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Scott Rifkin

Scott's Place

March 13

Weight Lose Journey - 3/11/2008

I got some good news from my doctor last night. My Hemoglobin A1c (it is a test to determine my blood sugar level) went down from my last test two months ago. Basically my body is not breaking down and processing all of the sugars and starches from what I am eating. A major cause is that I am over weight and I wasn't exercising. With the medication, my diet, my exercise program and the medication, my A1c has gone from 7.5 to 6.4. My doctor wants me to stay under 6.5 in order to consider this controlled. He also mentioned that once I get under 200 lbs, he will consider taking me off the diabetes medication. As of last Friday, I was at 235 lbs and I am making good steady progress towards my goals.

Weight Loss Journey - 3/7/2008

I am a few days overdue posting an update on my journey. First I would like to say thanks to those of you who have reached out to me regarding my initial post. Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me and are greatly appreciated. Keeping this journal is a form of self induced therapy until I figure it is time to go talk to a professional who can help me work through things that I have done to get myself to this state. I am the cause and I am the solution.

Unfortunately I haven't had a very pleasant week. I got a very severe cold last weekend which I think started a week ago Friday. Monday I was a mess and had to leave the office early, got home took some over the counter stuff and went to bed. I spent most of Tuesday in bed with little to no improvement. Went into work on Wednesday to get a deliverable out to my customer and ended up leaving again around mid day. Hopefully I didn't get anyone else sick. I stayed home yesterday and think it was the worst day of the week. I woke up this morning feeling much better and ventured out to my Reston VA office before heading over for a doctor’s appointment. Before I get to that, this is probably the worst cold I have ever had. It really knocked me out.

Now for the doctor's appointment, the primary purpose was a check up on my Type II Diabetes and the shots of Byetta my doctor has me giving myself twice a day. It was actually a very good appointment. My weight is down by about 7 lbs from my last visit (approx 8 weeks). Now for those of you who think that the weight loss is due to being sick, I actually made sure that I was following my diet and I also got in a couple of very low impact workouts on the elliptical cross trainer although very short in duration.

Now that I am feeling better, I need to make sure that I am being more consistent with the workouts and do a better job with the diet. As for the diet, my doctor recommended that I consider joining weightwatchers. The funny thing is that I have several friends who have gone that route who have made the same recommendation and have their successes. So I think I am finally going to listen to the advice and join. Hopefully this will help me do a better job of balancing a healthy diet with a good exercise program as I progress down the road on my journey. I am also looking at hiring a personal trainer for some weight training a few days a week to give me a balance with the cardio I am doing.

Stay tuned for my updates soon!

Weight Loss Journey - 2/26/08

Reality has finally set in for me regarding my weight and it is time to take action. I need to lose about 75 lbs to get myself back to a healthy weight for my height. The scary thing is that now I am considered to be Type II Diabetic. In addition to pills I take for bad cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels, I am now giving myself a shot in my stomach twice a day with a drug called Byetta. I have been making a lot of excuses for not eating right and working out regularly and I need to make some changes.

Today marks one of many changes I need to make in both my attitude and approach. Several weeks ago, I bought a very nice elliptical cross trainer that was delivered this evening and is now sitting in my living room. I had a great work out this evening and I have no excuse for not getting on this thing and exercising.

My goal is to be off all the meds except the Synthyroid by the end of 2008. My starting weight is 242 and I am 5'4". Check for updates on my progress and here are some pictures elliptical cross trainer and one of me.

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October 30

Weight Loss Journal - 2005/10/30

Not much to report, I am down to around 210 lbs and I am feeling good.  It is starting to look real good that I am going to reach my goal of being under 200 lbs by the end of the year.
October 17

Weight Loss Journal - 2005/10/17

My weight loss has slowed down a little, but I expect to be losing about 2 to 3 lbs  a week over the next 6 to 8 weeks.  Most of the loss to date has been water weight although I am drinking about a gallon of water a day.  I have also noticed that I am starting to thin out which makes me believe that while I losing fat in some places, I am gaining muscle in other places.  I have lost a little over an inch from my waist.
 
I have heard people say that muscle is heavier than fat, but in reality an ounce of each weigh the same.  Muscle is just more dense.  So you ask, what's the point Scott?  I made the deduction about my weight loss because in addition to the 45 minutes of cardio I am now doing Monday through Saturday, I am also lifting weights those days alternating between Upper Body/Arms and Lower Back/Legs.  I am also doing an ab workout everyday.  On Sundays I do an hour of cardio.  I have to admit that I did not think that I was going to be able to get into a routine, but I have.  The thing that has helped is the fact that my current project work can be done remotely from home so I am using my lunch time to work out.
 
My big challange will be when I start traveling again !
 
I saw my Doctor this morning for a follow up to my appointment last month and I have to admit that I shocked him with the progress I have made.  He was surprised at the amount of weight I have lost!  Although his main concerns are that my blood pressure and cholesterol meds are at the right dosage.  I have been on blood pressure medication for about 8 years taking Adalat, but because I am falling into the category of Pre-Diabetic, he had to change my prescription to a med that would not inhibit my ability to process glucose.  Yes, I am bit insulin resistant.  When he made the change, he put me on a lower dose and had to increase it today.  I am not worried because once I get my weight down and I keep on exercising, I can get myself off the blood pressure meds and get myself out of the Pre-Diabetic zone.  I guess I am lucky that he caught this early because I am not taking any Diabetic meds or insulin shots.  There is also a good chance that I can get off the cholesterol meds, but there is also a chance that I could be on it for the rest of my life.
 
All I know is that I am starting to have more energy, getting to sleep with out the aid of pills and losing weight.  All good things.  I still have a very long way to go on this journay, but I am dedicated to getting myself healthy.  The alternatives are; I could have a heart attack, or become a Type II diabetic.
 
Current weight as of this morning is 215 lbs !
 
Until next time!
 
Cheers,
Scott
October 09

Weight Loss Journal - 2005/10/09

Another week has gone by and I am making slow steady progress.  I weighed in at 216 this morning  which is about the half way mark to my first goal of being under 200 lbs by the end of the year.  I can't say that I have developed new habits and a discipline to living a healthy, but I am well on my way to getting there.
 
I have been slowly changing my exercise routine to make it a little more intense, but I am going slowly so that I do not burn myself out.  As for the diet, I think that I am doing a fair job, but the key is to stop calling it a diet and calling it maintaining a more healthy lifestyle.
 
I am looking forward to the day that I can see my feet without bending over.  It is still too early to post new pictures, but keep checking back as I hope to present a new and improved version of Scott for all to see.
 
Cheers until next week! 
October 02

Weight Loss Journal - 2005/10/02

It is has been two weeks since I started the diet and exercise programs and I have to say I am starting to feel like I have more energy.  I have also broken the 220 mark and I am now at 219.  I am beginning to think that I may actually reach my first goal of being under 200 lbs by the end of the year.  Let's just hope that I don't reach my first plateau until after I hit that goal  !
 
There really isn't much else to report other than, I still have cravings for the bad foods that I used to eat.  I am getting through this with pure will power.  Hopefully this need for will power to keep myself going will turn into discipline.
 
Well, that is it for know, time to get myself moving so that I can head into the city for a flag football game.
 
Cheers,
Scott
 
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