Optifast orientation

New freeway ahead...
Liquid fasts: I've done this song and dance a few times. The truth is they DO work. Does the weight loss last? Not always. In my case, never. It's time to change that part of my track record. I've done a liquid fast with another local hospital and now I'm looking into Kaiser Permanente's (KP) Optifast program. There will be naysayers and negative Nelly's out there, but listen...do what works for you. Once again, my goal is to get off my diabetic meds, cholesterol and blood pressure meds with the ultimate goal of being fit and healthy. I'm sure that I am not alone in this pursuit. If you found this blog, you're probably considering Optifast as well. Welcome. On 9/28/11, the start of my journey with the KP program began. Read on and stay tuned.

Yesterday I attended an orientation at Kaiser Permanente to learn more about their Optifast weight loss program. It was a mixed group, male, female, old, young, annoying and nice. The health educator giving the orientation was knowledgeable and helpful.

I'm interested.

Next week I have an appointment for a medical clearance which will include lab work and an EKG.

I'm looking forward to the weight loss. I have a closet full of clothes that I purchased last summer when I started a new professional position. Most of them have not been worn. Within two months of getting hired they no longer fit. From other Optifast blogs and message boards I've read the weight loss will be fast - which I need because if I'm not eating one tiny morsel then I need to see the result of that on the scale.

The three or four major challenges I predict are: 1) trip to Boston with my husband 2) Halloween 3) Thanksgiving dinner and 4) Christmas. My Boston trip may not actually be a challenge because the program may not start until I return from vacation. The other three challenges are real. I was so looking forward to cooking holiday dinners this year, but my health is more important.

That's it for now...

Still Waiting...

Waiting for what? Heck, I don't know. I've had two doctors tell me to lose the weight OR ELSE whilst swinging their stethoscope around for emphasis. They didn't really do that, but it sounds good. It's Sept 2. I had the discussion with myself the evening of Aug 31 that tomorrow is a new month, day one, time to start fresh and do something good for myself. Have I? Nope. I hate doing exercise, but afterwards feel like a superstar. Once I get in the groove there will be no stopping me. Sooo get outta my way folks. Just checking in, but also contemplating Chipotle for lunch.

Road delays

Wow. Five months ago I wrote my first post. No surprise that the diet hasn't yet started. In fact, since my last post I've gained 18 pounds. My excitement over the 17 day diet waned when the book took almost four weeks to arrive.Today I've consumed 1200 calories. I know I've had a good day when I can remember exactly what I've put in my mouth. 4 protein shakes, one entree, two protein bars, apple, carrots, two pieces of Dove dark chocolate for a grand total of 1200. It's been a good day.The reason I'm starting to amp it up again is for my career. I need to look professional. In late August 2010, I started a new professional position in the healthcare industry. Nordstrom has fantastic plus size clothes and that's where I went to purchase my new wardrobe. Not ONE item fits me. I'm back to rotating the same old clothes from years past. During grad school I weighed more than 300 pounds. Most recently in spring 2009 I weighed 292 and successfully lost 85 pounds in six months by participating in a liquid diet program through a local hospital. I felt sooooooooooo good. The body really can adjust on lower calories as long as it's nutritionally sound. Where is my weight today? One year and eight months later I have regained 45 pounds. My weigh in last week was 252. It feels like 292, however, because my belly is huge and it has again become uncomfortable to do just about anything.The liquid diet was very structued. I didn't cheat the entire six months. After ten weeks I added low calorie, non starchy veggies into my plan. My daily calorie count was still around 800 a day. The weight came off rapidly. I exercised a lot as well. My whole focus was on health and it felt amazing. I want that again. I need it. What I know about myself is that I cannot do another structured diet like that right now. I need to have the freedom to have a meal with friends once in a while if I plan appropriately. I'm using all of the tools I learned from Jenny Craig, Nutri-System, Weight Watchers, The Biggest Loser, Bob Harper, Bob Greene, Oprah, Joy Bauer, etc. etc. Trust me when I say I've dieted enough in my life to know what I should and shouldn't eat. It truly isn't rocket science, folks. Calories in versus calories out....AND the calories IN need to be GOOD-FOR-YOUR-BODY calories.So. There ya have it. One day at a time. One cardio step in front of the other. From one meal to the next meal to the next...I shall see where this road outta the fat farm leads me.

Boxing Day

Christmas is over, but the food remains. In all honesty I'm tired of eating so much. Do I wait until January 1 to begin my diet or do I start now? I've blogged before and then became so sick of my own failures and the scale behaving like a rollercoaster that I deleted my blog. I also didn't like that my very techy niece managed to find it and divulged my innermost thoughts about food porn to the rest of my family. I noticed that my posts became censored because I wasn't sure if a coworker or family member would be reading. How can I possibly be open and honest about my struggles with food and dieting if I need to edit what I post?Which leads me to this new blog. My name isn't Jeannie. It's the actress's name of one of my favorite movies. At the time the movie was released *I* was her character in almost every way except for her career and wicked violin skills.

I've spent a lot of money on diet books, classes, etc., and decided that in 2011 I'm not going to spend a dime. Santa was kind enough to give me some fitness DVDs and a new diet book. I do have a 24 Hour Fitness membership and will use that as well, but primarily I want to have a DVD Diet. I'll critique and share my experiences with the DVDs and the various diets along with Jillian's Unlimited, Joy Bauer's and Bob Harper's approach. This blog will contain a lot of different methods and tools. I'm going to share what I'm doing and hope anyone reading will do the same.Raise your milkshake, hot cocoa, pina colada, or other drink you don't imbibe while dieting and toast to 2011 and an easy relocation away from Fatburgh.

Yours truly,

"Jeannie"