Discussion Board

I'm laughing about the drivers license number, too. Congrats on the 11 lbs this month. Can't sneeze at that one.

Fulenn

Hey Norm! Where are ya? Hope you are doing well. I miss your posts.

Me too, I second what she said!

Me three!

Relax! Relax!!

It's weigh-in day, so here's my update. The scale says I'm down 2.0 pounds from 2 weeks ago. The two weeks prior to that showed a 10 pound drop. Big difference!! Or is it? I'm becoming increasingly convinced that a single weigh-in doesn't prove very much. As I mentioned in my last weigh-in update, I think the ten pounds it showed was a bit thrown off by an inaccurate reading two weeks prior, and I think this weigh-in is a bit thrown off by a bit of water retention. Excess salt = bad. Those of you who have followed my journal remember that I really pushed too hard coming up to the 100 pound mark and that since then I've been trying to focus on eating right and not so much on the numbers. I think I'm pretty close to where I want to be in that regard. I had no apprehension at all when I went to weigh myself today, even though I knew I have some water retention, and even though weather has precluded me from walking most of the last two weeks. I didn't even feel too bad when I thought the scale read the exact same number as last time. It was only when I went to write the number down that I realized it was 2.0 pounds less than last time, at which point I felt pretty good.
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It's getting on towards the end of January and my winter-time blues are starting to fade a bit. I'm definitely over the hump, and looking forward to spring. Physically I'm still not feeling as great as I was a few months ago, but I'm lighter and notice it's easier to move around more. Having made it this far with consistent weight loss amazes me. I am very pumped up at the prospects of what I'll accomplish this spring/summer/fall, and have high hopes that next winter will be better than this one.
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The other night my wife snuggles up to me in bed and with a bit of concern in her voice said "What's this?". I said "That's my ribcage." She'd never felt it before. We laughed. I told her I felt similar concern a couple weeks ago when I felt a lump in my chest and realized it was just my sternum. Funny the things you can't feel/find when you're as fat as I was.
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More and more people are noticing my weight loss, and I'm having more and more conversations about it, which I find very exciting.
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I need to get some pictures and post them. Hopefully by my next update I'll do that. I think the last pictures of me on here were taken when I weighed 419 pounds and there is a noticeable difference now
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That is all!! Next update in two weeks. Anyone want/need me before then, PM me!

-Norm

Hi Norm!

Glad the scale is still going down for you. I'm sorry you aren't feeling as well as you were a couple of months ago, but I know it is nice to be moving better. I'm still laughing about your ribcage and sternum!

Keep up the good work,
Fulenn

Hey, I wasn't worried, Norm!!

Congratulations on the weight loss.

Sorry that you are not feeling well but hopefully with spring on the horizon you will continue to improve!!

Will catch up with you in a few weeks.

Weigh-In Day Update.

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The scale is down another 4 pounds over the past 2 weeks. I'm very pleased with this! This isn't nearly as much as some 2 week periods, but to be honest, I've put zero thought or effort into it these past two weeks. I've been on autopilot. I've reached the point with my health that I can do so much more than I used to that I'm finding myself a lot busier. Last week I was at the food bank 5 days. Other groups I'm involved in took up more time, and other family activities took up even more. I've had very little time even to get out and exercise.
As much as I'm happy about losing 4 pounds on "autopilot", I'm also pleased that I've accustomed myself to this way of eating so much that I can go periods of time without having to put any thought or effort into it. It's just what I do. From now on I will be limiting my food bank work to three days a week, so hopefully will find more time to do more exercising.
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I am no longer the fattest person I know. And hopefully, I'm no longer the fattest person other people know.
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I intentionally stand a lot more than before. I spent so much of the past 10 years standing as little as possible. I've washed dishes sitting down. I've cooked sitting down. I did everything sitting down!! But now I stand as much as possible. I stand while I cook. I stand while I grind my wheat. I stand while I throw the ball for the dog. I stand while I'm talking to people. I still sit down while I wash dishes, but that is because bending over the sink still isn't comfortable.
All this standing is good for me in so many ways, but it's having at least one negative impact. I'm having issues with numbness in one of my legs that is a result of pressure on nerves from standing. I'm hoping that as I lose weight this will diminish. It is a reminder that no matter how much weight I lose there will still be permanent damage that I've done to myself that I'll get to live with for the rest of my life.
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I've adjusted my CPAP pressure down to 13.8 cm/h20, down from it's high of 21 cm/h20. My machine reports last night's Apnea/Hypopnea Index at 1.6 and my Apnea Index at 0.0. Those are the lowest numbers yet for those two indexes. My 6 month average for AHI is 3.5.
Over all, I'm sleeping better and having less bloating from air in my stomach. I still have the occasional bad night but those are fewer and farther between. I look forward to the day I get to unplug that machine and put it in the crate with all my other things I've gotten to "give up" along this journey.
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One of the things that's kept me busy the past two weeks is this:

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We bought a motorhome!! I sold a few things, traded, wheeled and dealed, and now I have an old motorhome!! We WILL be doing a lot of camping and outdoor activities this spring/summer/fall. I figure that at the rate my health is improving it is only a matter of time before I'll be employable and back to work full time. In the meantime I plan on doing and having as much fun as possible!! Make up for the past ten years of inactivity. Three Cheers for Norm!!!
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Even though I've lost 125 pounds I still feel fatter than I have ever felt. I can see the sagging skin draping from my body. I can see the difference in my clothes. I know the difference in what I'm able to do. But I've never FELT this fat, even when I was much heavier. I believe it is because I'm so much more in tune with my body and my health that I'm noticing it so much more. In any case, I do not like the discomfort it brings and look forward to losing it as I lose more weight.
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I am having success steering others towards this way of eating! Nobody is diving head first into it, but neither did I! I know the "incremental" approach brings out many negative reactions from some here, but I just can't write off everyone who simply can't or wont commit 100% to this way of eating. My mother, who just a few months ago wouldn't have anything to do with my way of eating and insisted that I eat what she cooks when I visit, is now eating the same oats and barley I do for breakfast every morning. What's more, she's got my brother and father doing the same! Very few people are willing to consider doing this 100%, or even consider giving up their much loved foods. But they would consider adding in other foods to their diet, especially foods they like. I've printed up quite a few copies of the December newsletter where Dr. McDougall simply suggests to people unable or unwilling to go the full route to just add more starch in their diet. This is met with enthusiasm by the people I share it with, instead of the usual dread and "Oh, I couldn't do that, I love my <insert favorite SAD food item here> too much!" I'm going to run with this approach with most people from now on. After all, if it worked for me, it can work for anyone.
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That is all for this time!!

-Norm

That sensation of feeling fat is very odd. I do have moments when I actually feel much slimmer, but most of the time I just feel fat.

Nice one on getting the CPAP turned down. I can not imagine 21 cm/h20 in pressure. BTW I am completely off mine now. The wife says I very rarely even snore anymore.

Excellent idea about printing that December newsletter out, I might have to give that a try.

Anyways congratulations on your continued success. It's going to be very exciting to see how things keep going.

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Wow, Norm! You're not posting as often, but what a post! Sounds like you are really don't great and getting this way of eating down pat. I'm still working on it. I like my snacks. I just have to make sure they are McDougall friendly. Your progress is inspiring. Congratulations on both your continuing weight loss and your new motor home.

Three cheers for Norm, indeed! You're going to have so much fun in that motor home this summer!

Oh, this all sounds so great, Norm!

Congratulations, once again. You rock! Such an inspiration. I am glad you feel more in tune with your body, but sorry to hear it is a mixed bag at the moment. Glad to hear about your mother and others leaning toward this WOE...it took my family a good 6 months of dabbling before they went full-in.


And I am experiencing motorhome envy...

Wow! Your doing great! I just hooked up with your journey and I am so impressed by people like you. People like you inspire me to spread this WOE to everyone wanting to get there health back. Your motorhome looks great! What fun will that be. Keep it going!

Thanks, giddyupgin!!

Today is weigh-in day!! It is also going to be a very busy day for me. I will be sharing some very big news with this update, so if I don't get to it today, keep an eye out for it!!

-Norm