And ye pounds are tumbling down!

Yesterday was a good day for me. I hopped on a scale and found I have now lost a total of SEVENTY pounds and I walked quite a bit AND made it up and down a flight of stairs! I did pay for it later, my whole body throbbed with aching, but the sense of achievement was well worth it.

This weight loss journey is a challenge, obviously, but - funnily enough - I am aghast at the "cost" of some things in terms of fat, sodium and (since I have to limit mine) potassium. And once known, my brain seems to file it away and immediately say "no way" when I see those items again.  That's a good thing, yes?

I'm gradually building up my activity level, although it is still minimal by other people's standards. It does make me laugh how, years ago, my goal when doing aerobics was to raise my heart rate by 40% and work "in the zone" where now because of my A-Fib issues that seem to start when my heart rate goes above about 65 or so, I am now trying to NOT raise my heart rate by more than 5bpm or so. Whole new concept, to me.

Having said that, on the seated elliptical, now I just pedal slowly as though I were taking a leisurely ride out in the countryside on a pleasant Summer's day. I no longer use the handles to work my arms at the same time. I read a book while I pedal, and have found 4-5 minutes is good for not raising my heart rate too much. I forgot the book, the other night, and without realising was doing the arms as well, and within 2 minutes I was experiencing the beginnings of an A-Fib episode.

I have to listen to my body and let it decree how I can do this stuff.

I am very pleased with myself, I started this journey at 317lbs and am now down to 246.6lbs, I still have a long way to go to get to my goal of 140lbs, but slow and steady wins the race, as they say. I definitely think that will be true in my case. Sure, I'd love to lose 10lbs a month but realistically, for me and all the issues I am dealing with, that's not viable now unless I "go on a diet" and severely restrict my eating. Right now, my main emphases are on CHANGING my eating habits, and BECOMING more mobile. Both of these should lead to the end result that I am hoping for.

Despite being on more meds now than I was a year ago, my other goal (to eradicate as many as possible and deal with the issues they are treating, naturally) is still on the books. My doctor fully supports me on this, so as time goes on, I am hoping to be able to report progress on that too.  I am seeing a kind of improvement in that 3 of my meds (that I call my "emergency stash" as they are a "take as necessary, when needed") I have taken far less in the last few weeks. 2 are for when my blood pressure spikes above 150 systolic, and 1 is for anxiety and panic associated with the A-Fib attacks. By warding off the A-Fib by being careful not to overdo (for me) the few minutes and intensity of exercise, I've have needed  the last maybe once in the past month, and the BP ones have gone from 4-5 days a week to maybe one or two doses in a week. It's all a work in process!

I am satisfied with how I am doing though, and will just continue plodding, one foot in front of the other.

Have a wonderful weekend!