Weight Loss Three

May 20, 1999

 

I don't like to weigh often because it can be frustrating and cause me to regress. Each time I seemed to approach a certain weight, I would reach this wall and find my weight creeping right back up again. It seems to be an emotional barrier that is blocking my success.

Let me tell you what I have done so far to break this barrier.

Since I believe there are no coincidences, when the acreage next door was sold and we met our prospective neighbors for the first time a little over two months ago, we knew that there had been divine intervention. We had an immediate connection to these lovely people. After we parted Jim turned to me and said, "We have just met friends we haven't seen in a long time.... people we have known at another time, another place....."

They were chiropractors not long out of college. Despite their young age compared to ours, we were very comfortable being around them. They approached their patients from a holistic point of view. They were proficient in Massage therapy, specialized in the extremities, the muscles..... you name it, they could do it. We immediately set up appointments in their brand new office in town and started treatment for, not just back and muscle problems, but weight loss counseling. I have never had such a thorough exam.

We found out that one of Jim's legs was one inch shorter than the other and accounted for his odd gate that caused him to look like he was limping all the time. As for me, well, we found bones out of place and nerves pinched from muscles that had frozen into a contracted position over my earlier life, due to extreme stress during my previous marriage.

Then we arrived at the weight issue. The first thing I did was create a two week food diary. I listed everything I ate, when I ate it, approximate amounts, and what spices and condiments I added to my food. At the end of two weeks both they and I had a pretty good idea of what my eating habits were.

The first thing they noticed was I added salt to about everything, even my cantaloupe, apples, and watermelon. I have had a problem with my left leg swelling and water retention. We all came to the conclusion that perhaps salt was a major problem for me right now. So, I committed to not adding any salt to my food. Now that does not mean I go without salt. I just do not pick up the salt shaker to add it to any prepared foods and I don't put it on my fruit.

The second thing we talked about was my basic eating habits, and the lack of any real exercise, other than a bit of gardening and walking around the property, I wasn't getting much in the way of exercise. Now this was a big hang-up for me. I was running 5 miles a day about 5 years earlier, but I just couldn't seem to get motivated to get up and do it every day. I often spend hours sitting in from of my computer and it is difficult to find the inclination to get out there and walk, let alone run.

So, I struggle with that part of my health regime.

The solution I thought would work for me, for the lack of exercise, was I bought a brush cutter. It only weighs 60 lbs. and I can haul it all over the 9 acres and cut down the brush almost anywhere. And believe me, with 9 acres of woods and meadows on two lakes, there is a lot of brush to cut to keep the weeds down. One portion of our property is under a major power line and there is necessity to keep it mowed and the plants trimmed to under 10 feet or they will come in with herbicides and kill everything within a certain area.

So, I began to cut the brush. That, along with the reduction of salt in my diet, and committing to three square meals a day, no snacking,was enough, I hoped to do the trick.

Now, I must say that I go to my chiropractic appointments twice each week and I get wonderful massages that leave me very relaxed and physically much more capable of doing the increased exercise. I weigh in and we discuss my progress and adjust not just my body, but my attitude and my goals as needed.

I am confident that with the support system I have created with my chiropractor and my lifestyle changes I have committed to, that I am on my way to a successful weightloss program. However, they are urging me to become a vegatarian and I don't think I am quite ready for that.

Weight Loss 4 - The Journey continues

PS

I also want to let you know that besides all I am doing as stated above, I am doing one more thing that I feel is important to share with you. Supplements! Not just any suppliments! Please go to Doctors Speak out! Breakthroughs in Preventative Health Care. For it is these natural health products that are providing my body with the energy and healing ability to make the changes I am making, without depleting my body of its necessary nutrients. These are crucial for health and vitality! In fact, in a few weeks I will be able to report back as to the actual results of taking these new products.

Weight Loss 4 - The Journey continues

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