Chats, Challenges & Laughs 2nd home

[Cele21]

For all my Chats, Challenges & Laughs peeps! Since we can't get on the threads I thought I would start a discussion area for us. We may not be able to keep track of points standings easily but we can still talk.

I miss you!

[Jan2512]

Nice to hear from Steve & Glenda again.

Glenda - you live in Texas don't you?  Have you been impacted by the bad weather we are seeing here on the telly in Australia?

[ElaineJ27]

Wow! The increased activity is great. 

Yesterday I canceled my gym membership after weeks of debating the pros and cons. The relief from the guilt of not using it was immediate once I made the decision. I was only using a treadmill and a few nautilus machines. I have an elliptical and hand weights at home, as well as several videos that I enjoy. 

I did use my elliptical for 30 minutes this morning and had a really good day, both with food and productivity. I just need to remember how today went to get started again tomorrow morning. 

@Jan2512 , my granddaughter did not catch the virus, nor any other classmates that I know. She only has class with the infected girl one day a week and they don’t spend time together. 

Also, Jan, are you doing WW online or do you have meetings at a local studio? I really connected with my group in person, then on Zoom, but when that group was cut, I didn’t want to start over with new people. 

@CJ_Here , the fact that you continue to restart shows that you are making progress. 

Everyone else, it’s great to catch up with you and hear of your successes. I’m trying to imagine a kind of exercise class Hubby and I could possibly agree on!

And the golf course will be open Saturday!

[Cele21]

@Glenda  - I was just able to post a reply on the other challenge. Can you please try again and let me know? I started this one from my computer at work and the others from home so that may have something to do with accessibility?

[ElaineJ27]

I didn’t exercise earlier this morning but did keep moving after breakfast. Then about 10, I pulled out a jigsaw puzzle to work on and turned on my music. I was happy as a clam! Then after lunch, I took a walk and am now sitting down with my book! I’m sure that sunshine makes a great difference in my mood. 

[CJ_Here]

Sounds like a perfect day, @ElaineJ27 .  I might hit the jigsaw yet today but I must clean up the kitchen first. 

I loved getting the blue dots, @Jan2512 .  I'm also curious if you have in person meetings.

I made it with my calories last night.  Now I have the same thing to get through tonight - five more hours; just five more hours; you can do it!

[CJ_Here]

1/1/21 - 248

LW - 245.3

CW - 243.7 

first goal - lose 19 lbs (229)

Another day of super low steps.

[ElaineJ27]

@CJ_Here , congrats on the weight loss. 

I played my first round of golf today. My back is sore from lifting my clubs into the trunk of my car. This is my third day with at least 30 minutes of exercise. 

[CJ_Here]

Hope you are continuing to be able to golf, @ElaineJ27 .  I will start my first 30 minute walk tomorrow.

Stayed within calories for 8 days now.

[ElaineJ27]

I have not played golf again since Friday. On Saturday, I was able to watch two of my grandson’s basketball games on Facebook.  The only exercise I did was helping Hubby carry to the basement the four base cabinets and countertop for my craft room. 

After church on Sunday, I cooked and seasoned three pounds of ground beef for tacos and made three packs for the freezer. Then I divided the package of chicken breasts, cutting some into chunks and put those in the freezer.  Later I swept and washed the walls and floor in the part of the basement that will be my new craft room. Today I bought paint and will start that tomorrow. 

I used my elliptical for 30 minutes first thing this morning! So I managed three consecutive days of exercise, took off the weekend, then started again today. 

[Cele21]

USW - 218.0

LW - 192.6

CW - 191.6

My knee has been especially painful with the weather changes so I took the big step of making an appointment with a new doctor recommended by one of the guys I work with. My appointment is at 4:30 today. I'm guessing x-rays, discussion and possibly a cortisone shot. Can't wait (sarcasm).  

[Cele21]

My previous prediction was correct, x-rays, discussion and a cortisone shot. However, I did most of the discussion with the physician's assistant (who I really liked) and only about 5 minutes with the doctor who repeated everything we talked to the assistant about so I don't have a very good read on him yet. Got the cortisone shot and it's like night and day pain wise. My limitation on range of motion is a physical thing - I have bone spurs on both bones and my kneecap so it won't bend that far because the bones hit each other. Progress is at my discretion - continue with up to 3 cortisone shots per year, graduate to gel shots or schedule replacement surgery. They will be fine with whatever I decide based on my quality of life. Looks like I need to start saving for surgery down the road - hopefully far down the road.

[Katrin]

Hi Everyone,

I tried to post the other day but the system was acting weird - I'm pretty sure it was on fitbits end and not mine this time - or should I say, again.

I had my MRI on Tuesday. The actual event was a little anticlimactic. I wasn't super worried in advance but when I got to the clinic, they had me come early and then kept me waiting late and during that 85 or so minutes, I started getting pretty restless which led to me being nervous. Then, the guy performing the exam didn't know whether the dye had nickel in it or not so he had to pull the whole formulation and read it. The fact that he didn't know the answer made me more nervous and then the writing was so small on the insert and it was so long that I couldn't read it myself since I hadn't brought my reading glasses. Then, he screwed up the IV the first time and it hurt and remains bruised and tender today. After that, the whole thing was a breeze. I did just fine in the tube and other than a little dizziness while the bed was moving around and then from the dye afterward that day, I felt okay.  Should have the results Friday or Monday.

@Cele21everyone I know who has had knee replacement always says they regret putting it off for so long because they feel so wonderful after recovery. I can't personally vouch for that but I've had cortisone shots and somehow, I feel like I'd rather have surgery than too many more of those! They work but wow, do they hurt going in and then I swell and get red and itchy in the area afterward for several days to a week.

So I have a new thing I'm doing and it seems to really be working. I was super skeptical but overall, it's a small thing that really makes me feel great! It came from the author of the book we recently read for my book club - You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha which was an easy read about 9 "secrets" to building self resiliancy. They weren't really secrets but were a common sense reminder to focus on the right things and not get lost in being human and making mistakes. Well the new "habit" is to take 2 minutes each morning and document via journal or note card the following 3 items you will do that day: 1. I will let go of _________. 2. I am grateful for ________. 3. I will focus on __________. OMG what a difference. I don't know how much is spring and how much is other stuff but writing down something I'm grateful for actually makes the other 2 things easier and the result is I've been happier all week!

Although I think in general I like and appreciate my life, I don't always pause to think about it. But I do tend to dwell on bad stuff, hold grudges, and be hard on myself when I screw up. Somehow, it's much easier to let stuff go when you replace it with being grateful for something else. The two in combination make it easier to focus on stuff. I dunno . . .  Anyway, my book club moderator challenged us all to do it every day for 2 weeks and in just this short amount of time, I'm smiling more, singing to myself at times and just generally happier. Feel free to try it yourselves if you don't already - I could jut be late to the table with this one!

[ElaineJ27]

LW: 262.8

CW: 265.8

I haven’t tracked my food and thought I was doing pretty well but tracking is the only way to know for sure how much I’ve eaten. Tuesday morning I started painting in my craft room. No cardio but lots of bending and stretching. Every muscle in my back and legs is sore!

@Cele21 I got almost a year’s relief from my first shot but I had so much damage by the time of my second, it hardly helped at all and the knee replacement was the only relief I could get. I’m still very happy with it except I don’t get down on my knees because it feels weird. 

@Katrin , I also believe the weather has helped me to feel much happier. The sunshine makes so much difference. I also find that gratitude does make it easier to set aside negative feelings but I have not been able to stick to a journaling habit. 

[CJ_Here]

I haven't been able to get down on my knees for probably 13+ years, but luckily I'm not to the point of seeking help.  Maybe if I had kept on PT exercises years ago, but it was just too uncomfortable to do so I just quit.  I can't imagine getting a shot for relief so I know that means they are not too bad after all.

Good to hear that @Katrin  and @ElaineJ27  are feeling happier.  I feel better, too, which is due to the longer days.  I wish they wouldn't monkey with daylight savings time anymore, but I don't see MN changing.  I have walked once this week (and have the blister to prove it) and need to walk two more times before Monday for a challenge I joined.  I have consistently been drinking 100 oz of water daily and have kept my calories in check for 12 days now.  I've been having to white-knuckle it the last couple of nights, but having 'the good days' already under my belt helps.

[CJ_Here]

Fri - 4 points / water, posting, logging, exercise

1/1/21 - 248

LW - 243.7 - 2/26

CW - 242.2 - 3/5 

first goal - lose 19 lbs (229)

[Katrin]

Hi Everyone,

It's super cold today again but clear, bright and sunny. It looks like it wants to be spring but sure doesn't feel like it!

Yesterday I got my results from my MRI uploaded to my online chart. They noted in the email notification that they uploaded it at the same time as they sent to my doctor so I might be looking at the results BEFORE my doctor. Since it was Friday afternoon, I knew it was likely that my doc wouldn't see it until Monday and we wouldn't talk until Monday or Tuesday. I decided that was okay.

So, as a non-medical person, I had to google about 80% of the language to figure out what the heck they were talking about and if it was good or bad and how bad it was. I'm still not sure. However, I don't think it's good, I just think it's not that bad. Turns out Kyleena IS looking to be slightly imbedded in muscle on the left side. I'm pretty sure that means it has to come out. Also, highly indicative of adenomyosis in both the shape/size of my uterus, the lack of distinction between uterine wall and the lining and also T2 level intensity of some kind of bright spots. Also, they found a cyst on one of my ovaries and a fibroid.

I've heard of fibroidS but I've never heard of there being just one fibroid. Also, I can't tell if it's small, large, menacing or just hanging out. Same with the cyst - how big does it have to be to be a problem and if I wasn't already having these other issues, would it even matter?

Long story short, seems no question that Kyleena has to come out and that likely will require some sort of anesthesia because likely extracting it from muscle would really hurt and I wouldn't be able to lay still. It may even need to be removed surgically. The question is, do they have to do a hysterectomy and would it be partial or total? Do I need to lose my ovary because of the cyst? I do believe they would have offered some other options to resolve the original complaint of heavy periods like a d&c but I don't know if the fibroid/cyst situation rules that out. Also, a d&c is not a cure, only a treatment for the symptoms and adenomyosis is progressive so the only real cure is to remove the uterus. Lastly, my uterus is within normal size in 2 directions (according to google) but seems to be about double in size in the 3rd direction which likely means it's putting pressure somewhere it shouldn't. This could explain some of my more recent GI issues and other symptoms so that alone is a compelling reason to get it out.

Lots of info and no answers yet but I don't regret reading it for myself. I'm a muller and I think hearing the doctor saying it cold would have short circuited my brain. Having the weekend to digest before we talk about it is super helpful so I feel a little prepared and can ask better questions.

In other news, still no more sales at work and my deadline for a May issue is Friday so now it looks like June before I get paid. This has me super anxious because of likely needing to schedule surgery. I don't want to lose work time without some sort of paycheck guarantee! I am picking up some extra hours at my retail job because another store is very shorthanded and could use some extra bodies but at $10 an hour part time, it will never be enough!

Unrelated to any of this, my sister and I are getting along really well these past 6 months or so. Maybe a little longer. We've traditionally had a very adversarial relationship due in part to both being strong personalities and also being only 18 months apart so always in one another's spaces. I didn't deliberately set out to repair years of cumulative petty damage but I have been trying to ease things for my mom and so stepping up in this way seems to have had that as a side effect. I think today, in my journal, I'm going to be grateful for my sister who despite all of the years of squabbling, is truly a blessing in my life underneath it all.

Have a great day everyone!

[Cele21]

USW - 218.0

LW - 191.6

CW - 189.2

Wasn't expecting a two pound loss this week but it makes sense. Cooked at home more vs. fast food, a bit more water but plenty of room for improvement, got the cortisone shot and got to bed earlier so more and improved sleep, less sugar overall and a bit more movement than the last several weeks.

@Katrin  - Wow that is a lot to think about. Make sure you take notes to talk to your doctor about. And think about getting a second opinion on whatever course they recommend. Glad you are getting along better with your sister, age brings much perspective.

[ElaineJ27]

Thursday was Hubby’s birthday so we went out to dinner, then had cake and ice cream at our daughter’s house. Yesterday, the grandkids got out of school at 11:30 and I had a 1:00 meeting, so we picked up fast food for lunch and had ice cream late afternoon. After work, Hubby decided to go trailer shopping (to transport tractors and mowers) and since I didn’t know when he would be home, we again went out for dinner. 

Since I was putting my time and energy into painting, my housework has slacked off a bit but I have kept up the dishes and laundry. 

@CJ_Here , your diligence is paying off. I’m sure it’s gratifying to see the scale move down. @Cele21 , congrats also on a loss. 

@Katrin , first let me assure you the most women have some fibroids and/or cysts and don’t have a problem, so those aren’t necessarily a problem.  From what you’ve summarized, the main issues are the imbedded device and the abnormal shape of the uterus. I agree that a second opinion, at your age, would be helpful. I was 55 when I was faced with a minor surgery and hysterectomy a few years later, or go ahead with the hysterectomy. I chose not to prolong the situation and have never regretted it. You may remember my complaints of menopausal symptoms that lasted for about six months, but I was probably close to those naturally. 

@Jan2512 , as our spring is arriving, I thought about you heading into fall and winter. I don’t know what your winters are like, but I am over the cold, gray days and am enjoying the sunshine. 

[CJ_Here]

@Katrin , I'm glad you are taking the time to do some research, take notes and prepare for your meeting with your doctor.  Once he starts going over, you'll be able to tick off answered questions and make more sense of your options.  I'm sorry to hear that the sales have been slow for you.  I'll pray that you get the sales you need before your next deadline.  Luckily in this day and age, any surgery shouldn't keep you away from your work very long.

Yay, @Cele21 , for continued weight-loss and healthier habits.  Isn't it great to reap rewards.  I don't remember what your goal was but I really see it happening for you.  

@ElaineJ27 , I'm excited for you with your new sewing room shaping up.  All your clearing out is paying off.  Thanks for your support on my weight-loss.  Today has been tougher to say no.  So, far I believe I will stay within my calories today, but I had to switch things up (delete the healthier planned items for more junky stuff) and now a little white knuckling it.

I've been thinking of @Jan2512  also as we've been hit with early spring.  We all know it won't last but we are soaking in every minute.  Next week we'll be in the 50's!  I hope your fall will be a long one.  Do you see a lot of fall colors in your area? 

[CJ_Here]

Sun - 4 pts

Hope everyone is enjoying your days.  It's sunny and warm here 🙂