Originally Posted by miezzi

OK!!! Here my stats! I hate doing this but here I go!

I am 5'2
weigh 165
goal to be 130 by Christmas next year
And I am following the weight watchers plan!

Originally Posted by Muffie's Mom

All of you smokers do yourself an immense favor if you stop smoking BUT you have to do it for yourself not because someone told you to! I stopped smoking for 3 months after I had my heart attack at age 49 and guess what. Then I was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

I went back to smoking and then had to have a quadruple bypass several years later.

Then I had to have an artificial Aorta bi-femoral bypass.

Then I had to have 2 artificial bypasses to my right leg and then a vein graft lower on the same leg. They only lasted 8 months & then they all blocked up on me. Now I have only 20-30% blood flow to my right leg. Thus, the reason for my walking a mile 3 times a day on the treadmill even if it is only at 1.5 mph. You do what you can do.

The vascular surgeon told me that I stunted the growth of my blood vessels when I started to smoke at a young age of 14!!!!!

Just last year to make matters worse, they found I have 6 aneurysms on the back of my brain in what they call the "dizzy center". And no, I'm not a blond! That was serious. They had to put 5 coils in the largest aneuysm to clot the blood there and redirect the blood flow thereafter. They found those because I had been dizzy off & on for 2-3 days & had to go to the emergency room & have it checked out. They did a Cat scan or MRI.

Needless to say, I am now on Coumadin to keep the blood thinned out so I don't have anymore blood clots anywhere.

I have been diabetic for the past couple years. I take a LOT of medicine but I'm alive!

When I had my heart attack at age 49, the 1st thing to go was sweets! Then it was fried foods, junk food (yes the snack foods, too), salt, and fast food. You have to watch the cholesterol also. If you're not sure about what all has cholesterol or triglycerides in it, go to google.com and type in the word.

I snack on water & apples. Sometimes I'll eat a pretzel ROD (40 calories each). I always have a bottle of water by my side.

Now you know my sob story! But guess what? I'M STILL ALIVE!*!*! See what all my body has been through & I'm still here on this earth because we have made many lifestyle changes and are exercising.

I wasn't going to tell any of you this BUT I thought perhaps I could help save someone else from going through any of what I've gone through. It has NOT been easy!

This all started with me at age 49 & I am now 64 yrs. old. See how long I have prolonged my life. Now you know why my cardiologist calls me his "walking miracle"!

So do yourself a favor & start your changes now. You'd be surprised at what you can give up IF you HAVE to! My husband & I both go to Gold's Gym 3 times a week with my cardiac rehab maintenance group. Needless to say, I think I work out harder than others in our group because I have more reasons to do so! Many have stents in their heart, had a heart attack, a stroke, had a bypass or had vascular surgery on their legs.

TIP: If you want something a little fried, try dipping meat in egg substitute and then rolling in corn flake crumbs (buy in a box like that). Then put just a little bit of olive oil in a baking dish & bake according to your directions. When you turn the meat over, you can spray Pam directly on the meat. We do this for chicken, pork, and fish. That's what we NOW called fried.

TIP: We eat a lot of frozen vegetables & steam them. We use Molly McButter for a butter flavor. I use a lot of Marjoram on vegetables.

TIP: When you stop using salt, try using other herbs in it's place. You'd be surprised what you can do.

I hope this will help lots of you want to help yourself & get in "good health".

Pat :) :thumbup: Go girls! Best of luck in 2006!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Originally Posted by Joy 1

Any suggestions on a good treadmill????? My search is on!!! I am sooooo ready to lose this extra weight. I am sure you know this already , but if you don't....the three best fruits in the world for antioxidants are Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries!!!!!! Of course, I love banana's and pineapples. I will make frurits a big part of my new healthy way of eating. Well, as soon as some of my swelling goes down, I'll take some before and afters of my mini lift ( a little tightening in the jowl and chin area.....and a tiny bit in the cheek area) Oh I almost forgot.....does anyone take fish oil? My Doctor thinks it is great for our bodies...inside and out!!!!!
Joy

Originally Posted by Muffie's Mom

1st of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Thank you and welcome to the Lifestyle Changes part of YT.

I can relate to your story. Just keep checking in with your doctor and follow his advice.

You didn't mention anything about exercising. Do you walk outside or on the treadmill?

I guess none of us can say anything. Per the Dog Whisperer, even our little dogs need to be exercised and walked.

I can't walk outside 99% of the time due to lots of allergies. So I walk on my treadmill. We bought one about 2 years ago not realizing that it took the place of where the Christmas tree used to go!*! Soooo, the past 2 Christmases, we've had a small fiber-optic tree on the dining room table. LOL

You've probably noticed in some of Glad & my posts on this thread some tips that might help you.

Perhaps you have a few tips of your own. I wasn't on any particular "diet" just cut out certain foods that were either high in fat, sodium, cholesterol, or calories!

Best of luck to you in 2006.

Originally Posted by WV~Yorkies

I wish you all success!! You can do it!!

I have lost 152 pounds...went from a 3x to a size 6/8

Originally Posted by gymbo68

Hi All...
My wife and I both did a 13 week plan through our local hospital from Sept till into Dec...it was 500 calories a day - more if needed and at least 64 ounces of water a day and 300 physical activity calories had to be burned....it was easy at first cuz it was new...but as time wore on I cheated more and more...but we still lost over 70 lbs between us....we had the option of continuing in a mainteance class or stopping....well with the holidays and all we stopped and tried to be good thru the holidays...my wife did good I on the other hand gained back 5...its those damn Christmas sugar cookies...I love em....
Anyway...my point is remember you have to drink water...take vitamins to make up the difference for what your body needs and get exercise if possible... I will have to look for the site I used to measure Physical activity calories...
Tomorrow is Jan 2 and I am going to go back on the plan with one ammendment...I will have like a healthy choice or weight watcher meal for dinner....otherwise it will be shakes and bars the rest of the day with my water...I am going to lose the 5 I put on plus another 15 hopefully before we go to Florida on Feb 9....
Good luck to us all...it is about taking it off then changing your lifestyle to stay there.....

Originally Posted by centralnewyorki

Originally Posted by Lucky's Mom

I bought a Gazelle for my workout machine. I got it at Dick's sporting goods. It will work you out! Its like a stair machine but kinda different. (hehe...i've only been on it once though!)

Originally Posted by joy606

Pat, to answer your question about excercise, I don't at this time have a regular schedule mostly because I have bad knees but I will have to say they are better since I have lost some weight so maybe I can get started. I ride horses on a regular basis, but my doctor said I needed the excercise instead of my horse.lol But I am not a complete couch potato. The weight watcher's diet is what I have been trying to do although I am not going to the meetings. It is a great diet or life change because you can eat pretty much what you want as long as you count it in your daily talley. You soon learn that it is better to eat something more filling than a piece of cake. I am a life time member and can go to meetings free as long as I am within 2 pounds of my goal which I am not right now.