Julie, thanks for starting today's check in. I'm dragging this morning too. Sorry to hear about your restless legs! I don't know what might help, except maybe doing some yoga stretches before bed on days you exercise. I have the most awesome book, Yoga for your Life (http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-For-Your-Life-Practice/dp/0915801604), very inexpensive and the best best best exercise investment I've made. The book has great beginner stretches and chair and bed yoga too, and is chock full of great photographs that show exactly what to do. I love it so much, I've bought many copies over the years to send out as gifts.

I re-read the Living with Obesity posts. Good idea to make it sticky. I added my own two cents this morning, thinking a lot about not just what I hate about living with obesity, but also the non-scale victories I'm already having as the weight comes off. I like the idea of people posting their non-scale victories there, because there are SO MANY as we go along this road.

After yesterday's feeding frenzy, I am feeling better today. Less ravenous, more settled, so I know I was just operating at too much of a calorie deficit. I AM celebrating the fact that despite the fact that I ate more than the 1200-1400 calories my nutritionist has asked me to do, when I did my final tally, I still came out even. Yesterday I did 45 minutes of aquasize and swam laps for 30 minutes, so I burned a LOT of calories. I LOVE this part of MFP. If I hadn't done the diary and logged the exercise, I would have been beating myself up all day today and trying to restrict my food intake. Making more of an issue of it than it really was. I'm also celebrating that despite feeling in full on binge mode, I didn't eat sugar. I did eat some carbs--brown rice and multi grain bread--but good, healthy carbs. So this was a win, and I am AWESOME!

Today is a rainy, crappy day here in Maine. I have heinous paperwork, chores, and phone calls to deal with this morning. My food today will be lean cuisine honestly good meals(REALLY good frozen meals--even my nutritionist approves... low sodium, mostly protein and veggies. the carbs are small servings of whole grain pasta or brown rice) and some delicious strawberries. My treat will be an iced latte made with stevia and skim milk and topped with a little cinnamon. YUM.

I'm also taking a huge step that I've been putting off. I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP to sleep, and for the past year I've had a lot of trouble. I wake up constantly with my heart RACING. I don't feel like I'm choking, but I do think I'm not getting enough oxygen. Last fall, my GP ordered some heart tests which all turned out normal, then I had to wear a heart monitor that was "self reporting" (you turn it on when you are experiencing the event). This didn't work very well because I was always asleep when the event was happening and it stops within a minute of waking up. Anyway, I don't really want to go in for another sleep study, mostly because I'm thinking as I lose weight, the problem will resolve itself, but also because I'm afraid I will wind up on oxygen at night, and that freaks me out. However, it's gotten to the point where I am absolutely exhausted all the time and often sleep 12 hours at night and still don't feel rested. Now I get to call my pulmonologist and say, "Yeah... remember when I saw you last month for clearance for the bariatric surgery? I LIED to you about not having any problems... can I have another sleep study?" Aaaarrgghhhhh. I WILL make that call today, though, as I'm sure the heart racing is a huge part of why I have so much edema in my legs right now. I'm also pretty sure it's raising my cortisol levels and making weight loss harder. AND, every time my body goes into stress mode, it triggers a Still's Disease flare, so I'm constantly flaring. Time to take care of business, even if it isn't pleasant.

Karen

Hello everyone!!!

I started May on a good and bad note.
- Good - I am down 2 lbs
- Bad - Its the same 2 lbs I was up last week.

This has been my cycle since starting MFP. Am I discouraged...upset...Yes but I am not giving up.

Starting today, I am beginning a new plan..The Dr. OZ May Diet. It's the 80/20 rule - 80% low glycemic veggies and 20% proteins and fats. For a self-proclaimed carb-cheese-choc-nuts-heck all foods-aholic, this will not be easy but I'm giving it a try.

Got my list, going shopping tonight. Here goes nothing!!!

BTW - kdaughertyfp...Love your idea of adding 1 minute each day. It's a great way to build endurance!!! :flowerforyou:

Its a fabulous day and I hope everyone is well. I splurged on my self today, Yay me!!! I got a new ring and a "origami owl" locket with 8 new charms.
on the journey to a healthier me- I get a "Yay me" as well!! I went to the Dr's office this morning and weighed in. I'm officially down 21lbs!!! :flowerforyou:

Well I'm on the couch and have 9 minutes to decide whether or not to hit the gym. On the one hand, I don't" Need" to according to my calorie count. On the other hand, I know my body will feel better if I swim for an hour.

Sooooo.... off I go! Hope everyone is doing well today, and if not, you know where to come to vent and get support!

A very late check in today for me, well I suppose I am officially into May 2 now since it is past midnight. It has been busy here today but thankfully I haven't overeaten again since the other day, and was actually down a bit on the scale this morning. How I don't know, but I will take it