Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Original Post by kae03:

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

 

Hi all,

Just joined site today on my quest to lose some weight the hard way, by that I mean no longer looking for quick fix diets and pills!!! I somehow stumbled across this site and can't beleive how informative it is and seeing how much i need to lose and how I can calorie count that in a food diary makes me feel really motivated!

Ok a little about myself.. My name is Dawn, I am 43 and currently weigh 157 pounds and aim to get down to 138. I think my goal weight was suggested at lower than that but have been really slim before and it doesn't suit me so I know I look and feel good at 138 and that's what i am aiming for. I want to feel good in my clothes again and am more than happy as a size 12 and not aiming for anything less.

I have been with my partner for 11 years now and I have 3 children from my previous marriage, they are 21, 18 and 16 and living there lives to the full!! I work full time as a supervisor for a clerical team in the NHS, It's a desk job so not that active!! I don't drive so have to rely on my little legs and the buses. I also have 2 German Shepherd dogs who demand a lot of my time and attention, one of whom is a bit like the tasmanian devil and not good on walks (muzzle and extending lead as not trusted with other dogs) I would love to go on longer walks but don't feel comfortable with both of them. I am thinking of taking my older dog who is very placid on walks on his own as he could also do with dropping a few pounds!!!

I love reading, watching loads of rubish on telly and I have quite a creative streak in me and have dabbled in various crafts such as candle decorating, and flower arranging. I recently did the flowers for my brother's wedding in St Lucia and they looked great in the pictures.

Diet wise I suppose I am a bit of a yo yo dieter. I can be totally focussed for a few weeks but then I lapse. Boredom plays a big part as I have no trouble during the day, in fact sometimes I am so busy I forget to eat. Evenings and weekends are my downfall and I am very partial to alchohol which I know is a big sin!! To get  myself back on track I am going back to the gym  as had a few weeks off from it as not been well with one virus on top of another. I enjoy going but find it a bit restrictive as I have arthritis in my hip so can't do running or lift much with it. I enjoy the walking machine and rower and machines for toning arms and legs. My fella says I should do swimming more which I know is really good for toning while supporting joints so will have to bite the bullet!!

Ok I think I have bored you all enough for now. I also sent the link to my friend who I know is in the same position as me so it will be good to support each other.

Will do an update soon and let you know how I am going on.

 

 

 

Original Post by kae03:

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Hi, all!

I am 41 years old, married with two great boys.  I went through a "chunky" phase when I hit puberty, which is also when I had migraines for the first time.  I was able to lose the weight in 8th grade by exercising more, controlling portions, and eating healthier foods.  I was able to keep this up until I hit grad school when the stress and anxiety of preparing the dissertation, along with the sedentary nature of the task, resulted in a 15 pound gain.  When I had my first child, I was able to easily loss all the baby weight within the first two years but couldn't get below my post-grad, pre-baby weight.  My second pregnancy (filled with migraines and other annoying health issues) was such a disaster that my only consolation was eating!  As soon as I had baby #2, though, I started on Weight Watchers and was able to lose all the baby weight and all my post-grad weight.  Part of the way through that journey, though, I realized that I was working the Weight Watcher's points system to my own advantage, and my low-calorie diet was not as healthy as it could have been.  That is when I signed up at Calorie Count.  Since I was maintaining so well, I stopped visiting on a regular basis, but a short stint on Paxil (which was supposed to reduce anxiety and stop the TMJ aspects of my headaches) left me 8 pounds heavier.  It didn't help that I was taking it over the holiday season.  Now, it's April, I have been off the Paxil since the end of January, and I figured it's time to get some structure and support to shed this weight.  Although I am still at a healthy BMI, my main concern with the weight is that my work clothes are starting to get tight.  I do not have money now for a new wardrobe, so I need to get this extra weight off.

I joined this group because I have been suffering with what I thought were pure migraines since I hit puberty.  I found out about 15 months ago that I have had severe bruxism (teeth clenching) for most of my life.  My teeth are weak and breaking, my TMJ's are pretty much shot and I am relegated to a soft diet for the rest of my life, and I went through about an 8-month period of severe vertigo which required physical therapy to loosen up the scalp and neck muscles that had gone completely rigid.  I also have hearing loss, severe enough in my right ear to require a hearing aid, and tinnitus.  Even though I have been working hard on stress and behavior management, I can't control the clenching in my sleep, even with a mouth guard.  I have the worst headaches right around my period when hormones are already impacting migraines and daytime stress results in nightmares and clenching.  When I get one of these TMJ-souped up migraines, I am usually down in bed for three days.  I get down a lot because it is very difficult for me to keep up with my kids, my job, my husband, and my life!  I am hoping that people here will help me get some perspective, as well as have some suggestions for managing the pain, nausea, dizziness, etc.

I enjoy exercise and being active, but I am very much slowed down by my headaches.  I have recently taken up sewing again and have already made one skirt that fits just right.  I am hoping that, soon, I will need to take it in a bit!  We just got a cat from a local animal shelter (her picture is my profile picture).  She is very sweet and a good support when I am feeling very stressed -- her purring always calms me down.  My boys take really good care of me when I am down with a headache, and I don't know where I would be without the two of them and my husband.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here and look forward to getting to know some of you a bit better.

Carol

 

Hi There,

I'm a 21 year old student, thats struggling with migraines and medication. I've always been relatively healthy, but my medications are giving me some trouble lately. I like using Calorie Count because as a student it makes me make healthy decisions about eating, instead of eating pizza and drinking beer, it makes me realize the consequences of my actions.

I have had migraines since I was in 1st grade. I am now 21 and I have tried EVERYTHING. I tried allllll of the medicines that you take on the spot from Zomig to Imitrex. Nothing worked. I went through my adolescence getting migraines a few times a week and having to hide in my dark bedroom with earplugs in.

When I was about 12 or 13 I went to a chiropractor and had my neck and skull examined and adjusted. Let me tell you, it did WONDERS. It provided relief for a number of years. Unfortunately it was not a lasting effect for me. BUT it could be for somebody else. 

I did find that there were a few triggers for my migraines that maybe could help a few people, and also help overall health. Make sure to avoid : MSG, fake sugar (diet sodas), peanuts, and sodium nitrate (processed ham). Some people, although not me get migraines from red wine also.

Once I was 17 I got a doctor that decided I was old enough to try a preventative medication. She put me on Topamax and it worked wonders. Throughout the years though it has gone up so much in cost that I wanted to try another medication to see if it would help. It had made me lose alot of weight unhealthily (I was down to 109 and I am 5'4'') and I was tired alot. 

My doctor decided to put me on a beta-blocker called "Verapamil". This medication is AWFUL!!!!!!! It made me gain weight like crazy in all the wrong places in a matter of weeks and it didn't work at all. I got numerous migraines a day with numerous auras that wouldn't go away. It made me feel awful and also messed with my digestive system. 

I am now back on the expensive but effective Topamax after being on Verapamil for only a month and a half. 

Hey everyone,

I'm Katie. I'm a 16 year old from California and I've been struggling with migraines for a few years now. I'm totally against drugs now though, especially with all the side effects, and i have heart problems (which the migraine meds my doctor wanted to me take mess with your heart by the way) So I take Magnesium and Folic Acid and it really helps. I've gone from having migraines almost constantly to like once a day (one small one a day).. or sometimes only once every couple days. When i do get them however, They're horrible and usually with aura. I'm also on calorie count to lose weight. I'm 171 pounds right now and 5'8 so i desperately need to lose weight. ..  My health is the main factor in how to lose weight and the main reason i want to lose weight. I also believe losing weight and getting in better shape will help with my migraines. If you have any advice for natural ways to further help my migraines please message me and let me know if you'd like me to do the same:)

I'm charlene- I'm 21, going to school and working, a lot. I have struggled with migraines since I was about 7 years old, dealing with them and learning to cope throughout the years. I don't intake too much salt, primarily because of my migraines. My family has a history of brain disorders: my mom had an aneurysm, my grandmother died of one, my aunt had a rare brain disease called moyamoya, and my uncle suffered from subdural hematoma. So health is pretty important to me, especially more so now.

I'm also studying to be a massage therapist, so I want to get into nutrition, lose a little bit of weight, and maintain just a health eating lifestyle. So I'm on here to help me handle my migraines (and eating the right foods for them), lose a little weight, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

I'm new on here . I also suffer from migraines and toothgrinding. I also have a mouth guard that I wear at night. It does keep the migraines down to a minimum but if I forget to wear it I suffer for the next few days. My teeth are really sensitive and painful!  I am quite an anxious person by nature and take everything to heart to much. I have a stressful job and a 15 year old daughter and 2 kitties! I do enjoy life though! Could just do without the painful bits!

I am now trying to lose 14lbs in 7 months for my 40th birthday! The only thing is as soon as I mess around with my eating habits - the migraines can come on in full force and I'm not looking forward to that bit!

Hi, My name is Mandy.
Recently joined Calorie Count because I wanted to lose a few kilos and tone up for my boyfriends gig. But the more I come back on the site I see new oppurtunities to make friends and learn about new exercise routines and of course, recipes.

I have suffered through a few migraines but I am more prone to headaches.
Constant headaches.
I have gone to the doctors about this but it seems to be a stress related problem... which doesn't help cure them.
Does anyone have any ideas to help with stress headaches?

 

Hi, I am Veronica.  I joined CC in March to lose about 70lbs.  I have always been slightly overweight, but ran, gymnastics whatever, very active.  In the last 3yrs, my headaches and mild Chiari malformation have made it difficult to run and go to the gym, which made me gain excessive weight.

Since I have been on CC I have lost over 30lbs!!!  I also started swimming 3-4days a week and my headaches have been few and far between!!

I have had non-aura migraines since I was 7yr old and split my head open.  I also have a Chiari malformation which worsens the headaches.  I have been on every med, seen every dr and type of specialist, have seen a neurologist since I was 7 and a neurosurgon for my Chiari(diagnosed 3yr ago).  I have even done a few clinical trials.

I am a Pediatric Intensive Care nurse in San Antonio.  I am single with a large Siberian Husky named Taj.  Most of my family lives in NM.  I unfortunately have a lot of medical knowledge reg migraines, meds and food triggers.  Feel free to ask any other questions you have.

Glad to find this group!!

Sarah(fenfen)

I just joined this group and was reading the posts.  I also was a ER and Dihydroergotamine junkie!!  DHE, same thing.  It sounds like most of the meds you have tried are not ergotamine based, you could probably try one and it will work like DHE without that nasty "vomit, I feel like crap" stage before it works.

My emergency med is a nasal spray of Migranal, which contains DHE and you spray it up your nose, works quick too.  No trip to the ER.  Some oral meds too.

info:  I have regular meds, Relpax, which also help with nausea, and is a vasoconstrictor...but sometimes I am vomiting and can't keep down my meds, so emergency nasal spray and dissolvable Zofran helps.

Demerol, Vicodin and Morphine actually increase blood flow to the brain, which is not helpful with a migraine caused from dilated blood vessels..narcotics do not usually help :(

Hope this helps :)

 

 

hello all im new to the group... names ariel but my friends call me cheddar

hey everyone,

my name is chris i am 20 about to be 21 in october. im all new to this so i might need some help now and then k?i am in a great relationship with a girl named ariel and you all know her as cheddar129. i love to play on my nitendo wii. i play the boxing game man its a work out. i work at a place called chris' specialty meats in zachary la, and i love my job. i have a medical degree that i got at the age of 19 it is a medical assisting degree. i have a dog name bisquit, she is a wirie haired jack russel. well thats all for now hope to hear from ya soon

 

Hi everyone,

My name is Joni. I am 39 almost 40. I am married and have 3 beautiful daughters and 5 wonderful grandchildren actually 4 and 1 just pasted away the day before Mother's Day. I have 8 cats along w/2 strays outside and 2 dogs. My husband and I have been married for almost 10 years. I work for the District Clerk in the Felony division and I am also a Mary Kay consultant. I just started getting real bad migraines last April. Before that I would got one every few months and since April '08 they would come and last for days. They are almost disabling. I also have Fibromyalia. So, I'm almost constantly on pain medications. However, I am not letting that stop me but if anyone has any suggestions as the kind of questions I need to ask my dr. I would really appreciate it. I've never really chatted or anything like this so I really don't know what to do but I sure can talk and I am a good listener, also a fun loving person. Please, reply with any comments. Thank You

 

Hey

My name is Allison and I am going through very bad caffeine withdrawl. I am slowly trying to lose some weight therefore i'm not drinking soda anymore. It's my third day without a coke, pepsi or Dr. Pepper and my head still feels as if its being beaten up by little people inside my skull.

Hi group!  My name is Shirley and I have been suffering from headaches since 02' when I was in a work related accident.  Serious back & neck pain but workers comp dr could never find anything wrong.  Due to family situation, I couldn't ride it out till they came up with a resolution & had to return to work full force!  Needless to say, I'm no longer employed for that company!

I am new to this site and have enjoyed the many features and tools for weight loss and counting calories...I find motivation in the activity browser...I can burn calories while watching TV!  I actually did some cardio for the first time in...yrs!  Just what I needed!  I've had energy all day!

I, too, have slowed down on my Mt. Dew and feel the headaches over the past 3 days are due to caffeine withdrawals.  I haven't stopped completely but limited to 2 a day instead of  a six-pack!

I wish everyone well on their goals and hope we can all help each other reach them! 

barbreag<

 

Is it possible you could be menopausal. I know hormones trigger migraines.

Hi Shirley, I went through caffeine withdrawals myself once with coffee. I'm just letting you know what you could be in for. It was a long hall. I got headaches for about 3 months before they finally went away. It was awful but then it was easy too because every time I drank caffeine it would make my headache way worse so I was able to quit and they finally went away.

Hello All

My name is Shannon. I have 3 children from 18-10. I have been happily married for 18 years now. I have always yo yoed w/ my weight, at highest I was 280 lowest 150. I have decided It is time for me to start eatting correctly. I work as a PRN STNA in 2 Nursing Homes. I have what is called Chiari Malformation, a Birth defect, So I get alot of migrains.

HIya! I'm 39, going to be the big 4-0 in Decmember. Joined Calorie Count two years ago, then fell off the wagon and didn't keep up with it. Now am back and working it really well this time. I've been struggling with my weight all my life, and have had headaches and migraines since i can remember. I am also a pastry fanatic! Love the brownies, cookies, cakes and pies. Anything dessert and I'm all over it! I finally went to a Neurologist, who suggested that i exercise at least 20 minutes a day, four days a week, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and take Vitamin B-2 twice a day. He said the saratonin (however it's spelled) levels in my body were too low. This comes from being lazy. I have now been eating right and exercising for 7 weeks, and I can honestly say that I have only had two headaches! :) .. and once i took excedrin, they were gone. I used to eat a whole econo size jar of excedrins a week .. he said I had become immune to them. My Mother and Oldest Brother also suffered from them, so he also told me that migraines are hereditary. The best advice I can give to anyone of you suffering, is try not to take the excedrins or aleves as the way out. Put yourself on a daily schedule of doing 20 minutes of exercise daily, drinking water or Crystal Light all day, and cut out alot of the cookies, pastries and junk foods you would normally have. I have found that cutting those things off too, have given me headache free days. You will feel so much better. :)

1. History with weight loss: I've always been overweight, though probably never as FAT as I always thought of myself. I lost a LOT of weight after my son was born with WW but over the next few years gained it back. I lost weight a few years ago with the SBD and I LOVED it. I gained it back living in Kuwait but I'm hoping to get back on the wagon now that we're back in Lebanon and I'm in control of my kitchen again.
2. History with Calorie Count: I just joined tonight so it's a very short history.
3. Reason for joining this group: I'm trying to lose almost 80 pounds (according to CC's suggestions. I'm supposed to have 1200 calories. This should be REAL interesting. Lebanese food is so good. But very SBD-friendly so there's hope it'll happen again.
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests: I'm married to a wonderful man and the mom of 3 kids. My older boy is 12 and my boy/girl twins are 5. My husband is from Lebanon and when the twins were almost 1 1/2 we decided to move us closer to Kuwait where he was working. We spent a year here, moved to Kuwait for 3 years, and now we're back in Lebanon again. I'm a teacher and this will be the first year to teach here. I taught several years in the States and 3 years in Kuwait. (THAT was an experience.) I'm glad I found this site.