2nd check-in w the dr's office

weight 219 (down 2-1/2lb from last week, 11lb since march 1st)
blood pressure - bad (160/100)
blood results: everything is perfect except

beta-carotene, which is very high, and
cholesterol, which is so low the dr thought i'd been taking pills. told him i've never had to take cholesterol pills in my life - he said he's only ever seen readings like mine in ppl who've been taking cholesterol pills.

conjectured it could be the bodybuilding/powerlifting (muscle repair requires testosterone, which is made out of cholesterol) otherwise, not a clue.

the beta carotene is a puzzler: i don't eat carrots but i do eat a lot of salad. i take two multi-vitamins a day, dr said keep that up until the next blood test in six weeks.so either i'm somehow taking in too much or could it be i'm not using it up like i should be? i'm going to research what vitA does and see if maybe something i can do would force increased utilization and get that level down.

the good news is he doesn't want me to start the blood pressure pills - urine tests came back normal (finally!) so my kidneys are no longer being stressed by my blood pressure. he said i could buy the script tomorrow and start on half the original dosage prescribed or i can leave it until the next test - "normal test means now we have time but that doesn't mean you can relax!".

checking out weight loss websites and so far - NOT impressed.

sparkpeople.net - lots of great tools, but they limit your caloric choices. you simply cannot lose more than THEY deem you should, nor can you plan a VLCD diet (even though i'm dr-approved) because THEY don't agree with them.

dietsupport - no clue - i can't get in. i signed up, went through all the stupid hoops with the rather poor layout, only to get a "Facebook authentication failed" error every time i try to log in. i was never asked for my facebook info, nor did i give permission to link my facebook. when i blew up at customer "support", i get a snippy reply saying "i don't like your attitude" and telling me to log in and do it myself ... when i just finished saying i CAN'T log in. way too amateur.

and here we go again

so life's been hectic up and down and all around - but here we are, back on the diet bandwagon.

that hip replacement is looming ever-larger and the last little while (call it a month? maybe tw0?) i've been getting worrisome sensations in my chest - feels like my heart is out of sync and i can't breathe. blood pressure is getting higher - now it's a good day if it's 155/110.

but on the plus side (plus size?): i have a stable home - one i don't have to worry about the landlord wanting it back or whatever. if i want to knock out walls and put a corn field in front the house, i can do that.

the walking is still going on - the dog'd piss on my shoes if i skipped - but it's not 10k/day. because i'm no longer on social assistance and have my own business with contract hours, i don't have the time.

that also means i have the income to actually be able to plan out a diet instead of making do.

back on a VLCD - have to check in with the doctor every week but i might check in for weekly weigh-ins at the dietician and see the doctor every month for blood pressure readings, blood panel, etc.

750cal/day plus unlimited salad, eating every three hours - that's the plan.

breakfast:
1 egg (poached or boiled)
1/4 c baked beans (vegetarian)
1 medium apple

snack: 1/4 medium avocado

lunch:
1 egg (poached or boiled)
1/4c baked beans (vegetarian)
1/4 medium avocado

snack: 1 medium apple

dinner:
1 cheese string
1/4 medium avocado
1/2c fresh blueberries.

for snack-attacks, the salad is unlimited and delicious with balsamic vinegar.