Another week down

This week went okay but I think the weight I lost was mostly just a lot of water. I do so well for about four days and then I just stop caring for like three days and then I screw it all up.

Weight loss this week: 3.2lbs
Total weight loss: 31.2lbs

The MS seems to really be kicking my butt lately. I had horrible cramps in my calves and I don't know why. I need to up my water intake in case it is due to dehydration. I don't see the neurologist until next week and he is an idiot anyways.

I did have a Thirty-One party yesterday and that went really well. More people showed up than I anticipated which is always a good thing. I got some good stuff for free as the result of having a good party. I am excited for that stuff to arrive! This was the first time I have had the opportunity to entertain in the house and I had a lot of fun. I will probably go much simpler on the snacks next time though both things I made were easy and tasty.

The party and having people over also motivated me to finish all my projects on the house that need done. I got the ceiling fixed in the bathroom, the kitchen paint touched up, and a vinyl word sign hung up, along with getting the whole house really cleaned up. Now I just need to get my office all done and the bathroom painted and redecorated. I also want to paint the living room and fix the ceiling in there. Oy, that's a lot of stuff piling up on my list!

Week "Something-or-other"

I have gotten a little off track, both with updating this and with keeping my eating in check. I am finally mentally back on track and thinking about my choices. The numbers have begun to go down again thankfully. It should be getting warmer soon which means we will be able to walk outside again on a regular basis, also a good thing. Unfortunately, not only do I have to lose the like 13lbs I gained but I have to then keep losing after that. I don't doubt that I can do it, but it will certainly be easier when spring gets here and I don't have as much need to huddle under the covers for warmth.

I don't think I will number the weeks anymore, because it is more depressing than it is motivating. I could have been a lot further by now if I had stayed on track. One good thing is that we got the car accident from 2009 settled and I finally got my settlement check. We were able to pay back a family member we borrowed money from and also pay off my husband's car. Those will help us roll over the payments into the next debt and get my truck paid off sooner. I am looking forward to that for sure!

Weight lost = -28lbs

Week 42

Well, this was a better week...somewhat. I am sure my stress levels are causing my brain to feel like all I want to do is eat. It's getting rather old, for sure. I have been doing better for the last couple of days. We shall see if I can hang on this week and have a loss. We walked 40mins last night and my legs felt like jello afterwards but I hung in there. Hoping to walk every day this week and see if I can get myself back to where I was last fall when we stopped walking due to the cold weather. The doctor stuff is still in dictation so I haven't started on any medications yet. I really want to get that going to see if it will help me feel better. Intially I am sure it probably won't but over the long term it sure should, especially if I can get healthier overall.

Weight change this week: +0.6lbs
Total weight loss: 34.0lbs

Week 41

To put it lightly, this was not a good week. I think a big part of it was the nerves and stress of seeing the MS specialist. And of course, we were out of town for a day and a half so we ate out for three meals. I am not sure what my deal is with not being able to keep myself on track. A lot of where I mess up is at lunch time. Since I live so close to work, I got home during lunch. Unfortunately, that puts me near a bunch of food so I have my lunch, and then I just keep on eating. By the time I get done from lunch and put in all the WW points, I am down to like seven points for dinner. Well obviously, I need more than seven to get a decent dinner. I am not even necessarily eating "bad" stuff during lunch, I am just eating too much. I am trying to identify trigger foods, those that send me into a tail-spin and make it difficult to resist eating them continuously. I didn't get any walking in during the weekend though technically I had time. We are planning on going tonight but then are supposed to get a major snow storm in the next two days so will be trying to keep driving to a minimum. I seriously cannot wait until Spring gets here. And I hope I won't be starting over when it finally does get here!

Weight change this week: +4.4lbs
Total weight loss: 34.6lbs

And So It Goes...

Today I saw an MS specialist and was officially diagnosed with the disease. Despite holding out hope that something else was going on, I had the feeling that it was probably the correct diagnosis. The doctor was excellent and I wish I lived closer to where he is so that he could follow my treatment and progress. I am planning on following up with him 1-2x's per year to make sure I am on the right path. I also told him that I would be interested in participating in research studies in the future. As a clinical psychology major, I know how hard it is to get research subjects when you need them!

I will be starting treatment soon, like the interferon drug called Rebif which is an injection that I will give myself three times a week. I can only imagine how expensive it will be, but worth it in the long run. My prognosis looks very good given my age, gender, and general lack of severe symptoms. I am hopeful that I can live a relatively normal life.

The doctor encouraged me to be taking at least 2000 I.U. of Vitamin D every day as it has shown to have good effects in MS. He also encouraged me to get some exercise, like walking every day. I had been really good about walking until it got so cold that I couldn't tolerate it anymore. So my plan is to walk at the local mall or at my church as they are both warm, safe, and well-lit. Hopefully that will continue to keep my muscles active and help me continue losing weight.

Week 40

Well, for being week 40, I would have thought I would have been a little bit further along than this. But a lot has happened in the last few months that has made the weight loss come to a screeching halt practically. Thankfully, I have only gained a little back and seem to be able to maintain my current weight fairly well. Until this terribly cold weather ends, I don't know that I will be exercising. That kind of sucks too because I can tell I have lost a lot of muscle tone, especially in my legs.

I will be going up on Wednesday to see an MS specialist in order to get a confirmation on the diagnosis of MS. I hope it's not MS, but I know it could be something worse too. As always, prayers are appreciated very much.

Weight change this week: +0.4lbs
Total weight lost: 39.0lbs

Week 39

So, I totally forgot to weigh-in on Sunday, though I know I had a gain. I would have weighed in on Monday and counted that but I forgot that day too. Since it was MLKJr day, I didn't have to go to work, so I spent much of the day in my pj's. I did get a call to go and see the neurologist early. It was icy and nasty here so they had a lot of cancellations. Since I was supposed to see him two weeks after my last appt. I took advantage to get in there. I saw the doc for all of three minutes. He said that the diagnosis is "probable MS" and is going to refer me to a MS specialist in Des Moines. So I go see that guy next Wednesday to get a definitive diagnosis. Until then I am scrambling to get a copy of all my records to take with me. I am glad I got the appt. as soon as I did but it doesn't give me much time to make sure I have all my info to give to them. But, I will get it done and hopefully get some answers.

Weight loss this week: ????
Total weight loss: ?????