Gilly's journey to better health

Another Pound down!

2010-08-20T22:36:00.000-07:00

Well I weighed in this morning and am another pound down, that's 4lbs in 3 weeks which although is slow, I am very happy with!
Down to 190.5lbs

Only another 70lbs to go!

Missed a few days!

2010-08-18T02:58:00.000-07:00

Oops!
I have been so busy that I totally forgot to log on here and update things, well, it still seems to be going ok, i am still taking my meds for the BP and I have not checked it for a few days.
I got a delivery of Oxyrich today, its a bleachy tasing supplement that promises to get more oxygen coursing through your body which of course will do you the world of good! I will report on how good it actually is!

A busy day!

2010-08-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

I have had a great day today, doing traditional archery in the woods, there was a massive turn out of 60 people which as great to see.
I hit most of the targets and even managed a lot of hits in the kill zone, which I was very pleased with!
I have been a bit lax with my eating today as its a bit of a challenge to eat well or healthily when all that is available is sausage,egg and onion sandwiches.
Anyway, I am not beating myself up about it, I had a damn good day and nobody can say otherwise!!
I am back on track in the morning!

Sorry I missed a day!

2010-08-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

Whoops, I missed a day, my excuse was that I could not keep my eyes open and I just crashed out and slept!

This morning I weighed myself and took some measurements, I have lost 2.25lbs and 1 inch off my hips and 1/2 inch off my waist so I am VERY happy with that!

My Mio is really helping me to keep on track, gotta love that!

Yet again!!

2010-08-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

My BP this morning was 127/82 pulse rate 79

Tonight its 135/80 pulse rate 81

Still on meds for it, but I was kinda hoping that it was starting to behave, but it seems to have gone up a bit tonight, ah well, at least it seems to be more controlled now.
I went to the chiro tonight, I have been going around once a month for a while now, I just go for maintainance rather than anything specific, Toni my chiro, does muscle testing so she can tell where I need treatment, she is really good and I always feel good coming out of her office!

I am going to weigh in tomorrow, I know its only been a short while but I would like to see something positive in the figures, maybe its too soon who knows!

I am actually keeping this up!!

2010-08-11T02:23:00.000-07:00

Hi again,

Today, I did not use my timer on my Mio Motiva and just entered the caloried eaten as normal so at least today I know how many I have eaten for sure!

I took my BP this morning and it was 119/67 pulse rate 68

Not bad, I am still on meds for it but its nice to have it under control again.

Tonight its 125/80 pulse rate 87

I plan on doing my weight and measurements again on Friday, maybe, just maybe, I may see a change???

Yet another day!

2010-08-10T01:21:00.000-07:00

Well here I am again!

I checked my resting heart rate as soon as I woke up this morning so I could get my Mio watch running properly and it came out a 60bpm which I thought is not too shabby for someone who is as unfit as I am!
I took my blood pressure again this morning and it was 113/78 with a pulse rate of 74
Tonight it is 135/77 with a pulse rate of 85
to be fair I have eaten only an hour ago so I am probably still digesting that but overall its not too bad, I am taking medication to manage it at the moment but I am hoping that I will be able to stop that once the weight goes down.
I am feeling a bit more positive about my future already, I know its early days but I am really quite motivated by it all at the moment!

The watch has arrived!

2010-08-09T01:47:00.000-07:00

Today I took all my measurements, weight, BP etc so here goes!

I am doing them in inches as for some reason CMs don't really motivate me and I need all the help I can get!

Neck 14.5in
Chest 46 in
Waist 41in
Hip 45in

Weight 13st - 11.5lbs

Body fat 47.81%

Blood pressure
AM 120/78
PM 135/86

So there you go, that is me, lots of work to do!

My Mio Motiva watch has arrived this arvo and I am thrilled with it, I am a bit surprised at how big it is but I don't care, I have entered all my stats into it so it can work out how many calories I have used and I also know how to enter calories I have eaten, I am aiming for a loss of 1lb a week.

Tomorrow I start using it with a vengeance!!

Back again.

2010-08-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am back, yet again, ready to start this damn long journey.

I have finally come to terms with the fact that unless I get a grip on things, lose the weight, get more active etc, that I may not be around for too much longer.
This is my plan:
I have bought a Mio Motiva watch and that should be delivered tomorrow, they are really good helpful watches that keep you honest and can tell you how many calories you have eaten, how many calories you have used etc, I had one before and it was great but the strap broke and I just never got round to getting another one!
Anyway, that is now sorted and I think I will be spending tomorrow evening setting it up with all the info it needs to be accurate!
Next, I will make the effort to at least walk a minimum of 3 times a week for at least half an hour, I have a treadmill set up and ready to go in the back room so I have no excuses for the weather etc.
I am giving up the crazy "just eat this" type diets in favour of just cutting the amount I eat and making better choices where I can.
I plan on adding to this blog daily from now on to keep myself motivated, I will post regular updates on weight, measurements, blood pressure etc.
I will be adding all my measurements etc tomorrow as I will take everything tomorrow morning and will type it in tomorrow night (in between fighting with my new watch!) and then the journey begins for real!!

A positive result!

2009-08-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

I have been taking my BP tablets like a good little girl but have only noticed a small drop so far. Last night in the early evening it was still 157/94. I have been doing lots of reading online and found some articles about Epsom Salts, apparently they are good for bringing blood pressure down, I thought I have nothing to lose so I bought a small 375g box from Coles. I tipped it all in a nice warm bath and clambered in, I stayed there no longer than 15 mins (I got bored) got out and dried off, I then sat down and watched some telly for about half an hour, I though I would check my BP before bed and it was down to 125/86!!!
I did not take my BP tablet last night as I was a bit worried that it would drop it TOO much, when I got home from work tonight I checked it again and it was 143/87, still lower than it has been in ages so maybe I have found something that will help me to keep it under control, I will still take the tablets but I will certaily be telling my useless Doctor about it, I'm sure he will say that it won't work etc but I don't care I am happy with it!

It's not going too well.

2009-07-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

I have been drinking Alkaline water, at least 2lt per day for a good while now but have not noticed anything different, its early days i know but I am impatient!!
I booked in to get a Heart Week check done on Monday which checks your blood pressure and your cholesterol, I was happy with my cholesterol which came in low at 3 but my blood pressure was crazy at 222/118, the monitor actually errored the first time and he took the reading on the 2nd one.
I booked myself into my doctor and bore the brunt of his telling off, he wants me to be on blood pressure tablets for the rest of my life, that is the main reason why I have not been to see him in just over a year. He seems to think that its OK to prescribe something then prescribe something else that will effect the first thing that will result in having to increase the dosage of the first thing that will then effect the 2nd thing.... you get the picture I'm sure. I am looking for a new doctor.
Anyway, he put me on tablets, one a day, and I must go back to see him in 2 weeks, not looking forward to that.
I just checked my BP again at home and its now 152/86 which is a big improvement but still a long way from perfect.
I did speak to the people who got me onto the alkaline water and they think that maybe as I am flushing a lot of rubbish out of my body by drinking highly alkaline water, that this is stressing my body and could possibly be effecting my BP, he advised me to cut back on the alkaline stuff for a while to see if it comes back down.
I am also starting to use Optislim bars for 2 of my meals during the week, I cannot handle the diet shakes as I don't feel like I have actually had anything but the bars are really hefty and do fill me up, plus the fact they take a lot of chewing!!
That will stop me eating too much at work and Hubby is going to help in the kitchen when we get home so we can cook healthier meals together.
The only good thing to come out of this week is the fact I have lost 1lb in weight!!!

Finally an update!

2009-07-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hi,

OK, I have been drinking at least 2 lts of alkaline water since last Tuesday, it tastes no different to normal water so that's a good thing, I am taking a 1lt flask full (level 2) to work with me to drink during the day, this is all I am drinking as I have finally managed to kick the diet Coke habit.
I am also using it to cook with but I am using level 4 for that.
There has been no change in my numbers yet but I'm not expecting an overnight miracle
I have been struggling with a rotten cold and cough which has made me feel awful but I think I am finally getting over it now.
My pH is still not great, its 5.5 in the morning and still the same when I get in from work at 3.30, it will usually get better before bed and for the last 3 evenings it has got to 6.8.
I am hoping that an expert will drop in and be able to tell me why its fluctuating like that.

This is the start!!

2009-07-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

Right this is the start of my journey for real, so its time for some statistics no matter how bad they are!
My height is 5ft 4in
Weight is 177lbs
My blood pressure is 164/97 with a pulse of 86
My hydration level is 50%
Bodyfat 43.2%
which breaks down to:
76.47lbs of fat
100.53lbs of lean body weight
YUK!!!
So, there you go!
I took delivery of my new Alphion water alkaizer today so that is the first step of improving things.
Once I have got my health heading in the right direction I am going to focus on losing bodyfat and will try to get my levels down to a more healthy 20%. I will be using the BFFM program to do that.
I MUST say at this stage that I am in no way involved with the companies that make and market these products, they are just the ones I have chosen to use after a LOT of research!!

Another day!

2009-07-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

Hi,
I'm back again!
Today I am still 5.5pH, I will be really pleased to see this figure change for the better soon.
I am now sitting here with a face masque on as a treat which is very nice, I have still not been drinking enough water and the result of that is that my hydration levels are down as well, I have scales that tell me how much I weigh and what my hydration level is, apparently I should be about 65-70% hydration but at the moment I am barely 50% which would explain the constant "thick head" I have had for a while.
I have reserved my Alkaliser so I can phone through my details when I get paid next week then I will try and get express delivery on it so I can start using it as soon as possible.
I'm afraid this blog will be a bit boring until it arrives though!!

Day 2 already!

2009-06-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I am pleased to welcome my two new followers!

Once again I checked my pH and its sticking at the 5.5 level, I am so acidic I think I could be an alien with battery acid for blood!!
Seriously though, this is not a good state to be in and I have done so much reading about it over the past few months that I am beginning to feel a bit like an expert (I'm not of course) I am eagerly awaiting payday so I can buy the alkaliser, then I will really start logging properly.

I am not sure about putting pictures up as they may be a bit scary initially but maybe when I am looking and feeling better it may be worth it, I will certainly take some photo's anyway but I will just hang onto them.

I would like this blog to be informative and also encouraging to people who would like to improve their health, I will NOT be listing medications as I always try and avoid them if I can, I prefer to let my body sort itself out, if that means using some natural remedies then that's fine but I am not going to fund some already overpaid doctor who just hands out scripts then waits for the cheque from the drug companies!

OK rant over!

Have a great day people!

The first post is always the hardest!

2009-06-28T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I am Gilly, I am not the most healthy of specimens but I hope to sort that out, hence the blog so I can be more accountable.

I am 48, female, overweight and have a few health problems namely high blood pressure, no energy, always feeling "off" etc.

I am going to start trying to make my body more alkaline as I firmly believe that some of my problems are being enhanced by the fact that I am very acidic.

I check my pH daily and currently I am 5.5pH which is scarily acidic (well it is for me anyway!)

I have tried to change things with diet but to be honest I find it very hard to do, I am married and while Hubby is slightly acidic he is not wanting to change what he eats, so who am I to force him? I also can't be bothered with preparing 2 seperate meals all the time so we will try to make sure that ALL the water we drink, cook with and make drinks with is alkaline.

I know there will be purists that will dispute that just drinking alkaline water will help but HEY, its a start!!!

I will be buying my water alkaliser when I get paid next month and will post daily from that point, logging how much water I have consumed, I will also log details of weight, measurements, mood, energy, blood pressure etc, I probably WON'T be logging food as this is not a diet blog and while I know I need to lose weight, my health is more improtant.
If anyone feels like joining me on my journey feel free to follow me and add comments!