I stated that my next step on this transformation journey was lab tests. I discovered that I was trying to leapfrog over my actual next step after completing the paperwork: my initial appointment.
Oops.
I know I am nervous about those lab tests. Is anyone else also a nervous nelly over needles? Mind you, I tell the kids that needles and shots are no big deal. While getting our flu shots, I paste my madonna smile on my face and reassure the kids that the shot is nothing to worry about.
They have no idea needles make me anxious. Let’s not even discuss how I am at the sight of blood.
I have a reprieve from needles for the moment!
Telehealth Visit
So my initial visit will be a telehealth visit. I have never had a telehealth visit. I have attended countless numbers of Zoom meetings for business. I have had many a FaceTime conversations with friends and family. But I have never had a virtual medical visit.
Have you had a telehealth medical appointment? Share your telehealth experiences on the Calmglow Facebook page!
There are a number of things I will not miss about a typical medical visit: wearing a lovely paper gown and sitting on a paper covered table in an exam room. I do not own a scale, so I won’t be weighed (not sad about that at all!).
I will let you know about the telehealth visit. Promise!
Food, Fat and Being Non-Judgmental
One of my health goals is to lose a bunch of weight. I am not sure if the team at Calmglow would want me to track my diet, but I think it is a good idea. Before I can make any improvements, I need to know what my usual diet is. The good, the bad and the ugly.
I promised myself that I would start with tracking and being non-judgmental about what I am eating.
Then I listed everything I ate and saw the results.
Being non-judgmental is proving difficult.
Dang, I have no idea I was eating so many calories and so much fat. Had you asked me before I started tracking, I would have said I ate a pretty healthy diet. I love so many healthy foods: salmon, avocado, green protein shakes, salads, vegetables, fruit. Summer fruit. Is there anything better?!!
Then I measured and weighed everything.
Let’s start with my green protein shake. My morning protein shake has 2 cups of power greens. Something with 2 cups of power greens is beyond health. Right? The rest is almond milk, protein powder, oatmeal, and Greek yogurt.
So healthy!
Also over 500 calories.
Dang.
My lunch salad was the next meal put under a microscope (or should I say introduced to my new kitchen scale). Power greens, chicken breast, avocado, tomatoes, shredded cheese, carrots, cucumbers, and pumpkin seeds. One healthy meal! Just needs a little dressing to finish.
Yikes! So many calories. Those may be healthy fats, but the number of fat grams surprised me.
I recently discovered a local rancher who has grass-fed and grass-finished beef. On the dinner menu was one of their incredible steaks, grilled and served with squashes sautéed with onions. Feeling most virtuous for foregoing my favorite side dish: a baked potato.
Holy moley. My dinner was over 1000 calories!
Food Chart: Calories and Macro Nutrients
Creating a spreadsheet to track your food, weighing and measuring everything, and looking up the calories, fats, proteins and carbs for each meal may not help everyone. But what I learned surprised me.
A day that started with a green protein shake, had a lunch salad and finished with just protein and non-starchy vegetables would be considered very healthy by most counts.
Except it wasn’t exactly healthy. Too much of a good thing is not good. The only reason I discovered this was because I examined the results of my data.
The numbers had a story to tell me. The trick now is to remain non-judgmental while I put my typical menus to the test. To capture what I am eating, what, when and why I am eating, without thinking poorly about myself.
Have to figure out what my normal looks like so that I’ll know what needs tweaking to improve.
Thank you for sharing my journey with me. Email at [email protected] or post on the Calmglow Facebook page if you are also starting your journey to optimal health. Share what have been your challenges. What has surprised you. Share your mistakes too if you would like!
Your journey to optimal health may not have a weight loss component. Maybe you are transforming from someone who drags through the day to someone brimming with energy!
If you are further along the journey, email, or post to share your tips and knowledge gained! What does your transformation look like? Weight loss, more energy? Something else?
This week’s journey to optimal health was full of mistakes and surprises. Next week has a first: my telehealth visit.
The second week of my journey – having taken that first step of the transformation. I don’t see any improvement but I have faith that with the help from Calmglow incredible results will be seen in the future.
LP (In The Transformation Zone)
