Happy 2017 my friends!

Hi Boy & Girls and Undecided,

It's time to give yall' my monthly progress report.  I had gained a little as expected over my birthday celebrations and the holidays, but am 5 pounds down since my last post.  Yay!

Every morning, I try on this one new cute little winter jacket I bought that I have not been able to fit into, by a long shot...  I mean like it was way too small and no where close to buttoning.  This morning I was able to button the top button.  That is what's a trip about a ketogenic diet. You lose more inches than pounds.

My Ketonix breath tester broke and I am sending it back to be repaired.  I have been using the ketone test strips and they show that I am in deep ketosis.  It gives me reassurance I'm on track, and the jacket proves it.  Once I am in deep ketosis, it feels like I am losing around one to two inches all over per week.  It's crazy amazing.

More than anything, I feel good on many levels eating ketogenic lifestyle.  I know it's not for everyone, but it really works for me, especially with a tiny tummy.  My head is clear, my gut is calm, I sleep better.  I don't have cravings like I used to.  I am not hungry every 3 hours like I used to be.  I feel more grounded emotional and energetically great.  I am on track. Keto is the best thing besides my sleeve that I have ever done for my overall health!  My sleeve helps me not overeat. Eating keto, helps me feel awesome everyday!

My goal is to keep losing an average of one pound per week on Keto until I reach my goal weight, to get down between 145 - 155 lbs. long term and than maintenance after that.  That means in 19 months, I should be at 155 lbs.  It's slow but steady.  I am glad I found a food lifestyle that makes me feel good, where I don't feel deprived, can drink hard alcohol on the weekends and eat bacon whenever I want. : )

I make it a point to not drink Monday - Thursdays, but Friday is my party night.  I live in San Francisco, and the options are endless here for fun. When I order a drink in a bar, it's Champagne, Prosecco or a nice glass of Malbec wine or my go to is Cuba Libra Diet for happy hour.  I do love vodka. I am a Grey Goose Le Citron Martini girl.  I am not on a diet, I am living a Keto Lifestyle, so being able to live and do pleasurable things including drinking on some weekends, makes my lifestyle enjoyable and sustainable.  When I go to some parties, I have been known to bring my own organic sugar-free cocktail mixers.

I am aware that other Sleevers out there have had much more weight loss than me and faster.  I am okay with where I am and trust in my process.  I am learning as I go.  Fat fasting and intermittent fasting protocols have been helpful to blow through a weight loss plateau.

I also wanted to report that since my full hysterectomy 4 months ago and the experience of being in full ovarian shut down even after keeping my healthy ovaries, being on the HRT patch has most likely helped and hindered my progress.  Hormones play a huge role in ones metabolism and well being.  I am feeling balanced, happy. I am not having mood swings, night seats, hot flashes or depression at all.

It's all about quality of life.  I know I'm at an age where I am in full bloom, and my petals may begin so slowly fall off for the next 30 years so to speak.  Accepting and loving myself as I morph into each phase of me and role I choose to create to express me with from here on out, it's all about the quality of each moment. THE QUALITY OF LIFE.  For me that requires, Music, Art and Debauchery with wonderful people to share it all with!

My weight-loss journey was not about food.  It's been about finding new ways to comfort and soothe myself, accept my body and love myself where I am at, flaws and all.  

Over all, it's been about creating a life I don't need to take a vacation from. This means I have developed good solid boundaries and have learned how to say no.  Managing the stress and still working full time while I pursue my hearts passion of jazz, glamping and designing. They bring me joy.

I am being patient with myself and compassionate, but I am not slacking either.  Part of trusting oneself is about earning respect and actually following through with your goals, and celebrating your own personal victories.  These have been the keys to a happier life.  I want to thank you for following along with me on this journey.  I wish you luck with your new goals for 2017.

It's all a big experiment, this thing we call life.  If you find something that works for you, stick with it.  I know for me, if it's convenient, I will do it.  I have been drinking 32 ozs. of water daily, and that was something I never did in 2016.   Your focus and intention creates your way.

IF I CAN DO IT, ANYONE CAN!
TALK TO YOU IN FEBRUARY!

Holidays, Birthdays & Fat Asses

Hi All:

I regained the weight I lost.  My hormones are all fucked up do to what I ate over the Thanksgiving holiday, HRT and I have been struggling with my weight-loss, but I am feeling good mood wise, not having the menopausal arthritis as much (my knees are better than they were, but bad enough that I have a tough time getting up the stairs this week), I'm still trying to find balance and get back on track.  

I am doing great after my recent hysterectomy, and now with the ovarian shutdown, am trying to manage the full on throws of menopause.  Yes ladies, even if you keep your precious ovaries intact, you can still go straight to menopausal hell. I am finding my way through it okay.  I feel young at heart more than ever. I am full of energy.  I am still pinching myself daily because I was suffering so badly for so long, feeling this good now is a miracle for me.  I am in need of getting my head straight on a daily basis and got off track.  I love YouTube and following my friends there.

If you need motivation to get back on track, here is one of my favorite HONEST and hilarious YouTube Channels: ScottTheTruckDriver  He is sort of the Man's man of weight-loss success. I adore his sense of humor and knowledge, but mostly his honesty in what he has tried out on himself and what has and has not worked for him. He delivers his truth like a Real Truck Driver, because he is one! LOL!  He also is an amazing photographer.

Here is his latest video:

He has great success with Fat Fasting to guarantee he gets into ketosis and then blows through his weight-loss plateaus with ease.  He inspires me.  I am finding it is all about convenience and routine for me.  First, I don't like cooking during the weekdays, so finding the secrets to keto-take-out have been key for me, with my work life style.  Second, emotions and stress are a huge factor in my eating. 

This is why I love the ketogenic diet lifestyle.  I don't ever feel deprived. But sugar is my drug of choice.  Once I eat it, I spiral out of control and then feel like crap.  I am experimenting with making some things that are sugar free to help me with this psychological, emotional part of my world.

The truth for me is, it starts right now.  I am one of those people who can pick up a pint of ice cream and eat it while saying to myself, "I will start back on track tomorrow."  and keep saying that week after week until I get fat, avoid the evil scale in the morning and keep my head buried in the pile of sugar deep enough, so I won't come to my senses and get off the ride that is making me sick.  BEING IN THE NOW, is key to everything really.  

Depression is being in the past, Anxiety is being in the future, Being Here Right Now is all that actually IS. Every decision we make in this moment determines our path.  

Even a very small change right now makes a huge change long term.  Think of a plane headed for a destination.  If it changes just 1 or 2 degrees, it will end up completely somewhere else long term.  Think of this when you get hungry or thirsty. I know where I want to go, yet people like Scott and myself are learning and experimenting on how to get there. This is what this blog is all about.

I can love and accept myself where I am right now, but I want to feel and look better.  Being the best me I can be, increases my energy and attitude.  Makes me think better and be a better expression of me.  Every person has a light and a dark side. When we can except both parts fully within ourselves, you can come to the realization that you aren't really your body, or your ego - You are this electric light body walking around in a meat suit.  

I discovered that I need to manage the meat suit better, and the biology of that process really messes with the emotions.  This realization helps me often because I have been able to pop out of my body with full awareness, including senses.  I'm still experimenting with this, but it gives me comfort to know that I am not stuck in my body or this 3rd dimensional matrix.  I am not a "Faith" based person.  FUCK THAT SHIT, I will boldly go and find out the truth all on my own first hand. 

But the body is still my vessel and I like being in it.  I love pleasure and feeling good, out of pain and love it when during a fast, MY BRAIN BECOMES SHARP AND CLEAR.  This is where hormones, balance and knowing what works for your body and lifestyle are so important to the quality of your life experience.  You want to enjoy all of the wonderful pleasures of life, but not fuck yourself up in the process. IT'S A SKILL TO FIND SUCH BALANCE.

Every body and person is unique and only you can figure out what works for you, based on how you feel and the results you get.  This is why I dig Scott the Truck Driver so much.  He is putting himself out there and we get to follow along.  I am doing that here.  We have ups and downs, and this holiday season can be tough for those trying to lose their fat asses.

I find that if I have food I like that is easy to grab, I stay on track.  My birthday is next week, then Christmas, New Years...the food, and parties are endless! I will take it a day at a time.  I will indulge on the weekends, and manage during the weekdays. I wish you success and very happy holidays along your weight-loss journey.  ENJOY BEING FULL IN THE MOMENT.  If you do decide to eat something off your plan, really savor it!  Be fully in your body and allow all of your sensual pleasure to engulf you completely!  LIVE & LOVE BEING ALIVE!  

Love who you are with!  Laugh, Love & Live Fully, you are getting closer to death every second.  When you are at the end of your time here, will you look back at your life and say you enjoyed every moment you could of it fully?  You can trust yourself.  You can find the balance you are seeking.  You can live in that balance and fully....

BE HERE NOW!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

I lost 2 pounds this week and right before the big Thanksgiving holiday.  Lots of parties coming soon.  I have not  been hard core Keto, just eating when I am hungry and stopping when I am full.  When I say full, I mean that first feeling of full.  I don't like feeling sick.  When you have a tiny tummy and you are really hungry, you can make mistakes.

Either you eat to fast and feel sick, or you eat the wrong things that won't sustain you and you feel icky.  When I eat protein first (Eggs, meat high in fat etc.) and then veggies, I feel good for hours. The amount is small, so doing takeout is actually easy with a VSG LCHF lifestyle.  But don't be fooled, you can eat slowly and eat a lot of calories.  This is where sugar and flour can be the obstacle to your weight loss success.

I find that not depriving myself a bite of something has helped me more psychologically from feeling deprived and craving or feeling guilt or obsessed about "forbidden foods'. I say there are no forbidden foods. Everything in moderation, but sugar and flour are as addictive as any hardcore drug out there. I feel better when I don't eat them, but they sure taste good.  The buzz from eating them, feels great for a short time. Then comes the icky feeling.  It's remembering the icky feelings is what makes it easier to eat what is best for me first.

This is what's makes having VSG surgery so valuable if you had problems stopping eating.  Make those bites count.  Enjoy what you are eating, emotionally and physically. You will find what works for you and your body.  TRUST YOURSELF AND YOUR PROCESS.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday week and I'll follow-up with yall' soon.

May your Thanksgiving holiday be full of excitement.

 

Smooth sailing...

I am feeling better. My doctor raised the Estrogen dosage on my HRT patch and the joint pain has gone away.  I am also supplementing with DHEA, Neuro Clarity and Pregnenolone.  I'm sleeping better and my mood is great.  I am feeling smooth sailing ahead. 

Still stuck at the current weight, and feeling kind of bloated.  The holidays are here and I am just going to enjoy them. Thanksgiving, my birthday Crab Feast, Christmas and New Years Eve.  My goal is to drop another 60 pounds and add weight training to my weekly routine of cardio.  Having the tiny tummy has made all of the difference in maintaining my weight.  I just can't eat that much.

I did drink a beer the other night, but it was not easy to do.  The carbonation is too much to take.  Champagne has that same effect.  I am having a hard time staying on Keto.  I am feeling much better. One step at a time.

Fuckity, fuck.

I am not losing weight and we think that is may be due to my hormone replacement therapy patch.  It appears that my ovaries have shut down and I have entered into full menopause due to my hysterectomy.  I hear this happens. The weirdest part that no one saw coming was, I am experiencing what is called Menopausal Arthritis in all of my joints, especially my knees.  I hurt all over.  

My ovaries are intact, but I am experiencing ALL Of these weird symptoms. I am out of the horrible pain I was living with for years with uterine fibroids, but now feel like an 80 year old woman who can barely make it up and down a flight of stairs.  Fuckity, fuck.

It seems my choices are like this right now, Stay stuck half way to my weight loss goal and be a much more pleasant person on HRT with the patch as I go through the transition of life, or I stop taking the hormone patch and continue to make it to my weight loss goal but be a complete bitch the entire time. 

I am taking glucosamine, tumeric, along with all of the other supplements I take now.  I also am using Topricin Pain Relief Cream on my joints when it gets really bad. I am doing my best in choosing low carb anti-inflammatory diet to see if I can manage the joint pain and bust through this weight loss plateau, but I am certainly taking it a day at a time.  I am working with my doctor and for the sake of sanity, stay on the patch. We will see how it goes.

No changes to report.

I'm still stalled at current weight.  I am feeling better than ever!  I got a call for a jazz gig and am learning a bunch of new /old swing tunes.  It's really motivating me to get my vocal chops back!

I love Peggy Lee!

Happy Fahrvernpüssy

No weight changes to report.  I am stalled at the same weight.  The holidays are here... it's been hard to stay away from sugar & flour this week.

I bring my VW Leopard Lair Ultra Lounge Bus home tomorrow, with the new/rebuilt Porsche High Performance engine installed. There is a big storm coming this weekend.  It's like GOD'S FREE POWER CAR WASH. : )

I was one of the many people out there on earth, that had a mechanic purchase a faulty GEX International engine.  BIG MISTAKE.  The engine was sent back to them and they said they sent us a new one, but they lied and sent back the same shitty engine. Finding out that part the hard way has been super frustrating for the mechanics and my nerves.  I finally have gotten rid of that engine and went with a better made one.  It sounds good.

         Don't give up on your dream. 

Everyone I know has told me to give up on my bus, but I have a dream.  It's a simple dream really.  I see me happy, healthy, slender, pain free and strong.  I'm out on the open road, with the wind in my hair, listening to some great music, driving my sexy SWANK VW Bus.  I especially love it when another vintage VW goes by, and we wave to one another.  Like a wink and a nod to a fellow VW owner.  We are a rare breed.

I like stopping along the way, and parking the bus for people to check it out. Next year, once I finish restoring the interior, I will take her to a few VW Car shows and share the Glamp-O-Rama Leopard Lounge (Includes the bar) for the full Monty effect.

I made the decision 2 years ago to get VSG surgery in Mexico, and did it.  My weight-loss is slow going, but I love my tiny tummy. I do not have excess skin like some do because I am taking it slow enough for my body to adjust.

I then went and finally got the hysterectomy, and am like a new person.  I am feeling stronger and good!  I was able to lift my big 3 burner Camp Chef stove without any problems the other day.  Only 5 weeks post-op full Da Vinci hysterectomy, and I am doing great!  I mean REALLY GREAT!  For the first time in my life, I have no bloating or cramps or even mood swings. THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER!  I feel like a 12 year old girl!  Never having a period ever again and permanent birth control are pretty nice benefits too.  Life just gets better from here.

My bus and my body seem to be connected. 
We are both doing better than ever.

Now in the Urban Dictionary HERE!

My dream involves silly hardy good laughs, 
incredible beauty, sexy style, fun & tender love.