Asking the right questions

[Dogmama]

[QUOTE=Lisa S.H.;136839]Donna,
I've gained about 3-5 pounds of muscle in 4 months of biking, I know that for sure.
QUOTE]

Really! How did you measure it?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I can see and feel muscles on my legs, arms, shoulders, butt, and torso that just weren't there at all before, and I estimate the total based on knowing what 1/2 pound raw hamburgers look like. I know, it's a guess, but I'm positive it's more than 2 pounds of muscle I've gained over the past 4 months. Also, I might stay the same weight for a month, but my pants get looser and I see the fat lumps on my hips slowly melting away, so I know I'm losing fat. If I'm losing pounds of fat but not losing weight and seeing my muscles getting bigger at the same time, I must surely be gaining muscle weight, no?

[BeeLady]

Hi Donna,

I'm also an ex-smoker and its been 15 years for me. That is a MAJOR step towards becoming a healthier person. Congratulations.

I have gained about 10 pounds in the last three years (I gained no weight when I quit smoking) since I had a hysterectomy. I am someone who never had a weight issue and could eat as I pleased. Ten pounds isn't much, but for someone who never weighed over 119 it seems like a lot. I have a lot more empathy for anyone trying to lose weight. Weight and the habits and lifestyle choices behind it are a huge challenge to change.

If you can quit smoking you can lose the weight you need to to become even healthier. Do you keep a food journal? That has helped me be accountable and realistic about my true caloric intake. You might want to check out FitDay.com, its free and you can really get a good take on your caloric intake/usage.

I would imagine your joints and everything else would feel better if your weight was less. No matter what the docs tell you, its going to be totally up to you to fight the weight battle just as you fought the smoking battle (unless you opt for surgical weight loss banding or whatever -- geesh).

Two other things: if you are gaining muscle mass your weight may initially increase as muscle weighs more than fat, but that would be very cool as ultimately the muscle will help burn more calories while at rest, etc.

Second, glucosimine has been researched and proven to help joint problems. An orthopaedic surgeon even recommended it to my husband. It will take several weeks to notice an improvement but it will help. I've gotten back on it in the last six weeks and my joint problems have pretty much disappeared.

If you can quit smoking and stay quit, you can do anything! You are on your way to a much healthier life and hopefully your doctor, your husband and the rest of the known world will support you in your efforts.

[DDH]

Okay, I went to the Doctor. He is doing blood work to check for rumetoid arthritis, and checking my thyroid. Other than that nothing.
I will wait and see what the blood work says and go from there. I have pretty much given up on my Insurance, I think I am begining to hate the HMO.

I take the Osteo Bi-flex glucosamine, and I take a womans multivitamin plus the viativ chewable calcium daily. Sometimes I forget it. But for the most part I have been taking it for the past month.

Surgery is out of the question, I want to lose the weight without those kind of drastic measure. I have always been scared to death of any kind of surgery so unless I am dieing I will deal with all my pains. LOL

Lisa, your right as far as my husband goes, except that I don't sit around and complain about it. Most of the time I don't say anything, he will see me limp or something and then ask. I have gotten to where I say nothing to him and tell him nothing is wrong when he asked because I don't want to listen to his cynical remarks. He is very supportive otherwise in other things, and I know he loves me. I just don't know why he has to act like if I have an ache or pain that it irritates or in some way inconviences him. He still has supper, clean clothes and a clean house. I still do everything I need to do and don't let it stop me, so the cynical or snotty remarks are not needed or justified.

Anyway, my doc did the norm. I think I will see if he will send me to the nutritionist and just leave it at that. I have lived with my aches and pains this long, guess I can do it a little longer.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Donna, sounds like a good plan getting the bloodwork and getting checked for arthritis and thyroid. Don't forget possible Lyme disease (many of my friends have gotten it, lots of ticks where we live.)

I do understand about the husband/sympathy factor. It's not always easy being in a longterm relationship. Good that there lots of support on most things though.

Funny story- this morning, my DH was nursing an irritated eye, and i put some medicine drops in it while giving him lots of sympathy...Oh, poor BABY!....etc. Then I went in the bathroom and was cleaning around the bottom of the toilet with a sponge. I turned and stood up, forgetting that I had left the medicine cabinet open, and BAM, hit my head right on the corner of the sharp cabinet door- yeowch!! I gave a little whimper-cry, because it really did hurt, but kept cleaning. DH came in to see what had happened and I said Oh Nothing, I'm ok. But he said what are you TALKING about, you're bleeding all over the place!!! and I hadn't realized that my head was bleeding vigorously into my hair! Well you should have seen him whip into action like a real trooper, applying washcloths and nursing me like crazy- too cute. We stopped the bleeding, no stitches needed- just a dent in my head! I guess next time I whimper he'll come running REAL fast!

[DDH]

Sorry to laugh, but that is funny. Not that you got hurt but that you didn't even realize you were bleeding. LOL If I was hurt like that DH would jump in, no doubt.

I bet you are going to have a very tender head for a while. It will hurt when you try to wash your head. I'm sorry you got hurt. I hate when I do stuff like that.

Your right, being in a relationship for long periods does take work and patience, from both parties. I am sure I do things that irriatat him to no end too. Couldn't imagine what since I am so close to perfect but I am sure he could find something if he really thought about it.

Totally kidding there. LOL

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Too funny Donna!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey Donna,
What's been happening with your pain problem lately? Any updates on what was/is causing it? How are you this month?
Thinking of you...