my favorite meal right now is this:

ex - veggie stir fry - i have broccoli, mushrooms, onions, peppers, garlic, and mix in protein, ex: i use 2 hard boiled eggs (or chicken)

k, jumping off for awhile, i'll be back later if you have any questions

lamb - my gosh, I knew you had some "challenges" - but WOW!!! You have my utmost respect for your persistence in figuring this out, and it sure doesn't sound like you had any other choice than this. Thank goodness your DH found this program - I really hope that it heals your system and gets you back into the land of the healthy!

Wondering - are you posting in some of the other threads, like in the Dieting with Challenges forum? I'd imagine that there are many other people like you who could benefit from knowing that there just might be help out there - it must be an awful feeling to go through what you did and to have NOTHING work.

yeah, that's pretty low carb. Also curious if you ever tried South Beach. Being insulin resistant I know you will need something low glycemic/low carb to work for you and most low carb diets have a lot of fat. The fat will be a problem with your gall bladder. South Beach is relatively low in fat and might work. There might be some foods you can't eat due to sensitivities like gluten or dairy and would have to adjust around those. Just throwing out options. I wish I had known you before-might have been able to help you think through some options. There's another diet plan that's not popular here and you may not have heard of called Fat Flush. It is both low carb and low fat. People typically lose very briskly on it but it is extremely structured and involves some odd things but it is based on sound nutritional principles.

I've thought about surgery too cause I've been fighting this battle a really long time. I even went to a little info session here for people considering surgery. I was thinking about lap band. I can lose weight, I just can't seem to keep it off but that's cause I don't consistently do what I know I need to do. My insurance won't pay for me to have it until 2011 because of some particular requirements here and I figured if I have to wait that long I may as well it lose it myself by then-thus I am back on the wagon and determined to do it this time.

Trying to be helpful. I want you to be successful long term. I know how frustrating it is to keep losing the same weight over and over again. Been there, done that.

Thanks ICU

Petra, yes, i did do an Atkins years ago and could get about 20 pounds off, then my body stops. Same with things like WW, Nutrisystem -- my body adjusts to the change, then stops...that's what has been hard.

We think i'm ultra sensitive to some carbs, and i seem to respond when many are let go, and she wonders about celiacs, but i've been tested for it...so that's why she wondered about other allergies, ingredients, etc..

I'll tell you my colonoscopy story one day..ROFL, it's hysterical and I can laugh about it NOW, but i've been through a gammit of testing over the years

yes, fats- gall bladder trigger also..agreed.

Also been tested for dairy, they say i'm not, but i've always reacted to high fat dairys like milks or ice cream...

I went for consultation for bypass, and then went to the GI doc, cardiologist, etc...it took me 5 years to get to that consult finally (emotionally) so i thought when I decided that would be it...ha, didn't realize i wouldn't be able to have it!!! that was a hard reality to face

Yeah...losing weight for me has been a journey -- when i reach a lower goal, i do believe in programs like WW, and healthy lifestyle eating...it has to fit into my lifestyle, and it has to be realistic...at this point, my weight just kept going UP..and that was a huge concern

honestly, i feel like it's a blessing i met this doctor. I have a very trusted, warm feeling with her, and feel like i'll find my answer. She has practiced for years, and she said she got tired of seeing her patients gain weight and have to increase their medcations, and after she lost her husband, she changed her practice to reflect help in aging and weight loss, even though she keeps some patients of her other stuff...she is a family doctor and internist...just love her - can't explain it. She's a warm soul, and I trust she has my best interest...she wants me off meds, and trusting myself to make good healthy choices with good foods, exercise and vitamins

Okay-I trust you have made a good a decision for you and I will support you in any way I can. If you want my opinion, ask.

It's supposed to snow here tonight. I'll believe it if I see it. I go for my massage tomorrow morning and am looking forward to that. I had wanted to go to yoga tonight but didn't get home from work in time to cook and eat dinner and get there and I didn't want to be eating dinner at 9 tonight so I opted to skip the yoga tonight. Post call sometimes I just have to choose to chill out.

I'm thinking about getting a new car-a hybrid in addition to my jeep which is paid for. I have an issue with owning two cars but I really don't want to give up my jeep-it's good for the dogs and for going ATV riding but it is terrible on gas and I drive a lot down here. I've thought about trading it in for an SUV hybrid but I'm not sure the mileage on those is good enough to justify it. I just go around and around in my head about it. Anyway, I'm going to go look at a Ford Fusion tomorrow-doesn't mean I'm going to make a decision but I'll look. Like most women, I hate buying cars.

On Sat. mornings they have a little open air market in our downtown area. I haven't been for awhile but I'm going to try to go tomorrow. My recollection is that there was someone there who sold local goat meat. I'm going to have some very interesting things in my freezer to work with for the next month or two.

Thank you so much...

yeah, wouldn't have been my first choice out of the gate, but i'm grateful something is triggering my metabolism at this point.

---
We keep our Jeep for the same reason -- great dog car, and it's still running fine. When I first met my husband - he had 3 cars! (the bachelor life, eh?), but he eventually took it down to 2 cars, and I have mine as well. He's looked into trading the Jeep, but it's paid for, works well, and the seats lay down completely flat which is ideal for hauling 3 dogs.

Good luck with your car buying -- just remember -- you are the customer, and if you don't like who you are working with, ask for another person. Let it be a great experience, rather than one you don't look forward to.

OK -- that all behind, I've got a fun story for you...I went for a colonoscopy -- when they were doing my GI testing, etc...

I go into the hospital room area (common area) where all the patients are there that day, and nobody warns you everyone is extremely flatulent, and in that section - it's a good thing. They want that extra gas/air out of you...so i'm sitting there, not doped up yet, and I hear all these people passing gas, and I'm like a little kid, trying not to crack up, but i'm like DUDE (inside my head) do you hear this?? LOL

Okay, so they get me into the procedure, and for some reason my doctor performing it (not my current internist) can't see the entire area, there's a problem, a blockage, who knows (because lord knows you've drank that stuff and pooped your brained out the last 12 hours before and there's NOTHING left in you)...either way, she has to break it to me that it wasn't successful, and they're sending me down to X-ray in a little while for extra testing...

...but first I have to wait in the recovery area, and pass gas- etc...well, i'm coherent enough to feel self-conscious, and the nurse says from across the room to me...hon, I don't hear you passing gas...i'm like..ummm, trying? so she tells me to roll onto my left side and sure enough...man...so you think the embarrassment is over? no...that would be too easy...

....so they send me down to xray and to get a barium enema...excuse me? yep...so i have to get this enema, not like my dignity isn't all ready gone, and they do the picture to make sure everything is okay...i get the all clear, all the pics are done..and they put me in this bathroom and go...

...it's going to be loud and violent, but that's okay. it's supposed to be, and don't worry about the noise (i kid you not, they tell you not to worry about the noise!) - there are paper thin walls, and i'm dying a little bit inside -- trying to squeeze my cheeks together the best I am, so I can be quiet, because they are standing RIGHT THERE at the door waiting for me...

...so I let out just a tiny bit, sigh a deep breath thinking, it will be okay - i'll have some control...when the biggest, loudest experience took place about a second later..

..i wanted to lock myself in the bathroom and not come out. I was mortified. I don't care if they hear this stuff everyday, I don't experience it every day...and then the noise kept coming and coming...

...I think i slithered out of the hospital that day.

and i've passed gas on a chiropractor's table too...there is no end to my embarrassment...i guess it's a way of life..LOL

LC - I was hoping for snow up at Big Bear, a little snow hike would have been nice. It's early in the year so I'm sure we'll get one in, maybe even two.

Petra - I can relate about having a vehicle for the dogs. I drive a Suburban because I usually have a minimum of two dogs with me, one of which weighs 145+. With all four it's the only option. We also have a Jeep but it's a Wrangler and used only to go out and play in the desert (no top or doors). Mack has a Co. truck so we are thinking no new vehicles (or payments) for us..... ever. The two we have will go to Mexico with us in seven years. Both have under 25K miles; the Suburban gets about 6K a year put on it and the Jeep less that 2K and it just had the motor rebuilt 2 years ago.

No hiking for us this weekend. Mack has an injury to his foot from running so we have decided to take it easy this weekend. As much as I hate the treadmill guess that will be my only exercise.

LC - Cute story.... my embarrassment happens with my massage therapist. My DIL has her certification and I won't let her work on me below the shoulder blades. I don't care how normal it is, some things should not to be shared with family.

Hi, everyone. Busy day here -- on the run from 10:15am - 10:15pm, just here and there: taking DS10 to cello, DS8 to his basketball game, DS8 to a birthday party, DS10 to a basketball practice, and then whole family to the symphony tonight. I'm looking forward to the day being over, and it hasn't even started. But, the symphony should be nice...

LC: I'm insulin resistant and prediabetic as well. Can relate to all the working out etc with no results - except for a herniated disc : ( I'm taking metformin and trying to follow the recommendations of the nutritional counselor I went to. The hardest part is eating enough calories - trying for 1600 and have trouble getting in 1200 unless I'm eating something bad like chinese food. It sounds like you really did your research and found the best plan for you. Wish I could find a dr like yours, I haven't found someone I like that much. Definitely nobody that I feel I can really trust.

Bonus to having my ds18 around, when he's bored he CLEANS!! As for the smoking habit my neighbor convinced me that for my own sanity I shoudn't try to force him to quit cold turkey. He had a similar experience with his own son moving back home and it didn't go well. I am making him ration them and he's cutting back. I also had to buy him some of his own food - he was eating all my expensive healthy stuff like it was going out of style! Gotta make sure I have the right food in the house for me : )

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Kathi

LC - caveat, here - I've had a couple of beers and easily amused! I read your colonoscopy story and I'm sitting here just cracking up! I had to drive DH to his just a couple weeks ago - day before Tgiving in fact ... nurse calls me to come in from the waiting room ... he's lying there on his side on the gurney, in total bliss from the drugs - smilin' like I don't know what ... and the nurse tells him he's gotta pass the gas. He obliges in true manly fashion - classic six note, three octave ... and I'm like, why couldn't you have called me about five minutes later???? OMG. (I'm tearing up from laughing as I type this) Yes, it's undignified, yes, it'd be great if there were better ways, but there isn't ... and it's data you have to have. My advice for anybody getting a colonoscopy - just surrender and get over it.

That being said - the last 6 hours have been decidedly off plan and I will do better tomorrow. Cajun mac and cheese, beer, and M&M's are not a lifestyle I want to live. It's a slip and me and the wagon will be reacquainted tomorrow.

ICU and LC, I must have been well drugged, I don't remember any of that from my colonoscopy!

mmmhmmm, how convenient for you

TEASING!

ICU - glad I could share a laugh, and yeah, hello...some warning would be nice!
Okay, so you laxed on your choices yesterday - it was one day..no biggie, today is a fresh day.

NewLeaf - oy! I'm tired just reading it...hope it goes quickly and smoothly

WLW - I feel for you, I understand the frustrating process... Funny thing, I had to be taken off Metformin..part of my malabsorption issues...i wasn't digesting the pills...they passed through me completely..so we switched me to another combination form, so now they absorb....only, I didn't "catch" it for 6 months while I was ON IT! One day, i was like...ummm, what's going on...finding out and making the switch helped my A1C numbers, hahaha
--oh yeah, and in the meantime, they doubled my dose, because they "weren't working"...now we knew why! LOL
--
I measured today and lost an inch off my hips and waist. Nice feeling. We went out to eat yesterday (2-3x a week usually) and it's become a non-issue...which is really nice. I made a good choice, and I even make requests like...no cheese on my salad please...etc. Just order it how I can eat and and how i like, and it was yummy...and healthy...and I enjoyed eating out, and stayed on plan.