Posts by superem

Thank you everyone for your kind advice! I am going for another MRI and seeing the surgeon for a follow-up and see what he recommends now...

I did one full year of physiotherapy with chiropracy (?) and, although it has helped, I am still always in pain and unable to do much...

I have to say that this is the most debilitating experince I have faced and it is very hard to be a 26 year old who feels like I'm 86... But I'm still hoping that I'll be able to enjoy life again and start doing the things and sports I always loved.

In the mean time, I'll get back at those mild core exercices and cross my fingers!!

Thank you for your help and support. I'm back at counting calories and getting back in the groove of things  :)

You should check out bodybuilding.com - they have lots of very useful articles and you could learn a lot about working out and the different routines...

As you work out 6 times a week, I'd get a 4-day plan and would do cardio and stretches onlt on two of the days... Each of the 4 days would be devoted to a few body parts.

You can msg me if you wish to and I'll send you my workout plan. I'm at work right now, but could forward it to your email when I get home... It's a very good 4-day plan. The rotation allows your muscles to rest and regenerate.

Hope this advice helps.  

I'm a Grad student and my experience is - don't push the diet thing, because they'll still try to convince you (i.e. you're not fat - come on!)

I'd say I don't have a fatty tooth or I just don't want any. If you say you don't WANT it, what more could they say???

Original Post by beckah:

A couple of things.

1. I love hugging and cuddling with my husband and it brings us closer together and lots of times it doesn't lead to sex. You are cheating yourself and your husband out of a wonderful feeling of closeness by not being willing to hug him. Your husband sounds very patient and understanding so tell him you would like to hug and cuddle but not do anything else, just holding on to one another can help you with your intimacy issues.

Hi Lilly,

I think this might just be the best advice you got... Just start from point A all over. It doesn't have to be sex... Just cuddle and hold each other and tell him that you need for this to stay where it is. You can eventually work your way to caressing each other. Just take it slow and set the pace.

At least, you will not loose intimacy!!! And you'll leave a door opened for your libido to come back into your married life!

Thanks! Guess I'll talk to my Physio and Kynesio about hiking things up a bit.

I just want to get out of this. I am always tired (must be the pai killers) and backed up (ie not regular). This all caused me to gain 20 pounds!

If you have any more advice or personnal experience, please do not hesitate. I'd love to hear about it!!!

This is a discovery!!!

Great comment xchloeocx,

I think you need to address the issue. They might be jealous, but it might be something else... And maybe talking about it will make them realise their behavior (providing they are true friends).

Loosing weight does bring some changes: improved confidence, self control, etc. and you have to help them understand that this is who you are. You are trying to change and putting a lot of energy into it.

So try explaining to them that you expect for your true friends to be happy for all the changes you are making in your life. Hey! They might need to make the same changes to feel better about themselves!!

Yup totally muscles. People keep on telling me I look sooo much slimmer, but I'm 4 pounds up! Which is kind of scary thinking I wanted to loose 10 pounds.

Welcome the change. Build muscle and it will burn fat by itself.

And it will make you look sexy faster

Oh and I'm 25!!

I am an overeater. It's close to binge eating but more constant. I'm getting better and better and the key is to stop trying to control it I think (and I find it so hard).

I used to eat 4500 cals/day until a few months ago when I started CC+. I decided that I wanted to eat less... and then I saw that I should eat no more than 1600 cals/day. I am not there yet and fluctuate between 2000-2500.

I am always hungry and always want to eat. I find that eating makes me want to eat more and know it's a vicious circle. So I try to snack on small pieces (pieces of apple instead of a whole apple, cut fruits, etc.). I do end up cheating every other day i guess, but I don't beat myself ove it and just remind myself of my progress.

This group is wonderful since I have not spoke out about my problem yet and feel alone in this.

I know hat for a lot of people, this is emotional. In my case, they just ruled it out and think it's a chemical imbalance. But the good news: changing your habits send signals to your brain and can help reduce the problem.

So: How is everyone dealing with this? Any tricks or advice?

Thanks Travija. I have tried the spinach thing too and actually get spinach cravings (except around PMS - then there is no way to have them around). It also helped hike my iron up!!!

And, with the beautiful weather back I am walking and rollerblading as much as possible!!!

I'm pretty sure that commercial cough strups do have calories.

I make my own at home and it is by far the best product I have used... and it's easy to figure out th calories:

1/3 Keyper Gin

1/3 Honey

1/3 Fir Gum (can be harder to find)

It actually works wonders and tastes yummy... Doesn't contain bunch of chemicals and the sugar is natural since it comes from honey...

I am totally there. I'm 130 aiming for 120 at 5'8" (small frame). But I just cannot go under 2000 cals/day!

Anyone here has tips???

As others pointed out: foods rich in potassium or a supplement would most probably help you. Bananas are very high in potassium, but there are many other potassium-rich foods: http://www.essortment.com/all/potassiumfoodh_ rkyn.htm

You should also take a Calcium-Magnesuim supplement if you don't meet your calcium requirements. If your body needs calcium, you would most likely get pain in your calves.

Hope this helps.

Thanks guys. I have been working hard on building muscle mass on my upper body, so I might be loosing a bit below and gaining it up top?

Unfortunately, I am not sure that my body fat % would be too low. I seem to gain fat only around my thighs and lower belly. Guess it would be a good idea to go for an analysis.  I've never been since my finances are pretty tight.

So, I guess 2000-2500 cals a day seems ok? I eat under 2500 cals/day 6 days/week since I joined CC (March 5th)... And 1 day/week I allow myself more. I try to eat healthy foods as much as possible and to reduce my portions. I eat 6 meals a day and need convincing that they should be small meals.

A girls at the gym told me that the only way to reduce my body fat % was to eat 1500 cals/day, take fat burn pills and consider HGH... But I really think that taking control is wayyy better for me!