The infographic forgot your digestive system! Funny discussion since I drank not quite 500ml of diet coke today and I was having my own "everybody out moment" within 2 hrs. But I have been 2L + (64oz for y'all lol) everyday this month. I find this amount is perfectly doable without being too much most days but I need to think about it to make it so!

Angela, Yes to the digestive system. I am noticing a difference since I cut back. Water is probably helping too. Here ya on the "everybody out moment"

I am hitting the uncomfortable place where I am fighting the desire for the old stuff. I felt like I was crazy yesterday. Great morning and then I get ready to walk out the door, the dog is going crazy and I see two trucks planted in front of my house. There were a handful of guys congregating on my front lawn and another three taking wheel barrels of stuff across my lawn. My neighbors are having a patio put in. They have unloaded all their stuff at the end of my driveway so I can't pull out (the neighbors front was all clear). Here is where my crazy came out. I go outside and walk up to the party on my lawn and ask if they realize they are at the wrong house. They say they are doing work at my neighbors. I say "Well then...get the hell off my lawn and driveway" They say it will only be a few and I say, "NOW!" ... For the most part, that is not me. I feel bad that I handled it like that. Last night I was pacing all night, feeling anxious. It will pass, but boy I hate this feeling.

Thanks Kim! That's what I was thinking when I charged out there. The delivery side of it was weird for me. I am rather vocal, but it was like I was insane with uncontrollable rage. To the point I was shaking after. I am kind of laughing now at thinking of the look they gave me as I bounded off the steps, but I will not let it bother me. I know some of it is due to my history. I have this thing about personal space and I hate people walking around my home who were not invited. Heck, last week I had an issue with some strange guy coming up to me in a parking lot. Who does that at night??? Probably sound paranoid, but it is a thing I hate. I promise to keep being strong. Being passive and nice is what got me in trouble in the past and on one level fueled this weight gain. Thanks again Kim!

Today has gone great! Lots of water with only a couple of small glasses of Diet Coke. Ate clean too. Cutting down on the fruit is doing something. I am still not craving sugar, but feel less bloated. Think I will go for a run later. It is a beautiful day, hot, but lovely:)

Thanks Heron! I hear ya. My hormones have been out of whack. I felt better yesterday and even better today. The hot flashes have been awful for the last week. I am trying to read more about it. Think that it has also contributed to this trunk weight. I never had belly weight before. Although I felt like I was sleeping better, the boyfriend says I am tossing and turning all night and talking in my sleep about either being hot or cold. Maybe that is part of the reason I have been in a brain fog. I have been experimenting with "lower" carbs. Problem is I go to extremes. I cut them out and then the next day I eat a bunch. That up/down thing probably plays a part. Was also having what I can only explain as the feeling of shin splints throughout my body (bones and joints). I blame that on hormones too, as I would have it monthly before. That is non-existent today. Yay!

Went for a run last night. It felt good. No pain in my knee during. Went for a short walk this morning. Bring on the day!!!

Have a great day all. Weekend is almost here:)

Kris,

If I eat very much in the way of carbs or junk food I find that I have severe hot flashes. I don't have much of a cycle anymore but the first two days I have a non stop heat wave! I also tend to gain in the belly area and bloat easily. I have found that clean eating and nothing but water has helped immensely. Not only for hot flashes but for the belly as well. I have also found that wild yam cream helps. I also switched all my clothes to cotton and bought the wicking shirts. I do get that joint pain, especially in my hips... Which mark can attest to. I usually have some due to all my daily walking but at that time it is worse and I can feel it in my knees and shins. But I am finding that a double dose daily of osteo biflex helps immensely.

Fish fry at church tonight. Carb night it is. Have not been real good this week in the evening but being very strict during the day seems to have worked. Have actually lost a pound and maybe more.

Also, apparently pull ups are a perishable ability lol. Stopped doing them along with everything else when we started having problems before Kiera died. Jumped on the bar last week and could barely do one! Am up to three now, but still a long ways to go to get to where I was.

Kevin, I am very sorry to hear about Keira. I was away for so long and missed the post. Hugs and prayers for all of you. I am with you on the pull ups. If I am not consistent (and in my case heavy) I can barely hang there. One day I will do them again.

Kelly, Thanks so much for sharing and the tips. It is one of those things that every time I mention it to friends all they say are things like..."Oh, it is awful...Just you wait...You need pills..." I accept it, it is a part of life, but love to hear natural ways to possibly ease it and what can be expected. My mom said it was a breeze, but she was going through chemo and radiation at the time. It is hitting at about the same time as it did for her. I am like you, the cycle goes for long periods of time in between and then when it returns it is back weekly with a vengeance. Also get extreme blues similar to when I was jumping between birth control pill years ago. I wish you didn't deal with that pain too, but it helps to hear someone else has dealt with it. I had my foot on backwards and it doesn't even compare to these pains. I will have nights where it hurts everywhere just turning over in bed. The BF is the one who put it together with the cycle. He blames dehydration. I think it is hormonal. The doc thinks that with other stuff it might be MS, but I have yet to get the CT scan. I am bound and determined to get healthy and see what changes! Buying some Wild Yam this weekend. Saw this: http://www.djinnicorp.com/wildyamcreme.pdf

Susan, UGH on those rude people at the concert! Now I have to check out Alabama Shakes. How have I not heard of them??? Sorry about the weight standstill. What is it about being around 200 that puts people in limbo. You got this! Crazy how not eating enough can do it, but I believe it. Also stress can. YAY for summer break! I work for a company that sells educational supplies and everyone I have been talking too has been stressed, except the ones who are out. Like a weight lifted off there shoulders!

Sorry for the long post. Venting a bit due to a rough morning. Our cat had what I thought was a seizure, but then he could barely walk. Something has been off with him the last week. I took him in and he has a tumor. We adore our pets and I am not ready to let our boy go. Took the day off and think I will take the dog for a long walk to clear my head.

Wishing everyone a nice weekend!

Kris I started early. Way earlier than the women in my family. So I started having issues 2 years ago and I am 40 now. What helped me with sleeping is having a sleep number bed. I can adjust it as much as I need to. I used to have severe mood swings and some meltdowns when and I have found that regular outdoor exercise has really leveled everything as well as a set bed time.

For example I do well on work nights if I am in bed and asleep by 10:30pm. Later than that I am unexplainable weepy and have issues with my diet. During my cycle I do have to drink way more than the 120 oz of water I drink daily. That really seems to help as well. I don't have a desire to do hrt and may consider an all natural version down the road. But for now the biggest help I have is getting my size down.

We shall get thru it together!