In my previous post, the results from a recent blood test revealed that I have a Vitamin D deficiency.  My doctor immediately prescribed Vitamin D to take with my meals twice a day.

This revelation led to some Google searches on Vitamin D.  After conducting some general research, I discovered that people with  Vitamin D deficiency are at higher risk for certain chronic diseases and ailments such as-

• diabetes
• heart disease
• rickets
• osteoporosis
• certain cancers
• obesity
Source: Global Healing Center

Also, lack of vitamin D not only reeks havoc on a person's  physical health, but mental health as well.  In Norway, a three year study was conducted on over 400 overweight or obese patients. Participants that had lower Vitamin D levels (<16/ml), displayed higher levels of depression than those who had Vitamin D levels greater than >16/ml. Source: Vitamin D revolution

After reading these different articles, I had to ask myself how long was I Vitamin D deficient and how much of an impact did it have on my weight?  Also, could it be the key to help me keep the fat off and regulate my weight?

A  number of studies have been conducted looking at the correlation between the lack of Vitamin D and obesity.  While the studies can not say for certain if lack of Vitamin D actually causes obesity, people who are obese do lack vitamin D.  Also, patients who increased their Vitamin D intake loss more weight overall than those who did not (note: these patients were also on a very low calorie restricted diet).  The reason for the weight loss?  It could be that Vitamin D also plays a significant role in regulating a person's blood sugar.  Source: Science Daily

If you have struggled with weight all of your life, it may be worth your while to have your primary physician conduct an extensive blood test to measure your levels of Vitamin D.  If your levels are below 20/ml, then you may have a Vitamin D insufficiency.  Anything under 15/ml is considered a deficency (mine measured at 10/ml). 

In the upcoming months, my doctor intends to do another blood test to see if my weight loss and intake of Vitamin D will yield an improvement in my Vitamin D levels. 

For more reading on Vitamin D, check out the links below:

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/10-foods-containing-vitamin-d/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090611142524.htm

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml

I meant with  my Dr yesterday.  As noted in a previous post, I'm working with a doctor who specializes in weight loss to help me get my weight loss on track.

In a period of two weeks, I lost 14lbs and she was quite impressed with the results.  However, during our dicussion, she reviewed my blood work and this is what I found out:

• Low Oxygen Blood Count
• High Triglycerides
• Low (Deficient) Vitamin D levels
• Low MCH and MCV
• High Glucose

In short, the results show that I am pre-diabetic, and I show signs of anemia.  Granted, I did not fast prior to the blood work up, but regardless, the results of the blood test is confirmation that I needed to get my act together.

Now back to the good news:  My weight loss.  During the begining of my program, eating such a restrictive calorie diet was hard, but I knew it was necessary.  I did my best to keep my caloric intake to no more than 1000 cal. and engage in vigorous exercise at least 4 times per week.  Eating was not so much an issue, but the exercise was a challenge.  I was only able to do 3 times per week because I am in the process of moving, however, my goal is 5-6 days per week.  The news of my weight loss is encouraging me to lose 20lbs the next time I see her.  I'm thinking that if I worked out more frequently, greater weight loss would have occurred.

However, if I don't reach that goal, I won't beat myself up; I'll be grateful for any pounds I shed so I can move closer to improved blood lab results and a trimmer waistline.

In one's endeavors to lose weight, there is nothing like the support of friends and family to help you make that life change.   When you  know that you  have people that have your back, it helps you stay on track, especially when it comes to working out.   A friend of mine has expressed her interest in joining me for bellydancing and hula hoop classes that I attend through my meetup.com groups.  For me, having a buddy is a great way to inject variety into my workouts.

 However, in talking with my brother, he expressed his extreme disdain for working out with other people.  He recently joined NYSC in Westchester County, and during is Early Bird workouts (at 5:30am), he ran into a school buddy of his that he knew since Kindergarten (my brother is now 31).

His friend decided to take treadmill next to my brother, and commenced conversing with him.  For the first couple of minutes my brother said he did not mind chit chatting and shooting the breeze, but after 10 minutes, he felt distracted and did not get the most of his cardio exercise.  Since that encounter, he does his best to avoid people as much as possible because his time is tight, he wants his workout to be as focused as possible.

This had me thinking; do work out buddies help or hinder your workout?  Are they a source of motivation or the cause of a half-assed workout?

What has your personal experience been?

After five years of good intentions, I am finally getting serious about my weight loss.  Sure, I talked a good game in the past- "I'm going to get up at 5am to workout for an hour before I go to work," or "Joining a gym near my job will force me to not make excuses to not go workout," and my favorite, "Tomorrow, I'm going on a diet (and this time I mean it)!"

However, my good intentions and plans fell to the wayside by a busy job (that brings very little professional growth or development) and personal family drama (which I may or may not share at a latter time).  I found myself consumed by 12-13 hour workdays, followed by weekends at my mother's house trying to get things in order there.  With only time to eat and sleep for a few hours, working out was becoming a pipedream.  The lack of exercise, stress and personal disatisfaction with my place of employment started to do a real number on waistline and health.

As my mom used to say, I've always been a "chunky monkey." However, as the additional pounds started to pile on, I started experiencing the adverse side effects of obesity.  My blood pressure became so high that I had to be put on medication to regulate it.  My family started teasing me about how loud my snoring became, but I later found out it was no laughing matter...I had developed sleep apnea.  My joints started aching,  and at times, my feet would swell.  If those issues were not enough, I had to have my gallbladder removed last year.

If I wanted a better quality of life, I needed to get serious about the weight loss.  If not, I knew that I would find myself dealing with other ailments such as diabetes, heart disease or other obesity related diseases or worse, an early death.

As part of my reality check, I had to get on a scale when I met with a weight loss specialist in Brooklyn.  When I saw that I weighed 30lbs heavier than I thought,  for a moment, I check out mentally.  This was unreal.  From that moment, the excuses stopped, and I had to take serious responsibility in my role (or my addiction to butter rolls) in my massive weight gain. 

Rather than saying, "I can't afford a trainer" or "I can't afford a weight loss program," I started putting my research skills to use  (that I frequently use at work) to help me find an affordable solution to my problem.  With the help of google and craigslist, I found a trainer within my budget and a weight loss specialist (who is a board certified doctor trained in bariatric surgery) that was cheaper than Jenny Craig!

Of course, I had to make some sacrifices (slashed clothing and entertainment budget), but in the long run, it will be well worth it. It was a difficult check, but the reality check I write myself now will mean a better and improved life down the road.

Hello all, my name is Tammy, and I am taking earnest steps in losing weight once and for all.  After a weigh-in with a weight loss specialist in Brooklyn, I came to the realization that the excuses had to stop if I wanted a better quality of life now and in the future.  Therefore, I am taking a three prong attack in losing weight: I'm working with a personal trainer (and actually using my rather expensive gym membership), working with a doctor that specializing in helping patients lose a lot of weight and I'm seeing a therapist.

My goal is that in this time around (this is not my first time), I will keep the weight off.