Confessions of the Heart

Linda, Am Really In Love with Maine... We had a little time this past summer and fall to drive around while trying to get the house unpacked and ready for winter.. but am so looking forward to Spring and getting out and going down to Bar Harbor, and Booth Bay and things. Pretty much know my way around Presque Isle, and am getting to know Caribou a little bit with some Dr's all the way up there.. All this stress got to me, and I ended up with shingles in my left eye, talk about looking like I was kicked in the head..... So I had to see an optomologist way up there, and have to go back again tomorrow for a revisit, and see if there was any more damage done to my eye.... Mean while Marianne loves the shopping in Bangor.... I tell you, you show her a mall, and she will show you how to spend the day there, and come home broke!!! But this was the right move, I just wish Mike was Mike again, and we all could enjoy it all together..... But maybe in the Spring when it warms up, maybe his chest will feel better too..... Still waiting with the ingrediants unopened for my first batch of irish cream coffee's.. looks like the Jameson's will have to age another year... lol or maybe will cheat and make them for St. Patricks Day...

oh val1---- i am so glad to see you posting! i too had gained 25# when my michael was sick this summer- it is hard to get back on track but you can/will do it if you want to--just don't leave us again-sometimes we are the only sanity of the day-to be with our fellow oh-ers---not sure if that came out right but i think ya got me! patty b posted about relacore- and stress- i bought some today and plan on trying them to see if they help my mood- i am sorry to hear that your mike is also not well- hugs to you both val3

((((((((((((((Margo)))))))))))))))) Nice to see you too....... Looks like we all can use each other... is amazing to me how fast the weight comes back on, and how long it takes to lose it again...... I swear I only had...... lolol I love the relacore, it made me awnry the first few days, then it kicked in, even if it didn't help with weight lose, I would definitly take it to help my moods... at least now I feel like I am on an even keel, and some of the hot flashes have gone too..... so try it, it does make me eat a lot less, and am not as hungry with it, so it might help with the weight lose too, my problem is with these damn flare ups,, I can't get out and walk, and do the things I could before.... and the steroid shots, don't help either... Anyway G/F am here for you too..... together we can handle it......

steroids can be a life saver, but man , when I had to take just a medrol dosepack for 5 days. I was so hungry I could have ate whole side of beef on my own, I was hungry every minute. They make me retain fluids as well. Are you seeing a Rhumatologist for all these auto immune issues? I sure hope you feel better. Maine sounds just wonderful! I'm so sorry that your DH is suffering from the effects still from 9/11. hoping for healing for both of you! (hugs from another Val)

Val, PLEASE keep coming back. YOU have so been missed. Sorry things are so bad for you. But we're here for ya girl. ALL of us! Elle whosgainedafewpoundsherself

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Very nice to see you again...I have missed those wonderful flowers! Sorry to hear about the problems of life but they are just that problems...and you have solutions for all of them. Even the weight gain. You are even acting on them now which is really good. Consider your slate clean and lets get going! (((((HUGS))))) Debbie

G'morning Val - It's SO NICE to see you posting again - although Ive enjoyed all your emails, seeing you "live and in real time" (per se) is an added bonus. I'm sorry to hear that Mike is having such a hard time of it. Poor thing - he's such a sweety and it's a freakn shame after all his years of dedication to serving and protecting others, he's unable to ENJOY what should be the "happy fun retirement years". I hope things DO get better with time and that you ALL start enjoying a life of health and happiness again, very soon. I fully understand the 'weight gain' aspect of your post - I also was dealing with one (15 lbs to be exact) and made a conscience effort to mix things up a bit and get back on track. Rather then RETYPE it all (lol, yes, Im lazy) I'm just going to cut and paste a post that I just sent to the Va-Board. We have a daily thread that's pretty much geared around "getting back on track and losing weight". I've made a few adjustments to my daily routine and it's paying off - maybe some of the things Ive added/changed might help you too. Hang in there - it's not easy, but we KNEW going into this that it was going to be a lifetime commitment with lifetime struggles. You can do it - you're worth it - never lose site of that! Hugs - Lei ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: CUT 'n PASTE Below :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Since I'm only recording any loss or gain on Monday's - it's the only time I'll be updating to this post. My body tends to do the ol' up 2, down 1, up 1, down 2, etc - several days in a row - so I can't come up with a true adjustment from day to day. I figure from Monday to Monday, it's going to be somewhat accurate, verses daily. Anyway - I RAN to the scales this morning to see if the new loss actually "stuck" and thankfully, it has! New Stats: Starting Date: 1/23/06 Current Date: 2/06/06 Current weight: 176 ½ Goal weight: 169 Pounds lost: 7 ½ I wanted to lose a total of 15 pounds (which was a REGAIN) and I'm HALF way there! It's amazing how much better I FEEL with just a 7 ½ pound loss. My clothes don't fit as snug, I don't feel so bloated, the rings are twirling on my fingers again and my overall attitude is more positive. Even my hubby said he could SEE the difference - he mentioned this weekend that he could tell I was losing inches and my rib bones and hip bones were more defined! Cool, I'll take it! I've made a few simple adjustments to my daily routine. I've incorporated BREAKFAST into my day. Never was much of a breakfast eater and I always substituted a protein shake in lieu of food. Not anymore - now I make myself eat something/anything within TWO hours of actually waking up. I don't care what I eat as long as it's predominately PROTEIN laden. My favorite 'quick fix' (cause Im lazy) is a 4 oz serving of cottage cheese and 1 serving (17 slices) of Turkey Pepperoni. About 20 grams of protein and just under 200 calories. I always assumed that if I ate breakfast it would trigger the NEED to eat/graze the rest of the day, so I avoided it. I'm finding that it's just the opposite - it truly does keep me 'satisfied' and the need to keep eating isn't there. Lunch is normally some sort of deli meat roll up with either cream cheese or swiss cheese, sunflower seeds, onions and sweet pickles (yum!) ...or a humongo salad, with lots of things I enjoy - cukes, tomatoes, onions, cheese, pecans or almonds, eggs, dried fruit (raisons, cranberry) cheese crumbles and then topped with some sorta' protein. Primarily precooked (in a bag) beef, chicken or tuna and a low calorie dressing. About 350 calories, give or take. Dinner is whatever I make for the rest of my family, I just focus on the dense PROTEIN aspect of it first, which really does help to keep me satisfied/full longer. I still incorporate 'snacks' into my day (2 or 3 times a day) but I'm choosing healthier options - Fish jerky, Beef Jerky, Turkey-roni, Cheese w/lowfat crackers, dried fruits, fresh fruits, etc. I have NOT actually tracked my calories but I do keep an estimated running total in my head. I think it's safe to say that number is averaging 1200 to 1400 on any given day. Im STILL coming up short with exercising. Spent all of last week feeling like crud, congested lungs and a bronchial cough that pretty much kicked my butt - hopefully, this week will be different. I know the weight is not going to continue coming off if I don't. Oh and water, lots and lots of PURE H20! I drink a minimum of 100 oz a day - although I'd like to bring that up to 120 oz. When your lungs are clogged and you're trying to guzzle that much water in one day, it almost feels like your drowning, so I've been less aggressive about it. Hopefully, that will also change this week - we'll see. Good luck to ALL of us in this lifetime battle to lose the weight and/or maintain. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: END OF POST ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Val, I remember a few years ago when I first came to OH, there you were!! You were such an inspiration to me! I always read your posts because you always were the authority to me. But anyways, I'm really sorry that all things things are going on for you. But I know that you can get through it all! (((hugs Val))) Michelle