And JEC - good luck on your exams.

I'm very tired tonite, so my post won't be long...

Jennifa -- Hang in there girl, PMS is a killer, and we all have to muddle through it.... Personally, and in my honest opinion I don't like the bars, for me they are just like a Snickers full of sugar and junk, the protein in them is not the best either... eat real foods, today I was craving sugars and I had 1.5 cup of whole strawberries, 3/4 c cottage and half a scoop of chocolate protein powder and added some water and made a huge milkshake concoction, I trully was stuffed after that... Eat every 2 hours if you must, but eat clean stuff only, and add more lean protein.... Eating often has helped me alot... Just a ? for you Jen, why don't you think you will be happy with your results if you loose 75#? Just wondering....

The reason I'm so tired tonite is because I may have slept only 2-3 hours last night.... I have had for YEARS fidgety legs at night, some nights are worse than others, I can remember having this when I was a kid, my mom always said she couldn't sleep with me because my legs would jump off the bed... Last night everytime I would dose off they would jump and wake me up, my feet also get hot, my whole body is HOT, and it's not a hot flash per say, just HOT... DH cannot get near me... Well anyways this morning I searched restless legs, and lo and behold I think I have RLS... Restless Legs Syndrome!!! and it described me to a "T", gets worse in the summer and humidity, etc.... grrr... now at least I have name!! I had read a while back that taking calcium, magnesium, and Vit E were good, but as I was reading I think I may have to double or triple the dose... so that's what I will do. I also read on a forum much like this one, a woman puts a fan on her feet at night, and tonite I have a fan on my feet lemme tell ya...

Well enough about me and I hope everyone has a great night and day tomorrow... Hopefully I will sleep well enough tonite to make it to the gym in the AM... I miss it already...

Later all...

Jenn- I know EXACTLY how you feel! I did purchase a book called " Before the Change." It discusses how to deal with changes that occur in the body sometimes 10-15 years before menopause. It has some really good "natural" remedies for the symptoms of PMS and menopause. So far I have added 500 mgs. of Evening Primrose Oil 2x's daily for mood changes, anxiety,(which causes me to want to eat) and water retention. I'm also taking Magnesium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and E for insomnia. The book also mentions Flaxseed Oil to help with depression and fatigue. I have been following these "perizappers" as the author calls them, for about a week and can already feel less anxiety and depression. Plus I have NO problems with sleeping through the night. Before I was waking up 5-6 times! I think it is a book worth the read even if a woman is NOT near the age of menopause. There is a TON of advice about diet modification and how removing certain foods (sugar of course) from the diet will help in PMS/perimenopause issues. I saw the book on the Dr. Phil show, and I am SO glad I ordered it. Dr. Phil is my HERO! I'm into the natural organic lifestyle. Not that this is the right choice for everyone....but when I can tell a difference after a week, I know there must be something to the strategies she suggests in the book.

Robin - I LOVE Kathy Smith videos! Have 2 of them myself. Her step tape is really good! I have a collection of various aerobic tapes. When I first began teaching Step Aerobics, I bought them to get new ideas for my class.

ilive -- I have the book by Catherine Northrup, The Wisdom of Menopause,which I refer to ALL the time, and I love it.... Perimenopause can start as early as in the late 20's early 30's.... She also recommends all the supps you mention.... This is why I started to take Vit E and Calcium, Magnesium at night... speaking of which I took a double dose last night and put a fan on my feet and slept like a BABEEEEEE!!!....

I didn't go to the gym this morning when I checked my calendar this morning it's been 12 weeks I've been hitting the gym hard so I decided to take this week off... I'll do things in the house I've been putting off for the last little while... yesterday as tired as I was I painted the entrance way, I'm NOT a good painter!! Hubby gave it the second coat last night, and now it looks perfect! Today I may , whoooo hoooo, clean the OVEN!!! Ain't that FUN!!

Well gotta go... take care all, I'll be BAAACK later....
+

ilivetoworkout, so the periozappers really help then? i reviewed Dr. Phil's website, I rarely get to see the show cause I'm always at the office, but someone mentioned it and I copied down the 'recipe.' God knows I could use it, if it really works!

Just a quick post before I hit the shower...'twas leg day for me today...yowsers!!!

Funny y'all should be talking about menopause - I'm starting to think about it myself - I'll be 41 (!!!) in a few months so I dunno if I'm in perimenopause already or not - guess I'll have to ask my doctor next time I see him. I've never had PMS as far as I know - occasionally I have migraines when Aunt Flo comes to visit but she doesn't visit very often or for very long these days!

Gonna have to check out those books at the library!

Ilene - first thing I thought of when I read about RLS (funny I was just reading a book the other night that mentioned it...) is that Seinfeld episode where Kramer complains about his girlfriend having 'the jimmy legs' Once in a VERY great while that happens to me too...NOT fun.

JC- good luck on those exams!!! OW my brain hurts just from thinking about tests!!!

I've had a couple emails from our Meg - she's doing fine and I wouldn't be surprised if we heard from her pretty soon...

Gotta run and hit those showers!!

Thanks, all!

I think you are right. These EAS bars really are too sweet, I need to plan better. I guess I am having problems with the time thing. I don't get home until 8pm and then I'm too tired to go grocery shopping. I thought I had done well on Sunday, but apparently not. I made some healthy chicken, but when I tried to get some to take it to work, all of it fell on the floor. Sigh. It's one of those weeks.

At least I am staying up on my workouts!

I don't know how this is, but my body fat has increased after 4 weeks of BFL. How this is - I don't know. I have REALLY worked hard sticking to the program. WHATEVER. Either way, I know that my clothes are looser and I have more energy. THANKFULLY I took my measurements and THOSE are DEFINITELY shrinking. I'm not going to measure BF again until the end of the 12 weeks. The trainer said that the body freaks out when it's trained like this and it takes about 6 months for it to settle down with its new weight, metabolism, and body fat %.

Thanks all for your support. I have suspected perimenopause but my hormone level tests come back saying that that isn't it. I have severe periods that make me miss work - sometimes I cannot eat solid food for 2-3 days. My whole body shuts down. I wish there were a solid way to know for sure - if I am going into early menopause I would totally have an ablation done to relieve this monthly ****. I don't have kids, I want kids, but if I'm not going to be able to have them I think it's stupid to put up with periods like mine. It has not helped my lifelong battle with depression, either. I am literally sick of working so hard only to find that I'm still fat and gross and unhealthy.

Holding on for dear (body for) life to those measurements!!!

Jennifa

242 39.8%BF/236 40.5%BF/175

I have noticed something this week. I am in my second week of BFL, and even though I am eating 5-6 meals a day, I am hungry inbetween!! My average caloric intake is about 1800-2k a day. I guess I am supposed to
burn fat this way, but I also wonder if I am not eating enough. Yet I am afraid to eat more, as I do want to lose weight/fat

Robin

JC: Best of luck on your exams!!!

Hello everyone!

I am back. The bar is over. It was horrible. I had tremendous pain the third day due to my accident injuries and had to leave the test site early. I don't know if I passed due to that but there was no choice. I was in so much pain, I could not write.

I've been back home in California and packing. I found a beautiful townhouse in Dallas in an upscale, trendy neighborhood. I leave for Dallas on September 3rd.

I have my face lift on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!

My digital camera is broken but I must get some pictures taken.

Anyway, no exercising for me for a while but I plan to rest up in bed and recuperate from the entire summer while recovering from my face lift.

ye-ha.

Anyway, I will keep everyone posted and will let you know when I can return to the gym.

Glad to see everyone!
Susan

Hi Jennifa

I would be more inclined to go with measurement error on BF%; if your clothes are getting looser, your BF is NOT going up. No method is perfect and while calipers are the most accurate, it all depends on who is using them.

Congrats on the bar Susan and good luck with your surgery.

Hi to all!

Laura

Hi all,

Laura, thank you for your kind words. I am sticking with this for 12 weeks even if it makes me gain 10 pounds! I know it will be muscle!

Susanje, I am sure you did well on your exam. I too am on tenterhooks waiting for my foreign language results. I had to translate 3 essays into English and then answer questions about 3 other essays. I REALLY hope I pass, if I don't I will have to pay $2500 for a class and get a B or more... much as I love Goethe, I would love to pay down my credit card!! Good luck with your surgery, let us know how you are doing.

Scarlett O'Hara was right - tomorrow IS another day. (it's just not a free day! ) Feeling much better today and staying OP because it makes me feel good. I noticed today that I feel better when I wake up in the morning. This is a goooood thing.

I went bowling yesterday and I am SO HAPPY!! I picked up that spare where one pin is RIGHT behind the front one, it is SO HARD to pick up but - I GOT IT!!! I was jumping up and down, and I would like to know how many calories that burns....

Robin, I am also hungrier. This is because the bod needs fuel. My answer is to bump up the fruits and vegetables. Chances are you are getting the protein and carbs ok, but a few more veggies are not going to make you fat. Plus they are very satisfying.

hugs,

Jennifa

Robin -- my take on your hunger between meals is that you are building muscles, so IMO, I think you need more protein and vegies, for a few days make your protein a palm and a half and see what happens... I would personally stay away from fruits because of the sugar... I know you post often at L&S did you throw that question in to them yet? Good luck, and first and foremost don't give up!!!! We're here for your questions....

As for myself I have been on a week off from the gym and any and all exercises, it feels totally AWESOME!!! I don't feel lazy at all I feel refreshed and relaxed, I still get up at 4:30 or 5AM go down and have my coffee, and read and write in my journal.... I am presently reading "Diary of a Fat Housewife", recommended by Karen, and it's quite an interesting read, we would all see ourselves in this woman who so desperately wants to be thin!! or more in control of her addiction to chocolate and food in general....

Hi there folks!

Ilene - SO glad you're enjoying the book (you DID buy the paperback version, yes??). It is indeed an interesting read. Depending on my state of mind when I'm reading it, I either feel really sorry for Rosie or just want to SHAKE her! (also, I wonder what her sisters had to say once THEY got a chance to read the diary and what she had to say about THEM...hmmm...)

Jennifa - Laura is SPOT ON. Bodyfat measuring is SO "iffy" and inaccurate - especially if (like me) you have a large amount of loose skin (which I do on my abs mostly). I haven't had MY BF tested in well over a year - I'd much rather go by the "pants-o-meter" (i.e. clothes fit) - that's what really counts anyway, doesn't it? (and let's not even TALK about those Tanita bodyfat scales... )

Susanje!! I would HATE doing the bar exam...I bet you did great! You've got SOOO much going on in your life right now...surgery, the move to Dallas, etc....keep in touch!

Today was chest/tri day...a few weeks ago I started doing cardio a la Dave Draper - the big 15 minutes interval training - starting with 3-4 minutes of warmup, then 30 seconds all-out, 30 seconds jogging (or whatever you call it on the elliptical). I'll tell ya...it is a TOTAL wipe out...after that I do abs. Today I got the funniest look from one of the gym regular guys who was on the machine next to me, kinda just moseying along (compared to me anyway) and he tapped me on the shoulder and asked WHAT THE HECK WAS I DOING and I tried to explain...but was totally out of breath! Oh well...

So here in Cali...hmm...things are getting interesting...we have a big ol' recall election coming up and last night Arnold threw his hat in the ring Ya know...I don't follow politics all that much...but Arnold might be just what we need right now - one of the things that REALLY gets at me is how out-of-shape most of our kids are these days - he's been a big backer of after-school programs in our state and I expect that if he becomes Gov, he'll make physical fitness a PRIORITY again in our schools which would be fabulous! But I guess we'll see what happens in the next couple of months...never a dull moment in California ya know!

Later y'all!!

Ilene - Yes, I did post on L&S about this, and the response is similar to what you said. I need to cut back on a few types of carbs, and add others in, and bulk up on veggies, which I am lacking. I am not a big veggie fan unless they are in butter or in a saute or something. If anyone has veggie recipes I am all ears

Aaaahhhnold running in Cali....that should be interesting!! And I thought it was entertaining when I lived there

Have a good day all!!

Robin

Hey to all!
Robin- I agree with Lanaii-maybe you should up the intake of protein, and skip some fruit.
Lanaii- I am jealous of your off week. Hope you enjoy yourself (a much deserved break!!)
MrsJim- I hear ya about the loose skin on the abdominal area. Besides surgery, is there anything that can help this, even if the difference is minor?
Well things over here have been interesting while my gym has been closed. I have been lifting weights at my house, but I am somewhat limited. For cardio I am either walking or doing a fitness video. Last night I took a "bodypump" class and enjoyed it. My legs, however, did not. I felt crippled walking up the stairs at work. Talk to you all later. Have a great Thursday!