Leigh Ann Raynor's journal
 |  Raynor rarely cooked her own meals before joining the 8-week program. |
| |
| YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS |
Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in.
Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions.
|
|
|
(CNN) -- Like her four fellow "New You Revolution" participants, Leigh Ann Raynor is recording regular journal entries documenting her efforts to break bad habits over the program's eight-week run.
Raynor, who underwent a major and successful heart surgery six months before starting the "New You" program, hopes to improve her health by bettering her eating habits and exercising regularly. Below are excerpts from the 49-year-old Georgia resident's journal. (Profile; E-mail Raynor)
February 22-28
I logged 2.15 miles on the treadmill, [and] 45 minutes with the trainer, working on abs and legs. I also had no snacks today.
Friday is my day off, so I was able to spend more time at the gym than usual: 3.1 miles on the treadmill -- my longest walk yet.
When I woke up this morning, I had already determined not to go to cardiac rehab, because I had so much work to do. At about 10 minutes before it was to start, I reminded myself that this is what a lifestyle change is all about: It's about making the time for the things that are important, like exercise. Obviously, I went to rehab.
Sunday: No exercise today. (Even God rested on the seventh day!)
February 15-21
Today, I cooked a meal for a couple of friends and for the CNN crew that was here.
I made a terrific salad that had toasted almonds, dried cranberries, a little blue cheese, mixed baby greens and arugula. I even made the dressing for it, under the careful tutelage of church members Al and Carolyn Wight.
I also made salmon and dessert. I made a recipe that Ann Taylor Pittman from Cooking Light sent to me. It's a frozen peanut butter pie.
(Editor's note: Four weeks earlier, Pittman -- a food editor at Cooking Light magazine -- visited Raynor and offered her healthy cooking tips.)
I took the rest of the peanut butter pie to the office for the guys to eat! That was the only way I was going to stop eating that pie, which was 264 calories a slice!
I also did 1.76 miles on the treadmill at cardiac rehab.
When I was a cardiac rehab, I weighed two pounds more than I did when I weighed in at the trainer's on Saturday morning. And when I weighed in at my weight loss support group tonight, I weighed two pounds more than I did just this morning! My only explanation is different scales, because there is no way I gained two pounds from this morning to this evening!
I've been feeling pretty good about myself these days. Even though when I look in the mirror I can't tell that I've lost any weight, other people tell me that they see a difference.
February 8-14
Today was my "personal best" in exercising. I went to cardiac rehab and walked 1.53 miles on the treadmill. From there, I went to the Y and walked another 1.56 miles. After that, I met with my trainer and worked on arms, legs and abs.
Ate salad with boiled shrimp for lunch, from [a seafood restaurant]. It was the first fast food I've had in several weeks, and it was a major disappointment: wilted lettuce, overcooked shrimp, really high-calorie, high-fat dressing (which I didn't use). I could have done better than that.
I went out to dinner with friends, and I made a much healthier food choice than I would have prior to the "New You Revolution." I ate blackened tuna over Thai-style rice, with artichokes and steamed broccoli. Interesting, it must have been more than I've been accustomed to eating lately, because I was pretty miserable afterwards, and I didn't even eat all of it.
I am grateful for good friends who remember that Valentine's Day can be a sad day for their single friends!
February 1-7
To be healthier, I cooked!
I didn't eat the "real meal" at church supper; didn't eat dessert; and only used one individual salad dressing, whereas I would have previously used two.
Today is the first day that I've been hungry after I ate a meal. I was still hungry after eating the salad at church, and I'm hungry now.
My biggest accomplishment was also my biggest setback. After walking two miles on the treadmill and working on arms and abs with the trainer, I decided to try the "stepper" for a little while. A "little while" turned out to be five minutes, during which time I was reasonably sure I was either going to die, or my legs were going to fall off -- I wasn't sure which was going to happen first.
I was going at a snail's pace, with no "resistance" on the stepper at all, and I could still only go five minutes. Why would anyone invent a machine that mimics something that elevators made obsolete?
I resisted the urge to get fast food after church on Sunday. I feel energized. I think I'm finally starting to feel some of the benefits of exercise.
I walked farther on the treadmill than I ever have -- for 45 minutes!
January 25-31
On Tuesday, I met with Dr. [Len] Lichtenfeld of the American Cancer Society to talk about smoking cessation. I also went grocery shopping with my nutritionist.
I still feel like I haven't really "recovered" from last week.
I went to an aerobics class at my church, but the class was too much for me. My arthritic knee killed me. I think I might be better off with one of those water aerobics classes at the gym.
This is difficult for me, though, because I hate defeat. I hate limitations, and I hate it when other people do something I can't. I've got to find some way to deal with this competitive nature of mine.
When I got home from aerobics class, I literally fell asleep sitting up on the sofa, with my dinner plate in my lap. I'm amazed that my dogs didn't take advantage of that opportunity to eat a second supper.
I'm grateful for the "New You Revolution" program, but wow, I'm TIRED.
January 18-24
I made a healthy choice while eating at a restaurant, and controlled my portion size at an official function where I didn't control the menu.
But I ate way too much while we were in New York. And other than walking to the CNN studio, I had no exercise at all.
I realize that this is my fault, since there was a gym in the hotel, and I didn't take advantage of it. I had plenty of free time, so this is an example of how I need to make better choices and better use of my time.
I still feel a little panicked about how fast these weeks are going to pass, but a little better about myself after exercise.
I'm very grateful for the e-mails, cards, letters and phone calls I've received from strangers and friends alike. I'm also grateful for the number of e-mails I've received from my church members, and the love and support they are showing me. I am also grateful for this experience.
