Here's to a better year that last year!
2011 Resolutions:
1. To lose at least ten pounds.
2. To start my own business OR find gainful employment (I would prefer the latter).
3. To update my blog at least once a week.
My resolutions are rather modest this year, as I am realizing that I am NOT Superwoman. I am actually quite discouraged when I think about it too much. Fortunately, I am a fighter, not a quitter!
2010 was a year of disappointments, if I may be brutally honest. I am still "underemployed," changes are afoot where I AM employed, and my fitness dreams became a crash and burn when I seriously injured both my shoulder and knee in separate incidents. I am still single, still suffering from gastroparesis, and still looking for a new career. SO what's in 2011 for me?
1. To lose at least ten pounds. This is a much more modest goal than I expected to make. My good doctor at Stanford has told me that people with my medical condition either a) waste away to skeletal proportions or b) blow up like a fat slug (of course, she was much more tactful than that!). I appear to be in the"b" category. My metabolism "looks" normal in my blood work, but the doctor says my metabolism can still be in "starvation mode" without showing up in standard tests. I need to keep eating regularly and make my workouts even more moderate.
The truth is, I have been overweight since I turned 19, even though my food intake and exercise were similar to what they are now...with more fresh fruits and veggies of course! I was actually underweight through my childhood and teens, and got horribly teased about anorexia (I refused to eat the greasy cafeteria food, and instead brought my own healthy lunch to school). This appears to be a family tendency. I once met an actual eugenics professor in Korea, who told me, "The Scandinavian curse is real, young lady. You all look like supermodels in your teens, then PPPTTTHHHH [he puffed out his cheeks and gestured a rapidly expanding waistline] in your twenties."
2. To start my own business OR find gainful employment. There is no work in Silicon Valley for teachers right now; they are getting laid off left and right. Adult ESL AND public school ELD programs are being cut from local school districts... in one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the United States. I have looked into other endeavors of employment, but my skills are very strongly canted towards education and international relations.
I am instead considering starting a non-profit vocational English center in the South Bay to deal with the loss of all of the ESL programs, especially for adults. Of course, I have no income to speak of, no capital, and no connections as of now, but these are areas I could at least begin to work on. I will also take a class on grant-writing.
3. To update my blog at least once a week.
I certainly got off track in this area - got caught up in several life mini-dramas (and they WERE dramas!) and therefore, got momentarily sidetracked. I will sincerely make an effort to continue writing regularly.
Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Thursday, October 28, 2010
BODY WARS: The Disappointment
I get to start from scratch again.
I was doing very well on my exercise program, but then a "series of unfortunate events" scuttled my fitness efforts for awhile.
EVENT 1: I hurt a very important target muscle - my trapezius muscle on the right side, to be exact. I was doing a simple rowing exercise, and suddenly lost my grip on one side. The other side of the weight machine jerked forward, taking my surprised arm with it. The pain did not set in until the next day. I ended up taking seven days to recover. Man, that thing hurts when it "goes out!"
EVENT 2: I went back to my regular work-out routine the following Wednesday. As I trudged away on the treadmill of doom, I began to suddenly feel lightheaded. Instead of stopping, however, like a normal person would, I kept going. Then I began to black out. I caught myself just in time as my knees buckled. I dragged myself to the locker room and sat with my head between my knees. One of the side effects of my medication is a general inability to sweat properly, so I attributed the incident to overheating (we were still having a late season heatwave, with temps around 95). I decided to start fresh on the following Monday.
EVENT 3: Wouldn't you know it, I had a serious gastroparesis flare-up over the weekend. Although these incidents are becoming more rare, they are still horrible to go through. I basically had to go on a liquid diet for five days, causing general weakness, malnutrition, and the peculiar desire to curl up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor for a few days. Whatever triggered this, I have no idea.
Exercise (heck, even breathing) in this condition is pretty much near impossible. Think of a closed soda bottle as being your stomach. Now, start shaking up that soda bottle, but leave the cap on. That is gastroparesis. The stomach does its thing, churning and breaking down food, but it does it too slowly. Food is going to go UP if it can't go down...
In my case, the gastroparesis tests showed I am doing my digesting job at a fairly normal speed, but then the food gets "stuck" near the exit point of my stomach. Basically, the system of valves is not working properly. It does not appear to be a mechanical problem, but more an electrical/nerve problem; I am being treated for the nerve problem with a very low dose of the antidepressant Nortryptiline.
I went back to my routine workout, but began "seeing stars" again. I tried to restart my cardio during the next two weeks. I varied my speed and incline, but I had pretty much the same results. And I had yet another flare up last week. This time, I have taken the entire week off; hopefully, a complete body rest will work things out.
The bloating that accompanies gastroparesis is back - this is great fun when clothes shopping, as I can range anything from a size 12 to a size 16, depending on how bloated I am on that day. I hope to start fresh next week again, but it all depends on how well my stomach does this weekend.
My diet is back to heavy carbs until my flare ups cease-and-desist. Carbs, whether we like them or not, are the baseline on which we depend for energy to survive. Still, I would rather not see anymore pasta bowls, oatmeal, soup, or egg-and-toast meals for a very long time!
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE: I have not regained any of the lost weight!:)
I was doing very well on my exercise program, but then a "series of unfortunate events" scuttled my fitness efforts for awhile.
EVENT 1: I hurt a very important target muscle - my trapezius muscle on the right side, to be exact. I was doing a simple rowing exercise, and suddenly lost my grip on one side. The other side of the weight machine jerked forward, taking my surprised arm with it. The pain did not set in until the next day. I ended up taking seven days to recover. Man, that thing hurts when it "goes out!"
EVENT 2: I went back to my regular work-out routine the following Wednesday. As I trudged away on the treadmill of doom, I began to suddenly feel lightheaded. Instead of stopping, however, like a normal person would, I kept going. Then I began to black out. I caught myself just in time as my knees buckled. I dragged myself to the locker room and sat with my head between my knees. One of the side effects of my medication is a general inability to sweat properly, so I attributed the incident to overheating (we were still having a late season heatwave, with temps around 95). I decided to start fresh on the following Monday.
EVENT 3: Wouldn't you know it, I had a serious gastroparesis flare-up over the weekend. Although these incidents are becoming more rare, they are still horrible to go through. I basically had to go on a liquid diet for five days, causing general weakness, malnutrition, and the peculiar desire to curl up in the fetal position on the bathroom floor for a few days. Whatever triggered this, I have no idea.
Exercise (heck, even breathing) in this condition is pretty much near impossible. Think of a closed soda bottle as being your stomach. Now, start shaking up that soda bottle, but leave the cap on. That is gastroparesis. The stomach does its thing, churning and breaking down food, but it does it too slowly. Food is going to go UP if it can't go down...
In my case, the gastroparesis tests showed I am doing my digesting job at a fairly normal speed, but then the food gets "stuck" near the exit point of my stomach. Basically, the system of valves is not working properly. It does not appear to be a mechanical problem, but more an electrical/nerve problem; I am being treated for the nerve problem with a very low dose of the antidepressant Nortryptiline.
I went back to my routine workout, but began "seeing stars" again. I tried to restart my cardio during the next two weeks. I varied my speed and incline, but I had pretty much the same results. And I had yet another flare up last week. This time, I have taken the entire week off; hopefully, a complete body rest will work things out.
The bloating that accompanies gastroparesis is back - this is great fun when clothes shopping, as I can range anything from a size 12 to a size 16, depending on how bloated I am on that day. I hope to start fresh next week again, but it all depends on how well my stomach does this weekend.
My diet is back to heavy carbs until my flare ups cease-and-desist. Carbs, whether we like them or not, are the baseline on which we depend for energy to survive. Still, I would rather not see anymore pasta bowls, oatmeal, soup, or egg-and-toast meals for a very long time!
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE: I have not regained any of the lost weight!:)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
BODY WARS: Progress Report from Weeks 2-3
Well, I gained one pound back. Sigh.
This is probably due to me trying to figure out how to eat out and still follow the gastroparesis guidelines without busting a gut with too many carbs. My work schedule forces me to eat out at least twice a week - no easy feat for someone with a very restricted diet to begin with. According to most nutritionists, a good diet should fall within these parameters:
Carbohydrates: 45%-65% of your diet
Fat 20%-35% of your diet
Protein 10% to 35% of your diet
My carbohydrates tend to range from 50%-65% by default. I have managed to lower my carbs closer to 50%, but my fat intake has gone up to the 30% range. Oddly enough, the extra fat hasn't hurt my stomach "as much as it is supposed to," but it definitely isn't helping my diet. In order to get the extra protein the doctor says I need, I have to eat more meat, and even lean meat has fat in it. Ditto for soy products. Don't get me started on the dairy problem; let's just say I have always been a bit lactose-intolerant. I don't think I am going to win this one. I did not tolerate meat products very well to begin with - no juicy steaks for me!
I have started weight training again; this has had both positive and negative results. The positive is that, as far as weight and reps are concerned, I have been able to pick up where I left off FIVE YEARS AGO in the computer system at the YMCA. Yea! The bad news is I have had to reduce my days at the gym from 4 days to 3 days a week. My body aches constantly, and my bum knee is getting too "chatty" with my other knee - now both of them hurt! I tried reducing my weight levels, but then I did no real work because the weights were too light for me.
The Fitlinxx computer system hooked up to the weight machines has bells and whistles to nag you about form, speed, and full reps, which can be both annoying and helpful at the same time (it is controlled by sensors embedded in the weight equipment). I really hate the noise that goes with "You have reached the top of your range!!!!!" Doo-be-doo-DA--da DA! I keep expecting the baseball organ music to chime in....So I block the noise with my earphones.
Yes, I go to the Y. I used to go to a regular gym and work with a trainer out in Milpitas, but my scheduled tutoring appointments are located across Silicon Valley in Cupertino. The 24 Hour Fitness nearest to me (the only gym near my house, in fact) is full of very scary lurkers and weirdos. I prefer to go to the Y, where even the old ladies are comfortable; I time my workouts to coincide with their mass geriatric appearances in the late morning so I don't feel like such a blubber butt. I also try to finish my workouts before the beefy "cut" San Jose Firefighters arrive wearing their adorable dark blue muscle Ts with the names of their units emblazoned across their backs; I also avoid the skinny-Asian-girl wave that seems to accompany the firefighters' arrival (hmmmm....coincidence?). I know I can't compete.
This is probably due to me trying to figure out how to eat out and still follow the gastroparesis guidelines without busting a gut with too many carbs. My work schedule forces me to eat out at least twice a week - no easy feat for someone with a very restricted diet to begin with. According to most nutritionists, a good diet should fall within these parameters:
Carbohydrates: 45%-65% of your diet
Fat 20%-35% of your diet
Protein 10% to 35% of your diet
My carbohydrates tend to range from 50%-65% by default. I have managed to lower my carbs closer to 50%, but my fat intake has gone up to the 30% range. Oddly enough, the extra fat hasn't hurt my stomach "as much as it is supposed to," but it definitely isn't helping my diet. In order to get the extra protein the doctor says I need, I have to eat more meat, and even lean meat has fat in it. Ditto for soy products. Don't get me started on the dairy problem; let's just say I have always been a bit lactose-intolerant. I don't think I am going to win this one. I did not tolerate meat products very well to begin with - no juicy steaks for me!
I have started weight training again; this has had both positive and negative results. The positive is that, as far as weight and reps are concerned, I have been able to pick up where I left off FIVE YEARS AGO in the computer system at the YMCA. Yea! The bad news is I have had to reduce my days at the gym from 4 days to 3 days a week. My body aches constantly, and my bum knee is getting too "chatty" with my other knee - now both of them hurt! I tried reducing my weight levels, but then I did no real work because the weights were too light for me.
The Fitlinxx computer system hooked up to the weight machines has bells and whistles to nag you about form, speed, and full reps, which can be both annoying and helpful at the same time (it is controlled by sensors embedded in the weight equipment). I really hate the noise that goes with "You have reached the top of your range!!!!!" Doo-be-doo-DA--da DA! I keep expecting the baseball organ music to chime in....So I block the noise with my earphones.
Yes, I go to the Y. I used to go to a regular gym and work with a trainer out in Milpitas, but my scheduled tutoring appointments are located across Silicon Valley in Cupertino. The 24 Hour Fitness nearest to me (the only gym near my house, in fact) is full of very scary lurkers and weirdos. I prefer to go to the Y, where even the old ladies are comfortable; I time my workouts to coincide with their mass geriatric appearances in the late morning so I don't feel like such a blubber butt. I also try to finish my workouts before the beefy "cut" San Jose Firefighters arrive wearing their adorable dark blue muscle Ts with the names of their units emblazoned across their backs; I also avoid the skinny-Asian-girl wave that seems to accompany the firefighters' arrival (hmmmm....coincidence?). I know I can't compete.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
BODY WARS: Progress Report from Week 1
I have just completed my first week of diet and exercise training. I learned a few things in the process, which I would like to share with my minuscule, but faithful audience:
1. The gastroparesis dietary restrictions are HELL when you are trying to lose weight.
After consulting my doctor, I have gradually been increasing protein and limiting carbs to 50-60% of my diet. I am experimenting with tofu and soy milk to increase my protein intake, as meat products can sometimes cause great discomfort for me. Even before gastroparesis, I was not a big meat eater, so this is no real stretch. I will also be eating at least one "peanut butter popsicle" (peanut butter on a spoon - one of my mother's greatest "jokes" to get us kids to eat healthy) a day to avoid the carb trap associated with bread products. I am still trying to make 1400-1600 calories a day, which can be a bit challenging at times.
2. The running program I have set for myself seems to be doing OK. I did notice that I tend to run on the sides of my feet; it is quite involuntary, and I can't seem to correct it. My right knee joint has also been complaining a bit much, so I may have to go back to wearing a brace.
3. I have lost TWO pounds this week...I think. Our bathroom scale is a bit temperamental, so it could be as little as ONE pound.
Happy eating!
1. The gastroparesis dietary restrictions are HELL when you are trying to lose weight.
After consulting my doctor, I have gradually been increasing protein and limiting carbs to 50-60% of my diet. I am experimenting with tofu and soy milk to increase my protein intake, as meat products can sometimes cause great discomfort for me. Even before gastroparesis, I was not a big meat eater, so this is no real stretch. I will also be eating at least one "peanut butter popsicle" (peanut butter on a spoon - one of my mother's greatest "jokes" to get us kids to eat healthy) a day to avoid the carb trap associated with bread products. I am still trying to make 1400-1600 calories a day, which can be a bit challenging at times.
2. The running program I have set for myself seems to be doing OK. I did notice that I tend to run on the sides of my feet; it is quite involuntary, and I can't seem to correct it. My right knee joint has also been complaining a bit much, so I may have to go back to wearing a brace.
3. I have lost TWO pounds this week...I think. Our bathroom scale is a bit temperamental, so it could be as little as ONE pound.
Happy eating!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
BODY WARS: A Big Mystery?
I saw my GI Specialist at Stanford today, and we discussed diet. The reason I am gaining weight seems to be a more complex issue than I thought.
Problem 1: Too many carbs. The problem with the gastroparesis restricted diet is it tends to be high in carbs. Those of us who suffer from this disorder cannot process fiber or fat very well (if at all, in some cases). This excludes pretty much every vegetable unless it is pureed or cooked to death (baby food, anyone?). I can tolerate some raw fruits (watermelon, berries, grapes in moderation), but so far, most raw vegetables reduce me to a vomitous puddle on the floor...except I absolutely refuse to vomit. The problem with cooked vegetables is...I hate 'em!
Solution: Replace carbs with protein. I will be adding more protein through using tofu and Boca Burgers, which are generally well-tolerated by functional (meaning, fairly well-controlled) gastroparesis patients. I just switched to soy milk yesterday, but it still sometimes upsets my stomach.
The doctor also suggested Jenny Craig meals, with modifications.
Problem 2: Nortriptyline. This is the name of the medication which is helping me face eating every day; it was part of a medical trial (the NORIG study), and it happened to help me a great deal. The medication belongs to the second-generation antidepressant class, but the very low dose I am taking does not register as helpful for depression; instead, it works on the nervous system that controls digestion (which, oddly enough, works with the same chemistry as the brain). Unfortunately, one of the big side effects is WEIGHT GAIN. Bingo!
Solution: None, really. If my weight continues to mysteriously skyrocket, I will have to go on another medication...and the other medications tend to have even weirder side effects and are not always effective.
Problem 3: My cardio workout is practically useless for weight loss. I knew this going in, so I am more interested in increasing my stamina in order to run a 5k. I feel so bad, however, for those heavy middle age ladies who come to the gym, run like mad, and then go home expecting to have lost weight. It doesn't work that way, but I think this is a more "recent" finding (although I have known this for years through experience).
Side Note: I personally think stationary bikes are completely useless in particular; you seem to expend a lot of energy on a monotonous task and then have nothing to show for it. This is why I prefer treadmills and elliptical machines - at least you feel like you are getting somewhere. I also love playing with the settings and speed. I have discovered that the speed marked as JOG, for example, is actually RUN for me because I have such short little Dachshund legs! The speed marked as WALK is way too slow for me. In fact, no one I know walks that slowly.
Solution: Weight training. The good doctor suggested I try weight training again. This is just what I wanted to hear. I love weight training and I sorely missed it. Because of my extremely poor coordination, I have to stick to weight machines - you don't want to see what happens with me and free weights! I will also likely take some kind of group exercise class just for fun.
I will post my results of Week 1 by next Monday.
Problem 1: Too many carbs. The problem with the gastroparesis restricted diet is it tends to be high in carbs. Those of us who suffer from this disorder cannot process fiber or fat very well (if at all, in some cases). This excludes pretty much every vegetable unless it is pureed or cooked to death (baby food, anyone?). I can tolerate some raw fruits (watermelon, berries, grapes in moderation), but so far, most raw vegetables reduce me to a vomitous puddle on the floor...except I absolutely refuse to vomit. The problem with cooked vegetables is...I hate 'em!
Solution: Replace carbs with protein. I will be adding more protein through using tofu and Boca Burgers, which are generally well-tolerated by functional (meaning, fairly well-controlled) gastroparesis patients. I just switched to soy milk yesterday, but it still sometimes upsets my stomach.
The doctor also suggested Jenny Craig meals, with modifications.
Problem 2: Nortriptyline. This is the name of the medication which is helping me face eating every day; it was part of a medical trial (the NORIG study), and it happened to help me a great deal. The medication belongs to the second-generation antidepressant class, but the very low dose I am taking does not register as helpful for depression; instead, it works on the nervous system that controls digestion (which, oddly enough, works with the same chemistry as the brain). Unfortunately, one of the big side effects is WEIGHT GAIN. Bingo!
Solution: None, really. If my weight continues to mysteriously skyrocket, I will have to go on another medication...and the other medications tend to have even weirder side effects and are not always effective.
Problem 3: My cardio workout is practically useless for weight loss. I knew this going in, so I am more interested in increasing my stamina in order to run a 5k. I feel so bad, however, for those heavy middle age ladies who come to the gym, run like mad, and then go home expecting to have lost weight. It doesn't work that way, but I think this is a more "recent" finding (although I have known this for years through experience).
Side Note: I personally think stationary bikes are completely useless in particular; you seem to expend a lot of energy on a monotonous task and then have nothing to show for it. This is why I prefer treadmills and elliptical machines - at least you feel like you are getting somewhere. I also love playing with the settings and speed. I have discovered that the speed marked as JOG, for example, is actually RUN for me because I have such short little Dachshund legs! The speed marked as WALK is way too slow for me. In fact, no one I know walks that slowly.
Solution: Weight training. The good doctor suggested I try weight training again. This is just what I wanted to hear. I love weight training and I sorely missed it. Because of my extremely poor coordination, I have to stick to weight machines - you don't want to see what happens with me and free weights! I will also likely take some kind of group exercise class just for fun.
I will post my results of Week 1 by next Monday.
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