Hello everyone, I am brand new this forum and joined with great reservations for fear of coming across as an overweight menopausal woman who wants to lose weight but doesn't want to do anything about it but whine and complain. I don't know what to do! I have always been in shape and healthy until about 10 yrs. ago when I started with high blood pressure. Seven years, 50 lbs., and 15 different BP meds later, the reason for the high blood pressure was diagnosed and I was SHOCKED! A genetic kidney disease with no cure along with sinus tachycardia which is a para-sympothetic/sympothetic disorder. Despite the fact that I was quite used to the colossal challenges that my whole life has been filled with, this one knocked me for a loop. After renal angioplasty in spring of 2010 and an oophorectomy (which threw me straight into menopause at 49 which was another blow) I kept on exercising and changed my diet radically with the help of our local Kidney Disease Org. NOTHING! No weight loss. This year I have had two more surgeries (gallbladder removed and knee surgery) and have tried to remain positive despite my failure to get this weight off. Four weeks after knee surgery my husband and I joined a local gym which was just a couple of weeks ago. I purchase an emulsifier and started juicing with fresh vegetables but go easy on the fruit. My attendance at the gym has been relatively regular considering I am still healing from knee surgery. I have to be very careful with my protein, potassium and phosphorous intake because of the kidney disease. I should say that the top local nutritionist won't meet with me because she hasn't dealt with kidney disease for 15 years. I have even tried acupuncture. I feel my resolve starting to dissolve so if anybody has any sound advice I would welcome it. I am READY!

I am sorry that I do not have any advice for you. I just wanted to send you a cyber hug and let you know that I am so sorry for everything you have gone through.
You will find a lot of information and support here. Take care my dear and never give up!

Thanks so much for the cyber hug, I sure do appreciate it! I really love your quote, I will write it on a post it note and put it on my mirror.

wow. that's quite an adventure! i can feel your desperation and concern all the way up Route 95 [or 81, depending on where you are in VA!]

i'm wondering if you've had physical therapy after your knee surgery - quite a few docs encourage that. And if you have, i'm also figuring that they said it was OK for you to go to the gym, and have maybe given you some exercise tips.

now, this may sound a little bizarre, but talking with nutritionists who specialise in diabetes MIGHT be helpful. Many diabetics have kidney disease, so i'd hope that there's a dietician/nutritionist somewhere out there who might have some expertise.

what does your nephrologist say about all this?

It's I-95, never 81. The orthopedic surgeon suggested that I didn't need physical therapy so I have been riding the bike at the gym (which he did recommend). Unfortunately, the top nutritionist does specialize in Diebetes but my KD is relatively uncommon so she won't see me. I started seeing a Internal Medicine doc because I had a Nephrologist, Cardiologist, GP and GYN. and I wanted to reduce the amount of appointments. She is very good but insurance only pays for so many services and we are already paying so much for our out of pocket expenses. I am trying to do as much as I can on my own which is why I am looking for any and all suggestions and advice from the seasoned pros. This is the time for me; I must do this so I can do the things I used to, play with my grandson and be able to go wedding gown shopping for our vow renewal ceremony 10/2012. That will be our 30 year wedding anniversary and I want my husband to see some remnants of the woman he married. For the woman who is having surgery at the end of this month, I will be sending out prayers of quick healing for you.

I don't have any advice. But I want to say your determination is INSPIRING!! I hope you can find someone or a resource to help you eat whats right for you!

Hey Sued1971 our stats are almost identical. Congratulations on the five pounds, seems like you dropped the five pretty quick. Great motivation to keep going, huh? I can't wait until I can implement graphics showing a loss. I think I can, I think I can! I will be watching all of the weight losses for inspiration. Thanks to everyone for their honesty and transparency, it really helps a newcomer.

Can anyone tell me why I can't copy and paste my weight tracker. I think I followed the directions but when I go back to my post to paste, paste is not in bold. I can't finish the process. Help?

I am so sorry about the health problems you have. What I have in common with you is gaining weight after childbirth and now I am over 40 like you. I am beginning the path to losing weight and have found for me that getting rid of refined carbs is the best bet, since my body was hanging onto the fat. It was the boomerange effect of the sugar in my blood that caused it. Juicing has a ton of great nutrition in it, but using one of the powerful juicers that leave in the fiber is best. You just don't want too much sugar going into your blood system at once.

Let me know how it goes for you.

The fight is on and it is so much harder after you have hit forty but it is made a little easier when you have people cheering you on and giving good sound advice. I heard the same thing about the quality of the juicer being important. I got the HealthMaster emulsifier that Montel Williams does a commercial about. So far it is working very well. Trying to use only one piece of fruit with the veggies to cut the heavy veggie taste. I think I may have lost two lbs. but I am going to wait a week before weighing again. I have moved from the bike to the eliptical and I think that has made some difference plus I have increased the weight training. We can do this! If we can carry a child for nine months and give birth we can lose weight

Welcome and good luck!

Welcome to youtoo Girlvet. Is Madison Va northern VA?