Posts by edieglass

Hi Brig,

Sorry I didn't responded to your email. It's been one of those weeks but I'm here. I ate way too much this week, so I'm all for the "buddy system". What day should we target? I'm flexible ...in my schedule, not physically

Hi, I'm from Edinboro - 15 minutes sounth of Erie,  about 2 hrs from Buffalo, Pitts. or Cleveland. I'm familiar with Bradford and Dubois (my husband is from CA and pronounces Dubois French like "Do-Bwah"...we still have some conversions to work on). I grew up in Millcreek, college in Hawaii, but came back to the "Mistake on the Lake". Lived in McKean (Erie county) for 20 years and Edinboro for the last 7.

Hi guys,

Welcome pjlittle and khp169.

I haven't been doing so well on my weight so feel I should get a bit more motivated, too. I started at 148 in Jan. I had got down to 131 by early May but am now at 133.6 today.  My goal was to be 125 by July 1...no way will I reach it. I will be happy getting to the 131 by July 1. But, I really need to start exercising again. I just don't have the ambition now that I am working 8-10 hrs. daily (and most of that time is spent on my feet). That's only for the next 7 months then it's sooooo slow for about 3, so I don't usually complain. In addition to work, hubby and I have an agreement that I do the summer yard maintanance (mowing, weeding, pond) and he does the winter work (plowing, etc), so I try to justify the yard work as my "exercise"(we have 6 acres). But I know I need to get back on the treadmill or walk outside(since that's good for osteo/bones), riding on a mower listening to music just doesn't count as exercise.

Cheryl, I had to laugh when you asked about the steroid injections disolving fat. I thought that they were kidding when they first told me what it was. My massage therapist thought I had a torn muscle. I "googled" fat atrophy and found several sites. I even found a picture of what mine looked like. The woman had injections to "fix" hers (she was a lot younger than me) but I just waited it out and within a year it filled in most of the way. It's hardly noticeable now, unless you are looking for it (and who sees my bare butt anyway???). here's the link to the pic. it's about the 4th one down on the page...the first set of photos that are of buttocks(not faces). http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.parkercenter.net/before_and_after_picture s/fat_injection_01a_small.jpg&imgrefurl=h ttp://##texthol der2##:&tbnh=42&tbnw=111&prev=/im ages%3Fq%3Dfat%2Batrophy%2Bfrom%2Bsteroid%2Bi njections%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN  It's too bad it looks so "scar-like" it'd be an easy way to lose this weight! 

Good luck everyone for the weekend. Stay away from ice cream...it's the devil! (I'm sure my gain is the fault of Ben and Jerrys)

Edie

Got it! I'm at 133#. My July 1st goal was originally 123# (but I will be content with 128 since that will be a 30 lb. loss since Jan.) I turn 50 on July 1 and my husband is throwing a huge party.  I don't wanna look old AND fat! Age is relative, fat isn't ;) My work schedule doesn't allow the party to happen until later in the month so  that gives me a couple more weeks to reach my goal. We can do this!

Edie

Bjben,  My Dr. did a bone density test on me nearly a year after my periods had stopped. he ordered the dexa scan to get a "baseline" to keep watch since I was post meno. Unfortunately, my test showed the bones of a 90 yr. old woman. I have had dairy allergies (dairy triggers asthma for me) since birth so I think that is a big part of it. I wish I had listened to my mom all those years that she told me to take calcium supplements. A dexa-scan isn't very expensive (mine cost around $150, compared to my hip x-ray that cost $1000...I am self employed with minimal insurance, so my insurance doesn't cover any of the testing) and could give you a baseline (as well as peace of mind). Be sure to get lots of calcium and walking is good exercise to strengthen bones. 

Happy Earth Day,  everyone. I had upped my calories last week (contrary to everything I believed) and was pleasantly surprised (it's worth the try, Cindy). On Friday I weighed 132. I'm only a little more than 5'1" and I still have 9 lbs. to lose to meet my goal, but at least I was in the "healthy BMI range"for the first time in a year. Unfortunately, yesterday I was at 136,then this morning I started a period! I'm blaming the sudden weight gain on this rather than the buffet I ate at my parents anniversary dinner Sat. night.  I am "supposed" to be done with periods. I'm a grandma for crying out loud! What is going on??? You would think after a couple of years they would just stay away! I'm hoping that it's a fluke and I won't have another...ever! Has anyone else had this happen?

Yes, girls, there is a menopause fairy, but I think it's a male since the only good thing I got from "him" was the breasts, the rest is awful.  seriously, I went from a 32B to 34D in about 9 months. I know the weight had something to do with it but I've lost a lot of the weight and not the boobs. I'm not complaining...when I was younger (and immortal) I used to tell my Dr. that if he found a lump (during my annual exam) that I was keeping it...I needed all the help I could get.  (my previous husband had cancer so I'm not coy like that anymore)

Cheryl, I admire you for sticking to it this long! I bet the eggs are tiresome. How many days ahs it been? My Dr. recommended that I try a Mediterranean Diet. Do you know anything about it or ever tried it? I did some research online and I think it's just all the fruits, veggies,  and fish you want, just cut the carbs. 

Molly, keep up the good work! You are my inspiration! I'm going to go "outside" to do my walk today. I'm so excited...it's 65 degrees here and it isn't even noon! yesterday I worked/cleaned my pond for about 3 hrs. I had to burn quite a few calories raking that wet smelly gunk out. Today I was nearly 2 lbs less than yesterday! Woohoo...guess what I'm doing for exercise after my walk?!?

Cindy,

The vacation was great...we flew into Phoenix (MIL lives there), then drove to San Diego. Since I live in PA, the warm weather was quite welcome (although I did get a bit of sunburn on the whale watching cruise).

The full name for the disease is Hashimotos Thyroiditis. I thought they were kidding when they told me I had it since it sounds like such a phony name. Anyway, it's an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. Since the thyroid gland helps set the metabolism rate, it really can cause havoc in the way of weight gain and difficulties losing weight.  Some of the symptoms are dry skin, muscle fatigue, depression, fatigue, weight gain (50 lbs. in 18 months). It's sometimes really difficult to be motivated for anything. I take synthroid (my hair fell out for 6 months when I first started it, but that has stopped...whew!)and will need to be on it for the rest of my life. Hashimotos is the most common form of hypothyroidism.

Dawn,

It sounds like you've found a great plan. Did you have to increase calories from what you were doing before? I have my activity level listed as light but am wondering if possibly I'm not eating as much as I should. CC has set my burn meter at 1800 and my calorie intake at 1300. I was having trouble eating the 1300...averaging 1100 for the last month. Since I got back from vacation, (I must've stretched my stomach) I am eating 1500 and I stepped on the scale this morning and am only .4 lbs. more than when I left. It's hard for me to believe that I could lose 2.5 lbs in 2 days and eating so much. I had been walking 5 miles, 5x week and I hadn't walked in 10 days. Yesterday I got on the treadmill, but could only did 2 miles. My thighs and butt hurt all evening! (I am hoping that was a good sign). I have to get rid of that "cottage cheese in a baggie" look on my hips and thighs!

I love salads...you can be so creative with them.  Today my lunch is a bed of spinach and romaine with some of last-nights leftover grilled salmon, sunflower seeds, red raspberries and orange sections with a ginger soy dressing. Yummy, and only about 150 calories.

I better quit talking and start walking, haven't done that yet today. Thanks for the motivation.

Edie

Hello ladies,

Cheryl, it was a good idea to move to a new thread. The other one was getting pretty long. Thanks for notifying me of the change. Hopefully you won't kick me out when I turn 50 in 3 months?

I went for a nutritional testing today. I think I surprised the Dr. with all of the "ailments" that hit all within the last 2 years. She blamed the majority of them on menopause and has made some suggestions. I need to fill out a really in depth questionairre for my next visit.  I was intrigued with the visit and really liked the dr. (a woman in her early 40's). She uses vitamins, herbs and some natural hormones and doesn't prescribe meds. I was sceptical about the visit but came out feeling better about it.  I had exhibited at a women's expo a few weeks ago and she was represented in the next booth so I had some time to talk about her treatments and didn't go in blindly.

Incidently, she talked to me a bit about the progesterone cream that we had been discussing on the prior thread. She brought it up without me mentioning it! So, that's a definate change I'll be making.

Valerie,

16 lbs is fantastic! I weigh on Tuesdays and only lost .4 lbs. in the last week. It was very discouraging. I thought that I'd lost more. 

How did you do (on the scale) after the business trip? I am leaving on Friday for a family vacation and I know it is going to be bad for me. I'll have to work harder when I get home, I guess.

I'm not sure if it is harder to work outside the home or at home. My husband works from home, too, and all day is a food fest for him. He has gotten to the point of eating candy bars and snacks in his office so I don't see.  I have sunflower seeds in my studio (I don't have to worry about him touching them). We used to eat breakfast and lunch together. Now, we still eat in the same room but each make our own meals. It seems silly but I just can't allow myself the foods that he eats or I'd weigh another 50 lbs. I think if I were to work outside the home I may not be tempted so often. I am being very good since starting CC but it hasn't been easy...just disciplined. 

Angie,

I did bought a small flat screened  tv that I set up in front of my treadmill. I was only walking about 20-30 minutes per day before the tv but now can do 5 miles easily while watching. If it's a really good movie, I have been known to walk the full 2 hours!

Good luck everyone,

Edie

Welcome, lastditcheffort...there's always room for another! I understand how you feel about weighing more now than during pregnancy. I put on nearly 50 lbs. during my last pregnancy (15+ yrs. ago) and still weighed less than I did in Dec. '07.

I was able to lower my cholesterol w/o meds. I can email you some info if you're interested. I dropped 99 pts. off my total in 6 months with advice from a dietician that my endo sent me to.

Sorry I'm not much help in the HRT dept. but I am going to try the progesterone cream that Cheryl mentioned. The combo HRT meds that I've been on always make me start bleeding. I've never tried Climara.  What symptoms to do have when you go off the HRT?

Edie

Brigitte and Cheryl,

Thanks to you both, I am really interested in trying the progesterone cream.  I mentioned it to my Dr. on Tues and he said "let's work on one thing at a time" (meaning my weight, I guess). Do you know if it's available without a presciption? I am working on my Amazon order,again,  (I can never just order 1 book, so spend a lot of time when I do an order). I'm also going to try to get the Schwarzbein one. I did look at the website.   Both my parents are diabetic so it would be an interesting read for me.  My mom was put on a similar diet when she was first diagnosed. She was able to control her diabetes without meds (just diet and exercise) for 6-7 years...and she lost 40 lbs. when she started the diet/exercise program. She would come to my house and eat (I used to make a lot of desserts, before I turned into a cow), then she would walk upstairs, downstairs, making laps around the house until her sugar came back down.  I think I would have a hard time with such a restrictive diet.

 Thanks for all the insight...you all have been an inspiration for me. There's still hope 

I have been taking them in the morning about 8:00 -9:00. I deliberately skipped mine today because I was up most of the night again. At least I was able to get through the day without pigging out (so far).

 Corky, what can you tell me about the natural progesterone cream? Have you had any side effects? How long have you been using it?

Today is my1 month as a CC member. I have lost 7.2 lbs. (2.5 lbs since phentermine).  I  really hate to exercise but am motivated. I walk weekdays from 10:00 to 11:00 am.  I have never weighed this much in my life (not even during 3 pregnancies). 3 years ago I weighed 100. I put on about 10 lbs. as soon as menopause hit, then another 38 with Hashimotos.  My Dr. put me on the phentermine to "boost my metabolism". He only gave me a 1 month prescription and wants to check me before he'll refill.  It sure does make me thirsty. I measured my fluid intake the other day and it was 148 oz! I never drink that much.  Also,I was having a lot of trouble sleeping last week. I would close my eyes but they kept moving. I think I managed about 3 hrs per night for 4 days. It was making me crazy. It was so bad that I skipped my pill on Sat. just so I could catch up.  This week is much better. I actually slept 6 hrs. last night and I feel good this morning.  I am going to try taking it after breakfast and see how that works for me.

 The bone density concerns are important. My Dr. ordered a Dexa scan 2 years ago (1 yr.after my periods had stopped). He wanted to get a baseline (my mother has osteopenia). When my results came back we were shocked. My hips were -3.4 (severe osteo). I have been on Actonel for 2 yrs.  I have grown almost 2", but I really think maybe I'm not slumped over anymore. I quit caffeinated drinks after I was diagnosed (caffeine depletes the calcium), and I joined Curves for weight bearing exercises. I quit Curves because I just kept putting on weight (and they made me feel embarrassed, saying I wasn't working hard enough, etc). I wasn't permitted to do any weight lifting, though.   My osteo has improved a lot. Got my most recent results last week. My back is now osteopenia, my hip is -2.6.

For the hot flashes...I just finished a hot flash study with Bayer(like the aspirin). I donated myself as a lab rat. If you'd like to know more about it let me know. The drug was FDA approved, they were testing to see how low a dose could be given with results. I've signed up for a new study in May, too.

Since I work at home I don't have contact with many people. I apologize if I get too chatty.

 Edie