Marching into Fitness Challenge

[TuscanGirl]

Cindy - amazing that you had menopause and missed it! We should all be so lucky! I know nothing about bioidenticals. I've been on the Climara patch for years and so far no problems (knock wood) so I'm sticking my head in the sand.

Sandy - I HAVE to put exercise in my planner as an appointment - it's the only way I'll do it!

Buffy - I've maybe lost inches, but since I forgot to measure before I started . . . . I have some old measurements I could use, but that would require finding the measuring tape!

Carolyn - congrats on getting back down!!! Do we HAVE to weigh in next week!?!

[CindyCRNA]

TG, my rule always is: If it's not broke, don't fix it. If you feel great on the patch, don't change it.

[moleymum]

Hi everyone, I started EFGT on Monday and I have already lost 4lbs! Is this probably mostly water, like most diets you always have a good loss the first week - is it the same with this? Surely I cannot hope to expect that rate of weight loss all the way through?? [please say yes]

Joolsx

[CindyCRNA]

Moleymum, Welcome! Were you low carb before you started EFGT?

[CindyCRNA]

Question to all: What is the EFGT position on yogurt? I read some old posts that plain yogurt has only 2 carbs per 1/2 cup due to the milk sugars being digested in the process of making it. Some were eating 3 cups (!) a day.

[sjl330]

I eat it when I feel like it Cindy. I go through spurts. Right now I've been wanting it and bought a big plain, full fat container the other day. But I haven't even opened it yet so I guess I didn't want it very badly, lol. It never seemed to stop my weight loss when I ate it.

[SuSUN]

Cindy and Sandy, I was just wondering that today at work, if I could have a yogurt for a snack? I had Almonds instead but may just try that.

Here are my numbers for today:
1,413Calories 109.8Fat 51.9Carbs 65.9Protein
Fat (68%) Carbs (14%)
Protein (18%)

Scales were up a tad this a.m. 128.6# so up 0.6#
I need to pick up some more CO soon. I will look for that organic type you recommended.
I was craving a tomato tonight after work so I cut a large one in half and had 2.5 oz yummy with roast beef.

Carolyn, WTGG! on losing to your pre-Arizona weight! Thank you for the tip I did PVR part of Oprah later on and watch Dr. Oz talk about eating less calories to live longer with more energy. I can see that radish tater salad being labor intensive peeling those little things.

Interesting topic the hormone stuff Cindy and Lise. I cannot take it due to Breast Ca risk, diagnosed with LCIS in 2004.

Cindy, My Oncologist asked me today if I was interested in a drug trial for exemestane (Aromasin) as a pro-active measure...but I could just get the placebo right? He said early results have shown 70% prevention rate.
An alternative Med he offered is Evista and has a 54% less newly-diagnosed breast cancer than taking placebo. So I have some thinking and decisions to be made.
The latter med is not a trial. It is now approved.
Not sure what all this will do to my weight loss efforts.
I did not want to take Tamoxifen back in 2004 as I was not in menopause back then and really didn't like the idea of the side effects of that med.
I sure am now in Menopause for the past 2 years. I have some insomnia and the flashes of course but I take a sleeping med at bedtime so that takes care of the night and sleep. The flashes are bearable and I think I am getting used to them.
I wonder if the bioidenticals or okay for breast ca risks? Are they on a script?

What are some of your symptoms Lise? We have mostly the same meds up here as they do in the States just under different brand names.

Mary Kay, Did you try the arm weight routine yet? LOL! You amaze me with those spinning classes. WTGG!

Waving to Buffy, Gord, Zilla and All that come by.
[COLOR="Blue"]
Susan[/COLOR]

[Buffy45]

That would be a dream to find out you have gone through menopause and didn't even know it! Lucky! It may be a normal thing a woman goes through but it can be very miserable for a long time for the unlucky ones, like me!
Welcome Moley!

[CindyCRNA]

Susan, I could be wrong on this as I am still new to all this hormone stuff but it sounds like you would benefit from progesterone only. The hot flashes are coming from an estrogen level that is too high, not good with a personal history of breast cancer. When progesterone levels are low, as they are the first of the hormones to drop, estrogen is allowed to run unchecked. This is why women often complain of hot flashes. Sleep disturbances are caused by low progesterone or, if it is hot flash that is waking you up, high estrogen. Either way, increasing your progesterone level decreases your estrogen level and has a side effect of increasing the quality of sleep. The sleeping med masks the problem but doesn't get at the root. Tamoxifen blocks the effects of estrogen but would it be bad to decrease your endogenous estrogen by taking progesterone, something with a lot less side effects? You may want to Goggle that question or ask a breast cancer forum as at this point, I am guessing.

Another point of interest, high estrogen levels make it difficult to lose weight and is the primary reason women gain weight entering menopause, another reason to get hormones in check. My understanding is that high estrogen along with high carb spells certain weight gain so LC is definently the way for you to go.

[Rebecca130]

I don't have the book for EFGT (wonder if the library would have it??) but what is the difference between (don't shoot me!!) Atkins and EFGT? He had no carbs for 2 weeks then lower carb diet and I just naturally ate higher fats with his diet because of the protein, etc. Just wondering.

Buffy, yesterday my FBS was 98 (woo hoo) but today it was 137 and the only thing I did differently yesterday was I ate the daycare lunch (SHeppards pie, it was mashed potatoes on top with a little cheese, then hamburger and corn with mushroom soup on the bottom). Man, one meal and it blew it to he**!!! about 3 T of corn and 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes. Do you test your blood every morning? I got a free meter from someplace, don't remember where, it's the One Touch Mini and my Kim sent for one and she has it at her house (she's not a diabetic) so that I'll have one for my purse and one for home (didn't think of that, but sometimes in the morning, I don't test cuz it's in my purse and I don't remember about it til after I've eaten). I was using John's meter in the morning and I had it on the kitchen counter but he's taken his to work, so I don't have it, then Kim got the idea to get on the internet and ordered one for me to keep on the counter. I have noticed that if I test after I have eaten and I have potatoes, it goes up very high, if I have other carbs (like 12 grain bread, brown rice, etc) it isn't near as bad, so maybe I will only be able to do potatoes at, like holidays or something. VERY special occasions only. I've beed doing South Beach and that's working with the sugar except like yesterday when I ate the potatoes, but damn, Karen's shepherds pie (she's our cook) is sooo good. Usually she uses mixed veggies with the hamburger, but this time she used corn. that's the first time she's used just corn.

See you girls later. I'm thinking about buying a bike and biking on the days that I don't have Miss Alyss or errands with my Mom. I found one at WalMart that I like, I can ride in the backroads of Bellbrook and it's very scenic. I have to incorperate some exercise in somewhere. We use to have a baby seat on my bike when Kim was little, but I wouldn't trust myself with Alyssa since she's not "my" child (she's my granddaughter, but that's different than your own).

[TuscanGirl]

Morning!

DH is off to St Louis today and is spending the night - so just DS16 and I.
I'm hoping for a quiet evening!

Becky - I know nothing about diabetes but I'd say if it causes you to spike, then you shouldn't eat it - ever!
That's probably extreme, but . . . .

Susan - Thanks - I usually wonder what I'm doing spinning at that hour of the morning too! I haven't done the exercises yet - but I wrote them down - does that count?!
You had good numbers yesterday! I went out for lunch and then couldn't figure out how to count everything. So I didn't.

I'm home today, so back on track!

Cindy - I eat Greek Yogurt daily and feel healthier for it! I usually mix it with sf jam, natural pb, or just some fruit and sf syrup.
Maybe 1/2 a cup a day. It's never affected my weight loss!

Thanks for the patch affirmation. That's how I felt too!

moleymum -
I wish we'd all lose 4 lbs a week!
If you've never done LC, you get a big loss just from cutting out the carbs!
Besides that, it's like every other WOE, you'll lose a lot at first because you're really watching what you eat, then it will level off when you get closer to goal.

Or like me, when you're at goal, you gain and lose the same 3-4 lbs every month!

[sjl330]

That's called maintenance Mary Kay, lol. That's the same thing I do! But as long as it bugs us we'll keep on trying to lose those pesky pounds and hopefully at least keep on maintaining.

I think I forgot to welcome you Moley. We love to have new peeps here so jump in and post often so we all get to know you.

Cindy, you explain the whole hormone thing so well. Thank you!

Becky, I've read that one potato is equal to eating 2 c. of pure sugar! A good rule of thumb is don't eat "the white stuff", lol. Or as my mom always used to say "if it tastes good, don't eat it", lol.

I'm thinking I might do my weigh in before April 1. My BD is the 30th and the celebrations are starting this weekend so..... Right now I'm still where I was at the first. Well I should say I'm back to where I was on the 1st. I've been up this month and have dipped back down currently.

I have a busy day today. Dr., monthly WW weigh in, (I'm a lifetime member so I keep it current) lunch with "the girls" and then a massage. And wow, do I need that massage! I have some muscle soreness from starting my workouts again so that'll feel so good.

Have a great day everybody!

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by sjl330

That's called maintenance Mary Kay, lol.

Well that's just annoying!!

:rolleyes





When you said lunch with "the girls" my first thought was - She's getting a mammogram!!

I need a massage too - wonder if she could fit me in!

[sjl330]

Sure come join us MK. The more the merrier. No lunch w/ MY girls til Dec., lol.

[Buffy45]

Morning friends. You guys always make me smile and laugh when I come on in the monrings. I love that.
What annoys me about menopause is that at age 63, I still have a cycle or hormonal swings and the irritable feelings and symptoms that go along with that. Grrrr, like yesterday, DH was so annoying I wanted to , well, I won't go into what I wanted to do to him, but you understand.
Rebecca, at first I tested every morning and 2 hours after each meal to get a feel for which foods spiked my reading, etc. Now, I just test usually twice a day, either 1st thing in the morning and after 1 meal or whatever. My doctor never even asks me about my testing, she goes totally by what my A1C tells her and by talking to me. If you test 2 hours after eating, you would want your reading to be 140 or under, so your 137 was actually ok, according to the info my doctor gave me. Now, first thing in the AM, fasting, they want mine to be under 110. If I am watching my carb level closely, keeping it very low carb I can easily stay at about 100 in the AM and even under 100 2 hours after meals. You will soon learn which foods spike your sugar and it also makes a big difference in which foods you eat together. Like the potato, you can have a small amount of potato as long as you are eating protein at the same time. But, a potato alone will raise it higher. And each person reacts differently. So, it takes time and testing to see what foods you can eat and which ones to avoid. Or, for me, if I go really low carb, I am just low, low, low but I get so burnt out on that.
Going to run errands with Dh after lunch today, not sure where all we will be going. Got a lot done in the office yesterday.

[Buffy45]

Oh Rebecca, I forgot to tell you that if you go to most stores that carrry meters, walmart, target, walgreens, etc., you can find lots of meters that have cash back rebates on the box that equal or almost equal the cost of the meter. Just take the time to send them in and your meter is free or nearly free. I got one that was like $80 or so and got most if not all of my money back. And, you want you own so you don't have to change the lancet each time.

[CindyCRNA]

I probably should have "lunch with the girls" more frequently if I'm going to do hormone replacement! haha

Rebecca, I agree with Sandy. corn and potatoes, even in small amounts, are bad on the blood sugar. I stay away from both. It's hard eating out unless there's a menu.

Carolyn, you made me spend money today! I saw an old post of yours for homemade ravioli and I had to try to make them. E-bay had a metal fluted ravioli pan with a rolling pin. While looking at it, I also thought it could double duty as a filled cookie maker. . Now have to get a pasta roller. Probably try Bed, Bath and Beyond

[Lise]

Good morning ladies....thank you all so much for all the great info on hormones...it's just something that has never came up in a personal way but so many in our age group/health status have been talking about it that I was worried that I should be looking into it...I think what I garnered is that hormone replacement helps ease the symptoms of menopause which can be quite unpleasant and it also helps to decrease the effects of aging after menopause is over....I know that is very simplistic....but I need to keep things simple or I get all caught up in what ifs.......I don't have any symptoms at all and I'm not even sure if my occasional blue moods are cyclical or just a result of stress in my life which is quite abundant at this time....*sigh....maybe I'll bring it up with my doc at my next diabetic appt in 6 weeks.....I'm very anti-med and don't take anything except for a few supplements....like I said.....

Becky....after reading your post about the shepards pie I had a few comments but reading forward Sandy and Buffy beat me to it...in my diabetic experience which for me personally started last April when my doc found that my A1C's were 7.9 I totally dropped all whites...no potatoes, rice, no sugar, no starch (bread, pastry etc)...at my last check my A1C's were 6.5....with 6 being the top end of normal....I'm hoping to hit that at my next check up...I only test my sugars at home about 3 or 4 times per week or if I eat something particularily high in carbs such as a sweet potatoe or LC ice cream which I have dropped....it really is personal and checking to see what affects you and then avoiding it...I have made a personal choice to never take diabetic meds and for this I have to be very strict but it's worth it....

Susan and Cindy...about yogourt...I yogourt and go through cycles where I eat it alot and then I may go months without it....I buy the full fat natural yogourt and to reduce the carbs and make it thicker and yummier I drain away the whey....most of the carbs are in the whey so a combo of the yogourt exception and removal of carbs from whey makes it a very low carb snack and of course full fat makes it fit into EFGT even better...

Moleysmom...congrats on your great start... and

Must fly...I'm so busy at work and then when I get home I get bombarded with what's for supper...help me with this...blah blah blah...makes a girl tired...


Lise

[TuscanGirl]

Thanks Sandy!
I emailed and snagged a massage for 10:00am tomorrow!!!
Excited!

Buffy - being irritated at DH isn't a menopausal symptom . . . . it's just normal, day-to-day . . . .

Cindy - Carolyn MADE you spend money!
Who can I blame for my StriVectin purchase this morning?

[CindyCRNA]

Mother Nature!! haha

[wifezilla]

but what is the difference between (don't shoot me!!) Atkins and EFGT?

There is no induction phase in EFGT. You just eat in a healthy way that you can continue for the rest of your life.

Also NO SOY on EFGT. Soy has many ANTI-nutrients that will hinder your weight loss and can also cause problems with your thyroid and hormones.

Also, Barry Groves isn't so focused on getting in ketosis. Sure you want to burn fat, but if you are having all kinds of ketone spill over, you are really just wasting protein.

[moleymum]

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

Moleymum, Welcome! Were you low carb before you started EFGT?

No, I wasn't really doing anything, the last diet I went on was in the summer and it was weightwatchers.

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

Mother Nature!! haha

Originally Posted by moleymum

No, I wasn't really doing anything, the last diet I went on was in the summer and it was weight watchers.

Then you should notice a big change!!
Congrats on picking an great WOL!

Originally Posted by wifezilla

Also NO SOY on EFGT. Soy has many ANTI-nutrients that will hinder your weight loss and can also cause problems with your thyroid and hormones.

Except for me - who uses it since I'm lactose intolerant.
Luckily Linda talks to me anyway!

[CarolynF]

Hi gals and Gord..

Nice to see everyone so chatty today..

Raviolis are nommie..Hope you enjoy..

Any AIdol fans? Gosh...that Adam is so talented. My dd Beth loves him, too..She was a drama student for a while and appreciates his "drama".

I was up a bit..(but then I remembered I had 1/2 of a cinnamon roll at someone's house yesterday). It was during a Bible Study, and I was hoping that God would take away the carbs for me, but I guess He doesn't work that way. So, I'm back up to 152..

Welcome Moley.. What's your real name? We love to have real names here........

The "floor" guys are coming on Wednesday for both bathrooms..Gary will have to pull up the toilets and the vanities before they start. I guess my job will be to strip the wallpaper in only ONE bathroom..I'm excited about having new stuff...

[CindyCRNA]

Oh, BTW, Moleymum, just in case you didn't know, Gord is a duck. Yes, a duck! To my knowledge, he (?) is LC and has 2 videos on this thread, although his mother has to help him do the posts. Just in case you were wondering why we all say good morning to him.

[TuscanGirl]

No - Gord is not a duck!
Gord is a man that posts here sometimes!!!

JJ and Bungee are the ducklings in the videos.

[CarolynF]

LOLO...Our Gord is not a duck..: LOLOL..He's a very nice man who lives up north and is always shoveling snow..

Still stripping the wallpaper..Alex is helping me by sitting on the ladder.

[Rebecca130]

Well... I have decided to NOT do potatoes, I felt horrible after I ate them and slept for 2 hours after I got home. I'm going to low carb it for 2 weeks and then put one food back at a time and see if there's a trigger for me. Sandy, I believe it that potatoes are equivilant to that much sugar, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Haven't had any potatoes since Tuesday (I think that's the day we had them, maybe Monday, can't remember, I would have to go look at my journal to see). Today I have been doing P1 of South Beach, seeing if the P1 is any help (not much carbs except for salads, low glycemic veggies). Maybe if I clean my body out, so to speak, it will make me feel better. All I know is I'm feeling pretty cruddy right now.

I went to Kim's (DD) and got to visit with our friend and her 3 week old baby. OMG, she's such a beautiful little girl. Alyssa had a rough time with Mommy holding Kennedy, but she quickly got over it because her curiosity got the best of her. LOL. NOW, I can't wait til Kim's baby is born at the end of May. I think Kim said she has about 9 weeks left to go. Alyssa will be staying with us while her Mommy is in the hospital and Daddy is at work. We'll take her to the hospital each day to visit a while. Excitement is GROWING each day!!!! We're having another granddaughter, her name will be Gracelynn Genelle.

[fourstubbs]

Hi everyone, just popping in to check in. I have been trying to find the right time to join the conversation, but I guess I just need to jump in~~~ Zilla, I think you live in CO, wow, what do you think of the storm? We are having a blizzard here and they are expecting 8 to 10 inches of snow!!! Isn't it spring? I also went to work and thankfully they closed the store that I work at!!! I am happy to be home, now need to make some hot cocoa..lc of course!!!

[Rebecca130]

fourstubbs, if you send us any of your weather, I hope you don't send it as snow!!! I'm ready for spring and my poor mother that had the accident last June is anxiously awaiting spring as well, since she had the accident in early June and didn't get out of the nursing home til October. She totally missed summer, so she is excited for the nice weather to come. I envy you living in Colorado Springs, we went there right after I graduated in 1975 for a vacation and Dad and I took a horseback trip through the Garden of the Gods, one of my favorite memories with him. Mom didnt go cuz she didn't want to ride a horse, so it was just him and I. It was so much fun and so GORGEOUS!!!!