I fit into my pre-prednisone jeans! They’re tight but they fit. Yippie yippie!
That said, my weight is still hovering around 245. But my early fat jeans were getting to the point that I couldn’t keep them up so I tried digging out my old jeans and lo and behold! 
Meant to add:
I basically gave up exercising other than walking while prepping for my candidacy exams. I turned in the written part on Saturday and then have the oral exam next Wed. After that, I’m going to start swimming again.
The fact that I’ve lost so much weight just from making some diet changes and walking has been so motivating. I feel really excited to go swimming for the first time in a while.
Best wishes on your candidacy exams, @romanigypsyeyes! I’m sure you’ll do a grand job.
I got a terrible cold a couple of months ago and that, combined with the pressures of going back to school for my MSW, kept me out of the gym for a long time. I’ve started again and it feels great! I really hope I can keep it up when classes start again in two weeks. I am still working on the 3 lbs. I gained Thanksgiving weekend!
@oldmom4896 I’m in awe of you getting your MSW. I don’t know if my brain could handle going back to school.
My weight lost stalled over the holiday but I expected that to happen. I have gotten back to the gym but it’s been a struggle each day to get myself there. I’m doing it and I’m working hard. I’m going to try the Body pump class on Saturday. I invited a friend which is a great way to not change my mind.
I’ve been eating clean but again I’m struggling. My community is experiencing great tragedy and loss and it has weighed heavy on my mind and heart. When I get to feeling like this I want comfort food. Or I feel tired at the end of the day and just want to pick up burritos. The good thing is I’m not. I’m cooking lean protein, healthier grains and roasting vegetables.
How do you cope when you feel overwhelmed with sadness?
I’m sorry to hear about this mom60. Sometimes treating yourself well is the best way to overcome sadness. Depending on the level of sadness, say hearing something sad vs something terrible happening to me or my family, I usually lose my appetite. I’m more likely to eat badly when frustrated than when feeling sad.
You probably want to lose yourself, so my suggestion would be instead of say going to the gym and lifting weights, do a class, with an instructor and music where you have to pay attention to what they’re saying and doing and give yourself that gift of a mental break to just listen to your breath and how you’re physically feeling.
@mom60 sending hugs. Would make you a cup of tea if I could. The endorphins you get from dragging yourself to the gym should help you feel a bit better. Maybe some healthy soup?
@eyemamom - I wish I didn’t eat under stress. I don’t crave alcohol or even sweets but I’m drawn to salty foods. The idea of a group class is a good one. I went to a Pilates class and it felt good to be with people and for all of us to acknowledge the sadness and uncertainty around us.
@yauponredux - tea is always good. I’ve discovered Yogi brand Honey lavender stress relief tea.
@mom60, I often crave salty, crunchy things. I could eat an entire box of Cheese-Its crackers, or a whole plate of bean/cheese/fajita meat nachos. Chips or crackers of all kinds taste wonderful to me. I rarely eat them, but I could easily bypass a cookie or piece of pie with no feelings of deprivation; in contrast, I always feel a pang when walking past a plate of crackers or chips.
I also love loaded baked potatoes and pizza, but sadly, they are not part of my low carb diet either.
@mom60 , it’s a few more calories but the Yogi Honey Lavender tea is great as a steamer with skim or 2% milk. The warm milk, honey flavor and lavender scent…so good for something different!
I drink lots of Tiesta Teas. I really like Immunity pineapple and mango tea. The blueberry version is quite good, too. They have the natural fruit tartness and just a touch of sweetness without any added sugar. They are quite calming.
I’ve still been pretty stuck. They put me on a new medicine that killed my appetite and I’m barely eating but still not budging.
I’m afraid of what’s going to happen when I start eating normally again lol
Reporting back on the Body Pump class. My S and his fiancé decided to join me. She does Body Pump regularly at another gym and my S has done it a few times. I think the instructors were weak on explaining technique but should get better as they become more comfortable. They had a great turnout and ran out of bars. It was hard but I’m glad I went. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone which I needed. I think I’m going to be sore tomorrow. I’m not sure if I’ll add it to my weekly routine but I’d go again. I discovered that after the Body Pump class the gym has a total body tone class that uses hand weights and a weighed body bar. I think I’ll try that class another Saturday.
@romanigypsyeyes - just try to make what you do eat count. Healthy vitamin rich foods to make your body strong and healthy to continue your work towards a pregnancy ready body.
Mentally wise I’m doing better. I’m still sad for the loss of many lives in my community but I’m getting out and connecting with fellow community members and we are sharing our grief. I’ve also been reaching out to friends who are evacuated and offering my home or anything I can do for them. It is often just an ear to listen.My S hasn’t been able to get to work due to the major highway being shut down between his house and job. It’s given me an opportunity to spend time with him. One day we went to the gym and shot baskets. It’s been a huge wake up call to relook at life and not sweat the small stuff.
@BunsenBurner -I’m going to look for that brand of tea. @abasket I can imagine that the lavender honey tea would be good with steamed milk. I’m not a milk drinker so no milk in the house.
I’m just going to keep moving.
Thank you all for letting me ramble.
Just picked up a book at the library. It looks interesting and I’m looking forward to reading it and trying some of the recipes. The title is “sugardetoxme” by Summer Rayne Oakes. It looks like I’m the first person to check it out. I love a new book. Anyone read or heard any feedback on this book?
Anyone’s trying the keto-diet? The comment section is interesting- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketogenic-diet-is-the-ultimate-low-carb-diet-good-for-you-2017072712089
I’ve been following this diet since June. However, contrary to the article, I do NOT eat processed meats and avoid vegetables. All of the literature I read states categorically to avoid processed meats and stick with poultry, grass fed beef, wild fish, and eggs. Protein intake is supposed to be moderate, not high as the article states. Vegetables are a huge part of every meal if you are following this diet correctly.
The studies which have been done have shown that when this diet is done according to the principles noted above, HDL rises, the small dense particle LDL decreases, the healthy large fluffy LDL increases, fasting insulin (and therefore insulin resistance) is lowered, and triglycerides are significantly lowered. All of those things reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiologists I worked with in the CCU 20 years ago were recommending this to their patients. It’s not a new thing at all.
I have lost 30 lbs on this as well. The hardest thing about it is that refined carbs are so ubiquitous. They are a constant temptation. But a meal of 3-5 oz. of wild grilled salmon, grilled zucchini, and buttered cauliflower rice with sparkling water is not something to be afraid of, nor is it “hard” to stomach. Last night I had a grilled chicken thigh and a very large salad with macadamia nut oil/apple cider vinegar dressing. If you are doing this correctly, you are not sitting around dipping bacon into mayonnaise or eating a 16 oz. steak with a small side of iceberg lettuce while drinking a cup of heavy cream. People actually do eat that way, thinking they are eating a keto diet. But that’s really not how it is supposed to be done.
@Nrdsb4 thanks! I think the hardest part for me is fruit. I love fresh fruit
@Nrdsb4 after six months of avoiding refined carbs, do you still crave them? And how are your energy levels? I’ve tried to eat better quality carbs and fewer carbs in general, but fruit and popcorn are still my go-to “treats”.
Energy levels are fine. A lot of people who do the keto diet rave about how much energy they have. Yes, I’ll crave carbs if they are in the house (DH does not eat this way), but I usually manage okay. I’ve never been a big fruit person, so that’s not a problem for me. I like sweets, but I have no problem passing them up. The hardest thing is giving up crackers, chips, toast, and grains. I did go off the diet on Thanksgiving Day and over Christmas, but I got back on the program shortly after. Another interesting thing about being adapted to this diet is that you don’t get hungry as much as you do when you eat a lot of carbs. I often don’t feel like eating until 1 or 2 pm.
All of this is very individual. Some people can tolerate a lot of carbs just fine. My DH eats carbs like crazy and has zero issues, other than getting hungry every few hours. Unfortunately, I take after my Mom. I go very easily into metabolic syndrome. My triglycerides were through the roof and my fasting insulin was quite high, so this diet was basically mandated if I wanted to get healthy and keep my weight under control. Insulin is the fat storage hormone, and if your levels stay constantly high, it’s physically impossible to lose body fat. High insulin also contributes to high blood pressure and can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes.
So sorry @mom60 for all the tragedy in your area. Understand the desire for comfort food.
I’ve been sick and had a decreased appetite. That has helped me to drop about 4 lbs, and I am 11 from my goal. My foot/ankle is still a problem so I haven’t been to the gym is a very, very long time, and I am not supposed to do heavy pounding which takes away the treadmill interval running that used to be my desired form of exercise. I guess it will have to be the bicycle and the dreaded elliptical (I find that very boring).
The family is coming into town in a month for a weekend we are hosting for them, and my son’s future MIL (the MOB) aned I plan to go dress shopping one of those days. That should be an incentive!