For the past week or so I've been struck with many health problems. I have arthritis and was put on low dose prednisone which I believe made me nauseated and feeling totatly wiped-out. Then I also suffer from acid reflux which was made worse by the predinsone. I've been in the emergency room with symptoms of a heart attack. Now I have sinus headaches. Could it get any worse?

I'm thinking I'm completely unhealthy and really need to seriously commit to low carbing. I haven't yet because I had the excuse that I wasn't feeling well.Probably wasn't feeling well because I'm not eating well. Will I ever learn?

I just needed to yell at myself.

Have a good day all.

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Reminders:
-cut down on calories/fat/salt
-watch carb intake
-drink water

Goals:
-work towards fitting into size 14 jeans

Babysteps,

You bring up an interesting point, actually...
Often, when we won't lose the weight to PREVENT health problems, we will to resolve them. It's true that "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," but it usually isn't enough to make us take that preventative step.
I suspect -- and this is just my philosophical musings -- that it is because those of us with serious weight struggles don't value ourselves highly enough to lose the weight BEFORE it becomes a major factor in our health.
Before people get up in arms about what I'm saying, think about it.
I know I am guilty of this; it took me finally becoming a diabetic and developing hormonal imbalance problems for me to finally get serious about my weight.
Oh, I've struggled with it my WHOLE LIFE, but I didn't get serious -- really serious -- until I started feeling awful and having real problems.
I plan on eating this way for life not just to keep my weight in check, but because I FEEL BETTER while eating this way. I have reversed PCOS AND Type II Diabetes. My cholesterol numbers are greatly improved & my blood pressure is better now than when I was 20.
I know for a fact that there are MANY people who have totally alleviated their reflux problem by eating this way -- no longer needing perscription medication or even over-the-counter quick-fixes! And believe me, reflux is WAY more serious than most people believe!
Yeah, sometimes it takes a real slap in the face to make us look ourselves in the mirror and realize just how much we are worth.
Anyway, that's my take on it.

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Summer

Some of us still have a LOT of weight to lose, have been working on it for a long time, but even though we still carry a lot of weight, we are a lot healthier than we have been for years. You don't have to lose all your weight to start feeling the benefits of the low carb woe. You'd be surprised how much of a difference a measly 10 pounds can make.

Your commitment to start eating low carb is the first step in the right direction. Don't expect miracles, but do expect to start feeling more human, and a lot better.

Whatever plan you choose, read the book cover to cover, drink lots and lots of water, and take at least a good multivitamin.

Wishing you much success.

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Nita

Welcome, Babystepping.

You've made a very good point here, and I can't add much to what's already been said. It IS hard to start when you don't feel well, but starting will probably bring a great deal of relief from may issues that you're dealing with.

I hope you'll make yourself at home here.

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Thanks to you all, I appreciate your comments and helpful advice. I guess sometimes we don't value ourselves highly enough to take good care of ourselves, which is my problem ( or was anyway). We need to take good care of ourselves so we can take care of others around us.

I have beautiful children that I need to stick around for. Being in the emergency room with symptoms of what had looked like a heart attack was a wake up call. It frightened my children too. It's a very real possibility that I could be there someday with a real heart attack if I don't start to take care of myself.

I've always heard that losing even 10 pounds will make you feel better. I always said to myself "yeah, right" probably because I couldn't lose 10 pounds. I just keep gaining. Well I want to put a stop to the gaining and start losing.

Day one and only 105 pounds to go! We can do it!

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the help.


Note to self....remember to read this post and reread the "We can do it" part when I'm having a bad day. As a matter of fact reread the whole thread!

__________________


Reminders:
-cut down on calories/fat/salt
-watch carb intake
-drink water

Goals:
-work towards fitting into size 14 jeans

Hi Babystepping...welcome to LCE. This is a really supportive, positive group and you'll find lots of support and encouragement here. You'll be feeling better before you know it now that you are determined to get healthy. Best of luck to you. I hope you'll post often so we can all get to know you better.

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Vickie

Nita's right. Losing even a "small" amount of weight is beneficial to your heath an longevity. I was reading a magazine article last night about losing 10% of the amount you are overweight helps....you want to lose 105, so that 10% IS about 10 pounds for you. This article said that every 5-10 extra pounds we are carrying puts 40-60 extra "pounds" of stress on our knees. Well, THAT explains alot about MY knees!

The best advice I can give is DON'T GIVE UP. You might also write down ALL the symptoms you have, see your doc, read your l/c plan's book, work the plan....then a couple of months from now, you can look back and see what symptoms have been relieved or have gone away altogether.

Sometimes we don't realize how good we are feeling since it kind of happens gradually.

Also, please be sure you are setting a realistic goal for yourself, considering height, bone structure, and age. We wouldn't want you to set yourself up for a goal that's not achieveable. We're here to succeed!

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That's a great idea! Writing down my symptoms and then reviewing them months later. Thanks.

As for the goal weight, I'm 5'2 and I think I have medium bone structure and I'm 42. I would love to be 125 again but can't remember exactly when that was. When I was first married I weighed 135 on average and I thought I could stand to lose a few pounds even then. Maybe I should try for a different goal weight and see how that feels. Any advice?

Btw... I sure don't want to fail either. I'm here to succeed.

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Reminders:
-cut down on calories/fat/salt
-watch carb intake
-drink water

Goals:
-work towards fitting into size 14 jeans

as long as you're improving your health and your life, you're already succeeding. every positive step you take, every single little improvement, IS a success worthy of congratulating yourself for.

sometimes, we dismiss our very good progress with the notion it's not enough, a drop in the bucket, and just doesn't count until we drop every ounce we want to lose. that's just silly! EVERY good thing you do for yourself is a success. many little successes stacked up make one VERY big success. you can't reach the end of your journey without taking all the steps from here to there, you know? those steps count.

and as a mom, you also have another GREAT motivation: in addition to being healthy for your children, your habits WILL help improve their eating and life as well. children don't do what we say. they do what we do, you know? you take care of your health and eat well, they'll end up doing the same thing.

whether you start lc-ing now or next week or whenever isn't nearly as important as right now, TODAY, make some positive changes. start cutting out sugar or up your water or start moving a bit after dinner or whatever. pick something relatively easy that you know you can maintain. one tiny change does more good than a billion and two grandiose plans. so just do SOMETHING. and when you're done? pat yourself on the back heartily and add another positive change.

before you know it, you'll be flying high, sister. peace out.

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EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

Thanks for the advice. This is day two and I've already made the changes and I feel better already. I don't want to go back to being unhealthy.

This is a great site for encouragement. Thanks for helping.

__________________


Reminders:
-cut down on calories/fat/salt
-watch carb intake
-drink water

Goals:
-work towards fitting into size 14 jeans

Good for you, babystepping.

You've started your journey!

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Glad to see you succeeding these past few days! I'd go with 135 as a gaol if I were you. I found that as I aged I held my weight better.

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