Resetting My Goals: Shooting For Optimal Health

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new life

Since I’ve lost 140 lbs. and my doctor told me I was healthy, I needed a new health goal to set my sights on in my march to lose another 30 lbs. My upcoming IVF treatments were key in coming up with this new goal. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and mrpuen.

Despite my procrastinating, I came up with my new health goal fairly quickly the other day. I’m totally committed to optimizing my health to improve my chances of a successful IVF treatment and pregnancy.

Seems sensible. Although I’m not sure what “optimal health” really means.

I spent some quality time researching the definition of optimal health. But there really isn’t one. Because we are all so different, the optimal weight, nutrient levels, BMI, muscle mass, athletic performance, etc. isn’t the same for any one person.

Defining Health
I stumbled across an interesting article over at Paleo Leap on defining optimal health. Basically the article confirmed what I thought. You can’t define it. There are so many variables — weight, BMI, muscle mass, athletic performance, sleep, etc.

As a starting point, the article included a working definition of health I liked:

Health is the mental and physical energy, vitality, and resilience to live joyfully in your own body and face the challenges of your life.

Okay…so how does one live like that all the time? Read More

Fighting The Urge To Do Nothing?

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My weight is fluctuating between the same 4 pound window. I know I need a new goal to focus on, but I'm in the grip of laziness and it's clutches are mighty.

My weight is fluctuating between the same 4 pound window. I know I need a new goal to focus on, but I’m in the grip of laziness and it’s clutches are mighty.

Since March, my weight’s bounced between 185 and 189 pounds (I weighed in at 188 this morning). Clearly I’m not in a plateau. My damage is self-inflicted and my frustration with myself is growing. I know what I’m doing wrong – carb creep, drinking wine, and occasionally tracking my food.

Yet course correction is proving difficult now. But why?

Overcoming Laziness
Bad habits never die. They just rear their ugly heads at your weakest point. One of my bad habits I’m fighting now is laziness. There are just times where I don’t want to do a dang thing. No walking. No food prep. No weight training. No nothing. Just an overwhelming urge to veg out.

Right now I’d rather play Plants vs. Zombies 2 on my iPad than write about my laziness.

A recent post touched upon my lack of motivation. I put the blame on stress. Sure, I’m juggling a lot – starting the IVF process, having mom 8 miles away vs. 2,000 miles away, sick pets and figuring out a career change – but it’s not all stress. Mentally, I checked out.

Doing nothing seems like the right choice. I know it’s not right but it feels so good.

Time For A Reset…And This Time I Mean It!
When I reached my goal of being healthy, I told myself I wanted to lose about 25-30 more pounds. Just saying I want to lose more weight never worked for me in the past and it ain’t working now.

My goal was accomplished and I never re-evaluated what to shoot for next.

Yet, when I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, I still didn’t bother with formulating a new goal. My growing frustration got the best of me. It was just easier to do nothing (literally) for weeks than to actually think about my future.

Today I’m setting aside time to come up with a new goal. A goal that is all mine and fits the direction I want to take with my life. That’s the only way I’ll feel motivated to do the hard work.

So I’m dressed in my fall sweats and got on my walking shoes on. Ready to take my first walk in weeks, I always think better when I’m moving.

Besides, what better way to kick laziness’ ass than walking a few miles?

How Dot’s Getting Her Weight Loss Groove Back

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Well after not really trying to lose weight, I'm at 185 lbs. this morning - the same weight I was at my physical earlier in the year. Time to take a look at my goals and refocus my efforts after a 3 month mental break.

Well after not really trying to lose weight, I’m at 185 lbs. this morning – the same weight I was at my physical earlier in the year. Time to take a look at my goals and refocus my efforts after a 3 month mental break.

Well since August I’ve struggled with my push to drop my last 30 pounds. My tracking is spotty at best. Weighing and measuring food? Almost non-existent. How about counting carbs? I keep a mental record, but if I’m not measuring my serving sizes or tracking what I eat, how good can my carb counting be, right?

Yet, I feel fine…and a little guilty.

Time To Re-Think My Goals
As of this morning I weigh 185 lbs. So I’ve lost 4 lbs. since my doctor told me I was healthy and didn’t have to drop anymore pounds.

Now, I don’t believe for a second that my body is at its set point. I think I mentally started coasting once my doctor told me I was healthy and didn’t need to lose any more. After all, I started this adventure in 2012 to get healthy. The weight loss was a great side effect.

But that got me thinking: Do I need to reconsider my goal?

When I shifted my thinking from weight loss to getting healthy, the weight came off. Yes, I track my weight loss on this blog, but the overall goal was health.

Well, I’ve done that. Now what? After my physical, I never asked myself what’s next. I just thought “happiness” is my new goal. Crap!  What does that even mean? I just thought I can drop 30 more pounds and be happier. Why 30? I have no clue. Read More

Next Step In Our IVF Journey – Some Surgery

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Still in the pre-screening stages of our IVF journey, I'm undergoing a hysteroscopy today to remove a polyp. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

Still in the pre-screening stages of our IVF journey, I’m undergoing a hysteroscopy today to remove a polyp. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

Today I go in for a little surgery — a hysteroscopy – to help my fertility doctor assess the shape of my uterine cavity and remove a polyp.  My doctor discovered the polyp during a mock embryo transfer, which is basically a practice run for the big event. While my doctor was figuring out the best embryo landing place in my uterus, he found the polyp.

As long as the polyp is there, it’s a no-go on implantation.

I’m also experiencing some minor “abnormal” bleeding, which might be caused by the polyp or by the fact I’m now taking birth control pills.

Yep, I need to go on ‘The Pill’ to get pregnant!?! Oh the irony!

Actually I’m on birth control temporarily. Basically the birth control pill is needed to control the timing of my cycle. In the baby-making process, timing is everything.

Today’s Procedure
For today’s procedure my doctor insert a hysteroscope, a narrow fiberoptic camera, into my uterine cavity. Apparently the hysteroscope comes with awesome attachments so my doctor can do specific procedures, like removing that dang polyp.

The better news is that I’m almost done with my pre-screening process to see if I’m a good candidate for IVF treatments.

After today, all that’s left to do is my annual mammogram, a PAP and blood work. So sometime in November we’ll learn if we can move forward with treatments.

Why You Should Ignore The New Dietary Guidelines

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The new federal dietary guidelines are about to come out, but the fight over the bad science used to create them is still raging.

The new federal dietary guidelines are about to come out, but the fight over the bad science used to create them is still raging.

It’s about time.

It seems that every 5 years the federal government rolls out the new dietary guidelines with hardly any criticisms. Sure you’d hear them from the various food special interest groups worried about sales, but very little about whether the recommendations actually work.

How times have changed.

Two articles, in as many days, both from The Washington Post, question the science the US federal government uses in developing the soon to be released 2015 guidelines. Read More

Putting My Kitty On A ‘Kat-O-Genic’ Diet

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After 14 years, Spider still has a lot of attitude in him. But I'm convinced his high carb diet is taking its toll. I'm hoping his new low carb diet is just what he needs to fight off his bouts of pancreatitis.

After 14 years, Spider still has a lot of attitude in him. But I’m convinced his high carb diet is taking its toll. I’m hoping his new low carb diet is just what he needs to fight off his bouts of pancreatitis.

About 6 months ago our kitty became deathly ill.

Leading up to it, he was constantly hungry. And yet, my 8-pounds of furry terror wasn’t gaining weight. In fact, he lost a pound. He became lethargic. Then the vomiting started. I’m not talking about the normal stuff a cat does. I’m talking about the green pea soup scene from The Exorcist. He was in pain and stopped eating.

After a lot of tests and blood work we learned Spider suffers from pancreatitis.

Pancreas – What Does It Do?
The pancreas is part of the endocrine and digestive system. It produces insulin to control blood sugar levels and enzymes that help digest foods. When inflamed, the pancreas leaks enzymes into the abdominal area. These enzymes start braking down the fat and proteins comprising other organs – basically the body starts eating itself. Read More

Too Much Exercise Can Lower Fertility

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Finding the right exercise balance is key to reproductive health. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

Finding the right exercise balance is key to reproductive health. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

I’m starting to completely reconsider my exercise routine. Everything is on the table, including my walks. As we begin our baby quest, I’m learning that too much exercise can hinder fertility.

It turns out that excessive aerobic exercise interferes with ovulation. For women like me, pursuing in vitro fertilization, 4 or more hours of aerobic exercise a week lowers chances of success.

Yep. For people like me 4+ hours a week maybe excessive. Sigh… Read More

Eating Low Carb To Boost My Fertility

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We've tried for 12 years to have a baby, but no luck. I was completely clueless as to how the recommended low fat diet completely messed up my hormones. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

We’ve tried for 12 years to have a baby, but no luck. I was completely clueless as to how the recommended low fat diet completely messed up my hormones. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and adamr.

I’ve tried to write this post many times over the last few weeks. But I just ended up starting at a blank screen for hours at a time. I started this blog to talk about the ups and downs I’d experience on my weight loss journey. Well this is about one of those downs…a big fat down.

So here I am, sitting in a dark corner at Starbucks, tears rolling down my cheeks, desperately muting my sniffles, trying to write this blasted post.

Here goes.

For the last 12 years I’ve struggled with infertility. Read More

September Fitness Challenge: Half Marathon Walk

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Need to keep my fitbit charged for this month's challenge!

Need to keep my fitbit charged for this month’s challenge!

Due to a lot of travel and general running around this month, I decided on something completely different for my monthly fitness challenge – walking a half marathon.

That’s 13.1 miles baby! I’m using September’s 4+ weeks to extend my bipedal travels.

Given all that’s going on this month, walking was the perfect choice. Walking relaxes me. I simply download some awesome podcasts or a great audio book on my iPhone, strap on my walking shoes and head out. For some reason, when I walk the spoken word, rather than music, keeps me going for hours. Who ends a walk mid-chapter? Read More

Book Review: Natual Born Heroes

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An amazing book that retraces the steps of some British misfits that kidnapped a German general during WWII while taking a hard look at how we've lost

So what does a kidnapping of a German general during WWII have to do with Greek mythology, the lost art of the hero, parkour, and our lack of nutrition, strength and endurance? Actually, quite a lot. 

In the spring of 1944, on the occupied island of Crete, a German general was kidnapped. No shots were fired. No sign of a struggle. When I started reading the book, Natural Born Heroes: How a Daring Band of Misfits Mastered the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance, it seemed like an odd topic for Christopher McDougall. I loved his previous Born To Run so much that I purchased my first pair of running shoes and started training.

But a true story of a kidnapping during World War II? Turns out the kidnapping is only a small part of this carefully woven look at Greek mythology, the art of the hero, parkour, the power of fascia, the modern gym, poor nutrition, physical mastery and mental conditioning.

Now, to call the band of kidnappers “daring British commandos” is being…generous. There’s a one-eyed archaeologist (Indiana Jones has nothing on this guy), a playboy poet, and an artist. And the Crete resistance? Mostly shepherds or local towns folks who, as the Germans painfully found out, were great with gardening tools. Read More