Oct 2016 Ups and Downs Thread
 

Hello!
 

Lisa: Thank you for starting the new October thread! I totally forgot. :dizzy:
Even though you say that you hit rock bottom and HAD to do something about your weight, I still applaud and admire you for signing up for the two programs that you did. It takes courage to face your challenges and you are doing that. Hooray for you! :cp: :bravo:

PurpleCow: Welcome back!!! :hug: It is so wonderful to hear from you again! :D I am sorry that you have had a rough time. I, too, attempted to go off Abilify last year and it was a disaster. I ended up in the psych ward last summer. :( The good news is that I am doing so much better one year later. Currently, I am on Lamictal and Latuda. I am just so pleasantly surprised to see that you are back! I hope you will stick around and keep posting. We are here to support you in any way that we can! :)

Holly: It's great to hear from you, busy lady! :) Enjoy the last few weeks of your summer job! :D

Waving hello to everyone else! :wave: That's all I have time for today! Wishing everyone well! :hug:

Thanks for the new thread :)

I am a bit down.

I want to lose weight but seem to be losing to comfort eating and depression keeping me from exercising.

BTW I have a lot of trouble with the sire as well, I thought it was just a glitchy site!

Thanks for the thread lisa!

Not been having too many problems with the site, but I post from my tablet so typing etc will be slower for me.

Weaning off my painkillers this week, so I haven't been posting. Have a feeling of vertigo - the only thing making me feel better is to be eating constantly, and I've put on a few lbs in the last week because of it (too dizzy to cook, so food means pringles and chocolate).

I watched a really good documentary last week - 'that sugar film', it might interest you if you're trying to cut back on sugar - it was on Amazon Prime.

Holly - hope you have a good fortnight at work!

That sounds like a good film Coop I am going to look for it.

Took all I had to get into the shower today... powering up to head outside for a bit.

hope everyone is well.

Hi Coop,

It's great to see you posting.

I suffer from vertigo every once in a while. Thankfully, it gradually fades until it hits me again down the road. I am so sorry you are suffering right now.


I wish I could help you, it makes me feel frustrated when people on here are suffering and I can't help them. Take care of yourself.

Much love to you.

hi Lisa I hope you will have a good night.

I am going to read a ghost tale or 2 before bed.

I was pretty down today but one thing that was nice was when I made myself go for a short walk for exercise- the smell of fallen leaves! It's here!

Snapple, sorry to hear how you struggled today. You did really well to push on through! I really do love this time of year - it starts getting a little cooler and crisper, perfect walking weather!

Lisa, thanks for the well wishes - I am getting a little better each day. It's like a 5% a day improvement. I do wish it was faster!

My next round of meds are supposed to be even worse to come off of, I'm dreading having to go on them!

Hey guys hope you are well.

Thanks Kathleen! I've missed you all!

Wish I could sleep. I've signed up to do the "walk for the cure" in a couple of weeks and have to make sure i can walk 5k without too much pain. I also have to consider parking will be bad. Park 5k from the 5k?

Meds still have me screwed up, and psychiatrist is worried I'll have a break. She made me take a few days off of work last week and i see her again Tuesday. I hope i can keep it together.

Best to all!! :moo:

Hi ladies!

Snapple, are you feeling any easier today?

I'm feeling a touch better myself, but still not 100%. Hopefully I can make it to the gym this week! And I must eat a bit better. Now I can manage to stand for longer spells I can cook my meals instead of eating rubbish. I've gained so much weight recently, my jeans cut in when I'm sitting, so I really have to stop while they still fit!

We have booked a holiday for next month, I'm quite excited - we got a really good deal to go to Rome. I've always wanted to go! So I'm going to set a little weight loss goal for that, hopefully lose 10lbs. Just 4 weeks to go!

Lisa: How have your meetings for weight loss classes been going? I hope you are finding them to be beneficial and motivating. So sorry that you are having trouble with your knees. I am glad that you have an appointment with a specialist on Wednesday. Please let us know how it goes! Things are pretty good with me for the moment. Thanks for asking. I have been doing much better with exercise lately, but I have much room for improvement with eating only until satisfied instead of until too full or stuffed. It is a constant battle for me. It takes a lot of self-discipline. Although my son is still struggling quite a bit, he is showing some small signs of improvement, for which I am thankful. I hope and pray that things continue to go in the right direction. Last but not least, I was so pleasantly surprised and excited to hear that you are considering moving to Indian Lake! We have a place up there!!! :D I think I've talked about our lake house in this group. That is where it is! What a small world! :) We absolutely LOVE it there! We added on to our house up there and it is now WAY nicer than our regular home. I would also like to live up there one day. :) I say GO FOR IT!!! :D

Coop: I'm happy to hear that you've gone to some hypnotherapy sessions for pain and that you've experienced some change (even if small) already! I am SO hoping it will help you. Please keep me up to date on your progress. I'm sorry if I missed something and I know you were experiencing pain, but I didn't know you were on painkillers. So sorry they are making you miserable when you come off of them. Just keep that trip to Rome on your mind and think of how much fun it will be and hopefully that will help everything feel a bit better! Sounds like a wonderful holiday for you! :)

snapple: Comfort eating and depression are so difficult to conquer, but you CAN do it!!! And we will be right here cheering you on every step of the way! :cheer2: :cheer3: Take things one moment and one small change at a time, like when you forced yourself to take a short walk. That's progress and you should feel proud of yourself for every baby step you take to improve your health! :) YIKES on the ghost tales before bed!!! :fr:

purplecow: Good for you for signing up for the "Walk for the Cure." Which "cure" are you walking for? Sorry your meds still have you feeling screwed up. That is an awful feeling! :( Do your best to stay strong! I will keep you in my prayers. :hug: Please let me know how your appointment with your psychiatrist goes on Tuesday. I hope she can help get you feeling better! Sending you a big hug! :hug:

Waving hello to Holly, Monica, & JesikaBeth (and anyone else who might be lurking)! :wave: Please let us know how you are doing if you get a chance. Hope all is well! :)

Kathleen - good to see you! I'm so glad to see your son is improving a little. It must be such a relief to see he is going in a positive direction! Can't believe you and Lisa are maybe at the same lake, that is a small world! A lake house sounds so lovely, I wish we could have a little bolt hole like that.

I don't tend to mention my meds a lot, I don't notice them unless I'm starting something new or stopping something old! But nothing has worked so far. I'm almost over withdrawal from the last lot. I am less dazed, but in the last fortnight I've run 2 red lights by mistake, just because my brain is off.


Lisa - wow to your move idea! It sounds like you just really need some change in your life, which is totally understandable. What a year you've had! It would be so much nicer for you to be nearer to Jennifer. Hope your weight loss classes are going OK!


Purplecow when is your walk? It is really good to have a fixed challenge to work towards. Hope all goes well!

Hope everyone else is well :)

Lisa, hope you got that good nights sleep! I meant to ask how things are going getting your house back in order as well? Are you still staying with Jennifer?



I was listening to thr radio today, the were talking about people spilling over in their plane/train seats. I suddenly realised I have to fit in a budget airline plane seat in a few weeks! I'm getting really anxious now. I really do have to try to shed a few lbs by then...

Lisa
 

Lisa: Hope all goes well with the MRI tomorrow and that it will give you some more information on how to proceed to get you some relief from the pain you have been experiencing. Sounds awful! :( Is there anyone or any place that can help give you guidance on how to rebuild your house after a fire? That sounds overwhelming to me. I hope you can get some help to relieve some of the stress of it all. Keep on hanging in there, Lisa! You are doing great under all of your stressful circumstances! :hug:

Coop
 

Coop: Yikes on running 2 red lights!!! :eek: Please be careful as you come off of your medication! Maybe you are totally weaned off by now? Try not to be too anxious about fitting into your airplane seat. I'm sure you will be fine. I must admit, though, that I get a bit nervous every time I have to buckle that seatbelt on an airplane these days. I look forward to the days when that isn't even a concern anymore! I just want you to ENJOY every minute of your holiday!!! :)

Hey friends :) so very sorry and apologetic for abandoning you for so long. Nothing bad, just the 'usual' working 6 days/week beginning back from May and then in September and October, added 2 to 3 evenings a week in the dining room. The money was good so I went for it.

My good job ended Sunday :( but I KNOW I consistently did excellent work, was a good co-worker, and loved every (well almost) minute. Got a couple great cash tips from appreciative members, that is so nice of them.

Got the miles in on my motorcycle, the summer was so great weather wise, I took the cycle to work mostly all the time, I was averaging 1000 miles a month just by commuting on the bike.

My flowers and veggies were spectacular this year :) gave me SO much pleasure when I came home, to spend a couple hours outside just working on the lawn, tending the flowers, admiring the 11 huge squash and 10 pumpkins we grew! Took most of the squash to work to process (they averaged 20 pounds each) and made squash pies for the dining room many times.

I have NOT been exercising at all, well just the weekly lawn mowing and weed whacking, and eating just about whatever I want, not good. Trying not to get too crazy on myself about it.

Stressing about the construction next door, the buildings are approaching monolith size and appearance and it SUCKS. We had such peace and tranquility for 30 YEARS and now it's been constant construction since mid April and our view and privacy from the side are ruined. I did go Full Bore Biker B*tch last week and knocked on the owner's door at 6:45 am and TOLD them to tell their crew not to start work before 7 am, they have been arriving with their trucks all summer at 6:30 am and I was sick of it. Now I hope they think I am in a biker gang, lol. Keep them scared, that's good.

Well,.onto my friends! Lisa thank you for keeping this thread going. So you are considering staying closer to home? the lake location sounds so nice, and how kewl you would be close to Kathleen :D How is your little brave rescued kitty? I would google Kitchen contractors in your area, and hopefully find sites that have reviews for their work too. So sorry to hear about the pain in your knees!! hope you get relief from that! knee pain is bad because you can't really escape it can you. Hugs to you!

Kathleen Hi girl! well I am so glad to hear that you son is somewhat improving? i also hope and pray that continues!! and how is your daughter? I am cheering you on with reading that you are accomplishing exercise, way to go!! give me some of your will :D Did you use your pool much this summer? we had hardly any rain this summer and our state is in a drought.

Coop Hi! I am equally excited hearing about your trip to Rome next month, and anxious about you going through red lights! ack! no good! I hope that vagueness gets settled! we don't wnt anything to happen to you!!

purplecow, HI and I need to get re-acquainted with you :)

flower123 I do remember your name previously, welcome back and best wishes to you on your endeavors! wow you have lost 100 lbs previously??? that is incredible!!

Hi Monica !! I do try to keep you in mind as my exercise inspiration.

Hi snapple!

I do have to work a couple days this week for the Rat B@stard, then hopefully next week I can have a full week off.

Hello everyone! I'm new to this weight loss journey and I'm trying to find my footing. I don't even know where to start. Its seems like every time I get one part in order another falls apart. I was able to get the food under control (for the most part) but I just am not motivated to move. Its always been like that. Friends ask me to do things and I would rather stay home. I take my daughter to the park and try to walk around with her but shes only 20 months so that doesn't last long. My biggest heartache is my family. My father wants to move in with us so he can 'save' money for a house in my town. If I thought he would actually save money I would be cool with it but they (my parents and 4 siblings) moved in with grandma 10 years ago for the same reason. We ( my husband and daughter) have finally got all settled in to a routine and it would suck to disrupt it. My mother in laws house was destroyed by the hurricane so we are trying to help her to move back. My biological mother just lost her partner so she is moving to town too. She also wants to move in with us. My brother (who is autistic) was transferred to a public school this year and has had nothing but problems with other kids on the bus. He was so upset that he told his teacher he wanted to kill himself and he was committed for a week. I feel like I'm being pulled in all directions and I can barely keep a hand on everything.

Ok. I'm done ranting. I swear. I can't wait to get to know everyone.

Welcome!
 

Hey Ruby Lebrechaun, Hi :welcome: and wow you sure do have a lot to deal with, I hope you can handle it one thing at a time.

I am in a really bad place right now. I tried to cover over it but I see nothing to look forward to. My summer job is over, the cold weather is going to take my beautiful flowers, I'll have to put the motorcycle away and there is nothing else in my life. My kids are adults and self sufficient, my husband is now working nights, the dog is the only one around. The construction next door with the 34 foot house looming over our property, the banging, pounding, heavy equipment, the loss of our privacy and peace, this started in April, I got on the phone to the owner in NJ and tried to be reasonable but just got hysterical and cried on the phone.

no one needs to advise me, I think I just needed to vent. I won't be so dramatic to say I have nothing to live for, but I am surely feeling that I look forward to nothing.

Hi Rubyleprechaun! Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you're going through one of those 'never rains but pours' periods. I don't know what to suggest, but it sounds like with both parents wanting to move in, you just have to say no to both, don't have space for everyone, something like that. Things will pick up.

Holly, I'm sorry you don't have a lot to look forward to just now. Could you book yourself a quiet weekend away somewhere to get away from the noise and be something to look forward to? That sort of noise can be so distressing - it's constant, and loud and disruptive (I work in construction so I know!) And I have sympathy for your views changing after so long. You do get used to the change, but it takes a year or so.

kathleen the red light thing was just in the week after going cold turkey off my meds - I'm better now, so hopefully won't let it happen again! How are things going with you otherwise? Are you getting out to you lake house much? I imagine a lake at this time of year would be beautiful!

lisa how did your MRI go?

Hi ladies, neither of my devices are charging, I'm screwed. I won't beable to post for a while. I will be back, once I get my chargers fixed.

My mri was fine. Just bad arthritis. I got cortizone shots in both knees. I can actually walk now.


I'll be back posting asap. Hold down the fort. Much love to all.

Holly
 

Holly: I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling so down right now. :( You are usually the perkiest one of us all, but I am so glad that you felt comfortable posting your honest feelings. Sometimes you just need to vent and I'm glad you did. The construction next door and the obstruction of your view must really suck! :( Do you know how long this construction will last? At least you know that it will eventually come to an end, but the obstructed view you will just have to eventually get used to, as Coop said. Sad but true. You tend to always get sad this time of year though, remember? So with the added stress of the construction, it just makes things that much worse. I wish there was something I could say to make things better. Just please know that we are here to listen and that we care about you! And I do think Coop had a good idea to plan a getaway or even a few nights out on the town (to a concert or just a nice dinner or something) to give you something to look forward to. That is so important, especially when you feel as though you don't have anything to look forward to! Hang in there, Holly! We love you! :hug:

Thank you everyone for the welcome!

Holly: I know its not the best thing but I've always found books or tv a great way to get lost in another world. Just don't be like me and binge watch an entire season. :)

Lisa: I'm glad your MRI was okay.

It's gotten a lot better around here. My husband put his foot down and basically told everyone no. I was a bit more wishy washy but that's usually the case. I just always thought that I would be willing to help family if ever needed but it was just too much at one time. Other than that its really calmed down around here. I tried to get my toddler (20 month old) sit for Halloween pictures...did not happen. We are re-trying today. Hopefully it works better.

Good morning,

I haven't posted in some time - occasionally I meant to, then realized I did not have time for a long one. I am awake early this morning because my dog had to go outside - apparently to check on a noise.

Kathleen, I am hoping and praying for your son - I know how difficult the situation can be when you are dealing with that in your family. In my case, (both cases) did get better with time.

Lisa, how is your house coming along? Did you find a contractor to oversee the job? What is new with the sale of your mother's house?

Holly, I get the same type feelings this time of year. I love living on the Cape, there is not usually as much snow as elsewhere in New England, but once September comes, it is very isolated. Many people live here only in the summer; some of my favorite stores and restaurants close on Columbus Day and reopen in Spring. And, of course, it seems like there is a very short amount of sunlight each day. I built this house when I still lived and worked in Boston; then, when I took early retirement, I sold my Boston condo (possibly a mistake) and moved here year-round. Right now the weather is absolutely beautiful, but I am not fully enjoying it because I know what is coming next.

I also dread the holidays; I live alone and have many friends, but the holidays are tough - I go to a sister's house in the Boston area and feel I spend the time trying to fit in and watching the time for when I can escape. This sister and her husband are planning to retire in the Spring and move to the house they have in South Carolina -for the past few years I have worried about where I will go for holidays. Although I really do not enjoy them, at least I had a place to go and catch up with my nieces and nephews. My siblings are not close; I am closest to a cousin who spends her winters in Florida. So, although it is only two days of the year, I dread Thanksgiving and Christmas throughout the year.

Two winters ago, with all the snow, was one of my worst. I was depressed most of the time. Last year I kept waiting for the bad weather to descend, but I realized I could not stand another season of doom and gloom. So, I made a long list of things I needed or wanted to do. I exercised every day, which helped the weight, which made me want to watch my diet. (nothing gets to me more than the eat/gain weight/ fail at a diet/ eat cycle.) My list included things like Go through the recipes I had torn from magazines or gotten from friends and try them; join a book club; clean and organize every kitchen cabinet and drawer, one each day; go through my clothes; read books I loved as a teenager; watch every movie that is nominated for an Emmy; paint a room; go to yardsales and buy an old dresser and paint it crazy colors for the garage or basement or mudroom. I also bought knitting needles and got back to knitting; I started volunteering at the public library, and I took some day trips from the local YMCA. Those things and similar ones got me through last winter in good emotional shape and without gaining weight.

Hello to everyone else.

Easy Spirit (Monica)

aw, thank you so much Kathleen :hug: you did make me feel better. Yes you are right I always do feel down this time of year, and the situation next door just made it sooooo much worse.

oh gosh I respect this to be true, but it's so hard isn't it!

thank you for your suggestion :D and I am glad your husband said something and put his foot down. You had SO much to deal with!!

thank you Monica! You tackled your depression head on and beat it that winter. I admire that so much!! I totally respect the exercise every day suggestion and hope to do that!!

and Lisa - hope your devices behave and you can post soon!! and hope your knee pain goes AWAY.

I am much better...I have to try to remember that even when I feel so hopeless and sad and dismal, that it WILL get better. Just hard to see it at the time.

On Sunday I went back to bed during the day which you know is one of my very bad winter habits..then I MADE myself get up, get into workout clothes and did a workout!! I told myself that there are so many things in my life that I can not control, but working out is one thing I CAN control. And I have no excuse physically, I'm not missing any limbs or have any disease. I felt better right away just by doing that.

Was too sore to try a workout yesterday, but did one today!! AND went outside in the SLEET and raked the yard. It was looking so unkempt, and all summer I had kept it so manicured, so raking leaves made it look better and made me feel better, and after I do something physical like yard work or housework, I feel validated.

My husband and I decided that we have to tell the people next door, that THEY need to pay for landscaping. Today we checked out silver pines, and decided on at least 6 7' pines and two lilacs. Cost of the trees will be around $1500, and hiring someone to plant them will probably be another $500. I think $2000 if extremely fair for them to cover. Now I just have to have the courage to call and tell them.

Hey all :) the day after I posted the above message, I got up my courage and called the owner/building lady in NJ, spoke of the trees, suggested even fewer trees because I could tell she didn't like the idea (cost of all would have been under $1200) and she balked. Said she would have to discuss it with her husband, and says snidely "I guess these things come with never ending price tags". I'm sure the land and building is over a quarter of a million yet she says that. The next day I went to the Zoning officer with my typed up research and concerns, the main one that they are in violation of the height cap, and he said he would check it out.

Yesterday he called and said, yes. They are in violation. They have purposely built 4 1/2 feet higher than they should. They submitted plans to show 30 ft. but they built to 34 1/2. They were given a Cease and Desist and are being fined $100 a day until they begin to fix the problem. Which is, either cutting off 4 1/2 feet from the top of the building, or bringing in fill to raise their whole property 4 1/2 feet. Either one is a nightmare for them. Both logistically and financially. Well they chose to skirt the law and are paying the price. Jeez, think of they had agreed in the beginning to some nice landscaping, it would have cost them under $1500.

and I can't imagine the anger and hated they are probably feeling towards us, but I ... don't... care. You chose to break the zoning law, you deal.

Already, one workman, who was there to pick up his stuff I guess. was giving us the finger each time he walked into our view. Too bad you work for scofflaws, buddy.

On a positive note :devil: I have worked out for 5 days out of 6 in the past week!! Havne't been able to curb my eating, because I've been so worked up with the crap next door, but at least I'm trying to get back some strength and flexibility .

Today is my last day of freedom, go back full time to the R@t B@st@rd tomorrow.

WEather has been so crummy, highs in the day barely to 40, rain or spitting snow. My flowers are all dead.

Holly, that's shocking! Did they actually tell them it was you that raised the concerns? Surely that should be kept confidential? Just purely to avoid things like the workmen giving you the finger every time they see you! I really hope it doesn't escalate beyond that.

I can't believe they took the risk to go 4.5' over either... Good on you for reporting it! That sort of things really annoys me.

Good luch starting back with the r@t b@stard next week!

Hi Coop - I'm not sure if they Zoning officer told them it was us, he could have just said 'there are concerns' but as we're the only fly in their ointment, I'm pretty sure they know it was us. The one finger salute is not great but as long as it doesn't escalate, like you said, it is endurable. There are 4 or 5 people there right now banging and hammering, hopefully it is adaptive hammering, because the Zoning guy said he was going to be watching them.

I start back for the RB today :devil: at the very least it will be a distraction for my mind from next door! :devil:

Hello to everyone :hug: