Why would you ever want to give up salsa and dancing in the first place, Mars! Sounds like fun!...funny you should mention muscle tension. And music. I am so tense at night and am becoming worried about everything associated with that: sleep apnea, wrinkles, bp, low O2, heart...The stress of the day just won't go away and I often have horrific stress dreams. I clench my teeth terribly at night, which is a major contributor to gum recession and periodontal disease (the RA also contributes to that). My dentist is recommending a $700 form-fitting mouth guard, and I'm scheduled for a prophylactic periodontal gum graft on Friday, so the stress is definitely causing me time and $$. Anyway, stress is usually my first thought when I wake up. Once upon a time, I saw part of an episode of Ally McBeal (remember that? I didn't have a TV at the time, so only saw it once or twice at a friend's), and I remember the McBeal character talking about having theme songs in her head that she played in certain situations. I try to do that. (When I'm walking in front of an angry group of people: stripper music. When the big angry egotistical guy at work goes into a rage: circus clown car music.) Anyway, I keep meaning to find my kid's old ipods and load them up with music I like to help with the stress of the day. And like PQ, just remember to Breathe.
Still trying not to gain weight. And fixing all the broken things. Dishwasher seems fixed. Dryer is fixed. The new washer arrives tomorrow, and taking the car in tomorrow as well. Looked around on the internet and the fix is likely to be expensive .....the list just keeps getting longer and longer....Aieee! I just realized the water heater is 15 years old...
Hope you arrived safely PQ, and hope your presence brings comfort and healing to your DB.
Mars, the Bell Nap series sounds great. Anything that can help to combat stress and anxiety is worth a try! I did chuckle at the idea of you picking up Salsa dancing again if this doesn't work, since it's at the opposite end of the spectrum!
SeeMyFeet, LOVE the circus music, lol! (Shhh, don't mention the water heater! Hopefully, it didn't hear you!)
Bro is still critical but semi-stable today....better than expected but still on the edge. With this disease, doc said its day to day and you can't really predict. Hoping for more improvement tomorrow.
I did eat twice "sensibly." For break/lunch I had a bacon/cheese/egg McGriddle (420 cal) and unsweetened tea w/equal. For dinner I had a 6-inch spicy Italian sub from Subway w/tomatoes, onions, banana peppers.
PrairieQueen, thank goodness he is more stable today. I will be praying for more improvement tomorrow. I'm glad you are trying to take care of yourself. I know it's hard to eat when you are so upset and even harder to eat well.
Well, I don't know what tomorrow will bring on the scale for me. I made it to the gym and I have been drinking more water (and tea earlier) today. But I had breaded chicken tenders for dinner and added salted pumpkin seeds to my salad. None of that is against the rules of my modified diet but when I am trying to shed water weight, it probably isn't the smartest move. I can only hope the exercise and plenty of fluids will do the trick!
That's great to hear PrairieQueen. Thanks for the update. Well done w the food choices! Hope you are getting some rest, too. Prayers for continued progress for your brother today.
I blew it yesterday, in short. The good news is that nowadays when I blow it, it doesn't involve bingey behavior. And avoided sugar. That's not a small thing, but then again I'm not kidding myself that my recent WOE is going to get me where I want to be. The issue is SAD, and I realize now that I absolutely have to get outside, AND get exercise. No ifs ands buts.
B (3am) broccoli omelet, whey shake
L (9am) breakfast sandwich at WF with egg, cheese, bacon; a big serving of potatoes w grated parmesan
D (3pm) salad w chicken, beans,evoo, misc veggies, coconut oil, a bit of chili
almost 2 L cold herb tea, not much walking
WI 170.6
I would love to become a part of this thread. I don't really have a name for the plan. It is just my own personal plan. In the past I have called it moderately low carb. I like the idea of a cheat day. Saturday is usually been the day when I would have a carby lunch. I didn't know of anyone else eating that way, however, my 2nd MIL (now deceased) worked for a diet doctor years ago when she lived in CA. He had his clients low carb for 6 days and usually Sunday through Friday and on Saturday he wanted them to eat the carby foods they missed during the week. I got the impression that this was required as part of his program. I have no idea who he was and that was probably at least good 40 years ago.
Jacqui I was thrilled when I found this thread and saw your plan. My plan is my own plan, but it isn't that much different from your. I don't usually count calories or carbs etc.
However, I did recently count them for a bit because my trigycerides were up when I went to the doc and he told me carby veggies are what causes them to be up. So I was trying to eat up to 90 grams. My doc has come a long way to even discuss carbs with me, but there are things he doesn't understand yet. I've been experiencing some inflammation in my joints and read that comes from starchy carbs. Since I've been trying to tune into my body and learn what it needs I think if starches can cause inflammation then it is telling me that it does not need starchy carbs.
So you can see why I am thrilled to find this group. I don't always eat breakfast although I do if become hungry... which occurs sometime between 10 am and noon otherwise I don't eat until 2 or 3 when DH and I eat together. I do try to do this along with the Intermittent Fasting because of the health benefits as I like to stop eating before 8 pm. However, my goal is to learn to eat mindfully... eating when hungry and stop eating when full/satisfied rather than eat by the clock or every 3 or 4 hrs. So I will eat past 8 pm if and when I feel true hunger. (I'm in the process of learning this)
I am diabetic and I know from past experience that low carb will help me get control of my bs as well as improve my other health numbers and I will lose weight. When I was diagnosed about 7 yrs ago, I got everything under control and all my numbers were great and I did it with Atkins. But I am not a person who can follow Atkins 100% obviously or I wouldn't be doing this again. I hope having fellowship and support with others doing low carb various ways will help me so I can do this moderately/slow low carb. And I think I will try the Saturday carb day. Jacqui I don't like using the term Cheat day either. I have no problem doing that since I know a low carb doc in CA used it and people are doing it now.
That is pretty much my story. I'll get to know you and you me as we become more acquainted with each other. I already know and Carol Sue from the diabetic thread. She can tell you I am also gabby, but then you probably noticed that.
pattygirl63! I am thrilled to have you join us! It sounds like you fit right in with our group! And we LOVE gabby here, lol! That's amazing that a doctor 40 years ago prescribed the diet that we are doing today. I wish I had known about that 30 years ago! I definitely believe starchy carbs affect joint health. You sound very in tune to your body, which is great! Glad to have you here!
Mars, I think it's wonderful that you have bingeing behavior under control! I remember when you used to really worry about that and look at you now! I think you are right about SAD, and I have no doubt when it starts getting lighter out, things will be much easier for you. Hang in there! There's no reason to be in a rush, so just do the best you can!
Carol Sue, how's the BP today? On the lower side, I hope!
PrairieQueen, I hope your brother is doing even better this morning!
SeeMyFeet, I hope you're having a good day!
Rennie, Chickadeee! I miss y'all!
Well either I am still holding water from eating more breaded chicken and salted pumpkin seeds or my body has decided to settle on 170. Perhaps 169 is just the lower side of that and 171 is the higher side (with 173 being an after-Carb Day high). That'd be okay. I'd love to get to 164, but if 170 is where my body wants to be, I don't have a problem with that. I just need to get used to the idea of not losing any more. We'll see, because I'm not going to change things. I've always intended to keep slow-carbing, so I'll just continue and whatever happens will happen!
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Hi Trish! Good to see you. Lots of good people here!
Jacqui, it's funny that winter hasn't even started yet but it will be starting to get lighter around the end of Dec.
My BP did go down a bit, and I'm keeping an eye on that diastolic. No news from the doctor about the Echo.
Mars, it's good that you are able to avoid bingeing even when you go off plan a bit, and avoiding sugar. That's an indication that this is becoming a lifestyle change for you, and that's good. I am starting to have that feeling too. It's actually such a relief because in the past I would get so depressed and down on myself when I gave in to a binge. And I got a surprise on the scale this morning, landing at 198. I was not expecting that.
Are you anywhere near the site of that mass shooting in CA? It's such a shame that those 2 did not take into consideration that their actions would result in their 6 month old child going through life without her parents.
Carol Sue, I am SO looking forward to it getting lighter! The gray days and short hours seem to be affecting me more this year than in other years. I'm definitely more aware of it. It seems to be affecting my mood (blue) and physical activity (lazy). I'm glad to hear your BP went down some, as long as the diastolic didn't drop too low. I hope you get good news when you do hear back about the Echo.
Hi all! Bro is a little better today....breathing better, better bp and kidney function. However he is still on the edge. Things can change in a minute. Heart doc says that it's still day to day and outlook is still not too good. Goal is to get him stable enough for teeth pulling. If he survives that, then heart surgery. He knows we're there and follows me with eyes, but they keep him pretty sedated. They said it causes amnesia and he will not remember any of it.
I'm going home Saturday morning, but gold mom I can come back asap if things change. Hopefully the changes will be good ones.
Break/lunch - Subway Philly cheesesteak
Snack - 1/2 bag if unsalted dried fruit/nut mix
Dinner - wings and 2 lite beers (my idea to get a carry out from local place)
Jacqui Thanks for the welcome. Your weight could be where it wants to be our it could just be your body taking a break to adjust to you loss. Since you aren't changing anything, you will eventually know which.
[B][/PrairieQueenB] Sorry to hear about your brother. Prayers coming y'alls way. My deceased hubby used to go in the hospital and it would look like he was at the end but he would surprise the docs and get well and come home. One time he came home and went back to work. As one nurse told me years ago with my 1st husband, "Never give up till it is over". Sounds like he has a tough go of it, but I pray he will be fine in time.
Mars I see you drink a whey shake. May I ask what you use for it. All the ones I've seen are high carb. Could you tell me which one you use? Thanks. I hope I will get to the place I don't want sweets any more. I never cared for sweets until I was diabetic. When I crave sweets, it usually means my bs is up. One nice thing about low carbing is that the desire for sweets usually goes away.
Carol Sue I'm glad your bp was down. I hope you get a good report on the Echo.
Today has not been a low carb day. Started out that way, but we took DGS out for his 22 birthday dinner. We went to Longhorn steakhouse and I usually do very well at a steakhouse. I ordered steak, steamed broccoli and salad with Ranch dressing. But DGS was late getting there and I had waited so long to eat that I was near faint. When they brought the bread out, I caved and had 2 pieces. I came home and ate carbs tonight. I'll do better and have a LC day tomorrow.
Good news, PQ! Hope things continue to improve. My, he still has a lot to go through. You guys hang in there.
I don't know about the Ifs and Ands Mars, but I'm with you on the No Buts. You know, I rarely have that 'proud of myself' feeling, but I do about all the exercise I've been doing, and it is helping my mood. You're not wrong about that.
Thanks, Jac. My day could have been better. I kept thinking about PQ and her real issues and back to times when I had similar real situations, but it didn't help. I've been surrounded by angry, barking people all the livelong day, growling DHs and DDs that are too busy to even speak during the 5 min I try to spend with them, frustrating situations at work, and it is just really taking a toll on my self esteem. I don't think I have SAD...but funny that I googled therapeutic lights last weekend...for some reason. Wouldn't hurt to try to be happier woodit? (but I am concerned about their effect on my eyes). On the good new front, I made a connection with a nice person at my gym. Sometimes I forget that people can be nice.
WooHoo, Carol on 198!! That's awesome!! And the bp, too. You and Mars seem so well put together and in control, I didn't know you were dealing with binge issues. Will we ever be a finished product?? Sigh.
Welcome, PattyGirl...I'm on the SeeMyFeet plan. You'll all know when it starts becoming effective.
.....the list just keeps getting longer and longer....Aieee! I just realized the water heater is 15 years old...
I did chuckle at the idea of you picking up Salsa dancing again if this doesn't work, since it's at the opposite end of the spectrum! 
(Shhh, don't mention the water heater! Hopefully, it didn't hear you!) 
pattygirl63! I am thrilled to have you join us! It sounds like you fit right in with our group! 
And we LOVE gabby here, lol! 
That's amazing that a doctor 40 years ago prescribed the diet that we are doing today. I wish I had known about that 30 years ago! 
Glad to have you here! 
I think you are right about SAD, and I have no doubt when it starts getting lighter out, things will be much easier for you. Hang in there! There's no reason to be in a rush, so just do the best you can! 
)
And the bp, too. You and Mars seem so well put together and in control, I didn't know you were dealing with binge issues. Will we ever be a finished product?? Sigh.