rheumatoid arthritis/health update

I've lost almost 20 lbs in about 2 1/2 months.  it sounds like a lot but I have about 30 more pounds to lose to get to a healthy weight.  I have gained so much weight during the past 5 years so there is so much to lose also.  once I get to my target weight, or close to it, I will share with you how I lost this weight, the healthy way.


on Saturday, I was talking to a friend from church who currently has an undiagnosed auto-immune disease.  those who have read my blog may be familiar with some of my posts about Rheumatoid Arthritis, the auto-immune disease that I currently have.  my friend may have some type of rheumatoid arthritis also, or a type of lupus.  she doesn't know it quite yet but her rheumatologist is working closely with her to get the right diagnosis and get her the right treatment.  she was sharing with me her frustrations about being sick (while not looking sick), and the pain that she is currently going through.  I remember very clearly the first few months of feeling the symptoms of RA, how difficult it was to simply move.  Every task, no matter how simple, was excruciatingly painful.  undressing to shower and get dressed took anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour.  preparing breakfast?  forget about it.  I only had the energy to make coffee.  I was in pain, and exhausted.  it was so scary to not be able to do the things you used to do so effortlessly and to feel this helplessness at such a young age.  thankfully, I was able to see my doctor right away who immediately suspected rheumatoid arthritis and referred me to a Rheumatologist.  it has been about 1 year and 8 months since I was diagnosed and while I still feel the pain especially in my feet, I am on the road to better health.   i felt the same way early on in my diagnosis.   i didn't look sick at all.  some people said, 'you just need to exercise!'.  i know was overweight but how can i exercise when even getting out of bed was painful!  i cried so many times because so many people just didn't understand.  thankfully, i have such a wonderful and supportive husband who did his best to learn about my condition and help me in any way he could.    


i shared all of these pains and frustrations with my friend to let her know that she is not alone. she was close to tears and very appreciative because there was someone she could relate to.  i thanked the Lord for the opportunity to be an encouragement to her and i realized that there truly is always a silver lining to every dark cloud.  who knew that my illness will be a source of understanding and encouragement.  God's ways are truly magnificent and His ways are above ours. 


since i have lost some weight, i felt bold enough to register for my first 5k run in august.  i started training last week, using the couch to 5k app and successfully went through the first day.  yesterday, my husband and i decided to go train again and i failed miserably.  halfway through the training, i felt the pain shooting up from my feet to my shins.  it was so painful i thought i was going to pass out from the pain.  aside from having RA, i also have flat feet.  I've always had flat feet but people who have normal arches and later get RA can also have fallen arches.  i limped the rest of our 'training' and went home and googled for tips about running with RA and flat feet.  Tip #1, get the right shoes and insoles - i had neither.  training is suspended until the husband takes me to a store that specializes in these things.  *sigh* but i haven't lost hope.  it's just another hurdle to overcome. 

shhhh! i joined a gym (again!)

yup, i gave in.  i joined a gym once more.  i have been exercising here at home using our elliptical but i find myself bored with it sometimes....plus, i feel like i really need some 'me' time every now and then. 


i consulted my husband prior to acquiring the additional monthly expense and you know what his response is?  'go ahead beb (babe).  i am fully supportive.'  o di ba?  atat talaga na pumayat ako! hehehe


anyway, i went to crunch fitness yesterday and got a gym membership.  i told the manager that i wasn't so much interested in the gym equipment but i was more interested in the group classes like step, yoga, kickboxing, etc.  crunch is known for their group classes.  i had a vhs tape of two of their classes and it was so much fun to do.  crunch also has a children's area where i can bring michelle with me to the gym for a nominal fee.  i made the mistake of mentioning this to michelle and now she wants to come with me.  i told myself i will only use the children's thing if i absolutely have no one to watch michelle while i go to the gym.  knowing michelle, when she gets bored, she's going to have someone page me so i can take her back.  

there is a women's only sauna, which i will try.  i don't like being in a small hot room but i've read about it's health benefits so i will see how long i can stay in there.  


i also registered at myfitnesspal.com so i can count my calories and track my progress...did you notice the gadget on the right hand side of my screen?  that's called accountability!  haha!  so far i have lost 2 lbs from exercising and watching what i eat but i have a looooooooooong way to go.

5 servings of fruits and vegetables

because i've been sick several times in the last couple of months, i started to really change what i eat and add more fruits and vegetables to my diet.  i noticed that when you eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, there's not a lot of room to eat much of anything else...and that's a good thing especially for me who has been trying (unsuccessfully) for the last 3 years to lose weight.  i think this time though, it's not just because of vanity that i am trying to lose weight.  my body has begun to protest all of the crap that i've been feeding it and it's about time i pay attention.  

i have lost 3 lbs since then and i've been squeezing in some excercise (still not as much as i should, but it's a start).  i hope to undo ALL of my bad habits pretty soon. 

*bell's palsy update:  i can blink normally....i have regained almost all control of my facial muscles.  i think by next week, i'll be at 100%.  praise God!  

pasko na! (well, almost)

the christmas decor is up, my shopping list is about 80% done (and within budget!)....


but i haven't lost the weight.  (booo!!!!) i guess paul really has won this bet.  i told him to go ahead and buy what he wants with the $$$$ he won and he did not waste time and bought himself one of his dream guitars:

Fender American Standard Stratocaster

it's the same guitar that john mayer and eric clapton uses.  i have to admit, it does sound very good.  he bought a new tube amp, too.  he is very happy and plays his guitar every. single. day.  well, my not losing weight has made my husband's musical side very happy.  


that doesn't mean i've given up on my desire to lose weight.  i am still watching what i eat and exercising...but i no longer have a deadline.  the cruise didn't really derail me.  i've been off track for so long that nothing can derail me!  ha!


anyway, it's sunday so off to church we go!!!!

Weight Watchers Mantra

Taken from the Weight Watchers Website....


“Steady and slow, learn as you go. Lose too fast, it may not last.” — Louise F. *

“It matters not how slowly you go, only that you do not stop.” — Julia B. *

“No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping the [person] sitting on the couch.” — Stephanie H. *

“I may no be where I want to be, but I’m better than where I was.” — Heather J. *

“You don’t drown from falling in the water, you only drown if you stay there.” — Barb L. *

“Success requires backbone, not wishbone.” —Debbie S.*

“If we defend our habits, we have no intentions of breaking them.” — Judy P. *

“Life has no remote…YOU have to get up and change it yourself!” — Tracy S. *

“The weight didn’t arrive from the Fat Fairy last night, and the Skinny Fairy isn’t coming tonight, either.” — Miscelena1.**

“Instead of a plate, reach for your mate!” — Frank E. *

“What you eat in private shows up in public!” — NicoleJuner1 **

“I’ve come too far to take orders from a cookie.” — Gina L. *

“If you kinda do it, it kinda works. If you really do it, it really works.” — Andrea G., Carol T. *

“If you’re driving and you get a flat tire, do you get out of the car and slash the other three? No, you fix it and get back on the road.” — Tanya S. *

“The scale is a weight loss tool – not a judge, jury and executioner.” — Brenda T. *

“Keep tracking, stop slacking!” — Holly L. * 

breaking bad habits

if you read my blog regularly, you know that i have weight-y issues.  =)  i am back on the weight watchers program trying desperately to lose as much weight as i can so i don't lose on the bet paul and i had when we were on vacation in las vegas.  (christmas is my deadline).

in addition to watching what i eat, i have given up soda (all kinds! even diet soda) since the last week of June...so i have been soda-free for the past 6 weeks (going on 7)...and i miss it every single day!  yesterday, i was at outback steakhouse with chel, t, and michelle, and when the waitress asked for my beverage, i said, 'i'll just have water.'  and then i told chel and t that i haven't had soda in six week and they asked me why i gave it up.  i replied, 'i want to stop putting junk in my body.' wow!!!!  parang totoo!

yesterday, i decided to add to my misery healthy choices and give up chips, too.  urgh!  this is going to be very, very, very hard for me!!!!  i like to munch on chips all the time (obvious naman di ba?) and so giving this up would be so much harder than giving soda up.  the last time i gave up chips was for lent back in 2002 i think...40 days without chips....i was so glad when the 40 days were over! 

the amount of chips that i consume weekly really adds up and makes it harder for me to lose weight...so instead of eating chips, when i get a salty craving, i go to the fridge and get some parmesan cheese (i weigh each slice, portion control!) so i can easily add it to my weight watchers points tracker.  so far so good.

i've also been exercising on the elliptical again and have started playing tennis.  i know i've written about this battle so many times and i've lost most, if not all, of them.  now, i've ran out of excuses and have no one else to blame but myself if i lose this one again.  i don't plan on seeing anything drastic, but i am excited that i am being more aware and making better decisions regarding my health.  i'm not getting any younger and i want to set a good example for michelle.  that and i need to look good in clothes again! 

monday is a new day

january is almost over....

monday nanaman bukas...i should:

• wake up early (so i am not rushing to get out of the house).

• plan what to wear to work tomorrow (so i don't end up looking like i just grabbed whatever from my closet).

• take a multivitamin (maybe it will help me not feel so lethargic after my day at work).

• watch what i eat (whole grain, more fruits and vegetables).

• get on the elliptical (joke ba ito?).

pagkahaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon

sa amazon din ang bagsak!

i have been looking for an elliptical machine since my husband agreed last week that i can get one with the $500 rebate we received from our home's streamline with BAC.

my criteria:
-less than $500
-good customer reviews
-space saver / compact design
-easy assembly

after checking sears and sports authority and not finding one that i am happy with, i settled with a machine i have not tried using at a store. reviews on amazon.com and walmart.com have an average rating of 3.5 to 4.5 stars, customers say assembly was relatively easy, it's inexpensive (compared to most ellipticals) and amazon has free shipping, no tax. at $395 flat, i think i found a bargain. if i get a full year's use and lose 20 pounds using this thing, i would say the machine practically paid for itself.

i hope this arrives real soon so i can get started na.

Eclipse 1100 HR/A Elliptical Trainer

day 2

setback: a slice of egg custard pie i made for bible study last night.

wins: 30 mins on the elliptical and 30 mins on the stationary bike.

the scale told me i shouldn't worry about that slice of pie.

need to get crankin'

i have 3 1/2 weeks left to lose as much weight as i can.

i have 2 weeks left before michelle and i fly to portland. i had hoped to have lost 10 lbs by then so i can buy a few work clothes. i need to get moving!!! time's a tickin'!!!!!!

small victory

lost nearly 5 lbs from getting sick. there's always something to be thankful for!

20 more to go.

yikes!!

get back up

i hit a bump. need to refocus. ohhhhmmmmm

tip-top by thirty

that's my new goal - to be in tip-top shape by the time i hit the big 3-0! (which is about 11 1/2 months away).

of course i've said this before, in different ways, at different times, with different moods. but this time it's different (naks). i'm doing it for life, for health, for family, for friends, for prada!!!! bwahahahaha!!!

i love working out!

i just have to say that because confession brings possession!

i want to love working out. i have gone to the gym for 4 straight days and aside from the one day i used the threadmill, my body seems to be taking the beating pretty well. i told myself to stay away from the threadmill because that one time i used it, i could literally feel every single bone in my feet each time i took a step. the bones cursing me until the next day. lesson learned. i use the elliptical machine and will be moving on to the stair master maybe next week to spice things up.

i'm also doing pilates every other day. will squeeze in yoga once i find my dvd.

do i sound determined? who wouldn't be when this is what you hear from the people around you:

to explain to michelle when i'm headed to the gym my dad said, 'pupunta sa gym ang mommy mo para lumiit liit naman ang katawan ang laki laki nya na kasi.' at least he does not complain when i leave michelle with him while i workout. di sya pwede umangal!

from one of my aunt's closest friends na parang uncle ko narin, 'yang katawan mong yan, nag-gigym ka? ipapasara ko yang gym na yan, hindi effective!' funny, NOT!!!!!!

from my cousin, whom i know meant well naman, 'gusto ba ni paul na mataba ka?' syempre hindi! payatot ngayon ang asawa ko. mukha kami number 10!

the same cousin above upon seeing the bridesmaid dress i will be wearing at claire's wedding, 'yan ba susuot nyo? e mag gym ka nga!' again, i know she means well. but it does sting a little.

so rather than wade in misery, you gotta move your fat butt when you hear comments like that.



i already lost 1 lb. hep! hep! hoooray!!!!! A MILLION MORE TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i can't sleep

i am tired from a sorta long workout from the gym (1 hour and 15 mins is long for me). i finally committed to this whole gym thing for at least 1 year. after i signed my name and gave them my credit card information, sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko, 'what am i getting myself into?????'. remorse kaagad!!!! haaaaay! oh well! i have to commit to something that might lead me to lose weight. i'm totally fighting every urge not to blog about this whole weight thing because it's exhausting to me and not entertaining to my few readers. nakakasawa na yung topic! i want a change! i want to fit into my clothes again. i miss my clothes!!! i look at 1 black sweater that i bought from br not too long ago na gustong gusto ko, siguro mga 5 times ko palang nasusuot, masikip na. nakakalungkot! kainis talaga!!!

so i researched online to see what i type of gym workout i should do to maximize weightloss. seems like i should start with reducing my caloric intake by 500 calories and low impact aerobic activity 3 to 5 times a week for at least 30 mins each time. i should try this for two weeks and then change it up. i also did pilates this morning and some free weights. i frustrated and determined. and now i am exhausted but can't sleep. *sigh*

dahil hindi ako makatulog, i've been doing research on our seattle/canada/portland trip at the end of the month. the seattle and portland thing is all set. it's canada that i can't quite figure out. we will definitely be going to vancouver, but after vancouver, i don't know whether to go to whistler (site of the 2010 winter olympic games) or victoria (think beautiful gardens, castles...sorta like europe). i heard both cities are beautiful and i want to see both but with a 2 year old in tow, i'm not sure how much travelling she can take with the little time we have (just 3 days in canada). so if anyone from british columbia chances upon my blog or anyone familiar with both places, i seriously need your help in making a decision.

maybe i should read my book so i can sleep. medyo exciting tong angels and demons.

wins and losses 1/12/08

small victory: hardly any rice

small defeat: chocolate! waaah!!!

ass off the couch!

I SOOOOOO FREAKIN' NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!

i get upset at myself sometimes for 'letting myself go' and gain as much weight as i did last year. why did i let myself fall off the weightloss wagon again? i've come to accept that my genes play a big part in my struggle and i will have to battle with my weight for the rest of my life but that's not an excuse to gain instead of lose weight! urgh!

i read leonardo dicaprio told kate winslet, 'you have to let the fat girl go'. kate has always struggled with her weight too and look at her now! slim and svelte! i, too, have to let the fat girl go and reclaim my old self!

i'm tired of disguising my love-handles by wearing oversized everything. i'm tired of looking at my closet only to find clothes that are tight and make me look like suman. (shopping for a new wardrobe is an option i currently cannot afford and dare not entertain!) i'm tired of complaining about my wide hips and my bulging belly. I AM SO TIRED OF THIS $#!+!!!!!

so that's enough complaining, time to get movin'. wii fit jogging is calling my name.