You're welcome Taye Here are some things work for me (finally). After trying all sorts of drops and ointment, my ophthalmologist told me to use Systane Balance. It contains lipids, and is milky white. I use it 4x/day and supplement with regular drops. (My workplace has very low humidity). After beginning Systane, my eyes improved almost immediately.

There are a lot of causes and types of dry eye and I hope your doctor checked you. Aging, female gender are common causes. Not blinking enough as when on the computer also is a risk factor--who can remember to blink, lol?

My problem is that while I make enough tears, they evaporate too fast. If you are producing enough tears, a common problem is that the lipid part of the tears is inadequate so the tears don't stay on the eye. The lipid part of tears is produced by glands in the eyelids. If they get blocked, the lipid doesn't get to the mix into the tears to protect your eye.

In addition to adding healthy dietary fat, I was advised to take Omega 3 and also to apply warm compress over each eye for 5 minutes a day.

You may have a different root cause, but adding healthy fat can't hurt!

Liana - love the pics, motor cycle momma made me smile. My mom bought a beautiful a Honda motor cycle when I was in high school, she would wear full leather jacket and chaps. And yes being all about safety she would wear the cross gaurd vest and have a huge loon sticker stuck on the back of her helmet. Needless to say somewhat embarrassed when she would pick me up but also thought she was pretty cool.

Eve- good discussion re trying to increase calories without carbs. I would like to bring mine up as well cuz I find I'm snacking. I'm counting out 12 alonds to eat. Will try the broccoli pine nut fat free cheese recipe looks yum.

I went to the dr this week, I seem to be missing my period. Two pee test for pregnancy came back negative which is a relief. Doc did blood work to see what is going on. I'm 39 and not para menopause I don't think. I don't know if the running would make a difference?
Any special plans for the weekend?

Love those pics Liana!

Thank you catlady1981! I'm coming along slower than I would like, which I think is pretty standard. I actually made it into work yesterday. Notice I didn't say I actually worked. Nope, boss sent me straight home - said he'd see me Monday. I think I mostly wanted to reassure myself he hadn't totally destroyed the place.

evemomma - I'm with Lianna and mars735 on upping the healthy fats. It's kind of hard to do at first (at least it was for me) but I try not to buy low fat dairy except for yogurt (I keep full fat and low fat around depending on what I need it for), avocados, olive oil, nuts, etc. And don't be afraid to up your calories slowly - add 50 or 100 a week until you get to a right for you range. It takes awhile to get a good number that works for you.

Jenny - hope you get things figured out with the doc, that's always concerning. Your mom sounds like fun!

No big plans this weekend except for taking it easy. Kind of hard for me to be down so much but I'm behaving myself mostly. Been binge watching Chuck (have no idea why I picked that series but it is cute), getting some work done, reading and doing a lot of sleeping when I can. Be glad when I can sleep lying down again.

Good Friday Morning Everyone!!!!!!!

RuthAnn.....Haha, I watched Chuck when it was on several years ago. I really like the star (don't know his name), he is the voice of Flynn Rider in Disney's Tangled. Thanks for continued advice! I hope you are getting your energy back....keep taking it easy!

Mars.....Interesting your info about dry eye. I have been told that the oil ducts in my lids are clogged and have tried to use special wipes to clear them and also use warm compresses. My dry eye started several years ago when I developed a rather severe allergy to my contacts and contact solution. I have had to go with glasses full time since my eyes won't tolerate contacts. I can manage my eyes during the day, but they get very dry at night. I have used a lot of different drops for symptom relief, I really like Blink Gel Tears. I hope that adding more good fats may help because I really don't want to be on any medicine for it!

Jenny......Wahoo for a neg preg test (unless that's what you are wanting). I wonder if this is part of your body's reaction to weight loss/exercising? We are the same age, I'm also 39. Yay for us for heading into 40's with better health! I feel like my hormones are still not balanced since losing this weight. My regular OB/Gyn didn't offer a lot of advice....I would like to find a reputable doc in my area who will look at my hormones and discuss my options. Poor libido continues to be my plague.

I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant last night for my favorite meal: grilled chicken/veggie kabobs over a salad (instead of rice/beans) and even a few tortilla chips. DELICIOUS!

I so appreciate the advice and encouragement from everyone here. This journey into maintenance seems so uncharted, and yet....I have so many guides to help me! Blessings all!

evemomma, I'll keep in mind the Blink Gel, thanks. I too want to be free of eye drops! Sounds like you have the same condition, which my doc called Meibomian gland disease. I didn't get it until recently and can't help wondering if it's from the long stretch of low fat P1-P4. Lesson learned about taking Omega3s, which I didn't do on the diet. I'm curious to know if you use the warm compress. I just bought some baby socks and filled them with rice, as suggested by doc. Am going to microwave them and apply for 5 minutes/eye. The rice is supposed to hold the heat longer. It lasts for ~3 days and then I'll replace. I gave away tons of rice & had to restock

Re hormones and libido, IP can totally cause changes. Could be low calorie, low carb, or losing the extra fat releases stored hormones, or something entirely different. Imho P4 is a time for the body to adjust to a new normal relative to both previous overweight & then rigorous diet. Throughout the year, I noticed changes (positive) in my skin & hair. Menopause is way back in my rearview mirror, so can't share experience there, though I salute everyone who sticks on the plan through PMS & TOM!

Hello Everybody!

Remember me? I have been missing for a couple of months. Summer got super busy and I also wanted to try to "calm down" with this whole maintenance thing as I thought I was getting a little too compulsive about it. I wanted to step back a bit and just listen to my own instincts and see how I did.

I had been doing okay, but the past month has not been good. Very stressful and emotional for me for many reasons, the most immediate being that our sweet dog of 11 years has lymphoma. When we found out, he was thought to have only a month or so to live. We decided to try a conservative round of chemo accompanied by prednisone and he seems to be feeling much better and we seem to have bought him a couple more months. In the course of this treatment, our dog has been famished constantly due to the meds, so, on vet's orders, I am feeding him constantly. Lately, it has gotten to be a constant food mill around here -- for him and, unfortunately, for me. I need to reel it in right now.

Before this news, I had been maintaining okay, but admittedly in a frantic and frenetic way. It seems I was always reacting to something I ate or some way I had eaten and cleaning up after it rather than just "being," if that makes any sense.

These past couple of weeks have put me back in touch with feeling out of control and all that goes with it. I feel like I am starting down a dark alley that anyone who watches crime flicks would tell me not to go down. So here I am . . .

I am afraid to weigh in, but I suspect I am up a good 10 lbs as I can tell in my clothes. I want to start back on P1, knock the initial water weight off, and then weigh on something like day 3. After having an argument with my husband last night, I sat up most of the night catching up with you gals via this thread. Right now, I'm on page 12, but didn't want to wait any longer to jump back in. It is so wonderful to see you all again and see all the positivity and support you all have. I need that again.

So that's where I am. I'm going to post this, get another bottle of water, and keep reading. I'm beginning page 13. Ruth Ann is just about to have her reduction surgery, JHep is about to have dinner with an old friend, Evemomma & Jenny are fun to watch in all their enthusiasum, Hawaii it's so good to see you again, Maile continues to be the zen voice of calm, Liana is still amazingly supportive and an even bigger wiz at the food combining puzzle, Joysh, drd, SlipFree (loving those arms, girl!), bubbleblower, Lisa (I saw you pop in on the subject of thrifty shopping!), eandc - I have been relating to your struggle and emotions and am happy to see you settling in again, . . . this thread is a real pager-turner!

SylviesGirl - so good to see you and yeah for you for recognizing that "dark alley" and wanting to reign it in. So sorry to hear about your dog - our pets become such important parts of our family that it's very hard when they are doing poorly (I say as I type around The Queen who has taken up residence in my lap).

evemomma - that mexican meal sounds delicious. Now I want mexican (and not the taco salad I had last night). Going to have to hit dh up for enchiladas.

It took awhile to have my hormones settle down after I got to maintenance. My doc explained the issues to me as (even though I have had a hysterectomy) the hormones stored in my fat just flooded me when I started losing weight and then once they were depleted I had too few. I'm back on HRT for the time being but will start trying to reduce that after the first of the year. My libido was all over the place - my dh should get a medal for living with me during the loss phase!

Welcome back SylviesGirl!

As you will read, I am having my own frenetic-newbie-maintainer crisis, lol! I am really, really sorry to hear about your puppy-dog. Our dog is the heart of our family, and he's not getting any younger....we will all be very heartbroken when he's gone.

It sounds like you are taking the steps you need to take to feel more in control again of your eating. I suspect that your journey is typical of maintanence: life rears its ugly head, we respond in crisis and struggle to maintain such strict focus on nutrition/exercise, and then we put the brakes on before we get back to where we started.

This IS maintanence (at least I think). I'm thinking of it like my house. I try to keep up on my housework, but with working (and two kids and a messy hubby), it's a daily challenge.....when life starts to get too chaotic, our house suffers. But I never let it get to the state of a Hoarders episode! I just have to step it up and get back in check. Just because my house starts getting really messy again, it doesn't mean I've failed as a wife and mother. Its just means I need to refocus again and perhaps change things up.

Sorry, I'm rambling. Forgive yourself for not being perfect and make a plan. You can do this!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the words of wisdom, RuthAnn!

My hubby's patience is waning. My doc thinks my testosterone is low and suggested possibly a gel. But I would like to get some clearer testing before I go that route.

Wondering if any of you did a cleanse after you got to goal to remove built up toxins and if you saw additional losses or felt better? I am still in the midst of losing but very very slowly and wondering if a cleanse is needed.

Hey! Sylviesgirl & Ruth Ann glad you guys are back and posting. for you Sylviesgirl for going through all that with your doggie. On the wagon for P1 and you will be back to your old self soon.

Sorry I wasn't very clear in the recipe. Full fat cheese is in chunks to eat on the side otherwise it interferes with the play of sweet raisins and toasty pine nuts if it's put in the dish. Old Italian recipe.

Jenny, sounds like you had a pretty cool mama, but I think all high schoolers are embarrassed by their parents, it's just a 'thing.' I was a security guard at the Sturgis North Festival the first year it was held. Amazing custom motorcycles worth hundreds of thousands I had to guard, and guarding the stage for live bands too. Streetheart, Loverboy, and other classic early rock bands. Really neat gig and good perks & pay.

I never did a cleanse the entire time I was losing and/or maintaining. Never saw the point and no one could ever tell me exactly what "toxins" were going to be removed that my system wasn't already taking care of.

At most a cleanse will give you a temporary water weight loss. As you get closer to goal the slower the weight comes off - I don't think a cleanse is going to help with that. Just my opinion, of course!

Hi everyone,

These kids are wiping me out! Such energy.

Eve, love your house cleaning analogy.

Ruth Ann, you are sounding more like yourself Glad your boss sent you home to rest.

Sylviesgirl, happy to see you.

Mars, you are right, the pms is hard! Funny, just how many of us suffer with dry eyes.

CO 6- no cleanse for me.

my long post just disappeared and now too tired to write again.

Sylviesgirl thinking of you, so hard when our pets are struggling.

Co-6 no cleanse for me either. A naturapath rec juicing with veggies post IP but in discussion on daily chat the general consensus was it wasn't worth it.

Liana- the Sturgies North festival sounded fun. Love the variety in your job. Some days seem fun but I know you also work some long and hard shifts to.

Ruth Ann & Mars, sounds like your bodies/ hormones re adjusted post diet and hopefully settled down.

Eve love your "maintainance as a house" analogy, I think I may have to adopt that. We do the best we can.

As Lisa says pick your hard, being over weight, dieting or maintaining.

I think TOM may be coming cuz of the sugar craving will follow up with Dr.
Happy weekend

This is definitely on my list for my be t dr visit. I haven't had TOM since April and my libido sucks so bad that DH thinks I lost weight just to find a new man.