Carol: this is likely why you are happy together, you make a complete unit together. It is great that humanity is made up of a variety of people and personalities.
I was attracted to DH because of his family, and his sociability. Too bad his family is made up of judgemental people. The oldest and 4th brother had already cut two of the others out of their lives before they decided we were also not worth speaking to. This is hard for DH at this time of year. So moving back to our community here has helped keep him busy and not thinking about it too much.

He is suggesting we have people over in the next few days. I am on call, so hope that will work out. After today's fast, I plan to do OMAD most days including Christmas. I Don't want to blow the weight loss.

Visit with Daddy was okay. They took them to see Christmas lights, but he said they weren't great and he was upset they had gone one night before to the lights in Belton, TX because they have the best. He doesn't know why he wasn't told so he could go. One of his buddies was in the room to visit with him when I got there and left and he and the guy across the hall kept hanging around. I figured they were waiting for me to leave so the 3 of them could hang out together.

I got in and out of the store before the Friday rush and it was just starting to get really busy when I left. I bought a little more than I intended because next Wednesday is payday and I don't want to have to go shopping that day since I figure it will be just as busy. We will have to go get meds Thursday. So we should be good till then.

Carol Sue Sounds like DH is doing so very well and that is good. I'm glad you aren't going to have to entertain this year. I think with all that is going on that would be way too much.

My Christmases were always with family until we moved away from DH kids. When I was a child Daddy and Mama made Christmas very special. Sometimes we drove to Dallas and had Christmas with my Daddy's Dad's family and sometime my Grandfather and Step-mother would come to our house. When I married 2nd DH, his grandmother had gobs of brothers and sisters and she always cooked for everybody to come by. When we lived in town or came to visit, we divided our time between his grandparents house and my parents house. When we lived in So. TX, my SIL and I took turns having the holidays at our houses. So we always had big Christmases. Once DH and I moved to SC and when the kids weren't around, we got out of the habit of big Christmases and being with family unless the kids came to visit us. We really don't have anyone to have Christmas with here. DS DD and her DH are going down close to Midland, TX to be with her DH family for Christmas. So I guess we just don't have the desire to do Christmas. Unlike us, DS & BIL doesn't even put up a tree. DH and I still love Christmas and if we lived close to his kids we would be putting up the big tree and I would be cooking with his DD and the girls for Christmas Day.

fatmad I think it is great that you still get to do things with some of your family and glad you have friends who are so close to y'all to celebrate the holiday with. Enjoy your company etc.

Y'all have great evening.

I went to Blood Sugar 101 website today. I read about medications that can raise blood sugar and maybe even cause diabetes. Maybe people should look it up and see if the meds they are on are affecting blood sugars.
Certain antidepressants (including Zoloft ) can do it.
Statins like atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin also raise blood sugar, but pravastin doesn't.
Diurectics like Hydrochlorthiazide and chlothadione can as well. Beta blockers like atenolol and metropolol but not carvedilol may also do it.
There are many other mentioned in the article.
None of the meds I am on (Wellbutrin and Singulair as well as metformin) do this, but at one point we thought of putting me on a different anti-depressant. My doc didn't want it because its known for causing weight gain, and I was battling with weight problems already. (So glad she's on my side) Not only might I have gained weight, but might have wound up with full blown diabetes.

Blessings friends.

Mad I am taking some of the meds that are said to raise blood sugar but it is my opinion that the rise is not significant. My lifestyle was terrible in the years before my diagnosis. I feel that this was the biggest contributor and the meds had only a small effect by comparison. I am still taking those same meds but am getting much better blood sugar readings just with dietary changes.

DH was up for a longer time today with the two visits. He was tired and miserable. He took a pain pill then fell asleep. I felt he really needed that sleep but I hope he doesn't lie awake tonight as a result.

I pretty much made it. Scale says 150.6 this am. I will start eating about 10 am. Picking up fish for supper and some beets for Christmas dinner at the market today.
I resisted sweets and treats while out at a musical event last night. Stayed with herbal tea and water only, and enjoyed visiting.
I have a half day of work today, will see people in the afternoon.
I also realized that at 151, I was 20% down from my high weight of 189. Losing 20% of your weight is a huge accomplishment, and likely a better milestone than a multiple of 10 anyhow. But I would like to be under 150 in the new year. I guess its a mental thing.
Being in the 140s last time was so long ago. I see a dress I wore back then, and I have hopes of wearing it for Valentines day. Waist is 33.5. When it gets to 32 or lower, my waist will be half my height. (I am between 5'3" and 5'4") That is another marker for obesity outside of BMI etc.

Carol: does the nursing care and physiotherapist come over the weekend? I assume not on the holiday of Christmas itself, since he is not an urgent sort of case.
So much is just Monday to Friday care, which I don't think is good or reasonable, for this sort of thing. especially when there will be days off for Christmas.

Trish: hope things go well this weekend and over Christmas:
I expect to have time to stop in here, I will have things to do, but won't be busy.

Wt 181 My body is just holding on to that number. I'm watching for a drop, soon. I am still eating light. I think the first "full meal" could do me in. I am eating regular food, but small quantities, throwing out excess.

FBG 119 I AM eating some carbs. Yesterday for lunch, DH had one of those packets of pasta, cheddar and broccoli. I added extra broccoli, which he pushed to the side of his plate. :D I ate a few forkfuls, but then dumped it down the disposal. In the past, I would have finished it off. I usually eat scrambled eggs and a slice of low calorie toast. For dinner I cooked some carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts for me. I don't always eat dinner. Depends on my hunger/appetite. DH is eating things like grilled cheese sandwiches, baked potato with butter/cheese, deli ham sandwich, chicken noodle soup. I am not cooking meals yet because he doesn't want to eat much. He is at least eating something.

Mad, I did some research and I think you might be right that the lower blood sugar is what is helping with my incontinence. I never had a leak when I cough or sneeze like many others, but I had to be very close to the restroom, and the minute I got the urge to go I had to head for the restroom right away or it would just come out. No holding it at all. If I tried to go without protection, I was changing underwear and clothes sometimes three times a day. I think it's called "urge incontinence." I went 2 weeks still wearing the protective garments but they remained dry. Now I have stopped wearing them with no issues. I will probably wear one if I go out somewhere, just to be safe. This is huge for me. It's something I hated. There are meds that can be taken for this, but I am on so many meds I didn't want to add another, plus since it's new, it would probably be costly. If I knew then what I know now....... The thought of blood sugar never entered my mind.

My 14 day average is now 130 and my 30 day average is 138. When I test, my blood sugar is rarely over 150. This factors in the 202 I had a few days ago or it would be lower. I plan on keeping this up. I have taken very little G. I don't take it unless blood sugar goes over 150. I can't wait to see my next A1c which is to be in Feb I believe. I know that I am getting numbers from periodic readings, and A1c is from continuous blood sugar, but I think if anything, the reading in between are lower, rather than higher. My last A1c was 6.7. I have only had one in my life under 6.

DH took a nap in the evening yesterday and slept good for a couple hours, so he was not real sleepy overnight. I was exhausted and my head was dropping before we went to bed. I slept good. I do wake up a lot sensing his movement and asking what he's doing to be sure he doesn't need me. He uses a urinal during the night so he doesn't have to get up to the bathroom, and he does that by himself, but I go with him to the bathroom so he doesn't fall. I know he started to get some pain in his chest incision during the night but he didn't want to wake me, so he worked through it. A few times when I did wake up, I pretended I was still asleep. I want him to work toward going longer without pain meds. I don't want him taking them as a preventive measure when maybe he doesn't need them. For one thing, they only gave him 30 with 0 refills and I know they intend for him to get off them eventually. This morning he told me that he had the pain, but he fell asleep and the pain resolved itself. That's what I want.

So far today we both feel pretty good. I am mostly pleased with DH's progress but still anxious for this to be over. And I am VERY pleased with the improvements in my health.

No incontinence
No hand/wrist pain
Very little pain overall except for knees
Legs feel a bit stronger
Lower weight
Lower blood sugar
Overall better feeling

And it took this catastrophe to make it happen. I have only taken occasional Tylenol in the past couple weeks.

Two things that have not shown improvement are my Psoriasis and my chronic cough.

Mad, the nurse is coming 3 times a week, not weekends and the physical therapist is only coming once a week for 4 weeks. Remember, he is a bit ahead by having some PT in the hospital, and also a week of twice daily in the nursing home. They evaluated him and decided he is doing well enough that he does not need more, but is to do some exercises on his own at home. It surprised me that he is doing them on his own. Then a lot of this is just time. He knows the precautions he needs to take and is pretty much following them, with a reminder from me once in a while. Today he wanted to get up and get his own coffee, which he could do, but can't carry it back to his chair while using the walker. If it contained a drink holder and he had a cup with a lid he could do it. He really is improving noticeably each day.

When I had my colostomy reversal I had a nurse every day for close to 6 months because I developed seromas in my incision that had to be packed. They tried to get DH to do it, but no dice. They came on weekends, Christmas, New Years.

When he stands for a while the hip hurts. That could take a while to stop. And the chest incision is also painful as it heals, and the scab pulls. Once that falls off some of that pain will stop. It's not excruciating pain like he was having in the hospital, but it still hurts. Men don't do pain well. You probably notice all of your clients are women. :rofl:

I wasn't very hungry this morning. DH didn't want breakfast, just a slice of toast and half a cookie with his coffee. I scrambled one egg for myself and ate that without any toast, just to get some protein. He wanted chicken noodle soup already for lunch so I'm drinking a cup of the broth. Maybe this lack of appetite today will get me over the 181 hump. If I get hungry, I will eat, though. I am not desperate enough for the loss to want to try fasting right now,

fatmad Congratulations on reaching the 20% weight loss. You are doing so well. You have definitely found your groove.

Carol Sue So glad things are going well with DH. I hope he will continue with his recovery. It is a shame we don't live closer to each other as somewhere in this house we have a walker that has tray on it that belonged to DH Mother. Then your DH could get his coffee and put it in the tray holder for drinks. Sounds like DH is coming along very well and I hope he will realize the importance of him taking care of his health and come to an understanding of why you insist on eating like you do. You are doing very well and pray you will be able to continue to. I know it is scary to think of when you eat a whole meal, but I think you will have no problem figuring that all out.

I actually lost 1.6 lbs this week and my FBS was 159 this morning. I have pretty much found my groove of how I can and can't eat as well as what I can and cannot eat on a regular basis. As I have said before, I don't like eating a lot of fatty foods so I am going back to using mostly low fat although very little fat free. I like salads, but am kind of tired of them and probably wouldn't eat them much if it weren't for DH. I am really enjoying eating oatmeal with fruit and organic pb. I have noticed that when I eat this type of breakfast that my bs reading later is less than it is if I have the low carb egg breakfast. So this will become my breakfast most days and that is really good for my cholesterol. I would like to get off the statins and hopefully eating this way I will be able too. I will still work at DH and me having a balanced main meal for early dinner and I would like to eat nothing after. However, I figure since I need to eat yogurt for my bones that I will have it for a snack to close off the 8 hr window. I agree with you Carol Sue. I think IF is the key for me with this way of eating and the nice thing is that I don't have to think about food all day. I found some beautiful pork chops yesterday when I was looking for the steak for Daddy and they are in the crockpot. All I have to do is make a salad and put veggies with it. It is that simple.

I don't think I'm going to weigh everyday any more. I think that causes me more problems than I realize. I am just going to make this a lifestyle and trust the plan. And I will weigh once a week. I'm tired of thinking about this all the time and I just want to enjoy the rest of my life. I actually used the vaccum cleaner today. It is a little too heavy for me so I think I am going to push for DH to get me a lighter one for me to use. It takes him to move furniture etc to clean really good, but I need one to use in between those times. I didn't have anything I wanted for Christmas so we can watch for a sale and he can get that for me as a late present or an early anniversary gift since that is coming up next month.

I guess I better go and check on Daddy. I didn't realize it was so late.

Y'all have a great day.

Pipsicle and lurkers :wave:

Trish when we need something like a vacuum we don't consider it a gift. Its just something we need. Our is also hard to painush but we also have a stick vac for touch ups.

My trip to the store went well. I can go there without going on the highway. After Christmas I will venture to Walmart after the after Christmas sales are done. I buy 10 lb bags of chicken legs to cook for the dog. Sometimes the local store has them but not today. DH got him used to getting some chicken for a treat. I only have chicken tenderloins on hand right now and he's not getting them . lol

When I mentioned about being faced with eating a full meal I would try to just eat a couple bites of each thing I want .I won't eat something I don't want just because its there. Today I bought a rotisserie chicken. DH wanted a nuked potato so I gave him that with a slice of chicken breast. I ate a slice too and the smallest little potato I had for me. That with the scrambled egg I had this morning is probably all I will have today. My body has become used to much less food and I would like to keep it that way.

Every day DH stays up a little bit longer. I hope he is getting stronger.

Sounds great Carol Sue. You have planned ahead of time what you are going to do and you will be fine. I understand about not wanting to eat more than your body is used to now. I feel the same way about what I am doing.

Christmas day has worked itself out. DS and I talked this morning. We will stay home and do our own thing. BIL is off until after New Years day because the whole place closes down for a week at Christmas time. So we decided that we want to go out while he is off. It is supposed to rain here Christmas day and the day after so we decided to go out Thursday. Not sure where. I will call BS sometime during the weekend to wish them Merry Christmas and see if they want to go out with us Thursday.

This works out good for us. I will cook Daddy's steak and take it to him Monday. Then come straight home. I think I will take the ham out that I bought Monday and let it thaw enough to cut it in half because DH and I won't eat a lot of it. I will save out enough to take some of it to Daddy when I go see him Friday. I won't have to cook a lot of food Christmas day only as much as what we will eat and it will be a lot healthier too. So I will be able to stay OP all the way through the holidays and hopefully start the New Year with a weight loss rather than a gain this year. So we are set and no pressure for the holiday.

I meant to share something I read about our feet. I have complained for years about the way my feet felt to doctor's who never seemed to worry about it. I read the other day about foot pain. It talked about how when our bs isn't under control that we have to be careful to take care of them because of circulation getting to our extremities like hands and feet. It stressed how we eat has a lot to do with that. One of the reasons I started taking the Tart Cherry Extract was because of the benefits to circulation.

I've noticed lately that my shoes are sometimes uncomfortable or I am feeling things more in my feet. I began to realize that they aren't as numb as they had been but sometimes hurt. According to the article, it said that although that pain might be uncomfortable that you need to realize that is a good thing because your circulation is getting to the extremities and you are feeling it as they come alive (my expression). I noticed since I started eating the way I am now that it seems to be getting better more quickly. It is really nice to have this sign that what I'm doing is working to improve my circulation. So I thought I would just share.

I am certainly enjoying eating today, and I don't plan another fast for a while, but may do OMAD tomorrow. SO I expect a little rebound weight gain, but I am not worried about it. I am saving dessert for Christmas day, and otherwise may have some berries but nothing else.
DD is coming for supper, not sure if I will be here, heading out to meet a client.
Yes, Carol, all my clients are women, LOL, and we know why!
My own DH, bless his heart, gets the man cold and the man pain. He can be pretty whiny. But I have my own messy stuff that he puts up with, so we are even at least.
Trish, I am glad if you are feeling your feet better. I am considering taking a foot care course, my neighbour needs her feet cared for a bit and I am thinking of doing this when I am retired.

fatmad There is a podiatrist who comes ever so many days to do foot care for the residents at the facility where Daddy is. She said she has to wait a certain number of days so that Medicare will pay for it. I really didn't see she did that much. Mostly cut the toenails. BS does it in between when she goes to see him. I can't get down on the floor to cut them and she can. However, I've noticed the nurses must take good care of his feet when they bathe him. DS and I have asked for him to get pedicures which we thought were done by someone else, but we don't know if this person is who they meant. Any way, I think it is nice you want to do that when you retire as I think it is much needed. I know DH Mother had a podiatrist come to the house in FL ever so often to do hers.

My MIL used to go to a Podiatrist to get her toe nails cut because they were so hard, even my BIL could not cut them for her. I think DH's are the same way. He normally cuts his own but I may have to do it for him because he cannot bend over now for a while.

Maybe the podiatrist at the facility is actually checking the residents' feet by observation as well as cutting toe nails.

I usually do my own. I prop my foot up on the toilet and cut them. A couple times DH cut them for me.

Remember when I was having all that foot pain? It stopped after I started taking the Turmeric so now I'm afraid to stop taking it. The hand/wrist pain never went away no matter what I took, but it has been gone for the past couple weeks. I think this all has to do with my blood sugar which used to run a little high.

Trish, I started taking the Tart Cherry Extract because DH kept telling me that he thought my foot pain was due to gout. I researched about gout and saw that Tart Cherry Extract was supposed to help. I finished the bottle and never bought any more, because I don't think it's gout. I don't know if it did anything for me or not.

EDIT: I was just reading more about Tart Cherry Extract. It said it is also helpful for Osteoarthritis, and that's what I have in my knees. Maybe I will start taking it again.

I took my half turkey breast out to defrost for Christmas. I keep telling step-daughter that I'm not having a meal for Christmas. She is cooking a half ham for her and her DH and said she will bring a couple slices over for DH. I know he will not eat very much. My turkey breast is only 2.5 lb and that includes a bone, so it's really not much. I hope they don't intend to eat because I don't think there's going to be enough for 4. Old habits die hard....she is used to coming to our house for Christmas dinner. I am making enough mashed potatoes for the two of us and some green beans.

DGS has been sick lately. One day last week he stayed home from school because he was vomiting. Yesterday he came home early vomiting, and continued to vomit until this morning. I think I would take him to a doctor, but they seem to think it's just a stomach bug going around school. Now I'm concerned about them coming over here around DH. I don't think they are coming for Christmas, but on Friday for DH's birthday. I think I need to buy a can of Lysol to spray after they leave. I hate to feel that way, but neither DH or I need to be getting sick right now. His parents might have it by then, too. Maybe if I talk to them before then I can make a gentle suggestion. We could get together sometime after the holidays.

I remember when DGS was born, it was the same weekend that I had my open heart surgery. After I came home from the hospital they waited two weeks before bringing DGS over for me to see, as cautioned by their doctor. This is a similar issue to me. Maybe I worry to much about things.