Challenge Sept 22...9 days to go!!

[hawk]

Don't lose me now. I can't work out for a couple days till this epidural sight heals. I need to stay Purist..I need you all to keep me going.

I am eating super clean so I don't gain weight. The doc who did the epidural gave me a prescription of Lyrica. It has the side effect of weight gain. Last time I was on it I gained 30 pounds in one month. I am not taking it unless absolutely nessessary.If it just stops symptoms and does not stop RSD, there is no reason to take it. I will deal with the pain.

After all..I have you all.You will keep me on the straight and narrow.I have lived with pain. I can live with it again. Every day weight lifting causes pain of some kind. (I'm self talking). I just have to get to the point I stop wincing and whining. And I want to walk around with a smile and not tight lipped. Acceptance and hard work ahead.

I love you people.

Lynn

[Mitra]

Don't worry, Hawk, we're keeping our eagle eyes on you :). What you're going through is horrible, but eating badly won't make you feel better, physically or mentally. (I know that, because I've tried it myself ;) .)

[oceanblueLA]

You have been so strong walking down this road Hawk. And you will continue to be strong until you make it. I hope all went well with your DD. You sure are going through it right now! But from what I've seen of you on these boards, you are up to it. Hang in there. My thoughts are with you.

Blue

[oceanblueLA]

It's a beautiful Saturday in L.A... grey and threatening to rain again. I love it! I am so ready for fireplace season. It stormed all night, thunder and lightning. I know a lot of you get that on a regular basis. But we don't out here. I wish we did. And for this weekend, at least, we are!

I missed working out yesterday but I am still on plan as I only need to hit five work out days. So as soon as I am done with this, I am heading upstairs to do the treadmill and weights.

My food has been squeaky clean, and I am at one of those places where I am enjoying the plan and don't want or need anything extra. I've been going to bed hungry every night. Not bad hungry. Good hungry. The way "normal" people do. Although the more I look at the eating habits and size in our country, I guess the norm is to eat whatever you want whenever you want. Living in L.A. where there are typically more thin people than anywhere else in the U.S., I have noticed recently how that has been changing. People are getting larger. Especially the children. That's not news, but it's the first time I really noticed the sea change. But with all the crap they put into our food, is it any wonder?

The odds are truly stacked against us. I was looking for whipped cream yesterday and couldn't find the unsweetened kind I usually get... I hope they haven't discontinued it... and I compared two brands, both with the same 20 calories and 1 carb per serving. The difference between them was the first brand used sorbitol and the second had the dreaded corn syrup. That stuff doesn't just add a carb, it screws with your body chemically. I had no idea that there might be corn syrup in a simple can of whipped cream. And you can bet I won't be buying that brand ever again. But it made stop to think... what other foods do I eat that have corn syrup? I have not been using too much processed food lately, but I will be checking all the labels in my cupboard.

In case you want to read up on corn syrup and why it's a problem, here is a link to a decent article in the San Francisco Gate, and also a few paragraphs from it.

Have a great day!

Blue

******************

"The country eats more sweetener made from corn than from sugarcane or beets, gulping it down in drinks as well as in frozen food and baked goods. Even ketchup is laced with it.

Almost all nutritionists finger high fructose corn syrup consumption as a major culprit in the nation's obesity crisis. The inexpensive sweetener flooded the American food supply in the early 1980s, just about the time the nation's obesity rate started its unprecedented climb.
The question is why did it make us so fat. Is it simply the Big Gulp syndrome -- that we're eating too many empty calories in ever-increasing portion sizes? Or does the fructose in all that corn syrup do something more insidious -- literally short-wire our metabolism and force us to gain weight?

The debate can divide a group of nutritional researchers almost as fast as whether the low-carb craze is fact or fad.

Loading high fructose corn syrup into increasingly larger portions of soda and processed food has packed more calories into us and more money into food processing companies, say nutritionists and food activists. But some health experts argue that the issue is bigger than mere calories. The theory goes like this: The body processes the fructose in high fructose corn syrup differently than it does old-fashioned cane or beet sugar, which in turn alters the way metabolic-regulating hormones function. It also forces the liver to kick more fat out into the bloodstream."

http://tinyurl.com/ytf3qg

[Anniesnan]

Hawk,

hope all goes/went well with your DD today!

I'm doing great so far, except for wracking TOM pains.

Got in my walk with dh before the rain:D:D:D

[Ammy]

No for me...darn Saturdays!!!

still 18/29

[Anniesnan]

Saturdays are hard!

I had several temptations today, but managed to survive:D.

At one point, I remembered the one chicken breast left over that I had cooked Thursday night - HOORAY! It saved me completely.

And now, off to bed before I ruin my YES;)

[hawk]

The meeting went fantastic. DD'S birthmom hugged me and cried afterward "Thankyou thankyou, thankyou". my daughter said.." mom! I never knew you kept in contact with my birthmom and were so nice to her...I want to be like you when I grow up" goofy girl... They spent two and a half hours in the park walking and talking . I survived . My lower back where the epidural was still feels like I got kicked by a mule. DD birthmom is married to a man 25 years older than she is and we spent the time talking about how he got over his stroke...We talked about controlled carb diets and how bad cholesterol drugs affected his body.

I was happy when I could go back home and relax. DD did not want to meet her birthmom at our home, DD wanted control of when she was finished talking. I am SO glad that this is over. Now they can come over during the holidays when both kids are home and just enjoy them with us together..One extended happy family. DD is ok with that happening. I have wanted it for a long time.

DD was terrified, faced her fear, did it anyway . Growing up. There was only forgiveness and honesty on both sides. I am very proud of my girl.

[oceanblueLA]

Hawk-- Your DD is right. You are an amazing mother. Well done.

Blue

[gitfiddle]

DD was terrified, faced her fear, did it anyway . Growing up. There was only forgiveness and honesty on both sides. I am very proud of my girl.
Lynn, that warms my heart! With you as her role model, she will continue to face her fears and be honest. What you give her is more precious than gold, hon.

I can't imagine how you made it through the walk in the park, but I know you did it with a smile on your face. I'm praying for you.

I had a YES day. I had some baked brie (with sauteed mushrooms and carmelized onions) at the artist's reception and some refried beans with my dinner, but I still made it.

A co-worker brought her twin sons over yesterday for yearbook photos. She said they were reluctant and not interested in having photos done, but they sure got over that! I had a lot of fun and the pictures turned out well. Between that session and being on my feet cleaning house all morning, my knees are hollering. Ibuprophen didn't touch them.

[Karole]

Please give me a yes for today.

Protein 122 ecc 28