MACRO-NUTRIENT GOAL

135g fat (79%)

54g protein (14%)

27g carbs (7%)

NEW YEAR'S EVE CHALLENGE

I am laying it out here for the record. 

Starting weight ... August 25th = 88 kg/194 lbs.

December 31st Goal = 65 kg/144 lbs

March 30th 2013, Ultimate Goal = 58-60 kg or 128 - 132 lbs.

I have 29 weeks to reach my Ultimate Goal and I still feel reasonably confident that this is achievable. It depends to a large extent on how much difference being dairy free makes to my general health. I have not factored in my age so that could mean the weight might come off more slowly than The Plan. Again if my goals are not met I will still be slimmer and that makes me a winner.

I am currently experimenting with being dairy free.

I am also drawing a line through all grains and potato just as I did with wheat at the beginning of the year.

TIME CAPSULE TO OPEN ON DECEMBER 31ST 2012

Dear Me,

You have made the first 6 months of 2012 count in your efforts to improve your health.

I hope you have continued to aim high. At the time I'm writing to you you've lost about 25 kg this year although not all of that shows in your records. I think if you had weighed yourself on January 1st or even December 31st 2011, you would have been shocked. You had some signs of serious health problems which I'm pleased to say have reversed somewhat but you are not home free.

I wonder if your blood pressure readings have dropped enough for Dr. Jeanie to reduce your medication. 

You wrote some exercise goals on a monthly basis. I'm hoping that you continued to challenge yourself.

It would be good to see that you are using the cross-trainer or walking on the beach for about one hour per day at least 5 days per week. I'm hoping you are doing stretch exercises 4 or 5 days a week with some resistance exercises two or three times a week. I know it all takes time and some days it doesn't work out but you wrote a good plan and it should be working for you by now.

I presume that you have remained grain free and plan to continue to do so. I applaud you for this.

The last time you wrote a Time Capsule you mentioned your spiritual walk, being more creative and finishing some of the things which you began long ago.

I'm not going to mention them this time because I think you have your work cut out managing your life as it is.

There have been some major changes with Mum's death in January and David being in prison for a possible 6 years.

You are about to become a grandmother. This will change your priorities somewhat.

There will be other lifestyle changes and you have many dreams. I do hope that some of those dreams are beginning to look possible when you open this.

If not, remember to Live Life As It Is.

Dreaming is useful but to get lost in your dreams is not.

Dreaming is so you can set goals and plan toward them.

Living is enjoying the moment or at least rejoicing that you are experiencing it. Sometimes the moment is too painful to enjoy but at least you can rejoice in the Lord your God through the painful parts.

2012 has been a big year for you. I believe you have lived it well.

2013 will have as many challenges again. Go forward and do not lose sight of the value of maintaining optimal health so you can live the best possible life.

Live Life, Live to the Full. 

A prayer for Me

For this reason I kneel before the Father, 

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you 

with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 

And I pray that you, 

being rooted and established in love,  

may have power, 

together with all the Lord’s holy people, 

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – 

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do 

immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us, 

to him be glory in the church 

and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generation,

for ever and ever!

Amen. 

Ephesians 14-21

COPIED FROM DAY 15 ON IMPROVING MY HEALTH

Weight:-  7.30 am  - 114 kg/251 lbs


This is my last weight check until Jan. 28th.


I wanted to cry when I saw my weight a few days ago, the first time in many weeks. Sadly it takes more than that to make me cry these days so I wasn't blessed with that outlet. I was truly shocked that the changes I had made were not enough to bring me below 115 kg. I'm glad to say that today's weight did show a loss. Each day I'm making an effort to reintroduce my healthy lifestyle so I expect this trend to continue. I'm not too worried about whether or not I can weigh because my weight is only a reflection of my lifestyle. It's like looking in a mirror to check out that my clothes are hanging right or there's no lipstick on my teeth. For me, true success lies in achieving a healthier lifestyle. The next major step is to walk daily. Food and drink are beginning to line up. I need to drink more water but that will improve as I go along. I definitely plan to do my ketogenic eating plan but I'm not rushing into it. 


For me, the ketogenic plan I use gives me good balanced nutrition, lower calories, satisfied feelings and well being. It also gives me plenty of snacks so I don't have ups and downs of energy levels, if I do it right. The bonus is that even at my age it still seems to get rid of the pounds at a good average rate, about one pound or more every week. 


With 52 pounds to lose to be under 200 pounds/ 90 kg that will take me the best part of this year but I can live with that.... in fact I must.


I woke up through the night with the thoughts running through my head. 


'Where do you want to be in 5, 10, 15 years.' I dismissed the longer periods because in 15 years I will be 87 years old and realistically it's hard to plan for that age. 


I can plan for 5 years. 77 is not so daunting to me. To weigh an acceptable and healthy weight at 77 years old is now my goal. That means I need to lose about 50 kg/110 lbs. I aim to lose 50 pounds this year, around 30 pounds in 2013, 15 pounds in 2014 and the remainder in 2015. Job done! I can't believe it's that simple to plan a strategy to reach my healthy goal weight and time to spare at that. So easy to say. Not nearly as easy to be that consistent.


I am beginning the day with a light headache but not as much as yesterday. The remedy is drink more water plus some panadol tablets. 

Breakfast:-  Berry Smoothie. Strawberry tea. water

Snack 1:-  Water, 4 corn thins and peanut butter

Lunch:-  Strawberry tea. Omelet with beans, carrots, (leftovers), bacon, cheese. 

Snack 2:-   Diet lemon, lime & bitters   4 corn thins and peanut butter.

Dinner:-  cheese, gherkin, cucumber, tomato and strawberry platter. Water.

Snack 3:-  Camomile tea.  

Drinking:-  Water x 3
Strawberry and Mango Tea, etc x 3
Coffee, black, unsweetened x 0
Diet lemon, lime & bitters x 1

Daily Goal:-  1.5 lt. or 5 - 6 large cups *no*

Exercise:-  15 minutes walk *yes/no*
5 minutes cross-trainer *no*

Reporting Back ..........

How I did I do?


I'm sleeping well. Still do not feel all that well, tightness in chest area and short of breath and energy. That does not sound good and will have to see Dr. If no improvement during the next week. Walking is difficult. I never thought I'd say this but lately any exercise is a challenge. It's going to take determination to get walking again.


Today we finished getting the  house ready for guests. John did most of the work. I did the bathroom, shower and fiddly stuff including dusting. So glad it's fine as I was able to get all our washing up to date too. I don't expect to use the house again for about 10 days although these people have offered us the use of shower. We don't like to intrude so will see. We can have cold showers in the bus and if the weather is warm the water is tepid. We usually take our shampoo and toiletries, as well as any accumulated laundry, to Mum's several times a week and in between sponge down in our tiny bathroom. It works for us.


My garden is looking untidy after all the rain. I'll see how I feel over the next few days.


Guests arrived and we talked some. I ended up having a very late meal. We watched Touch of Frost on video and that's it.

SPRING CLEANING

Mum's 1st August - 14th

American visitors 1st September .....

Joanies 15th September - 19th October

GARDEN

HOUSE

GARDEN

1 week

1. Weed along deck and plant garlic and alyssum  maybe strawberry plants.
2. Pots with flowers
3. Triangle garden fill with flowers plus butterfly shrubs
4. Back door
5. General

CLEAN OUTSIDE OF HOUSE

1 week

1. Steps 
2. Walls
3. Concrete slabs
4. Windows
5. BBQ

SPRING CLEAN

2 weeks

1. Back bedroom
2. 2nd bedroom
3. Main bedroom
4. Pantry
5. All cupboards
6. Sitting area
7. Stove
8. Kitchen
9. Bathroom
10. Windows

ANYTHING WE SEE THAT NEEDS DOING

We need 3 - 4 weeks to do this well. 

We have 5  weeks but will be away most of the time.

We can expect to travel backwards and forwards until all is done.

We have 4 days before we go to Mum's. from there we will be away from home until the end of September.

I need to make every day count towards completing these tasks.

TIME CAPSULE. - OPEN ON DECEMBER 31ST 2011

A few days ago Lyn, Escape From Obesity, suggested we fill a time capsule with a letter to ourselves to be opened in 12 months time

Here is mine.

Dear Anne,

As I sit here writing knowing I should be outside walking, I'm hoping you are a lot more active as 2011 comes to an end than I currently am

You have enormous potential to lead a far more active and exciting life and I want you to realise some of that potential in the coming twelve months. Many people have spoken encouraging words to you over the years and it seems to me that you are making a rather late run at accomplishing anything significant. It's my hope that you have made some progress toward improving your health.

Strictly limiting your consumption of starches and sugar is imperative. I'll be very disappointed if you haven't done this consistently throughout the year. You are doing this to improve your health so the end result is entirely in your hands. I'll be interested to know how you got on during the month you chose to go dairy free. It sounds like a difficult thing to do so my congratulations if you achieved it, and whether there were any significant health benefits.

My current weight is 96 kg/211 lbs. In 2010 you managed to lose more than 10 kg or 22 pounds. I hope you've been able to double those figures for 2011. You could weigh 76kg/167lbs or less. I've also looked at your walking goals and see that you want to build your fitness and walk at least one half marathon. This is a great goal and I look forward to seeing how you did.

I know you have a few other concerns especially around family relationships, your marriage and general health. I believe you will do your best to heal yourself and those around you. Your greatest hope is in God. There will be opportunities during the year to experience spiritual growth and personal development.. I'm sure you will make the most of those opportunities.

BUT.... the one thing I am hoping you have done is become a more an integral part of Crossroads Fellowship. It's high time you worked at developing your personal times with Jesus. 2011 is your year to re-establish good habits, even better than before. All life stems from Him. He is the water of life and as you spend time in His presence so you will be filled and satisfied to overflowing. Life is a spiritual journey and nothing useful can be accomplished except you “Seek first His Kingdom.'

My question tonight is, 'Have you made the best of all the opportunities that came your way in 2011?

Have you used your time wisely?”

Right now I'm plagued and worried by financial constraints. I'll be very interested to see whether you have been able to improve this situation. The solution is in your hands. You can manage this if you choose to. I'm hoping you will because new clothes in smaller sizes are going to be required both during the year and in the future.

Anne, you are a creative person. I wonder how many things you have finished that you began with enthusiasm and now languish, packed away in the cupboard. I am smiling as I imagine looking at the finished things piled on the table. I really think this year you can tidy up a lot of loose ends, unfinished projects and more.

You are going to go ahead in leaps and bounds and there are going to be some writing achievements too. Will you up-date your New Zealand Diary frequently? I'd love to see you write most days. What about practicing writing short stories, I know how capable you are in this area but you do need practice. And what about the book of poems with photos and illustrations? I wonder if you've taken it off the back burner.

It's going to be very interesting to read this in twelve months time. Many things happen during a year and we can have no knowledge of them now.

I commit this letter to be opened at the end of 2011.

With love from Me.

DREAMS

I long to return to USA to travel and enjoy this wonderful country.

If we had a couple of hundred thousand dollars up our sleeve there would be no question.

We'd probably buy an RV and a place to store/park it during our trips home. We'd spend 5-6 months in USA followed by a couple of months catching up with family and friends in NZ while we meet the criteria to continue on superannuation we cannot leave the country for more than 6 months at a time. We'd make this our lifestyle as long as health and inclination allowed.

I'd love to be involved in one of the Revival Churches, like Bethel or Catch The Fire, for an extended period.

It would be nice if our bus was back on the road but John appears to have no interest in making it mobile again.

Eventually I will be happy to live in a unit like the one Mavis and Erk have at Moana House.

Or better still one of the waterfront apartments in Whitianga.

I see the days, months and years sliding by and cannot imagine that we will see our USA dream.

Footnote. No matter how I try this does not feel like my home any more than the house in Matamata did. It is where we ended up as a result of a set of circumstances. I find it sad that I've lived so much of my life in houses that were not what I would have chosen had I sat down and planned.