Our New Life!

The first paragraph is copied from my blog, Thoughts of Pink

Ray and I started on the Induction Phase of Adkins Diet on Monday, August 8, 2011. Ray has diabetes and was afraid that they were going to increase his medication if he didn't get his blood sugar down. I had gained about 20 lbs because of the steroids that I am on and if I wanted to get into my fall and winter clothes, I need to lose some weight. I have been very inventive and will be chronicling our venture on one of my other blogs, along with recipes. I will let you know when I get it going. We both lost weight by day 15: Ray, 15 lbs - Barbara, 12 lbs. I am so excited. Ray didn't realize it before but he was out of his medication that morning when we started. He had to call it in to Express Scripts and to took 3 days for delivery. His blood sugar stabilized between 93 and 110 so when his medication came he didn't take any. He still hasn't and his blood sugar is still between 93 and 110. He is so happy and feels so much better. I am trying not to weigh in every day. I get a PT/INR test every 2 weeks and they weigh me, so I am being weighed at the doctor. We do have a good scale here, but I figured that was "official." I cannot cheat on that one. LOL! (Not that I would.) I will periodically mention the diet on this blog and carry a link to the other one. I did see an article yesterday that I think everyone should read.

The induction phase includes 20 grams of Carbohydrates a day. I went through some Atkins books, but I also looked at other books and came up with very low carb foods. Looks like you can eat just about any kind of meat. I find that it is good to find low carb but you can never forget the calories completely. The really good news is that eating lots of protein fills you up.

I have been very inventive. Of course, we have the meat and cheese wraps. You can even add a little mayonaise. Ray loves these. I started by going to Sam's and stocking up on eggs, lunch meat, and cheese. Remember to keep your calories in control. About 1200 per day for females and 1500 for males.  Eat small meals more often. If you eat a little more or a little less, don't beat yourself up. The most difficult part was getting off the carbohydrates. Here is a link to an awesome article."146 Reasons Why Sugar is Harming Your Health." I will be adding our Life-Plan on Atkins, hopefully, on a daily basis. I may not adhere to all their things, but this article actually confirms my "no sugar" attitude.

Here is to your good health.

SweetTweets on the O2 Breakthrough - @ZnaTrainer (Twitter)

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I was on the O2 Breakthrough from Body by Zna for 3 glorious weeks. It was really working for me, but my one-on-one time with Zna has run out. I couldn't get anyone to talk to her or sign up. It was really a good deal for me. I feel stronger and pain free. I did take notes and have done it by myself today. I think I will be fine. I am going to follow the Vegan diet and continue to do the exercises.

I am so thankful to Zna for all the time she has spent with me. She is so generous and she has such a lovely spirit. When she says: "Beautiful Body by Zna Love cures people~both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it. Dr.Karl Menninger *My heart wants to know you. *YOU* are my priority, your youngest, yummiest you yet as healthiest, wealthiest, richly deserving of abundance. Your dreams come true!" she means it. 


In the course of 3 weeks, I lost 7 lbs and gained lots of energy I haven't seen in over a year. I lost 4 inches off my chest, 2 inches off my waist, 3 inches off my hips, 3 inches off each upper thigh, 2 inches off each lower thigh and 1.5 inches off each calf. The inches are what really mattered to me. 
This is my update for my Life Plan. I am going to start looking for more updates.


Like I recently volunteered to work at the Chesapeake (Virginia Baptist Homes). So, we will see how that goes this week.
My daughter was here and she organized, labeled, cleaned my shop, upstairs and down. And, she cleaned the garage. Something about having everything in order, relieves stress for me. What relieves stress for you? 
Tell me about yourself.

Starting the Week Right

• Hello, I got up and fixed my coffee this morning and drank it while I was getting ready for church. Once all that was done, I made my egg in the microwave, then put salsa, cottage cheese and some shredded cheddar in a bowl and warmed it up. When it was all done, I put it all in a Ramakin. They are not very big and I know that that is what I can eat every day. 

• I did a lot of walking at church. I am the Lead Usher and I have to make sure that everything runs smoothly so the service won't be disturbed. We have an 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. service, so I do a lot of walking and talking. Ray calls me his "Walkie-Talkie."
• When we arrived at home, the crockpot was cooking away. I made a beef roast and I put a package of mixed veggies in before we left this morning. I Threw in a little rice and broccoli when we got home. I made a salad, measured the meat, and 'voila' dinner. It sure was good. We ate sensible portions and will have either more salad or fruit snacks later. Meat is a once a day thing. Ray has those Morning Star Farms veggie sausage. He really seems to like them. 

 It would be nice if one (or more) of my Twitter buddies would get on the bandwagon and help me out. Maybe I could even help them out. I was President of  Parents Without Partners Chapter 275 in Newport News for 3 years about 20 years ago 9250 members). Ray tells people he had to marry me to get me out of there. Anyway, I was a member for almost 5 years and worked with singles every Wednesday night in a program called We Care. It was very nice. Members could come an have their Wednesday Therapy. I facilitated it nearly the whole time I was a member. I learned so much and I also took classes on psychology at our local community college.

• At our church, First Baptist of Newport News, I facilitated a Celebrate Recovery Program for people with drug and alcohol problems for over 2 years. Both programs allowed me to observe people and I read about the psychology all the time, not to mention that people would call me almost every night and I talked hours on the phone with them. From talking about the perils of being a single parent to how to tell if their spouse was cheating. The advice always was well received and I don't remember giving bad advice. 
• I am an ordained Deacon and I will pray for any who needs prayer. I know it has worked for me and it can work for you.

A Better Day

Thursday was a much better day. I had my egg, cheese, salsa & cottage cheese for breakfast. I got myself together and went to church to meet the ladies for our quilting class. We are making baby quilts for sick children. I actually got to work on one today.
The good thing was, there was no food there. When I got home, I made yellow squash with onions, salad and chopped chicken. It was great and very healthy. Ray liked it a lot. He likes his salad chopped very small, so that is how I did it. It was great. I think I will fix talipia on Friday evening.
After dinner, we went to COSTCO. That is always interesting and expensive. We really didn't stay very long. We only bought fresh foods like strawberries, apples, grapes, etc. Fresh foods for us. I am beginning to feel like I really could do the plan.

Can you follow your life plan?
Contact me and let me know your opinions. I feel like the jellyfish pictured.

Second Night

I wonder if I am doing this right. No one to keep me in check. I had my salsa and egg for breakfast. It was really great with some cottage cheese.
I warmed up the soup that I made yesterday for lunch.
So far so good.
Oops, found some white cheddar popcorn we brought back from Kentucky. Put it in baggies and ate one bag full.
Picked up my elderly friends and took them to church for dinner. We had baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green peas, salad, roll, and pineapple upside down cake. I ate desert first, then salad and half of my chicken, little potatoes and peas. When I dropped everyone off at the Chesapeake, I went to the Farmer's Market and bought vegetables, lean meat, and some fruit and honey. At the check out, I found a Twix with PB and ate it on the way home. I am so bad. I need someone to answer to. How will I ever lose weight? I need some people to keep me honest. HELP!

The First Night

I started out really good. I had a microwave egg w/cheese/salsa/cottage cheese for breakfast. It was great and I didn't feel bad for a while. Took my morning pills.
Made large pot of chicken soup using ramen noodles. added corn, peas, onions, garlic, canned chicken, water, beaten egg. Cooked it a while and put in ramen noodles when almost done. Salt & pepper to taste. It was great and enough for Ray and I for lunch and dinner. Although at dinner, I fixed Ray a hot sandwich with thin rolls and a veggie burger and thin cheddar cheese slice. I cooked it on a grill like the Forman grill. Later we had strawberries and blueberries with a tad of Cool Whip on top.
That sounds great until I confess that I ate half a sandwich bag of tiny chocolate peanut butter cups when I had a urge for chocolate this afternoon. Oh well, at least they are all gone now. LOL!
One person followed today and I think that is cool. I hope someone else joins. It is much more fun to lose weight with other people.
Here is to tomorrow.

#SweetTweets Life Plan

    Today, we are starting a life plan. What is that? This is where the rubber hits the road, as they say. Although I have never figured out who 'they' are.
We all have issues:

• Weight
• Diet
• Love
• Hate
• Redemption
• Forgiveness
• Egotism

  The big difference is that we are not going to follow someone's "life plan." We are going to create one for ourselves. "The #SweetTweet Life Plan"

Tell us about what you eat, how you feel, how you think of yourself.

• Do you feel thin/fat? 
• Do you feel pretty/ugly?
• Do you feel stylish/frumpy?

 Print this out and we will use this as a guide. If you would like, email the figures to me to keep in a chart (not to be shared). You don't have to, but sometimes it is important to be accountable to someone. You will need a scale and a tape measure.
Height:
Weight:
Chest:
Waist:
Hips:
Left Upper Arm:                               
Right Upper Arm:
Left Wrist:
Right Wrist:
Left Upper Thigh:                             
Right Upper Thigh:
Left Lower Thigh:                            
Right  Lower Thigh:
Left Calf:                                         
Right Calf.      
Left Ankle                                      
Right Ankle

All measurements should be at the widest part. 
We will measure and weigh-in on the 1st day of each month.

     My email is barbara.p.duke@gmail.com. Please put 'SweetTweets Life Plan' in the Subject Line.
Your information will be kept confidential and only used to give overall success that we are all striving for in the end.
    There is no cost for this, I just want to know your stories and help if I can. I have had weight issues all my life and other problems. I have learned so much in the past years how to handle situations and how to take care of myself. I have taken classes and read extensively on human behavior.  I would like to share. I think it is important to start with weight and branch out into other things.
    I only ask that you be one of the people that follow me on Twitter. I want to create a network of friends helping friends. Feel free to contact me if you have ideas to expand our world and create harmony for all.
    Use your own diet plan, but follow one. If nothing else, write down your calories and limit to 1600 per day. Keeping a record of what you eat is very important for you to see where you are going from where you have been. Purchase a small notebook just for this purpose. Help others by posting your ideas in the comments. Don't forget to move. All movement is important. If you have a pedometer, use it. Try for Dr. Oz's 10,000 steps a day.
    Feel free to join the blog and post your comments. Lets make this our Plan for Life!
Love, Barbara