Healthy Weight Loss

[JustJo]

Good morning everyone

Matthew I'm glad you went in and were seen....I'm very frustrated with how you were treated though and the flippant response with no testing. Yikes.

So...again, one diabetic to another, you really really really need a good primary care doctor (or endocrinologist) to make sure that you have all the tests you need on a regular basis to manage your diabetes. Look at me....2 months late on my A1c test and advising Matthew....hmmmm.....obviously, it's tough enough to manage even with a good doctor...like the nice butch I have who is going to lecture me and give me that look...again...when I finally get my test done and get in there.

If you're only on metformin, chances are that your diabetes is not too advanced....or you're getting crappo treatment....and it's impossible for any of us to say which is which.

Like I said, I'm not a doctor or a nurse....I'm just a squeamish, struggling to be compliant diabetic. But I do know that you should be having quarterly blood tests that measure A1c, cholesterol, triglycerides, and kidney and liver function. You should also be seen annually by an opthamologist specializing in diabetes to keep an eye on your vision, and a podiatrist who treats diabetic patients to keep an eye on your feet.

That's the minimum of good care as I understand it as a patient.

I definitely am not trying to scare you. I just want to make sure that you get the care you need to keep you healthy and safe.

I totally and completely applaud your resolve to lose weight and be healthier. It's not easy...as all of us here can attest to...especially when you don't have support at home and lots of emotional stuff attached to food...but it's so, so important...especially for those of us who are diabetic.

I'm in your corner Matthew....keep pushing for the good care you deserve....and treat yourself with love and support as you start this journey. We're all here for you!



And....welcome to the thread Lizzy

Your skinned knee/cookie post made me shake my head and laugh to myself....can't tell you how many times I used food to soothe after injury, neglect, pain, sadness.....and can't tell you when it started...so chances are it was very young, and at the hands of others.

I'm still unlearning it.

I'm a craving snacks late at night person too....my new strategy for dealing with that generally involves going to bed! It works, because I can't eat while I'm sleeping....and I know more sleep helps me be healthier too.

[JustJo]

I knew that not getting enough sleep could make us more likely to reach for sugary stuff, caffeine or other comfort foods.....but there's actually a hormone issue that causes weight gain as well!

Check this out...

Sleep and Weight Gain - Will better sleep help you avoid extra pounds?
By Denise Mann

Think about it: If you’re feeling sleepy at work, you may be tempted to reach for a cup of coffee (or several cups) and a doughnut for a quick shot of energy. Later you may skip the gym and pick up takeout on your way home to your family -- no time to cook. When you finally find yourself back in your bed, you are too wound up to sleep.

It’s a vicious cycle, and eventually this sleep deprivation can sabotage your waistline and your health.

It starts out innocently enough. “When you have sleep deprivation and are running on low energy, you automatically go for a bag of potato chips or other comfort foods,” saysSusan Zafarlotfi, PhD, clinical director of the Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.

The immediate result? You may be able to fight off sleepiness. The ultimate result? Unwanted pounds as poor food choices coupled with lack of exercise set the stage for obesity and further sleep loss.

“Sleep debt is like credit card debt,” Zafarlotfi says. “If you keep accumulating credit card debt, you will pay high interest rates or your account will be shut down until you pay it all off. If you accumulate too much sleep debt, your body will crash.”

Not getting enough sleep is common -- even talked about with pride -- in the U.S. “We brag about an all-nighter, but we do pay a price for staying up late and getting up early,” says Mark Mahowald, MD, director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Hennepin County.

Understanding the Sleep-Diet Connection

The sleep-diet connection is regular fodder for diet books and magazine articles. Maybe you have even heard about the sleep diet, which suggests you can lose weight while you catch your ZZZs.

And it’s true, sort of.

“It’s not so much that if you sleep, you will lose weight, but if you are sleep-deprived, meaning that you are not getting enough minutes of sleep or good quality sleep, your metabolism will not function properly,” explains Michael Breus, PhD, author of Beauty Sleepand the clinical director of the sleep division for Arrowhead Health in Glendale, Ariz.

On average, we need about 7.5 hours of quality sleep per night, he says. “If you are getting this already, another half hour will not help you lose 10 pounds, but if you are a five-hour sleeper and start to sleep for seven hours a night, you will start dropping weight.”

Exactly how lack of sleep affects our ability to lose weight has a lot to do with our nightly hormones, explains Breus.

The two hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. “Ghrelin is the ‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin,” Breus says. “Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin.”

More ghrelin plus less leptin equals weight gain.

“You are eating more, plus your metabolism is slower when you are sleep-deprived,” Breus says.

The Sleep-Weight Loss Solution - So what can you do about sleep deprivation?

A lot, says Breus. First, look at how much you sleep vs. how well you sleep. “Some people such as new moms may only get to sleep for a four-hour stretch. And there are some people who get 7.5 hours of sleep that is poor quality because of pain or an underlying sleep disorder, and this has the same effect as if they got less sleep,” he says.

Trouble-shoot both with improved sleep hygiene, he says.

For starters, avoid any caffeine in the afternoon because it will keep you in the lighter stages of sleep -- which are associated with poor sleep -- at night. Breus recommends only decaf from 2 p.m. on. Exercise also helps improve sleep quality. How soon before bed should you exercise? It depends -- everyone is different. It’s more important that you exercise than it is when you exercise. Breus says to be safe, don’t exercise right before going to bed. “But some people exercise better before bed and it doesn’t affect their sleep,” he says.

Watch what you eat before bedtime. “Pizza and beer before bedtime is not a good idea,” says Breus. “Neither is eating a big meal close to bedtime.” He suggests eating a few healthy snacks and then having a light meal -- like a bowl of cereal -- if you’re running close to bedtime. Heavy, rich meals before bed can also increase risk of heartburn, which will certainly keep you up all night.

What if you are getting enough hours of sleep but wake up and feel sleepy the next day? “Talk to your doctor about seeing a sleep specialist,” Breus says. After conducting a thorough evaluation and sleep study, in which you are monitored while sleeping, the sleep specialist can help identify any underlying problem. Together you can develop a treatment plan so that you get more high-quality sleep -- and maybe even slim down.

SOURCES:

Susan Zafarlotfi, PhD, clinical director, Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders, Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey.

Michael Breus, PhD, clinical director, sleep division, Arrowhead Health, Glendale, Ariz.; author, Beauty Sleep.

Mark Mahowald, MD, director , Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, Hennepin County.

Taheri, S. PLoS Medicine; December 2004, vol 1: pp 210-216.

Reviewed on January 19, 2010
© 2010 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

[Scorp]

Hi Folks,

I'm kicking off the morning with another vanilla yogurt parfait...Seems to be my favorite morning breakfast these days....

Hope everyone gets through the day ok!

P.S. Yesterday I made it through the day/night without having a cigarette and to be honest, I'm not missing it!

Best,

Scorp

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Scorp

P.S. Yesterday I made it through the day/night without having a cigarette and to be honest, I'm not missing it!

Best,

Scorp

Woo Hoo! That's fantastic!

[Zimmeh]

Thank you for sharing that website link, Yellow. I didn't realize, I had what is called, pitted edema in my ankles. It stems from when I was hit by a car at the age of 15 and it nearly broke my legs.

Have a great day!

Zimmy

Originally Posted by Yellow band

http://www.medicinenet.com/edema/article.htm

Hi Mathew.

The internet is a wonderful tool.

Glad you saw a Dr. yesterday. I hate that the Dr. was dismissive. Now it's up to you to educate yourself as it's *Not just edema*

Here's hoping you stay motivated to do the right things!

I made brown rice, refried beans and hot tomato's for lunch.......just sayin!

[Zimmeh]

Keep up the good work!

Zimmy

Originally Posted by Scorp

Hi Folks,

I'm kicking off the morning with another vanilla yogurt parfait...Seems to be my favorite morning breakfast these days....

Hope everyone gets through the day ok!

P.S. Yesterday I made it through the day/night without having a cigarette and to be honest, I'm not missing it!

Best,

Scorp

[Zimmeh]

I have found that if I exercise my butt off, I sleep like a baby...Thank you for sharing this article.

Zimmy

Originally Posted by JustJo

I knew that not getting enough sleep could make us more likely to reach for sugary stuff, caffeine or other comfort foods.....but there's actually a hormone issue that causes weight gain as well!

Check this out...

Sleep and Weight Gain - Will better sleep help you avoid extra pounds?
By Denise Mann

Think about it: If you’re feeling sleepy at work, you may be tempted to reach for a cup of coffee (or several cups) and a doughnut for a quick shot of energy. Later you may skip the gym and pick up takeout on your way home to your family -- no time to cook. When you finally find yourself back in your bed, you are too wound up to sleep.

It’s a vicious cycle, and eventually this sleep deprivation can sabotage your waistline and your health.

It starts out innocently enough. “When you have sleep deprivation and are running on low energy, you automatically go for a bag of potato chips or other comfort foods,” saysSusan Zafarlotfi, PhD, clinical director of the Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.

The immediate result? You may be able to fight off sleepiness. The ultimate result? Unwanted pounds as poor food choices coupled with lack of exercise set the stage for obesity and further sleep loss.

“Sleep debt is like credit card debt,” Zafarlotfi says. “If you keep accumulating credit card debt, you will pay high interest rates or your account will be shut down until you pay it all off. If you accumulate too much sleep debt, your body will crash.”

Not getting enough sleep is common -- even talked about with pride -- in the U.S. “We brag about an all-nighter, but we do pay a price for staying up late and getting up early,” says Mark Mahowald, MD, director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center in Hennepin County.

Understanding the Sleep-Diet Connection

The sleep-diet connection is regular fodder for diet books and magazine articles. Maybe you have even heard about the sleep diet, which suggests you can lose weight while you catch your ZZZs.

And it’s true, sort of.

“It’s not so much that if you sleep, you will lose weight, but if you are sleep-deprived, meaning that you are not getting enough minutes of sleep or good quality sleep, your metabolism will not function properly,” explains Michael Breus, PhD, author of Beauty Sleepand the clinical director of the sleep division for Arrowhead Health in Glendale, Ariz.

On average, we need about 7.5 hours of quality sleep per night, he says. “If you are getting this already, another half hour will not help you lose 10 pounds, but if you are a five-hour sleeper and start to sleep for seven hours a night, you will start dropping weight.”

Exactly how lack of sleep affects our ability to lose weight has a lot to do with our nightly hormones, explains Breus.

The two hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. “Ghrelin is the ‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleep-deprived, you have more ghrelin,” Breus says. “Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin.”

More ghrelin plus less leptin equals weight gain.

“You are eating more, plus your metabolism is slower when you are sleep-deprived,” Breus says.

The Sleep-Weight Loss Solution - So what can you do about sleep deprivation?

A lot, says Breus. First, look at how much you sleep vs. how well you sleep. “Some people such as new moms may only get to sleep for a four-hour stretch. And there are some people who get 7.5 hours of sleep that is poor quality because of pain or an underlying sleep disorder, and this has the same effect as if they got less sleep,” he says.

Trouble-shoot both with improved sleep hygiene, he says.

For starters, avoid any caffeine in the afternoon because it will keep you in the lighter stages of sleep -- which are associated with poor sleep -- at night. Breus recommends only decaf from 2 p.m. on. Exercise also helps improve sleep quality. How soon before bed should you exercise? It depends -- everyone is different. It’s more important that you exercise than it is when you exercise. Breus says to be safe, don’t exercise right before going to bed. “But some people exercise better before bed and it doesn’t affect their sleep,” he says.

Watch what you eat before bedtime. “Pizza and beer before bedtime is not a good idea,” says Breus. “Neither is eating a big meal close to bedtime.” He suggests eating a few healthy snacks and then having a light meal -- like a bowl of cereal -- if you’re running close to bedtime. Heavy, rich meals before bed can also increase risk of heartburn, which will certainly keep you up all night.

What if you are getting enough hours of sleep but wake up and feel sleepy the next day? “Talk to your doctor about seeing a sleep specialist,” Breus says. After conducting a thorough evaluation and sleep study, in which you are monitored while sleeping, the sleep specialist can help identify any underlying problem. Together you can develop a treatment plan so that you get more high-quality sleep -- and maybe even slim down.

SOURCES:

Susan Zafarlotfi, PhD, clinical director, Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders, Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey.

Michael Breus, PhD, clinical director, sleep division, Arrowhead Health, Glendale, Ariz.; author, Beauty Sleep.

Mark Mahowald, MD, director , Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, Hennepin County.

Taheri, S. PLoS Medicine; December 2004, vol 1: pp 210-216.

Reviewed on January 19, 2010
© 2010 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

[scootebaby]

Well this is my first post. I usually just stalk Jo and read a couple posts here and there. She also keeps me up to date on things. Ive been complaining about needing to lose weight because ive put on a few lbs since being off work for my back injury. Anyway i had to fast over the weekend,plus drink a JUG of icky stuff to clean myself out. The outcome indicated i needed more fiber and better eating habits. Jo bought me some raw veggies,and fiber one sweet stuff(which are freaking awesome btw) granted its only been 4 days(this is 5th day) but i have dropped 4lbs(most of it from fasting and cleansing but still). im hoping to keep on this trend. My problem is if i make it an obvious,gotta do thing then i wont do it,so i kinda let Jo lead the way and help me do it the healthy way!

[Zimmeh]

The Fiber One bars are great at helping kick a sweet craving. My favorite one is the Oats and chocolate. My roommate loves their 90 calorie bars. When I get my own desk soon, I will be keeping a box of them at work. Now she needs to start nudging you to give up soda...

Congrats and keep up the good work!

Zimmy

Originally Posted by scootebaby

Well this is my first post. I usually just stalk Jo and read a couple posts here and there. She also keeps me up to date on things. Ive been complaining about needing to lose weight because ive put on a few lbs since being off work for my back injury. Anyway i had to fast over the weekend,plus drink a JUG of icky stuff to clean myself out. The outcome indicated i needed more fiber and better eating habits. Jo bought me some raw veggies,and fiber one sweet stuff(which are freaking awesome btw) granted its only been 4 days(this is 5th day) but i have dropped 4lbs(most of it from fasting and cleansing but still). im hoping to keep on this trend. My problem is if i make it an obvious,gotta do thing then i wont do it,so i kinda let Jo lead the way and help me do it the healthy way!

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Sylvie,

Hope you get your appetite back and soon! Until then, try eating some pudding or jello and drink a lot of water.

How is your mouth feeling?

Have a good day,

Zimmy

Originally Posted by sylvie

i haven't had a weigh in this week, but i soooo want one...
Realistically, i've lost an amount of weight, but not because i've been eating healthy, mostly because i hadn't eaten much period... i had oral surgery last Monday, and of course the first few days i barely ate, and then my appetite diminished.. SO, working on building that back up, though i LOVE having no appetite, lol..it's not the healthy way to go about this.. SO, while doing so, scared i'll gain a few lbs back and don't want that disappointment..(i know i would obsess it, lots)

But ohhhh, sooooo want to weigh in, my clothes feel looser, and 'that' feels great.. But, i am getting back on track, forcing myself to eat and forcing myself to drink (i wasnt even drinking much sadly)..

SO, will report my updated weight loss next week!

[Inked_Trinity]

Originally Posted by scootebaby

Well this is my first post. I usually just stalk Jo and read a couple posts here and there. She also keeps me up to date on things. Ive been complaining about needing to lose weight because ive put on a few lbs since being off work for my back injury. Anyway i had to fast over the weekend,plus drink a JUG of icky stuff to clean myself out. The outcome indicated i needed more fiber and better eating habits. Jo bought me some raw veggies,and fiber one sweet stuff(which are freaking awesome btw) granted its only been 4 days(this is 5th day) but i have dropped 4lbs(most of it from fasting and cleansing but still). im hoping to keep on this trend. My problem is if i make it an obvious,gotta do thing then i wont do it,so i kinda let Jo lead the way and help me do it the healthy way!

Another good fiber product is Benefiber.... it mixes with just about anything and has NO taste.

[*Anya*]

Still hanging around 1500 cals per day.

Breakfast, the usual-oatmeal.

Lunch, I enjoy a lot. If u have a Trader Joes around u, the 5 Spice Chicken and Asian Style Noodle salad is awesome & filling. One container is 340 Cals, 8 gm of fat (12 with dressing)& it is good with just a tiny drop of dressing. (The noodles are rice noodles.) It has 22 grams of protein. Protein means I do not get hungry.

I try to keep anything I eat @ or under 10 grams of fat.

Have a great day!

Hugs,

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Inked_Trinity

Another good fiber product is Benefiber.... it mixes with just about anything and has NO taste.

I love Benefiber! Scoote is a jello lover, so my first efforts at upping her fiber intake was to mix in 2 heaping tablespoons when I'm making her jello. She can't detect it at all, even though she knows it's in there....and it makes the jello a high fiber snack/treat.

My mother's side of the family, which my son Rooster takes after, has Crohn's disease and a host of other ailments related to the digestive tract....so I'm overly fixated on fiber and healthy bowels. (Sad, but true!)

A few years ago he was complaining of frequent stomach aches, had bad almost acidic breath and other early warning signs of digestive problems. We took him to the doctor and had some unpleasant tests done. The specialist said no damage (yet) but he's strongly predisposed to trouble....and recommended daily stool softeners and frequent use of Benefiber (in addition to more whole grains and veggies) until the pain was gone....then discontinue the stool softeners and keep on with the Benefiber for life. Rooster's pain stopped in a couple weeks....and he gets Benefiber every day as a precaution, even though he eats whole wheat bread and has always been a good veggie eater.

Benefiber can go in anything that isn't carbonated....so it's easy to stir some into coffee, tea, milk, juice, water....or cook and bake with it. I always put a few big tablespoons into meatloaf, or a little into baked goods (when I remember)...and you literally cannot tell it's there.

[Zimmeh]

Another good fiber product is the Fiber Choice pills. My roommate and I go to BJ's and we buy the biggest bottle of them. They are fruit flavored and are great. My roommate also takes Align with his benefiber.

Have a great day,

Zimmy

Originally Posted by JustJo

I love Benefiber! Scoote is a jello lover, so my first efforts at upping her fiber intake was to mix in 2 heaping tablespoons when I'm making her jello. She can't detect it at all, even though she knows it's in there....and it makes the jello a high fiber snack/treat.

My mother's side of the family, which my son Rooster takes after, has Crohn's disease and a host of other ailments related to the digestive tract....so I'm overly fixated on fiber and healthy bowels. (Sad, but true!)

A few years ago he was complaining of frequent stomach aches, had bad almost acidic breath and other early warning signs of digestive problems. We took him to the doctor and had some unpleasant tests done. The specialist said no damage (yet) but he's strongly predisposed to trouble....and recommended daily stool softeners and frequent use of Benefiber (in addition to more whole grains and veggies) until the pain was gone....then discontinue the stool softeners and keep on with the Benefiber for life. Rooster's pain stopped in a couple weeks....and he gets Benefiber every day as a precaution, even though he eats whole wheat bread and has always been a good veggie eater.

Benefiber can go in anything that isn't carbonated....so it's easy to stir some into coffee, tea, milk, juice, water....or cook and bake with it. I always put a few big tablespoons into meatloaf, or a little into baked goods (when I remember)...and you literally cannot tell it's there.

[Thinker]

Because I was so close to my goal weight, I got a little obsessed with stepping on the scale.

I had a small gain last week (like 0.4 or 0.6), and there has been more so far this week.

I don't get it.

One of the reasons I put off my weight program was because I figured there would be a gain, and I knew it would confuse me. Turns out I was right.

My wife told me just to stay off the scale; it really is making me anxious because I feel like I must be failing somewhere. That's some eff'd up thinking right there.

Sooooo... I'm going to commit to staying off the scale for the next week and a half........until my next weigh-in on Friday, August 26. I gotta get my head right with this shit.

[foxyshaman]

Crohn's is a horrible disease. I have two patients with it and I just have absolute compassion. Both of them have such a hard time with food, what the body can tolerate what it cannot. The insane drugs they have to take. I am glad you are taking great steps with Rooster, Jo.

I have been having a fabulous couple of weeks. My weight did not drop again last week, silly plateau. But then I went to the mountains on the weekend and hiked for three days. I have never been fit enough to hike to the summits before ... I felt great after. Yup, no plateau this week!! I did figure out what was causing it and eliminated said silly flat bread. Damn it that was the only bread my body could tolerate too. I get cold sores from most breads (especially the super yummy white bread...missing bread). I also get them from Oats and oh the sun.... joy joy fun fun. Even though my doctor maintains that cold sores are not related to allergies or foods, he just could never explain why I got them after eating said foods. A repeated fluke I guess !!

Last night in my excercise class I swear he was on <insert snarky drug of choice) cause my intercostal muscles, every single fibre of them, hurt today. OMG!!! Tonite is my weight toning. OMG!!!

Then tomorrow AM I am off to teach a wilderness camp for four days. Which is pretty easy eating when you are a vegetarian. Although I did teach one year while on the master cleanser, that was the easiest packing for food like ever. It is rough camping, as in the only thing there is an outhouse. It is a beautiful spot with buffalo all around you, no fences. Lots of coyotes, fox, deer, you name it. Well except Cougars, no cougars. Very few bears have been seen there. But lots of moose, elk... it is a great park. We camp in a secluded area with a lake right by it.

Anyway wwwwaaaayyyyy off topic.

Matthew I am rooting for you. It is super hard where you are at. And you have the support of the planet. Be well my fellow Canadian.

I really love this thread.

[Inked_Trinity]

Originally Posted by Thinker

Because I was so close to my goal weight, I got a little obsessed with stepping on the scale.

I had a small gain last week (like 0.4 or 0.6), and there has been more so far this week.

I don't get it.

One of the reasons I put off my weight program was because I figured there would be a gain, and I knew it would confuse me. Turns out I was right.

My wife told me just to stay off the scale; it really is making me anxious because I feel like I must be failing somewhere. That's some eff'd up thinking right there.

Sooooo... I'm going to commit to staying off the scale for the next week and a half........until my next weigh-in on Friday, August 26. I gotta get my head right with this shit.

The only time I step on the scale is when I'm trying to make weight for a fight. What we don't realize is exercise builds muscle and it weighs more than fat. I try to keep that in the back of mind. Try going by how you feel and how your clothes fit, this might keep your head where you want it.

[Leigh]

Originally Posted by Lizzy

I can not stand doctors with no bed side manners.How insensative.When I was pregnant with my second son I had the worst craving for ice cold coke in the red can....it had to be in the can.Needless to say I gained a little more than just baby weight.On one of my visits to the Doctor my primary Doctor was not there and this older doctor saw me instead.He looks at my chart and then my weight and he just went off on me, he said I was much too petite to weigh so much.He told me I needed to move more and eat less.I needed to control myself.He walks me to the lobby and says nice and loud for everyone to hear..."Stop Snickerdoodeling or you will be on bedrest"....I was so embarresed and over a decade later I still remember him to this day.That Doctor needed to remember you went to urgent care because you were scared and concerned for your well being.Treating you as a whole person would have been kind.How do they think spending just a few minutes they have a definitive answer.I can relate to using food for comfort, it has been my "drug" of choice for years.My mother is an emotional eater as well.Medicating with food to relax and let go of her worries.I use to go to Weight Watchers and one of my leaders told us this story,she said her son who was about 4 was riding his bike and he fell and skinned his knee.He came running into the house crying his eyes out.Even after cleaning him up and giving him a bandaid he was still crying.So she gets him a cookie and says"here this will make you feel better"so what does he do.....he puts the cookie on his knee with this confused look on his face wondering why this cookie will help him.I often think of this story when I begin to eat because I am stressed out or upset and I am usually able to reign myself in.The emotional element of my weight problem is the biggest issue for me.I don't overeat because I am hungry or I don't know how to eat properly.I am hoping talking to other people and getting some new ideas will help so I can stay on track.I wish you the best and I hope your feeling better soon.

Hi Lizzy,

I know all too well about the emotional eating, and to be honest with what happened last night, I'm feeling pretty emotional and yet even with the need right now to eat I'm NOT giving in. Posting here is helping to distract Me, and even when the need gets really strong I refuse to give in ~ oatmeal was what I had for breakfast and I am not touching any more food until lunch. I'm drinking more water, am ignoring any pop that may be in the house and am just learning to pick My battles so to speak. My health is more important than any amount of food I could ever consume, and no one is worth sabotaging My health for. I'm feeling better overall this morning and am starting off this day anew .......... no more excuses for Me, I'm just gonna do it and no matter what I'm going to make sure that I get healthy because I need to for Myself in order to live a long time and be truly happy :-)

Originally Posted by sweetfemme247

glad I could help you dear

You helped more than you will ever know

Originally Posted by Yellow band

http://www.medicinenet.com/edema/article.htm

Hi Mathew.

The internet is a wonderful tool.

Glad you saw a Dr. yesterday. I hate that the Dr. was dismissive. Now it's up to you to educate yourself as it's *Not just edema*

Here's hoping you stay motivated to do the right things!

I figured it was more than just something you could sweep under the rug, even though he made it seem like it was no big deal (which I know is not true). I will definately take the time to read the article, thank you for sharing it :-)

Originally Posted by JustJo

Good morning everyone

Matthew I'm glad you went in and were seen....I'm very frustrated with how you were treated though and the flippant response with no testing. Yikes.

So...again, one diabetic to another, you really really really need a good primary care doctor (or endocrinologist) to make sure that you have all the tests you need on a regular basis to manage your diabetes. Look at me....2 months late on my A1c test and advising Matthew....hmmmm.....obviously, it's tough enough to manage even with a good doctor...like the nice butch I have who is going to lecture me and give me that look...again...when I finally get my test done and get in there.

If you're only on metformin, chances are that your diabetes is not too advanced....or you're getting crappo treatment....and it's impossible for any of us to say which is which.

Like I said, I'm not a doctor or a nurse....I'm just a squeamish, struggling to be compliant diabetic. But I do know that you should be having quarterly blood tests that measure A1c, cholesterol, triglycerides, and kidney and liver function. You should also be seen annually by an opthamologist specializing in diabetes to keep an eye on your vision, and a podiatrist who treats diabetic patients to keep an eye on your feet.

That's the minimum of good care as I understand it as a patient.

I'm in your corner Matthew....keep pushing for the good care you deserve....and treat yourself with love and support as you start this journey. We're all here for you!

Hey Jo,

When I called that Health Links place last night, they gave Me the phone numbers for a couple of endocrinologists so I am going to be phoning them over the next couple of days to get into see them. I also go the phone numbers to a doctor hotline that will help Me to find a primary care doctor other than just My trans doctor. My trans doctor has been both that and My primary care doctor since last year summer when I was just starting to look into transitioning and I felt more comfortable with her so I made him My primary doctor also. Now that I know its almost impossible to get in to see him when I need to, I'm going to go ahead and find another doctor for My main care & keep his current doc for My trans stuff.

I did have My eyes checked only 3-4 months ago and they did that test to check them since I am diabetic, and the doc said everything looks great so I'm glad for that. When the doctor put Me on the metformin, she said that the diabetes was not advanced or out of control and that since nothing was ever detected before that it must have only happened recently. I'm actually getting really good care from them so I'm confident that everything they've done for Me so far is good. I'm due for My next quarterly blood tests by the beginning of September so I will get in for that probably just after the 8th since thats when My sister is back in school and I'll be able to take the morning to get that done.

I'm so glad that I have everyone here for support :-)

Originally Posted by scootebaby

Well this is my first post. I usually just stalk Jo and read a couple posts here and there. She also keeps me up to date on things. Ive been complaining about needing to lose weight because ive put on a few lbs since being off work for my back injury. Anyway i had to fast over the weekend,plus drink a JUG of icky stuff to clean myself out. The outcome indicated i needed more fiber and better eating habits. Jo bought me some raw veggies,and fiber one sweet stuff(which are freaking awesome btw) granted its only been 4 days(this is 5th day) but i have dropped 4lbs(most of it from fasting and cleansing but still). im hoping to keep on this trend. My problem is if i make it an obvious,gotta do thing then i wont do it,so i kinda let Jo lead the way and help me do it the healthy way!

Well its about danged time that you got your butt over here and posted LOL

[Gaige]

Today was my 12th day in a row doing 30 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill. I've been doing the park trail workout which changes the incline between 3 and 5 throughout the walk. Before I started being diligent with my workout I would walk a mile about 3-4 times a week with no incline. This workout takes me about 1.75 miles with an incline. I was the same way with my lifting getting on the weight bench 3-4 times a week. I've lifted everyday for the past 12 days doubling my reps (curls & bench presses) from my old rountine and added sit-ups as well as lifting to work my triceps. The difference in my weight from the first day until today is a loss of 1.4 lbs. I kind of expected it to be more especially since I've been eating smaller portions and healthier meals. I am happy for the loss but I've been working so hard that I was expecting more. 18.4 lbs until I reach my goal.

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by Handsome Devil

Today was my 12th day in a row doing 30 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill. I've been doing the park trail workout which changes the incline between 3 and 5 throughout the walk. Before I started being diligent with my workout I would walk a mile about 3-4 times a week with no incline. This workout takes me about 1.75 miles with an incline. I was the same way with my lifting getting on the weight bench 3-4 times a week. I've lifted everyday for the past 12 days doubling my reps (curls & bench presses) from my old rountine and added sit-ups as well as lifting to work my triceps. The difference in my weight from the first day until today is a loss of 1.4 lbs. I kind of expected it to be more especially since I've been eating smaller portions and healthier meals. I am happy for the loss but I've been working so hard that I was expecting more. 18.4 lbs until I reach my goal.

Maybe you are changing some of the weight to muscle? Muscle and fat (excuse the word, do not know what else to call it) do weigh the same. Take some measurements if you have not already done so, that will start to cheer you up!

Just a thought