Step Two: Consistency is key...Did I lose those AGAIN??

I have a feeling each blog entry I have is going to start just as my journals all do; "I haven't written in a few days. I'm really bad at this..."

I was sick for a week so my workouts were practically non-existant. I was grounded from the gym by several do-gooders including moms, doctors, and co-workers in an effort to help me realize that working out when ill is more counter-productive than one would hope. I ignored their pleas only one time last week and found myself at work feeling worse off than ever. So much for sweating off my cold...

Nonetheless, I am feeling much better now and last Wednesday my workouts resumed. I'm still sore from the 45-minute stint on the elliptical. I think this is a good sign.

I had an appointment with Dr. Shoults on Friday. My re-evaluation is in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping for better results this time! She's very encouraging and gave me some information on a Women's triathalon in August that I'm determined to make it to. It gives me a goal to work toward besides weight loss. I love visiting with her. It feels like I've got a cheerleader out there somewhere.

I've recently tried to take on another deamon: Wheat. I've been challenged by my doctor to forego wheat in my diet to see if these annoying little health issues are based on an allergy to wheat. I started removing wheat, barley, and rye from my everyday meals and snacks at the first part of February.

...and on February 11th, I started taking it seriously. :)

Having to elliminate wheat and it's associates from things I eat has been harder than I thought. The lists of no-no's are extensive. However, I'm including a list of things I've loved about this change because it hasn't been ALL bad...

1.) My energy levels have steadily headed upwards. I'm convinced this trend will continue as I get better at elliminating wheat completely leaving me a chatty, smiling, energetic ball of sunshine. I can just hear the excitment from friends and family...

2.) I'm cooking now. Holy miracles. And I actually love it. My horizons aren't as broad as they should be, and mostly I just stir-fry lots of veggies together, but I'm COOKING. ...and every sucessful endeavor results in a phone call to Mom who feigns excitment well enough for me to believe her.

3.) The pitted edema that has been plaguing me for almost two years now seems to let up when I lay off the hard stuff. This alone is cause for extreme celebration. Ice cream is gluten-free, right? (Just kidding, Dr. Shoults.)

4.) I'm having an intense love affair with veggies. I can't get enough of them.

5.) I can eat sweet potatoes, which are my all-time favorite things ever. Also, brown rice is ok, too. It's nice to know that while wheat is bad for me right now, other forms of carbs aren't. This new mindset makes dinner time so much more fun.

So, it's results time...

(Disclaimer: I'm not confident enough with myself to announce my weight to the world, but I will post weight loss as it occurs.)

Weight lost: This week, 3 lbs.
Total loss since the blog started: 9lbs.
Inches lost: I have no idea. I don't own a measuring tape.