Things to avoid

I have been to the nutritionist twice now. The first time was basically to get an introduction. She asked me my ultimate goal - lose weight, eat healthier. She then asked me about my eating habits, likes, dislikes, medical history, etc. We of course talked money (this is not cheap!) and then set up another appointment where she would evaluate my food diary and we would discuss menus and foods I should lean towards and foods I should avoid.

The second appointment was yesterday. And everything went pretty much as planned. My daily caloric goal is 1800 cal with 20-30% protein, 50-60% carbs and 20% fat. Nothing too shocking there. The shocking part came when she gave me a list of foods okay to eat, foods to eat in moderation (every other day), and foods to avoid. Well, on that avoid list are bananas, mangos, papaya, beans (black, kidney, pinto), popcorn, carrots and soy/tofu. Holy crap!! Those are some of my favorite things!! I guess I have to look at it like these things are now going to be my treats and not my normal everyday foods. The soy products are going to be difficult because a lot of vegetarian foods are made with this. I am not vegetarian, but I have tendencies towards it. All will be good!! I will survive!!

My next appointment is in three weeks and during that time I have to start incorporating these changes and keep-up with the food diary. I also have to start clearing out my fridge, freezer and cupboards of all of my forbidden fruits ... and tofu and beans and ...!

Not very pleased with Methodist right now

Okay - my PT appointment was for 7:00 a.m. this morning. I arrive, sign-in, etc. The lady behind the desk tells me I need a new prescription from my doctor because it has been over a month since it was written. Really? News to me! But she says she will send it off to the doctor's office to get a new one. Can't get one now because they do not open until 8:00.

She then gives me my chart and says to go right in. What? Before the therapist came out and got me. I express my confusion and she takes me in to see Paul. Another what? Last I knew I was supposed to see Christie. The receptionist informs me that she is on maternity leave. Thanks for letting me know about the change in plans.

I am introduced to Paul who says we will have to re-evaluate me because it has been a month since my last visit. No problem, I figured as much. He then informs me that is all he can do because due to licensing issues he is not allowed to perform any therapy on me since I do not have a current prescription. Well, why didn't they tell me that at the desk? And why didn't they tell me when I first gave them the prescription about 5-1/2 weeks ago (it took a week and a half for me to get an appointment because they do not have enough PT's due to vacation and people moving)?

I asked Paul, what was the point? Why am I paying a co-pay for nothing? I will just set up an appointment with the doc again for another cortisone shot and then start the process all over again. Maybe this time at a different PT office. We will see.

So I left (after getting my co-pay back) and proceeded to my car. I make it down to the exit gates but can't exit. At first it looks like the girls are switching shifts. Then they start fiddling with the registers in their little booths. Then one of them heads down to the parking office and a few minutes later returns alone and starts fiddling with the computers again.

I am livid.

I get out and ask why they can't just let us out. Why do we have to sit here and wait for them to get their act together.

She responds with - no, you have to pay.

Fine, let me pay and get on my way.

She then tells me the scanner isn't working that you plug your little parking ticket into that reads the time you entered into the garage.

You know what I think - I really do not care. Let me out of this garage and go home. Do not hold me hostage for a measly two bucks. And if you had any sense you would figure out the total time I was in the garage by hand. It doesn't take much. When you entered the garage is actually stamped on the parking ticket also!

Frickin' imbeciles.

And all of this was before 7:40 this morning. Great start to a Monday!

1 Goal Met

As of today I have lost 10 pounds!

See that little ticker at the top of the page, I will update it every week or so with any poundage lost. And every time I reach a goal, I will make a new goal until I reach my ultimate goal. Not sure what that is yet, but it will take a while to get there!

I started the Getting Healthy D-Plan on 6/9/08 and since that time I have not had any sweets (except sugared gum). That means no cookies, candy, chocolate, ice cream, cake, sweet tea, fudge, honey or sugar on my oatmeal, etc. And over the past several weeks those items have been made available to me if I wanted. What I am completely amazed about - I have had no major cravings for them.

For the past two weeks I have been in Grand Prairie for work and was even able to lose a couple pounds while having to eat out for almost every single meal. I chose some of the healthiest items available to me and made sure the snacks I ate were not full of fat and sugar. I took my Vita-Mix with me and my breakfasts consisted of whole fruit smoothies.

Tomorrow I go see a nutritionist - Catherine Kruppa (thanks Vic). I gave her a brief medical history of myself over the phone and she says she can help me. I hope that is the case!

Yesterday, I did the Lunar Rendezvous down at NASA. A couple friends of mine are "newbies" to the running thing and this was their first event. They were acting all nervous and excited and took some before and after photos of themselves! I had to laugh, but I know where they are coming from! They signed up for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and have been getting in walking/running shape for the past couple months. They have been doing great and will get better as the time goes on.

As for the run - I didn't do horrible, but I aim to do better in the future. I really liked the shirt they gave us - it was dri-fit and not full of sponsorship ads all over it. The run went around the grounds of NASA. It wasn't the most exciting run, but I did see a couple rockets! The event was chip timed, but I wish they had given a chip time along with the gun time on the results page. My Garmin said I did the event in 38:26 but my official time is 39:04.1. Either way it is not a PR. Maybe by the time the Race for the Cure comes around on October 4!