Breathed out, more than flushed out. Burned fat is converted to CO2 and expelled.

Glad to hear your up pounds are gone and that you are feeling better for it. Sounds like the clinic visit was just what you needed.

So sorry to hear this, Ro. Hoping that it's not as serious as it sounds. Try not to overdo it when the painkillers kick in, and I hope you're on the road to recovery very soon.

Cheryl, please take care of that knee! Honestly woman! LOL .. can't keep a good woman away from her dancing, eh?

Ro -So sorry about the back...hope you get some relief. I had that stint with the ear infection this summer that kicked me out and it was seriously annoying LOL.

First day of Senior Year for my son....OMG where did the time go? Cannot believe this is my last day seeing him off to school....

In other news belly dancing class tonight LOL!

Met with a new clinic yesterday. Did weigh in and measurments, but there measurements are totally different than what I was getting and their scale was way different but I also weighted in after lunch which I never would have done before....So I accepted their weight even though it was high and moved on .. only to get on my scale at home today and have a mild heart attack! Ugh I have to get back to basics... She also took me off my 4th packet a day. She said under 200 it should go away and since by some stroke of luck I was still under 200 ......bye bye 4th packet LOL.

Thanks everyone for your sympathies and well wishes. I know this is a bad one. I have had 2 back surgeries for herniations at 2 different levels, and this is the worst one yet in terms of debilitating symptoms. I got up a little while ago to use the restroom and had to twist just a little to get up and just about passed out from the pain and immediately got sick to my stomach. I am pretty sure that was additional disc material coming out of the disc. I took the pain meds after that and they are helping just slightly. Unfortunately, no position is comfortable now. Before laying and sitting were the problem and I would get relief by standing but after what happened this morning, even standing/walking is difficult.

THIS SUCKS!!!!!!! Sorry, but I just had to get that out.

Maybe it won't be that bad but mentally, I kind of know and am preparing myself for bad news. We are flying tomorrow night to Memphis to spend Labor Day in Tunica, MS - it is kind of like Las Vegas of the South. My brother and sister-in-law turned 50 this year and it is their 25th wedding anniversary so this is my present to them. They wanted to see Gary Allan in concert and he is playing at one of the casinos there on Saturday night. I'll have to manage this trip on Norco the whole time. I hope the prednisone kicks in soon too - doc says it would take a day or two - for that to help. I have no idea how I will be able to sit or get up in the plane seat, but I can't let them down. Good news is that the plane flight is only like an hour from Chicago.

Ok, I can't sit and type any longer. I did this to distract myself from the excruciating pain I am in. Sorry, I couldn't respond to everyone individually. I'll keep you guys posted but this isn't looking good.

Ro - sending you all the healing thoughts I can - that is miserable and I am so sorry

Ro, I am so sorry. That sounds dreadful. I hope you get some relief soon.

Ro, I hope you have a distracting Labor Day with the friends, anything to take your mind off the pain, even for a little while.

Sending you healing thoughts and hoping you get some answers and effective treatment soon!

Ro - So sorry to hear this...I hope you get some relief soon..

I made it thru the day yesterday without my extra packet LOL

Chemo day today so I need to run to the store this AM and get lunch stuff for DH and me. DS is working after school so I think I will throw some shrimp and chicken on the grill for DH and myself...

SIL and BIL are coming in this weekend to see DH... I am so looking forward to that...gonna be a great weekend

Ro – I am SO sorry about your back! Back issues are no fun!! I hope you get the best possible news on your MRI and are able to enjoy your trip this weekend. Take care of yourself!

Sue – Have fun with your BIL & SIL this weekend. It will be nice to spend the holiday weekend with family. GL on 3 packets a day too. After eating a certain way for so long, it can be a challenge to change things up. But you got this!!

One – So glad to see you back girlie! You’ve been missed.

JJTX – Love that you are rocking maintenance! And good for you for nipping any gains in the bud! Going back to P1 is tough after maintenance. But it sure does feel good to see those lbs going away.

Rayze – Hope you had a great vacation and CONGRATS on Onderland!! So proud of you!!

Avalon – Waiting to see your Onderland post. Any day now! I am so excited for you!!

Continuing to work out at some level nearly every day. Been going to the gym with DH and even got him to go on a walk around the neighborhood last night. Really starting to see a difference in my muscles. NSV!! People, I planked this week….for the first time in my life…for a whole minute. The last time I tried planking was pre-IP and I literally could not get my hips up off the floor. It was a huge moment for me physically. My body is changing and it feels great!

One thing with all this working out is my hunger is out of control in the afternoons. I think I need to find a more substantial snack to tide me over between lunch and dinner. This is where I keep slipping up. A 100 calorie packet of almonds or IP packet is not really cutting it for me. Any ideas of a better/more filling snack? Or maybe I need a bigger lunch? Hmmm…

Lastly, I made a consultation appnt with a plastic surgeon. It is purely a fact gathering mission. The earliest I could even consider something like this is maybe 2016. I just want to start meeting with doctors, finding out about options, costs, recovery time, etc. My PCP recommended the first guy I am going to. One of his specialties are people who have lost large amounts of weight.

Ro hope you enjoy the weekend, and get some relief, back stuff is no fun!

CenTxChk - Are you a yogurt person? I like Wallaby non-fat greek (we've found it at Sprouts and HEB) - lots of protein and only like 6g sugar in a whole cup. Sometimes with berries, or granola (the lowest carb one I've found is Bear Naked Triple berry or vanilla, also HEB - cereal aisle)


Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!

CenTX - awesome, way to go on the planking. Something I never tried for the very same reason!

On the food front - how carb sensitive are you? Yesterday I had some leftover stewing beef, so I sealed it in a tbsp of butter (for 2 of us) then had it in a Tumaro's low-in-carb white tortilla with some lettuce and a sprinkle of cheese. Doesn't seem to affect my loss in any way (down 1.2 overnight despite being 1200ish calories) and was so very filling. They came in at 12g carbs for 2 wraps, which is impressive (and marginally lower than one of the restricted bars I would normally have for supper or breakfast).

I also love the protein yogurts. So many good ones out there now, just keep an eye on what they sweeten them with. The sweetener combinations are actually harder for the body than sticking with a single source one. I've noticed that some of the protein powders are now using combos and have deliberately phased away from them (leaving hubby to finish them out).

In maintenance I also like Wallaby also but just eat the plain,and if I need some flavor add my own vanilla or cinnamon.

I like your ideas Amanda.

Sue, I've had a successful little P1 reboot but yesterday had an extra two packets and today am headed that direction..... I have a really quiet weekend and no excuse for needing extra food so I'm making a commitment to you for the next three days to only strict IP. I would love to use the weekend for R&R and drop down a few lbs in the process. I don't want this reboot to go on forever because I keep adding things

Great job working out...maybe I need that too... I am so scared to talk surgery, but wonder if I will ever be happy with the excess skin....


I am trying so hard this re-boot but slipped last night and ate a bar after dinner. Dinner was early, and I got it in my brain that I was hungry and needed something Ugh! At least tonight dinner will be later.

Meeting SIL and BIL and my nephew & his wife and my new grand niece tonight....so excited they are all flying in from CA to see DH since we could not get there this year. DH really needs it this week...it was a hard chemo day yesterday...they could not get a vein and then when they did it was an uncomfortable one and then one of the chemo meds was burning slightly going in..Ugh...I was a wreck as was DH so its no wonder I was off the rails after dinner last night.....Back on track today...I will not give up!

Oh Sue, I’m sorry. Be gentle with yourself. I think the fact that you are maintaining is a huge win.
My body wouldn’t sustain only doing 3 packets a day for very long, I think my blood sugar just wouldn’t tolerate it much. I still allow myself an extra packet on long days if needed.
Because I am on a short reboot I am shooting for 3 a day. I have to be careful though to leave one for the evening because if I go longer than 5 hours I can’t sleep without at least having a drink packet. The blood sugar drop gives me a headache.

Keep trusting yourself and taking care of yourself during these hard and challenging times with your family.

I saw this article recently on the internet and thought I would share ...

It's A Water-full Life. Water is great!

In April of 2002, researchers at Loma Linda University found that people who drank at least 40 ounces of water daily were about half as likely to die of coronary heart disease as those who drank less.

A few correlated studies have shown that individuals who consume 64 ounces of water per day enjoy the following health benefits:

- Reduced risk of Colon Cancer
- Reduced risk of Urinary Tract Cancer
- Reduced risk of Urinary Stone Disease
- Reduced risk of Salivary Gland Disorders
- Reduced risk of Obesity

Water carries many other benefits:

- Drinking plenty of water may help relieve headaches. (The most common headaches are due to dehydration)
- Proper hydration will help keep your joints and muscle lubricated so you're less likely to cramp or sprain.
- Drinking water improves the vitality of your skin. You will look younger if your skin is healthier.
- Drinking water regulates your body temperature.
- Drinking water helps fuel your muscles and helps with muscle growth.
- Proper hydration makes it easier for your heart to pump oxygenated blood to cells and vital organs, which reduces fatigue.
- Water helps flush out the toxins and waste products from your body.
- Water helps to keep your colon functioning normally and relieves constipation.
- Water helps with weight loss (fat burn).

Remember to drink 1/2 ounce of water, per pound of body weight, per day. (For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, drink 80 fluid ounces of water per day.)