I'm Still Here and Working Hard
This entry was posted on 6/20/2007 7:11 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
Well, it has now been 197 days since I began on this journey to loose weight and regain my health. I have lost a total of 56 pounds and am now in my size 18W everyday with room to spare. I will be going down to the Wal-Mart to buy my size 16W, but there is a big difference between to two sizes, so it will be a while before I can get into them and be comfortable. A few more months, and I will be in "normal" peoples clothes again.
And, with that in mind (being "normal" size, I mean) I have armed myself with some new tools to make sure that I meet my goal of 100 pounds lost by Christmas 2007. My ultimate goal is to get down to 160 to 165 pounds. Having started at 293 pounds and now weighing in at 237, I can tell you that I can no longer recognize the woman that stares back at me in the mirror. The transformation has taken place faster than my brain can catch up with the new look.
The first tool I armed myself with is the BodyBugg. This is probably the most revolutionary tool for weight loss I have ever found. If there is any doubt left in your mind whether you are exercising enough or reducing your caloric intake enough, this tool tells you for sure!! Today was my first day using the BodyBugg, so for those of you that are not aware of this product, let me tell you what it does.
The BodyBugg is an armband full of sensors that are placed against the skin. After putting the unit on (and installing/downloading the proper software provided by the company), it keeps track of the number of calories you are burning. Whether you are sitting in your sleeper watching television, throwing tarps, lumping your own load, driving, or chaining down....you will get a very clear idea of what your calorie expenditure has been for the entire day, part of the day, hour, or as often as you want to download the data from the armband to your computer via a USB cable.
The software program they provide allows you the option of entering the food and portion sizes you have eaten to give you a total calorie count for the day. It also calculates fat, proteins, carbs, cholesterol, sodium, and a myriad of other nutritional facts. So, if you are a driver who has high blood pressure and needs to keep track of your sodium intake, this will do it for you. If you are a driver that needs to keep your cholesterol in check, this tool will help you, too!
There are also tutorials which assist even the most uniformed novice with the information you need to be successful with your health goals. Various screens allow you to goal set and data is displayed in charts so that you can visually see how close and how often you are reaching your goals. This is something I use, as I am an over-achiever and WON"T let myself fall short of my goals.
But, in a nutshell, the BodyBugg tracks your calorie expenditure (what you burn metabolically and through body movement) and tallies it up for the entire day. Then, by entering your food and portion sizes, calories are calculated and added up for each of your meals and snacks for the entire day. At the end of the day, you are given a number that represents either a calorie deficit (weight loss) or a calorie surplus (weight gain). This deficit or surplus can be checked any time of the day and as many times as you could possibly wish to do it.
For example, I started my BodyBugg for the first time in the middle of the day, so I was interested to know how many calories I was using versus how many calories I planned to eat for my last meal of the day. Knowing that my personal goal was a weight loss of 3 pounds per week (2.5 pounds is the max recommended weight loss for one week), the program calculated that I needed to burn 2900 calories per day, eat 1400 calories per day, and have a deficit of 1500 calories per day. So, I started my BodyBugg and just sat and watched television for one hour and found that I was burning 1.4 calories per minute just sitting around and breathing. Then, I worked out for 61 minutes and was able to see that my calorie expenditure spiked. What was REALLY neat, was to see how long my metabolism stayed actively burning at a higher rate after my exercise.
After eating dinner, I downloaded again to see how my progress was doing. Based on the numbers, I decided to do a 10 minute power burst of exercise, taking my heart rate up to 80% of max. This helped me burn a few extra calories to cover some of what I ate for dinner. Had I not had the BodyBugg, I would never have known where I was regarding calorie expenditure and probably would not have done my little exercise burst after dinner. It was the "knowing" of where I stood calorie-wise that motivated me to get up and move. Remember, loosing weight is all mathematical. Calories in, calories out....and that's a fact!! BodyBugg gives you the facts!!
Having to hook the unit up to download the "calorie expenditure" data is a bit cumbersome, but don't sigh too loud. The manufacturers of the BodyBugg have informed me that they are unveiling a model that has a display right on the armband and all you will have to do to find out the number of calories you have burned....is look down at your armband. WOW!! A minute by minute, constant reminder to cut those calories and move that body. Getting excited yet? For those of you that have e-mailed and plan on meeting me at the Truck Show in Dallas, I will try to have one of these new display models for you to see. So, armed with this new and valuable tool, you will all have to look harder to find me......'CAUSE I'M GOING TO BE SKINNY !
You can find out more about the BodyBugg...or get one for yourself by contacting Apex Fitness Group at 800-656-2739 or going to www.bodybugg.com or www.apexfitness.com . Make sure to tell them that you are a truck driver and that Nancy sent you!!
The second tool I have armed myself with is a fancy new LifeFitness 93xi Fit Stride Total Body Trainer Elliptical machine. As I spoke of before, this machine was the only machine that I was able to exercise on with the medical problems that presented with me knee. Walking became almost impossible for me and the ONLY exercise I was getting was on a LifeFitness Elliptical machine when I could find one at a health club wherever I was. Luckily, I found them just about everywhere and was able to continue working out at least a couple days per week.
I was so enamored by these machines and the amount of calories I could burn in one hour (versus an hour of walking), I simply decided I HAD TO HAVE ONE. The calories I can burn on the elliptical machine, at high impact, for 30 minutes, is the same amount it would take if I walked at a pace of 130 steps per minute for nearly one and a half hours. Plus, the machine works out more than just my legs as my arms are also put to work. Heart rate can be continuously monitored and intensity levels can be increased or decreased at any time during your workout without having to stop. Pause mode lets you take that call from dispatch or the broker and resume your workout after a brief pause.
Most importantly, I can watch the display tally up the number of calories I am burning as I work out. What more motivation can you get? When I want that 1/2 cup of ice cream, I look at the nutritional label, find the calorie content and then hop on the machine BEFORE I eat the food. That way, I enjoy my treat knowing that I have burned it off even before I ate it. Again, I say, calories in, calories out. That's what it is all about!
But seriously, what I like most about the machine is that it is easy, I don't really feel like I am working very hard to burn between 600 to 700 calories per session. It is so low-impact that I enjoy exercising on the machine several times per day. Sometimes, I just sit in the living room in the evening and wait for the commercials to come on. As soon as I see a commercial, I climb on and go until my show comes back on.
LifeFitness makes a full line of exercise equipment, so there is something for everyone. But, I recommend the LifeFitness 93x as the best machine for truck drivers based on it's ability to be gentle on the knees....and if you have driven for more than 10 years, you all know why this is important. UltraShifts haven't been around that long!
If you need more information about the LifeFitness elliptical machine or other machines that might be available or appropriate for your truck or your home (yes, I said YOUR TRUCK, as I have seen quite a few drivers who have removed passenger seats and installed equipment in their trucks), you can contact LifeFitness at www.lifefitness.com and tell them Nancy sent you!!
Finally, the last of my new tools is a DonJoy knee brace....which I got today. So, as you are all already thinking, I no longer have an excuse for not exercising while on the road. I am hoping to have my surgery to repair my knee just before Christmas, but in the meantime, the knee brace should protect my knee from further damage while I continue on with my exercise program. Thanks to Dr. McGilligott at the PDMD clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, I was able to get a prescription for my brace sent to a local vendor and pick it up while we were down for a little rest. It is such a treat to have a physician care so much about his patients and understand the life and intricacies of the trucker lifestyle. Doc is my angel and he takes very good care of me.....no matter where I am at.
Finally, the last of my news....and the real reason I haven't blogged for so long is that while I have lost 56 pounds, I have also gained 58 pounds. Confused?!? Well, let me explain. We will have a six year old friend with us for the summer and part of the winter months. Robert, our newest addition, is learning how to be a trucker dude and is going to keep us company for a little while. Actually, we found out he is really good at rolling straps, climbing up and down off the trailer, and fetching chains and binders. Of course, he tells us that all that work requires a large allowance, though. Boy, they really are learning about money young these days. So, now that I have a walking partner, you can all look for the two of us at the truck stops and come join us for a little exercise.
New Personal Goal: 75 pounds lost by August 25...the truck show date.
And, with that in mind (being "normal" size, I mean) I have armed myself with some new tools to make sure that I meet my goal of 100 pounds lost by Christmas 2007. My ultimate goal is to get down to 160 to 165 pounds. Having started at 293 pounds and now weighing in at 237, I can tell you that I can no longer recognize the woman that stares back at me in the mirror. The transformation has taken place faster than my brain can catch up with the new look.
The first tool I armed myself with is the BodyBugg. This is probably the most revolutionary tool for weight loss I have ever found. If there is any doubt left in your mind whether you are exercising enough or reducing your caloric intake enough, this tool tells you for sure!! Today was my first day using the BodyBugg, so for those of you that are not aware of this product, let me tell you what it does.
The BodyBugg is an armband full of sensors that are placed against the skin. After putting the unit on (and installing/downloading the proper software provided by the company), it keeps track of the number of calories you are burning. Whether you are sitting in your sleeper watching television, throwing tarps, lumping your own load, driving, or chaining down....you will get a very clear idea of what your calorie expenditure has been for the entire day, part of the day, hour, or as often as you want to download the data from the armband to your computer via a USB cable.
The software program they provide allows you the option of entering the food and portion sizes you have eaten to give you a total calorie count for the day. It also calculates fat, proteins, carbs, cholesterol, sodium, and a myriad of other nutritional facts. So, if you are a driver who has high blood pressure and needs to keep track of your sodium intake, this will do it for you. If you are a driver that needs to keep your cholesterol in check, this tool will help you, too!
There are also tutorials which assist even the most uniformed novice with the information you need to be successful with your health goals. Various screens allow you to goal set and data is displayed in charts so that you can visually see how close and how often you are reaching your goals. This is something I use, as I am an over-achiever and WON"T let myself fall short of my goals.
But, in a nutshell, the BodyBugg tracks your calorie expenditure (what you burn metabolically and through body movement) and tallies it up for the entire day. Then, by entering your food and portion sizes, calories are calculated and added up for each of your meals and snacks for the entire day. At the end of the day, you are given a number that represents either a calorie deficit (weight loss) or a calorie surplus (weight gain). This deficit or surplus can be checked any time of the day and as many times as you could possibly wish to do it.
For example, I started my BodyBugg for the first time in the middle of the day, so I was interested to know how many calories I was using versus how many calories I planned to eat for my last meal of the day. Knowing that my personal goal was a weight loss of 3 pounds per week (2.5 pounds is the max recommended weight loss for one week), the program calculated that I needed to burn 2900 calories per day, eat 1400 calories per day, and have a deficit of 1500 calories per day. So, I started my BodyBugg and just sat and watched television for one hour and found that I was burning 1.4 calories per minute just sitting around and breathing. Then, I worked out for 61 minutes and was able to see that my calorie expenditure spiked. What was REALLY neat, was to see how long my metabolism stayed actively burning at a higher rate after my exercise.
After eating dinner, I downloaded again to see how my progress was doing. Based on the numbers, I decided to do a 10 minute power burst of exercise, taking my heart rate up to 80% of max. This helped me burn a few extra calories to cover some of what I ate for dinner. Had I not had the BodyBugg, I would never have known where I was regarding calorie expenditure and probably would not have done my little exercise burst after dinner. It was the "knowing" of where I stood calorie-wise that motivated me to get up and move. Remember, loosing weight is all mathematical. Calories in, calories out....and that's a fact!! BodyBugg gives you the facts!!
Having to hook the unit up to download the "calorie expenditure" data is a bit cumbersome, but don't sigh too loud. The manufacturers of the BodyBugg have informed me that they are unveiling a model that has a display right on the armband and all you will have to do to find out the number of calories you have burned....is look down at your armband. WOW!! A minute by minute, constant reminder to cut those calories and move that body. Getting excited yet? For those of you that have e-mailed and plan on meeting me at the Truck Show in Dallas, I will try to have one of these new display models for you to see. So, armed with this new and valuable tool, you will all have to look harder to find me......'CAUSE I'M GOING TO BE SKINNY !
You can find out more about the BodyBugg...or get one for yourself by contacting Apex Fitness Group at 800-656-2739 or going to www.bodybugg.com or www.apexfitness.com . Make sure to tell them that you are a truck driver and that Nancy sent you!!
The second tool I have armed myself with is a fancy new LifeFitness 93xi Fit Stride Total Body Trainer Elliptical machine. As I spoke of before, this machine was the only machine that I was able to exercise on with the medical problems that presented with me knee. Walking became almost impossible for me and the ONLY exercise I was getting was on a LifeFitness Elliptical machine when I could find one at a health club wherever I was. Luckily, I found them just about everywhere and was able to continue working out at least a couple days per week.
I was so enamored by these machines and the amount of calories I could burn in one hour (versus an hour of walking), I simply decided I HAD TO HAVE ONE. The calories I can burn on the elliptical machine, at high impact, for 30 minutes, is the same amount it would take if I walked at a pace of 130 steps per minute for nearly one and a half hours. Plus, the machine works out more than just my legs as my arms are also put to work. Heart rate can be continuously monitored and intensity levels can be increased or decreased at any time during your workout without having to stop. Pause mode lets you take that call from dispatch or the broker and resume your workout after a brief pause.
Most importantly, I can watch the display tally up the number of calories I am burning as I work out. What more motivation can you get? When I want that 1/2 cup of ice cream, I look at the nutritional label, find the calorie content and then hop on the machine BEFORE I eat the food. That way, I enjoy my treat knowing that I have burned it off even before I ate it. Again, I say, calories in, calories out. That's what it is all about!
But seriously, what I like most about the machine is that it is easy, I don't really feel like I am working very hard to burn between 600 to 700 calories per session. It is so low-impact that I enjoy exercising on the machine several times per day. Sometimes, I just sit in the living room in the evening and wait for the commercials to come on. As soon as I see a commercial, I climb on and go until my show comes back on.
LifeFitness makes a full line of exercise equipment, so there is something for everyone. But, I recommend the LifeFitness 93x as the best machine for truck drivers based on it's ability to be gentle on the knees....and if you have driven for more than 10 years, you all know why this is important. UltraShifts haven't been around that long!
If you need more information about the LifeFitness elliptical machine or other machines that might be available or appropriate for your truck or your home (yes, I said YOUR TRUCK, as I have seen quite a few drivers who have removed passenger seats and installed equipment in their trucks), you can contact LifeFitness at www.lifefitness.com and tell them Nancy sent you!!
Finally, the last of my new tools is a DonJoy knee brace....which I got today. So, as you are all already thinking, I no longer have an excuse for not exercising while on the road. I am hoping to have my surgery to repair my knee just before Christmas, but in the meantime, the knee brace should protect my knee from further damage while I continue on with my exercise program. Thanks to Dr. McGilligott at the PDMD clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, I was able to get a prescription for my brace sent to a local vendor and pick it up while we were down for a little rest. It is such a treat to have a physician care so much about his patients and understand the life and intricacies of the trucker lifestyle. Doc is my angel and he takes very good care of me.....no matter where I am at.
Finally, the last of my news....and the real reason I haven't blogged for so long is that while I have lost 56 pounds, I have also gained 58 pounds. Confused?!? Well, let me explain. We will have a six year old friend with us for the summer and part of the winter months. Robert, our newest addition, is learning how to be a trucker dude and is going to keep us company for a little while. Actually, we found out he is really good at rolling straps, climbing up and down off the trailer, and fetching chains and binders. Of course, he tells us that all that work requires a large allowance, though. Boy, they really are learning about money young these days. So, now that I have a walking partner, you can all look for the two of us at the truck stops and come join us for a little exercise.
New Personal Goal: 75 pounds lost by August 25...the truck show date.