She-Groks Only.......... cuz it works different for us page 103

[Lizzielou]

On a different topic, has anyone ever gotten advice from a decorator on what to do with your home? I am bartering with someone who does this professionally but I don't know how to approach it -- I kind of know what I want but I'm better at saying what I don't want (both modern and cutesy are equally yuk) than what I do. I'd love any advice or comments if you have 'em.

We had a consultant help us to pick internal paint for our house when we built. We had already chosen most of the colours but we wanted an expert opinion on our choices to make sure we weren't making any hideous mistakes. She also advised me on furniture choices for the future and helped out with the paint choices for the window frames, skirting boards, doors to match the walls etc. Because we had already done much of the leg work and she was just helping us to put it all together the cost was quite minimal, and I'll say it was worth every cent for the peace of mind. She charged us per hour, and I think all up it was 2 hours plus a little for travel.

[Pamsc]

last year, my period started going kaplooey. some days so bad i was afraid to leave the house. grapefruit-sized clots sploshing on the floor. i became badly anemic. back and forth with a few doctors and had a mirena iud put in. friends have it and love it. at 47, i am peri-menopasual so was hoping i could just ride everything out for the 5-year lifespan of the device.

I was not expecting your story to turn out the way it did--the Mirena worked for me. I hope you can find what will work for you!

[onalark]

I think Nubbin is going to become this kid's official nickname long after he/she gets a real name.

We were calling it blueberry for a while. Then I bought a quart of blueberries and it just got...weird.

[cori93437]

We were calling it blueberry for a while. Then I bought a quart of blueberries and it just got...weird.

When I was preg with son I called him 'Noodle' ... and I didn't even know he was a boy!
From my current perspective that is a bit insulting though.

I have a friend who recently hatched... she called hers Kumquat. He ended up weighing 9 1/2 lbs!
Biggest kumquat ever! He was born looking like a 3-4 month old! HUGE! Scary...

[Jodis]

VAGiNA.

LOL! I don't think the spamscraper thingies go very far into a thread though, seems like they keep repeating from the very first few pages.

[Judg]

Still, it's too funny when a spambot with a male name repeats a post that was clearly written by a woman.

[Leida]

I recently read a number of books and articles that tell me that I can't have a body I want, because, you know, I am a middle-aged woman, so it is healthy to be fat... that I needed something different. I just feel like it is so unfair. So, I checked out Jillian Michael's Unlimited book out. Yeah, cheesy, I know, but I am getting depressed by the inevitable posts whenever any gal says she wants to be leaner and it is hard... 'oh, are you sure you need to lose more?' Well, hell, yes, I am sure I need to lose more. And, no, I am not anorexic. I just want slimmer thighs. Big crime. So, yeah, I am going to read a cheesy book how with knowledge and attitude one can achieve anything and just... I hope it will help something. I am feeling so depressed at this tone of: "nope, you can't, cause you are a woman."

Yeah, VAGINA.

[sbhikes]

VAGINA

There's a book out by Mike and Mary Dan Eades about the middle-aged middle. I guess it's pretty common to reach middle age and even if you are the same weight you were in college, to have a bigger waist. That's my issue. They have a diet that supposedly combats that, but it's probably a low-carb diet, which is what they are known for. I guess you rotate 2 weeks on a protein shake diet, 2 weeks on an induction-level low carb and 2 weeks on something else, (I probably have all this wrong). The guy at the cooling inflammation site thought the reason it was effective was that it wasn't a huge shock to your gut flora because of the gradual change to the diet. He seems to think obesity is partly a gut flora problem.

Argh, what a wild ride it has been the past few days. I was so sore all week from exercise and stretches that killed my legs, abs and arms. The June fog has left me feeling run down, sleepy, crabby, listless. Then the sun came out and boy did I feel so much happier! I went out to dinner and ate enormous quantities of sushi and sashimi (a whole bowl of sashimi!) and I even ate ice cream for dessert (first time in almost a year.) Then Saturday I felt fat and I thought I looked fat. Then Saturday night I went hiking and my stomach blew up swollen like a balloon. I swear my waist was at least 35 inches. Ugh, I felt so fat and ugly. Then Sunday I'm feeling fat and ugly all day. I decided to swear off wine and chocolate and dairy products for like ever. I look in the mirror and see nothing but horrible ugly fat. So I go sprinting, which makes me feel so energetic and amazing. Eat a nice steak and salad dinner so I feel fresh and healthy. I measure my waist and it's 31.5". I look in the mirror and see a fat ugly body. This morning I measure it again for laughs. It's 29.5". What? That's what it is when I'm feeling skinny and confident, but all I see is a fat ugly body. Argh. That old body image dismorphic thing is back.

[bakers3]

Hi all! I have read through this whole thread and thought I would jump in and introduce myself!

I am Keri. Just turned 45 and have about 100 pounds to lose. I just finished up my first week back on PB. I have been on and off low carb diets for years and this is my 2 nd time around trying PB. The difference this time is that I am committed to a complete and permanent lifestyle change and trying to keep the focus on my overall health as opposed to just "dieting". Of course with so much to lose, I will be watching for that weight loss!

Today starts week 2 - I am down 7 pounds (bye bye sugar bloat!) have just naturally cut my coffee consumption in half and my Fresca consumption by over 75 percent. This week I am focusing on adjusting my supplements and getting off of the Fresca all together!

Health issues I hope to improve with this healthier lifestyle: high blood pressure (medicated), depression (may not be able to get off meds but who knows), thyroid function (I am hypo and taking synthetic T3 and T4), symptoms of arthritis (have cervical spinal stenosis and moderately severe arthritis in multiple locations on both knees - both weight loss and less inflammation will help these conditions). I also have frequent heart palpitations which I suspect are hormonal or nutritional in nature as all cardiac tests look good and I get terrible migraines on occasion. Basically I am a mess and ready to heal myself and change my quality of life!

No exercise for now though I am packing up for a big move - finally getting back to Oregon after 9 years in the KC area. I will be moving with my 15 yo daughter in about 5 weeks. After we get settled I hope to be down about 20 pounds and will start walking daily and doing the basic moves. For now I just need to focus on the eating and stayed as de-stressed as I can during the moving process.

Hope that wasn't too long and boring....lol. Looking forwards to getting to know all of you!

Keri

[Leida]

I have exactly the same thing going. I would do a kick ass workout, and I feel like I am like an athlete! And then I look in the mirror, and the reality hits hard. I still look, well, fat middle-aged and pathetic.

Funny thing is that I remember when I was 18 or so, I was comparing my stats to what they said was appropriate for models (the 60 cm waist and 90 cm thighs), and my waist was 68-70 cm, thighs about 100 cm. Now, if I convert that to inches, it gives me a waist of about 26.5 to 27 inches and about 40 inches on the thigh. Now I have about the same waist and less on the thigh (like 35 inches). So I did not change that much. I was kindda fat back then, I am kindda fat now. It's like that old joke about the guy who was 'just as strong as when he was young'... because he couldn't lift the same boulder in his yard.