I thought I would update you all on my weight loss journey as I have hit a few big milestones since June. I joined Weight Watchers back then, believing they would have a wheelchair scale (that’s what the lady on the phone told me). But when I arrived for my first meeting there was no scale – not until October when I officially started to get weighed. Weight Watcher’s costumer service was wonderful – I received two free months and some free snacks for my patience – but I wasn’t following the plan as well as I am now that I am getting weighed.

I have lost 20 pounds and I am totally excited about that number! I also have hit my 5 percent and 10 percent loss of body weight since October. These are all huge milestones and I am overjoyed. However, I wish the weight was coming off faster than it is. I know losing it too fast is not healthy and that you won’t keep it off, and I know the weight just doesn’t show up on you overnight so it’s not going to fall off overnight either.

I’m extremely proud of this weight loss. Losing weight is hard and when you have been sitting for 17 years. We have to face the fact that our metabolism isn’t the same as that of a nondisabled person. I haven’t really noticed physically, like when I look in the mirror, but I see the difference in my clothes more then anything. My jeans that were getting almost too tight now need a belt. YAY! I started doing measurements at the beginning of the year and lost an inch in my waist in the month of January. Everything else stayed the same. I’m probably never going to have a flat tummy, but an inch off it is a step in the right direction.

I tend to have a really good week where I will lose 3-5 pounds and then nothing for the next 2-3 weeks. A plateau. I hate plateaus! They are one of the most frustrating things when you know you have followed the plan. I’d rather lose some weight every week, even if it’s a small number than maintain or possibly gain the next few weeks as I ride out the plateau.

I’m trying a few new things this week and adding some supplements to my diet. I saw on Dr. Oz that raspberry ketones are very good for burning fat and have no side effects. After doing extensive research on different brands and reading some reviews on message boards of people that I have taken it I have ordered a bottle to try. I am also going to try green tea extract. I’m not a fan of tea or coffee so I am glad it comes in a pill form. Other then the caffeine, there are really no side effects. After reading up on green tea I found out it is good for osteoporosis. This makes me wonder why my docs haven’t encouraged me to take this sooner with the bone issues in my legs. We’ll see if it helps that too. 

I have also chosen to wean off baclofen with permission from my doctor. I am down to 10 mg a day. I was taking 50 mg twice a day. I thought it would really affect how I slept, but I am sleeping better then ever. My spasms are controllable and I think that has to do with my pressure sores on my feet healing, wearing UGG Boots (they are amazing for your feet - my doc was right), and exercising my legs on my motorized bike. I have been on baclofen for 17 years and weight gain is a side effect. I weaned slowly – 10 mg a month and so far so good. I have the option to go back on it if need be, but hopefully I can stay off it.

My fruit and vegetable intake is up tremendously, but I don’t feel like I am on a diet. I am one of the pickiest eaters in the world so if it doesn’t taste good or tastes diet-y I will not eat it. Lucky for me diet food has come a loooong ways (wish I could say the same about hospital food) and actually tastes really good. I like things simple and microwavable if I can get it. I don’t have the best culinary skills even though I watch the Food Network constantly. Weight Watchers makes excellent frozen meals and the points are already on them. They also make wonderful snacks and ice creams. Those are my weaknesses, but they aren’t bad for me point wise or calorie wise.

I tend to have a frozen meal a couple of times a week – the rest of the time I am cooking something like an egg white English muffin with cheese and spinach, wraps with chicken, fat free cream cheese, and then cooking a delicious, but sensible dinner like a grilled chicken breast with garlic broccoli or cauliflower (microwave either broccoli or cauliflower for 5 minutes, mist it with some Olive Oil and sprinkle it with some garlic powder – it’s delicious), stir fry and rice, etc. I also go out to eat with friends and family and try and pick out what I am going to eat before I go so I don’t over do it. You would be surprised how many calories are in restaurant food and with the Internet every place you eat at has nutritional info for their menu items.

Even though I am on a point system with Weight Watchers I still keep track of my calorie intake on Livestrong.com. I try and stay under 1200 calories a day and with my 29 points it averages out pretty close to that.

My home exercise routine consists of speed bag, hand bike, weight lifting, sit-ups and the motorized bike. I try to do these at least 5 days a week. I have also started taking up Zumba again. We found a cheaper and faster paced class for us. The instructor is a dancer and gives us all an amazing workout. She makes stretching look cool! If you are wondering how I do Zumba from a chair, it’s simple – they do enough arm moves to give you a beneficial workout. Sure, I wish I could do the legs and squat routines – I would love to have a nice butt, but that’s not a realistic right now. However, getting my heart rate up and doing awesome, yet fun arm moves is. And it’s something not mundane – it’s fun. My physical therapist is opening an accessible gym next month and I am eager to get started in a program with a trainer/PT and see what we can do to get the next 20 pounds off a little faster.

My goals for the next round are to avoid those awful plateaus. I want to remain consistent week after to week. I will continue to keep you posted in my weight loss journey on what is working and what’s not. Stay healthy and positive!


© 2012 Kristina Allen | |