300+ Support Group-Peach Blossoms-The month of Of MARCH

[Doing this Again]

Thanks Fiber!! I truly appreciate your answer and info. Everyone’s body is so different, and responds so differently to this! Not to mention that most books don’t address it. They talk about nutrition, exercise, cravings, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar; but I’ve NEVER found any info on this.

Hippie to answer your question my weight as of this morning (and yesterday morning, and Sunday Morning) is 328. Not sure of my exact start weight. It had to be over 350 b/c my old scale didn't work & that was its limit. It probably wasn't a ton more than that since it was under 350 by the time the scale I ordered arrived on the 28th. It had to be in the 350s or 360s. So that’s 32ish pounds in 6 weeks. But one week was bad (my own fault) and I’ve been stuck for the last week or so.

An old high weight, from just before I started Low carbing the first time, like 6years ago, was 364. But it's a number that I know existed at one point, anything else would be a pure stab in the dark. Plus what few of my old cloths I kept from then were fitting, still are no change there. Plus I was on vacation for 2 weeks around x-mas and ALWAYS lose weight on vacation. Just the irregular meal times, running into food you don’t necessarily like to eat a lot of, and walking a ton as a tourist.

For info's sake I got down to around 250 lbs the first time I did this. The TOM issue never cleared up until the meds. Before I ever tried low carb, I had never stopped having a period b/c of weight. I've always been obese; I probably weighed about that 250 in High School. I’ve always had super heavy periods. They probably got lighter and further apart as I gained those 100 pounds over the course of those 7 to 10 years. But not so that I noticed until they got bad again. When I did this 6 years ago I was 25.

Mine were never as bad as wearing diapers though! There was probably one day I’d call a hemorrhage. Fiber, if I had to go through what you described I think I might end up going back to the meds, even if it meant not losing any more weight. I didn’t really like or accept their answer of it being just a fluke last time. My mom died from cancer, after 2 or 3 years of ignoring the symptom of a constant period. Once they ruled that out w/ all the tests and specialist, and the meds actually worked to stop it; I didn’t really care. It probably took me 3 months before I COULD have seen that it was what stopped my weight loss. I didn’t realize it until almost a year late though. I’m trying to head that off this time; the constant period, the meds necessary to stop it, and the resulting stop in weight loss.

The couple of times since then (that first time 6 years ago, when I was actually semi successful for about 9 months and lost 100ish pounds) that I tried getting back into low carbing, I always have a period my second week. It goes away like normal. This is the first time I’ve made it to getting a second period. I can’t remember what happened that first time between the first period and two months later when it just went constant on me!

[debkeversole]

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/be...fans-peek.html
guys check out this thread i started in the PG TIA

[behind_the_mask]

Reid, the kiddo I watch, is still a bit sick today, but feeling a lot better! He's back to being a little ball of energy! The weather here is amazing, so I think we're going to take the dog and walk to the park for a bit soon.

Last night, DH and I made Cleo's cauliflower pizza crust... OH MY GOSH! I think this is my new favorite food!!! It is so unbelievably YUMMY!!! And, after feeling like I was really splurging, it was only 8 carbs!!! I had the leftovers for lunch today... so I'll have to make another batch sometime soon.

Today's Menu:
B- coffee w/cream and splenda (3)
L- leftover culiflower pizza (8)
S- Atkins shake, CO bark (2)
D- 2 burger patties with cheese (2)
TOTAL = 15 carbs / 2 liters of water
(hoping to walk to park [1 mile] and going roller skating tonight with neices!)

[debkeversole]

YouTube - The Dresden Files - A Tribute to the Show

[Hot Tamale]

Hi Everyone! Y'all write A LOT!!!!
TOM questions: I gain about 3 pounds before and keep it on during TOM. Then, about a day after TOM leaves, I usually lose about 5 pounds - the 3 I gained and 2 more. Then, that week is usually my most successful (the week after TOM). When I was at my heaviest my periods were starting to get uneven as far as duration and time between. Now they are on time like clockwork - every 25 days for about 4 days. You might want to consider getting checked for fibroid tumors - I had them a few years ago and they can mess with your periods.

I know there's more to respond to, but I'll have to go back to read it all! Right now my 3 kids and I are all sick with a fever and cough - and DS4 is having an especially rough time. I am currently dripping water into his mouth with a medicine syringe cause he refuses to drink... Please keep us in your prayers! Bye for now.

[Zer]

Sorry to hear fever is at your house. Popsicles might help hydrate a kid who is not inclined to swallow or drink. Can you call on anyone to bring you popsicles or maybe make up some fruity stuff and semi-slush it in the freezer?

[Mona]

Hey ladies! Got some top sirloin on sale today and I'm marinating it now. Planning on having it for tomorrow. Too bad we don't have a BBQ or the steaks would probably be even better! They don't allow BBQs in my apts b/c they are a fire hazard.

Yesterday I made up a batch of chicken stock from some bones I've been saving in freezer. Today I'm going to use it to make broccoli cheese soup. Going to try out a recipe I saw at epicurious.com. I had to buy tarragon--never used the stuff. Hope it turns out OK.

No time for personal comments right now. I still have to get some laundry done before the laundryroom closes. This day is slipping away!

[Zer]

Made more trips to the loo, just to get more walking in than usual. Also got up and down a few more times than usual when I was at the dining room, just to get myself past the fear of not being able to rise from a chair that is too low (lower than my knees, which challenges my massive legs to boost my butt up). Still a struggle, but probably better to confront my fear than to give in to it. Got to create more activity, to burn some calories, if I hope to lose weight. I know.

Probably can do more bed exercises - situps and such, as well as lifting weights to build up arms and shoulders. I'm looking gaunt at collarbones now, as I lose weight there. I'm seeing crepe-skin that looks fragile. Not sure how to get it ruddy and more healthy looking. My Auntie's skin got so fragile she'd bruise or tear it and not know why. Don't want my skin to get that fragile. Any ideas?

[Mona]

My soup turned out great! Here is the recipe in case anyone wants it:

Broccoli soup with cheddar cheese
epicurious.com

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, room temperature
2 pounds fresh broccoli, stems and florets separated and chopped into bite-size pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon or 1/2 teaspoon dried
6.5 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups (packed) grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy medium pot over medium-high heat. Add broccoli stems and onion; sauté until onion is translucent, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and tarragon; sauté 1 minute. Add stock; bring to boil. Simmer uncovered until broccoli is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in cream.

Mix remaining 3 tablespoons butter with flour in small bowl to make paste. Whisk paste into soup. Add broccoli florets. Simmer until soup thickens and florets are tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, then refrigerate uncovered until cold. Cover and keep refrigerated. Bring to simmer before continuing.) Preheat broiler. Place 6 ovenproof soup bowls on baking sheet. Divide soup among bowls. Sprinkle 1/3 cup cheese over each. Broil until cheese melts and bubbles around edges, about 4 minutes.

My Changes: I used frozen broccoli flowerettes and put them all in the broth to cook, when they were done I saved a few whole ones for decoration and blended the rest of the soup in the blender (wishing I had an immerssion blender!) Read some comments about the recipe and decided to add the cheese to the soup instead of broiling it on top. Left out flour (added all of butter to saute onions in the beginning) and added a few shakes of guar gum to thicken. I also added a few shakes of finely ground white pepper. Absolutely no salt tho! There is so much sodium in the ingredients already it definitely doesn't need it. I was surprised at how much sodium just 1.5 cups of the soup had (746mg). If using canned broth get the low sodium kind. You can always add salt later if you think it needs it.

Next time I might leave the broccoli whole. Wasn't in love with the texture of all the bazillions of tiny broccoli florettes in the soup...but it has a fabulous flavor. Never used tarragon in anything before and it really pairs well with this soup.

I got just over 2 quarts of soup 1.5 cups seemed like a good serving to me. Entered the recipe in Fitday and came out with 359 cals, 29g fat, 19g protein, 8.4 carbs, 3.6 fiber, 4.8 net carbs.

Now I have 6 servings in tupperwears ready to go. Yay!

Originally Posted by Zer

How did you cook your chicken strips? Fry or oven? Nice if you worked out a LC version of KFC's Original Recipe, a haunting carby memory!

I fried them in a frying pan that had a thin layer of peanut oil on the bottom.

Originally Posted by dantesmom

Hey chickadees! Just checking in...I have been reading but havent been posting much. I am still going strong and I really enjoy all the great info in this thread.

Hey yourself! Glad to hear you're chugging along nicely.

Originally Posted by Hot Tamale

Also - yesterday I wore a 22/24 shirt to work - no jacket - it was loose enough to not have to cover it up! Maybe I am a size 24 now...or maybe the shirt is just big... In any case, I see it as a victory!

Hurray for looser clothes! Woo Hoo!

debkeversole what is a PTO meeting? I am familiar with PTA.

Originally Posted by amm

The weigh-in went well this morning. I lost 4.4 pounds since last Tuesday.

WTG~! Yes those up-before-the-sunrise workouts must be helping. hee hee

Originally Posted by behind_the_mask

This morning I was back up to large ketosis, so I'm REALLY hoping that's an indication that I'm headed out of my stall!!!

Well remember that any ketosis is good ketosis. Those colors have more to do with how much water you've been drinking that day. Your carb level looks fine so I'm sure your body is in rip-roarin' fat burning mode!

MissMinda how did the chinese feast turn out? I sure love that stuff but it's so hard to get it without starchy sauces, etc.

SkittlesMom WTG on sticking with it and dropping 3 inches on your waist! Post induction stalls can really suck the motivation right out of you, so good for you for taking measurements! Wow that's a drastic hair cut. My husband was a bit peeved he had to spend so much time cleaning my hair out of the vacuum brush too. LOL. And our tub also gets clogged a lot. All I ever do is keep it in a ponytail to keep it out of my face, so I decided to cut it all off last Christmas when I went to SoCal to visit family. My cousin cuts hair for a living and that was her Xmas present for everyone...a really nice haircut. Mine was almost down to my butt and it's shoulder length now. If I can ever learn how to resize pix I can post a pix of me back then with my new do (and also my high weight), but it takes up the whole screen now since it was taken in super duper deluxe resolution. heh.

Originally Posted by Need2LoseNow

woohoo! i broke 390 again! FINALLY! i just barely made it, but still im pretty psyched!! i weighed in at 389.8 a minute ago...

Yeehaaaw! WTG N2LN

BTW your ooopsie/custard thing looks delicious! Yum

Originally Posted by debkeversole

any Dresden Files fans here???

No idea who that is, sorry. I don't watch much TV. In fact we just have crappy 8 dollar cable which doesn't come with too many "exciting" channels.

Doing this Again, Sorry you're having sporadic results with the weight loss. I know how frustrating it can be when you're doing all the right things and not seeing results on the scale. Not everyone can handle yogurt...maybe you should cut that out and see if things start moving again?

BTW I got some of those shoes too but I had to return them. I just couldn't get over the feeling that I was tipping over. lol!

TOM: well mine was severely wacked until I was finally put on BCPs several years ago. I bled once for 18 months pretty much w/out relief. Not every day was a "gusher" otherwise I probably would've been dead. Now my periods are like clockwork and very light. I have no idea what would happen if I stopped taking the BCP...I might go back to previous irregularity. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones with TOM, it doesn't effect my weightloss at all. I don't gain anything, no PMS, no wacky cravings, no cramps. *knocks on wood*

FiberGal, your luncheon sounds faaaa-bulous! (as barefoot contessa would say) Those fancy dishes sound so fun! I have always wanted to host luncheons and dinners and stuff like that, but I've never had a home I felt comfortable having people over. Now that I'm in Oregon and I'll be working soon, we can afford to buy a house in a couple of years but now all my family & friends are 1000 miles away.

Good job on the walking but take care with your knees! I seriously injured my left knee about 12 years ago and I think over the years my right knee has taken more stress because I'm always trying to "baby" the left knee. I can't put my whole weight on it, for instance, because many times it has collapsed. So now my right knee (which used to be my good knee) is starting to be very painful. I'm just really hoping that a lot of the pain goes away when I've lost a significant amount of weight.

Hot Tamale, oh man, 3 sick kids that does not sound like fun. Hope everyone feels better soon!

[**Lola**]

Originally Posted by Zer

Made more trips to the loo, just to get more walking in than usual. Also got up and down a few more times than usual when I was at the dining room, just to get myself past the fear of not being able to rise from a chair that is too low (lower than my knees, which challenges my massive legs to boost my butt up). Still a struggle, but probably better to confront my fear than to give in to it. Got to create more activity, to burn some calories, if I hope to lose weight. I know.

Probably can do more bed exercises - situps and such, as well as lifting weights to build up arms and shoulders. I'm looking gaunt at collarbones now, as I lose weight there. I'm seeing crepe-skin that looks fragile. Not sure how to get it ruddy and more healthy looking. My Auntie's skin got so fragile she'd bruise or tear it and not know why. Don't want my skin to get that fragile. Any ideas?

Is there any pool or physical rehabilitation center with a pool that you could go to a couple of times a week and just walk in the water or take a water aerobics class?

I think this might really help you get some good exercise in without hurting your joints.

______________

On another note, I saw Big Medicine last night and what a reality check/eye opener. Many people weighed what I currently weigh and less and had so many medical problems.

It's just too too easy for me to be in denial about how large I've let myself get in the last few years and how big of a problem it really is.

I think I will keep watching these shows so I can keep how pressing of a problem this is for me in the forefront of my mind.

[Doing this Again]

Quick reply for you guys. Frustrating update. Scale still stuck at 328.0, 5 days in a row now. TOM still here, 9 days in a row. I skipped my aqua running class last night. Might have sub consciously been b/c of the frustration, but the reason/excuse I labeled it w/ was my dog feeling a little neglected lately.

This is the 2nd week of classes at the gym, and the time classes occupy everyday used to be the time I took her to the park after work. She had a blast, and really used her time there more than usual. She is a tiny little tyrant who rules that park! She needs to go, even if she’s not going to play, so that everyone knows she’s in charge; and to haze the puppies before they grow bigger than her. I will NEVER understand how she gets away w/ it given that she’s half the size of most dogs, but she always has. And the puppies seem to love her for it! They grow up to follow her everywhere.

Sneakers still not here, scheduled for delivery yesterday. But I’m still not at my own house, and not entirely sure where they leave packages here. Last night I planned on using them on the treadmill instead of class and after the park. Then I couldn’t find them. Frustrated about that! I also bought shoes for work, and had my work pants hemmed. I did all this last week when I felt like I was cruising along and deserved the rewards. Now I’m stalled, and nothing has been delivered! AGH!

Tamale, I appreciate the suggestion about yogurt. I was just thinking that myself last night/this morning. I realize my posts are entirely selfish, all about my own frustration and not enough helping other people. Right now I can’t really help that b/c of my frustration. It’s all I can think about! And being pulled in about a million different directions w/ the demands on my time: my own dog, dog sitting, this new quota at work, my friend needing support right now. I’ve even abandoned planning my vacation for the past 2 weeks or so. I’m the only one left w/o a flight to Africa yet!

But writing it all out to report it made me realize a LOT!! It made me think of the yogurt, consider the stall as part of TOM, and sketch out my contingency plan if TOM settles in forever. When I was still lurking I would read people’s posts about their exercise and eating for ideas. So I figure it’s still worth it. When I feel more confident that what I’m doing is working, THEN I’ll be “qualified” to give advice.

I have one more question for you guys. I have Sunday family dinner this weekend. By family I mean my friends. Ever since the intervention weekend we’ve been doing it every week. First week was the intervention blow out dinner (potatoes, cake, UGH), the next week was steak on the BBQ at my house (better), and this past weekend was also fine. This coming weekend is supposed to be fondue. Now cheese is fine, and doesn’t affect me the way I’ve read it does w/ some people. Any ideas of what I can bring for dipping that will help me avoid the bread?

[Need2LoseNow]

387.4!!!!



i havent seen this weight since i started low carb last year! im so happy i dont even want to eat! lol...thats strange to say! generally happy occasions usually mean going out to eat, but ketosis has taken care of that urge aaaaand, i didnt even get enought sleep last night! oh, im so giddy!

[Need2LoseNow]

oh yeah and ive finally lost 5% of my starting weight this time (408) and ive lost almost 9% of my highest weight...so giddy! lol

[ValerieisGoing4it]

Awesome job Needn!!!! Congratulations!!!

[Zer]

I must admit that I do fret about how cheeky it is of me to post advice while I am not showing the sort of weight loss that others have accomplished. I admit I often pause and wonder if folks find my ideas useful.

Originally Posted by Doing this Again

...I realize my posts are entirely selfish, all about my own frustration and not enough helping other people. Right now I can’t really help that b/c of my frustration. It’s all I can think about!...
...
...When I was still lurking I would read people’s posts about their exercise and eating for ideas. So I figure it’s still worth it. When I feel more confident that what I’m doing is working, THEN I’ll be “qualified” to give advice.

I have one more question for you guys....[about] fondue. Now cheese is fine, and doesn’t affect me the way I’ve read it does w/ some people. Any ideas of what I can bring for dipping that will help me avoid the bread?

Vegies. Meat. Fish. Fingers of cooked meat/fish would dip nicely. Meatballs, small, might also work. I'd not dip meat into the fondue pot, but dip some cheese onto a small plate, as others are dipping bread into the pot and might not like to find crumbs of meat/fish in their cheese. Vegies dip nicely - raw and just barely blanched broccoli/cauliflower (to soften slightly a really chewy veg) - and what about fries (turnip, jicama, green beans) that might dip well?

Oh, there I go - offering advice. Not truly qualified, I suppose, but interested in hearing how anyone manages to incorporate LC principles into an active social life. Someday I too may have similar challenges. One can only hope.

[Zer]

Originally Posted by Need2LoseNow

oh yeah and ive finally lost 5% of my starting weight this time (408) and ive lost almost 9% of my highest weight... so giddy!

What a creative way to sum up progress in losing weight!

[Zer]

Originally Posted by **Lola**

Is there any pool or physical rehabilitation center with a pool that you could go to a couple of times a week and just walk in the water or take a water aerobics class?

I think this might really help you get some good exercise in without hurting your joints.

So far I've not found a pool except with stairs to climb, and I find stairs and curbs almost impossible to navigate at this time. No lift to my legs, cannot rise from a chair and cannot lift leg to a step - much less use a leg to lift myself up a step. My weight is too great for a sling that one pool has to move clients in and out of the water. Altogether, I'm not prepared to bare flesh for what is probably a wonderful therapeutic activity. Last time I was in the pool where I live, I had an awful struggle to climb out and adapt to earth gravity as I sat poolside and gathered strength to struggle to knees and feet. My heart was pounding fiercely after relative weightless time in the water. Scared me. Back then, I was able to manage getting up, by mostly using my left leg to lift all of me to standing from kneeling on right knee. Now my left leg/hip cannot bear my weight as I walk, without a cane to help share the weight of a weak leg. Sorry to be so negative, but I dread finding myself in a situation that requires medics/emergency service to lift me, as happened to a LC friend who toppled over and could not rise again.

Got to work my legs, regain what strength I can gain - before I find myself in such a position. The idea of being hauled up off the ground by several strong young men just horrifies me. Even I do not have sufficient denial to avoid the humiliation of being handled by people who are moving deadweight. Ugh!

[Zer]

Originally Posted by Doing this Again

... I realize my posts are entirely selfish, all about my own frustration and not enough helping other people. Right now I can’t really help that b/c of my frustration. It’s all I can think about! And being pulled in about a million different directions w/ the demands on my time: my own dog, dog sitting, this new quota at work, my friend needing support right now. I’ve even abandoned planning my vacation for the past 2 weeks or so. I’m the only one left w/o a flight to Africa yet!

Oh, I so hope you will not sacrifice your Africa adventure. I'm so looking forward to hearing about a trip to a place that I once planned to go as a Peace Corps volunteer - until the guy recruiting mentioned exotic bugs. I passed the written test with flying colors and the guy said I had a Peace Corps smile; I flunked the BUG test! I'm not much for crawly things. Ugh!

[Zer]

Just blogged this as one of my LC Tactics - and decided to share it here as well, in case maybe it strikes a chord with someone else. I am also hoping it will stir me to MOVE MY MUSCLES today, to accomplish tasks that I am procrastinating for one reason or another!

One of my most effective LC tactics is psyching myself up to accomplish things, to overcome fears, to be more than I am without a concerted effort to psych myself up, to pull energy from the cosmos to stiffen my backbone, strengthen spirit, lend power to my massive flabby legs as I walk, stand, do things my legs seem to have great difficulty doing right now. I can move myself through pain and fear by saying I AM MOSTLY SPIRIT as I push myself to rise, to walk, to go out, to do errands.

When I am feeling emotionally fragile, watching news shows can push me right over the edge. Grim stuff, most of the "news" today. The world's misery drains my own energy, saps my confidence, so I avoid watching tv news and a lot of strange stuff that is presented on tv to feed a strange appetite in passive viewers.

But...

I caught a glimpse of a young woman on tv the other day, as I watched it on an idle whim while finishing up some egg salad that was teetering on the brink of its 3-day fridge life. A young singer on a daytime show spoke of her dream and how she and her parents have been working to make it come true since she was a child. She's now 18 and a raging country music star as well as an accomplished musician and a songwriter whose hit song - "Our Song" - she wrote in 9th grade. I've loved her song and had no idea how young she is: Taylor Swift - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia tells about her life and accomplishments. It was wonderful seeing how fresh and vital she is, unspoiled by success, authentic in her enthusiasm for life, earnest about the work it took to break into a world she feels is her destiny. She has a clear vision of her dream, her destiny. She's only 18 but has been working HARD to achieve this since she was about 10. Imagine what it must be like to KNOW what one wants!

Seeing such a person gives me hope. She sang "Our Song", a favorite of mine (and of a lot of other folks too, as it's a hit and a hot seller). Lyrics? See TAYLOR SWIFT - OUR SONG LYRICS

She's 18! What a wonderful thing, to have a goal and to work at achieving it as she has done. That's what I think I find so uplifting, that she spoke of the work she and her parents have done to make her lifelong dream come true.

I can do this. I can develop a dream. I can make it come true, one step at a time, nothing magical about it, just baby steps, just as Taylor Swift has done!

I need to get more physical, to work my muscles, to get back some strength that I've allowed to slip away from me. What can I manage, with a hinky hip that slows me down and limits what I can actually do? Someone got me thinking about a punching bag. New idea for me. I can well imagine the endorphins that working a punching b