January 24th 2013 Part 2 :

Posted on January 24, 2013March 21, 2014 by Amanda Horner

January 5th : 181.6
January 10th : 180.6
January 17th : 180.0
January 24th : 178.8

Finally getting to see some results! I hope I can keep this steady pace going. I am happy to see some difference in my numbers that reflect my hard work. I just hope I can keep them going down and not back up! I dont want to see the 180s ever again!

Seeing the numbers change does make it worth it and is very rewarding. I feel like my hard work is being justified and that it really is paying off! It is encouraging and helps me get through the tough times. Some days are really hard and I want to give in but being able to see these small changes really go along way. Not just the numbers on the scale either. my levels and my phe . My note book is really helping me keep on track. writting every thing down and going back to look at what I have done, Everything makes sense now! I am noticing patterns and when I dont think i am doing that well I can see visually that I am. I am feeling so postive and like I can really do this this time around. Its all going to be worth it. I look forward to the future and to see how far I can take myself!

Thank you everyone for your support!

Low pro food / cooking, That's my PKU life, Weight loss

January 7th 2013

Posted on January 7, 2013March 21, 2014 by Amanda Horner

Well I feel like I have had some accomplishments today. I mailed in 2 blood dots over the weekend, and began tracking my food again. Made up my note book and am making an effort to just drink my p.ade and mte.

Today however I woke up to fresh snow and it was really coming down. It was just to perfect for a pancake breakfast. so much for calorie counting ! But mmm gingerbread pancakes are my new sweet addiction that my sister in law introduced me to over christmas.

I spent the morning working on PKU awareness on both my twitter account and my facebook fan page. I posted all the links I could find for other PKU blogs to help promote all my fellow bloggers, I posted information about food and the up and coming BC PKU DAY. I cant wait and am greatly looking forward to it. There is a great line up of guest speakers this year and i love going to these events for the social aspect. Meeting people face to face, sharing stories and getting to know the community and the support that is out there.

I ordered some new low protein foods today finally. about 200 dollars worth. I ordered 2 boxes of aprotein biscotti cookies, 5 aprotein ditalini, 5 aproten riatini, 4 wheatstarche baking mixes, 1 dietary specailties mac & Cheese, 1 wel plan baking mix and a special order of CBF short grain rice. the rice is not included in the over all price and has to be special ordered so will take 2 weeks.

Just before lunch I was getting really hungry again and trying to figure out what to make when I got a special deliveray in the mail, well 2 actually, one from cambrooke foods and one from my friend Nicole pallone. Cambrooke foods sent me new samples of there products swirl and flavoured bettermilk. I was so excited to try the bettermilk but was deeply dissapointed. It was way to strong for me and just not a fan. I have never been able to handle that synsatized fake strawberry flavouring. Not sure if its to sweet or what it is. But it actually makes me sick. So now I am scared to try the orange. Have not tried the swirl yet. it is carmel flavour and can be a pudding or a formula depending how much liquid you add. Kind of excited to give it a try.

Nicole sent me a pkg of Spanish rice made by dietary specalities and that is what I had for lunch. It was really good. Next time I am going to add more vegtables to it though.

so other than that not alot going on.Cole is home from work early do to the snow knocking out the power at his job site so hopefully we can go for a walk later. I am really tired again. still not sleeping well. hopefully wil get up some motivation to do some baking tonight or tomorrow.

well thats all for now, thanks for following!

Weight loss

January 6th

Posted on January 6, 2013March 21, 2014 by Amanda Horner

Yesterday I was feeling very much under the weather, my cold decided to come back and linger a bit longer. I spent most of the day sleeping and resting. After I woke up I reevaluated my diet and method of tracking. I decided againist doing weight watchers . I decided that it was just to much to do with pku as my formula takes up most of the allowed points. I thought about it and I talked about it with a great friend. I decided that I was going to stick to what I know and track my phe in my note book and with my pku bible the food list, as well as my calories. I have my goal range of 500 mg phe and 1800 calories and with the support of my dietitians, family, friends and amanda I should be able to do it. I just have to stick to it and keep consistent. SO i made my plan, set up my note book and have it on the living room coffee table so i have to see it every time i sit down. I think I did fairly well yesterday and increased my vegtables servings. I also have been working on my water intake. I ended my day with a relaxing vanilla bubble bath to unwind and relax my muscles to help me sleep.

Feeling a bit better today. However I had horrible night mares that lingered with me all day and left me super sensitive and emotional. Got some air and went for a walk this morning. we walked together to and from the grocery store. in all took about 50 mins. It was about minus 4 degrees out. I started off the day with fruit loops and almond silk milk , my bananas where not ripe yet however so didnt get to put them in my cereal. Lunch I was still feeling unwell with a really bad headache and very chilled from the walk so I had hot tomatoe soup and crackers. Dinner I had yams, scheswan beans, salad and applesauce. Today was the first full day of tracking and drinking 1 scoop p.ade and 1 scoop mte 3 times a day instead of 2 scoops p.ade 3 times a day. When I was drinking that amount of formula i was geting 314 calories each time but I was full!! tonight my calories are cut in half but i am starving!! i am trying soooo hard not to snack. I have had my food limit today and I just keep telling myself it is worth it and i will adjust to the diffrence it will just take a while. This is where my will power will come into play.

So we are now unwinding watching a movie with a warm fire and I am having tea and cole is having a hot chocolate. Tomorrow Id like to get out and maybe go for a walk or go to the westsyde gym i am hoping it wont be as busy, but with it being the fist week of the new year i am expecting all the gyms to be packed. I am hoping because westysde is alot smaller that I might have better luck.

I have not warn my sling today, it pulls to much on my neck and really hurts. I am also not taking anything any more for my neck. I think the stronger dose of mortin was contributing to my headaches. Today I have been focusing on increasing my water intake and keeping hydrated.

Tomorrow my goal is to do some sort of activity for 30 mins even if its just around the house on my wii fit or dvds, stretching, yoga or another walk.

i hope to make daily goals and weekly goals. every day is a fresh start and a new beginning. A chance to do what I had not done the day before.

So that is all for tonight, my show once a pon a time is on!

untill next time,

Low pro food / cooking, Managing the diet, That's my PKU life, Weight loss

January 3rd 2013

Posted on January 3, 2013March 21, 2014 by Amanda Horner

Well I am working night shifts for the next little while. Night shifts are sure hard on the body. I knew when i became a nurse that I would have to work a crazy schedule and specially starting out casual and on call. I just thought id get use to it. Even almost 3 years later it still takes a toll on my body. I do not know many people with PKU who work in health care and the ones that I do know I have asked them for advice. I just cant seem to get a system in place. Night shifts really mess me up for a few days at a time. Normally i dont work to many in a row but a nurse recently quit at my facility and her line has not been filled yet. So I worked over night on the 27th of december, new years eve, yesterday, today, saturday, sunday and then the 8th and 9th.

Normally I try to bring low protein snacks to have with me but I try so hard not eat. Does not work so well by 2 am I am so hungry. Eating anything on night shifts even if it is low protein effects my daily intake. I usually take things like low protein cookies, pizza pops, crackers, apple sauce or whatever is quick and easy. Right now I have a very limited supply of low protein food so I have been taking cereal and working really hard not to eat it till at least 5 am. I also take an extra formula.

Its frusterating as I am trying to loose weight and on the days I work over night my intake and my calories are higher. Not to mention the next day after I wake up for my nap I have “gut rot” which is a really upset stomach , nausea and a pounding headache. Today I have not been able to get much sleep at all. I had a bad fall on new years eve day and I think I have bruised my ribs on my right side , and my right shoulder , arm , elbow and wrist right down into the bone so i can not get comfortable I need to get some sleep today since I go back again tonight at 11pm.

it is very hard to sleep during the day. so many sounds and even with my heavy curtins drawn it is still to bright. I have tried ear plugs and I am going to get an eye mask to try to help. I wake up every 1 or 2 hours. The most I can sleep at a time is 4 hours. And i am a person who really loves my sleep.

atleast tomorrow is pay day so I can order some more low protein food. I am going to stock up and get a bunch of pasta, rice and baking mixes.

I have a physio appt at 3 pm , my first one since moving to kamloops. So that is another reason why I cant get to sleep, scared I will over sleep and miss it.

I plan on having a bubble bath when I get home to make myself relax and then try to get some sleep again.

My annual blood work came back yesterday and seems all is ok accept my triglcerides. They are to high. So I have to continue to take my salmon fish oil capsules. My level from December 8th was 10.0 and my level from December 13th was 6.6. They are higher than they where last month and I know it is because of the lack of baking and low protein food. I would like to get them back down to around 4 for January.

I joined weight watchers for the month of january to give it a try and see if I can make it work with my PKU diet. I am hoping the meetings, support groups and education will motivate me and help me stay consistent. That is my biggest problem when it comes to weight loss. I cant stay on track , I usually push really hard for 3 months and then I get exhusted, or injured and stop working out or eating right. I am not active enough so that is my goal for this month to. I want to work out 3 days a week. And When I say work out I dont mean just in the gym any more. I want to get back in the pool, walking and yoga. So we shall see how it goes this time round, Wish me luck!

Thats all for today. must get ready for physio.

Take care and thanks for following!!

xoxo Amanda

I am PKU Strong