lb this week.

No Treadmill - shot day

Spent the day compiling all my prior measurements into charts.  That way I can tick off all sorts of boxes.  

This is the final week on 0.5 so I need to do some pushing if I want to get my final weight box ticked off for 2023 before I start 1.0.    I'm so close.    2.4lbs to match 170.2, 2.8 lbs to see a 6 on the scale, and 3.6lbs to hit 169.    We.  Can.  Do.  This!

No side effects AT ALL today after the shot so it is definitely time to move on up a dose.   

Bookstores and Brunch

 Weight this am - 172.6

No Treadmill 

And back up we go.   Tomorrow is shot day so that weight will be my final check-in for weight this week.   We'll see what the numbers bring.  

Arietta and I went to a used bookstore In. A. House.   It was lovely.    Just a winding labyrinth of tomes.    Arietta got a Very Expensive edition of The Hobbit.

Then we had lunch at Flower Child.   Afterwards we went to Barnes and Noble and I replaced my missing copy of Shogun. 

I also removed myself from someone on Facebook.     She posted a rather *punch down* comment about people on Wegovy/Ozempic.   When I called it out and shared my struggle her response was "I was just joking".   When I responded that those of us experiencing this really don't find it amusing,  she doubled down in her reply and then changed her post to almost blame anyone who might be offended.    Never once took any responsibility for her words.   That isn't something or someone I need in my life right now.  

Last dose of 0.5 tomorrow!

Monday Means Movement

 Weight this am - 172  

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

Back to the treadmill!  Yay!    I'm proud of myself.    Not as early in the day as I would like but I'll get there.    

Goals this week:  

        Treadmill every weekday

        Clean my office

        Clean Game Room

        Prepare Library Shelves

I will come back and check these off with a *date completed* once they are done.

Blessed Mabon

Weight this am - 171.8

No treadmill.    

Here I was thinking I'd have a tick up this morning.  Instead I went down AND got to tick another box off on my weight chart.  Only ONE weight left (170.2) and then I will be below my "after covid" weight. 

Next milestones are 169 (20lbs), 165 (anniversary wish), and 159 (30lbs).   After that I'm revisiting my 2018/2019 journey. 

Went grocery shopping today.    I've got some good meals planned out for the week.    

I'll take photos and measurements again when I hit 169.   Less than 3lbs to go!   

Do You Remember...

 The 21st day of September...

Weight this am - 173

I'm having a hard time with the exercising.    Really need to get my ass in gear.   

New Week - New Start 

Need to start kicking it up a notch if I want the 160s.    I'm so ready to get back into numbers I haven't seen since 2021.   

Once I hit maintenance dose I will probably taper off from daily posts. 

Friday Visit

 Weight this am - 172.8. 

No treadmill - walked dogs with my mom

Didn't see a weight jump with the pretzels yesterday but did have loose stools today.  So I guess if I get backed up I'll start with gluten.  So I guess I can have it sparingly.

About 1/2 a pound away from my next highlight square on my chart.   I would REALLY like to get down to 169 by the time I start 1.0.    I'm trying very hard to be patient and most of the time I do ok.   It's just sometimes that I get antsy about having my body back.   Maybe if inches were dropping I'd be more patient. 

Saw my mom today, dropped off her kindle cover.  

Hopefully we will get a temperature drop soon.  That always motivates me.

2nd Dr Appt

 Weight this am - 173.4

No treadmill 

Script was sent over for 1.0 and anti-nausea meds (in case)   I should be picking both up tomorrow. 

Had a pretzel craving so I'm having some today.  We'll see how I react.

BP was low at the Dr's office.    I can decrease dosage if it stays low. 

Next month we are re-running labs and re-evaluating meds etc.   

Wegovy Wednesday - Week 7 Day 1

 Weight this am - 173.6

No Treadmill 

I'm starting the week 3 hover so I'm glad it's time to see the Dr.    

Everywhere is out of .5 but Sam's has 1.0.   Looks like we try there tomorrow.

Tuesday Thoughts

Weight this am - 173.4 - and it's back down again.  

Treadmill - 52 minutes at 2.5 for 3.01 miles 

Super nauseous last night.   SOMEthing did not agree with me before bed.   I did get up early and got my treadmill in so that's something.   Tomorrow I need to call pharmacies to check on Wegovy availability.  That way when I go in Thursday to the Dr I can have them send the script somewhere that actually has my my medication in stock.

Monday = Blah Day

 Weight this am 174.4 - doing the jog up again.   Last had that back on the 8th.   

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 2.89 miles - At least I did it.   

I.  Am. Just. SOOO.  TIRED.    blah.  

I wonder if the sleep and tired are related to alcohol.  I've had a few more this past week.   Trying to get through the already open wine before it gets bad.   

Tomorrow I need to start calling pharmacies about the 1.0.   I can feel the weight loss stalling a bit and these lower doses just seem to always be out.   I'll be asking about the .5 and the 1.0.   I'm honestly ok staying on the .5 if necessary but I really feel like I'd rather hover on 1.0 since I can always jump up from that to maintenance doses.   

I just don't want to be frantically calling again AFTER I get my script.   I'd rather call now and go into the dr with where to submit it.  

Weekend Summary

Weight Sat am - 173.8

Weight Sun am 173.8

Saturday Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 2.89 miles

T.I.R.E.D    I'm just really kinda tired.   I really don't have the energy right now for a lot of things.   

I did do another deep dive.   Since I don't have MFP logs for weight in 2021, I decided to look at my Dr visits.   March/April I was 154/55   Sept/Oct I was 157/160.    That was before covid.    After it in Feb I was 173 and March 179.     

I also think my A1C did a jump as well but I'd have to look closer at that.   

Friday the 13th

Weight this am - 174.0  

I've colored in another month on my Weight History Chart.  That makes ALL of 2022 DONE.  Two more squares to go before I'm done with the 170's and everything after January of 2022.

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 3 miles

This almost feels like moving backwards in time.   It's interesting.   OH, I'm doing the extra dropper of B12 and I am definitely less tired this morning. 

I've been getting errors on my home BP so I re-read the instructions and tried again.  98/77.  Huh.   That's like my old BP before my body decided to sabotage itself.   If it reads low at the Dr's office we may need to discuss tapering off BP meds. 

Got to Keep On Moving

 Weight this am - 174.8

Treadmill - 46 minutes at 2.5 for 2.69 miles

I need to get back to it.   Too many days break from my self-care routines (walking, Pilates, etc)  

OH I bought skin care stuff on Monday when I had my flu shot.   This is day 3/4 of using them (morning is day 3, evening is day 4)   

I definitely can't eat as much in one shot and there are a lot of things that just, when I think of them, don't sound at all good.   I'm definitely more tired with this level.   I may need to take an extra dose of B12.

I'm under 175 but just barely.  It's tough.  I want to see my body really change one one hand, but on the other I don't want to lose TOO fast and have trouble keeping it off or issues with my body not adapting correctly.  ugh  I'm just really ready to retire some clothing.   

Refocusing - Week 6 Day 1

 Weight this am - 175 

Starting the new week the same.   Looking back I lost 2.8lbs last week.  

I could NOT sleep last night.  I definitely had one of my panic episodes.   Last night was the first time I had hard liquor since starting this so I thiiiink that could be it.    That was the last of the gin in the house so I definitely can't do that again.    

I am exhausted today.   And a bit sad.   I did not get cast in Steel Magnolias.   I'm not UPSET.   It was a fair audition and I did well but not exceptional.    Apparently the universe really wants me to just focus on this journey right now.    sigh    It is what it is.   I'm going to take the day to be sad and self-care, give myself permission to be fully in my feelings.   Then tomorrow I will get up and get cracking on the NOW.    

I have things I need to do for me and I can't put them off.    

Tomorrow we start cleaning upstairs and getting back to moving forward and not wallowing.   

175 is the new beginning.   I'm ready to tackle the next 10.   

Debate Day

 Weight this am - 175.0 

Finally hit my first goal.   That one has been there for over a year.   Ever since I saw over 175 on the scale.  Honestly it feels more like a starting point than a goal but I'll take what I can get.   Set my next mini at 169 and then 165.    My real mini is 165 but the first one is 20lbs down and into the 160's...again...FINALLY.

So this is then end of week 5 and 14lbs down.   That's an average of 3lbs a week.   I can live with that.   It means 2 more weeks for me to get to 169 but as long as there is progress things are looking up. 

No treadmill today.  I was feeling rather run down from my vaccine and I know I missed B12 drops recently as well. 

The debate was something else.   45 is SUCH a buffoon.    I drank too much (for me, now, on Wegovy) but I didn't OVER-drink (two G&T's and a glass of wine the whole evening).   

New Week tomorrow.

Flu Shot

 Weight this am - 175.2  

I'm only .2 lbs from my first goal.   Colored in some more squares on my chart too.  Only 3 squares to go until I'm out of the 170's

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.7 for 3.14 miles

Got the flu shot this morning so I'm all protected for the season.  Glad to have all that on board

There is a storm in the gulf.   Francine is a Tropical Storm and should become a hurricane later today.  Right now she is tracked toward Louisiana but when it's this close we prep.   We are already good to go.  If her track shifts toward us we go get ice but everything else is totally ready. 

One more full day and then it's shot 2 of .5.   I'm really hoping to be in the 160's by the time I finish these. 

Audition Time Again

 Weight this am - 176.4 

A jog back up again.   Probably from the pizza.   I haven't done anything with heavy carbs in a long time.   Although it was to be Gluten Free...which doesn't mean lower carb.

Tonight is the audition for Steel Magnolias.   We'll see.  I've got the two monologues memorized.   I'm honestly a bit ambivalent.  If I get in, great! because M'Lynn is a bucket list role.  If I don't, I don't.   I have this journey to really focus on right now. 

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.7 for 3.08 miles

Audition went decently.  I'm not totally displeased.  Could have been better but it's hard to perform a monologue for the first time with a week to memorize.   Callbacks are Tuesday if they have them and casting the end of the week.   

A Meeting of Maenads

 Weight this am - 175.6 

I got to color in some more squares on my chart this morning!   I'm only 0.6 away from ticking off my first goal as well.    Can't wait.   

The Maenads got together today for Lunch.   Technically it's our book club but it's really more than that.   We all bonded over "The Chapin Incident" in Measure for Measure and our love of reading, and we have been friends since.   It was so lovely to spend time with them again, it's been too long.   

Definitely a higher calorie day.   Although my pizza was supposed to be Gluten Free.   We'll see how that goes.  Especially since today was a No Treadmill day.

I am 'barely' starting to see a difference in my clothing as well.   Some things are just starting to fit again.   It's been sooooo long since I've been in the 160 so I'm really looking forward to getting out of the 7's.   I KNOW that I just got back into the 7's but the 180s has been something I think I spent a lot of time denying in my own head.  The 170's were a bit more real.  

Patience.

New Goals

 Weight this am - 176.4

Treadmill - 51 minutes at 2.5 for 3.01 miles

Not feeling great although my ear hurts less than yesterday so I think it's definitely something sinus related.   My throat is a bit iffy too.    Taking things a bit easier today.   

I decided to go back over all the weights I recorded since I started MFP in 2015 (I have only 1 weigh-in in 2013)  and make a chart.    That way I can mark out each lower weight as I hit it.   There is a data gap in 2021 but you can definitely see the shift from 2020 and under (highest weight was 155) and after covid where I'm in the 170 and up range.  

Right now I have an impressive amount of blue.   Just over 6 lbs left until I color in  ALL of 2022 and 2023!  Then it's a 15lb gap until I get back to 2020 and 155

Thursday Thoughts

 Weight this am - 177.0   

Treadmill - 50 minutes at 2.5 for 3.0 miles

Nausea first thing this morning, but I'm fine now.   Stomach is just a bit fragile so I'm going slow.  I think I had just a teeny bit too much right before bed. 

Did less time on the treadmill with lower speed just because I don't want to push too hard.  

I'm tired too....but that's to be expected - first couple of days on the new dose.   I am now officially 2 lbs away from that first weight-loss goal.    I'm trying not to want TOO much TOO fast.   I did find a free exercise app from NIKE.   Going to look into that further later on, once the new dose isn't so new.

Moving On Up - To 0.50 - Week 5 Day 1

 Weight this am 177.8 - holding steady. 

Stats for the start of Week 5:
                    SW - 189.0
                    CW - 177.8
                    MG - 175 (mini-goal)
                    GW - 125

Starting this month in the 170's

Took my shot at about 9am on an empty stomach.   I didn't have the quiet brain reaction after the shot but my brain appears to be staying kinda quiet.    Covid vaccine reaction also appeared to be gone this moring

BOY am I NOT HUNGRY.   I had a half bowl of my southwest chicken soup and a 1/4 cup of dried cranberries today and that's it.    I'm starting to feel like I *should* eat but my brain isn't interested.   Although my stomach just felt a bit empty so it's definitely time.  

No Treadmill today since I prefer to take it easy when I go up a dose.   I did get some walking in while taking Rowan for job interviews though.   Good enough. 

No real symptoms with this dose so far.   Which is awesome.   We'll see how we do as I get into it but so far there is nothing really to report.

Reflections - Month 1

 Looking Back on Month One: (weeks 1-4)

Ok people, it's time for a look back before we take a step forward.   I'm going to break this down into categories:

Weight: 

I started this journey on 8/7/2024 at 189lbs.   The highest I have ever been in my life and scarily close to 200.   As someone who spent the majority of my life under 120 and at my highest otherwise was never over the 150's, 189 is painful.   Everything hurts.  

8/7 - 8/14 - 189 to 184.4   - 4.6 lbs

8/14 - 8/21 - 184.4 to 180.2  - 4.2lbs

8/21 - 8/28 - 180.2 to 180.4  + 0.2

8/28 - 9/4 - 180.4 to 177.8  - 2.6lbs

Month 1 Total - Down 11.2lbs

Measurements:

Month Start:
                Waist - 42
                Hips - 47.5
                Thigh - 26
                Bicep - 14

8/7 - Measurements:
                Waist - 42     

8/9 - Photographs - 187 lbs

8/12 - Measurements:
                Waist - 41.5
                Hips - 47.5
                Thigh - 26
                Bicep - 14

8/28 - Photographs - 180 lbs
        - Measurements:
                Waist - 40.25 
                Hips - 46.5
                Thigh - 24
                Bicep - 13.5

Month End:                            Change:
                Waist - 40.25               Waist - 1.75
                Hips -  46.5                   Hips - 1
                Thigh - 23                     Thigh - 3
                Bicep - 13.5                  Bicep - 0.5

Symptoms/Side Effects:

8/7 - 8/13  Week 1 - pre-nausea, light heartburn and light nausea, mild headache occasionally.  No longer blazing hot all the time. Quietening of extra brain noise.  No longer interested in alcohol.  fatigue (treated with B12) - Symptoms wear off by day 6

8/14 - 8/20 - Week 2 - "Cloud of White Noise" 15 minutes after shot. Hunger gone.  No nausea day 1 - Noticed that I am low-key happy/content.   Constant Anger/Stress is going away. Can't eat heavy or large portions. 

8/21 - 8/27 - Cannot have more than 1-2 glasses of wine.  Nausea day 2 (food choices?) Weight loss plateau. 

8/28 - 9/3 - Diarrhea and weight gain after eating gluten. More hunger this week. Headache when hydration is low. 

Exercise:

8/7 - 8/13 - Treadmill - 6 days - 2.0 to 2.1 for 42 to 45 minutes 

8/14 - 8/20 - Treadmill - 6 days -  to  for 42 to 60 minutes    Walking - 1 day for 60 minutes                               Pilates  - 2 days for 11 minutes each

8/21 - 8/27 - Treadmill - 2.3 to 2.5 for 42 to 60 minutes  Pilates - 3 days for 11 minutes each

8/28 - 9/3 -  Treadmill - 2.5 to 2.7 for 45 to 60 minutes   Pilates - 2 days for 11 minutes each

Last day of 0.25

 Weight this am - 177.8 - back down again

My Garmin watch also got very excited for me this morning.  Apparently my fitness age went down...woohoo - LOL

My arm/shoulder is super sore this morning and I'm a bit congested/low grade headache, but that's all Covid vaccine related.    

Treadmill 62.5 minutes at 2.7 for 4 miles.  My final mile was my fastest yet.   14:40!

Happy Labor Day

 Weight this am - 178.6 - up a jog but not all the way.    

Treadmill - 60 min at 2.6 for 3.62 miles

Grocery day today, at least partly.   We forgot that Costco was closed so that will have to be another trip.

We made a meal list for the week:  Broccoli/Cauliflower cheese soup - Egg Roll in a Bowl - Chili Verde

I decided that we needed to come up with 3 meals with leftovers each week and plan their days.  Because with this med if I don't have a planned meal then I have no motivation to cook and I don't actually even think about what to eat...LOL.   It's a learning curve.  

Ran my monologues.   They are flowing pretty well.    Also picked up some bralettes for Rowan.   First Bra for the new daughter.   

Started Chili Verde.   Tomorrow dinner is run.

No Pilates today but step goal was met and I'm over 10K as well.

Also got our updated Covid vaccine.   If you haven't done this...what are you waiting for?

I Matched March

 Back on August 28th I posted about looking back over the past year, and how my lowest weight was in March of 2024 when I registered 177.8.   I matched March today!

Weight this am - 177.8

I had a headache this am.   I think I was a bit shy on my water/seltzer intake yesterday so I have to watch that.   Next goal weight is 175.   That has been my goal since I was 184.5 back in February.   It would be nice to finally get that done and be able to focus on my next goal. 

Treadmill - 60 minutes at 2.5 for 3.44 miles

Definitely want to do Pilates later and we need to make up a shopping list.

Pilates - Done (abs only)

Shopping list made.

Monologues run.    

I'm thinking probably Tuesday will be my look back and recap for Month 1.