Please join us here at the Age 50+ forum where we discuss our weight loss efforts, as well as our daily lives. We share support, friendship, and accountability. All newbies welcome!
So, pull up a chair, make yourself comfortable, and jump right in!
Trish - it's good for you to know that since you lost weight before, you can do it again! Might take a little longer, with your blood sugar issues, but your goal is doable, and we will be here for you on your journey.
Em - wow, I'm sorry to read about the scar from your SB. You are so right when you say the surgeons do a lot better now. Some scars are hardly noticeable. Plus, I'm amazed at how quickly patients are released from the hospital after major surgery!
Hello to Gonnadoitthistime, Silver, Coralee, Tammy, Daisy, Mary, KarenBee, Lorri, HelenMay, Doris, grabec, sandar, healthygoals, and anyone else reading this.
I tried a new recipe for quinoa today, and although it was okay, it was kind of bland. Another one I have for it adds black beans, a little corn, cumin, garlic and onion in a vegetable broth base. Sounds pretty good! If I like it, I'll let you know. I was looking for something different for lunch. Seems like I'm close to falling in a rut, and I don't want that to happen!
Gonna go play some Yahtzee with Neal. Have a good evening!
Emaline No I had not read the bios so didn't realize our birthdays were the same day. I was born on my Grandmother's birthdday and we had this unspoken race to see who could call who first to wish the other one happy birthday. I sure miss her. Sorry about you have SB. I didn't know what that was so googled it. It is true that surgeons do better at closing people up with little or no scare visible. Our GD had surgery years ago. The doctor had to remove a lymph gland from her neck and he did it in such a way that as she grows the scar will never show. Amazing what they can do these days.
Jane The theory that Dr. Bernstein has from what I read online, is that a diabetic learns how many carbs they can eat and lose a lb a week. However, he does say that if you lose faster not to worry just be thankful that you are lucky and go with it. Therefore the amount you eat whle losing weight is the amount you will always eat even when you get then. Therefore maintenance will be easier. I'm finding so far that I can handle between 20 and 40 carbs very well. I too am going to have to work on not getting bored with the food I eat. I am into making lowcarb soups right now and find it is very satisfying.
Trish, it sounds as though you've found yourself some very good books. I checked out Dr. Bernstein's book from the library, liked it, and passed it along to someone. I think his idea about small changes and small effects works very well. And I like his food lists. Reading both his books further prompted me to lower my carb intake, which is going very well. I find eating this way very satisfying, as you are.
SilverLife Glad you liked the book. I got mine yesterday and am enjoying reading it. I am doing the 6-12-12 although I never get the breakfast to 6 or the meals and snacks to 12. I found that a few of the Atkin's bars do not raise my BS and they fit in the 12g rule. I do use stirfy in my last meal of the day with protein and it does have pieces of carrots in it, but I have learned that it gives me a bedtime BS reading of less than 100 mg/dl and a FBS of less than 110 mg/dl in the morning. So I'm not going to worry about that because I've found that if I eat anything other than this combo that I don't get those good readings. I can change it up and use it making it as a soup instead of a stirfry and it works the same for me. Still got more to read in Dr. Bernsteins' book before I can get to the other book. I am learning so much from his book right now.
I did learn from a diabetic lady on another site, that my tiredness is because my body is adjusting to the lower/normal blood sugar. So I've just got to be patient. I'll have to rest up for the things I have to do out of the home and know that I'm getting healthy and my body will start feeling better in time.
Hi eveyone! I stayed home and caught up a little with my housework while dh went to PT. Still behind as haven't gotten much done due to being busy with trying to figure out how to transfer VHS tapes using the converter box. I have now given up on that and am hoping it will be easier to put them on DVD now using our new player. The company would only replace the converter after I sent it back and they checked it. It would cost to send back and they might not find anything wrong with it and then I'd probably have to pay for return shipping too! Figured it's not worth it as we needed a new DVD player anyway. Anyway I have been too busy today so have put that project off to tomorrow (probably).
This afternoon I went to my eye doctor and my eye pressure is higher. It is usually around 17 but now it is 25/26! So will be going back in about 3 weeks for a recheck plus a bunch of other tests and my yearly comprehensive exam. I've been having trouble reading the websites ...having to make the font bigger even after having it already at the largest font...but I only notice it when on the computer so he thinks that is dry eyes. So guess I'll start back to using the lubricating drops again. My gs son said why don't you just bring the monitor closer...LOL I hadn't even thought of that! He's SO smart! It would mean I'd have to clear my desk but guess I can do that.
Ran a couple errands while I was out...don't have a chance to do much on my own so enjoyed it...and stocked up on some canned soup that was on sale. Canned soup is so high in sodium that I don't like to eat it but in an emergency it is nice to have some on hand so I usually keep several cans in the pantry. Even if one had to eat it cold it wouldn't be that bad. I don't keep "emergency food" on hand, I just try to keep a well-stocked pantry and figure I could grab some things even if had to evacuate for some reason. We don't have much problem here like in storm areas but I still like to feel somewhat prepared.
Then came home and mowed the yards. It was beginning to sprinkle but I managed to get it all done before it really started raining. I think it's supposed to rain next few days.
My youngest gd (almost 16 mo) cut her eyebrow area and had to have 4 stitches last night. Second time in a week, mama's had to take her to ER...first time for a virus and now this. Our dd is so tired, and I remember those days and feel for her. Wish we lived near her so I could help her more.
Glad you are all working hard on your health/weight issues. I'm doing so-so, some days good, some days not so good.
I'm bringing the font size up to 3, since Mary has eye issues. I think I'd appreciate the larger size, too!
Trish - yay for soups! I like them, and feel more satisfied when I eat them. Maybe because it takes a while to finish a bowlful. I try to keep a stash of vegetable soup in the freezer, but right now I'm out. When the weather cools a bit more, I'll stock up again. As for canned soups, I like Garden Vegetable from Healthy Choice. I add a can of diced tomatoes to it, and get 2 low calories meals from one can.
Silver -
Mary - sorry about your dgd, and about your dd being so tired. We've got the same situation with our dd Mary. She and her dh have 5 kids in a blended family, and they've been dealing with the flu at her house. Mary is exhausted, and we've helped as much as we can. She lives about 50 minutes away, but works about 15 min. away. Sometimes she brings a kiddo with her, and I pick up and care for the child.
I had a great day yesterday. My closest friend, Dixie, and I went out of town shopping, and celebrating my birthday. I stayed OP with no problem, as she is trying to lose weight, too.
Hi Ladies,
Sorry I haven`t been around much. Life here is its usual hectic pace. I went to the MD today and he thinks I have a torn cartilage (there goes my exercise for the points challenge - ok I was failing in that regards anyway), but I am really concerned about skiing which could start as early as next month.
I x-ski and it really burns up the calories - unlike normal downhill skiing where gravity does a lot of the work.
He took an x-ray and said my knee looked good and so did the femur and tibia but he suspects from what I described happened yesterday that I may have torn a piece of the cartilage/miniscus. He said I should just try to hobble around the next few days and if it isn`t better by Monday to go to the specialist whose name he gave me.
I`m freaking out about it a bit because of the skiing. It is the one thing of exercise that I really do love and can do (I am completely unathletic) but you need good knees for it and I already had to wear a support for it last year.
It`s something I really look forward to and is the one thing that can get me out of the house early to start my day. Usually, I run around in the AM trying to get the wash and the place in order before I go out but as we all know housework is a thankless and never-ending job!
We are in the soup mode here already too - so far this I`ve made some chicken soup, veggie soup, carrot soup and I`m about to make a potato soup tonight.
DH and DS are going to Oktoberfest tomorrow for the weekend, so I think I am going to go vegan from tomorrow through Sunday.
Helen So sorry to hear about your torn cartilage. Hope you recover quickly.
Jane I look forward to the cold weather when I can eat more soups. Tony likes to eat lots of soups. I need mine more low carb type, but when making them on my own that is easy to have. I also like to make them up and freeze them for further use.
Mary There are some canned soups I like, but don't eat often because they have so much salt that I'm usually swelled after eating it.
I'm doing fine and learning a lot from Dr. Bernsteins' book. I am doing more of a modified form of his plan but staying within his 6-12-12 formula. I may be wrong, but don't think some foods will hurt me as long as I stay within it. Of course, my bloodwork and my BS meter will tell me if I'm write or not. I usually make my last meal of the day the protein/stirfry mixture. That makes my FBS lower. I'm learning that I cannot eat anything else in place of it or after it as the FBS will be a little higher. I can eat peanuts and eat one serving if I eat them earlier in the day. Last night I got hungry for peanuts and didn't measure them. Stupid move on my part. Blood sugar has been under 110 in the mornings and today it was over 110. Won't do that again.
After reading the manual and working a while with the DVD player I finally gave up and called tech support. Found out I was not suppose to be using the recording instructions...was suppose to be using the dubbing instructions! I probably would never have realized that! He said a lot of people overlook them because it's called dubbing instead of recording...well duh! Anyway he was very nice and helped me a lot and I now have two tapes transferred to DVD. So far I haven't felt I needed to edit. Sometimes the camera user wasn't skillful but you know that's how home movies are and to me a little of that is just part of the memories. I have a lot more to transfer but for now I'm tired and dh wants to watch TV. There's always tomorrow.
Because of working on that I haven't done much else. I did check the garden and brought in a cucumber that a slug's been feasting on, so had to cut it up a bit to make it edible. I hate it when they get my vegetables!! My dh sprinkled slug killer around so hopefully they won't get any more. So glad I got the lawns mowed yesterday as it is pretty wet today although not constantly raining yet.
Helenmay - sorry to hear about your injury. Hope it heals fast so you can ski. I would like to ski except I don't like the cold weather, snow etc. so guess it's not for me. Your soups sound SO good...I esp love potato soup!! Unfortunately I also like to pile on the crackers and now that I'm diabetic I've had to cut way back on that.
Jane - glad you had a nice time eating out with your friend on your birthday. It does help to have someone who is also thinking about calories etc. My dds are both very health conscious but of course I am not with them often, but when I am they kind of keep me on track.
Hi, Ladies. I'll make the print a little larger, too. Good idea, Jane. Thanks.
Maryea, I save what veggies I can, too, and cut around the parts the bugs have gotten in. I decided to pay someone to do the yard now that the sweet gum balls and leaves are falling on growing grass.
HelenMay, Oktoberfest! I used to avoid that part of town during Oktoberfest when I lived in Munich.
Trish, I started out with 6-12-12, too, and after I got used to it, found I liked something more along the lines of 5-12-and less than 12, a bit better. Keeps the desire to eat nicely far away. I'm going to check out the book again soon. There's always a waiting list for it. It's nice that much of it is online. I'm glad you are doing well with it.
I have to admit, I'm loving the larger print, too. I have floaties and this helps.
Helen - so sorry about your torn cartilage! Hope you'll be all better by ski weather. Wow, way to go on getting the soups made. I'm going to pick a day soon and make several batches at once to freeze. Have fun at the Oktoberfest. Should that be a Septemberfest, haha.
Trish - sounds like you're doing very well now, and I know you must be feeling so good! Can you measure out your peanuts in small amounts in those snack-size baggies? That's what I do with certain crackers, etc. for portion control.
Mary - well, for goodness sakes, I would have never thought to look under "dubbing" either! Glad you called and got that straightened out. Yes, eating out with those who are being careful makes it so much easier to stay OP. One of my sisters eats like a lumberjack, and sometimes her food looks and smells so good! We have hail damage on lots of our veggies, but like you, I just cut around the bad spots. I'm going to be so sad to see the fresh produce die out. I have no Whole Foods, or good market like that near where I live.
Silver - those sweet gum balls can be a real pain to deal with. We don't have them now, but years ago, I rented a house that had them. Yay for you getting someone else to mess with them.
DD Katie had her first OB appt yesterday. The baby is due April 22nd. She and her DH Clint are going back in 2 weeks to hear the baby's heartbeat. We are so all very excited for them!
Today I'll be shopping with friends, and just generally having fun. I hope you have a fun day, too.
Mary Glad you were able to get help with the recording. They sure made it difficult didn't they? Who in the world would have ever thought of going by dubbing instead of record? Well, that is the way things go, isn't it?
Jane Yes, I could count out the peanuts in small bags. I have cute little bowls that I usually use and count them into, but I guess I just regressed... a rebellion thing I guess. Must not do that any more. CONGRATULATIONS on the new baby. I know all of you are excited. And your such a great Grandma.
Silver I'm glad to hear how you changed the 6-12-12 as I just can't always get the grams in and I'm not going to push it. I just try to stay within the recommendation. I started reading the other book today and Gretchen Becker a T2 diabetic recommends reading and learning all you can plus she says that afte the first year you can relax into your program, but to always keep up with new info. She suggested looking up David Mendosa's site and reading there as he is always putting new info on there. So I googled it and found an article about the Dawn Phenomenon. Don't remember if he wrote it or shared what was written, but the writer said he takes apple cider vinegar before he goes to bed and it lowers the morning FBS. There are people that lower it by drinking red wine at the evening meal, but I don't like wine. I used to drink ACV with honey and a little bit of wate in the morning. Learned that from Paul C Bragg when he was living, so I figure I can fix it before I go to bed and replace the honey with stevia. Gretchen also says that just because a woe works for one person doesn't mean it works that way for someone else as each diabetics body is different from another. That is why we have to read and learn... experiment and monitor BS to see how a food works for ourself. Diabetes definitely is an on hand managment for the individual diabetic. Had bloodwork done today and hope to get a good report of improvement when we see the doctor next Friday.
HelenMay I think they have an Oktoberfest in the county seat not far from here, but we've never been. I think it would be fun to go to one. Hopefully we can do that if Tony feels like this year.
Well, I guess I had better close. This quick note has turned out to be longer than I had planned. God to fix my vinegar and drink it and then head for bed. Didn't sleep good last night so I hope I will sleep tonight.
Y'all have a great weekend.
Last edited by pattygirl63; 09-17-2010 at 11:52 PM.
Jane, I'm really enjoying the larger size print, too. Makes it much easier to read, even with my spectacles on. Sounds as though yesterday was a special day out. Glad you had a nice time.
Trish, I'm glad you're finding better ways to take care of watching out for your blood sugar. I liked Barry Grove's site, too:
Daily Chat #8
He's SO smart! 
It would mean I'd have to clear my desk but guess I can do that. 
Your soups sound SO good...I esp love potato soup!! Unfortunately I also like to pile on the crackers and now that I'm diabetic I've had to cut way back on that. 
Must not do that any more. CONGRATULATIONS on the new baby. I know all of you are excited. And your such a great Grandma.
