Physical Check-In

Hi Fern , Thanks

Not so good. I haven’t slept in a few days ,I’m sure that’s not helping lol

Glad you were able to get back to exercising

No, I take it for Bipolar Disorder, it's just an added bonus that I didn't know about until it happened! I couldn't NOT notice that I was having way less hot flashes, that they were less intense AND they were no longer preceded by what felt like the beginning of an anxiety attack. Thank you for asking though.

I can’t not eat breakfast lol I’ll kill someone by lunch! I usually only have a low carb protein shake or meal bar. Then I have cheese and some sort of meat (deli meat or chicken) for lunch. Dinner is my biggest meal of the day. I never snack after dinner anymore. I haven’t been cooking much for dinner which is an issue. I took out chicken for dinner tomorrow.

I feel like cutting back to 60g carbs will be too restrictive. I need to be Able to eat enough carbs that I won’t miss them and feel deprived. That’s when I quit. Plus it’s hard to make low carb dinners that RS and I will both like. He can’t have dairy. Most low carb dinners are heavy on cheese. I’ll just have to search around. I think I am going to try to reduce my carbs slowly. Like I’m going to try to stick to 100g now.

Thanks for the help!!

Complex carbs are healthier , brown rice , wheat bread, beans and vegetables

I will be cutting out pasta, potatoes, white rice, white bread etc

I’m doing a basic diabetic diet easy to follow... do a quick google to find the list of good complex carbs versus bad carbs.

That might help you lose a bit easier, I’m going to stick to it as it’s shown to help budge stubborn metabolic syndrome.

I’m hopeful it will help me

Beef chili is something that you can eat that is low carb...you could use sour cream and cheese on the side.
How about having an omelet for dinner?
I think you can still lose weight at 100 carbs just not as quickly.
I am no good at counting anything so no flour, potatoes, sugar, rice really works for me.
like I don't count onions or carrots or tomatoes....which can be higher carbs.
I don't want to become stressed or obsessed with it.
It is working so am happy about this. I don't drink any calories I would rather have food!
bizi

Well I was back down to my previous weight this morning which makes me feel better to know it was probably just water weight from all the salt I consumed on thanksgiving.

I’m going to quit weighing myself every day and make Saturday my weigh in day. Then I won’t be so crazy, I hope!

Well my stomach is back to normal and I got a bit of sleep so I’m feeling better

I'm tired but content with how today went. I'm hoping to get the good night's sleep tonight that I lost last night!

So much for the good night's sleep! I was all ready to hit the sack when I thought of the fun things I wanted to do on my computer, so I've stayed up and it's 4:36am. Why am I doing this time and time again all of a sudden? I'll have to talk to my PsychPA about it on Monday. Oh, and my left ear which was giving me problems seems to be healing and feels fine! I think I should try to go to bed now! Have a good day everyone!

I've got a doozy of a cold. I haven't had one in what seems like years. It's not in my chest, but my head, nose, and throat are quite affected.

I was once on a dietitian prescribed diet. She limited me to 60 g net (yes, net) carbs. I lost weight quite fast. I will say that I also had a limit on the fat I could eat. That's key compared to many low-carb diets. Now, when I get myself to do it, I follow an eating plan that MyFitnessPal suggests. It allows me 135 total grams carbs, 47 g total fat and recommends 60 g protein and 45 g total sugars. If I follow it exactly, I lost 1 to 3 lbs in a week, especially if I am active. So, yes, 135 grams is OK for me. I believe it is considered a reasonable amount of carbs. Yes, the total fat is fairly low, but in my case I can eat lower fat easier than lower carb. I think that unless people have legitimate need to eat very low carb for health purposes, that people should consider their preferences a bit in diet choice.

I know that eating whole grains is best for me, but sometimes I get delinquent and eat too many refined carbs.

60 grams net carbs was something I managed for about 6 months, but could never maintain such a strict low carb diet unless my life depended on it.

I actually favor a vegetarian diet. I have found it very difficult to be on a vegetarian diet and find the protein sources without too many carbs, including complex carbs.
There are some vegetable based protein powders now. Some also qualify for athletic training, as they have a complete profile of amino acids. I have yet to meet a veggie protein mix I can stomach.
I cannot do many complex carbs. My metabolism just does not do well . If I have a carb, it will be complex; however, I have to severely limit them.
I am very attracted to the expansive energies of vegetables, as opposed to the more contracted energies of other foods, like meat, for example.

Just a note of interest (possibly):

I 'd studied /ate a macrobiotic diet/lifestyle for a full year. Lots of brown rice, miso and seaweed. Lol! A big part of the macrobiotic teachings have to do with the "energetic" properties (expansive vs contracted, as well as balancing yin/yang.)within the diet, as well as in the body.

Expansive foods are thought to be more healthy. One way to increase the expansive energetic nature of a cooked food is to use gas as the fuel for cooking, which makes a food, brown rice for example, more expansive then the same rice cooked on an electric burner. Rice cooked with gas is often more fluffy and each piece of rice is more expanded. Rice cooked by electricity tends to be less fluffy, more condensed, more contracted than that cooked on gas.
It was an interesting experience. (The hub of the macrobiotic teachings are at the Kushi Institute in Massachusetts, USA)

Hi @BirdDancer !
Me too!!! I can also eat low fat easier than low carb. I'm supposed to be cutting back on carbs(pre-diabetes), and I have found it extremely difficult to cut it back because it's a staple of my breakfast, lunch and dinner and carbs make me feel full, and tide me over to the next meal. If I eat something high in protein and low in fat like eggs, even with toast, I don't feel satisfied! I have to consider cost(family budget) and ease of preparation(my mental issues), so that brings me back to Raisin Bran for breakfast, Instant Grits for lunch, and frozen meals for dinner when my stepmom isn't cooking. I would prefer whole grains in my frozen dinners, but the affordabe ones are made with refined carbs! Truthfully though, I've made many small changes which I'm proud of, and am doing my best.

P.S. I'm sorry about your cold, it sounds pretty bad! I hope you can stay warm and eat nutritious food to heal quicker!

Hi @Wild Coyote ! I found the information on expansive foods and energy fascinating! You know, considering that we are made of energy, it makes sense to me that the foods we eat and how we prepare them can balance or put into imbalance our being! I always remember, "You are what you eat!", but not in the "everything is made of energy, work for balance" sense! Thank you for sharing! I hope I understood that a little!

BirdDancer ! Ugh I’m so sorry to hear about your head cold. Oh gawd they are so miserable I hope it passes quickly !

Wild , Yes cooking on gas does make a huge different in rice and pasta ..When we were in Florida of course it was electric , I was burning food left and right !!!! I honestly hate the thought of ever going back to electric!

I think we all need to cherry pick from the vast expanse of food choices that will allow us to not feel starved nor miserable because we can’t have X food, feeling deprived is a sure fire way to gain weight

I think this is why I have decided to do a diabetic diet, it’s very simple. I did it while pregnant. Keeping my glucose levels steady will also help me my liver disease.

Everything is just a choice

I have gotten sleep 2 nights in a row ! Shocking I know lol

Im still dealing with some extreme SOB issues upon activity but I got my whole house vaccumed and Bathrooms clean and rugs in the washer. I have a few loads of laundry to do, and will strip the bed and remake, but I have no choice but to take breaks and I’m okay with it

I pulled chili out of the freezer for dinner. It makes me really happy that I spend time pre cooking and freezing so many meals.

Being off meds for psoriasis and the PsA is really becoming a problem. My head is starting the insane itching no plaques yet but they will happen soon. All my joints feel swollen, I can barely make a fist and walking is just ridiculously painful but I have things I must get done, so in a way it’s good, allowing my joints to stretch.

Humira needs to hurry up and leave my body so I can get on something else. This ongoing big difficulty breathing is really wearing me down emotionally.

Yes!

I find one of the best ways to pick out foods is to ask myself, (yes, myself) which foods are best for me? I mean really tap into oneself and do ask that question.
I believe we all intuitively know what is best for our dietary needs, especially those of us somewhat educated on this topic.

Look at ~Christina, for example. She has reflected, made a decision which makes sense for her and is all set with it. I think ~Christina has tapped into her intuition and knows herself well.

So while we might play with different diets to see what fits us, we, at some point, would do well to proactively decide what type of a diet/lifestyle is best for each of us... and just do it!

This is advice from a currently overweight, physically unfit member of PC!
So, take this with a grain of salt!!!

Love to All!

I went over on carbs and calories today. I don’t know why but I was drawn to sugar and snacks today. I had a slice of French toast with syrup in the morning (along with eggs and bacon-thanks breakfast buffet!). I had a low carb lunch and dinner, but I snacked on tortilla chips and pineapple salsa! I NEVER snack after dinner anymore. I also had a big slab of leftover ice cream cake (I threw the rest of the cake out so I won’t be tempted). I feel horrible. There’s a reason I stay away from carbs! I seem to forget until I go overboard.

I mean all told I had 150g carbs which isn’t as bad as it could have been but still.

Need to get off this computer and do charting. I have a months to do.
bizi

Dinner:
6oz of lemon peppered talapia, sauteed in coconut oil
serving of chopped spinach.
4 small dark chocolate squares. normally have 2 after dinner every night.....2 more sounded good!
I may have a bit of low carb ice cream later.

@~Christina
I am happy that you got 2 nights sleep.
Am sad that you suffer with pain and SOB, COPD.
It sounds like you have been productive and that is good, and a distraction.
(((((((HUGS))))))
bizi

Thank you Bizi !

Your dinner sounds yummy ! I really enjoy you posting about your meals as your being so smart by having such a variety of foods.

That is something that I need to be very mindful of when I start my weight loss journey , keeping up a variety. I have fallen into the trap of chicken and veggies and burn out on it.

Yes two nights of sleep for me is a wonderful thing. I know eventually my lungs will work correctly and I’ll just have trouble if I get bronchitis, I’m fine with that , the standard steroid shot and oral meds usually fix me right up.

This bizarre reaction to Humira is by far the biggest poor reaction to a medication through out my entire life.

Do you have a busy week coming up ??

Hi @Wild Coyote ! The last thing you wrote is so funny! But they say it's good to be able to laugh at ourselves and not to take ourselves too seriously! You made me smile! I appreciate your thoughts on the matter, especially the part about asking yourself which foods are best for you! I liked that!

I will be happy for you when you can start a new med to help your asthma!!!!

Yes I have 3 busy weeks before we leave to go north to Indiana. We drive there twice a year. 2 days, stop in memphis for the night then get there the next day in the evening. We will be gone 2 weeks total over christmas and new years. I really dislike this trip....it is too stressful. I am terrible about presents so will get gift cards for my family. Have to prepare for cold and snow....hate it!

We have a sick cat. Hattie has cancer, it has been operated on twice and came back. From it, She has a large wound on her back that requires dressing changes. So we will board her while we are away.
I believe we should put her down....Jeff is not willing to do that. sigh

When do you go to florida?
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Ahhh you also have a 2 week trip coming up. I so understand about the stress of it all , we leave the 22nd ! The only thing that unlike you driving North into winter and snow etc , we head south and are right back into shorts and even in December it can be miserably hot and muggy.

We make the trip straight through.. we usually switch driving when ever we stop for gas , but both of us has driven the whole way many times. It’s roughly a 13/14 hour drive.

I really wish steves sons would make a trip up to see us but they are mostly selfish and have busy lives.. but they all travel to other countries, go figure

I’m sorry about Hattie. It’s so hard to make the decision to put a pet down it’s a very difficult thing to do , I try not to think of that day for my dogs. Does Hattie do okay being boarded ? Or does it cause her stress ??

Here’s hoping both our trips are as easy as possible

Hattie hates to go to the vets...she will hate this. I am hoping the vet talks my hubby into putting her down. Her wound smells...yuck!

sigh
bizi

I'm even sicker today than yesterday. I slept a little last night then woke up at 12:15 am with an evil sore throat and couldn't sleep much after. Then the headache started with general malaise. I have used about every cold type remedy I have (Tylenol, Vicks Vapo Rub, nasal spray, arnica rub, warm compress on my head). Hubby bought me chicken soup last night. I drank water throughout the night.

I do feel slightly better now than earlier, probably because it's morning and my system is going into daytime mode.

I also just got my monthly. Nice!

I cancelled my therapy appointment today. Hubby thinks I can get through this without my PCP since I haven't had a fever. I guess I will try today. If I am still bad tomorrow, I will go.