[ScrappingForever]

So excited to share my good news with you! DH and I have been going strong on our exercise and eating clean life. We haven't missed a day of exercise in 54 days. In fact, on some of our rest days (we're to have 1 rest day a week) we go on bike rides. Today's bike ride was 3 hours and 40 minutes and 27 miles! Woo-hooo!

But the thing I'm most excited about is that I'm back into my Size 8 pants. I tried on all of my Size 8 shorts and they all fit comfortably. No bulging or having a hard time fitting. Size 6, here I come!

We'll be doing Day 60 photos and measurements in a few days, and I'll post a layout then. I just haven't had time to do anything with the Day 30 stuff. Too many other things at the top of the to-do list.

Oh, another absolutely cool, wonderful thing. DH has been struggling with his cholesterol for a couple of years now. His numbers were horrific. 1200 for triglycerides and 300 something for cholesterol. Anyway, he went in for his annual physical last week with the complete blood work-up, and his triglycerides were down to 109 and his cholesterol was 178! Isn't that absolutely astounding! That was after only 40 some days of eating clean and exercising! Who needs meds! BAH! Just eat right and exercise!

Anyway, time for dinner!

[brandiev]

Oh wow! That is exciting news! Way to go Jan and hubby!!

[Jo Corne]

oh lordy Jan, that is fantasmagorical news, i am so happy for you and your dh, I am so proud of both of you.
now let's see some photos, LOL

[Julie - scrapaholic]

Wow, that is awesome. Keep it up. Great going.

[kerryveale]

Jan, I am so amazed and appreciative of your & your DH's self-discipline! Whoo-hoo!!!!!!

[KBT]

Amazing and inspiring! Congrats! Can't wait to see your pics!

[Sherry Lynn]

WOW Jan --- WTG to you and your husband for making these lifestyle changes! Can't wait to see those layouts!

[sunnie2004]

Congrats Jan & hubbie!! That is absolutely astounding!!

[regulargal]

Wow, I'm so impressed! That's just great news, you two should be very proud of yourselves! Keep up the good work!

[goodqueenbee]

Wow, Jan! You are an inspiration to me to keep trying! Yay! WTG

[MelJohnson]

FANTASTIC, Jan! I'm so proud of you and your hubby! Way to go!

[scrapperjen1]

You rock!!!!!!!! That is awesome! Keep up the good work!

[amanda]

Way to go Jan and dh! That's fantastic!

[SandiC.]

Jan, you are indeed an inspiration. I need to make some huge changes in my life so I want to hear more and more from you. I started this last week with a couple of small changes; limiting coffee to two cups a cay only, no soda at all and more water instead of coffee and soda. This is an easy change and have had no problems with that. I am thinking that I'll set a new change each week so that I have a chance of this sticking. In the past, if I've made big changes, I get all enthusiastic and do great for about 2 or 3 weeks then I get tired or stressed and it all goes out the window. By making the changes in a stepwise progression, I think I'm less likely to backslide. I need to get healthier and to have more energy. I'm looking at the clean eating but am not totally convinced yet. Still looking at it though. Thanks for sharing your experience, its very helpful.

[ScrappingForever]

Sandi, what more would like to know about clean eating? I would love to convince you that it really is the best thing you can do for your body. It basically is just getting back to basics. Eating whole foods. Getting rid of all of the "foods" with preservatives and junk in them, things that our bodies were never meant to process. I put the word foods in quotes because to a great extent, those things aren't even real food. The things we are feeding ourselves and our children daily are downright scary in many instances. I have become avid about reading labels. If it has ingredients in it that I can't pronounce, I won't buy it. If it has hidden sugars in it, and most things do, I won't buy it. I shop pretty much exclusively now from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and the outside edges of our local grocery store. I also try to buy only organic. Hee hee....I guess it sounds like I'm kind of extreme, but really, once you start learning more about what most of the "foods" we eat today are made of, it makes you want to avoid them at all cost. And also very importantly for me, I refuse to put that junk in my children any more. The obesity rate of children in this country has continued to escalate every year. This year, for the first time since the 70's, the obesity rate of children has remained the same. It hasn't gone down, but neither has it continue to rise. In my household, I'm trying to make sure it never stands a chance.

Okay, off my soapbox....hmmm...maybe I need to visit the orange grove!

Please, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I have the Clean Eating diet book and the Clean Eating Cookbook, and just got the Clean Eating Cookbook for family and kids. If I don't know the answer, I'm sure I can find it in one of those.

[kimmybutton]

Congratulations to the both of you! Absolutely amazing results! I am particularly amazed at the cholesterol results...having been a cardiac RN for many years and educating patients regarding their lipid profiles, I don't think I have ever seen such a decrease in levels without the use of cholesterol lowering medications. I'm blown away by these lab results. (At one time, I worked in a cardiology office and adjusted the medications of patients based upon their lab results.) Was the initial triglyceride level a fasting level?

Well, whatever, you "done good!" And, a 27 mile bike ride on your rest day...next thing we know, you'll be running marathons!

[ScrappingForever]

LOL Kimmy! Nope, no marathons for this chickie. We see runners all of the time out on the path that we bike on, and we always say....no thanks! I'll stick to biking!

The original triglyceride reading wasn't after a fast. They always say he can't eat in the morning until after his blood has been drawn, but I don't think it was anything beyond that.

Mike has been having trouble with his cholesterol for a number of years now. He was on cholesterol medicine for a while, but it just didn't do anything. We expected some sort of decrease from the change in diet and exercise, but not those kinds of dramatic results. We are both thrilled...and his mother is, too!

[trishy]

That is awesome Jan, way to go to both of you!

[PBarnes]

That is absolutely fantastic Jan. I wish I had the discipline. Good luck on your continued success.

[Ngaire]

My goodness me Jan how amazing!!! I bet you both feel a million dollars. Congratulations to the both of you!! Think I will go and look at this clean eating book. Hopefully we have it here in NZ!!

[cherise]

That is super fantastic news! Keep up the good work!

[SodScrap]

WOO HOO!!

[Silly]

WTG Jan and hubby!!! That is awesome. Maybe I can convince you two to join me on one of my biking vacations, you'd love it!

[Glorie]

That is just SUPER! How wonderful for you and your DH!! I agree...the body can heal itself in many ways with the proper excercise, diet and nutrition!
Thanks for sharing such great news! WTG!!!