1/4/11 Vitamins

I re-established my vitamin intake today. The difference in my attitude and energy is incredible. I have been suffering from a major lack of energy and motivation since before my pneumonia, and today the exact opposite occurred. I have been sleeping a lot due to being so tired and I had totally reversed my schedule to where I was literally going to sleep at around 7am and sleeping till about 2pm with at least 2 naps to follow. I was feeling like a vampire, and my kids, although they were fed and I was here, they were pretty much alone when Janell was at work. I would only get up to feed them and settle a dispute, otherwise, for the last month I have been out of it.  My attitude has stunk and my house and school work are a wreck.

As of this morning I got up at 8am, ate, and took all my vitamins. My vitamins are: firstly, "the berry vomit" or vitamin code supplement that I have told you about before; second, 1000 mg Vitamin C, 2 Green Tea extract capsules, 1000 mg Omega 3 fish oil, 300 mg St. Johns Wart, Vitamin B-100 complex cap which covers all 11 Vita B variations, and finally 60 mg of Ginkgo Biloba extract because I have felt a bit foggy as well. I took all of this with my breakfast and I have been bouncing off the walls, motivated, clear headed, and best of all happy. I have been doing my school work, cleaning the house, and playing with the kids all day. It is amazing to realize how much being sick takes out of you, I must have been very Vitamin deficient after all the meds and being sick. I am just sad that my kids were having to deal with me this way even after they had gotten better. My wife was a trooper and kept going into work, but she has taken a while to recover as well and now I am certain that she is also in need of some replenishment to help her over that last little hump.

I want to workout later but like I said, my house is beyond ridiculous right now. So depending on how much I get done today, I may finally be working out again tomorrow. I actually really miss the Yoga and the other videos I was doing. I am so happy to feel alive again, you have no idea. For now it is on to get my house back in order and start living again, instead of hiding out and sleeping my life away.

I also want you to know a little more about my plan, I will be updating my website with the full layout as well, but for now I am just going to put an overview here. I have a point allotment of 64 points through the Weight Watchers program. So that means I have up to that 64 points to use for all my meals for the day. I am keeping a food journal now and with that I can calculate the amount of points I have used against that allotted 64. OK, so I know a lot of you are going to want to know how the points are calculated, so I will attempt to explain here. But as always if you have any questions, let me know and I will answer or give a reference to something that will.

The original allotment that you are given is based on a few items. Age, set in a reverse order of 4,3,2,1,0; against the youngest to oldest age range 17-50+ in 10 year intervals, you choose your range and add those points to your list. For example, I am 33, so for this question I receive 3 points. Next sex, as a male I receive 8 points, female gets 2 points, with a nursing mother receiving 12 points. Question 3 is, how tall are you? Under 5 ft = 0 points, 5' - 5'10" = 1 pt, and over = 2 like me. Question  #4 is the weight question, so what you do is take the first 2 digits of your current weight and that gives you your points in this category. For example I was 512 on 1-1-11, so I get 51 points here. So then the last question is your regular daily activity level, it is set on a 4 way scale with 0,2,4,6 as the points you receive, I get zero here on purpose. So that adds up for me to 64.

The way used points are calculated in food consumed is hard to explain without the slider scale that I got as a member of weight watchers. but it averages out to about 45-50 calories per 1 point. The reason why it is difficult to calculate is due to dietary fiber and total fat in grams, being variables in the equation. The calories are the basis of the original scale, but the fiber and fat counter act each other, fiber is a positive for you and fat a negative. OK, so there is the basic idea of the points, seems complicated at first but it really isn't. I also have been through the program before and have books and previous lists of points for food so it is a but easier for me to start again. I do recommend writing calculated food points down the first time you eat something new, if you plan on doing this, then you will know your favorites by serving size and memory soon enough, then the program becomes a fun game. Now keep in mind that WW does offer counseling, group meetings, weekly weigh ins, and all kinds of tips to keep you successful, so I do recommend going through them if you never have. I am not at this time due to finances, but if and when that changes I too may return to the meetings.

So I am back with a vengeance, and excited to see how far I go now. Now that there is no stupid food soaked holidays, illnesses, or just plain old depression in my way. I will continue to get up and fight and I hope and pray that my struggles will be a light in your life and inspire the changes you want to make. I love you all. James.