What I Need To Do:

After reading my posts from October 2006, I think I may have figured out what I need to do for the rest of this month to trigger a little weight loss action. The posts were only slightly informative, but paired with my old food journal, I was able to piece some things together.

What I noticed:

You have to have a medical scare. My blood pressure was up. Doctor was going to recheck in 30 days with the possibility of me having to go on blood pressure meds. She recommended I continue to walk 30 minutes each day and lose weight. Luckily my blood pressure went back down into the normal range within those 30 days.

I cut salt down to 1500 mg a day. Doctor said that was too low and to keep it at 2300 mg, which was still a huge drop. I used to salt already salty tomato juice. Now I have learned to love low sodium V8 (with a dash of Louisana Hot Sauce).

I was using the DASH diet as a model for my diet. Here's the older post if you want more information.

I was walking five times a week for at least 60 minutes. Two of those days saw 90 minute walks.

When I walked, I pushed myself for the last 5 minutes until my cool down. Each week I added a minute or two.

For Halloween, I skipped on buying candy. I bought play dough to hand out instead.

I ate good meals and plated them nicely. There were no quick cheese stick and fiber bar breakfasts (my quick and easy breakfast).

I was very aware of the 20 pound hurdle. You know, you lose 20 pounds and think you can slack off. I managed to get over that hurdle but unfortunately stumbled on the 30 pound hurdle.

Things that will change this week:

DASH Diet cookbooks will be looked at for meal ideas.

Up my time on the walks and on Sundays, do the long 90 minute walk.

I messed up big time and bought that big old bowl of Halloween candy.

My meals are not planned out. So they aren't nutritionally balanced (as in too much fat and not enough fiber).

I know how dangerous the hurdles can be. Jump over them or else you will be back to day one.