Posts by justsmileandnod

What method of Birth Control do you use?

Paraguard (non-hormonal copper IUD). Before that, the NuvaRing for 3 years, for the same reason as you--I couldn't remember to take the pill everyday.

How long have you reallied on this method?

I just got it put in yesterday.

Has it always been effective?

To be determined, but Planned Parenthood, where I went to get it put in, told me that tons of women come in every week to have this one or Mirena (hormonal IUD) put in. Statistically, they are both 99% effective, about on par with the pill.

Any side effects?

It was uncomfortable to get inserted, and I've been slightly crampy since then, but already that's subsiding.

What do you know about IUD?

There are two main IUDs. Paraguard, which is non-hormonal, and Mirena, which is hormonal. From what I've been told, Paraguard results in heavier and crampy periods for up to the first 6 months, after which things should calm down, though not to the lightness of periods regulated by hormonal birth control. Mirena, since it has hormones in it, results in lighter periods and cramping. Paraguard lasts up to 12 years, and Mirena up to 5 years. Though it is easier to insert in women who have had children, it's not impossible if you haven't. I haven't, and had to go in twice before I got it inserted. The first time, it just wasn't going to happen. The second time, I took some medicine they gave me to dialate the cervix a little, plus I was on my period and they used some regional numbing medication, all of which made the insertion very quick.

If you're comfortable with hormones, I would recommend the NuvaRing. I loved mine--I never had any problems with it. I only switched to Paraguard because I wanted a non-hormonal BC.

Team:
Week 0.   7/7-7/9: 217.6
Week 1.   7/14-7/16:
Week 2.   7/21-7/23:
Week 3.   7/28-7/30:
Week 4.   8/4-8/6:
Week 5.   8/11-8/13:
Week 6.   8/18-8/20:
Week 7.   8/25-8/27:
Week 8.   9/1-9/3:

Grr...definitely have fallen off the wagon the last few weeks of BL11.  Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things!  I would love to get down to 210 by the end of this one.

Green Team

Week 0.   5/5-5/7:   224.6
Week 1.   5/12-5/14:  223.6
Week 2.   5/19-5/21: 220.2
Week 3.   5/26-5/28: 220.6
Week 4.   6/2-6/4: 219.4
Week 5.   6/9-6/11: 219.4
Week 6.   6/16-6/18: 217.4
Week 7.   6/23-6/25: 218
Week 8.   6/30-7/2: 217 (-1)

So, I lost some of the weight that I had regained, so a good note to end the challenge, even if I didn't hit the goal I wanted.

SW: 242lbs

LW: 217.4

CW: 218

GW: 145lbs

Grrr.  I actually got down to 216.4 this week, but with a VERY overindulgent weekend and TTOM, it's just not going the way I want to right now.  But I finished my 5K without walking on Saturday, so that's the silver lining!

Thanks for all the awesome support and encouragement nikki!  I was so excited with my loss this week, especially after losing nothing last week.  And everyone cross your fingers for me--I'm running my first 5K in three years this weekend, and I'm super excited!

Good luck everyone!  Green team's got it in the bag!

Looks like my weigh-ins aren't going through via PM, so I'll post it publicly this time!

(CW) 217.4

I'm still sticking with this challenge!

Green Team

Week 0.   5/5-5/7:   224.6
Week 1.   5/12-5/14:  223.6
Week 2.   5/19-5/21: 220.2
Week 3.   5/26-5/28: 220.6
Week 4.   6/2-6/4: 219.4
Week 5.   6/9-6/11: 219.4 (0)
Week 6.   6/16-6/18:
Week 7.   6/23-6/25:
Week 8.   6/30-7/2:

tazzie_23: Don't worry about it!  You lost 2.2lbs last week.  This week it's other people's turn (like mine!) to make up for gains or plateaus.  We're all here for each other!

Thanks for all the replies!  I went running this morning and made a conscious effort to keep my elbows bent and hands up, and while it didn't solve the problem completely, there was a SIGNIFICANT improvement.

Thanks!!!

Oh my goodness!  Our team totally rocked it this week!  I'm so glad to be on such a supportive team, and I know that I'm going to contribute more next week. 

GREAT JOB GREEN!!!

Ok, I finally weighed-in: sorry with a 0.4 gain this week. 

But it turned out better than it had been looking earlier in the week, so it was nice return to the scale after a few days and see that the number had gone down again, instead of up.  Also, it probably doesn't help that it's my TOM.

Next week will be better!

Oh my god!  I keep gaining!  It's been such a bad week, food-wise.  I'm going to hold off on weighing in until Thursday to try to mitigate a completely disasterous weigh-in.

Nikki, the icons are an awesome idea!  Thanks for putting them together. 

And thanks to everyone who gave me fun, non-food-centric date ideas.  Right now, they're still kind of food-centered, but inevitable we end up walking around for hours, too, so I guess it kind of balances out.  And, I'm not going to say no to the offer of an actual picnic (one where I'm not responsible for anything but showing up!) tomorrow.

Different problem now.  I did post an almost 3lbs lost this week, which is great, but I'm getting to a point where I'm incredibly bored with what I eat, and inevitably that means that I just don't eat.  Or at least, not as much as I should, ESPECIALLY given the amount that I exercise.  I think I should be eating anywhere between 1700 and 2000 calories to lose, but recently, it can be a chore just to get to 1500.  I guess there's no real question--I just needed to vent some frustration, because I don't want to sabotage myself by not eating enough (I mean, isn't that how I got in this mess in the first place, by eating too much????).

Green Team
Week 0.   5/5-5/7:   224.6
Week 1.   5/12-5/14:  223.6
Week 2.   5/19-5/21: 220.2  (-3.4)
Week 3.   5/26-5/28:
Week 4.   6/2-6/4:
Week 5.   6/9-6/11:
Week 6.   6/16-6/18:
Week 7.   6/23-6/25:
Week 8.   6/30-7/2:

Now that's more like it!

ladyduece--if you can hit the elliptical, then do so.  If not, no worries, just drinks LOTS of water to help stave off the innevitable water retention from the salt in the Sonic food.  And don't feel too bad.  It's one day in the week; you have much more pressing matters to deal with right now!  Good luck!