When I started BP meds, my doctor said that while magnesium supplements aren't bad, they aren't well absorbed and kind of unnecessary. I stopped taking them when they didn't help with my high BP. I do try to eat a lot of magnesium rich foods (I use a lot of recipes from the DASH diet), but you're right--it is hard to reach a high intake. I bought the salt stuff and can't stand the taste.

I was talking about potassium, not magnesium. It seems to be pretty easy to get enough magnesium from my food, at least compared to potassium. Yeah, the potassium salt has a more metallic taste. I try to disguise the taste if I use it.

Michelle, somewhat ironically given this conversation, another thing besides SQ fluids that often helps kitties in this phase of renal disease is potassium supplementation. Have you talked to your vet about this? There is a nutritional supplement called Tumil K (or generic equivalent = potassium gluconate) that can be given as a flavored gel either in the cat's wet food or directly into the mouth. If administered appropriately, there is little chance of adverse effects even if Charlotte's whole-body potassium levels are normal (unlikely). Often the general weakness/lethargy of cats in chronic renal failure is partly due to potassium deficiency, and supplementation can improve it (and appetite too).

Pretty ironic indeed! I've been talking to a nutritional specialist who has Charlotte on kidni biotic and nupro supplements. I can read the ingredients in both but I don't know if they have magnesium??

Friday, down a little to 156.5.

Still amazed by how I've overeaten during two stressful weeks, and without particularly enjoying myself. No splurges, no pleasure. Just larger portions of so-called "healthy" foods.

Creeping ever so slowly downward; 157.6. It's not because of great control and discipline - it's because I've been really busy this week and out of the house in the evening. Getting past the mindless evening snacks and extra glass of adult beverage continues to be my biggest hurdle.

I will be curious to see if the weather predictions for Quid are anywhere near accurate for our area. Strong winds are forecast and maybe a severe thunderstorm. It's been a glorious warm week and this will make a return to "normal" weather seem especially punitive. I need to remember that most years by the end of February, I'm crawling the walls sick of winter!

Today/ tonight will be challenging to my "routines". In past years, my school has held a dinner fundraising auction but it doesn't really fit our demographics as most of our families are from India (with a few from Asia) and they don't typically leave their kids with sitters, so it's been poorly attended. This year they are trying something new and I'm very curious how/if it will work. It is a family bingo night (with auction) at our school. I've committed to coming since half of my salary is paid for by the parent funds. Dh will come and I've bought dd a ticket but I'm not sure if we can drag her there or not. It will mess with my schedule as it starts at 6 pm and we will have to grab dinner before, which will nullify any gym plans. So, I'm going to try my best to get my steps in at work and with a dog walk after school.

Dh hasn't been traveling which has been wonderful, but not so much to my weight loss plans. I feel much less guilty exercising, etc when he's gone. I still do it when he's here, but just not as much. He'll be going out of town in mid- March so I can hit it hard then, but it will only be 2 weeks before our cruise, so I need to be realistic about how much I could possibly lose then.

Potassium, not magnesium, is the issue. And no, the kidni biotic is some homeopathic type thing, and nu pro is a nutritional supplement with flax oil etc. In chronic renal disease, electrolyte and water imbalances are key. I'd recommend potassium gluconate supplementation in any affected kitty (the only risk is to cats so severely affected that they no longer produce adequate volumes of urine).

Thanks again, JayZeeJay, for the advice. And sorry to others for hijacking the thread with my kitty's kidney disease. So, are you saying she will urinate less with this? Her urination has already subsided with the SQ fluids treatment-- she was urinating profusely but now back to normal amounts for her.

My vet isn't a proponent of supplements so I looked online and just ordered the generic from Amazon.
Thanks again!!!

Saturday morning, in remarkably springlike weather, down to 155.4.

I'd be happy to reach 153 again. I hate that this will be another working weekend.

Hi all!

I've been lax about posting in here but my two teenagers keep me busy offline. Lol.

Anyway, thought I'd give a quick update as to what's new with me. Well, 2016 was a lousy year....I lost my father to congestive heart failure this time last year. 3 weeks later, another close family member passed away from cancer. Two funerals that close together isn't fun. Trust me on that.

I was depressed and ate my way to a 15 lb weight gain. After the grief subsided some, I got to work to try to lose the weight. It has taken far long than I expected to drop those extra pounds. I suspect my over 40 fluctuating hormones didn't exactly help the cause.

Fast forward several months later, and I'm almost at goal...only a couple of pounds left to go. I'm feeling decidedly more optimistic, and less grief-stricken these days. Suffice it to say, 2017 is a MUCH better year for me.

I think sometimes when we maintain for awhile, we can get complacent....that we feel we are above a backslide or two. I know I thought I could never "slip" the way I did last year but it CAN happen. The good news is I now have the tools and knowledge to remedy the slip up and move beyond it.

Being kinder to myself helped too. I'm SO over beating myself up about stressful situations which are beyond my control. After all, I'm only human. Aren't we all?

Thanks for listening. I hope everyone continues to do well, and have a healthy 2017.

You give me optimism, fitmom! I believe the hormones really are a hindrance to those of us up there in age. I can certainly testify to that.

DH and I are taking a quick trip through Joshua Tree today with our local Porsche club. For as long as we've lived here we've never visited yet.

Agree, potassium supplemental (unless otherwise indicated by your vet) is extremely important in cats w/renal disease and even in senior cats, they're finding they're low. There is a veterinary supplement Tumil K and it can make them feel so much better, it helps with hind leg weakness. Also you can do injectible B-12 and B vits in the Sub Q's that make them feel so much better.

http://www.felinecrf.org/potassium.htm

VERY helpful link:
http://www.felinecrf.org/

Michelle, it won't decrease her urine volume. In fact, I'm surprised that the SQ fluids have done so, as they're used to help with overall hydration and that usually increases urine output. What it may do is improve her energy and strength, and by association her appetite. Be sure to start with a low-end dose and see how she tolerates it (the kitty dose is often quite small, around 1/2 tsp or less per day - check the label). Of course, let your vet know you're using it, and if her urine output ever decreases BELOW normal, stop it asap. She should go to vet at that point in any case. Hope it helps.

Fitmom, it's good to hear from you, though it would have been fine for you to check in before you lost so many pounds. We want to support one another at the low moments, too, not just admire the finished product.

I'm beginning to think that I must decrease calories slightly with every passing year to do any kind of maintaining.

It's Sunday morning and I'm at 154.5, which is heartening. It's taken this long to flush away the sodium retention. This may be a desk-bound day, except for the gym and grocery store this morning, so I must be careful.