I have lost 14″ since 02 Feb 2009 from arm, thigh, waste, hips, bust. I couldn’t believe it. I burst into tears! Finally, some measureable results. She indicated my doctor should be very pleased. I’ll let ya know…

Had someone at work the other day tell me I look younger every day.

AND latest allergy treatment using soundwaves seems to have cured those horrid splotches on my scalp - SWEAR. It was YELLOW CORN which is in freaking everything. You should have seen the follow-up list of “do not” items — sodas (which I don’t drink, but because of High Fructose Corn Syrup), shampoos, soap, whew! I’ll give it another week — but I’m telling ya, I’m one happy girl!

1.  Two birthdays

2.  Thanksgiving

3.  Christmas

4.  New Years

You can see it’s hard to lose weight during the festive times, or at least I was thinking that. I didn’t mean to be away for this long. But I must confess, I had such a wonderful January, that I actually got back into the grove tho I didn’t post it. I am going to rename this post from “Reducing Without Struggle” to an even newer mindset — Reducing Effortlessly. Don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but I continued to put struggle in my slug. Silly, it seems.

January brought two new friends and one who I will mention right here. Joan Packard. OMG, I met her in Pasadena, California and she’s the greatest. She admonished me to stop calling myself an old woman and I listen to her. She’s right. Trust me, she claims to be 73, but looks 56! Giggles under the covers and lots of conversations, visit her at www.joanpackard.com and you’ll see what I mean. Anyway, aside from the most awesome experience at T. Harv Eker’s Life Directions Intensive, which is where I met Joan and got to visit with my dear cousin Ruth Mutti (www.twitter.com/ruthmutti) and her son Mark Mutti (www.shoutdrive.com), I also became acquainted with The Paleo Diet in January from a friend at work. I believe that and my Life Direction’s commitment to get a personal trainer and become consistent with my exercising has net the direct result of losing 5 lbs in the last two weeks — ahem — effortlessly!

I’m so thrilled. I will continue to blog, if only for myself, and report my progress and document in details my life direction. See me for quick blurbs on www.twitter.com/dianebishop

First, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be accountable to myself and manage my health. You are a true partner in my health care. Your last verbal prescription at the end of January was to exercise for 1-hour a day. Sounds easy, but it is a challenge.

To aid myself into becoming even more accountable, I offer the following status updates:

1) I removed most dairy and grains from my diet.

2) I began an allergy treatment with Dr. Ed Carlton.

3) I hired a personal trainer and work out with her consisently 3-days a week. I am now up to 4-days a week without effort.

4) I conitnue to eat a Weight Watchers like diet — fresh fruits and vegetables both raw and cooked and lean meat. Lots of fresh water. As you know, I cut out high fructose corn syrup some time ago and continue to do so. 

5) I continued on the Januvia regiment.

The result of these simple steps are:

1) I’ve lost 8 lbs.

2) I feel great.

3) I have limited aches and pains - the biggest bonus.

4) My morning blood sugar has continued to steadily go down.

5) People notice a difference

So my two question:

1) Do you want me to complete an A1C this month so we keep the numbers on track?

2) Are the home based A1C kits accurate? I saw one at Walmart and if I can skip the lab for the A1C and then do any lab you want as we near my next appointment it would help me manage my time and healh funds.

I look forward to your reply. Yours in progress,

Diane

Move Move Move

I have a plan — Monday & Friday, walking…Tuesday through Thursday, work out

Check before I eat

Don’t eat out

Congrats on two new habits: 1) taking the stairs and 2) 64 oz of water minimally a day.

New habit to develop: Drinking chilled water upon arising. Studies show it increases metabolism significantly, though they don’t know why.

My Florida GP was not pleased with my A1C and other cholesterol counts, but when I told him I’d joined Weight Watchers, he was pleased. Dr. Knappman stated it was the best choice I could have made. I accepted his advice for one diabetic medication (Januvia) for the next three months and then we’ll see where we go from there. I consented because I needed to.

My next new habit is to walk five of seven days consistently. I am amazed at what points have revealed. I thought I ate healthily — I did. However (there is always a however, right?), some of my choices prove low in fiber; others high in fat. Weight Watchers is helping me balance those choices. Amazing! Cheetos (one of my favorite low sugar snacks) is expensive in points. Much better to have an apple. I think they did that on purpose. Keep you posted!