Reminders for me.

[dametheadee]

Things that the doctor told me today:

 

Get a pedometer and keep track of how many steps I walk.
Join support group (i.e. Weight Watchers)
Consider a program like Curves

Good foods: 
Veggies (all I can eat)
Proteins
Lowfat dairy products
rice

Bad foods:
Sugars
White foods (potatoes, pastas, breads)

Four to six pounds a month is realistic weight loss goal without surgery - more is OK but don't expect it.

Heart health will improve with weight loss
I would really like to do this without the gastric bypass.  I have watched so many people go through that with mixed results, and the concept of the surgery scares the shit out of me.

Baseline weight as of today:  380.2 lbs.  Yes, I am putting that here so I will be honest about it, and so I can track progress.

Other things:
The swelling in my leg has continued to decrease.  The color looks almost normal, and a lot of dead skin cells are sloughing off.  I guess it is OK because the skin doesn't hurt.  It is still draining a lot, too.  Hopefully it will be manageable by Wednesday morning because we are going to Montana for Turkey Day!! 

 

Comments

[khalja.livejournal.com]

heya. Just went back and read your previous post. I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis of cellulitis. It is an incredibly painful infection. You have my sincerest sympathy. My husband got in Oct 2007 and it took us until December to get a doc to get serious about curing it. We were lucky that she put on bed rest, they gave him a pic line and we gave him IV antibiotics from home for a week.

There is a lot of follow up because it can come back just like a staph infection. If your doctor didn't put you on compression socks to improve the circulation in your legs, I really recommend that you go get some at the highest compression level that you can stand. You MUST wear the compression socks every day. MUST. Olin stopped wearing the socks for a week the next month (Jan) and the cellulitis flaired up again and he was down for another week. Also be careful of any broken or dried skin because that can provide an entry point for the bacteria. So dry between your toes! :)

Good luck with your weight loss. I'm doing Jenny Craig and I like it a lot but that's mainly because I don't like to think about food. I'm pulling for you.

[damethea.livejournal.com]

It's weird - I have not had any real pain with this. The docs think they caught it early and got me on the high dose IV antibiotics the day I was diagnosed (which was about 36 hours after the first symptoms). I have not worn the compression socks - they told me not to because of the skin on my leg being so screwy. I have also been having issues with blood pressure and some other things. I have a feeling this is only the beginning of a long healing/wellness process. Thanks for the suggestions and concern - I am not trying to dismiss what you were saying, but I am always amazed at how different things can be for different people.

[khalja.livejournal.com]

Not to worry. You're right, different people have different experiences. Glad your docs caught this early, believe me, had it been later, the pain is excruciating according to Olin. Yay for good doctors!!!!

[kynewynn.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you've been ill- and glad to hear you are getting better. I think Rat ate your share of dessert at the T4T feast. About the weight loss - I go to Curves, and I love it there. They have introduced a new program, the Smart Program, that helps you work out harder and monitors what you accomplish. The one I go to has a great, supportive staff, and I like that I can do it in just 30 minutes. It is the same thing every day, but I like the routine, because I can exercise and just let my mind wander. Anyway, my two pence.

Hugs, KyneWynn

[ya-inga.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear you have not been well dear and am sending best wishes and get well vibes your way honey.

HUGE hugs

[malkinallardsen.livejournal.com]

cellulitus SUCKS. Sounds like they got it under control. On the weight thing ... au natural is definitely better than surgically FWIW. I need to get back into it myself (I've found 40 of the weight I had lost before the last knee surgery). Let me know if there is anything I can do to help! Keep at it ... you will get there. I have every confidence in you!

[shaunacarrick.livejournal.com]

Hey! Glad to hear that things are improving - and that you have supportive medical, too. Much better suggestions than what I got from the VA for a year - 'you are just retaining fluids, here, have some more diuretics, and oh yeah, all these supplements to replace the minerals that the diuretics strip out'. Bleah. Pill salad for breakfast.

Anyway, does Montana for Thanksgiving mean Missoula or Billings? I don't remember. If Billings, give me a call!

Take care and drive safe!

[kelwinratslayer.livejournal.com]

I can tell you that my experience with Weight watchers has been very positive. So far I've lost 27 lbs. It's been very slow coming off and that's good for me. One of the biggest things has been that I haven't felt like I'm depriving myself and I still do have moments of eating not so healthy but I'm learning about my body and how often I can eat certain things without adding weight back on.

I would have to add though that the biggest thing contributing to my weight loss has been excercise. I'm pretty close to a junky now. I started off slow and added in. Push yourself some but don't overdue it. That's a sure fire way to burn out.

I'm here for you if you need anything!