Our family lost our cherished nine year old golden retriever yesterday. Babe died at home in her mother’s arms. She was the sweetest girl, who loved her mom, her life, and her place on the couch. She was a strong girl, who, back in 2004 at five years old was diagnosed with Valley Fever, a desert disease that can be fatal in animals. It is a fungus that grows in the desert dirt and gets in through the lungs. The body, in an attempt to keep the fungus away from organs fills the pericardium surrounding the heart with fluid. When we took her to have the fluid drained she was her old self. But a week later she was right back to where she started …. the pericardium had filled up again. After draining it three times (the vets thought we were nuts) we asked to have the pericardium removed. The veterarians all said no. It was dangerous and expensive. Their logic back then was that Babe was 5 and had lived her life and now it was time to let her go. I said that when she wasn’t full of fluid she ran around on the grass in the back yard, loved taking her walks and played hard with our two other goldens. She didn’t look like her life was over to me. It took a lot of convincing that she was strong and we were willing to take the chance on her. She made it through that surgery in February 2005 just fine. She started taking her medication to hold back the growth of all the fungus in her they couldn’t remove, her life quieted down, and she enjoyed almost another 5 years of life.

When I was out to Arizona two weeks ago Babe looked like she had a bad cold. Even though her beautiful coat had been trimmed to stay cool in the hot desert, she felt warm. She was still happy, and enjoying life, but just didn’t have the zip in her she normally did. Taking her to the vet she was diagnosed with having Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). It comes on fast and her body was destroying all of her red blood cells and without a transfusion would be dead within hours, most likely caused from taking the medications to control the Valley Fever for so many years. She was given blood transfusions and put on other medications and she was brought home. Her mother slept on the floor with her for 8 nights, and though she had good moments over the last week ….. it was her time to go.

It is hard to think of not having her around, and she will be missed. I am grateful for every blessed day she had since her surgery way back when, thankful for the joy she provided our family for this last decade and find solace that she enjoyed her little life so.

Well, I am back from Arizona and Ohio.

I stayed out west for 10 days. Wow, when you aren’t used to the heat of Southern Arizona, it really gets to you. Spent most days helping my daughter get all her things together to take with her for her second year at college. She left two days before me, and last Friday I headed out to Ohio to meet up with her to set up her dorm room. We had a great time together … and she was as ready as she could be for her first class on Monday morning. I came home Sunday night.

One of our golden retrievers (we have three) got sick while I was there (Arizona) and has been in the hospital for the last few days. They can’t seem to figure out what is happening but her body is killing off all her red blood cells. She had a blood transfusion on Tuesday, and extensive tests. They have eliminated cancer, liver problems, spleen problems and, are so far, left with just an auto-immune problem. The pain in my heart at the thought that she may not be here any longer is tough to handle. Though she is nine, she is very strong and very sweet.

I weighed myself on Monday when I got home after two weeks of being away and on the protocol. I wasn’t impressed with the numbers on the scale and decided to stay off the scales for a while. I am having to deal with a lot right now and I don’t want the head trip of watching the scale and wondering why it is reflecting the numbers that it does. I am still committed to the protocol, and with the exception of a few diet cokes on all the flights I have taken, I’ve been very good at sticking to my diet. It is still my goal to stay on this until I reach the end of my weight elimination.

Onward!!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           ?
Today                   ?
Weight Change Overnight  -0.? Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -3.2  Eliminated

Nothing Like An Arizona Sunset

Things are going great here in Arizona, except for maybe the heat. You’d think living in the sauna that is Southern Florida, I could take a little of this hot dry heat again, but it has been challenging. I look like a lobster, and not one of those scrawny little Florida lobsters, but one of those steamed big dark red Maine lobsters.

I have maintained my diet well, having absolutely no appetite. I know some of it is because I am so busy with my daughter, even so, it has a lot easier getting through the day and evening, forcing myself to get in 500 calories per day. I have been drinking boat loads of water, which is not a problem with all the dry heat here.

I am still not weighing myself, as I didn’t bring my scale, and refuse to get all confused with the one here. I don’t really care how much I weigh, as long as I am maintaing the protocol. I am doing my part, so what ever the number is ….. it is. I will know when I get home a week from Sunday.

Onward!!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           210.6
Today                   210.6
Weight Change Overnight  -0.? Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -3.2  Eliminated

Well, so much for getting to Arizona. I made my flight to Houston only to miss the connection, and the next flight out is at 9 am. Continental was kind enough to comp me a night at the Sheraton at the airport, after I held my breath and turned blue at Customer Service. Actually they were good about it, after they tried to tell me they wouldn’t do it. I told them I wasn’t in charge of getting the plane to Houston late. I also had no control over the pilot getting on his P.A. system and apologizing to everyone on board that we were late due to equipment problems. I also didn’t write Continental policies which state I get a room and a meal, and lastly, I was tired and thirsty and just wanted to lay down. So I took my room voucher and headed to the hotel stopping long enough to see how many bottles of water I could by with my $12 dinner voucher. (the answer is five).

So my daughter Anna will have to wait until the morning, but hopefully I will be worth the wait.

Only ate 4 breakfast patties today, drank lots of ice tea, water, and (okay …. shoot me) two Coke Zeros on the plane. That’s it. Will have to wait until about noon (3pm Florida time) before I can mix my next batch and take my injection.

Onward!! Having Fun ….

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           211.2
Today                   210.6
Weight Change Overnight  -0.6 Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -3.2  Eliminated

Packed up and heading out to the old west today

Well, I am off to Arizona in just a few hours. Just in time. Looks like a tropical storm is brewin’ out in the Atlantic, heading right toward us here in Florida, I stepped on a piece of glass this morning in my bare feet, and just a while ago I was bit twice by a spider. So if the plane goes down in a fiery ball of flames, well, it’s just how things were going.

The up side, is I am down 3.2 pounds and soon to be more, as I leave the salt container behind. I have been fighting and losing the challenge not to salt everything I eat. I feel bloated from it all. Maybe the break from here for a few weeks will do the trick.

I am not going to be weighing myself until a week from Monday when I get back. I didn’t want to take my scale with me, as I don’t want to have to sell the farm to pay for taking a second bag on the flights, along with dragging it to Arizona and then Ohio and then back here.

I get to be with my daughter within hours. She is home in Arizona for the summer and heads back to Ohio in two weeks to begin her second year at college. It is gonna be fun.

Yesterday’s Goodies:

Lunch:

• One Grapefruit
• Two Morningstar Farms Breakfast Patties with Dijon
• 1/4 Cucumber with, you guessed it, SALT

Dinner:

• Two Light Life Veggie Hot Dogs with Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cucumber with salt
• 1/2 tomato with salt and balsamic vinegar

Onward!!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           212.2
Today                   212.0
Weight Change Overnight  -0.6 Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -1.8  Eliminated

Hmm. Not doing anything off the protocol. Eating well, exercising. Just going slow.

Yesterday’s Eats:

Lunch

• Two Morningstar Farms Breakfast Patties with Dijon
• One ruby red grapefruit

Dinner

• One cup Broccoli with garlic and lemon juice
• One Portabella mushrooms – grilled with seasoning
• Two grilled Light Life Hot Dogs with Dijon
• One small wedge of iceberg lettuce

Lots and lots of water and ice tea.

Onward!!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           213.2
Today                   212.6
Weight Change Overnight  -0.6 Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -1.2  Eliminated

My Bad Attitude

I am not sure if I am feeling low, or melancholy .. or what. It took every ounce of determination I had to stand on the scale this morning as I battled with myself. But alas, I did it, and found that I have eliminated 1.2 over the last two days (I refused to weigh myself yesterday). Maybe I can shake this feeling soon.

Yesterday’s Meals:

Lunch

• One grapefruit
• Two Boca Burgers (original) with Dijon mustard

Dinner

• Two Light Life Veggie Hot Dogs with Dijon
• One Grilled Portabella Mushroom with Seasoning
• One cup steamed broccoli with soy sauce
• 1/3 cucumber and 1/3 tomato sliced with rice vinegar

Onward!! Less than a week until I see my daughter.  YEA!!!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           213.2
Today                   213.2
Weight Change Overnight  -0.0 Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -0.6  Eliminated

Actually, I don’t know how much I weigh, because I didn’t want to stand on the scale. I get this way sometimes. I don’t think it is going to be a good number, or I don’t want to know. So I don’t …. so shoot me.

Yesterday’s menu

Lunch

• Two Morningstar Farms Breakfast Patties with Dijon mustard
• One whole grapefruit that has been in the fridge too long.

Dinner

• Two Light Life Hot Dogs with dijon mustard (I never have these with buns on this protocol)
• One cup of steamed broccoli and onion with soy sauce
• One steamed Portabella mushroom with Emeril’s steak rub
• 1/2 cucumber and 1/4 tomato with rice vinegar

Onward!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           213.8
Today                   213.2
Weight Change Overnight  -0.6 Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   -0.6  Eliminated

Well I won’t be throwing a parade over last night loss. Though in my defense I would say that I had way too much salt with my food yesterday. Tomorrow brings another day and a new loss.

Yesterday menu:

Lunch –

• Two Morningstar Breakfast Patties with Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cucumber with Balsamic Vinegar w/ salt  & pepper

Dinner –

• Two Light Life Meatless hot dogs with mustard relish
• One grilled Portabella with onion slices
• 1/2 cucumber and red radishes with unsweetened rice vinegar
• One cup of steamed brocolli with soy sauce

And enough water and ice tea to float the Spanish Armada. (Spent most of the night walking a rut from the bed to the bathroom)

Onward!!

Round 1 Phase 2 Starting Weight – 267.4     11/08/07
Round 1 Phase 2 LIW – 228.8 12/31/07
Round 2 Phase 2 Starting Weight - 221.2  02/23/08
Round 2 Phase 2 LIW      203.4  04/23/08
Round 3 Phase 2 Starting Weight 213.8  08/03/08
Yesterday           213.2
Today                   213.8
Weight Change Overnight  +0.6 Gained ON LOAD
Weight Change this round   –    Eliminated

Here we go again. This is my third round of Phase 2. 

I finished my load last night at a starting weight of 213.8. Took my injection this morning (2000 IU cut by 12) of 166 IU. My new needles are a dream. No pain.

Onward!!