lucyb Our lives, minds, and bodies are exactly as we choose them.

Posts by lucyb1023

Forum	Topic	Date	Replies

Fitness	iliotibial band syndrome	Mar 05 2008 00:42 (UTC)
I am your garden variety runner, was doing about 10-20 miles per week with cross training on bike and elliptical, along with strength training and yoga. I started running more outside on a trail, and that's when this hit me BAD. Hills, no matter how little, and banked trails (it was a paved trail) = IT band unhappiness. I have had a problem with this ever since I did massive hill training for runs when I was a rower in college (8 yrs ago). Now, I finally got to the point where my IT band was so tight it was literally impossible to straighten my leg in gait. So, after much research, here's the plan .... I do RICE as much as a can, do daily stretches along with pelvic drops, have deep tissue massage (which has introduced me to a whole new pain threshold -- but afterwards, you can tell a positive difference), and starting next week, 4 weeks of physical therapy tailored for IT band syndrome. I also decided to take 4 weeks off from running. Unfortunately, I'm a nurse, so I walk A TON at my job, so now I have a strong limp ongoing for 2 weeks now. Hoping to get some time off work since even walking hurts. Can't run, but I did start swimming ... I do front crawl and then straight leg walking laps. I also took up boxing with a punching bag ... mostly b/c I have been going crazy from not running!! I hear that is pretty common, though. Best of luck, hope this was helpful ...
Weight Loss	Eating majority of Calories in the evening...?	Oct 28 2007 01:30 (UTC)	8
I work as a nurse in a hospital, walk a lot during the day and stand too, then do all my heavy workouts in the evening, usually between 6 and 9 pm, go to bed at 12 am. I eat a really big breakfast, have a healthy snack at work, then split my dinner in two ... one when I get home, then a snack before working out, then a smaller meal after. So, it would seems that I eat more of my calories in the latter part of the day, but I'm more active then, and need the energy to workout. Is this an incorrect method?
Motivation	Anyone else doing everything but keep gaining weight???!!	Sep 19 2007 15:19 (UTC)	3
From what I can calculate,I aim for a 500-700 cal deficit/day, which I thought was what I should do for weight loss. I am sure some of its muscle, but it's physically impossible for a female (unless a body builder) to gain THAT much muscle. I am stumped :( I try to change my weight routine every 3-4 weeks, i.e. add different exercises, add more weight, do quick and slow sets ... etc etc ... the cardio class is something I actually thought of, good call.
Weight Loss	5'6" ladies here please	Sep 15 2007 02:43 (UTC)	66
Yay, women of the same height but so many other unique measurements unite! I am 28 yrs old, female, 5'6" weight 126 - 127 lbs, trying to get back to 115-118 lbs former smoker (14 months baby!), nurse, chronic stress indulger do yoga, running, weight training, walking, elliptical, pilates, bike Measurements are bust 34, waist 26". hips 35" Best of luck to all us 5'6"ers.
Weight Loss	How often do you measure for inches lost?	Sep 15 2007 02:31 (UTC)	1
I weight and measure every few days, ALWAYS in the morning ... I let my sleep metabolize and do its thing first! ... I have been so frustrated and bummed out since I started eating a normal amount several months ago (and I gained 9 lbs ... TERRIFYING TO ME), but seeing that my measurements were almost the same cheered me up some, seeing as I exercise a lot too.
Weight Loss	losing my hope, need some support right now	Sep 15 2007 02:25 (UTC)	2
Don't my lazy rest days bring those deficits into balance? I thought it was more important what your intake/output and deficity was over the course of a week rather than daily. My doctor was kind of clueless in this realm. The nutritionist I talked to at work (I'm a nurse, go figure) suggested upping my healthy fats and lean protein, which I do, but it doesn't seem to do much more than give me some energy. So I'm still stumped. I figured after this many months, I would see some tiny positive response, but I haven't. When I first started, I gradually increased my calories to 1700-1800 for about 2 months, but felt bloated and sick most of the time, and my weight just kept going up. Cut back a bit gradually (to where I am now), felt a bit better, but weight stayed the same. ARGGG.... I have the most remedial metabolism, I swear ... I do appreciate the feedback. I guess the problem for me is that when I was basically starving myself ... IT WORKED. I saw results ... I'm not seeing anything with this, hence my rant.
Fitness	How many minutes of cardio do I need per week, am I doing enough?	Sep 14 2007 16:08 (UTC)	8
thank you for your encouragement! i need it, this is getting so frustrating. I started increasing back in May, so I figured that by now, I would have started to lose healthily again ... it seems each time I increase my calories, I just gain weight! I now everyone says you will start to see results in 6-8 weeks, but no dice there. I probably burn on average about 1700-2100 cal/day, so I figure I have a daily deficit of at least 500 or so. But still, nothing! I keep changing up my routine, too, but nothing seems to be working. What am I doing wrong? the scale is starting to freak me out. I know some of it's muscle, but I didn't gain THAT much muscle to account for the increased weight.
Fitness	Question from an amateur runner/jogger	Sep 03 2007 17:05 (UTC)
How much time total do you do each of these exercises?
Weight Loss	HELP!! Having a hard time settling on "ideal" daily caloric intake?	Sep 03 2007 17:04 (UTC)	1
I checked out the allowance on this site (1600/day to reach my goal weight by end of November), and I expend 2100 cal/day, so I have that negative 500/day needed to lose 1-2 lbs per week. But when I was eating 1600-1700, and still being this active, my weight just keep going up!! Drank a ton of water, but didn't seem to help, thus I cut the calories back down a bit. I feel better, but weight not going anywhere. I try to space my meals but I'm a nurse manager at a hospital ... usually I eat a big breakfast (biggest meal of the day), work straight through, then have lunch when I get home. I would eat at work, but patient needs come first. The rest of my meals are little snacks every 2 hours until about 10 pm. I appreciate the input though ... this is just getting frustrating.
Motivation	Scared of increasing calories from 600 to 1200	May 29 2007 03:35 (UTC)	7
I just bought some whey protein powder to add to milk with fruit in the mornings, so I am hoping that will help. It works pretty well is getting calories in without making me feel like a whale. I have added 2 glasses of red wine a week, but I'm not much of a drinker, so that's my limit (and I'm a cheap date.) Moving along .... I don't want to add any more fat to my frame, my weight is within a normal range for my height (it's just my mind set that is out of wack) .... you can be thin and still have too much body fat (skinny fat I call it, means you're thin with no muscle tone) ... so adding fat is unnecessary ... I need to add muscle. Exessive body fat on anyone, fat or thin, is unhealthy. And if I stop exercising, my metabolism will slow down even more than it already is, which would defeat the purpose of me eating more to stoke my metabolism into speeding up again, not to mention that your muscles begin to atrophy after 36 hours of not being worked out. After a few weeks, you would be starting from ground zero with them. Atrophied muscles do not help speed up metabolism! Not to mention the depression that would set in from not exercising daily for at least 30 min (like everyone is supposed to be doing anyway). I'm hoping that once my metabolism speeds ups in a few months or so, I can eat 1500 cals or more/day, being as active as I am, and not have to worry about gaining unnecessary weight. That all being said, I appreciate the support ... it helps to read what you all have to say, it keep me going with this ... I think if my friends and SO weren't being so supportive, I would have given up the first day I felt gargantuan from eating so much, and gone back to what I was doing.
Health & Support	not dizzy...but...	May 17 2007 08:08 (UTC)	1
Hi! I'm your friendly hypoglycemic nurse! I deal with very similar symptoms when I don't eat what I should be eating. Your aren't getting any protein or healthy fat, hence you feeling like you can't concentrate, getting dizzy, headaches, etc. You're BLOOD sugar is too low, and not maintaining itself when you are only eating simple carbs like rice cakes. Try having homemade peanut or almond butter on whole wheat bread with an egg white omelette for breakfast -- if you rev up your metabolism that way in the morning, that protein and healthy fat will keep you going to lunch. And if you need to eat, guess what? Get over eating in front of your kids ... take 5 and take care of yourself. Passing out in front of them wouldn't be so great, would it? For a snack, try an apple with some almonds, or yogurt with Kashi thrown in. Stay away from all that processed crap, it does nothing for your health and your body. Try planning the night before what you will take with you. All it takes it some effort, good luck! I would also suggest taking a fasting glucose test at your PMD's office.
Health & Support	What must I do to self-heal an eating disorder?	May 17 2007 08:02 (UTC)	3
I am in a similar boat at the moment ... have been living reasonably well and exercising vigorously daily (by some miracle) on 550-700 cal/day, and while I have maintained my original weight after losing to my goal weight, I haven't lost anything. I finally started getting so fatigued and dead all the time that I realized I needed to change my habits. I have always equated eating less with weighing less. That article is excellent BTW, gives some sound advice. I just started this week to increase my calories slowly. I'm hoping that this will assay my morbid fear of putting weight back on. I am increasing every few days by 50-100 calories, hoping to reach 1200 in a week or two, then gradually build to 1500 if I can. Other things that may help, which I'm doing ... double the intensity of your workouts, drink water like it's going out of style, and keep a food journal (may help when you feel that internal snapping coming on, keeps your accountable to yourself), and keep supportive people around you. Also, while a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, you want calories that give you the most nutrients. Hope this helps, it's scary for me, too.
Health & Support	I am sick after quitting smoking	May 17 2007 07:52 (UTC)	36
Hi! Much congrats on quitting smoking, it's a huge step!! I am a nurse, and acquitted 7 year smoker (ha ha), going on 10 months now staying quit. You're not sick, and antibiotics will do nothing but lower your resistance to real infections in the future, not to mention most antibiotics will do number on your stomach. Your withdrawal symptoms are perfectly normal, everyone experiences some of these to varying degrees. The reason you're coughing up stuff, having a sore throat, ear issues etc... your cilia in your airway, which are tiny microscopic tubes that move mucous and saliva along, get killed by your smoking. Ever had a cold when you smoked, and the smoking actually kind of seemed to make you cough less? However, these little guys are able to regenerate. So, when you quit, and they start coming back, of course they start working again, and start bringing all that crap that has been sitting in your lungs the whole time, and bringing it up to the surface. So, it's a good thing! Feels lousy, I know, but it will pass. Drink lots of water, that helps break up some of the secretions. For your ears, I'm guessing some stuff is also draining upstairs, too. Hope this helps.
Motivation	Down in the dumps	May 17 2007 07:43 (UTC)	3
Try to do something that both distracts and rewards you! When I've had a lousy day, I try to channel that negative energy into a really decent workout. Even if it's a short one, that burst of energy and the letting go of whatever is dragging you down will be immensely helpful. Your endorphins will kick in. And, if it's a really hard workout, it should dampen your appetite a bit. Just don't hit the ice cream after, which will kick the crap out of your blood glucose. Try having your favorite cereal with milk or yogurt, have some carrots and celery with peanut butter, or a bowl of blueberries and strawberries with some fat free cool whip and some almonds. They're all dessert and snacks, but are good for you! Other ways of coping ... I do yoga and meditating, which are both challenging, but are amazing in helping you to not attach yourself to the negative things happening in your day, and letting go of that stress. Your mind and body are always connected, so taking care of both will help you to better deal with a rough day.
Motivation	Scared of increasing calories from 600 to 1200	May 17 2007 07:36 (UTC)	11
Thank you so much for the feedback! As in the way of junkfood, I will occasionally have 1 tsp or 2 of chopped high quality dark chocolate, and my two sugar vices are fat free cool whip and marshmallow creme! But I can only handle that stuff in low doses. I like pizza, and pasta, but just once in a while. For stuff like chips, crackers, ice cream, etc ... well, if you don't eat that stuff for long enough, you just don't really want to eat that stuff at all. Honestly, with trying to eliminate processed foods from my diet completely, junk food is not high on my list. I want to increase my calories, but I want to do that with nutrient dense calories. Thanks for the link, I will check that out. For the 1200, it's my eventual goal ... I just started this week, so it seems I have a tough few weeks ahead of me. I'm hoping drinking tons of water and doubling my exercise routine intensity will help offset scary gain while my body learns to accept that I'm not starving it anymore. Today was the first day I finally broke 1000, but I had to stay up until 2 am to finish eating! I hate forcing myself to eat, I can do it (trust me, I can put food away, especially after a good work out!) but I'm just not very hungry after awhile. So it will be slow going for now, but one can do anything for a month or two. Thank you both!
Health & Support	very urgent, about shocking your body from not eating to eating HELP!	May 17 2007 05:25 (UTC)	3
Hi, I'm a nurse and also have had history of restricting calories & fasting. You run a much higher risk of damage to your heart and other vital organs (i.e. kidneys, liver) by fasting! When your electrolytes get out of a balance, bad things happen (heart attack, stroke, seizures, etc.)! By all means, work with your nutritionist and doctor closely. I know what it's like to increase your calories with a lot of nutrient dense food ... it's intimidating to eat all that! But you need to. Along with good whole foods, I might suggest some supplemental shakes like Boost or Ensure ... they give you extra calories and vitamins without making you feel so uncomfortable after eating. Hope this helps.

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