Update, First Week!

     Isn't this exciting.  I have finished my first week and I survived.  Seven shakes later I can say that the official news is, I lost 8 pounds.  I must admit, I was a little disappointed.  I was really hoping for 10 pounds, but everyone I talked to has said that is great for the first week.  I guess I seen it starting to come off and I wanted to push the results.  That is not a wise nor healthy way.  I didn't get it overnight and I shouldn't expect to lose it overnight.  I never was one with a lot of patience.  I am just so excited to get rid of this extra person I am hauling around.
     On the pain in my knees, hips and back.  The swelling in my ankles is about 80% better.  Now is it from the drinking the shakes and changing my eating habits?  I am willing to say yes.  I have had bad swelling for the past 6 months, and after 1 week it is almost gone.  You tell me.  This is all I have for now.  Be back in a week.

Update

     Well, I went to the doctor and she did blood work, and x-rays of my knees, hips and back.  I officially have osteoarthritis in both knees, both hips and my back.  I wasn't too surprised.  I also found out a few days later that my vitamin d was low, so I am taking a pill for that.  She did prescribe pain pills and muscle relaxers.  I have taken very few.  I am not going to be dependent on pain meds.  I am already dependent on 5-hour Energy shots.  I don't need any more.  So I have to make some big girl decisions.  Am I going to stay like this and just get worse.  I can't walk to the mailbox now.  I am not ready, at 53 to head to a wheelchair.  I have to get the weight off and get exercising.  I am so thankful for Visalus  giving me the opportunity to get my life back.
     On March 1st I started my 90 day Challenge.  I have set a goal to lose 50 pounds by May 31st. I know this is a big challenge.  But through out my whole life I have loved a challenge.  I know it is going to be tough and I am going to have days that are not good.  But I have a lot of days now that are not good.  I am sure that I am going to crave my chocolate.  I have already made changes and it seem kinda of easy.  I drink my Vi-Shape Nutritional Shake in the morning, a salad for lunch and I eat a regular dinner with my husband in the evening.  I am starting to experiment with the shake.  It really does taste like cake batter.  I have added frozen strawberries and ice, makes a great strawberry shake.  I even added baking cocoa trying to get that chocolate fix.  It wasn't to bad, but I think it would be better with some coffee in it.  I have already gone through 3 heads of lettuce and almost 4 onions.  The grocery list sure has taken on a new look.
     I will update on Thursday when I get on the scales after 1 week of my Body by Vi experience.  If anyone would like to check out what exactly Body by Vi is, go to trans4mingu.bodybyvi.com.  This is my web page and you can see all the great products Visalus has to offer.  Heres to Thursday, have a great week.

Intro

      March 1st is going to be a new day and a new way for me.  My whole life I have memories of struggling with my weight.  When I say whole life, I mean my whole life.  I have been it all chunky, portly, chubby, and my favorite, big boned.  At 53 years old, I decided it is time to do something.  That is really an understatement, my body decided it was time to do something.  I am tired of hurting.  I hurt all over, but mainly in my lower back, hip, knees and feet.  In fact it has gotten so bad that I have almost lost mobility. I sit, actually I sit very well.  When I stand I have excruciating pain in my knees.  You would never know I was only 53.  After sitting my lower legs and feet swell horribly.  When I do go to bed, I am good for about 2 to 3 hours, then the pain in my right hip awakens me and keeps me from staying in there.  When I stand the pain shoots down my leg to my knee, breath taking pain.  So I move to my office chair, this is the only place I can sit.  The couch and the recliner causes the pain in my hip to be worse.  
     Leading up to all of this, last year I seen a vein specialist to make sure there were not problems with the veins and arteries in my legs.  I received a clearance from him, all good.  I seen an orthopedic specialist and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees.  I am sure this was brought on by playing years of softball in my younger days, and a fall in 2004 on ice that tore my TCL in my left knee.  I had injections in both knees.  This worked well for many months.  Then it just kept getting continuously worse. On Monday February 27th I have an appointment with a Rheumatologist.  Here I hope to get some answers for controlling the pain and discomfort for my journey.
     My journey begins on March 1st.  I am beginning a new way of living.  I am going to change my eating habits.  This is going to be the tough one, I didn't tell you I was also a chocoholic.  The Daily Road is going to be my personal experiences, challenges and successes.  I know my situation is not unique, but it is mine.  I will continue my education (I graduate in August with my BSBA), exercise, eat right and get back something that is been gone for way to long, my life.  I want to enjoy the outdoors again, actively be a roll model for my kids and my grandson.  I want my family to be proud of what I can accomplish.  I want a garden and be able to take care of it and enjoy its harvest.  I want to be able to take my grandson to the park and not have to sit on the bench.  My 90 Day Challenge begins on March 1st.  You can follow my progress or you can join me.  There are going to be a few tears shed, but it will all be worth it.  I will report in after my doctor appointment Monday.