I have always battled with my weight. At my highest weight, I was 400 pounds. I had used a combination of taking my Plexus supplements, MyFitnessPal tracking, and actively working as a home health aide. By doing so I had gotten under 200 pounds. Since then I have lost my position causing me to not be able to afford my Plexus. I recently saw a doctor who told me I needed to lose weight to take the strain off my joints and organs. While we were on vacation, last March, I lost 13 pounds. Since returning home, I have gained all that weight back, so I am once again trying to lose weight. Now I am on a journey to find a way to lose weight without the help of my greatest aids and limited mobility.

I downloaded MyFitnessPal on my phone to track my eating last month. I have been eating a lot of healthier options when I can, but it still seems like I can’t lose the weight. I am going to research various diet plans to create a personalized eating plan to help me lose weight. I will also look for ways to become more active so that I can move more easily.

MY PERSONALIZED EATING PLAN

I like the plant base of Vegan diets and the seafood and meat options of the Mediterranian diet. I crave pasta at least twice a week. So I am going to create a plan featuring a plan featuring all of these. Vegans don’t eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products. Instead, they eat things like fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, as well as plant-based milks, other nondairy products, and meat alternatives{https://www.healthline.com/health/diet-and-weight-loss/vegan-diet-for-weight-loss}. A Mediterranean-style diet can help you achieve the American Heart Association’s recommendations for a healthy dietary pattern that: emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and legumes; includes low-fat or fat-free dairy products, fish, poultry, non-tropical vegetable oils, and nuts; and limits added sugars, sugary beverages, sodium, highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and fatty or processed meats{https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/mediterranean-diet}.

1. Fruits/veggies at least 2 meals/day

2. Meatless meals at least 1x/week

3. Seafood at least 2x/week

4. Limit sugars, alcohol, processed foods, and fatty fried foods.

5. Drink more water

MY PERSONALIZED EXERCISE/MOVEMENT PLAN

1. Walking at least 2,000 steps a day: by parking further away from the store, taking walks 2x/week,

2. Stretching exercises

3. Physical therapy

4. Strength training

I will keep everyone posted on my progress.