Over a month has passed since I last wrote here on my blog!!!  Time speeds more every day I live, and I plan to live many more years.

Since this is mostly a record of my health concerns and weight loss, I have to admit I have gained a pound over the least I weighed since I started DASH.  Again, DASH stands for Dietetic Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Or something like that.  It seems mostly concerned with high blood pressure when you read the words.  I only have a slight BP concern, and I'm on a med for that.  I'm thinking I'll get OFF that med when I lose more weight and get more fit.  At any rate, DASH is the diet our old hospital in Minnesota has their senior citizens and others with cardiac concerns following.  It is basically a whole food diet for diabetics as well, so I call it the diet every human being should follow.

I spent last Thursday through Saturday on a solo trip of a bit over 200 miles to be at the Saturday birthday party for Dan and Jenny's older daughter, Grace, who turns 2 years old this week.  Nora is 4 months old.  They have their hands full!  And to think they were afraid they would never be able to conceive.  They went to a fertility doctor and had Grace.  Then Nora came all on her own.  A bonus!!! So I had a great time, and was able to drive without any problem.  I had an energy drink along, just in case.

Sunday I was super achey and tired and had a very upset stomach, probably because I was eating all kinds of stuff.  Sugar drinks, birthday cake, croissants.  Had Mountain Dew in the car on the way back to SD.  2 cans.  I called in sick for church, and Pam Taylor played piano for sacrament service.  Since our church's water was still frozen and so was the water in the hose from the neighboring church, our church was dismissed after that meeting.  So no Sunday School classes and no Primary/RS/priesthood/youth classes.  I slept most of Sunday.  But I was so glad to have been with family and friends for that party.

So now I'm trying to be faithful to DASH, and I'm not doing well so far.  While in MN, I went to Costco with Dan and Jenny and the girls.  I bought mixed nuts, among other things, and have been munching away at them since Saturday.  I also bought almonds, but they aren't such a temptation.  So I learned to not buy mixed nuts again until I am stronger in my determination.  I also bought some mixed snacks, which are like Gardettos, but I gave them to Miranda's family this evening because they contain a lot of gluten snacks.  In fact, I think all the parts of the mix are made from wheat flour.  Bob doesn't care of them, and I decided it best to give them to Miranda and kids because they will enjoy them.  I should have been strong enough to give them the mixed nuts, but Bob really likes them.  Oh well. . . .

Today I went to the hospital to get a blood draw as I routinely do to keep track of my INR while I am on coumadin/warfarin.  While walking back to the car, I noticed I was getting a bit winded, showing myself what lack of exercise does.  We have a rec center membership, but since I fell on the ice last month, I have been staying in the house.  Lots of people came and helped me up, but I was quite sore and very bruised, especially on my right knee and leg.  Hurt a lot!  And very embarrassing.  I was SOOOO glad to be 70 lighter than my highest weight.

At the party, I had Abby take a picture of me and Ginger.  Oh, how ugly.  I look just as fat as I was before I lost 70 pounds.  I obviously never had a clear picture of myself.  But I am keeping the picture on my phone to remind myself what I really look like!  I am, after all, wearing the same clothes, only they are looser.  Maybe I'm changing from semi-solid to mostly-flabby.  But I do fit into the theater seats at Cinema 5 here in Watertown and into restaurant booths.

And I do feel so much better, especially when I stay true to the DASH plan.  My weight is 286, one pound up from my lowest recorded weight.  I haven't lost a thing since last December.  Time to repent!!!  I want to be in the best shape I am able so I can enjoy life and get around now that Bob and I are both retired.  I refuse to be one of those seniors who simply lets inactivity and bad diet make them unable to move about and join in life with family and friends.