Hello there! Well, Aaron and I will be married 13 years on Monday, May 31st. So, we are taking a little time off to rest and relax and enjoy ourselves.
Tonight we will be dining in Northbrook at Di Pescara for their fabulous Chilean Sea Bass, shrimp and tuna tartar. Then we'll be moseying over to the Sybaris for a fantastic evening sipping wine by the poolside, hot tub, sauna and steam room, massage chair, movies, music, table for 2 by the fireplace, waterfall over the pool. Ahhh, I can't wait. Oh, did I mention that I secretly ordered 6 huge chocolate covered strawberries to be waiting in the refrigerator upon arrival?
Tomorrow my Mom will be taking us out to eat at Kawa, our favorite Japanese restaurant, for our anniversary.
Saturday, we are entertaining Michael, our financial advisor, to a Greek feast of barbecued beef, chicken and lamb shish kabobs, garlic-cucumber yogurt sauce, olives, hummus, pita and some good wine.
Sunday I think we'll fall over from too much excitement and I'll be forced to order in. Maybe Ray and Kortnee will come over to spend some time with us.
Monday I'll get the grill going again and we'll grill some chicken breasts, asparagus, egg plant and I'll make some Spanish potato salad and some fruit for dessert.
So, if you don't hear from me for awhile, you'll know that we're going to be having a heck of a good time.
I'll check in again on Tuesday!
Have a great holiday weekend and stay safe.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Appointment with Dr. Clark - update
I'm back now from Dr. Clark's office. He said overall, most the products that I'm on are for profit making for the doctor. He liked the ingredients in the shakes except for the caffeine. He cut me back to 1 scoop (1/2 the dosage) twice per day. He said I paid for it, I might as well eat it and this way it will last me longer. This container is almost gone.
He loved the fish oil and said it's probably the best fish oil out there that he's seen but way too expensive. He said when choosing a fish oil, make sure you can see through it and be able to read a page in a book, that's the best kind of oil. He also said that fish oil should be mercury free and from the smaller fish such as anchovies, sardines, etc. The bigger fish (salmon, tuna) are likely to eat a bunch of different things that aren't good and this gets passed to us.
He loved the D3 and said to keep on that because most of us are deficient anyways. I went to CVS and found this exact strength for 1/2 as much money.
He thought the detox pills were a waste of time and won't do what they promised to do. He said this is the latest fad, a few years ago it was hair implants! (He also noticed that these pills had taurine in them...Red Bull)
He thought I could get what I needed from a daily yogurt in the probiotic department and I could buy alot of daily yogurts for the $54 the probiotic cost me just to make me bloated and have diarrhea.
He liked the idea that I was on Glucophage (Metformin) 1000mg twice a day and wanted me to stay on that but agreed with me that I need something additional. He said since I'm on Metformin now, he would give me Actos 15mg once daily in the morning instead of Glipizide. He gave me samples for 2 weeks. He said if my blood sugars aren't between 100-150, then he's bumping me up to Actos 30 mg and he gave me a week's worth of those too. He also gave me an RX for Actos 15mg with 1 refill if the 15mg works.
He said I am trying very hard and after seeing my food log/Blood Sugar log, he said anyone with that much detail and effort is going to succeed. He told me not to beat myself up and that we have to tweak the plan along the way, everyone's metabolism is different and what works for some won't work for others. He said he thinks I'm almost there. He asked about my relatives because metabolism is genetic. I thought of my Aunt Jenny on my Mom's side and had to laugh. I look just like her.
He also said that many people are frustrated with the way allopathic medicine and medication have missed the boat on keeping us slim and healthy so it's very common to want to investigate diet supplements, shakes, pills, etc and he is actually blaming modern medicine and the drug industry for people feeling that they need something different.
Anyway, I asked him about the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet. He said both of them individually and combined are excellent and anyone could lose weight and keep their blood sugars down eating that way. I asked him what he thought about if I should stop this diet at HNC or continue. He didn't want to make the decision and said, well you could try it for another month and just see or you could start the Mediterranean Diet if you want. I took that as a big hint.
So, we keep Metformin, add Actos, keep fish oil, D3, eat the shakes until they are gone, keep all the other meds I was on and start eating Mediterranean and Asian foods and continue walking 20-30 minutes a day. This is so much simpler and Aaron is VERY happy I went to see Dr. Clark and heard all of this from him. He's convinced that the M and A diets are the way to go. So am I.
For dinner tonight I made some boneless skinless chicken breasts, sauteed some green beans in olive oil, tossed with ff feta cheese and toast some whole wheat pita for dinner tonight. I also put that over some sauteed water cress. Yes, and I had 2 small glasses of red wine.
I took my blood sugar at 9pm and it was 120!!!
Ahhh, I feel so much better now. I think I have the whole plan.
He loved the fish oil and said it's probably the best fish oil out there that he's seen but way too expensive. He said when choosing a fish oil, make sure you can see through it and be able to read a page in a book, that's the best kind of oil. He also said that fish oil should be mercury free and from the smaller fish such as anchovies, sardines, etc. The bigger fish (salmon, tuna) are likely to eat a bunch of different things that aren't good and this gets passed to us.
He loved the D3 and said to keep on that because most of us are deficient anyways. I went to CVS and found this exact strength for 1/2 as much money.
He thought the detox pills were a waste of time and won't do what they promised to do. He said this is the latest fad, a few years ago it was hair implants! (He also noticed that these pills had taurine in them...Red Bull)
He thought I could get what I needed from a daily yogurt in the probiotic department and I could buy alot of daily yogurts for the $54 the probiotic cost me just to make me bloated and have diarrhea.
He liked the idea that I was on Glucophage (Metformin) 1000mg twice a day and wanted me to stay on that but agreed with me that I need something additional. He said since I'm on Metformin now, he would give me Actos 15mg once daily in the morning instead of Glipizide. He gave me samples for 2 weeks. He said if my blood sugars aren't between 100-150, then he's bumping me up to Actos 30 mg and he gave me a week's worth of those too. He also gave me an RX for Actos 15mg with 1 refill if the 15mg works.
He said I am trying very hard and after seeing my food log/Blood Sugar log, he said anyone with that much detail and effort is going to succeed. He told me not to beat myself up and that we have to tweak the plan along the way, everyone's metabolism is different and what works for some won't work for others. He said he thinks I'm almost there. He asked about my relatives because metabolism is genetic. I thought of my Aunt Jenny on my Mom's side and had to laugh. I look just like her.
He also said that many people are frustrated with the way allopathic medicine and medication have missed the boat on keeping us slim and healthy so it's very common to want to investigate diet supplements, shakes, pills, etc and he is actually blaming modern medicine and the drug industry for people feeling that they need something different.
Anyway, I asked him about the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet. He said both of them individually and combined are excellent and anyone could lose weight and keep their blood sugars down eating that way. I asked him what he thought about if I should stop this diet at HNC or continue. He didn't want to make the decision and said, well you could try it for another month and just see or you could start the Mediterranean Diet if you want. I took that as a big hint.
So, we keep Metformin, add Actos, keep fish oil, D3, eat the shakes until they are gone, keep all the other meds I was on and start eating Mediterranean and Asian foods and continue walking 20-30 minutes a day. This is so much simpler and Aaron is VERY happy I went to see Dr. Clark and heard all of this from him. He's convinced that the M and A diets are the way to go. So am I.
For dinner tonight I made some boneless skinless chicken breasts, sauteed some green beans in olive oil, tossed with ff feta cheese and toast some whole wheat pita for dinner tonight. I also put that over some sauteed water cress. Yes, and I had 2 small glasses of red wine.
I took my blood sugar at 9pm and it was 120!!!
Ahhh, I feel so much better now. I think I have the whole plan.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Not Working - need a new plan
The adjustments that were made at my last appointment are making me feel terrible. I have been feeling wiped out, exhausted, still bloated and puffed up. In fact, my blood sugar is totally out of control. On Sunday my blood sugar reading was 317. I was in a daze and could hardly move around. I ended up taking a whole Glipizide (what she took me off of) and this morning my blood sugar was back down to 83. The lowest it's been since before I went on this Metagenics diet.
My Mom and Aaron and I took a look at all the ingredients of everything that I'm taking yesterday afternoon and found that I'm taking a probiotic that is a milk dirivitive. Well, I'm lactose intolerant and I told them that. Ok, my fault for not reading the label myself (even though I asked repeatedly if any of these pills, shakes, protein bars and puffed protein balls have milk in them.) Gee, I wonder why I was so bloated!
So I stopped taking that as of this morning and I did not take my shakes today. I did go to work (yesterday I spent most of the day in bed feeling very sick) and I felt much better. I did take the vitamins, fish oil, D3 and detox pills along with 1/2 Glipizide.
Tonight 2 hours after dinner my blood sugar was 212. Now I'll take another set of pills and another 1/2 Glipizide and see what it is in the morning. I hate to self-medicate and I think there is something wrong with this diet and my body - they are not getting along. So, I've made an appointment to see my family physician tomorrow at 2pm. Aaron strongly suggested that I see him for the defining diagnosis and plan going forward. If the diet is not right for my body (I'm so darn sensitive) then I will take my doctor's advice and do what he says.
I did look up The American Heart Association Diet, The American Diabetes Association Diet, The Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet on line last night and they pretty much all say the same thing. My mom and I were joking today that I should eat what God put on this earth in the first place. So we decided to look up the diet in the Bible and guess what? It's the Mediterranean diet! Thousands of years later, it all comes round to this.
I found this great website www.Mediterrasian.com It combines the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet together. It makes alot of sense. Even if I continue on the shakes, detox pills, vitamins, etcetera, Aaron and I (and my Mom) have decided to eat this way. It also stresses exercise, relaxation and good sleep.
So stay tuned, I'm still not giving up on getting rid of Diabetes. I will find a way!
My Mom and Aaron and I took a look at all the ingredients of everything that I'm taking yesterday afternoon and found that I'm taking a probiotic that is a milk dirivitive. Well, I'm lactose intolerant and I told them that. Ok, my fault for not reading the label myself (even though I asked repeatedly if any of these pills, shakes, protein bars and puffed protein balls have milk in them.) Gee, I wonder why I was so bloated!
So I stopped taking that as of this morning and I did not take my shakes today. I did go to work (yesterday I spent most of the day in bed feeling very sick) and I felt much better. I did take the vitamins, fish oil, D3 and detox pills along with 1/2 Glipizide.
Tonight 2 hours after dinner my blood sugar was 212. Now I'll take another set of pills and another 1/2 Glipizide and see what it is in the morning. I hate to self-medicate and I think there is something wrong with this diet and my body - they are not getting along. So, I've made an appointment to see my family physician tomorrow at 2pm. Aaron strongly suggested that I see him for the defining diagnosis and plan going forward. If the diet is not right for my body (I'm so darn sensitive) then I will take my doctor's advice and do what he says.
I did look up The American Heart Association Diet, The American Diabetes Association Diet, The Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet on line last night and they pretty much all say the same thing. My mom and I were joking today that I should eat what God put on this earth in the first place. So we decided to look up the diet in the Bible and guess what? It's the Mediterranean diet! Thousands of years later, it all comes round to this.
I found this great website www.Mediterrasian.com It combines the Mediterranean Diet and the Asian Diet together. It makes alot of sense. Even if I continue on the shakes, detox pills, vitamins, etcetera, Aaron and I (and my Mom) have decided to eat this way. It also stresses exercise, relaxation and good sleep.
So stay tuned, I'm still not giving up on getting rid of Diabetes. I will find a way!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Appointment Update
My appointment went very well with Dr. M. She is keeping me at 1300 calories and is adjusting some proteins and carbs around at different times. I am to delete the grain and to cut back on salt and red wine and to increase my exercise. She sent an Rx to CVS for Glucophage 1000 mg which she wants me to take twice a day. That should get my blood sugars down. The nerve conduction study showed early signs of neuropathy which she said were so early that it is going to be no problem at all to reverse that if I keep on the plan. Which, of course, I will.
I now weigh 197.5 on my scale naked as a jaybird before breakfast. I weigh 200 on her scale with clothes and shoes and after breakfast and coffee. So, I'm doing very well and she is happy with my results. I have lost 3 pounds of fat, gained one pound of muscle and the rest was fluid. Now that I've gained muscle (new this visit), the weight will be easier to keep off and I can eventually have more calories the more muscle I build. Protein and exercise!
She also did a UA today and said I'm not drinking enough water that my urine was "dry." I don't know what that means, maybe too concentrated? So I also need to increase my water.
As far as the bloating was concerned, she think's its hormonal because I am ovulating. She wants me to keep a chart of my periods and ovulations.
Everything makes sense and she thinks I get it too, so she said not to come back for one month. I was so happy that I'm on the right track I forgot to make an appointment!
I now weigh 197.5 on my scale naked as a jaybird before breakfast. I weigh 200 on her scale with clothes and shoes and after breakfast and coffee. So, I'm doing very well and she is happy with my results. I have lost 3 pounds of fat, gained one pound of muscle and the rest was fluid. Now that I've gained muscle (new this visit), the weight will be easier to keep off and I can eventually have more calories the more muscle I build. Protein and exercise!
She also did a UA today and said I'm not drinking enough water that my urine was "dry." I don't know what that means, maybe too concentrated? So I also need to increase my water.
As far as the bloating was concerned, she think's its hormonal because I am ovulating. She wants me to keep a chart of my periods and ovulations.
Everything makes sense and she thinks I get it too, so she said not to come back for one month. I was so happy that I'm on the right track I forgot to make an appointment!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Bloated
I am so bloated today that it feels like I didn't lose any weight at all. I see Dr. M tomorrow at 11:30am and I get weighed then. I hope all this water goes away by then. This time it feels like water and not gas because I think my feet and legs and hands are swollen. I know she will help me make it go away so even if I don't have a good weigh-in tomorrow, I know she'll help me. I felt fine when I got up but then after my shake I swelled up and stayed swelled. I didn't do anything different...hmmm. DRAG!
Yesterday I felt so good - and skinny - that it seemed I had lost over 10 pounds. I guess I will find out tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm drinking some water, laying off the salt and keeping my feet up.
I'll let everyone know the results of my appointment tomorrow night.
Sleep tight
Yesterday I felt so good - and skinny - that it seemed I had lost over 10 pounds. I guess I will find out tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm drinking some water, laying off the salt and keeping my feet up.
I'll let everyone know the results of my appointment tomorrow night.
Sleep tight
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Japanese
It was the quietest Sunday that we've spent in a very long time. A spa-day of a sort. Relaxing, not even thinking about too much, reading the paper, sitting with a cat on my lap, taking a nap...
Saturday night we went out to a Japanese restaurant, Kawa (in Grayslake), with Phil and Diane and had a great time. We enjoyed so many wonderfully healthy dishes and brought our own wine. We also sampled some sake that was divine.
In the Japanese mood, I made Udon for dinner tonight. Japanese wheat noodles in chicken broth with green onions, an assortment of different mushrooms, water chestnuts, shrimp, tofu and red, white and black pepper.
I can feel that the weight is coming off and am very happy about this. I've lost all of the weight I gained eating comfort food after Dolores died, and then some. I started out 6 months ago at 199.5, lost very little weight, then gained. Now, in a matter of 10 days, I'm down to 198.5 on this new diet and I feel great. I see Dr. M. again on Thursday. I know she will adjust my Metformin because my blood sugars are a little high, but that's ok. It will only make me feel better.
Must get some beauty sleep now for tomorrow we exercise!
Saturday night we went out to a Japanese restaurant, Kawa (in Grayslake), with Phil and Diane and had a great time. We enjoyed so many wonderfully healthy dishes and brought our own wine. We also sampled some sake that was divine.
In the Japanese mood, I made Udon for dinner tonight. Japanese wheat noodles in chicken broth with green onions, an assortment of different mushrooms, water chestnuts, shrimp, tofu and red, white and black pepper.
I can feel that the weight is coming off and am very happy about this. I've lost all of the weight I gained eating comfort food after Dolores died, and then some. I started out 6 months ago at 199.5, lost very little weight, then gained. Now, in a matter of 10 days, I'm down to 198.5 on this new diet and I feel great. I see Dr. M. again on Thursday. I know she will adjust my Metformin because my blood sugars are a little high, but that's ok. It will only make me feel better.
Must get some beauty sleep now for tomorrow we exercise!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Happy Birthday to me!
So far I'm having a great day. I had another appointment with Dr. Malhotra at Heal N Cure. She really liked the results. I had another body composition test and found that of the 4 pounds I lost, 1 was water and 3 were FAT!!!!!!! I have not increased my muscle yet, so I need to now increase exercise to do that.
She made some adjustments:
1. I now take a probiotic 20 minutes before my breakfast shake
2. I now take 2 detox pills in the morning and 2 detox pills at night
3. I now take 2 fish oil pills in the morning and 2 fish oil pills at night
4. I must walk each day beginning with 1 mile a day (eventually up to 5 miles a day)
5. I must begin a light "weight" exercise such as bar bells or that Shake away Weight thing you see on TV.
I spoke with Michael about meal planning. He said I have to take my Vitamin D3 with a protein or else it won't do any good. He said that Vitamin D isn't even a vitamin, it's a hormone.
He also gave me a meal planning guide for 1300 calories a day which include the shakes twice a day. Everything is all measured out on the sheet and you don't even have to think. Ah, that's the way I like it. Now I can have very lean beef and lean lamb. The daily alotments are:
1. Medical Food - 2 shakes
2. Legumes - 1 serving
3. Non starchy veggies - unlimited
4. Starcy veggies (carrots) - 1 serving
5. Concentrated protein - 2 servings
6. Oil - 4 servings
7. Nuts/Seeds - 1 serving
8. Fruit - 2 servings
9. Dairy - NONE
10. Grain - 1 serving
She also took a nerve conduction study to see if the diabetes has done any damage. I will talk about those results with her next week.
I am feeling great and am glad that I went on my birthday. I wanted to remember that for my 46th birthday, I did something really great for myself!
She made some adjustments:
1. I now take a probiotic 20 minutes before my breakfast shake
2. I now take 2 detox pills in the morning and 2 detox pills at night
3. I now take 2 fish oil pills in the morning and 2 fish oil pills at night
4. I must walk each day beginning with 1 mile a day (eventually up to 5 miles a day)
5. I must begin a light "weight" exercise such as bar bells or that Shake away Weight thing you see on TV.
I spoke with Michael about meal planning. He said I have to take my Vitamin D3 with a protein or else it won't do any good. He said that Vitamin D isn't even a vitamin, it's a hormone.
He also gave me a meal planning guide for 1300 calories a day which include the shakes twice a day. Everything is all measured out on the sheet and you don't even have to think. Ah, that's the way I like it. Now I can have very lean beef and lean lamb. The daily alotments are:
1. Medical Food - 2 shakes
2. Legumes - 1 serving
3. Non starchy veggies - unlimited
4. Starcy veggies (carrots) - 1 serving
5. Concentrated protein - 2 servings
6. Oil - 4 servings
7. Nuts/Seeds - 1 serving
8. Fruit - 2 servings
9. Dairy - NONE
10. Grain - 1 serving
She also took a nerve conduction study to see if the diabetes has done any damage. I will talk about those results with her next week.
I am feeling great and am glad that I went on my birthday. I wanted to remember that for my 46th birthday, I did something really great for myself!
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