The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[petladyinRI]

Re the sand box issues... I am typically slow unless I am overeating fatty foods, so you can imagine what MF did to me. I tried the SF benefiber, as recommended by NS, --nada. I wasn't willing to add the 120-240 calories per day for the 1-2 tbsps. of oil they also suggest. I was going days with nothing happening and feeling bloated. The things that finally worked reliably for me were 4 capsules of psyllium seed husks 2x/day for fiber (negligible calories and carbs and easier for me to swallow capsules than add powder to a drink), available at the health food store, and 2-3 docusate sodium capsules (stool softener) each night before bed (at all drug stores and supermarkets). I have checked with my MD, and these are fine to take daily ad infinitum.

Big congrats on your joining the day side. I've worked graveyard shift, and although I am a night person, it did some strange things to my routine and my friendships! I hope you love your new job.

[DogMa]

I'm sure I will. I've worked in features before, and I loved it. I'll miss having the freedom to schedule appointments during the week, though. And shopping when the stores are less crowded. But it should be worth it.

One small correction, though. Those Ultra things are higher in sodium than I realized. So I can make 'em work when I don't have much sodium the rest of the day, but not if I want to have soy crisps or anything like that. Sigh.

I've tried the psyllium, although not with the softener, too. The thing is, I think I just don't go all that often and I should probably just get used to it. I eat plenty of fat these days (25 percent to 30 percent a day, not including my salmon oil capsules). But I've been this way since I was a little kid, so it's probably just time to accept it. I don't have pain or anything, and it generally resolves itself after a couple of days. I think my system's just a little pokey.

[petladyinRI]

Well, if all that exercise hasn't kicked your system up a notch, esp. with the increase in fat, then that might just be natural for you.

[DogMa]

That's my thought. I don't have to like it, though.

[DogMa]

128.4. Did the treadmill this morning, and am going to the gym later on.

Food at nearly 1200 calories. I'm thinking of MAYBE getting some chicken and veggies from a Chinese place for dinner instead of cooking. So not a free day, but still something a little different.

[DogMa]

I really wanted the Chinese food tonight, the more I thought about it. I also really, really didn't want to go to the gym and was thinking of doing what I could at home (but this would mean skipping two whole weeks of weights, since I did that Wednesday and won't be going Wednesday or Saturday because I'll be away).

So ... I made myself a little deal. I went to the gym, worked my whole body instead of half (since I didn't get much of a workout Wednesday). Pushed myself really hard.

And then went across the street to pick up Panda Express for dinner (no noodles or rice, just a chicken/veggie dish, a beef/veggie dish and extra veggies). I'd kind of like to practice doing that sort of thing, since I know I'm not going to be tracking my food compulsively for the rest of my life.

So I think I did pretty well. I'm sure there was some extra fat, but I'm going to make the rest of today's meals on the lower-fat side. Breakfast was Egg Beaters and one whole egg, plus a ton of veggies (spinach, artichoke hearts, peppers, onions) and some low-fat feta. Second meal was Stacy's soy crisps and a low-fat string cheese.

I'm thinking a pudding, a PB-enhanced shake and either oatmeal or a Lean Pocket Ultra or even a second pudding, depending on whether I'm hungry or not.

Other than that, a quiet day. Got some spigot protector things for outside, since it's supposed to get below freezing one night this week. Plus some nonslip runners for Maggie, so she'll have an easier time when she's not on the carpeting. And my big excitement - I put up a dispenser in my shower for shampoo and shower gel and stuff. I had one in Denver (it was already there when I bought the house) and loved it. Don't know why I never put one up after that. I think I thought it was more difficult than it is.

[DogMa]

130.0 after a whole lot of sodium from the Chinese food.

Day off from workouts because a friend is coming this morning to help cut down the neighbor's tree limb that's shoving my fence off its posts.

[DogMa]

So hungry today!!! I brought my calories up to 1200, and instead they're already more than 1300 because I couldn't stand it. I had an extra bag of soy crisps and I'm STILL starving. I didn't even work out today, so I'm trying to hold out till my next scheduled feeding, but GEEZ, I'm hungry. I'm hoping it's just my uberworkout from yesterday.



ETA: OK, I'm going to try having some Glenny's soy crisps instead of my BFL bar. That'll bring me back down to 1250, which is a little better.

Assuming I can hold out and not eat anything for the next half hour or so.

[petladyinRI]

What is it with those days when it seems like you've barely finished a meal and you're hungry again? Sounds like you handled it fine, but why does it happen some days and not others? Don't you wonder? I always wonder what I'm supposed to do when I have a really long day, as I did yesterday, --was up from 9:30AM to 3:30AM. I drank an extra shake.

I would really be interested to know how all this exercise you're doing is affecting your body other than pounds and body fat%. Have you been keeping track of your measurements? Are you seeing changes in tone and definition? Shape? Proportions?

I started more demanding exercise this weekend, after reading your log, partially in hopes of maybe increasing the 1/2 to 1 pound a week I've been losing and because of the lumpies that seem to result in formerly fatter areas. Ya know, the places where it looks like someone subcutaneously injected cottage cheese? Yuck.

[DogMa]

Today's a bad day to ask. I've felt fatter than usual the past few days. Sigh. Honestly, I haven't noticed all THAT much of a change. My thighs are pretty hard, and I have some definition in my arms. But my calves are still too big (I suspect they always will be, because a lot of is muscle) and my belly just won't go away. I think change from exercise is a lot slower than even my slow Medifast losses.

Although I also think part of it is I haven't been eating enough for a long time. I'm hoping the increased calories will finally help. And on that note, I'm at 128.8 today despite the nonstop eating yesterday. So I think I'm going to shoot for 1200 again today instead of 1150.

Treadmill day. I'm going back to my BFL intervals, although I may walk a little longer at the end.

[petladyinRI]

Genetics are a b*tch, aren't they? I figure exercise is the only way to redistribute anything, and even that can only do so much. I hate to see you so frustrated, although I can sing Amen, as can probably everyone here. It does sometimes feel that there is a whole lot more effort than results sometimes. But I saw your photo, and you are stylin', girl! I think others see it before we do ourselves. Your body comp has got to be changing, and, hello, you're wearing size 6's. I am learning so much from what you share, so don't stop, please!

[DogMa]

I keep telling myself that, actually. I'm a size 6 - and mostly a 4 - so my stomach can't POSSIBLY be as big as I think it is. Sigh. But it's definitely bigger than I'm comfortable with. I can live with the big calves (although I'm still hoping the jogging will help there), and maybe even the upper-arm thing (which is definitely better than it was, but I fear some of it may just be an age thing). But the tummy bugs me. Sigh. Of course, that's probably partly an age thing, too.

I've kind of drifted away from the body-acceptance thing. Maybe it's time to work on that some more.

At least tonight I'm not quite so hungry as last night. I WAS still hungry after dinner, but I had a sugar-free cocoa and I seem to be doing better. Still a little hungry, but not starving like last night. And only 40 minutes till I'm supposed to eat again.

[petladyinRI]

"Mostly a 4!" Listen to yourself! I don't know where you were when you started, but if someone had told you then you'd be in a Size 4, wouldn't you have been happily incredulous? I can't speak for you, but I know I'll never be completely satisfied. First of all, at 58, there's stuff no amount of diet or exercise will fix! And, the standards we're comparing ourselves to, as portrayed in the media, are set by genetic outlying values, at the far end of the bell curve, who have been reworked by professional makeup and hair stylists, lit and photo'd in the most favorable way, then air-brushed or photo-shopped a la Katie Couric. Oh, and let us not forget plastic surgery. In a way I yearn for the good old days, when people my age looked like someone's grandma and not like Cher! (And I actually think Cher is a hoot). But, short of her resources and surgeries, how many people look better pushing 60 than they did in their 20's, like she does?

So, when I look in the mirror, do I admire the newly-emerging bones or the hint of muscle peaking out from the fat and dimpled skin? Hell no. I instead look at the anorectic, unusually tall models in my Bloomie's catalog and rue that, no matter how much I lose, I will never have legs like those in skinny jeans. Frankly, I love when "People" (c'mon, we all have guilty pleasures) snaps candids of celebrities walking the dog or whatever, un-made-up, in their grubbies, and I can think, hey, they don't look so different from everybody else (read: me). But those images are way in the minority.

So, yes, body acceptance is a real issue. And maybe a lot harder than MF. I'll work on it, if you will!
Hugs,

[DogMa]

Thanks, Sue. I really needed that. I know my expectations are completely unrealistic. Sigh. I'm trying. But maybe I need to try a little harder. (It actually helped when Nova said her body fat is around 30 percent. So is mine, and if I look half as good as she does, I'll be happy.) Oh, and when I started I had just bought size 20 from Lane Bryant because the 18s (18W in regular stores) were too tight. At the time, I thought I might shoot for a size 8 because it looked so tiny.

In the meantime, 128.6 today after too much sodium yesterday (and I'll have too much today; 2400 mg isn't very much once you raise calories to 1200 or more!).

Did the treadmill this morning. Added to the BFL intervals and went 30 minutes instead of 25.

[dede4wd]

Just catching up with your progress Robin.

DeDe