Alzheimer's and Obesity

It's always something! Just last week, the government came out with a study that showed slightly overweight people could outlive skinny people. Don't get complacent though because now there is a study linking obesity with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia! Read the article here. The article talks about why this might happen when you are overweight but I have a theory of my own:

The fatter I got, the more embarrassed I became to be seen in public. I am practically a recluse at this point. I don't even sit out in my back yard much. I think without having lots of interaction with other people, my brain will begin to deteriorate faster. I mean, of course I talk to my dh and kids every day but it's not quite the same. I might be totally wrong here but I wouldn't be surprised if there's not some connection.

I was reading LTF's post from the other day. She and I both have husbands who will happily run out and buy us snack foods ... even if we don't really want them. My dh is like hers -- life is to be enjoyed and so is food! Well...today I made a little bargain with DH to get him more on my page of the program.

Both of us need to lose over 100 lbs. I suggested that we treat ourselves to an overnight stay away from home each time we lose 50 lbs. Once we get down to goal, we should go away for 3-4 days or a week. He liked that idea but wasn't bubbling over with enthusiasm. Why? Well, even when we lose 50 lbs we aren't going to want to show ourselves on a beach. But just because we go away for a day and a night doesn't mean it has to be to a beach ... just a break away from it all to reward ourselves.

Later, DH thought about it and said, hey, he'd really like to go out dancing again. I thought, I'm not such a great dancer but yes, that would be fun! So that could be another reward when we lose like 75-100 lbs. I would enjoy that and I probably wouldn't feel too self conscious.

DH's goal is to get down to around 200 lbs. He loves techno-stuff and there's a very expensive digital camera he's been drooling over. I suggested that when he gets down to 200 lbs we should get the camera.

Maybe we're learning?

The New Pyramid

I remember when the government changed their dietary guidelines from groups to a pyramid. I remember how people everywhere carried on about it ... either they loved it or they hated it. For me, it simplified everything a good deal and I liked it. It was incorporated into our Weight Watcher meetings as we learned to use it.

Years later, Americans just seemed fatter and unhealthier. Hmmm...maybe there's something wrong with the pyramid! Maybe we shouldn't be basing it on carbs (grains & breads, that is). As the government revised their guidelines, many Americans went low-or-no carb.

Now we have a new pyramid that is individualized. To top it off, there's a little person climbing up. That's to show us how important exercise is. ;)

I read an article today by Lloyd Garner. He poked some fun at the new and improved pyramid but he mostly focused on how we keep changing what we think about being overweight. There's a study out that claims people who are "slightly" overweight live longer than people who are under weight. It's a good piece and you can read it here.

I went to My Pyramid because I was intrigued by the idea of having a personalized plan I didn't have to pay for! You enter in some information about yourself and how much exercise you get and then you have your very own recommendations! You can also track your eating and exercising and see how you do over a period of time. I like that idea a lot!

I plugged in the information for myself and found out some things that were a bit unsettling. I wasn't surprised to learn I should be eating about 1800 calories considering my age and lack of strenuous exercise. When I clicked on a button indicating I wanted to lose weight, I got a screen with huge red letters telling me I must consult with my doctor before doing anything else because I am severely obese! Well, at least it didn't say morbidly although I'm sure that's what severely means too.

I also plugged in all the food I ate and was disagreeable UN-surprised to see I'd eaten over my limit ... not by much. If I'd left off the hamburger and cut down on something else I would have been fine.

It's a start. It's fun to do right now and hopefully I won't get bored with it!

Moving Around

I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and posted on a weight loss support list called journey (it's on yahoogroups) about my physical limitations. Well, one of the other list members suggested something I hadn't thought of ... stretching exercises in my chair! I know that there are video tapes about chair exercises, why didn't I think of that? Anway, I did some stretching and then I got down on the floor and did some stretches and exercises. I felt so much better moving around even though it was just a little. I am so out of shape, though, I could feel my muscles and ligaments straining and I really wasn't doing all that much. I have to keep it up though!

Leather Bootie

I got fitted for a brace today for my left ankle. I'm in pain almost all the time and have been hobbling around since last November. The air cast helped a little and the new inserts for my shoes helped a little ... but that's just about it. So my orthopedic doctor said I should try this brace.

As I sat there waiting for the mold to set, I felt very annoyed and embarrassed about my size. That's what got me into this mess, I thought to myself. Lazy fat pig. Except ... I'm not a lazy fat pig, or I didn't used to be.

I don't stuff myself. So what is going on with me? It's lack of exercise. I have to exercise to lose the weight but ... I'm so heavy I've got these injuries and it hurts to walk.

The man who fitted me for the brace said that once I'm used to wearing it I should be able to walk and exercise comfortably.

Good.

I don't want another one for my other ankle so I have to get moving before that happens!

Quiet Sunday

It's been a pretty quiet weekend. I linked to another blog, Journey of a Lifetime.

Just Weight Loss (JWL) posted today about adding a directory to her blog so that those of us struggling to lose weight can find each other easier. I think it's a great idea! I wish there was a category search function on Blogger ... well, if there is one, I don't know how to use it!

JWL also wrote about issues of control and I have to say that I struggle with that too. On the rare occasions we go out to eat, I always have good intentions walking into the restaurant. I'll order something healthy, I think to myself. Then I look at the menu and all reason just evaporates into the kitchen or something. I get really resentful, thinking: we don't go out much, why can't I order what I want? Why can't I enjoy steak instead of having to get a lousy salad? So much for ordering something healthy to eat.

It's something I definitely have to keep working on, very critical if I want to successfully stick to a program.

I didn't do so great today. I didn't turn down the buttered roll, egg & pork roll hubby brought in from the store. I had a sandwich, potato salad and coleslaw for lunch. For dinner I had extra helpings of ham. :P

One day at a time, I have to try again tomorrow.

Almost Back to Square 1

Once I fell down the well of Reese's white chocolate peanut cups I felt too embarrassed and angry with myself to post anymore. Of course, I gained back most of the weight I lost. I still refuse to give up and am getting myself back on track. I am looking for and reading other weight loss blogs to help me keep focused. My most recent find is Just Weight Loss and I found several things in common -- we both weigh around the same, both had success with WW and both are now working on our own. It's really hard to do without support but I can't afford WW!

I was watching Dr. Phil the other day and he was advising a 15 year old girl about whether or not she should try to maintain a relationship with her drug addicted mother. Mom would get clean and sober and then relapse and the girl would feel abandoned again. Dr. Phil said to her that past behavior predicts the future's and that the girl's mom would probably relapse again and again. He advised her to love her mother and be emotionally supportive but to set boundaries.

So what does this have to do with me and weight loss? Substitute chocolate for heroin and there I am! I've been to the WW program 3 or 4 times since 1972 and I've successfully lost weight every time. I've never made it to maintenance, though, and have always relapsed and regained all the weight and then some. Sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it, won't I just get fat again?

If I can get to a maintenance program, though, I think I'll have better coping skills. I've never been on maintenance before. How will I do that if I can't afford WW now? I think I've got to do a lot of it on my own, with as much online support as I can find. I need to do this not only for myself but for my kids and not just so that I can be around for them. Two are combatting serious weight problems and how can I help at all if I don't set a good example?