astrophe is 100% correct. The pills taste awful, so never take one without water.

Also, drink A TON of water. I'm talking at least 2L per day. Otherwise, you may get a sort of caffeine jitter. (This can help with the sleeping difficulty as well).

But on the bright side, you will have more energy and you won't have hunger cravings!

Astrophe:

I'm so sorry to hear about your father. I'm currently working on my PhD in adolescent psych, but I've worked a few years in a geriatric psychiatrist's office, and I've seen how hard it can be on younger relatives.

Have you thought of maybe doing a joint therapy session with your father? For example going together, then separating so that you each have time with the clinician? I've seen this help many families. Also, they might be able to bill your father's medicare insurance instead of your own.

As for your post-phentermine-weight-loss, I know it of feels like you've been unplugged! The worst.

What I did was I bought a mini food processor and started making my own juices. I know this sounds nuts, but the homemade juices really helped me feel more satisfied between meals! I have about 3 ready to go in my fridge at all times. (This may seem impossible with a small child at home, but you can make a bunch at a time and freeze them. They also make great popsicles... could be a fun summer project!)

I also started carrying a bottle of water and peanuts/almonds in my purse Keeps me eating batatas bravas on the regular haha.

Hang in there, astrophe! You're doing a great job!

xx jess

GuiriGirl: Thanks for the compassion and kindness. :)

I've offered, but I'm also not going to push it. You have NO idea -- the crazy last fall? I had to go to court to get a judge order so cops would pick up my dad for the 3 day involuntary mental health check. We discovered prostrate probs so they kept him longer -- and part of his dx is anosognosia. Where he is ill but cannot and does not even recognize he is ill. So there's no way he'd agree to joint therapy for mental health cuz "what for!? I'm not sick!"

So much drama over the last year leading to it coming to a head and me putting my foot down. The aggression got so crazy that I consulted with my sister and told Mom off and said we'd go to court with or WITHOUT her. (She was frightened and being an obstacle.)

Mom and I have been to caregiver classes, Dad's got his doc line up and therapies which he agrees to go to because he has "stress" -- that bit he will own. You know. Because WE stress HIM out so. (anosognosia again -- he perceives we are different toward him but doesn't get why). So life here is MUCH better, and all are more stable. Still hard, but more stable with dad on meds.

But the rest of the picture he's clueless. Just acts out his frustration and WE know why, but he doesn't know why. So he flails about sometimes. I love him even when he makes me feel crazy. So I will keep caring for him and mom and we're working plan to move him to facility if he's no longer safe at home. Mom's kinda seen the light and is being more real and STOPPED being so obstacle.

Right now he's high functioning -- dress, eat, bathe, do small chores around the house, likes his cat, his TV shows, his music, his books, etc. I'd put him like a 12 year old. Old enough to be trusted with some things, not old enough to drive (we took away the license) and prone to bratty moments like a tween. But really some of his tantrums sometimes devolve into total toddler mode -- forget even the tween mode.

"But whhhhhhyyyy can't I? You are just MEAN!" type. :dizzy:

Oy.


Post phen -- ha! We had the same thought. I've been in smoothie making world with the vitamix.

I also have a thing of almond/cranberry mix in my purse for back up.

I also talked to a friend IRL who agreed to be my other check in person besides DH because I'm trying to earn a PALA again pedometer style. I'd rather do minutes or miles but formal workouts are unreliable in summer with elder AND kid afoot. Most days I feel like I'm running around after people or running around trying to clean things so my way of "go with the flow" is fine! Count the steps then. How MUCH run around? :D

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

A.

Hi there - I hope you don't mind me jumping in and joining this group.

My name is Kari, I'm 29 and I was diagnosed with PCOS in August 2006. I was on Metformin for several years and lost weight with it (roughly 50 lbs) however after years of being on it I felt like I needed a break from it (and the side effects). Soon after I started regaining the weight.

This past January I decided to join Weight Watchers and I successfully lost 30 lbs. The last month and a half I have gotten off track, but this past week I have been back on plan and have lost 4.4 lbs. I am now doing Weight Watchers on my own (no meetings or e-tools) and so far so good. :)

kc82 -- :welcome2:

And good for you for taking care of you and getting support in the PCOS battle by coming here!

Jump on in! The water's fine! :)

A.

KC82: Welcome! Good for you for trying Weight Watchers, and 30 pounds! My goodness! Congratulations!!
p.s. when I was diagnosed I also took metformin. It didn't help much, also made my mind kind of fuzzy. probably better to go med-free!! =)


Astrophe: "Crazy" doesn't even begin to cover the year you've had! But hang in there! No family is "normal" and everyone passes through a phase like this at some point or another. Just hold on, prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and try to remember to take care you yourself, not just everyone else!

As for the workouts, I hear you! And I love my pedometer! It's so cool to see how much you move in one day!! The other day I walked 6 miles and didn't even realize it!

As for the smoothies, do you like vitamix? I just make mine with fresh fruit/veggies and occasionally ice or yogurt. (In spain, fruit is much more inexpensive!)

Maybe something fun you could do with your little one is a "mock" olympics! Exercise and entertainment (and then maybe nap time for everyone haha).

GOOD LUCK! I'm always here if you need to talk!

xx gg

GuiriGirl: Yup. Eldercare for parents has to come to everyone. Was sorta hoping to be in my 50's rather than 36 for mine but alas alack, Dad's early birdie with his issues.

I'm alright. Learning to manage and scale my expectations of him and myself (in managing my PCOS) to a more doable level. So WHAT if it takes me longer? I'm in it for me! So go me! I might have PCOS but it doesn't have to own me. Nyah! ;)

Vitamix is just a fancy pants blender -- not like an addition to the green smoothie. I like it fine -- I spent years saving up. That sucker mashes stuff up like nobody's business but I have my other blender for lower power uses still.

Had a nicer day today -- initially I wanted to be all "Grrrr! Not getting all i want to get done DONE!" until I realized I wasn't going with the flow.

So I gave it up (that mindset) and approached it more like "find my blessings" mindset and then I could relax and feel good about what DID get done.

One thing I learned last year was being more present in the moment and not rushing onward to future or look backward at past. Just be in the here and now...

Tend to my mind, body, heart, soul buckets better.

And it's bringing me a level of peace I need to keep on keepin' on.

It's actually pretty awesome when I stop to think about it. :)

A.

Hi! Brand new to the board...but not to PCOS.

I was diagnosed several years ago after having a heavy period for 5 weeks straight. I weighed 220 at the time. I was given Metforman 500 mgs. I stopped taking it after two months because of the nausia. After losing 20 pounds my period became normal again.
Now I have gained a bit of that weight back and while my periods are still regular, I have increased number of chin hairs (hides). Ugh.
So anyway, I am off to read more about this area in the forum to learn more. Thanks!

masondixonmousery : welcome aboard! read all over this area -- lots of good posts. :)

My check in:

Ate clean yesterday, but did not log, but pretty confident in portion correctness

And clocked 9128 steps so pretty close to the 10,000.

I'm not used to flying this loose, but fly I go. It's working the best in summer with kid underfoot. I keep telling myself to roll with the NOW, and then fall will change it up again when school in session so.... there I roll.

DH and I are enjoying a super tight time in our rship -- having a blast rekindling and wooing. Whee. :)

Don't mind it being summer ONE BIT.

Ha! ;)

A.

Come jump over to a new month! The water's feelin' fine! :D

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/pcos...ml#post4390569