Side Effects to the HLC

I’ve been doing this HLC (healthy lifestyle change) for 8 weeks now. I have definitely seen some good things change, but there have been other more subtle—and irksome—transformations that have occurred.

Anytime you modify your eating habits, you run the risk of other things being modified to (including your wallet!). Case in point—I have an irritation under my wedding rings. They call it “wedding ring dermatitis” & it’s not nearly as uncommon as you might think. It manifests itself in an itchy, almost rash-like, raised area on my skin directly under my rings.

This has been going on for many weeks. I have tried the usual things—leaving them off to let my skin “air out”; drying my hands completely; using hydrocortisone cream; staying away from the hand soap at work (it’s very harsh!) in lieu of hand sanitizer. None of those things were the magic cure. As a matter of fact, just when I think it’s gone and put my rings back on—it’s baaaaaaaaaaack.

Another ‘side effect’ of the HLC is that my deodorant is not working as it once did!

… I know… I need to solve this problem ASAP! Not to worry, I’m on it. I’m in the midst of testing right now. Oh, yeah, perhaps you need to keep a safe distance…

As I was saying, my deodorant is not keeping things under control. The odd thing is that I have been using this same brand for YEARS (Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman) with no problems. Now, in the past few weeks, this issue has been evident. **I thought, at first, it was a fluke—forgot to put deodorant on that day—but it was not the case.**

When I ended up taking my rings off again today, I decided I was going to have to do more research into what might be the cause of the wedding ring dermatitis might be. I noticed in my doctoring online that many articles mentioned “pH balance” being off & having reactions to metals because of that.

Well… well… well...

You don’t say… changes to your pH balance can be directly affected by modification to your diet. Know anyone who has changed altered their eating habits lately? Say… about 8 weeks ago?

Not only that, but a change in pH balance can also affect the way your body reacts to/works with deodorant!!!

Now, I’m sure it’s not bad dealing with all those things when you take into consideration that I am extending my life by doing the HLC. However, it is a bit frustrating to not wear the bling (believe me, I have heard it from Cop’er too!). And let’s not even go into the problems with deodorant not working!

This is almost enough to make me wake the sleeping French Fry Monster inside… almost…

Healthy Lifestyle Change... NOT DIET!

For those of you who don't know, I started a 'healthy lifestyle change' on January 4th. While you might think it fell into the timing of New Year's Resolution, it was not. It was merely a decision I knew I needed to make & thought it was time to do so.

A healthy lifestyle change can, to some, be thought of as a diet, but we don't use the "d" word around this house. This change doesn't have a specific amount of time tied to it, as it's something I plan to keep doing and not drop (like a loaded mass of carbs) once i get to the "golden weight."

Cop'er is also taking part of the change, but he's having a harder times with the 'rules'. For example, 100-calorie snack packs aren't really supposed to be in place of eating a healthy snack. I like to think instead of downing a big 'ole piece of chocolate cake b/c i have a hankering for chocolate that I will reach for a 100-calorie pack of chocolate cookies to ease that craving. He doesn't see it like that...

Gotta an itch for something to eat mid-morning? 100-calorie pack.

Need something to tide you over before dinner? 100-calorie pack.

Have a sweet tooth at midnight? 100-calorie pack.

I do give him props for eating more fruits! (We are still working on more veggies).

i mentioned in an earlier post that I haven't have fast food or soft drinks for almost 7 wks. I don't really miss the Coke or Sprite much - I'm an iced tea drinker - but i sure am wanting McDonald's french fries! Cop'er gives me the standard advice, "if you want them, go order a small size & get it out of your system. Depriving yourself doesn't help."

I don't think this is a good idea... I think it's only going to wake a sleeping giant --- a McDonald's french fry eating giant! Once it's turned loose, I'm not sure it can be contained.

Hmmm... How do I tell my family we can't go to McD's for the annual Christmas Eve dinner???

I'm drinking more water, making better choices for meals & trying not to overdo it. If i have something "bad" for lunch, I go completely "good" for dinner. It's all about balance, right? & I should be good at that since I'm a Libra!

Speaking of "scales"... yeah... that thing! Yes, I've been on them. Completely. I've lost 7lbs, so that's about 1 lb a week. Not too shabby! "They" say you need to lose it slowly if you have any hope of keeping it off. Still... that's a number on my doctors & myself know! (I did see Cop'er trying to sneak up on me the other day to peek over my shoulder. Luckily I have eyes in the back of my head [& he wasn't very stealth], so the secret remains).

Here's to another week of making better choices and fighting the fries for dominance in the world!