NOTE: I should mention that I posted much of this info a few days ago. I actually didn't remember I posted it, and posted this before I checked the blog. So, some of it is redundant, and some of it actually fills in a bit more detail to the original post. My apologies for those who read both and wonder why I posted the same thing twice. :)
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So, I mentioned before that I was waiting to update this until I saw the doctor about this constant dizziness. I had an appointment on a Friday- I left work early, showed up, and the doctor had left early for an emergency.

So, I rescheduled for the following Monday at the same time. I saw the doctor, and he diagnosed me as having Meniere's Disease. You can find out more about the disease here. He gave me a steroid shot (not sure what that did), and he gave me a script for these motion sickness patches with scopolamine. You place one behind your ear for 3 days, and during that 3 days the medicine is constantly absorbed into the bloodstream. You replace it with a new patch after the 3 days and place it behind the opposite ear.

Unfortunately- this stuff is expensive, and there's no generic. So, it's a $40 copay with my insurance and despite the box that says 30 day supply- there are only 8 patches which is good for only 24 days. So, over $40 a month...plus, the doctor never told me whether to keep using them for good or what. He just said to follow the directions. The box says 4 refills, but I called and talked to one of the ladies in his office and was told to use the 8, and if I still needed them we'd go from there.

Anyway- the patches, from what I can tell, work. I haven't been dizzy since I started taking them. They made me very drowsy the night I put the first one on, but not since then. It's been fine. It's wonderful to not feel constantly dizzy and sick to your stomach, like the room is spinning, all of that stuff...

Now, I can start to walk and get some exercise that way. Sort of hard to do if you're dizxy nonstop, so I've resolved that issue and can get to it, I hope.

I didn't eat THAT well today. I ate lunch at Logan's Roashouse- I had chicken teriyaki with rice, baked beans, and mashed potatoes. For dinner, I was going to cook this skillet garlic chicken and pasta stuff I bought, but instead I saw a coupon for sonic- but one chili cheese dog, get one free. So, I had to of those and a hot fudge shake with oreos (I had to try it, it's new!)

I did buy a bunch of packets of those steam bags of vegetables. Mixed vegetables, corn, broccoli, green beans, peas, etc. That and more yogurt, some fitness drink mix, gatorade drink mix, and some more apples to snack on. Not too bad. I did buy some chinese microwave meals that aren't too high in fat and calories for lunch.

I will post again soon. Update with what I'm eating and any exercise I've done. I believe, last I checked, I weighed 270 in the dot, which isn't good, since I was actually down, according to the scale I have, 263. I got really tired of subway every single day, let me tell ya. Better solution with just trying to watch the portions, don't eat stuff that is filled with fat and 500 calories, that sort of thing. Probably easier in the long run, as opposed to trying to eat stuff that is MEANT to be health food, or close to health food.

I'm off for now. Back tomorrow probably...

Well, I haven’t updated much so far. I mentioned that I was waiting on the exercise, due to constant vertigo and overall dizziness. I had a doctor’s appointment Friday afternoon, but he left for an emergency- so I had to reschedule for yesterday (Monday) at the same time. I went and he asked me some questions, checked my ears, made me follow his fingers with his eyes. He concluded that I have menier’s disease, which is- well, I’m not exactly sure what it is. It has to do with the inner ear, fluid, the hairs that sense the fluid and control balance, and more. He gave me a steroid shot, though he never said what it was for. I didn’t bother asking for some reason. He also gave me a script for some motion sickness patches that go behind your ear. You wear one patch for 3 days, then take it off and place another behind the opposite ear…back and forth like that.

Unfortunately, that prescription was a $40 copay and tho it says a 30 day supply, there are only 8 patches, and if you change it every 3 days, that is only a 24 day supply with one week (2 patches) short. The billed total was actually $98 for 8 patches. 10 patches, I think, was $115. So, I’ll have to call them and ask about it. Big reason for that is the information says if you stop taking it, it can make you VERY dizzy and sick. I hardly want that for the final week of each month! I’ll figure that out.

Not sure if this will work…but I don’t feel dizzy today- yet. I will make note of any dizziness I do feel. I

I didn’t eat very well last week. I had McDonald’s a few times, Rallys, and other various fast food items that aren’t one bit healthy. I did go to the store to buy more yogurt, special k bars, sugar free drink mixes, fruit, and some vegetables. Some other items that aren’t that healthy- chicken and pasta mixes and some microwave meals, but those aren’t all that bad…not too high in fat, calories, or sodium.

Will post again soon. Hopefully I can try to make a path to walk tonight….

I missed 2 and a half days of work the week before last. I was really sick with sinus problems, coughing, wheezing, etc. I went to the doctor, and he said I have allergies (not sure how he figured that from looking into my nose and ears and throat, but whatever)...he said they caused a sinus infection and gave me a shot of antibiotics. I also gave me some pills to take to get rid of the bacterial infection.

I think I have major allergy issues. Issues requiring quick medical attention. I say that because ever since the sinus infection, I've been very very dizzy off and on. Which has also lead to me feeling off balance, light headed, and sick to my stomach...one day this week, I came home from work after my shift and laid down because I was feeling nervous and shaky. I felt hot all over and had a miserable headache. The room was spinning, and even lying down, which usually helps, didn't do much of anything.

I have a feeling I have seasonal allergies which are causing the constant dizziness. Well- consistent dizziness that comes and goes, I guess I should call it.

It's miserable to deal with. Not able to read, not able to get up and move about, all of that stuff is out when you suddenly start to feel dizzy.

How is this related to losing weight? Well- my plan on walking a mile tonight was put on hold. Because I'm just far too dizzy to walk around or stand up a lot, let alone walk a mile in the heat of the early evening. It's been pretty hot today...and heat seems to make it even worse. Sitting in front of a fan blowing over my face and the rest of my body seems to make it all a bit better actually.

So. No walking for now. I'm going to call my doctor and see what is causing this and resolve this issue. I've had this problem for many years, and it seems to come and go throughout the year- which makes me think it's allergies and it's related to the weather changes of the seasons. Who knows for sure...hopefully my doctor can figure it out, get me on some allergy medicine or something, and this problem will be gone for good. It's just too hard to deal with- trying to live your life while fearing that any minute you'll be sick with dizziness.

I will post later. For now, I need to lie down with the fan on me...hopefully that will help.

Last night I decided I was starving, and a chicken wrap with italian dressing and asian salad lettuce or a sandwich wouldn't do. Well, a sandwich I would make at home wouldn't do.

So, I went to McDonalds and got two Big Macs. That's around 1200 calories, I believe. Funny thing- I've had meals that consisted of 4 Big Macs and a large order of fries before. I've always been a big guy- not fat, but big in general. Tall, fairly large structure overall...that sort of thing. And I've always had a big appetite, so 4 Big Macs is nothing for dinner. It's very tasty and it's very enjoyable, but probably not the best idea in the world. 2 Big Macs probably isn't the best idea in the world for dinner, but that's what I had.

I have the weekends off work, so I woke up at 12 noon today- so I didn't eat breakfast, per se. I had a chicken wrap on flatouts (oat flavored, I think? They're tortilla things with not a lot of fat or carbs) with grilled chicken strips (from a refrigerated bag of already cooked chicken), lettuce from the asian salad mix I bought...that and italian dressing (light italian, actually.) It was okay.

I didn't realize those McDonald's snack wraps with grilled chicken were sort of high in fat...especially considering how small they are. I checked mcdonalds.com and saw the nutritional info. on them, and they're really not that great to eat if you're looking to lose weight. Well- they're not a quarter pounder with cheese (I think that's 800 calories alone), but they're not the other end of the scale either.

I'm planning on walking this evening. I will probably drive a route to see how far 2 miles is. Or maybe even 1 mile for now and then up it at a later date...Have my sansa loaded with 2 books, so that should work. Now all I need is some appropriate clothing. I have 1 pair of shorts- I just never wear them (always jeans or khakis), but I have these from years ago, so these work I guess. Plan on waiting till it starts to get dark. Honestly- I feel rather self conscious walking and people seeing me. I'm very shy, so I guess that makes sense in my case. I'd feel silly power walking even if I wasn't all that shy probably. Oh well. The cover of night works.

I'm off to clean a few things and get rid of some of the clutter I've got going on. I will try to list the stuff I ate earlier with nutritional info and all of that.

So. I guess this will be the blog where I will keep track of my weight loss and my progress with all of that. I couldn't think of a name, so I just used my regular livejournal name and added "weight" to it. Ben Katz is not my real name- it's a fictional character from the greatest animated series ever- Dr. Katz (which ran for years on Comedy Central.)

My main website is www.thebluesite.com and my name is Josh Bozeman. The Blue Site, which is nearly 5 years old at it's current home (thebluesite.com, that is, I ran it as a free webpage for years before that) is varied in nature. It's sometimes political, it's sometime vaguely personal and about my personal life events, but this blog here will be solely about my weight loss goal and weight loss related items- ideas I pick up on exercise, nutrition, and that sort of stuff. You might find it interesting or you might find it completely and utterly dull and boring and you'll never visit again. Either way, my feelings won't be hurt. I don't think. Okay- I might cry like a little girl.

I need to get ideas on affordable and healthy meal ideas, because eating sandwiches on wheat bread and baked Lays is driving me nuts. I need some variety. I should mention- I hate fish and seafood...won't eat any of it. I like beef and chicken and pork- in that order. Beef is just the best stuff God gave us. Here ya go, here's a cow- eat it. Thanks, God- that's what I say. I like varied food- I will eat veggies, fruit, rice, breads, beef, chicken, pork products, some sausage, etc. Lots of stuff I like, but what is good to eat for weight loss, and what can I buy that's cheap- that's my concern.

If you have any ideas on that or anything else related to this whole thing, feel free to comment or E-Mail me at josh@thebluesite.com

So...I'm off for now. Will update soon. Will check out the style here and see what I want to do with it.