Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start!

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Replies

  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    Snoozie, yes, leave that box! There's no hurry! It would be nice to just relax and enjoy your apartment now that it's fixed.

    Yes, they are really mobilising early after surgery now. I suppose it helps prevent complications. I've been told they sometimes even do hip replacements as a day case now, home the same day!

    Well done for having both the grandchildren, Suzy. I bet it's really tiring! I don't think I'll be doing overnight much but I will probably be doing a lot of picking him up from nursery and so on next year, as his parents work long hours. I had expected to be retired by now but can't afford it and I do find work days pretty hard now, so I'm sure running after a toddler is going to be even harder!

  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Hi you two..... well i just discovered i havent been signed into MFP for a while.. i had no idea because i was able to see our discussion here.. and since im not logging my food anymore i never clicked on the diary and stuff.. til tonite.. and it took me to a sign in screen for MFP.. i was like huh?? so i signed in (and yes i had to go look up my password in my little book i keep.. because i never sign out of the site... and found i had a bunch of msgs waiting .. sigh..... so at least now i will look every so often to see if it kicks me out again .. i still dont get why i can see the discussion when i open the MFP app.. if im not signed in supposedly... but.. there ya go..

    not much to report here; same old same old! busy with the retiree group, trying to get some pickleball etc etc.. we've had an unusually rainy summer so far; had a huge amount of flooding a few weeks ago in the city; never seen anything like it (altho apparently in 2013 there was a similar amount of rain. an entire years worth fell in one day then too).. a lot of the parks and trails had significant damage from downed trees and the ground caving in so we've been a bit limited with our outdoor activities.. but fingers crossed August is nice because summer will soon be over.. wahhhhhh...... its going way too fast!

    I bet you are both busy with the grandkids ... i know your's is brand new Vail lol.. but i have no doubt you are helping the first time parents a lot whether it is in person or on the phone with the "umm mom can you tell me... ? ha..

    i hope you are both well and having some fun along the way
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    Wow, that’s a lot of rain Snoozie! I feel bad telling you that we’ve had a fantastic summer here. We actually haven’t had enough rain. Mother Nature has a mean sense of humor, doesn’t she?

    My summer has been busy but fun. I love spending time with my grandkids. They’re doing really well. The Woman’s Club I’m in is having our big fundraiser next Saturday. It has been a ton of work but it’s looking good. We’ve had a few projects this summer that I worked on, as well.

    As far as my eating goes, it’s not good. I feel like I’ve just given up on my health. I haven’t been to the gym since before we went on our vacation back in May. I am NOT making my health a priority and it needs to stop. I’m just having a problem finding my motivation again. I keep finding reasons why I can’t do it today…I’ll start tomorrow, next week, after summer, by Christmas. How didn’t do this before? How did I stick with it? How did I get started? Ugh. Just feeling a bit lost.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    Well done on the Woman's Club projects, Suzy! It's great that you are doing things like that. I normally do voluntatry work in the summer with a very tiny local group but haven't been able to this year because of my hip.

    Summer has been too hot here for me! Strange weather: it's really hot today but I think we're expecting a storm.

    My grandson is doing well and I'm visiting less: I was there a lot at the beginning to help.

    For the last week I have been trying to be careful with eating and have lost a little bit of weight: then I had a look at my weight chart over the year and got a shock! I'll see if I can upload it. 1z73tdt6weg2.png
    This is on trendweight and it charts your actual weight with the thin light grey line and the trend with the thick red line. I was doing fine a year ago then I had covid and that's the big dip down at the beginning on the grey line. Then I was happy to gain a little bit after that as I lost too much. But then I kept going. I keep thinking I'm getting back on track but these are only little dips every now and then which are evened out overall. And in the end it has been a year of gradual creep up of about 20 pounds or so.

    I'm quite annoyed at myself, particularly as my hip is bad and it felt like everything was getting harder and harder generally. I'm getting breathless easily and everything's an effort. Well no wonder, as I was gaining weight! I'm now officially overweight and have gone up a clothes size or two so nothing fits. The dip a few weeks ago is when I couldn't eat solid food because of my dental work, so it shows I'm perfectly capable of losing the weight!

    Anyway, I'm taking the message of the year to say that this is where I'm starting. I just wrote all this after reading what you said, Suzy, about feeling lost. It's frustrating because we know we've done it before, and I don't know why it's getting harder to focus!

    I'm trying to go back to the old ways of not eating in the evenings (brushing my teeth early) or between meals, fasting in the morning, making a protein food and veg the basis of meals, etc. There are so many things I can prepare quickly and easily. I am going to follow my exercise programme and if some of it is too difficult with my hip, that's OK, it's better than doing nothing at all.
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    At least you’re still weighing and conscious of what’s going on. You have a plan, that’s good.

    I need to get back to basics. I don’t know why I’m having such a hard time getting started. Baby steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Hiya.. i read both your posts and can relate to both... for me its my eating habits that have slipped big time... i am eating a lot of crap mostly sweets and salty .. for the longest time i had no urge for any of them and was quite content with doing protein and veg for most meals and just an occasional tim bit or cookie here and there... but omg the past few weeks ok maybe months i have just been picking up take out or going out for meals or just grabbing something that is handy.... and stockpiling sweets and chips and stuff.... honest to god .. in my head?? i was stilll only having the occasional treat but basically doin ok... but i suddenly realized the other day when i literally stood in the grocery store in one spot for at least 10 min... looking around me without moving.. just trying to think of what groceries to buy.. i honestly couldnt think of ONE thing or even any kind of meal (ie. buy a cooked chicken and a salad and take it home) nope.. ... it was like i was just frozen there ... i didnt even walk around i just stood there by the deli for eons... so i left with nothing and went to subway to get a sandwich.. and a bag of chips to go with...

    i honestly think that was my aha moment.. i remember while i was eating it i thot darn i forgot i got fish and chips last nite.. and picked up pasta a few days ago... and when i started thinking back i realized omg .... and also every night have been eating cookies or making sure i picked up some donut holes with my coffee to have that night.. i think that was the moment for me i realized omg.. i have completely lost it... i have been kidding myself i was doing well i had spiralled into all the old habits.. and like your chart Val.. and your lack of motivation Suzy... i didnt realize what i was doing or how far it had gone,... and even when i did .. it was still a few more days before i could try to figure out what to do...

    anyway... for me... im now working my way back to my correct daily routine... fish chicken or beef or a protein with lots of veggies for dinner; apples in the crisper instead of cookies, and hard boiling eggs to have on hand for when i let myself get hungry etc.. and have some tuna and fruit that i can also grab quick.. my worst prob is i dont prepare so i get too hungry and then its go grab something quick..

    i know its going to take a while to get back there but i am really working on it now... because its scary once i realized how long i had actually been sliding and was pretty much back to my "old" way of eating.. and that is NOT going to happen again... like you said Vail.. i already know i can do it ... im miffed i let it go but whats past is past and yup.. my circumstances dictate right now i start making those changes.....


  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    i saw this on a friends FB page today... and thot yup... i need this now lol


    2a8ma7jgzsy1.png
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    I love that, Snoozie!
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    I’m at the point right now where I feel so bloated and uncomfortable. Nothing fits well and I have no energy. It’s like I’ve been waiting to hit rock bottom and now I’m there. I need this to be my day one because one day just keeps getting further and further away. I’m so disappointed in myself.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    edited August 24
    Oh, Suzy, don't be down on yourself! It's really hard, for us and for everbody.

    I'm in the same place as you and trying not to be too disappointed in myself either because I don't think it really helps. I have just yesterday bought bigger underwear and it feels like a failure as I'd promised myself not to size up again. Why bigger clothes when I can just lose the weight, ha ha! YES, I hear you about being bloated and uncomfortable and lack of energy. I hate it so much. But apparently not enought to stop putting too much food in my mouth!

    Snoozie, it's so easy for the eating just to creep up on you like that isn't it? Going from the occasional treat, which is healthy, to having a little bit too much food all the time. I tend to fool myself that if I'm buying healthy food and cooking healthy meals it doesn't matter if I have a bit too much sometimes or eat cake, etc. but I have to remember that when I was most successful, I didn't even have occasional treats. Like you, it's been almost every day that I'm eating something that would be better avoided!
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    its funny vail you mention about how easy it is to go from say the 80/20 rule to instead realizing the 80 percent is now more crap and the 20 is the only healthy stuff. I have also noticed my portion sizes have gotten way bigger recently too at home.. i blame that on all the restaurant meals our group has out.. breakfast, lunch or dinner - the portions are humungous in a restaurant.. we went for greek the other night i ordered a souvlaki dinner... i swear to god it came on a platter... i actually got a take out container before i started and put some of the chicken and potatos in it ... but as we were there for quite a while, i just kept eating what was on my plate still.. mindlessly.. i should have let them take my plate away when i was full.. but nope.. i just kept picking away at it thru the next hour... but honestly there was enough on that platter for two normal people to have a excellent dinner...

    i actually bought 2 smaller dinner plates at walmart a while back because all my dinner plates at home were the full 12" size.. these are 8" and i try to use them but i still find i am eating a lot more than i usually do... and i dont know why because i hate that feeling afterwards when you have eaten too much all blech and full.. and of course its usually dinner time and all i do after dinner is sit on my butt in front of the tv...

    i HAVE been doing a lot of walking with the group, and trying to play pickleball at least once or twice a week .. the scale has only climbed a pound or two so far, but along with trying to revert to the true 80/20 rule i am definitely going to have to watch my portion control... as u said Vail its easy to think well if im eating healthy stuff its ok... nobody ever got fat on broccoli..... but we know it aint the broccoli we have to worry about lol
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Suzy.. u know both vail and i have been where you are (in my case, many times over the years) so we totally get it... and we both also know that when u r there.. its SO hard to even come up with a plan.. you're just kinda floundering cause it seems so overwhelming (at least that's how it is for me when i'm there).. and you dont know where to even start..

    (plus with me.. im an emotional eater.. doesnt matter what emotion.. happy, sad, depressed, anxious, any emotion and i'm reaching for the comfort food).

    Maybe just start with asking yourself.. what would you say to Vail or I in the same position? i'm guessing it wouldnt be anywhere near as harsh as what you are saying to yourself in your head... it would be supportive and encouraging so instead of saying it to us... say whatever you would say to us to Suzy instead.... gentle hugs!
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    I’ve been trying to “speak” to myself with more care and positivity. Thanks for the reminder, Snoozie. Today we went on our first hike since we returned from the UK back in May. We hiked about four miles and the elevation gain was only about 700 feet overall. I did okay. We hiked about two hours which included a short break at the halfway mark. I’m completely wiped out from that small hike. lol.

    I’ve also been finding that I’m so uncomfortable if I overeat. So I’ve been trying to stop when I’ve eaten about half of my meal and that’s been going okay. I’m trying to only really eat two meals a day with a small snack at lunchtime, if I’m hungry. I ate half my lunch today and wasn’t hungry for dinner then my hubby wanted ice cream for dinner. He’s a terrible influence. I ate ice cream.

    The small dinner plates is an excellent idea. I did that when I made spaghetti last week and it really helped. I’m glad you’re getting out there with your group, Snoozie. Someone was speculating that pickleball will be an Olympic sport at the next summer Olympics. Something to aim for! lol.

    How is grandma life, Vail? We are expecting another in just over a week. This one will be in Nashville which is four hours away. They haven’t invited me to come when he’s born but I think I’m going anyway. Her family is all flying there so I’ll just assume that means all family is welcome!

    The weather is starting to cool off so we’ll be doing more hiking now. Hopefully I can get back in shape.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    Well done on the hike! Wow, have you been back since May? Time is just flying at the moment.

    Well done on the eating too, and for finding something that's working for you.

    I'm really enjoying my grandson, thanks! I've had covid for the past week so haven't seen him, but the other grandparents have been visiting to support. I miss him! I've been getting videos of him "chatting" and chuckling so that's lovely. Exciting news for you too about another one! I hope all goes well with the birth and early days.
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Suzy huge congrats on the new grandbaby arriving in a few days! lol at "they havent invited me yet but i'm going" i have no doubt they will be very grateful for the help!

    i agree on how uncomfortable i feel when i eat so much.. i just wish i could remember that before i start eating lol.. but i am trying to eat smaller amounts and tho i may eat more frequently, i try to reach for an apple or a bit of cheese an crackers in between .. im still really bad at waiting too long once im hungry to make something... i end up starving and cant wait to actually cook something so i end up just eating crap... so now i try to keep some tuna or hard boiled eggs in the fridge for when those moments hit... doesnt always work but im trying...

    Vail i can't believe you have covid again.. im so sorry!! i know you had some residual probs after your last bout.. i hope you are doing ok and thank god for technology... during the pandemic the video calls and facetime were the only thing that kept me sane some days.. so its awesome we can see actually see and talk "in person" with our friends and family rather than just texting.. it makes a huge diff

  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    edited September 17
    Yes, I was quite worried when I got covid as I had been so ill last year with it! But this time it wasn't nearly as bad. Although I still felt quite unwell with it and just slept a lot of the time. Yes, the video calls are great but people I know don't seem to want to do them. I don't know how you feel, Snoozie, but it can be a little bit isolating being unwell when you live alone. People offered to help with dropping off food, etc. (ha ha! I am never in a position where I have nothing to eat in the house! So that wasn't an issue!). But just never having somebody to get you a glass of water or check you're OK is kind of lonely.

    Anyway, I'm better now! So need to get back into exercise, etc. again.

    I hear you about waiting to long too cook, Snoozie. I get more and more tired as the day goes on and am starting to realise that on my days off, I'm better cooking earlier in the day. So I'm sometimes making my evening meal in advance, or else I'm eating a bigger meal earlier in the day and having a snack in the evening. Can't say how well it's working. And you've just reminded me to do some hardboiled eggs! I impulse bought a little egg cooker, and it's actually quite good. I think I've mentioned I don't have a cooker so it's a lot simpler than trying to boil them the normal way.
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Vail to be completely honest, its very scary being on your own when you're sick for me... like you said it would be just comforting to know someone is around to check on you.. there are a number of ppl in my retiree group who live on their own too and when I find out one is sick i make sure i message them every day to at least to check on them... i try to make it funny (i.e. hey its nurse ratchett doing her daily wellness check" (nurse ratchett was the mean nurse in some old tv show or movie lol).. and several times i've had them reply thanks for checking on me.. so i know i'm not alone in that regard..

    and i also hear ya on the video thing.. people are happy to text or use messenger but i do find unless i actually say hey wanna do a video call and initiate it.. it aint gonna happen.

    im glad you are doing better this time - 2 of my friends (a couple) had covid again a few weeks ago.. for them was like a really bad cold this time but the fatigue and cough are lingering .. i hope you feel better very soon!

    and yes you are so right i SHOULD actually cook up dinner or at least the veggies early i dont mind nuking it later for dinner and i would be far better to do that.. i guess old habits die hard indeed tho as i dont really think about prepping dinner til late.. tonight i actually had soup and crackers cause i couldnt be bothered doing up an actual dinner... it was canned soup but one of the ones with lots of big chunks of veggies and chicken and considering its almost 30C here today you would think ick.. but it worked and was quite good lol

    I do love soup for dinner in the winter... with fall coming our way i should prolly start making some and freezing it in portions for quick dinners but until the weather turns cold it just doesnt seem right to make soup yet lol

  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    How are you two doing? We’ve all been so quiet lately. I hope you’re both healthy and enjoying life. I know we all have a lot going on. Unfortunately I haven’t made any progress on changing my ways to a more healthy lifestyle. I always find some lame excuse. We had a visit from a family member last weekend who is 70 years old but her health is more like a 90 year old. She did a lot of that to herself by choosing an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle. It was a pretty drastic wake up call for me. The choices we make today are directly linked to our quality of life even just a few years from now.

    The weather has definitely turned cooler so I’m going to start walking again. That’s what got me on the road to losing weight and feeling better ten years ago when I started all this. So it’s back to basics. I just have to make myself do it alone. I had my best friend to help motivate me then and she would be cheering me on now, if she was still here.

    We leave for our annual family hiking trip in a couple weeks. We don’t do a ton of hiking anymore but we enjoy seeing family.

    Let me hear from you, even if it’s just a “still here!”
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Hiya Suzie! Great to hear from you.. its funny you mention your family member who is 70 but more like 90.. i had the exact opposite experience last week.. a bunch of my retiree group people wanted to try "tree top trekking & zipline" which is basically going over 25 wooden slat bridges 60 feet in the air.. then taking a zipline over the lake and then walking a high wire and another 2 bridges and a rope jump to get to where you take the zipline back...

    so i don't have a problem with heights.. so i arranged it and 16 of our people went. most were in their late 60's to mid 70's.. but Rob the husband of one of our group just turned 80 this summer... and holy omly... he did it ALL! i did everything except the high wire walk.. not a chance in hell because you had to do a practice one first that was only like 4 feet off the ground.. and you had to be able to "fall" off the line (you're hooked up to it, but you had to prove if you fell off you could get yourself back up on the high wire) I knew there was no way i would have the upper body strength to literally pull myself back up onto the wire with only my arms (as the wire has no traction for your feet).. they showed us how you do it but i had to say nope because i have no upper body strength.. and a bad shoulder, etc etc..

    but Rob the 80yr old.. plus a bunch of the mid 70's.. all rocked it all... and it was for me a different kind of wake up call because i thought omg.. i'm 63 yrs old.. and i can't do the things others 15 years older than me can physically!! These are not people who were crazy athletes in their youth btw...

    anyway it really opened my eyes about needing to get fit and strong especially... and also made me realize that sometimes i put limits on myself before even attempting something.. i think nope i cant do that.. but i could have tried on the practice one... but i said to myself nope.. and i really regret that i didnt even try it on the practice one. im not sure i would have gone even if i could have... because the real one was 60 feet up the air LOL.. but i didn't even try... so Rob and some of the others have now become MY motivation... its not about the weight right now i have to figure out how to achieve getting fit and strong and make it happen..

    i am glad to hear the weather is cooler and that you are taking up the walking again... i heard on the news today researchers are now finding micro walks may actually be a better road to health.. some study they did where people walked for i think it was 3 min at a time.. then rested or did something else.. in between the 3 min walks... apparently they have found it is more beneficial overall but i didnt get the whole story i'm going to see if i can find it online with the limited amount i heard..

    that's awesome on the family hiking event coming up!! where are you going for it.. out of state or are they coming to you??
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    Wow!!!!! That high wire looks serious! I don’t think I would attempt it either. You did everything else and that’s impressive! There are women in my volunteer service club that are in their 80’s and nothing stops them. I think the key is to keep moving! Let’s keep doing that but add some dumbbells! lol.

    We’re all meeting in Arkansas, which is about nine to ten hours from us. We’ll leave on a Saturday and get back on the following Wednesday.

    By the way, I have a new grandson! He was born on the 22nd of September. I haven’t met him yet though. I’ve been told that they will let me know when it’s a good time for us to come see them. They’re in Nashville, about four hours away. My son’s wife’s family is visiting from Canada for the first couple months and then maybe we’ll get an invitation. I’m insulted and hurt by this but it’s their child and their call. I’ll get over it…eventually. lol.

  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    I have just checked in this morning and my notifications haven't been showing so I missed your posts! Having to rush out to work so I'll catch up later: will read tonight but might be a couple of days before I reply as I am so busy at work.

    But congratulations on your grandson, Suzie! And I'm so sorry about visiting. No wonder you are hurt. It would have been a nice time for the grandparents to get together too. I don't see why you couldn't maybe go and stay at a hotel if there's only room for your daughter-in-law's family. I suppose when you eventually get there, things will have settled down a bit and you'll all be able to enjoy it more. Just trying to look on the bright side. But I'm sorry.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    So catching up. Hope you have a good trip, Suzy. Thanks for the photos of your friends, Snoozie! You are all so brave! I would love to have come out with you!

    Both of you are making really good points about pushing ourselves and the effect on our future health and fitness. I need to get on track (do I say that every time I post here? Oh dear). I just went through a bad time with my hip, but it's much better at the moment. I've been referred for a hip replacement, so will need to get fitter before then to help the recovery.

    Hope you get news about meeting your grandson soon, Suzy.
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    Hello Hatters! We’re back from our hiking trip. We actually did a couple of pretty challenging hikes and it felt good to accomplish that endeavor! The second day was about seven miles! I was the youngest one hiking so I couldn’t complain. lol.

    We got the call on our way home that we could go see our new grandson. It was just an overnight visit but at least we got to meet him. He’s so tiny and sweet. They may come visit for Thanksgiving in a couple weeks.

    I’m going for my annual physical on Thursday. I’m not looking forward to seeing my bloodwork results. Fingers crossed that my A1C isn’t through the roof.

    How are y’all doing? What’s new?
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Hi Suzy!! Huge congrats on nailing the hiking i can imagine how great it felt to feel happy about how well you did!! and even better news about being able to see the new grandson.. i totally get the hurt feelings you experienced when you didnt get the invitation to see him earlier.. sometimes the young'uns just dont get what could be really important to us; its not deliberate i honestly just think sometimes.. they just dont look at things from our perspective (which of course they cant cause they are in a different place in their lives).. but completely understand your feelings!!

    I hope things went ok yesterday at the doc.. i dont know if you had bloodwork done before the apt or got the requisition there to get it done... but fingers crossed!!
  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    They took blood yesterday so I’m waiting on results. I’m dealing with a hurt shoulder. I was encouraged when she said she didn’t think it was a rotator cuff issue but if it doesn’t improve then I’ll have to go see an ortho. I swear it is always something! I know it’s my own fault. If I was exercising and stretching regularly then I don’t think these aches and pains would just pop up randomly. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I got on the scale at the doctors office. I’ve gained so much weight. My stomach looks like I’m pregnant. It’s time to stop making excuses. They have a nutritionist in the practice and I’m going to make an appointment for me and my husband. He seems to listen to others more than he listens to me. LOL! Maybe if we go together then he will agree to eating veggies more often. Of course, that means I have to cook them and I really don’t enjoy cooking.

    Have you been able to play pickleball lately? Any new adventures with your senior group?

    I’m sorry your hip has been bothering you, Vail. How long will you have to wait for the replacement?
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    Welcome back, Suzy! Well done on the hiking! That sort of hiking has been beyond me for a long time now, and I'm always so impressed that you can do it!

    Congratulations on meeting your grandson, too! I'm wondering if it's because it's your son (not your daughter) that you weren't invited earlier. I've talked about this with friends, about how it can be more difficult to find your place when it's your son who is the parent. I only have a son, obviously, but I do think it's a bit different. I have just been lucky in that I live so close (walking distance). I told them that I would be visiting every day if it was up to me so it was my son's job to tell me when not to come and when to leave, ha ha! That's lovely that they are planning to visit you soon.

    I think that's a good idea to go and see the nutritionist together. I think if you are both on board with it it will be easier. Yes, it's a pain to have to cook. I fall back on pre-prepared vegetables a lot.

    I've gained weight too (yes, despite constantly saying I'm getting back on track!). I don't exercise the way I used to, and I'm not eating as healthily as I used to. I will eat well for a few days, and then go off plan again with some feeble excuse. This year has pretty much been a washout in terms of health, weight, etc. I'd like to lose the weight again and get fitter before my operation. Not sure how long it will be until that happens, and still not 100% sure I want to go ahead!




  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    I got my bloodwork results today. It’s about what I was expecting. My cholesterol is a bit high but it’s about where it has been ever since I first started getting it tested. My triglycerides were higher than usual though. My A1C was pre-diabetic and higher than last time. My doctor recommended meeting with the nutritionist, a low carb diet and some supplements. Recheck in a few months IF I make these changes. If I’m not willing to make diet changes and increase exercise then it’s prescription medication. So, I’ve got an appointment with the nutritionist December 19. I think I’m going to keep a food and exercise journal until then to show her. It’s time for some serious lifestyle changes.

    Vail, you really amaze me with your determination and dedication to getting healthier. You did such a fantastic job, was it last year that you reached your goal weight? I absolutely know that you can do it again. Get as strong as you can and then decide about your hip.
  • Snooozie
    Snooozie Posts: 3,464 Member
    Vai i totally get not being sure if you want to go ahead with the surgery; i have a few friend in the same decision making process on hips and knees, weighing current pain levels into the mix & hoping to wait as long as they can.

    Suzy.. i kinda dread getting blood work back most of the time and im usually a little bummed for a few days afterwards when they show some issues... but i have found (for me) i give myself af ew days to be bummed but then i have to pivot my thinking (what i call my attitude adjustment LOL) it ain't easy to do, but i try to change it up in my mind "ok now i know.. so now i start working to get those numbers better for the next tests".. for me at least, when i am ready to make that transition in my head, it kinda kicks me out of the being "down" headspace and puts me into a better mindset of ok i have an action plan now..

    my blood work is usually pretty much tied to my eating habits... i do great, then i slide down the slippery slope a bit and that slide as we know.. when potato chips become dinner or i grab a burger on the run because i waited to long to eat, or im getting together with friends so dinner and wine ..skip pickleball cause i dont really feel like going today.. all those little things that just start sneaking in they are suddenly the regular.. and then my A1C goes up, slide slide until those are no longer the exceptions.. and just like our weight loss journey, i suddenly discover my numbers are "up" in my bloodwork and i get mad at myself because they were good, i was eating well lots of veggies adding grains and moving more.. and now i have to do it all again because i got on that damn slope .... (so kinda like the weight loss journey too right? ) So maybe give yourself a day or 2 to process the numbers on these tests and then find the headspace that works for you to start working on getting them lower.. and i agree wtih Vail going to see the nutirtionist will be a big help in helping u figure out how to do it... WHY you want to get them lower is going to be up to you to decide, but she will be able to give you the tools to help you there for sure. IT's a lot harder for you cause you have hubby in that equation too vs me just having to think about me LOL.. BUT god knows none of us have made it this far in life without being able to excel at "hard" right? so we just gotta keep reminding ourselves we CAN do it and getting help from the nutritionist is a great start (i think)...

  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,472 Member
    So true, Snoozie. Yes, nothing is easy! And you do lots of hard stuff, Suzy: the hiking the grandchildren, your projects: you put a lot of effort in to have an active and fulfilling life. I think it's easy to forget what we are doing when we focus on what we're not doing! It's good that your cholesterol levels are stable too! And that "pre-diabetic" is fixable, from what I understand.

    I think the journal is a really good idea. And thinking about what works for you. For instance, I know it wouldn't work for me to be making fancy new recipes every day, all that work of shopping and thinking and measuring and finding I don't like it. Just give me something simple that works!

    It does sound really positive that you're seeing the nutritionist. It will maybe help to focus and feel enthusiastic about it.

    My last blood results were fine on the sugar front, but my cholesterol results were not so good. I think just need to eat less food, better food and to exercise more. It's that simple.

    Yes, the surgery question, Snoozie, I'm finding it really difficult. I feel under a lot of pressure because everybody (friends, family) I talk to say to go ahead sooner rather than later. But there really are good reasons for waiting. When I bring them up, I feel I'm being talked out of them, and I feel people will disapprove if I don't go for it. Now I know that's a silly reason. I just don't know. I'm going to talk to the surgeon soon and will see what they think. It's confusing because some days I'm OK, and the pain hasn't been really bad for a long, long time now.

  • suzyqholland
    suzyqholland Posts: 1,371 Member
    Vail, I think there’s a lot that goes into the decision process. You don’t want to do it too early but you don’t want to wait too late. You feel good one day but it hurts the next. Ultimately it’s between you and your doctor to make the decision that’s right for you. Don’t let all the outside influences of other’s opinions intimidate you. It’s a big important decision.

    Thank you for your encouraging words, y’all. I’m hoping this will be a turning point for me. I need to make it a turning point. I’ve gained so much weight gradually over the past ten years because I became so complacent. I felt so good when I lost the weight and I need to get that feeling back again.