Posts by jcr

I don't know how to apologize for falling off the CC site, but please forgive me. Welcome to the new members. This is usually such a supportive bunch - and I haven't kept up my end of the support system at all. Again, I'm sorry. New start, OK?

It was a whirlwind summer and I'm pretty bummed that it's over. We've had so much flooding in our area of PA but my home hasn't been impacted. My heart aches for those who have suffered great losses, though. I want to just cry when I see the pictures of some areas. Hopefully none of you have had serious problems.

My weight is up - way up  - and I've started logging my daily food intake to get a handle on it again. I went overboard with calories this summer and my knee has made me much less active. I believe I can change things around again, and for the first time in months I have the desire to try again. So no excuses and no pie-in-the sky promises. I've decided to make each day the best that I can.

Alice, your hike sound amazing. Hopefully you'll post pictures again for us to enjoy. You are a real inspiration. BEB, you sound happy and full of life again. Bravo! Laura, I hope you are settling in to your new home and will soon find an enjoyable rhythm to life.

Hello to all friends, new and old. Hope everyone is enjoying these first crisp days of fall.

Jan

Gorgeous, gorgeous pics, Alice. I'm so glad you shared them. DD2 and I went to the Grand Canyon a few years ago, but since we don't hike, I didn't see the vistas you did. I love being a virtual hiker, so please don't stop sending the pics. When I have a little more time, I'll go back and enjoy all of them!

Thanks for the knee advice, Alice. I sure am not looking forward to a knee replacement! With the cortisone shot I don't have nearly as much pain walking, but the stiffness remains along with the lack of mobility. I have had a clicking sound with most steps, but sometimes now I also have a clunking sound, lower in the knee. It doesn't hurt but it's scary. I believe you that the meniscus is there somewhere, it's just not doing me much good.

My rear is in gear on the weight loss - big time! If I do have to go into surgery, I'm gonna be 30 pounds lighter with the strongest quads I can muster! This is a huge, huge, motivation. I'm not worried anymore about "how I look in a bathing suit" or "if my last year capris still fit."  I'm now worried about how my poor knees are going to support this extra weight. I've lost 3 pounds this week since seeing the ortho on Friday!   (:

Glad you stopped by, Debbie. From the dearth of posts, I'd guess we're all pretty crazy right now. The improved weather doesn't allow for the same amount of time on the computer, does it? Hope everyone is doing well - Bonnie, Chris, Helene, et al. 

Jan

Sorry to be MIA, Girls. The knee is not good. I finally see an orthopedist on Friday. I'm sure I'm facing meniscus surgery ASAP. Would really like to wait until June, but we'll see. DD's PhD graduation is in 2 weeks and no way am I having surgery before that, even if it means a wheel chair for the graduation weekend. I'm discouraged, to say the least.

The inactivity is making weight loss double-difficult. I have bee watching every bite but the scale doesn't move. (That probably is because I don't move, either. LOL  Motion=Pain.) Not a good scenerio.

Anyway, enough Debbie Downer. We had a gorgeous day today - long overdue. I spent the afternoon taking Mom to an eye appointment and "had to" stop for ice cream on the way home. My diet will have to take a back seat today to treating my 94 year old mom.

DH just came in and I need to think about supper. Will check in again soon. Thanks again for your inquiries and support!

Jan

Welcome, Debra. I'm glad you found us, too. My DH had the same problem with Lipitor, one of the statins but the dr. changed him to Zocor and that didn't react the same way at all. There is a strong family history of heart trouble in his family - his dad had a triple bypass at 53 (but is still living at almost 90!) and DH also lost his youngest brother to a massive heart attack, and another brother has had a quadruple bypass so he really does try to listen and do the right thing...

Please don't get discouraged if you don't lose your 20 lbs. over the next 6 weeks. That's really fast since 1 to 2 pounds per week is considered great progress. Kudos to being proactive, though. Really wanting to change is the biggest step!

Bonnie, I bought the CosiminDS at Costco and have begun taking it. I'm glad to hear it helped you. For a reluctant and sometimes unmotivated dieter/exerciser, this knee problem has opened my eyes and I'm suddenly very, very motivated. I guess we don't know what we had until we lose it...

Time to get going this morning. Hope everyone has a good day!

Jan

Bunny, that "over by 100 calories can put on 10 pounds in a year" statistic is mind-blowing! I always think " oh well, it's only 100 calories" when I decide to nosh on something. No more! Thank you!

Marti, you're singing my song. I lost a bunch of weight (many times, actually, since I'm a yo-yo dieter) and gain it back every time. If you can tackle your 5 lbs. NOW before it becomes more, you'll be so much better off. And how cool that you're back in college. That's fantastic. You go, Girl!

Laura and Helene, you both are encouraging, as always. I appreciate your steady support. You both make me want to keep plugging and not give up. Thanks! (:

And Alice, you are also my hero! Knee problems overcome; still hiking (and sharing those gorgeous pictures) What an inspiration!

Well, I've completed one week of PT on my knee. It's hard - very hard! I'm so exhausted by that time I get back home that I can hardly move. But I'm seeing slight progress and that makes it worthwhile. I'm doing my exercises faithfully on the days that I don't have therapy but they are much less intensive than the ones the PT has me doing at the office. He's increasing the weights on my ankle weights, so that's a good thing. 

Take care, Girls, and have a great weekend!

Jan

Just a quick update. I went to physical therapy for the first time today (had to wait that long for an appointment)  and am encouraged. He worked on my knee quite a bit and gave me exercises to do 3-4 times a day at home, followed by icing my knee. It will be time-intensive, but I'm desperate to overcome this. I will be doing PT twice a week at the beginning.

This set back has made me so thankful for the parts of my body that ARE working well. I took my relatively pain-free knees so much for granted in the past. No more! And this is a real wake-up call to get the extra weight off as well. I am motivated!

For you girls who like Hungry Girl: I bought her new cookbook today and have enjoyed browsing it this evening. Looks like some fun new food ideas to try.

This has been a crazy week and I still haven't had time to catch up on the back posts. I do hope everyone is doing well. And I'm sorry to be so self-centered in my posts lately. Guess I'm kind of in survival mode...

Jan 

I'm stealing a moment to catch up on CC. DD2 and her boyfriend are visiting from AZ until Tuesday. DD1 is also home on Spring Break, especially to meet said BF. I'm hobbling around like a cripple trying to do what I would usually do - and it's not working! Fortunately DD1 was here a few days before the AZ pair came, so she's been cooking up a store. Lots of new recipes for me, since DD2 and BF are both vegetarian.  My house has never seen so much healthy food. (:

It's been almost a week with the immobilizer and I have a love/hate relationship with it. The support feels wonderful and I can walk without pain, but after a few hours my leg feels claustrophobic and I wish I could yank it off. My "good" knee is taking all the brunt, of course, so I've been wearing a drugstore brace for extra support on it as well. 

I go back to the Dr. Wednesday afternoon (a little early for the 2 weeks but that's when I could get an appt.) He'll then determine my next step. I'm hoping for physical therapy on BOTH knees. I think both core and leg strengthening exercises would help tremendously. Of course, surgery is a real possibility as well. I hear you loud and clear on the weight loss, Girls, and I've been bashing myself over the head for putting my knees at such risk. Believe me, I'm not VERY motivated to get this extra weight off.

Sorry to rattle on so much about myself. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts but just can't respond right now. Thanks for your support and encouragement.  (:

Jan

Things have gone from bad to worse around here. Last night I was carrying a basket of laundry up the stairs and tore my left knee meniscus. Talk about pain! So last night consisted of an emergency call to the doctor., who prescribed heavy doses of Aleve last night along with continual ice packs.

This morning we saw the doctor who and he made the diagnosis. I'm in an immobilizer for two weeks with pain meds, after which time they will reevaluate the situation and see if surgery is needed.

I am not happy!   ):

Jan

BEB, I think closing the kitties in the bathroom with a litter box and food is the best approach. That's what I do when there are workmen in the house and I'm worried about the doors being left open to outside. The kitties seem to take comfort in having company...maybe you could lay down a couple old towels for a soft place for them to sleep for the time they're there. You'll love having new windows, even though it's a pain to go through the installation process. We had all new replacement windows installed two summers ago and I'm so glad. They tilt in for easy cleaning and really help with the heating/air conditioning bills. It happened that DH and I were on vacation in Savannah GA when they could schedule installation, so DD came home to check on G'ma and be here while the workmen were. What a lovely thing to come home from vacation and find all the work done!

Sorry you've been so sick, Bon. Did you have the flu shot this year? Please take it easy and don't push too hard to get back to your regular schedule so you have a relapse.

I had an unpleasant surprise last night. I ate dinner with a girlfriend at TGIFriday and thought I was ordering something relatively healthy and low cal - pecan crusted chicken salad with raspberry vinegarette dressing. When I came home and looked it up on-line, I found it was 750 calories. Ouch! So much for restaurant meals...

I think we all share dread of those fitting room mirrors. I don't look nearly that bad at home! We just did a mini-remodel of our bathroom and replaced the huge plate glass mirror over the double vanity with a smaller framed one. I have to admit that it's not nearly as scary to step out of the shower with the smaller mirror facing me. LOL

Alice and Deb, I'll add my name to those who tend to overeat when tired. I talk myself into thinking I "deserve" something - wrong!

Must leave for choir practice in a few minutes so I'll cut this short. Daily savings time for some of us in a little over a week. I'm so anxious for the daylight to last longer into the evening. It makes summer seem much closer.

Jan

We made it through March, Girls. Spring is just around the corner.

A very happy birthday to you, BEB! I hope it's extra-special. Go out and treat yourself to something (probably not food!)  fun today. We're have forecast of a warm spring-like day here in PA. Maybe you'll have the same!   (: