Physical Check-In

Thank you!
You are very kind to help by looking into these options.

I know I sometimes forget there are options. I tend to have an all or nothing attitude, after having been so athletic. I think a part of me is still a bit resentful that I can no longer participate in the athletic activities I had in the past. I used to run 5 miles every morning; it was very painful to see people jogging by my house when first disabled, for instance. I have found this fades a bit over time; yet has not gone away. Running was the way I had dealt with stress.

As for asthma, in many cases, if people are not in an acute exacerbation, they can pre-treat, using their inhaler(s) prior to physical activity. If they are in an acute exacerbation, they are better off to wait until they can breathe with ease. I mention pre-treating because I have come across many people with asthma who do not know pre-treating is an option.

I so deeply appreciate the time and energy you have put into assisting us in our pursuit of improved fitness and overall health.

Yummy!

How soon does your holiday catalog come out?
I think I have put my name on the list?
I am looking forward to buying dozens and dozens!

I have days, too, where I intend to do only things that make me feel better and/or days in which I avoid controversy.

You have alot gong on. Good for you for setting aside some sane time!!!

Much Love

Whatever we can do in the moment is perfectly enough if its all we can do. I think loving ourselves and accepting ourselves is the first step to trying something new. So many have shared their feelings of hopelessness. I have deep empathy for that.

It is really hard to have had such a different lifestyle and then be held back from doing what you want to. I'm experiencing that in other areas of my life. I'm being forced to carve new pathways to filling fulfilled again. It is scary sometimes and it can feel like a lot of work. I'm opening myself up to new experiences though because I will not accept that there's no other way. I'm having to learn new methods and lean on others for support. I feel like a fish out of water, but I want to keep pressing on.

I did look into options for PSA specifically, I did not find a ton. I saw several options for RA, but I am ignorant in this arena and did not want to make the mistake of assuming what might be effective for one condition would work for the other as I realize they are different. I need to do more research.

I did not know about pre treating for asthma. That makes sense. Obviosuly that wouldn't work if your deep in an episode, but I like the idea of being proactive before activity.

If this serves even one person in any way at all that makes any time I spent worth the effort. I'd be happy to dig up some more options if any of these resonate and we need more to keep things fresh.

Thanks again! : )

In my experience, PsA exercise options include gentle stretching , strengthening and aerobics as tolerated. Water exercises are at the top of the list!

With fatiguing illnesses, people do well to pace themselves, allowing themselves 1-3 days between.

I would think the exercises for RA would be much the same as for PsA.

It's really about exercising mindfully, paying attention to feedback from one's body..

Thanks again, fern, for your thoughtfulness!

I am in a lot of physical pain but I know that I’ve only dealt with it for a short time compared to others with chronic conditions. I hope to have it sorted out soon.

I did get a delightful surprise at the doctor’s office. I weighed at home before I went (barefoot) and then at the doctor’s office with tennis shoes on. The difference was 6.3 pounds! I said your scale is wrong. I weigh X. She said we’ll go with this. It doesn’t change how much I’ve lost but it was nice motivation that I’m lighter then I thought. A moment of levity.

I’ve rejoined the gym. I need to lose weight but it seems impossible with the limited amount of exercise I’m allowed to do. I’m only in my 40’s but I’ve joined the seniors class because it’s really low impact. 70yr olds are beating my butt. Lol. I’m trying to not let it get me down.

I hope you get answers and a treatment can be started quickly so you can feel better sooner rather than later

Lol! I can appreciate this!
I have found many people older than me can run circles around me.
Some of the people I used to play basketball with are still running and still playing ball in community leagues. I run into them often and I feel very embarassed when they say, "Hey, come play with us on Thursday night!"

I have to explain that I cannot do so. I really cannot. I have been disabled for a very long time now (over 30 years). The various "conditions" have taken a toll , even though, in the beginning, I was determined I would stay fit! I was able to do so for many years... Later on, not so much.

I find senior classes are about my speed, too, and hanging out with them often saves me from an injury! I can gain a lot of strength and range of motion in that level of class(es).

I hope you get what you need from your class!

I so hope that the blood test and stool sample will explain the fevers and why I've felt so run down, however, as much as I would like answers, I of course don't want it to be anything serious. I just hope it can be named and then resolved.

It sounds like you maybe have at least two different things going on. I hope you next EKG looks fine! I hope the GI distress just disappears!

Please do keep us up to date! Try to not stress out. Wait and see what you hear from you doctor. No sense in stressing before you know what you are stressing about ... or so this is what I tell myself when I am facing the unknown.

Thanks. I can currently walk for 10min before pain stops me. I’m hoping that regular gentle exercise will increase the duration.

I think it's amazing you're making the effort. 70 year olds are a lot of fun. You'll be showing them up in no time

I was able to get a workout in all five days this week. I'm happy about that. I have also curbed my junk intake, so my eating is back under control. I have a busy weekend, so I'm not sure how much exercise I'll get in. I intend to jump back on it on Monday though.

I hope everyone has a healthful and happy weekend!

I admire all of you that are getting good exercise in, or pushing to get some when otherwise undesirable to do so. I confess that I haven't done much "deliberate" exercise for a very long time. I write "deliberate" because I do have days when I move around a lot, but it's not exactly jogging or aerobics or yoga, etc. Hubby and I do try to get a couple nature walks in each weekend. Or at least one. I do a lot of car dancing. Does that count? Very often my cooking and baking projects make me really sweat and get tired. I think that's a mini workout, of sorts. I once mentioned the latter to my psychiatrist. In response he said that I sweat more because I'm "out of shape". Raspberries in his direction.

I didn't weigh myself today because I weighed myself two days ago. I'm a stickler at not weighing myself more than once per week. However, some times I have a day when I just plain feel and look a lot thinner. I'm sure part of it is my mood changing how I perceive my appearance. Maybe other times I just lose some bloating?

Housework, projects, baking or cooking can absolutely be forms of exercise. I broke a sweat cleaning this morning and I run around like crazy when I am making something in the kitchen with a lot of steps. Has your pdoc never watched all of the chefs sweating it out as they run around on Food Network? Maybe he isn't in charge of the cleaning in his home either.

I think finding ways to stay active that you enjoy is the important part. I've learned that I enjoy throwing 30 minutes a day into intense exercise. It helps me release stress and makes my body feel better. I also enjoy chasing after my kids, jumping on the trampoline with them, swimming, taking walks, raking leaves, playing sports, etc.

I admire you for all that you do. You find creative ways to fill your days and it seems to play a big role in your ongoing health and stability.

Hi all. My primary doc sent me to a nutritionist. I am eating low carb high fiber high protein. Its only been less than a week but I already feel better. I have 60 pounds to lose. Whew!

Hi Moose. That is good news, in my book. I once went to a dietitian (pretty much the same thing but with CDR) and it was quite helpful. She prescribed me a similar sounding diet to what you are mentioning. It was definitely effective at helping me lose a lot of weight (of course I really followed it faithfully) and normalize all of my blood work. I think it even helped speed up my metabolism a bit.

Good luck with your journey. We are here for you all along the way. Will you be checking in with the nutritionist frequently? If I recall correctly, I saw my dietitian maybe every 4 to 8 weeks, but I sent her my food logs every week. It is always helpful for me to be held accountable, to some degree, and supported. I wasn't always perfect, though. And that's OK. I just started each new day fresh.

Yes this ^ is what I will be hearing from my GI once my results from labs and I get my ultrasound testing done. Regardless of a happy liver or not it’s something I need to do anyway.

I do have to be very careful when I start following a strict diet/lifestyle change with food.... in the past I have often gone much farther and more strict and wind up restricting and restricting and Boom ! Anorexia is fully in charge , again.

I have been told by numerous Doctors that it’s more healthy for me to be over weight than to my extreme result of anorexia.

I’m like Ummmm thanks ?!?!?? Hu?

I wish something I’m my life could be simple lol

After a brief period of eating whatever tf I wanted due to being so hungry, I have finally come to my senses. Monday was a washout for me but for the rest of the week I was good, except yesterday when I indulged in a bacon cheeseburger. So, three out of five days. Better than the last two weeks. I’m on track today, but we are going to a bbq restaurant with RS’s cousin today for dinner so I’m not sure how that will work out. I don’t like ribs or wings. I usually get pulled bbq chicken. I’ve never been to this restaurant so I’m not sure what they offer. If I can have a sandwich I will get it without bread.

I’ve gotten used to going to bed hungry. I never used to be able to, but it’s just my life now. So I usually eat dinner and that’s it. If I have dessert it’s usually something small like an ice cream bar.

I got my bloodwork done yesterday for all these problems. The dr said high prolactin can mimic symptoms of diabetes. I don’t know what I’d do if I had high prolactin again. I would hope I could just take medication for it because the likely culprit would be half ok and I can’t go off of haldol.

I doubt I’ll lose weight. I never do. I wish I could but it just never works out no matter how much/what I eat.

Congrats for making the effort!

Sometimes the healthier diet might cost more; however, with all of the carbs you are giving up, it might make up the difference to help cover the extra fiber and any extra protein. In additon, it is possible to buy/eat less costly forms of protein.

I have had very good luck with higher fiber and higher protein. I am glad you have a nututrionist working with you . Some people, especially people involved in the "Paleo" trend, may take in too much protein. Too much protein can be stressful to the kidneys. (To add to the confusion, there used to be one "Paleo" diet. Now there are so very many variations, with very different guidelines. It's very confusing.)

I want to again mention: Too much protein can stress the kidneys.*

Both the higher protein and the higher fiber diet will help to stabilize your blood sugar and will help to avoid hypoglycemia. Hypo- and hyperglycemia have been known to cause mood changes. Many talk of feeling especially affected by hypoglycemia, which shows up a lot when people are "pre-diabetic." This type of a diet might very well lower both cholesterol and might lower your A1c. *

Some meds, psych meds and otherwise, mess with blood glucose. This type of a diet should help to stabilize any changes of blood glucose caused by various meds. (

I am very excited for you! I do think you will feel much better by simply following the dietary guidelines, even long before you shed weight.

*Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a medical professional.

The dietician said 6 weeks or 3 months. I said 3 months- I dont know why. I should call back and make it for sooner, I suppose.

Thank you for your reply. I got invited out to dinner with friends at a chinese place - there are a lot of carbs there! I'll have to hunt for something I can eat. Chicken and broccoli might work- chicken not fried or breaded.

I hope you don't mind if I make a suggestion to you, as I have had difficulties with getting hungry after dinner. Firstly, try to eat a higher fiber, higher protein dinner. Keep it low carb. Higher carb meals will cause an increase in blood glucose and then a drop, often into hypoglycemia,. This is even more dramatic if the fiber and protein intake are low in the meal.

Just before bedtime, eat some protein. Ice cream, no matter how small a serving might set you up for blood glucose increase, again followed by hypoglycemia, which not only feels horrible, but also drives us back to the kitchen in the middle of the night.

You might get by with a sugar-free ice cream item, since you've mentioned ice cream. Your blood gluconse would remain stablized longer if you ate protein at bedtime.

You could get creative about what types of protein you could eat before bed.
Again, protein will help you get through the night much better than a sugar-free ice cream; however, do what works for you.

I love various types of cheese. I blood lipids look okay upon lab results, so I can safely eat a reasonable amount of cheese. It helps that I love all kinds of cheese. My PC doc and a nututionist both told me it was better for me to use cheese without crackers if possible. They added, I can combine it with crackers if I need the carbs, and it would still be better than some form of a dessert. I eat just cheese. Again, the protein is critical.

There is such a variety of cheeses. Even cottage cheese is an option.
I vary the cheeses I eat just before bedtime. If I am craving something "dessert-like," I might eat something like " Havarti" cheese or a port-wine cheese (if it tastes a bit sweet). In general, I eat sharp cheeses. Consider your favorite types of cheeses.

A piece of protein left over from dinner is also an option.. Glucerna or Ensure drinks are yet another option. Glucerna is formulated especially to control blood sugar for diabetics; it helps us all in that regard.

I used to say: I do not lose weight, no matter what I eat.
I'd said that to a doctor I'd really liked/respected. She'd responded with concern, saying; "A calorie is a calorie!" It does not matter how we are taking in the calories and/or the type of food, too many calories is too many calories.

I can easily eat a very healthy diet and might still take in too many calories. I might eat too much fruit, too much squash, even too much protein, etc.

At that time, I went to see a nutritionist. She had me eating so much fruit, all day long. That was not good for me, as it was too many carbs and the carbs were not balanced with the amout of protein. Over time, as l so frustrated, as I had adhered to her dietary guidelines, I could not lose a pound!

Before I did more research, I'd thought: "What is wrong with me? I do not even eat all of the food she allows me each day and I am still not losing. I cannot lose weight no matter what I eat!"

Ooops! Not a logical conclusion. The more logical conclusion was: Those dietary guidelines do not work for me. I did more research and found out more about controlling blood glucose and I'd found guidelines which worked for me. I then lost weight easily.

Just one of the guidelines I have found which helps to stabilize blood glucose, for me, is: If I eat carbs, my protein intake must at least equal that same amount. This helps to offset the impact of the carbs on raising blood glucose.

I have rambled, sorry.

I read your post and could see myself in it. I have made very erroneous and even self-defeating conclusions based upon untruths. In one case , I even had the help of a nutritionist; unfortunately, she did not know how to address the "individualized" needs of my body. I had to figure this out by learning more about regulating my blood glucose, something she was not doing within her guidelines. She had more of a "calculate what her caloric intake should be and give her the same diet as everyone else, with modifications on the amount of food only.." It was a flop!

If we drastically cut our caloric intake, we will lose weight. So the idea I'd had in my mind, the idea that I could not lose weight, no matter what, was clearly erroneous.

It is not healthiest to get into restricting our intake in a severe manner, even though we could lose weight in that way. I have found, at least for me, I can lose if I keep things higher protein and higher fiber. If I eat too much of each, I then cannot lose and/or I gain. A calorie is a calorie. It can be a healthy food type of calorie or a junk food type of calorie it is still a calorie.

I thas been incredibly helpful to me to use a Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator. The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number or calories we use in order to simply exist. This BMR calculator calculates the number of calories we need at rest 24/7. We then plug in the level of activity and any other factors we are allowed to add in, in order to determine how many calories per day we are allowed in order to lose weight. There are many free BMR calculators online.

I used to feel as frustrated as you have expressed in your post. I know we are all different. I wanted to take the time to share some of what has worked for me when other reasonable approaches to weight loss seemed to be failing me.

I hope something in this post is helpful in some way.

I remain very hopeful for you and for your wellness on every level!

Thank you so much for all the information, WC. I do count calories with the help of an app and mostly come out under and still don’t lose weight, which is why I am frustrated. I didn’t think of cheese. I love cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. I don’t like nuts, which are another high protein snack. I don’t always have ice cream, just once in awhile.

You have given me a lot to think about in terms of my actual diet vs. just counting calories.

I do not know if it was my cutting down on animal products or just a beneficial effect of switching from Zyprexa regular to Zyprexa Zydis, which does not mess with the satiety signals, but a lot of things have gone well for me:
- went down from 266 to 244 lbs
- went one bra size down (just got professionally fitted at Nordstrom today), from 42DDD to 40DDDD
- went one dress size down
- total cholesterol went from over 200 to 188, for the first time in many years
- it no longer is awkward to tie my shoelaces - I still have a tummy, but less of it, and it is not in the way of my tying the shoelaces.

I eat fish and dairy, but do not eat meat or eggs at home (still eat a little when I go out). I also eat lots of vegetables, chia seed puddings, and complex carbs in the form of whole rye products and hot cereals made from steel cut oatmeal, millet, or buckwheat. Instead of pasta I eat frozen zucchini spirals heated and mixed with shaved parmesan cheese and marinara sauce. I eat bean and veggie soup every night, some fruit daily, and mushrooms daily (cooked with cheese and sour cream). I am going to continue on this diet and see if I am able to lose more weight, but even if I am not, I am happy with the progress so far.

I had gestational diabetes while I was pregnant with my daughter ... I had absolutely no choice but to be 200% on top of my meals and snacks I had to maintain a steady blood sugar. I had to test my blood sugars 6 times a day.

After I delivered my daughter a nurse comes flying in with rice crispies milk and at least 20 packs of sugar and 2 regular cokes.. I was like Oh no I can’t have this ! She said honey your blood sugar is 30 I’m shocked your not unconscious, she dumped all that sugar on the cereal while shoving a coke at me saying down it.

Let me tell you I was seriously going to throw up, all that sugar and things I could not have at all for 6 months ??? Omg it was so disgusting tasting !!!

My grandmother bless her heart knew I was so strict with food while pregnant, I came home to pot roast all the fixings, literally an extra 12 of my favorite side dishes and a homemade angel food cake covered with a homemade icing.

Well since I had to eat 3 small portioned meals a day plus round the clock small snacks from 3 months pregnant on .... I literally had half a bite of half the things and had to quit I was stuffed and felt awful.

My daughter who is Bipolar 1 and takes straight Seroquil, Lamictal , Zoloft and gabapentin went vegetarian about 5-6 years ago has no trouble with her weight unless she’s in a depression and eating her emotions , still vegetarian stuff tho.

I did vegetarian for a month and honestly it was really simple , Hell my husband didn’t even notice until about day 15 we hadn’t had any real mea, I had done veggie burgers twice which I actually enjoy the taste .. I can not , will not , unable to tolerate ToFu I have tried it dozens of ways, (my daughter said she’s not fond of it but eats it to get in her protein)

After 30 days I had infact lost 20 lbs but I just wasn’t getting enough protein so I was losing muscle and not just fat. So that didn’t work out so well.

If only losing weight was as easy as piling it on ..

Thank you WC for such detailed information on many ways to truly lose weight

I went into today with a **** it attitude and went to ihop for breakfast. But I came to my senses and only ate 1.5 pancakes, one egg, and a serving of hash browns. Carb heavy but not TOO bad on calories. A lot more than I should have for breakfast. For lunch I had a simple turkey and cheese sandwich on a small roll. Then two hours I was starving again so I had three slices of turkey bacon. Around five I had a big bowl of turkey chili, which has fiber and protein, and of course....two hours later I am absolutely starving. I don’t know what to do. I’m going to have to go to bed like this because I am at my calorie limit for the day.

I am so frustrated. I just want to feel better. I’m going to try to follow a diabetic diet from now on. I don’t know where to start though. I’m going to do some research tonight. I have off from work this week so I am able to go shopping tomorrow for some ingredients for more protein and fiber in my diet. I can make eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Maybe I ought to make hard boiled eggs for weekday breakfasts when I start work again. I’ll have to bring my lunch too. I only get half an hour for lunch.

I just hope my bloodwork shows SOMETHING. I don’t care what, just something so that I can treat it and start to feel better.