It's official

[Regina]

Trista,

I just started a diet today through my ob's office. It is expensive, but I don't have the will power to do it on my own right now. I am just not motivated right now. Do we have the money for it? No, not really, but we can't afford for me not to do it either. So, we are finding a way for me to do it.

Anyway, this is a last effort for me, but thought I would share the information. I told my friend about the office, and she has lost 22 pounds in just a month. It is program that is mostly based on the south beach diet, but with medication too. You take appetitite supressants 3 times a day (more or less if needed). For the first 3 days, they try to throw you into ketosis by eating only protein in small amounts and lots and lots of water. After 3 days, you begin adding certain portions of fruits and veggies. There are several fruits and veggies that you have to avoid all the time (bananas, carrots, etc.). Anyway, you also get a shot once a week with b vitamins and something else to boost your metabolism. You have to go to an appointment every week or no medication. In addition, you take a multi-vitamin and calcium pyruvate. It is meant to be a lifestyle change, but is kickstarted with the appetite suppressants and vitamin-amnio-acid shots.

I will let you know how it goes. But, just an idea if you have gotten desperate like me to lose weight.

I hope things get better for you.

[madlibs]

Originally Posted by Mistress Trista

I REALLY don't want to take blood pressure medicine so I'm considering joining a healthclub to get the weight off and hopefully help with the stress.

Hey Trista. I completely understand not wanting to take the BP medication. My DH is prehypertensive, and deal with the exact same feelings. You know the good news... if you can lose some weight, your BP is almost 100 percent guaranteed to go down.

Now, start trying to follow the DASH diet right away. DASH stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension." Try looking it up online. My best friend is a Registered Dietician and says many of her patients have GREAT results with it. My husband and I try to follow it. I'm not going to lie... it's REALLY hard at first. Many people think, "Well, I never use the salt shaker... I don't consume a lot of sodium." A low sodium diet is 1500 mg of sodium per day. Ever looked at a slice of bread? around 150 mg of sodium! A slice of turkey? 330 mg. Check out a can of soup... your eyes will pop. OH! I was having a sushi dinner the other night, and they didn't have "lower sodium" soy sauce. (Still really high in sodium, but I like a 'lil with my sush.) ONE tablespoon? Something like 950 mg of sodium.

You can see it adds up QUICKLY. I've found that when we're really paying attention, we can do pretty well. Flavor tomato sauces with balsamic vinegar. Use Mrs. DASH to flavor meats and salads. If you're not taking a beta blocker or hypertension medication, you should be ok to flavor with a salt substitute like "No Salt," which is made up of potassium chloride. Make sure you ok it with your Dr. first, though. Whatever you do, make SURE you don't consume more than 2400 mg of sodium per day.

Here are a few links I found for you.
from april 2008: National Stroke Association: DASH diet linked to lower risk of heart disease and stroke in women

Reduce Salt and Sodium in Your Diet

This one is CRAZY! Be sure to click through them all, and check out the sodium content! Men's Health - Eat This, Not That! - Best & Worst - What are the saltiest foods?

I know I've got more, but they're at home on my desktop. These are just a few I came across from doing a search. Do try and check out DASH, if you can. Also, if you have any dietary questions, I'd be more than happy to talk to my best friend about them!

[AnnaRose]

Everything in moderation. That is my advice about food, at least. And small portions. I suggest you try the 'Wild Weekends Diet'- its my mom's name for eating super healthy Mon-Fri and allowing yourself some goodies on the weekend. Im not saying to binge eat on the weekends, but have that piece of chocolate cake.

Exercise is key to losing weight. The gym is great, but you have to be able to work out at home as well. Get yourself some dumbells and put your treadmill in front of the tv. That way if you are busy writing and just want to take a 30 minute break you can work out and watch tv. I suggest going to blockbuster and finding the longest running tv-series show that you have not seen and keep it by your tv for when you work out. Hopefully it will be interesting enough that you wont get bored. And it should only be watched when your on your treadmill or using your dumbells. No exceptions. Additionally, I would suggest the gym. I'm all about options. Make your life healthy in more than one way.

Is everything okay with you and your husband? Maybe you two can workout together. How about suggesting that when he is home, you two can go for a 30 minute walk. While your walking talk about an interesting article in the newspaper or a funny story that you have read. Do not talk about anything confrontational. That should be your time to relax together. Going on walks can act like a type of therapy. Change your route up every so often and maybe you two can get matching walking sticks or something Good luck!

[Mistress Trista]

thanks everyone for the advice and definatey the links. Hubby says he would go to the gym with me when he's home. So we'll see. I'm sure we'll be fine, I'm hoping it's jsut a stretch of stressful times and low attraction.

[lucky81698]

I actually don't want my hubby going to the gym with me! He started going to his own gym, and sometimes if we go at the same time, our son goes with him, since his has a kids area. For some reason I like to keep it separate, as it's kinda my thing. During the school year I had been going with a friend, but since she has babysitting issues, it's harder for her to go in the summer. I think continuing to use a trainer keeps me going, that along with the fact that I am cheap! It would drive me nuts to know I was paying for something I wasn't using! I know your situation may be different since you live so far away from everything. If you want to do some easy stuff at home, get yourself one of those stability balls. You would not believe how much you can do with them.

My husband has helped by not buying as much junk food. Now if I could only get my mom to stop baking cookies! They are so good, I have no will power!

I never in a million years thought I would actually like going to the gym, but I do, as long as I get myself there. Of course I was always so skinny I never thought I'd need a gym either. But I do have to say, I really feel better about myself, especially on the days I go. It really does help with stress too.

Give it some time and don't get discouraged!

Jan

[ccbegay]

oh, i'm sorry that you are going through this...i find the gym to be 'my-time' and just be able to get away...i do alot of running (not that you have to do that!) but i put my iPod on and work up a good sweat...and just try to let go of everything...and afterwards, I get that good 'high' from all my endorphins! haha...hang in there! we are all here to listen!

[Mistress Trista]

I tried jogging on the treadmill but it hurt my knees. I like to jog too, so that sucked. I'm hoping once I get back into a shape a little and get a few pounds off, I'll be able to again. I must admit, I miss the body I had before I had my daughter...

Salt is going to be my biggest problem. I am a potatoe chip and salty popcorn freak. Cookies don't bother me, since I'm not into the sweet stuff.

Hubby and I are just...I don't know. In a funk I guess. Hardly any sex, no touching really. Talking usually ends up in some kind of spat.

Today I was grilling hamburgers. I came inside to fix the other stuff and left the burgers. Hubby and my brother were working in the barn. I chared the burgers. Seriously chared them. When I opened the lid to the grill, they were so burnt they were on fire.

Hubby came up and saw them. He snickered, his lips twitching into that devilish half grin he has. I tensed, knowing exactly what was coming.

"Have you ever seen that commercial," he starts. "Where the couple is newly married and the wife can't cook yet?" I frown, but he ignores me and keeps going. "The husband gushes over the food so he won't hurt his wife's feelings? That's not me."

"Kiss my ass," I told him. My brother is laughing his butt off.

My dh chuckles and says, "Come on, it was a joke."

I didn't find it funny. Maybe it was my mood or the heat of the day, but his jokes like that just rub me the wrong way now. It seems like all he has to do is walk into the room and my mood immediately darkens.

I think I need some sort of happy pill I can take when he comes home...LOL.

[skibum515]

So, I hate working out - a lot. I really do. The one thing that I have been good at is cutting the junk food out. I don't grocery shop when I'm hungry and then I skip over the chips/candy/cookie aisles. As far as popcorn goes - I found these awesome Pop-Secret 100 calorie bags. It's the perfect serving size, and it still tastes good! I also really like Snyders of Hanover hard sourdough pretzles - they're pretty big and filling too

[scissorhands]

I think exersize is important, but you have to find something you like. How about swimming? Bike rides? Weight watchers? Maybe just start slow and adjust slowly even if it is grabbing a dog and walking a mile. If you don't have a dog donate some time to your local shelter and walk a homeless one a mile. Just an idea. As for meds maybe you should try them temporaraly until you get your mojo together. As for wirtting, well writers block sucks, maybe you need to take an overnite trip and pamper yourself. Joy

[Imachickadee75]

Hey T!

I read sometime this week that writing down everything you eat is very helpful in reducing your intake and staying on whatever program you choose.

I know I overeat and eat some not so good stuff and that writing it down does help, but I have a hard time making myself do it. Want to be my Eating Nazi? You hold me to emailing my list to you and I'd hold you to sending yours to me? What do you think? Any other takers?

Jackie