More Is Less...

Greetings, one & all, on a Monday that just hasn't been sure what it wants to do weather-wise: gray & cloudy, rainy & sunny, breezy & warm; well, as the Mamas & The Papas sang: "Monday, Monday...Can't trust that day"--so, as I alluded to in yesterday's post, I have taken the next step in my quest for better health & better living: this morning I enrolled in a 12-week nutrition program (called "De-Cluttering & Re-Shaping") at a local fitness center--let me say first of all, that I have passed this place & the adjoining gym/martial arts studio/etc. countless times on my neighborhood walks in the 2 years we have lived in this area; it's on the same block as a 24-hour food market that we frequent at least several times a week (you pretty much can get everything & anything there; I get a lot of good fruit & produce there, they have a great deli counter, fresh breads & rolls, etc., a self-serve coffee counter, you name it)--so on our way to go food-shopping last Thursday nite, we passed by & I jotted the number down & called the next day to ask about signing-up (today was actually the last day to do so)--I went there this morning & met with the lady I spoke to (a personal trainer & nutrition expert)--let me add here that when I went back to my old doctor & started this medical journey last October, one of the doctors & people he referred me to was a CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) not far from me here in Flushing--I went twice, in November & December & was very gung-ho about keeping a food journal, charting my progress, getting weighed-in, etc.--by my 2nd visit, after beginning to adjust my diet, starting my walking regimen, cutting out my beloved stogies, I already went from my starting weight of 214 down to 210 (4 lbs in a month; not too shabby!!)--in between all this, I went to a cardiologist, had many tests done & it was determined (for those of you who DON'T know) that I would need to have a catheterization done & having one or more stents put in was a possibility because my heart was not pumping enough blood to all the vessels, to put it mildly; fast-forward to November 30th, stent  #1 to fix the worst of the blockages, stent #2 on January 11th to (luckily) fix only a 2nd one (3rd one determined to be very small & ok)--so after the 1st visit to the nutritionist (a nice-enough woman, kinda quirky but helpful), after the 1st stent, I still wanted to go to her & after the 2nd visit, I still had to wait to see when the 2nd procedure was going to be scheduled; jump to after the 2nd stent done, & I had actually lost weight both times I was in the hospital (because you are on fluids, etc. before the procedure--luckily, though they prepared me, both went through my wrist & NOT the groin--whew!! LOL--& then you have a bit to eat afterwards & a light breakfast the next morning, for me, more diabetic-themed)--and although she said she would follow-up, I never heard from this woman again, & when I called several times to make another appt., she was away once, and didn't return my call the 2nd time, so, as my wife told me & I agreed, I had already made major changes in my eating & diet, I was exercising, etc., so forget her--but back to our story; I will be keeping another food journal as of today which I will bring to the new place at the end of this week, the trainer will make notes & suggestions, I pick it up & implement them & then there is a one-time, 90-minute meeting/session of education, materials, counseling, etc. with an initial weigh-in 2 weeks from this Friday; then I will be continuing the journal & weigh-ins throughout the process--I will say the only thing I was disappointed about was that, the way this program was listed on the sandwich-board sign outside with other programs, I thought some sort of exercise regimen was included in the price (maybe some weights, stretching, whatever)--I should have realized it was so reasonable because none of that was part & parcel of this offer (and if I ever want to do any of the personalized training programs, etc., I can do so down the line)--no matter; I will continue as I have been--this will be good because from this point on, I could do even better with a more-regimented program to follow & that could only help me nutrition & eating-wise as the fall & winter months approach--either way, I'm excited about starting this next facet of my quest for a better me--& with that, I leave you until next time :)