Category: Blog

I’m finally starting to do some traveling – one of my goals for retirement. My husband’s head injury almost two years ago got in the way. Along with a few other stressors. Though we have gone on two cruises and I’ve visited my family some since his head injury so I have done some.

First the second cruise taught me that I am very much dependent on the service dog.  And I have started to train the second.

So the first trip is an overnighter next week, and for a diabetes function.  I’m sure I’m supposed to disclose this but I don’t know how much yet.

Also an agility friend told me that I needed to start making checklists so here’s a check list for an over night trip.

—–

• CPAP
• Diabetes supplies
  • Insulin
  • 2 spare infusion sets
  • 2 cartridges
  • Syringes
• Medication
  • Pillpacks for 3 days
  • Allergy Meds
  • Nepro patches – 2
• Service dog supplies
  • Crate
  • 2 bowls
  • Food for 6 meals
• Clothing
  • Workout clothing
• • Pajamas (suitable for walking the dog in the middle of the night
  • Business casual outfit with shoes
• Toiletries
• • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Brush
  • Makeup kit
•  Electronics
  • iPhone / cable
  • iPad     / cable
  • Surface (not sure which one yet) / cable
  •  cable for Apple Watch
• Food
  • Salad with Jenny Craig Salad kit
  • Snack for evening
  • Jenny Craig shake

Planning just in case we get hit with a flight delay.  And I’m already forgetting things.

I rushed out of the house today without replacing the test strips in my purse last night after using the last one.  I wasn’t really worried, as I knew I had a stash of supplies in the car.

Whoops the expiration date was 2016/5.  Replacing those next!

(And checking if the links to the blog work right).

BTW, I’m getting ready for two trips.  More on the first one in a later post.

Totally forgot two more important victories:

A scale one – I mentioned that I am seeing a new decade on the scale, but I am also over 70 pounds lost since the lap band surgery. 

And a non-scale one.  I purchased and successfully wore a skirt in the smallest size since the lap band surgery.  I wore a bigger top, because I have to run in the outfit.

Very happy dance.

First, my labs were back, and I didn’t realize this was possible.  Back in June, my A1C was 8.6.  Drum roll please – my A1C is 6.4!  The Jenny Craig plan is definitely working.  I have had a few rough weeks, but I’m back to losing two pounds a week.  Better yet, I’m in a new decade now on the scale.  Also my cholesterol is almost in range without a statin drug.  The statin pain seems to be gone, but I’m dealing with other pain now.

I’m getting ready to go to the National Beagle Specialty which is a big deal for me.  All three dogs are entered, but not sure how many are going or competing.  Macy is only entered in two classes, but she hasn’t done well in competition lately.  Very slow.  Dulce is entered in all possible classes, but she hasn’t seemed to wanting to be in the ring.  I’m contributing it to my pain level and am really trying to get that under control.  Jamie is in Sweepstakes and his regular class in conformation.  He still has a major issue to overcome.

The Specialty is in Ocala, Florida, a two day drive.  One of the things that was bothering me about the trip was staying in a hotel room for 5 days with three dogs.  One of my beagle Facebook friends came up with a really good idea: AirBNB.  I really wanted to share a house with her – she found two possible – they are guest houses on horse farms.  Whoever, they were concerned about the number of dogs.  With my three, and at least two others – yes, it could be a problem.

But her idea was really great, so I looked into finding something similar for one person.  Found one for $60 a night, studio apartment with a fenced in yard for the dogs!  Win! Win!  Between cages, puppy pen, and the yard, it should be doable and fun.  Also, Jenny Craig food should be doable, and its 20 minutes from the show site.  My plan during the day is to work the Rescue table when I’m not showing and keep the dogs in one large crate with me.  Using my wagon to transport “stuff”.

Thanks to Jenny Craig, I’m at my lowest weight in a long time.  I’ve lost over 10 pounds, and about to see a new decade on the scale.

However, I’m discouraged because I’m not seeing any pain relief and now am dealing with sciatica.  I’ve got an text message out to my chiropractic student.  The good news is that I’m scheduled for a round of doctor’s visits. 

So good and bad.  Though the TENS unit seems to be helping the sciatica.

I’ve been on Jenny Craig now for 4 weeks.  I’ve lost over 8 pounds, which puts me right where they want me – 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Here’s why it is working for me:

Portion control

most of the foods are prepared, the ones that aren’t I can’t really over eat on or it doesn’t matter – also the food is edible.

A list of foods to eat

Accountability but in a nice week

Now I lost the first sixty pounds with the lap band,but it didn’t give me any of the above, except for portion control.  I needed the list.  And the list has to be edible.

I tried an outfit here in town which was a total waste.  The accountability was very punitive – if you went off plan, they restricted you even more, and the plan made no sense?  What no Brussel sprouts?

I’ve tried things like MyFitnessPal, which I still use, but didn’t work for me either.  I’ve tried just pre-portioned food, again doesn’t work for me. 

If you are diabetic, be aware that you have to have your doctor sign a very detailed permission slip.  That’s important, because they really do change up the carbs.  I’m taking much less insulin then before.

Here’s what is working for me.  I have a list each day from Jenny Craig.  I check off the food.  And it’s a lot of food, especially for a lap band gal. 

Breakfast is usually a Jenny shake – great for me as I can’t get anything solid down then.  About an hour later, I eat the Jenny breakfast entrée of the day.  Then yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit.  I have to split up all my meals and sometimes I don’t get them all in.  That’s okay.  I make sure I get enough protein and I’m good.

And just in case you want to give it a try – I have an email with a $25 off promotion.

If you are diabetic, you won’t be able to start right away.  You go in and they fax your doctor a permission letter.  You want that.

I didn’t lose weight the first week because my insulin needs changes drastically and I had to tweak my pump.  Now that it’s closer to right I’m losing weight.   I’ll have to rinse and repeat, as my insulin needs change.

I started on Jenny Craig Monday lunch.  We’d faxed a permission form to my Endo on Saturday, they indicated to Jenny Craig that they would return it on Monday morning, so they called and I was able to start.  My scales say I’ve lost around 3 pounds in the two days.

I like that I have a planner that I just check off what I’ve ate.  That’s one way DietToGo could fix things.  I didn’t really see that kind of tool.  I also like have those extra meals around.  Last night, when I just had to have something else, instead of pulling out random junk food, I pulled out a DietToGo meal and ate some of it.  Tossed the rest.  I do have another week coming today.  My husband is eating some of those meals too.

I’m on the 20/20 plan and my consultant has been quite available to ask questions – so it’s all good.  No – just check the website when I have a question.  She actually answers it.

Food is good but expensive.

First, the people on the Facebook Group are down right snarky.  I called one out for cyberbullying Friday.  Seems more people complain than encourage or uplift.  You try to make things better and you get bullied.  While I got some positive reinforcement from the employees of Diet to Go, it didn’t off set the snarky.

Second, support doesn’t support.  When I made a legitimate complainant – the nutritional information isn’t on the meals, I get this:  go out to the website.  Okay, so it’s Sunday at noon, and I need the carb counts on a meal.

I go to DietToGo.com 

Login to MyDietToGo

I see Week 3 (oh, it’s Week 2)

No back button so I have to click “Next Week”

Now I’m on Week 4

Click “Next week”

Now Week 5

Click “Next Week”

Now Week 1

Click “Next Week”

Now Week 2

Oh, I made a meal substitution so it isn’t showing, so I have to find the missing meal, and redo the substitution. 

I can FINALLY click on nutrition and finally get the carb count.

Not counting the time to find a device that will let me do this (it’s even this way on the mobile device) – now my meal is cold and unappetizing.  Especially if it’s ground turkey.

I’m supposed to be getting a spreadsheet. Hey, print out all the information needed on the labels, not just the minimum requirement. 

The second best answer is not to roll off the meals until two weeks after they expired.

All easy fixes.

There is still the shipping issue.

There is one last local solution – Jenny Craig, which I visited on Saturday.  Bad news, if you are a diabetic, you need to go by there, have them fax your doctor to get permission, and wait until he gives it.  I remember why I’m not on it now, the doctor I had wanted me to get a lap band, probably for some type of kickback and wouldn’t sign.  I am pretty sure this doctor will sign. 

Cons:

The whole shipping thing.  However, neighbors are wanting the coolers.

Nutrition information isn’t on all the packages. This is a BIG deal for diabetics.

Some of the food is difficult to microwave and the directions aren’t clear.  Those are the foods with out nutrition information.

Pros:

Food is good.  Even the breakfast is working.  Food is medium easy to eat which is a good thing.  And it tastes good, but sometimes too spiced.

Blood sugar is smoother.