Haha! That changes the meaning just a tad. :D

SeeMyFeet, I used to watch Dr. Oz and that's just what I thought as I watched him day after day: If we ate everything daily that he said we should for good health, we'd gain a ton, lol! :moo:

Right now my cold feels like allergies. Watery eyes, runny nose. What would I be allergic to? I tell DH that I am allergic to him.

In a way I agree that doctors should be talking to their patients about losing weight when the weigh effects their medical conditions. But most people know they are overweight. Having the doctor telling them isn't going to help, unless they are also giving them information to help them lose. Also, there are a lot of nurses and doctors who are overweight. Maybe the doctors know that, like me, the patients will quit coming if they are constantly being told about their weight, especially if they can't seem to lose.

Jacqui, I know that after I had my last bowel surgery I weighed 181, but I slowly started gaining, and that was when my blood pressure started going up and they started increasing my meds. That's around 20 lbs. I know I will not lose 20 lbs in 20 days, but I would like to lose as much as I can. Now, if I don't quit eating like I have been and being sedentary I will not lose anything. I can only blame myself. I really don't want them changing my meds. The ones I have are generic and very inexpensive. The newer ones are probably more effective, but I pay over $100 for brand meds on my insurance and I can't afford that. It makes sense for me to take the bull by the horns and just do it!!! But I don't always do what makes sense. I believe that walking every day for the next 20 days would drop my blood pressure a bit, especially if I'm dropping a few pounds at the same time. In the past, there have been times that I took an extra pill before my DR appointment so my BP wouldn't look so bad. I know, don't tell me, I shouldn't be doing that. I was supposed to be doing more walking and losing some weight during the past 6 months since my last visit. Oops!

Bought some kefir and "cleanse" juice at the grocery this weekend. I do not intend to do a "cleanse" but thought the green stuff looked good :)

I have decided that I am not going to go on the all salad diet. I am not really wild about salad and I would not be able to stick to it for 20 days without being locked up in a room with no other food. So I am going to eat salad with some protein in it, like small amounts of tuna fish or chicken. Or I will eat hot vegetables. I prefer hot vegetables over cold salad. I will still eat my eggs in the morning because it's just protein.

SeeMyFeet, even though fruit is healthy, it can keep you out of ketosis, but if you can eat it and still lose, go for it. Nobody says you have to be in ketosis. It's a personal choice. It's better to eat it than feel deprived. I could go the rest of my life without fruit and never blink and eye. I can eat it, but it is never a first choice. If it wasn't for DH we wouldn't have it in the house.

Jacqui, I used to eat beans often but not so much lately. The past couple times I ate them I got pain, probably from gas, so I'm not going to eat them as much as I did before. That pain reminded me of the pain I had when my bowel perforated and that scared the daylights out of me. When I quit eating the beans the pain stopped. I do love them and have some on hand, but maybe in very small amounts along with other foods.

Prairie Queen, I see kifer in Aldi's. I will have to try it some time. It is something that sounds like I wouldn't like it. I was reading a book about fermented foods. When talking about fermenting beets, it said that some mold will form on top of them and to just scrape it off. WHAT! I am not going to eat foods that sat long enough to form mold! I see that often enough in containers I leave in the refrigerator too long!!

I copied this rather than posting the link because the link kept taking me somewhere else.

This is from the Prevention Website.



It’s no secret that regular exercise can help lower your blood pressure, but if finding time to fit in the recommended 30 minutes a day has been a challenge, we have good news: Quickie workouts sprinkled throughout your day may be even more beneficial.

Researchers from Arizona State University found that taking three 10-minute walks each day is a smarter strategy for blood pressure control than logging a single 30-minute session. The exercisers who did multiple minisessions not only reduced their systolic blood pressure during the day and evening (similar to the 30-minute group), but they also still saw reductions the following day.“Walking three times a day, even for a short period, reduces blood pressure after each instance, so you wind up with a longer-lasting reduction,” says principal investigator Glenn Gaesser, PhD. To reap the benefits, walk at a quick pace, as though you’re late for an appointment.

Carol Sue, oh that's so true, you might have hay fever. It's really bad in the fall with all the ragweed pollen in the air. If that's it, frosty mornings will put an end to it. :crossed: It's good to know that fast bouts of walking throughout the day are more beneficial to blood pressure than longer walks once a day. I wonder if your elliptical would be just as beneficial or if there's something about walking that does it. Whether through diet or exercise or both, I hope you make a nice dent in your numbers! :goodluck: I'm with you on avoiding moldy foods! Yuck! :barf:

PrairieQueen, let us know what you think of the kefir! I've wondered about it for some time but haven't worked up the nerve to try it. :cheers:

Wannabehealthy I've seen the thing about mold as well, but I definitely wouldn't scrape and still eat. I've made fermented pickles and love the kraut I make and have never seen any sign of mold. If you do it correctly, you shouldn't have any mold.

Jacqui My KY cousin loves it and has been encouraging everyone via Facebook to try it, and the bottle was pretty :) I'll let you know as soon as I muster up the courage to try it.

Today's menu.....

Break - ham/egg/cheese mc muffin (I ordered my usual burrito but got to work and found this in my bag instead) and ice tea w/stevia
Lunch - Amy's organic cheese/bean burrito
Dinner - 1/2 steak sandwich and one hash brown (clearing out freezer)

Hopefully I'll see a drop tomorrow.

Jacqui, remember when everyone was making that "Friendship cake?" Someone gave you a cup of starter, and you sat it on your counter and added something different to it each day. After so many days you took out 1 cup of the batter then put it in a pan and baked it. One of the neighbors gave a cup of started to my step-daughter. She brought it home and started adding the stuff to it, but DH went crazy and said you can't eat that after it sat out of the counter for days, and he made her throw it out. She was so mad. LOL I tasted the cake once and it was pretty good.

perforated bowel..yowsa, Carol!

Kefir, Good, but not worth the calories. Plus these days it's all sugared up, like all the yogurt. I made my own kefir for a while.

Yea, I would prolly scrape the mold..depending on what it's on. (Free antibiotics!) But I would toss out a Friendship cake...to each his own.

I just saw a commercial with dogs....What would society be like if we treated each other the way we treat dogs? "ooooo how's my big fella? (scratches behind ears) Why do we treat animals better than we treat people?

Carol Sounds like you are climbing out from under the respiratory stuff :yay: Allergies can sure be miserable!

Fwiw, here's the JNC7 stuff I mentioned re BP & lifestyle modifications. I thought it was interesting what they include & don't include. The recs are based on number-crunching and don't apply to any one individual, of course. I am totally skeptical of the DASH diet recs. Any studies involving self-reports of diet are notoriously inaccurate--there's even studies to show that, lol. There's nothing about smoking because even tho it causes heart disease, etc, they haven't found a link to BP.

1.Weight Reduction, maintaining BMI 18.5-24.9
Average Systolic BP Reduction 5-20mmHg per 22 lbs

2. DASH diet "rich in fruits, vegs, lowfat dairy, reduced sat. fat and total fat" 8-14 mmHg

3. Dietary Sodium restricted to 2.4g sodium/day (6g sodium chloride) 2-8mmHg

4. Regular Aerobic exercise like brisk walking at least 30 min/day 4-9 mmHg

5. Moderation of alcohol (Women less than 1 drink per day) 2-4 mmHg

Back in the late 90s they were showing a modest drop with potassium rich foods like bananas but maybe that's incorporated into DASH?? or just no longer demonstrated?

This might be interesting....from the most recent JNC, "Patients with Diabetes
Adults with diabetes and hypertension have reduced mortality as well as improved cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes with treatment to a goal SBP <150 mmHg, but no randomized controlled trials support a goal <140/90 mmHg. Despite this, the panel opted for a conservative recommendation in patients with diabetes and hypertension, opting for a goal level of <140/90 mmHg in adult patients with diabetes and hypertension rather than the evidence-based goal of <150/90 mmHg."

My Dad would be rolling his eyes saying 'studies have shown....' because they constantly change things, but this group tries to keep doctors up to date with what has been shown to works vs adhering to what they were taught in med school. :shrug:

I thought it was a typo because I assumed off-plan would be like mine--lots of extra cals, fats, carbs, lol! I would have gone to bed hungry with your off-plan day!

It sure is DARK these days. I'm huddled under my SAD light, call that HAPPY light, lol! Anyway, I wanted to mention I LOVE beans, esp kidney beans. Somewhere I learned you can prevent gas by rinsing them well. I find it works--none whatsoever. I use canned beans.

Re Kefir, I think the packaging helps a lot with making it inviting! Back in the '70s it was popular and came in a pretty milk carton, in same flavors as yogurt. It was basically a drinkable form of yogurt & reminded me of a healthful milkshake. I did gain weight from it tho, because I could not just drink 8 oz. Guess I'll stick w Bubbies sauerkraut.

Jacqui Way to go with your weight drop! I'm coming to the conclusion that it's possible to maintain through periods of indulgence as long as they are punctuated with normal eating, and don't go on & on. As if the metabolism is subject to laws of physics. Inertia--we will tend to keep losing until prolonged calorie increase finally sinks in and then we shift to gaining. Once that happens, it takes a good while to shift back to losing, but eventually our metabolism gets the message.

Good eating day yesterday, same ole same ole. Weight down a bit to 166.4. My vacation clothes are snug, but maybe it's all the insecticide that shrunk them, one can dream.... They fit just enough to get by, but not enough to let me go crazy with food. Perfecto!

PrairieQueen, lol! That's how I am. There are a few things I'd like to try but I have to muster up the courage first! :eek:

Carol Sue, yes I remember friendship cakes! Lol, your DH is too funny! What had your step-daughter added to it so far that he objected to? :lol:

Mars, thanks! :D Congrats on another drop! :carrot: I think you might be on to something there with your law of physics-weight control theory. :yes:

SeeMyFeet, wouldn't it be great if people were as loving and loyal and happy as dogs? :yes:

I am up a half lb today. I definitely did not drink enough water yesterday (just sips) and I had baked beans last night so I'm sure the sugar in the sauce got me! :shrug:

Week 23: High 179.5, Low (175)
10/4--179.5
10/5--(177)
10/6--(176.5)
10/7--(175.5)
10/8--(177)
10/9--(176)
10/10--(175) Carb Day

Week 24: High 177, Low 175
10/11--(177)
10/12--(176)
10/13--(175.5)
10/14--(175)
10/15--(174.5)
10/16--176
10/17--175 Carb Day

Week 25: (High 178, Low 175.5)
10/18--177.5
10/19--176.5
10/20--176.5
10/21--175.5
10/22--DNW
10/23--177 Carb Day
10/24--178

Week 26:
10/25--176
10/26--175
10/27--175.5
10/28--
10/29--
10/30--
10/31--

Today's Meals:
Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
3 slices of bacon
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio Water

Lunch:
Got busy and forgot

Tea Time:
None

Dinner (VERY LATE)
Ham, cheese and pickle roll-up
Pork rinds
Fage Greek yogurt with Mio
Mio water

Today's Exercise:
Weslo Cardioglide

I haven't been checking my BP because I don't want to see the number. Today it was 164/76. My diastolic is usually good but not my systolic. They always tell me, the bottom number is good but not the top number. Trouble is, they can't give me anything that will only bring down the systolic number. From what I've read online, I have isolated systolic hypertension, when the top number is high and the bottom number is low. It happens often in older people. My cardiologist has never mentioned it, but I am concerned that if he gives me stronger meds the diastolic number will go too low. I think it said it is better to have the top number a little high than to have the bottom number too low, but 164 is probably higher than they meant. I didn't get on the scale because if I'm back over 200 I don't want to know. I will weigh the next time I feel that I've lost something.

I think I found my answer to my dilemma of not really being satisfied eating salads. When I worked, I used to take "salad in a pita" for lunch. I would cut a pita in half and stuff the salad into it. It was a salad, but felt like I was eating a sandwich. I quit buying pitas because of the carbs, but now I found some low carb pitas. I had "salad in a pita" today for lunch. Very satisfying. It was full of hearts of romaine and slices of onion, along with a bit of chicken salad.

I am also trying to increase my water consumption. I get away from water in the colder weather. When I went to cardiac rehab they had us drink water if our blood pressure dipped too low, but I think I need the water. I don't drink enough. Right now I'm drinking a bottle of water but had to go put my hoodie on because I'm freezing. My ears are cold too, so might need some earmuffs.

Yes, SeeMyFeet, big yowza with the perforated bowel. It was horrible. I don't wish that on anyone. I would rather have another heart surgery.

Jacqui, I don't think it was what my step-daughter was putting in the Friendship cake, it was the fact that it was sitting out on the counter for days, bubbling away! LOL

Mars, I will have to go back and re-read what you wrote about BP. Some of it I didn't understand. I have an e-book about the Dash Diet but haven't done more than glance at it. I never thought about foods that lower BP other than what I'd read about dairy. It might be the potassium in the bananas that helps.

PrairieQueen, I wonder what the person thought who got your sausage burrito in their bag? Today, DH brought a McDonald's coupon to me and said "Maybe we should have this today." The coupon expired on 12/31/13. I have no idea where he dug that up! LOL

Today's menu......

Break - sausage burrito w/hot sauce and ice tea w/stevia
Lunch - Amy's organic bean/cheese burrito
Dinner - 6 grilled wings, 2 light beers

Carol That salad in a pita sounds so good! What's the brand of low carb pita, please? I like the grab n go aspect of it. I think the reason I like to eat a salad is that it takes a long time to eat--the illusion of a gigantic meal, lol.

Oops my bad re that medicalese paragraph. There was probably a more readable summary I read before pasting this one. Anyway, the gist is that current thinking is not to be too aggressive with BP goals. But then it said the studies show 150 or below seems to have best results for diabetics. But that they were still sticking to 140 as the ideal even though the evidence did not support that it was better.

What I had in mind was to give you ammo for discussion in case your cardio wants to be more aggressive with meds. You are already so well-informed about it & your concern sounds entirely reasonable~will be interesting to hear what your doc says about the issue with too low diastolic. Is he easy to talk to?

My brother has hypertension, hard to control. He sent me NYTimes article that discussed the pros & cons of lowering BP to the 'ideal'. People were getting dizzy & falling, getting serious injuries. I guess as we age our arteries aren't as stretchy so to get enough circulation to feed our brain, it takes a blood higher pressure. So there is a trend to relax the standard and also to take into account how the meds are affecting an individual. I bet you already know this!

(In case it isn't clear, the numbers after each lifestyle change are how much, on average, the systolic BP is lowered. I think you're right about the potassium. I never could manage to eat bananas without becoming starving afterwards).

Jacqui Baked beans sound soooo good! Doesn't sound like a gain at all.

:wave: SeeMyFeet, PrairieQueen & everyone else :coffee:

I did ok yesterday--nothing like trying on clothes to get a reality check, lol. In the summertime, I was doing some exercise and at this weight, they actually fit just fine. So I'm hoping my shape will do a little re-arranging soon, but I'm not gonna stress about it. There's plenty of time to do that next month! :D

Yesterday
B mushroom, sauerkraut omelet, whey shake & coffee
L salad, chicken, evoo & WaldenFarms 0 cal 1000 Island dsg (so much better than the WF low fat soybean oil dressing that I accidentally ordered--5 bottles left
D a lot of turkey chili, butternut squash, potatoes, cauliflower
S whey shake, pear, chicken, broccoli
2 L vanilla spice tea, no exercise
WI 165.8 2 lbs to go to get back to lowest weight from summer