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Wow ladies! I am here to say that I am sorry for everyone's losses. I too have suffered tremendous loss since 2011, my beloved Father and then my only brother in 2016. It has been tremendously difficult for my mom and I. I want to share this story, my Daddy was sick for 33 days over which I experienced a 35 pound weight loss because when someone in my family is ill like that, I have discovered that eating is NOT an option. I can not eat, food makes me sick to my stomach. However, on the night my Daddy died, I sat down and I ate not one PLATE, but TWO, of Lay's plain potato chips and I promise you all that I have been eating chips at night from that day to this. I lost again when my brother was sick, that was a nine month ordeal so you all can imagine. I made certain that I worked out daily while he was sick and when I could eat I made sure it was the best that it could possibly be with lean protein and veggies. It is absolutely amazing to me how grief and dying affects living and I wish someone would have given me better coping skills to prepare for these losses, but here i sit. ckpointchickie I want to know if grief counseling has helped you because this is my next line to pursue for both my mom and myself. People say that it gets better which is not true, imo, it just gets different. For us weight loss patients I think the keys are therapy, accountability and paying attention to what we are putting in our mouths. Additionally it pays to be oh so careful not to trade one vice for another, be it drinking, gambling or other things that can get us into trouble. Be strong ladies, lean on God and know that He doesn't make any mistakes. Sometimes I just try and focus on being grateful for having my loved ones in my life to begin with.
Im sorry to hear of the losses you have suffered. I lost my husband 5 yrs ago this week. I learned quickly that i can get sucked into eating what i shouldnt very quickly. I am still addicted to food. The good thing is you recognize what your doing. It will be hard to get back on track (im still trying to do it) but i also know that we can put weight on very quickly.
I will say a prayer for you. I am 17 yrs post rny-distal and in the last 8 months i have gained. Eating stuff i know i shouldnt etc. I know it is emotionally eating. Even though i lost Steve 5 years ago i have yet to deal with it. I know it is time and i am working on it. I cannot undue all my hard work.
KK@goal
The original flavors of Quest bars are great - high protein and no sugar alcohols. Look at the label - chocolate brownie is my go to. But beware - many of the flavors out there since they expanded their flavor offerings are loaded with sugar alcohols.
Another one to look at is Pure Protein. I like this one because it's so easily available at Walgreen's or other quick stop places if I am stuck.
I don't know if anyone is still checking this old thread, but this thread is the best I've found where there's lots of people suffering with this same problem.
I wanted to share what has worked for me, hopefully it will help.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE STOMACH CHARLIE HORSES REGULARLY
(please bear in mind this is just what I've found is helping me, I'm not a doctor, just sharing my experience)
- Quit drinking coffee -- I noticed I started having far more regular attacks when I started drinking coffee. Since I quit coffee entirely, I still get attacks when I sit for too long, but I believe coffee and caffeine generally are massive contributors because among other things, it causes dehydration which causes muscle contraction.
- Stop sitting -- notice how basically all of us get these attacks when we are sitting, or bending and straining (e.g. while picking something up or remaining in a squatting position for too long). Immediately after an attack, STOP SITTING. Get a standing desk. I'll go two weeks and not sit in a chair because I've found simply sitting, not even doing anything, can trigger off an attack. I think you can gradually re-introduce sitting for short periods, but I am always aware that when I'm sitting is when the attack will happen, and once it happens when I'm sitting, it is more likely to then happen at other times, like when I'm standing.
- Straighten your torso -- when an attack happens, stand up and straighten out your torso (I'm sure many people have already figured this out). Arching your back and looking up at ceiling may help too. When I had my worst ever attack and the cramp just kept seizing up repeatedly for about 10 minutes, I found it was good to lay flat on the floor on my stomach and sort of press my weight gently down into the floor on the area of the abdomen where the cramp was happening, breathe. It will ease off. After a super bad attack, do not do anything that involves bending, certainly do not sit.
- When it happens - LAY ON YOUR STOMACH. This is the only thing that works for me when I get the cramp. Lay on a flat surface with your belly pressed into it. The cramp eases off for me when I do this.
- CBD Oil -- I'm still experimenting with this so I'm not certain it helps, but there are quite a few articles about how CBD oil helps with the calf muscle Charlie Horses, and CBD oil is a relaxant so it could help us.
- Do you have hip or lower back pain? -- I have hip pain, and it's related to sitting. I found this great YouTube video which talks about the cause of these abdominal muscular spasms being related to problems with the muscles controlling the Hip and lower back. The guy has exercises you can do, he explains everything really well, I think the video is excellent and I'll be trying the exercises going ahead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-LCyk7xwRM&frags=pl%2Cwn
>>>Think about seeing a physio if you have hip pain, as it may very well be what is causing the abdominal muscle cramping, due to the network of nerves in your spine that control the abdominal muscles.
I hope this can be of help to anyone suffering from this problem - it sucks so bad, the pain is some of the worst I've felt in my life. Don't lose hope guys.
UPDATE: May 2019 - I posted what I've found out here on reddit. I advise you guys search on reddit as there are lots more people over there dealing with adhesions and Charlie Horse in abdomen.
What doctor told me: If you have had any kind of abdominal surgery in the past, even if it was years ago, these Charlie Horse attacks could well be caused by adhesions. UPDATE ON THIS: Was told by a surgeon I saw that this is not adhesions, but a musculoskeletal issue that is helped only by massage and yoga, apparently.
RE: CBD oil - I found this did nothing for these Charlie Horses unfortunately. I've quit sitting altogether and have a standing desk. I don't bend and pick heavy stuff up. I can't cough/laugh/vomit or it will trigger it. I'm just trying to adapt myself to not triggering it off, and if I can go a month without it happening, then I am glad. It's been seriously effecting my quality of life though :(
Hi I use to eat Pure Protein Bars. However, now I eat Quest bars. I find them to be the best.
I am 16 years out, down 150 and regained 50. I tried Keto and got the Keto flu for over two weeks and quit. I have never felt so bad. Maybe it was just me.
Hi Cyndie,
I am a RNY graduate - I had my surgery back in 2002 - I lost approximately 125lbs. Today I weight 176 and 2 months ago I weighed 202. I've had to have iron infusions too - and the last one took me to trip to the ER. The 202 scared me - as I didn't want to see 265+ again. I am on a program that is working wonders for me - it's BeBalanced Hormone Re-balancing (it started in Pennsylvania) here in Maryland. It's similar to HCG diet (which I did and I got down to my previous weight of 158/160- which is the weight I was able to maintain) but you do get more to each and more variety (all stuff you get at the grocery store- but clear - organic. This BeBalanced program works - and you get immediate results - which let me tell you if I don't see the scale moving I get depressed and I will not be compliant. I personally don't think I'll get down to the low 150's again and be able to maintain it, but I can say I love how I can fit into my 10/12's again :) Do some research and see if this program seems good for you - actually my doctor is very excited with my results as she wanted me just to get below 200 and I surpassed that quickly. Personally I think she wants to try it too! :)
The key is you are catching yourself before it's totally out of control. I keep an old picture of me handy to remind me where I have come from and reminding where I don't want to go again!!
congratulations on getting the weight off. I had my RNY in 2002 also. I lost 150 and kept it off for so many years. Then Menopause, life and eating too much, I gained 50 lbs back. What is involved in this BEBALANCEd program. I am really having the hardest time losing anything. Any suggestion would be helpful. Thanks.
Hedy
Just a thought: you may get more traffic if you post this out on the Main board and/or the RnY boards. Lots of regain struggles and advice over there.
Good luck. It's absolutely possible to lose regains, even huge ones.
