PERSISTENCE
I have been trying to lose weight for a very long time with NO SUCCESS. Imagine my surprise when the scale actually registered a lower number again and then again. I haven’t increased my exercise — in fact, because of the pain in my knee, I’ve cut back. I was getting more than 10,000 steps a day. Now I’m lucky if I get 7,000. While I’m no longer going down, the temperature has risen and the little bit of sodium in my diet equals a weight gain.
I don’t know what is causing this weight reduction, I think it might be a combination. Because of the pain in various body parts I have a cherry – chocolate smoothie for breakfast. The chocolate comes from unsweetened cocoa. I was adding one scoop of protein powder until I read that in order for woman over 50 to lose weight, she should have 25 – 30 mg of protein at each meal. Now I have two scoops of protein with a cup of almond milk. Cherries are supposed to be helpful with pain. Studies of cocoa have found that it may reduce the risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. Two weeks after starting this smoothie, I received an invitation to join a study. I would have to give up the vitamins and stuff I’m currently doing in order to take their pills for four years. I’m going to stay the course with what I’m doing, not take the chance that it might be a placebo.
Since my knee was yelling, a man at the veteran’s clinic shared an idea that is supposed to help with pain. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and two tablespoons of honey in water. I’ve taken one tablespoon of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, one or two times a day in water to help with my digestion. So I increased the vinegar to two. When I added the honey it went all over the counter and other places so I just take the bottle and squirt a bit into the warm or hot water. I’m trying for twice a day. It is supposed to take a month before I’ll notice a difference.
The third part of the equation is a mixture of 4 oz cranberry juice in 28 oz of water consumed during the day. The mixture is supposed to dilute the bile in the body, helping it to flow. The article I read suggested having the juice of half a lemon in water in the morning. Since I’m already doing the apple cider vinegar, I haven’t added the lemon juice. Since the temperature has risen, I’m considering adding dandelion tea to the water to help with water retention.
I’m hopeful that this combination will continue to help my weight decrease. This summer is supposed to be very hot. Less weight on my body parts will help I’m sure. Stay tuned. Up or down, I’ll share the results.