As I explained on the previous page, the combination of beginning an antidepressant along with a fairly
recent return to medication for my Parkinson's has me feeling better than I have in a long time. As a result, I am more
mobile, I have more energy and I feel more rested. Add to that a quick loss of ten pounds (a side effect of the Prozac) and
I suddenly felt like I could begin an exercise program.
It's easily been 4 years since I last did any routine exercising. I keep hearing how important
exercise is for people with Parkinson's and I've really been wanting to start making it part of my regular routine; so,
in the second week of March, I began doing Mari Winsor Pilates 20-60 minutes every day. I LOVE, LOVE,
LOVE the results I've received from the pilates in such a short time. In Mari's info-mercial they say:
"The key is Mari Winsor's dynamic sequencing — a special combination of controlled
movements that’s guaranteed to shape and sculpt long, lean muscles."
And she's NOT KIDDING. In no time at all, I really have been able to sculpt my body thin. And even though
I'm still 18 pounds heavier than when I got pregnant with my son 4 years ago (I gained 60 altogether during that pregnancy),
I can now wear sizes SMALLER than I was wearing then because I'm more toned than I've EVER been in my life! And this is only
the beginning. I can't wait to see how it looks after even more time doing Pilates!!! Also, I now weigh less than my 15 year
old daughter, which is a good thing because she's very muscular and almost 4 inches taller than myself! Not to mention, I
can share clothes with my 11 year old daughter! Best of all, it really has helped my Parkinson's symptoms!
Although I hadn't been doing ANY dieting whatsoever when I lost that first 10 pounds during that first week
of March, I decided to begin watching what I ate so I could help keep those pounds off! I eliminated as much sugar as
possible from my diet and avoided bread. I do a diet similar to Atkins right now and I feel better than ever. I drink lots
of water, switched to Soy Milk, eat a high fiber cereal each morning, lots of salads and other healthy foods. I haven't had
any fast food in a month. I haven't had any alcohol since August 2003. I'm still addicted to diet coke, but hope
to some day wean myself from that, too. I treat my food as FUEL for my body now, not as something to fill a void in
my life. I never let myself feel hungry and always make sure I get plenty of FUEL to help increase my energy. Although most
of the pictures below are comparing my weight last spring to this spring, I do have to add that I went from a size
14 to a size 5/6 in just 8 weeks and down to a size 2 in 11 weeks!
