Discussion Board

Michelle - could it be that you are starting to build some muscle, and that is why your weight is not going down? Also, if you haven't been able to use your CPAP, you probably aren't sleeping that well, and that can affect weight loss. Regardless, you have a lot to be proud of, and you should definitely keep exercising and doing your best.

Hi Michelle, Thank for taking the time to stop by my journal and "talk" to me about fibro. I'm still not sure what is wrong with me, but I got a lot out of reading your journal. I have been eating this way one month now and just started to add in exercise. I haven't joined a gym but I have a rower at home. I like to row too. It is a Concept II rower and I only did 5 minutes. I have to start very slowly. I looked at my log and saw that I was doing 45 minutes last year so it will take a bit for me to get back to that. It sounds like you are doing very well, even though the scale isn't moving right now. Keep it up!

Weight - 206.5
BP - 112/80 Pulse 74
Exercise:
Stationary bike - 30 mins,
treadmill - 30 mins

Carolyn: You are exactly right on both accounts. I got the CPAP humidifier yesterday after they had sent the wrong one, but I can't figure the mask out and it still needs to be re-calibrated next Tuesday at the HMOs walkin CPAP lab. AND, I might just be gaining muscle. Actually it's only been like a week at the gym and I know that I am lossing more inches then usual. I don't even have to measure to know this - all of a sudden my fingers and wrists re looking like the old thin me and rings I haven't worn in years are coming out of the jewelry box. anyway - I am hoping you are exactly right, because I went up a half a pound since yesterday and the days food was spot on MWL.

Here's what Lani told another Mcdougaller on the gaining muscle topic



Silver: Seriously what a coincidence, I did exactly 5 minutes on the rower at the gym yesterday. and that for sure was my max limit. I did do other things, but I do believe because you are really working both legs and arms it's so much more physically taxing. If you were doing 45 minutes before you were really getting a great workout!

Carolyn & Silver: I think we all three have left (?) hip problems. Am I right about this??? I have never asked my doc if this is bursitis, because I have read it is a fibro problem - not both hips, but just the left hip. Mine feels like it is a real tightening issue and hasn't improved at all with the diet, I do get some relief with the stationary bike now, but it won't last the whole day. If I sit for any length of time -- it's back.

Anyway, I am really interested in what all you guys find that helps - because this is one of my most vexxing and frankly painful problems!!! I sure hope the phys therapy works wonders for you Carolyn!!!!

Yesterday's food:

B oatmeal, mixed fruit, cinnamon herbal coffee and stevia
L salad with 1.5 cup of raw veggies and 1 cup rice
D steamed bok choy with mushrooms, garlic and onions
S - sweet potato with cinnamon and apple

I am off to the gym to get more muscle.....

Today's food log:

B: oat meal, mixed berries, cinnamon & herbal coffee w/stevia
L: sweet potato/tomato/cuke slices/salsa
S: banana
D: rice/swiss chard/onions/mushrooms/tbsp. low so soy sauce
S: sweet potato/pumpkin pie spice

At day's end:

I am noticing improvements in energy and less pain, since beginning at the gym. I am still really fatigued in the morning (partially perhaps because I can't use CPAP until it's re-calibrated next week), but I am getting out by late morning or after lunch every day to hit the gym. I am doing about an hour there. I think without the swimming, that I have been doing for eons, I wouldn't be conditioned enough to do that much time, but also I feel that the high nutrition of this WOE is responsible as well.

The extra energy is apparent to - I was able to run two errands, mostly food fetching Segona's Farmer's Market & Safeway after exercising. I usually do my shop at another store near the pool and call it a day - I'll be able to do the shop and get the food in the cupboards before collapsing the rest of the day.

Today - I did two stores, came home unpacked, cooked, and did about an hours worth of house chores and laundry. Because the fatigue/pain of my fibro has been at about the 7/8 range for so long this change is substantial, even compared to a few weeks back where the weather caused me to be house bound with pain. I may pay for today - tomorrow - but right now I am pretty thrilled

Weight 205.5
BP 112/74/72

I kind of cheated and wore the old CPAP last night to see if that is REALLY contributing to holding back my weight loss. Maybe so, I show a pound down today and I didn't wear it the whole night. Tonight I'll add on the new humidifier and see if I can get through the night. It would be nice to show I lost something now that I am doing an hour a gym exercise a day.

Typically this would be my swim day - but the evil Siamese twins (Weasel and Swoozie cats) got me up about eight times last night. The cat door can't be open at the same time as kibble is out - or raccoons come in. Weasel must have his kibble before going out and Swoozie must have hers upon coming in. In my last house I had a collar tag reader cat door. Weasel lost the 80 buck collar at least every other month. So, I just gave up on that. Today I will try and find the new chip reader cat door that is made in Australia. I guess there they haven't figured out that the collar is how you really make the money on these things.

http://www.sureflap.com/

Today would be a really good day for REAL COFFEE - let's say a mocha latte. I'll drink my mocha teecino and pretend, but gee whiz

Ah, hope you feel better.

My pain is in my right hip. It has been diagnosed as bursitis by an xray. I have had a cortisone shot that helped the pain by about 50% for a three month period. I need to talk to the doctor about draining it perhaps. The pain medication that they want to give me just makes me groggy and unable to work so I don't take any. Physical Therapy didn't really help and most exercise tend to make it worse. I am starting out very slowly on the rower to try and get some blood flowing to the area. I am hoping that losing weight will help.

Years ago mine started out as pain only when I was sitting in my car. Over the years it has progressed. To pain is sometimes all over the butt and hip area and 1/2 way down the outside of my leg. I have pain sometimes when sitting, sometimes when standing, all of the time if I lay on that side (so I am grateful that it is only one side, since I am a side sleeper), and sometimes for no reason at all. Very frustrating isn't it?

It was good to see you had more energy on Wednesday. Hopefully the way you are feeling today has to do with the lack of sleep from the kitties!

I am so jealous! I have had 2 cortisone shots, and both have lasted only about 3 days!! However, I can definitely tell that exercise helps. We went for a 1 mile walk today, and it felt really good afterwards - I have not had any pain all day.

Michelle - maybe you should check to see if it bursitis. My Rheumatologist could tell just by an exam - no X-ray necessary. I don't take anything for it except tylenol (and of course I am on Lyrica).

January 01, 2012 - 212.0
January 06, 2012 - 210.5
January 13, 2012 - 209.5
January 20, 2012 - 208.0
January 27, 2012 - 210.0
February 03, 2012 - 207.0
February 10, 2012 - 207.0
February 18, 2012 - 208.0
February 24, 2012 - 207.5
March 02, 2012 - 206.0
March 09, 2012 - 205.5
March 16, 2012 - 206.0
March 22, 2012 - 204.0
March 29, 2012 - 208.0
April 05, 2012 - 203.5
April 13, 2012 - 210.5
April 14, 2012 - 208.5
April 19, 2012 - 206.5
April 26, 2012 - 205.0
May 04, 2012 - 205.5

Up 0.5 pounds!

Absolutely no excuses, 5 hours at the gym this week and completely MWL and I gain half a pound!!!!

My Weight Chart:
>

Weight - 205.5
Stationary bike - 25 mins
Treadmill - 35 mins

B: oatmeal/mixed berries/cinnamon/flaxseed meal & one cap evening primrose oil
L: squash soup & mixed sliced/peppers/onions/broccoli/garlic/herbs & one cp evening primrose oil
D: sweet potato/bok choy/ginger/garlic/mushroom & salad w/ mixed veggies
S: apple

Silver: I have complete empathy with you about the drugs they give us - gee we might want to get a little something accomplished with a day - instead of falling asleep on our feet!!!! What are docs thinking??? Most of the drugs I was given caused drowsiness, dry mouth (also means dental nightmares) and weight gain. Does this all sound familiar!! Glad you are the sort to put your foot down to that as well!

Thanks for detailing your hip issues for me. I will check out the possibility of bursitis with my PC doc. I did have a head to toe evaluation with a pain specialist doc and he identified every spot of pain in my body as something. I was in such a bad state then though that I just can't recall all that was wrong with me. Still my pain goes from hip to knee cap on the inside of my leg and gets worse through the day. This sounds of fibro muscle stuff to me, but I want to double check it's not something that can be treated.

HOWEVER, I read Dr. Barnard on the evening primrose oil and the whole inflammation thing and then ran (haha let's be real - limped) to the health food store to get some. He says it often takes months for this to work - but I swear I last night my ankle knees and hip all felt better then the night before - in a significant way. I mean and you will so get this, I didn't even have to decide which side was going to cause me more pain to sleep on - the knee side or the ankle side, because neither was too significant to drift off to sleep last night - until the cats got me up. (That new cat door is on it's way from Australia TG).

Back to your primrose oil -- I had terrible menstrual pain in the past, so much so that I was hospitalized for that on two occasions. A nurse explained to a friend who accompanied me that essentially I was having contractions as bad as those in childbirth and this was due to prostaglandin's run amok. In reading Dr. Barnard - these guys are the culprits in inflammatory pain as well! The primrose oil is good for menstrual problems as well as arthritis, lowering blood pressure and many other good things.

http://www.pcrm.org/search/?cid=2267#oils

I feel kind of bad taking an oil - I can hear Dr. Esselstyn's "no oil, no oil, no oil" right now, but it does seem like something that will be beneficial and I am already doing the flax meal, so...

Thanks so much for this tip. I hope you have fast results from the rower and that Carolyn has gotten on her bike again. I was glad to hear a walk alone gave her a pain free day!

On the rower -- I completely remember the little increments I had to start with! Rowing is really far more exercise than the treadmill and I have just compared the two last week and seriously more than 5 minutes would have made me fall off the thing!!! Take it slow and easy and be proud of yourself everyday for putting the effort into it!! I know I am feeling less pain and so hope the same for you!!

Well - I haven't gotten on my bike yet, as DH hasn't gotten it down and aired up my tires (it is hanging from hooks in the garage - I am only 5'1", and can't get it down by myself!). However, I am feeling better - very little pain at all right now. I am going to look for evening primrose oil though, to see if that helps. I am not adding any oil to anything, or cooking with oil, but I can't imagine that the tiny bit in my flax oil capsules and this evening primrose oil will be enough to hurt me really.

I hope that your weekend was good, and that you got in some exercise and are feeling great! I signed on for the MWL for May, so we can support each other and hopefully see some good results!

Carolyn: I am hoping the same thing that the same little bits of flax and primrose won't be a problem. Thing is even if it is for the weight loss I need them both - so what's a girl to do. I am so happy the pain is eluding you these days - just great !!!

W: 206

Well, I have been slamming busy these last few days. Actually, since last Thursday. I really am only home occasionally, in between workshops, lunches out and Dr. appointments.

I haven't been good with the lunches and kind of got blind sided there a bit. For the workshop I signed up for the veggie lunch - I have been to this place numerous times and this is actually always a bunch of homemade salads with dressing optional, along with fruit and a couple of cookies.

So, I took a container of rice and was prepared to be just fine. Except, all of a sudden I saw that all the luches were box lunches up front. Disaster - I looked inside and it was processed cheese sandwiches, potato chips, macaroni salad, a nasty looking cookie and an apple. I had an apple and rice for lunch - pretty weird.

The next day was an impromptu lunch with a friend. I had minutes to pick a restaurant she could find and meet her downtown. I blew this one! It's Chinese, but they don't really have rice/veggie plates - they speialize in making tofu taste like ham, duck, chicken - you name it. There is tons of salt and oil. I ate what sounded like the most veggies and asked them to forgot the ham stuff, but the english comprehension isn't big there - so I got it anyway! Then as lunch lingered close to dinner time, I ate the ham stuff. I bounced up a whole pound for my error, after vowing not to fall off the wagon ever again.

I read in Kate's journal that she goes prepared or she doesn't eat. She say's due to the fasting she's done she finds that she can easily skip a meal. I am so not there.

I think it's from the years of dieting and being so starved that I could barely wait for the next meal. My brain just hasn't turned around on the fact that I am OK to miss here and there. I'll work on being completely prepared, but I got to find some restuarants with Robin soon - so I have a backup plan for eatting out.

I did dodge a bullet though - I talked a friend into bag lunch n a park instead of a restaurant next week. I am trying, really I am

I completely sympathize with the workshop experience. I went to a conference a few weeks ago, and ordered the vegan option for lunch. After handing back a plate of chicken twice, they finally brought me pasta. With cheese tortellini. I just ate it, because I was sick of looking like the B*tch who wouldn't eat what they served me. But, another girl at my table ordered "vegetarian, no dairy, no gluten". she got a lovely baked potato with tomatoes and veggies on top. *sigh*. Next time I will know how to specify what I need in a language that they can understand!

Michelle - bag lunches = the way to go. It's win/win!

Don't worry, eventually you'll be able to skip meals with no problem, but to give you perspective, it took me 13 months to get to that point.

Carolyn: Your story is so right on target with our restaurant experiences! But also a learning light bulb on how to order, thank you! I think Dr. McDougall made a point or one of the docs to order likes it's your Doctor's Orders. This gives the kitchen the idea that you are on a special diet for health reasons and they don't want to mess up. I think whomever said it - and it had to be Dr. McD - as it is so BOLD - order like you have a terrible allergic reaction - if your food contains any thing non McD. Well we do don't we - PAIN!

Nicole: Oh goody, you're like giving me over a year to get there, doable - I hope!!!!

I have had a terrible week of weight roller coasters and was frankly SO discouraged. As usual, I went into the mode of over analyzing everything it could have possible been, as it was so radical and actually a little scary.

I gained a pound from eating oily salty vegan Sunday - no brainer that one. But the next day I went up another 4.5 overnight! My weight loss is extremely slow - I accept that -and I try to do the tweaks I am learning and just keep going.

STILL, going back to 210.5 put me just two pounds from where I started in January. Really this was completely devastating to me. So instead of whining and gnashing of teeth for too long, I tried to figure it out and make sure it wasn't something I had done.

I actually think it was but it such a weird circumstance it wasn't immediately apparent to me.

Last weekend a good portion of my town woke up to weird tasting water. I mean really vile. So bad you don't want to bathe in it, let alone drink or cook with it. At one point in my career I worked for State Health Services in the Sanitary Engineering Section. I am not an engineer, but I did take engineering courses as relates to water quality. Given that I know what can go wrong with drink water. So I stopped drinking the water immediately, called the Water Manager and updated my neighbors on our town forum. The Water Manager said, absent actual tests, it's an algal bloom in the reservoir, could be but doesn't taste like it.

Anyway, I stopped drinking tap water at home. As I have barely been home this week it didn't seem a problem, I was just drinking elsewhere. Late Tuesday, I finally bought bottled water.

I hate the idea of bottled water, paying for water is absurd as it's usually tap water from somewhere else. Frankly is not anywhere as good as the water I have from my home tap - which comes from Yosemite actually! and then there are the plastic bottles- I could do a BIG RANT on that, but won't!

But I did buy some to tide me through tomorrow, when the test come out. Wednesday morning I was down to 206 - the only difference is I was drinking water again at my normal intake. If you look at McDougall's plate in the new Starch Solution book, the water glass is way bigger than the standard milk glass of the USDA. It visualizes the importance of water to me.

I dropped another pound last night - so I am back to 204.5, but I have been as low as 203.5 - so this is also territory I have seen before.

I think last night's weight loss is accelerated not because I am rehydrated, but because I FINALLY have an updated and re-calibrated CPAP machine!!!! This took weeks to get fixed, the company messed up, my HMO messed up and turns out I have probably been at the wrong setting for a really long time.

I don't want to get my hopes too high, but it may have a good impact on weight loss going forward. For certain getting a better night sleep makes my sugar cravings vanish and lowers my level of hunger substantially.

Even on the test machine Tuesday night I got better sleep and due to this I didn't have any inclination to eat the SAD food offerings at my Wed. night book group! I usually stick to fruit but have gone way over the allotment because I am still so hungry when I am tired. I once took my own sweet potato but I got looks - it was really funny, but I won't go there again, lol.

So today , the weight is down, I have some residual tired not sleep related, but because I am exhausted form the amount of non stop activity I have done. Sadly, there has been NO EXERCISE, while I have been running from place to place for the last week. I am going to try the gym tonight and hopefully swimming again tomorrow!

W: 204.5

B: oat meal/raspberries/flax meal & herbal coffe/stevia
L: giant veggie salad with rice

My Weight Chart:
>

I am so excited for you that your weight is coming back down!! I hope the trend continues for you - you should be proud that even though there have been circumstances in the past few weeks that would have made a lot of people give up on this WOE, you have stuck with it. Woo hoo!!