Start date 07/03/09 - mrfpratt's journal

[mrfpratt]

Rather than be absolved you should be congratulated on making a wise choice regarding your health. Many people, when they fall off the wagon, simple stay away to not face a seemingly embarrassing situation. We should really be praising you for being smart enough to do what is in your long term best interest. Like me, it took health concerns to get you serious about making permanent changes. I sometimes think we need a "wall of recommitted" to highlight those that realize what is at stake and act on it.
Keep us in the loop with your progress. Many will be watching and you will be a great model for others to follow.
f1jim

Thank you for your kind words f1jim - your are right we shouldn't admonish those who have strayed and returned but praise them for returning!
AND I agree we should have a recomittmant wall - such a good idea!!!

[mrfpratt]

I am now on day 6 of my recommitment to the mcdougall program (thx f1jim)
1) I have been taking my BP 4xs per day sat high was 169/99 - sun 140/96 mon 141/86 tues 137/81 weds 136/83
2) and I stopped taking hydrochlorothiazide (sp) on mon because my blood work a few months ago showed low potassium which causes high BP and that med can leach it from your system : / - I know this was risky and it upset my hubby but I was baby sitting my BP if it started to skyrocketed I would be aware - also I knew from previous experience eating like this really works for me AND it is
4) I'm finally starting to feel a bit better - the exhaustion seems to be lifting
5) started figure skating again on weds and I'm if all continues like this AND it will I'm going to return to my ballet barre work out Saturday - it's pretty intense so I'll take it easy : )

[mrfpratt]

Day 7 - I woke up this morning and felt so much better than I have all week

1) slept really well!

2) My BP off meds is NORMAL - not 1 high reading today and even got a 118/72!!
Amazing drop from my Saturday reading with ALL in the 160's/90's!!!

3)skated well this morning
4)returning to my ballet barre workout tomorrow
5) will continue to monitor BP 2xs per day till for a few weeks -
6)down 2lbs

[mrfpratt]

I'm shocked - last Saturday at my Pure Barre class I thought I was literally going to pass out in class - I hadn't checked my BP in weeks and had no idea it was getting high again - it's an intense workout and we were in the cool down phase in a straddle stretch with my head on my left leg when all off a sudden I felt like the pull of the earth and a vibrating in my head : / I sat up but felt dizzy for awhile - when I got home I took a nap and when I got up it was 169/99 I shutter to think what it was during class !!!! Scary!!
Anyway today I got through my first class in a week sweaty but just fine and took my BP soon as I walked in the door - 124/73!!!!!! I am so happily shocked!!! Thank you dr mcdougall!!

[mrfpratt]

Great Sunday - I had a wonderful skate this morning AND my BP is great!! 115/71 : ) amazing what 1 week can do for your health

[mrfpratt]

Today is my 10th day Mcdougalling - no sugar no salt no wheat (makes me achy) 1 coffee and no wine which I made it to 8 days - drank wine Saturday and Sunday : / I just enjoy it

I'm a creature of habit so it it pretty similarly everyday but do need to start branching out trying new things
Breakfast steal cut oatmeal with a touch of PB and cinnamon
Lunch. Salad with chopped grapefruit mushroom onions garbanzo beans with balsamic leftover potato with water sautéed veggies on top
Dinner. Same except different veggies sautéed
I find eating a potato is very satisfying - keeps me full till the next meal

I get a lot of exercise generally skate 5 days a week for 90 minutes - I'm working on my pre bronze moves and freestyle as well as the preliminary dances - Its quite an incredible workout as well as extremely challenging - today did my 2 foot spins 1 foot spins camel spin and sit spin - also worked on my waltz jump all salchows which are starting to improve. I'm testing in May so I have a lot of work to do
I will do my pure barre class this afternoon -its such an intensive ballet barre workout!!! Love it
I also play tennis and have been on a team now for 22 years!!!!
In the summer I kayak 2xs per day when we are at our lake house.


Happy Monday!!

[kirstykay]

Congratulations on bringing your bp down so quickly. I think it's great that you are journalling again. I enjoyed reading through your posts. I'm so impressed with all of your exercise and how you do things that you love so much! It's inspiring!

[mrfpratt]

Not sure if this will work but if it does this is a pic back in 2009 - I just lost my brother in 9 months to cancer and my dad had been diagnosed with the exact same cancer - plus I was working in special education - while taking care of my disabled daughter - and getting up at 4:15 to ring my other daughter to the rink to train as she was a competive figure skater : / in those years I went from a size 10 to an 18W which as you can see I barely fit in -
And my BP on 2 meds was high as was all my blood work : /
My solution was to quit my job - after my brother passed I understood life is just to short and $ is meaningless if your dead from a stroke or heart attack

So my journey began

[mrfpratt]

a pic of me this year - it's been a roller coaster ride with my BP which makes me nuts as I'm in such better shape than I was!! I just get complacent after eating healthy - all my numbers are great then it's the old slippery slope and I start eating non mcdougall foods and in a few months BOOM my BP skyrockets : / so I need to view eating differently - my nutrition IS my medicine
<a href="http://s63.photobucket.com/user/mrpratt/media/IMG_0002.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h124/mrpratt/IMG_0002.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0002.jpg"/></a>

[mrfpratt]

<a href="http://s63.photobucket.com/user/mrpratt/media/IMG_0002.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h124/mrpratt/IMG_0002.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0002.jpg"/></a>

[mrfpratt]

Congratulations on bringing your bp down so quickly. I think it's great that you are journalling again. I enjoyed reading through your posts. I'm so impressed with all of your exercise and how you do things that you love so much! It's inspiring!

Thank you !!! I am so happy to be back and journaling - It's such a good tool : )

[mrfpratt]

Intestinal distress argh.... Parked on the couch and hoping tomorrow I'm back to normal : /

[mrfpratt]

Did nothing yesterday but sit on the couch my stomach was a mess - not sure what happened : /
Better today - heading to skating soon -my DD's PCA should arrive at 9 - yesterday she called in sick so I had no help yesterday : /
I need to get my pre bronze moves perfected for the test session - and I have a dance lesson Friday so will work on the waaltz and tango and as always work on jumps and spins
- then picking up my DS as he doesn't drive to run errands and hang out with DD whose PCA leaves at 1
- hoping to fit in a pure barre class then bring my son back to his apt
- then dinner
Normally I would get some wine to relax for after my DD is asleep but I've switched to calming tea
I'm doing very well with my nutrition - did a lot of research yesterday
I'm down 4 lbs
My BP is perfectly normal
Day 12

[mrfpratt]

Slept terribly last night - actually woke up at 1am thinking it was 6.... Made for a long night and today I'm soooo tired
Skated 90 minutes this morning - warmed up then worked on my pre bronze test - then the Dutch waltz and canasta tango
Cleaned all afternoon -boiled potatoes and made a batch of oatmeal - it's so easy if I just have the foundation ready and then cook veggies
5:45 is my pure barre class
Then a nice bath
My BP is great : )
Day 13

[mrfpratt]

Have been hungry and tired all day- I skated like crap and got a toe pick and almost face planted : / thank god I saved it !! So I'm now out to dinner and starving - not a good idea -never grocery shop hungry and never go to a restaurant famished .... we are at bertuccis so I had 1 piece of their bread and a salad with lots of yummy things on it
I need to make myself eat a bit more at each meal so this doesn't happen again - My skating - my pure barre and the stress of taking care of my disabled daughter and everything else I do all day -
Day 14