Old Timers and Newbies Challenge

[Ailuros]

Hello, this is just a quick visit after a long day out and before I grab something to eat and get some sleep.

I just wanted to say that if any newbies are still collecting books, Dr Mike Eades (Protein Power) is offering hardback first edition copies of their book Protein Power LifePlan for just the shipping costs. I don't think I can link to his blog because they do sell some stuff, but it shouldn't be hard to track down! It's a very good book, even if you're following Atkins or some other plan - there's good stuff about fats, supplements, autoimmune problems from grains... all sorts of things.

[Lost and Found]

Originally Posted by backspace1

Checking in this morning...

hi to everyone!

Breakfast - 3 eggs scrambled w/half slice cheese, large pat of butter - coffee w/cream

Lost and Found - So sorry you're going through all this turmoil with your family. I know you will end up in a much better place for you and your boys. I will keep you in my prayers that everything works out for you. I truely believe everything happens for a reason. Congrats on all the weight loss, you're doing awesome. Just a thought, why not try a cheap cooler in the basement for some of your food?


Tooter - you've convinced me to get the virgin coconut oil. I've got to do something to jumpstart my weight loss. Keep losing and gaining the same couple of lbs. Will keep on keepin on.

Jeanran - what a lovely picture of your girls. Chelli is a special person, caregiving is an emotionally difficult job for most. Her smile conveys the love she has in her heart.

Pear - lol, isn't that elf thingy great? DD included the dog in hers. I also recieved one from a friend and her two birds! ;o)

Gotta get off my butt and start moving here. Will hopefully put up the tree today and do some online shopping. Will try to check in later tonight.

backspace

Hi, Backspace!!!!

Thanks so much...you keeping me in your prayers makes me feel better!!! OHHHHH!!! You're putting up your tree today?!?! I can not wait to have one again....the tree is my favorite thing about Christmas. I love to have all of the lights off in the house, with a candle burning...and just sit and enjoy the tree.

[Lost and Found]

Originally Posted by Tooter

I love Nurses. They truly are the ones who give you the "Care". 4 Sons and the Nurses were the ones who helped me, did all the work with me and the doctor showed up to "Catch"! lol

I have done a little Nursing. (LF I want you to listen up with what I am going to share, because it shows you that Hard times don't break you, you become stronger). Nursing for my family. Wasn't trained, had to learn on my own and with a little help from Doctors and Nurses (on what to do).

When My Oldest son was 18 months old and I was pregnant with my 2nd son, my husband was BADLY burned at work (his legs). To make a long story shorter. I pushed my husband around in a wheel chair for 6 months. I had to take him to Debridement Treatments. That's where they put you in a tub and scrub the burns with a metal brush to promote proper healing. EXTREMELY Painful. Of coarse we were broke, and hardly getting by at all. I had to do everything for him. He couldn't walk at all. Finely it got to the point where they could do skin grafts. Praise God, he healed and could walk again.

At the same time all this was going on, I gave birth to my 2nd son. Everything was great. Until his 2nd week check up. All his organs were inlarged because he had a Hole in his heart (It didn't show up until then and didn't show up right after he was born). I had to Stay in the hospital with him for 2 weeks. Then I could take him home. He had to take digoxin and I had to mix breast milk with high calorie (made extra strength) formula to make sure he was getting enough to eat. This is at the same time of taking care of my husband (with his burns) and taking care of a Toddler (my first son).

Another long story shorter....each visit to the cardiologist showed that the hole was getting smaller and smaller. At 2 1/2 years old, they did an echocardiogram and it showed that the Hole was sucking in one of the Leafs of the Aorta. They said he had to have open heart surgery, that this COULD NOT heal on it's own. If they didn't do the surgery, he would be an invalid.
My heart was broken, but not my spirit. Of coarse I prayed. I was scared to death, but All I could do was believe that God would help us get through this. It sure seemed dark. But it's always darkest before morning and "Joy" cometh in the morning. You just "Hang on" by your fingernails and faith.

Right before they were to schedule Surgery, they did another echocardiogram. Normally it takes 20 minutes. This was taking 45 minutes. Finally the Doctor looked at me and said "I can't explain this, It's the same machine, the Same Tech doing it... HIS HEART IS COMPLETELY HEALED!! The leaf of the aorta was in it's proper place and some skin out of no where covered the hole. It's as if it never happened. Like he never had a hole in his heart in the First place. It was a miracle. documented. (Thank you, Lord).

Tough times never last, but Tough people do.

Touch times don't steal your compassion, they give you even more.


This is how I KNOW you are going to come through this to the other side and be So much stronger. It also will give you lots of wisdom and experience to share in your nursing career. Your kids? They will learn from this too. They will learn what truly IS important. They will learn to enjoy the "little things" in life. That it's People, not things. They will learn to appreciate life and Loved ones. They will learn that tough times don't last, but tough people do. They will learn that you can be tough, gain wisdom and still have compassion (actually have more).

Tooter---I knew that there was something special about you!!! Thank-you so much for sharing your story...I know that difficult times are sometimes hard to talk about. You SURE DID have it rough going there for a long while!!! But...I can tell that someone watches over you!!! I'm so glad that I have been blessed enough to "meet" you!!! Thanks for all of the nice things that you share, and all of the encouragement that you give me.....all-in-all...your just a little sweetie!!!



By the way....guess what I got today!?! Some Extra Virgin coconut oil!!!
This stupid town's Wal-mart didn't have any...but I still got some...I didn't stop looking until I found some!!!

[Lost and Found]

Originally Posted by Erika

Hello everyone! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Erika and I've been lurking on here for about a month. Trying to do some catching up and seeing what everyone is into these days.

I started doing low carb seriously about 3 years ago because of health problems. I would have only two periods a year and the weight kept going up and up. I went to a couple of ob/gyns because I wanted to have a baby but they would only tell me it was due to stress, induce my period with some type of medicine (I forgot the name) and put me on the pill. Not exactly the type of help I was looking for. Then I started doing some research about my symptoms and I read that low carb would help. I started in July of 2004 and the weight flew off and my periods were back to normal. Then in October 2004, I missed a period and I wasn't feeling like myself. Something told me to get a pregnancy test. It was positive. I could not believe it! DH and I were so ecstatic. Everyone was telling me to stop eating low carb during the pregnancy. I thought that it was best but now that I think about it, it wasn't well informed advice. The pregnancy went along uneventful until I got to my 7th month. I went into preterm labor in April 2005 and had a beautiful baby boy we named, Daniel. He weighed exactly 5 lbs. He spent about a month in the NICU before we were able to take him home.

At my six weeks check up after I had Daniel, the OB was surprised that I had Daniel so early (she didn't deliver him) but she did say that at my last visit, when I had the glucose tolerance test, that my sugar was very high and that I had gestational diabetes. Why in the hell didn't anyone contact me immediately? No one contacted me at all. Then in June 2005 I found out I was pregnant again. I carried this baby to term. We had a wonderful little girl we named Coryn in March 2006. I tried to deliver her naturally but it wasn't happening. I had to have an emergency c-section. Coryn weighed 10 lbs. 12 oz. at birth. This time they monitored my glucose closely but I was always in normal range but I got up to 298 lbs. All during this time, I had abandoned the low carb WOE. Even though it was helping me tremendously before I got pregnant. I didn't decide to start low carb again until things got really bad.

In November, I just got fed up with being overweight. The back pain and gall bladder problems were getting the best of me. I had two active toddlers on my hands and I didn't have the energy to do anything with them. On November 13, I got on the scale. It said 276 lbs. I was totally disgusted and sad that I had let myself get that big. So I decided to make a life change that will help me feel better, help me be around for my children and be a good mother to them.

Well, I started this WOE on 11/13/07 and as of today, I have lost 14 lbs. Yay me! Everyone on this board has been an inspiration, especially Tooter. Her advice about upping the fats has helped me get my hunger under control. Coconut oil is my new best friend.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone here.

Hi, Erika!!!

We're glad to see you here....stay with us and your days will become easier!!! We all, here, genuinely care about one another!!!

Congrats on your decision to become healthy....and take charge of your son's health too!!! (Who knows how much improvement you will continue to see!!!)
See you here on our thread....

[Lost and Found]

Originally Posted by Ailuros

Hello, this is just a quick visit after a long day out and before I grab something to eat and get some sleep.

I just wanted to say that if any newbies are still collecting books, Dr Mike Eades (Protein Power) is offering hardback first edition copies of their book Protein Power LifePlan for just the shipping costs. I don't think I can link to his blog because they do sell some stuff, but it shouldn't be hard to track down! It's a very good book, even if you're following Atkins or some other plan - there's good stuff about fats, supplements, autoimmune problems from grains... all sorts of things.

Hi, Ailuros!!! (Good morning!!!)

Hope your rest was well!!! Thanks for the info!!!

[Lost and Found]

By the way...aren't we missing a few people?

Winslow
I must be Crazy
Dottie

I know there is atleast one more...the name is right there...but I can not think of it!!!

[Lost and Found]

Hippiegirl.....

I hope that you had fun shopping this weekend!!! I know that you were looking forward to it!!!

[jeanran]

I can't believe all of the wonderful messages that I find here when just gone for a few hours.

Tooter, when we read posts over time we get the feeling that we know much about a person's character. Your story has confirmed my feelings about you. You exude strength. Thank God for healing your son, and you for having the faith it took to get through this.

Erika, I am so glad that Tooter put out the invitation for lurkers to join in. Your story is remarkable, sad and hopeful at the same time. We welcome you with open arms and hope to share your journey as you and your son progress with better food choices. Congratulations on the weight loss, I think you will really start reaping the benefits of your WOE.

Backspace, your comments re: my daughter put a smile on my face. I'm always glad to see your posts.

Ailuros, I am going to search for the site you mentioned and get the books. We cannot be too informed. Thanks for the tip.

L & F, you know that you have a real support group right here and I hope that we can share helpful experiences and guidance along the way.

This is one of the kindest, most informative and helpful groups I have seen in a long time, if ever, thanks to everyone.

Jean

[MomToEli]

Originally Posted by Tooter

I thought it was a professional picture too. MomtoEli, that is an awesomely beautiful picture!

God is a great artist, isn't he? And I love living in the country. I know where we live now will give me lots of great photos. We have a good quality 35mm that will be my camera of choice, though. When that time comes, I'll be sure to post them!

[Lost and Found]

Hi...gals!!!

I just made the bark!!! I doubled the batch (1/2 cup coconut oil)....I hope that I did not do something wrong . It sure wasn't much...I do not know how you'd even manage to put coconut and almonds in it?!? It didn't spread out very far....but I ate a third of it!!! Tasted pretty good!!!! I think for my sweet tooth (which, thankfully, was not my downfall)...I'll stick to a small 1 inch square of cream cheese with a little sweetner on it!!! (That, to me, tasted pretty close to the "real" cheese cake!!!!) Unless, of course, those kisses are good!!!

Tooter: I think that when I get my vitamins (next week)...I'll just take some warm water...and melt the oil in it...and chug it down with my vitamins!!! Maybe, it won't be bad...I hold my breath when I chug!!! So, does one of those containers last you about a month? I can tell the filling effects of it...hopefully, I get some energy too...I have to stay up late tonight...have another 100 point assignment due by tomorrow night at midnight!!! (Atleast it's the last one...but, then, there's the final!!!!!)

[Lost and Found]

Did you guys notice my new picture? That's because...I'm feeling quite liberated today!!! I've kinda got the attitude today that I am just sweet to all of the as*holes....that upsets them more than my reacting how they want me to.

Plus....I've wanted to be a Nurse for as long as I can remember...my ex-husband would not allow me to go to school, work, etc...!!! So, not only for my future, but also for my own self being, I really need to succeed with this dream of mine....THAT would be liberating!!!!

[Lost and Found]

La Lala La I'm feelin' smaller today!!

BUT...I'm not going to weigh myself!!! If I wouldn't have weighed myself at the beginning of the week...you know...when the woosh fairy arrived...I would've had the pleasant surprise of a 6 pound loss in between weighing!!! SO, I'm going to try and weigh myself on Friday mornings ONLY!!! (Notice the word "try" )

Ewww!!! I just burped coconut oil!!!

[MomToEli]

Hi Everyone! And welcome, Erika!

Erika, I have a nephew who is autistic. My brother and his wife swear it is because of vaccinations. I know we had our little guy fully vaccinated without any problems. Who knows. But they are convinced beyond doubt. It sounds like he is responding positively to the food changes. How exciting!

Tooter, isn't amazing how we can look back on our lives and look at what we have managed to live through?

I had meetings today, so haven't been able to post. For breakfast I had a slice of ham, topped with a slice of Smokey Cheddar cheese with a fried egg on top. Then I finished it off with some of the CO Bark. Man, add to that a cup of caffinated coffee and I had quite the buzz going for my meeting this morning! Woozer! Got home and ate a breadless grilled cheese and two oz of cream cheese with Splenda and lemon extract. For supper it is going to be pork chops and green beans.

[jeanran]

L & F, I'm surprised that you didn't enjoy the bark more but we are all different in our tastes.

Amanda is a real chocolate connoisseur and ate half of mine that I had added the toasted almonds and unsweetened coconut in. She said the only other chocolate that is better is Toblerone.

You'll laugh at this one. My 22 yr. old grandson ate a bite and said, it's good but I can't get away from the thought that chocolate candy isn't good for you. He eats very healthy. I didn't even go there!

I eat about 1/4 batch a day til I know my system is used to it.

Today, I have had a lettuce wrapped Angus burger from McDonald's with mushrooms and swiss cheese, one of their side salads with my own EVOO and red wine vinegar and a small crooked neck squash fried in EVOO & Smart Balance. I am stuffed....

That was breakfast and lunch, not sure about dinner yet. I do know that after Amanda's visit, I will be making more bark tonight. Tooter, do you think they call it that because it makes spiders bark if you aren't used to the VCO?

L & F, good luck on your assignment.

MomToEli, I can't wait to see the pictures, as you have guessed, I love pictures.

Jean

[Lost and Found]

Originally Posted by jeanran

L & F, I'm surprised that you didn't enjoy the bark more but we are all different in our tastes.

Amanda is a real chocolate connoisseur and ate half of mine that I had added the toasted almonds and unsweetened coconut in. She said the only other chocolate that is better is Toblerone.

You'll laugh at this one. My 22 yr. old grandson ate a bite and said, it's good but I can't get away from the thought that chocolate candy isn't good for you. He eats very healthy. I didn't even go there!

I eat about 1/4 batch a day til I know my system is used to it.

Today, I have had a lettuce wrapped Angus burger from McDonald's with mushrooms and swiss cheese, one of their side salads with my own EVOO and red wine vinegar and a small crooked neck squash fried in EVOO & Smart Balance. I am stuffed....

That was breakfast and lunch, not sure about dinner yet. I do know that after Amanda's visit, I will be making more bark tonight. Tooter, do you think they call it that because it makes spiders bark if you aren't used to the VCO?

L & F, good luck on your assignment.

MomToEli, I can't wait to see the pictures, as you have guessed, I love pictures.

Jean

Alright!! Alright!!! I like the BARK!!! I kinda miss my mad little spiders!!! You say that they come back....from the VCO? Maybe, since mine is EVCO...I'll get to experience this even more!!!

Tooter: I see that your voice has changed, but your breath hasn't!!!

That's why I was wondering if I did it wrong....I doubled the batch...and it was sooooo thin....Is yours? By the way...mine was plain...without the coconut and nuts!!! I do not get how there would even be enough liquid to go around much coconut or nuts for that matter...maybe I shouldn't have used a lasagna pan!!! I used 1/2C CO, 2T Cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon sweetner...is this right? Maybe in the bottoms of muffin tin might work great...for portion control as well!!!

[Lost and Found]

OH MY GOSH!!!!! I just did the Math!! I ate about a third of it??? (A DOUBLE BATCH!!!!) I betcha' that I get the sh*ts !!!! Oh well, you girls have a giggle on me!!!

[MomToEli]

Originally Posted by jeanran

I eat about 1/4 batch a day til I know my system is used to it.

snipped from brevity

MomToEli, I can't wait to see the pictures, as you have guessed, I love pictures.

Jean

You mean I'm supposed to ease into this stuff! Oh well ... I've made it the last two days and eaten it all in one sitting each day. At least yesterday I put it into a container on the pretense that I'd put it in the fridge. Today I didn't bother The only thing I've experienced is a slight tummy upset for about 10 minutes. I figure it is just working all the kinks out of my system. Hasn't freed up the pipes ... but the day isn't over yet

Originally Posted by Lost and Found

That's why I was wondering if I did it wrong....I doubled the batch...and it was sooooo thin....Is yours? By the way...mine was plain...without the coconut and nuts!!! I do not get how there would even be enough liquid to go around much coconut or nuts for that matter...maybe I shouldn't have used a lasagna pan!!! I used 1/2C CO, 2T Cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon sweetner...is this right? Maybe in the bottoms of muffin tin might work great...for portion control as well!!!

I use a bread loaf pan (don't double the recipe) and it is just perfect. I chop the almonds up quite small. If I doubled it, I could use an 8x8 pan and have it come out the same thickness. I can see where a lasagna pan might be a problem, though I've though about using mini muffin pans, but I doubt there would be any portion control about it

[jeanran]

Originally Posted by MomToEli

I use a bread loaf pan (don't double the recipe) and it is just perfect. I chop the almonds up quite small. If I doubled it, I could use an 8x8 pan and have it come out the same thickness. I can see where a lasagna pan might be a problem, though I've though about using mini muffin pans, but I doubt there would be any portion control about it

The first time I made it the same way, MomToEli. But tonight I put it in a miniature loaf pan. It came out about the size of a flat Hershey bar with ground almonds and coconut. YUMMMM!

I was kidding about the spiders because Tooter mentioned that some people go slow in the beginning to make sure they can handle it. She probably was talking about the kind of reaction you had, MomToEli.

I am eating here at the puter, broccoli/cauliflower, small bacon wrapped steak and a tossed salad. I won't have room for the bark for awhile.

Jean

[Erika]

Thank you so much for the welcome L & F, MomtoEli and jeanran! I'm really glad that I joined this group. Everyone here is so nice.

Originally Posted by MomToEli