Day 1

Today is the first day of my 365 day commitment to ViDA  (Vitamin D, Diet and Activity Study). I do not know if this is going be a blessing or a curse. The 7 stages of a project have set in. In case you have never heard of these, here they are: 
1.  Enthusiasm 
2.   Sobering 
3.    Disillusionment 
4.     Fear/Panic 
5.      Search for the Guilty 
6.       Punishment of the Innocent
7.        Praise and Honors for the Non-Participants 

I guess, I am only at stage 3 – disillusionment. This is going to be more work that I expected and signed up for. The project dictates more and more.

This study performed at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) is for postmenopausal women over 50 who are interested in losing weight. They offer a free exercise and nutrition program. The main goal of there study is “ to test the effect of Vitamin D supplementation on weight loss and to identify lifestyle-related factors that may decrease the risk of developing breast cancer”.

We commit to following:

1.     Take a pill daily

2.     Keep a food journal

3.     Attend two 45 minute exercise sessions/week at FHCRC exercise facility

4.     Complete three additional 45 minute exercise sessions on your own each week.

5.     Attend/complete study questionnaires and testing sessions.

But know we need to:

1.     wear a pedometer and track our movements

2.     keep a more detailed food journal including converting and counting our caloric intake.

3.     Attend a weekly nutrition class for an hour

4.     The exercise room has limited availability and is only open in the afternoons Monday –Wednesday.

5.     Optional  was to give breast biopsies at the beginning and the end of the program (I opted out).

This is more than I originally signed up for and I get angry when forced to do extra redundant chores with my limited time resources.

I will focus on the positive – research has shown that losing weight will give you more energy, relieve tension, help to make you relax and sleep better. Exercise has also been proven to revert diabetes and heart disease. They also claim that being leaner and more active can reduce the risk of breast cancer – who knows for sure.

I know that I will feel better (under group pressure) when I exercise more and lose some excess weight. WISH ME SUCCESS!

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