Week 5

This week has gone well weight wise. I managed to stay on target all week though the weekend was a little more difficult as always. I think by the time the weekend gets here I just don't care about keeping track. So I am working on that. I am still doing well not eating after 8pm and I can really tell a difference with that. Sugar free gum has become my best friend. Yesterday I got all my flower pots out, cleaned out, and planted with new flowers. We also went on our walk for 37mins last night and then I worked out on the Wii for another 20 mins. I have never really enjoyed exercising but I have really enjoyed walking with my husband and playing games on the Wii. My legs are killing me today from planting flowers but it's the good kind of pain, the kind that tells you that you did something!

Weight loss this week = -1.0lb
Total weight loss = 10.4lbs

Week 4

Just a brief update regarding weight loss. It has slowed a bit as expected. I want to lose it like I should be, though it would be neat to lose it as fast at the Biggest Loser people do - minus the saggy skin.

This week = -1.0lbs
Total loss = -9.4lbs

New (Shower) Curtains!

When trying to find new curtains for the living room, I had the idea that I could use a shower curtain and split it into panels in order to make curtains out of it. Here are the steps that I took to make them and how they turned out.

This is what I started with:


This is what the old curtains looked like. You can see the kitty going into the light:


First step was to cut the curtain in half. Then I pinned the hem to make it ready to sew. I made the hem quite small since I wanted the curtains to be as wide as possible.


I then sewed the hem all the way down.


I debated on how to hang these and considered using show curtain hooks but decided that I didn't want them to look like shower curtains that I had split. So I took the top:


Folded it over:


Pinned it:




And sewed it:


Then I hung them up and found them to be wonderful and exactly what I wanted!


As you can see, they match the couch pillows.


There you go, instead of paying $17/panel for regular curtains. I paid $16 for a shower curtain that made two panels. Love those savings!

Week 3

This past week was a good week! We exercised several days this week and I stayed OP all week. Today was weigh in day and I lost 3.6lbs this week.

Weight loss week 3 = 3.6lbs
Total weight loss = 8.4lbs

Week 2

Well, it appears that I did not lose any weight this week. But, I got my blood test results back from IA city and it said I am borderline insulin resistant. So I know my body is really going to fight me with losing weight. Steve and I have been walking at least three times a week. I felt so good last night that we ended up walking for 50 minutes. I have noticed that my clothes are getting looser so at least something is happening. I also feel better which is a big deal. So, at this point I don't care if the scale doesn't move right now. I should be getting the correct medication soon and that should help it start going down. I do really have to watch eating too late at night. With how busy I am between class, church, and work, there are nights I don't get home until after 9pm and am so hungry. I have to start trying to get dinner in before I have to get to activities. I feel yucky in the morning if I have eaten late the night before. So, the goal for this week is to not eat anything after 8pm. It is definitely possible but I will have to plan ahead a bit better than I typically do.

Weight change = 0lbs

Week 1

Steve and I joined Weight Watchers together last week in an attempt to gain awareness of what we are eating and how often we are exercising. The first week (Tuesday - today) went very well. I stayed on points (OP) for the whole week and made choices that were healthier food-wise. We also walked a couple of days and I have been back to doing crunches that I learned at the boot camp in 2008. We ordered a Wii bundle that has a Wii console, Wii Fit, and Fit Plus accessories. I am very much looking forward to getting it going when it arrives. I am in awe of how much better I feel already by not being weighed down by heavy, unhealthy foods.

So, for week one my weight loss = 4.8lbs. It's a good start!

Waging A War

Waging a war against a known foe is supposed to be easier. You know its strengths, weaknesses, and plans of attack.  But sometimes, even if it is easier, it still seems way too hard. I feel that way about my battle, yes battle, with polycystic ovarian syndrome. It is a life robber - a robber of health, a robber of babies not born, a robber of self-esteem, and a robber of faith, of sorts. Not a robber of my faith in God, that remains strong and as I lean into the arms of the God who loves me, He gives me hope and strength. It's a robber of faith in medicine, in man's ability to cure what they don't even really understand. And I think - if they don't understand it, how the heck am I supposed to understand it?

I saw a doctor today in Iowa City who should, if anyone should, understand PCOS. And I suppose the fact that he did not tell me anything that I didn't already know mostly means that I have educated myself well about the disorder. I'll admit that I was holding out a little hope for a 'magic pill' that would help me lose weight and make me able to have babies if I wanted to someday. Alas, no magic pill was to be found. Guess I am not that surprised. Sure, there are pills out there that could help me lose weight, and even pills that could help me have babies. But at what cost? I think it is a higher cost than I am willing to pay.

I did have a course of treatment provided to me that I am going to try. But most of the changes that will have to happen depend soley on me and my willingness to change. Am I willing? Certainly. Do I feel confident that I can? Certainly not. I have the support, wonderful support. I have the knowledge. I have the capacity. I have the resources. What am I missing? I don't know. Guess I better start figuring that one out.