Thanks Jennifer and Noodles,

Very good articles Jennifer. I will have to try the oats with the yogurt. I try to drink at least 8-12 glasses of water daily. But I really think it has something to do with the meds I am on. I think i will give my doctor a jingle this week. Us poor women, if it isn't one thing its another. My weight loss is coming along pretty good though. Trying to excercise at least three days a week and eat smaller portions. Thanks girls! Julie

Nah, just very, very busy.

I'm fine. I think I'm reaching my first plateau, about 25 pounds from my goal. I see this as a very good sign, as I've been eating about 1600 calories a day, and that's slowing the weight loss. If it didn't I'd be worried that I was going too far, too fast. So to me it means my input calories, which are at a pretty comfortable level, are coming into sync with my exercise. At goal I would like to be eating about 1800 calories a day, exercising 45 min. - 1 hour 4-5 times a week.

I'm getting a little bit of the loose skin effect, especially at my chin, under my armpits, and the inner thighs. The bustline is a total disaster area. Is a sagging, deflated bust a symptom of PCOS? I'm not sure if slowing down the weight loss will help keep all that to a minimum or not. I think I'm doing everything I can to prevent it, but it is there, nonetheless.

I think I have found a gym nearby. It's not huge, but it has all the machines, plus free weights, a small pool, racquetball, and a tennis court. They will let me have a free trial tomorrow. If that looks good I think I'll take a six-month contract to start.

So I could join the gym, really blitz out my workouts, and lose faster, or tap on the brakes a bit and ease down into fall. Part of me says go for it, another has doubts. I don't want to look like a musclehead draped in yards of loose skin. OTOH, I may not be able to avoid the skin issue, so should l go for it-- ? I've read the stickys on loose skin, but there isn't much data to predict an outcome in any individual case. And spending $25,000 on plastic surgery is obviously to be avoided if at all possible, even if it means I have to take another year to get to goal.

As far as bowels go, I can relate, as we used to say. Too much fiber DEFINITELY plugs me up for days on end. Sometimes a powerful olive oil and apple cider vinegar vinagrette will get things going. In fact, a tablespoon or two of oil used to be the old cure, but I draw the line at taking cod liver oil. Yuck. Blackberries will also sometimes move things along, I don't know why.

But adding fiber on top of the "plug" makes things worse, for me anyway. Fiber is great for preventing problems, but some of us are just prone to it because our systems have lots of tricky twists and turns, where stuff gets stuck. Think about it-- you don't fix a plugged up drain by adding more hair and gunk, you have to dissolve the clog itself. And while I'm no pill popper, I think sometimes a softener or other mild laxative is the way.

Hi everyone,

Hope the weekend went well for everybody. Jennifer, thanks for the article on liver foods. You know, I went to the web site and read about milk thistle (the gay men article is the one I am referring to) and under milk thistle there was a caution about anyone with endometriousis or hx (or risk, I can't remember) of breast cancer/ovarian cancer, etc taking this herb. Just wondering if anyone knows why this would be? Is it an estrogen enhancing herb? I would think so with those diseases. Any thoughts?

Julie, sorry for the bowel situation - nothing worse! I actually work in acute care and you are right - water, water, water with any supplement. I have actually seen people with bowel obstructions from taking metamucil with not adequate water intake. Seniors are especially at risk. Anyway, hope things get moving along for you.

Good luck at the new gym SITC - sounds awesome! I worry about the skin but you know, the research also states that it can take upwards of 6 months to a year to get things firmed up after weight loss. Do what feels best for you, you will be beautiful regardless of the skin. Health is where it is at and you are certainly a much healthier person with all the great changes you have made. I am worried because I had two full term pregnancies and I have road map lines all over my belly. I don't think there is a chance in **** that this will firm up and I will have an apron forever. Surgery scares the begeezes out me but, one step at a time I guess.

Southern Girl/Noodles - great thoughts for returning to school. The world needs more good folks like you in the nursing profession. Or, physician...few extra years but very interesting work!

Anyway, must run. Have a great week everyone and thanks again for all the helpful info!

Jenaya

Ain't that the truth!! I have company coming over tomorrow so what do I do? I clean the house for 8 hours!! I started at 2 PM and didn't stop until 10 PM...Didn't even sit down for a break! But the house sparkles!! AHhhh...my poor feet are killing me though. Ouchie!!! :(

I am having the same problem...I can see the saggies visiting more and more as I lose more weight. Yeck!! They need to make invisible duct tape for this type of problem. :lol:

You and I are on the same cloud!! :cloud9: Hubby and I just visited the local gym Friday to enquire about a membership. It's not a big place but it has what we are looking for, plus our two good friends just joined and we'd do the buddy system workout thing. I want the raquetball, pool, kickboxing classes and personal trainers and he wants raquetball & weights. We really enjoy tennis but he refuses to play when it's over 90° and I can't say I blame him. I'd play though!! I like the heat. :hot:

True. Use to eat the wild ones all the time when I lived up in Oregon. yummm!!!! :T

LOL! Me too Jenaya!! My poor belly looks like a road map too!! I tried cocoa butter, lotions, duct tape, etc...nothing worked. :( Oh well..It's a good reminder though of the happiest day of my life. :smug:

Good morning, everyone! Happy Monday. I know, I know, too chirpy-- I sound like one of those relentlessly cheerful aerobics instructors. What can I say, it's the meds, or the sunny weather, or something.

Idea: How about putting all the Rogaine stuff into a sticky? The same questions seem to come up a lot, and while I'm happy to "testify," I seem to be typing basically the same stuff over and over.

Questions: I'm still ruminating, should I blitz out, really diet hard and work out hard for the next few months, or not? Is it time to maybe go to a trainer or a clinic and get some professional advice? I feel like I need to get off the fence here, help!

Ok...remember that giant quilt and Living-Room re-arrangement project I had been working on and griping about?? Well...here's the pics!!! Just click on the link and take a peek. :D

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...621#post545621

Good morning everyone!!! Today is THE DAY!! I go in for my hair removal laser treatment. I am unsure if they are testing the skin or if they'll actually go ahead and do a first sweep with the laser. Either way, I am so excited. I have had excess hair since junior high and the thought of finally getting rid of it makes me so excited I could cry!!! I am a bit nervous as people have told me it is painful but no pain, no gain right?!?!?! Hope everyone is well!

*hugs*

Noodles: Today was patch test day. You will out a sheet with all meds taken in the last month and how your skin tans vs. burns. Then you go in and they test the laser on your belly if you have hair there or shave a patch under your hair and test there. They take the laser as high as your skin can stand it and then you have photos taken and they write tons of numbers on it. I have to admit. At first it is not bad. The second go through thought it is tender. They gave me a topical gel to put on before my next visit (the BIG visit!!!) to numb my face and neck. I was so excited. My health insurance is paying part of it since I was officially diagnosed with PCOS and hirsuitism(sp???) so the cost is $200 a treatment for face and neck. It is SO worth checking with your health insurance provider to see if they will pay for part of it. Otherwise it is SO expensive!!!! My next appointment is in April. I have one in June and one in late July. Those three should do it. If not, I have two followups after that!!! :) Don't be chicken!! You can definitely do this. It feels no worse than a rubber band snapping. :)

I'm hiding my beak under my feathers, with one beady chicken eye peeking out, and a tiny clucking noise under my breath. Good luck, Michele, you're braver than I am!

Noodles: If you have lost 50 pounds and dealt with the emotional and physical struggles weight loss bring about you are no chicken!!! :)

SITC: Ditto the above to you too!

Losing weight and facing inner demons about food and all that comes with it as well as battling PCOS takes mental fortitude!!! So ruffle out those feathers and take a closer look. I see swans, not chickens!!!!