Susie's 2022 campaign

[AliGal]

Great news re your cardiologist! You must be really chuffed.

l feel so grateful for the NHS - and furious at the privatisation of services happening. My sister was offered one hearing aid by a privatised NHS hearing clinic. She's a specialist teacher of the deaf - so knows that one hearing aid does not give you full range of hearing. Hearing fully is essential for her work. She also told me that it's important to have 2 hearing aids as hearing well is a preventative against dementia.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks AliGal, I am so chuffed - although sorry not to be seeing my lovely Doc more often .

And a big ditto from me on gratitude towards the NHS. After never really needing it at all, over the last 12 months I've had a huge amount of support and care, and I have such respect for everyone who keeps it going. If my health stuff had all happened when I was living in Italy I doubt I would be here to talk about it today. Started my new med today, and between that and my water tablet the path from laptop to loo has been trodden many times this morning already .

Food - just getting peckish now, so will have eggs on a Megga roll, I think, or with some Bratwurst sossies mmmm. Then I've got l/o chicken jalfrezi for later. No change on the scales this morning, but I wonder if it's because my fats have been quite high - I've been enjoying pork scratchings as my late night snack, and i was craving something sweet so had 20g low carb granola (just dry). I've been counting the carbs and I'm pretty much hovering around the 20-25g carbs a day mark, and not having bread more than once a day - oh I've just twigged, I didn't have much water yesterday! Will get glugging and hopefully that will help the scales for tomorrow's official Week 2 weigh in .

 

[purpleorc]

Evening all - been a mad day, quite busy with one thing and another, but the fab news is that I now don't have to see my cardio consultant for another year - he's so happy with my progress, the heart rate is steadying under 100bpm, my BP is now normal, and all my lifestyle changes - well he's cock-a-hoop about the no smoking and alcohol, and 100% behind low carb - so it's all good! He's put me on one new med - it's mainly used to treat diabetes and you wee out sugar so will have a slight weight loss side effect - but apparently it's showing good results for AFib people without diabetes, and it also reduces fluid in the legs, which is very good news! I wore my Pebble compression stockings today, they do a much thinner denier one and I love them, they are really comfy - but it's easy to put a hole or four in them, which is tough when they are £20 a pair!

Foodwise, also good - I fasted until I got home at 2pm, then had l/o scrambled egg ad bacon with melted cheese and it was so delicious!
Tea was jalfrezi chicken curry with LOADS of green beans and spinach - I used a vegan jalfrezi sauce from Morrisons, really low in carbs, so the whole thing was 6g carbs, despite the big veg serve.

After hours going through my accounts for the tax return, I'm peckish now (10.45pm) so having 2 slices Megga bread with cheese for 3g carbs, and a cuppa, then it's bedtime, despite my 90 min nap this afternoon .

I am really pleased for you that your weight loss has brought about such significant changes in your health. I bet you are over the moon that your health is improving. it is good that your cardiologist is really pleased with your new way of eating and the impact it is having on your health. I hope new meds reduce the liquid in your legs giving you some relief there. Yikes compression stocking are so expensive day light robbery.

 

[ladyfelsham]

All going in exactly the right direction @purpleorc thanks love! I'm so pleased about my BP being in the normal range, that's the first time in years. So now it's just maintenance on the AFib and legs front, and continuing as normal with my new lifestyle .

I just checked my measurements and am an inch off my boobs, tum and hips - in two weeks! Amazing. Got another KFC session tonight, on self regulation, which is going to be fascinating. Again I'll try and do some notes so if anyone would like them, just shout. (i recorded it in the end).

Tea now - forgot I had one last serve of the sossie casserole, tipped all the excess cream off, and it's going down very nicely .

Keep dry and warm!

 

[ladyfelsham]

Afternoon all - a dreadful night with RLS so a big sleep in until midday today, and the cats were good and just settled down for extra sleep too, bless 'em, instead of sitting on my face and shouting for food. And the silver lining is that I got lots done around the house in the middle of the night lol. My neighbours are hard of hearing, and sleep the other ends away from our joined walls, so i know I can pootle about doing laundry and stuff without disturbing them.

But good news to report, another 4lbs off, taking my two week total to 12lb! Plus the 1 inch off the B/T/H, and the food is lovely and the support from KFC is amazing!

B - tea
L - Bratwurst and scrambled egg (I did two lots yesterday)
D - l/o chicken Jalfrezi

Also going to cook up beef Bolognese to have with courgetti; and got chicken defrosted too, not sure what I'll make - Kiev, or maybe just crumb it in the pork panko.

 

[purpleorc]

Afternoon all - a dreadful night with RLS so a big sleep in until midday today, and the cats were good and just settled down for extra sleep too, bless 'em, instead of sitting on my face and shouting for food. And the silver lining is that I got lots done around the house in the middle of the night lol. My neighbours are hard of hearing, and sleep the other ends away from our joined walls, so i know I can pootle about doing laundry and stuff without disturbing them.

But good news to report, another 4lbs off, taking my two week total to 12lb! Plus the 1 inch off the B/T/H, and the food is lovely and the support from KFC is amazing!

B - tea
L - Bratwurst and scrambled egg (I did two lots yesterday)
D - l/o chicken Jalfrezi

Also going to cook up beef Bolognese to have with courgetti; and got chicken defrosted too, not sure what I'll make - Kiev, or maybe just crumb it in the pork panko.

RLS is awful, I get this some night then spent most the night awake. I usually end up getting up and pottering around the house by then I am exhausted and sleep cos I am so tired.

Excellent weight loss in two week, plus you have had some nice meals along the way. It is good that the weight loss is also showing up on the tape measure. I bet you can tell the difference in your clothing as well. It is always my trousers I notice first and usually the first item of clothing I get in the next dress size down.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Strangely enough @purpleorc my clothes don't feel any different yet, I can usually notice weight loss by not popping over the top of my bra, so that's the first sign - but I can tell that my tummy is smaller and that makes me very happy .

Loving the food. I ended up having the bolognese for dinner, and was so full halfway through that I stopped and put the rest in the fridge! A small bowl of pork scratchings at about 10pm, and that was it for me. I had more RLS episodes last night, so have been up since 2.15am (it's now 7am) but I was able to write up a case study, make up more electrolyte drink and other bits and pieces. Felt really hungry for the last hour so made cheese toasties, which hit the spot - I made two (the loaves are very small lol), and the lot, with coffee (I count the whitener in each cup as 1g carbs) came to 4g carbs. I'm trying to stick to around 20-30g carbs a day.

RLS is a real nightmare, but I've had it so long it's just always a part of my life now - but it has definitely got worse over the last few years - menopause? Carby eating and lack of exercise? Who knows - but I am often awake throughout most of the night, wandering the house - I sit, it comes on, I get up and wander around, sit down, back it comes - so it's physically exhausting as I can't stand for long, I need to sit down - but can't sit for long - and it's mentally exhausting too, with frustration at not being able to sleep, and it just constantly coming back when I think an episode has finished. My cardio guy is referring me to a RLS specialist, one of the top people in the country is based nearby, so that will be interesting - but in the meantime it's a case of gobbling loads of magnesium via tablet and gel that I rub on my knees, as the attacks come on - it doesn't work if I take it beforehand, my body doesn't seem to retain it - plus potassium and iron. I also try and avoid certain foods before bed llike sweet things. The KFC electrolyte drink is helping too but I have to drink a lot of it - think it's the ACV in it that helps. Plus of course, tramadol, which I couldn't do without, it makes a massive difference and stops me from going completely bonkers over the RLS.

Ah what fun! It's actually lifting now, so might head to bed and see if I can get a couple of hours' sleep xx

 

[AliGal]

Hope you've had some sleep by the tme you read this. So sorry about teh RLS. Very tough. And brilliant on yr progress.

 

[purpleorc]

Strangely enough @purpleorc my clothes don't feel any different yet, I can usually notice weight loss by not popping over the top of my bra, so that's the first sign - but I can tell that my tummy is smaller and that makes me very happy .

Loving the food. I ended up having the bolognese for dinner, and was so full halfway through that I stopped and put the rest in the fridge! A small bowl of pork scratchings at about 10pm, and that was it for me. I had more RLS episodes last night, so have been up since 2.15am (it's now 7am) but I was able to write up a case study, make up more electrolyte drink and other bits and pieces. Felt really hungry for the last hour so made cheese toasties, which hit the spot - I made two (the loaves are very small lol), and the lot, with coffee (I count the whitener in each cup as 1g carbs) came to 4g carbs. I'm trying to stick to around 20-30g carbs a day.

RLS is a real nightmare, but I've had it so long it's just always a part of my life now - but it has definitely got worse over the last few years - menopause? Carby eating and lack of exercise? Who knows - but I am often awake throughout most of the night, wandering the house - I sit, it comes on, I get up and wander around, sit down, back it comes - so it's physically exhausting as I can't stand for long, I need to sit down - but can't sit for long - and it's mentally exhausting too, with frustration at not being able to sleep, and it just constantly coming back when I think an episode has finished. My cardio guy is referring me to a RLS specialist, one of the top people in the country is based nearby, so that will be interesting - but in the meantime it's a case of gobbling loads of magnesium via tablet and gel that I rub on my knees, as the attacks come on - it doesn't work if I take it beforehand, my body doesn't seem to retain it - plus potassium and iron. I also try and avoid certain foods before bed llike sweet things. The KFC electrolyte drink is helping too but I have to drink a lot of it - think it's the ACV in it that helps. Plus of course, tramadol, which I couldn't do without, it makes a massive difference and stops me from going completely bonkers over the RLS.

Ah what fun! It's actually lifting now, so might head to bed and see if I can get a couple of hours' sleep xx

I wish I knew the cause of RLS we would be rich I am sure. I haven't had this that long but It can take a hike anytime it wants lol It is good that you are wanting smaller portions. I still get my portion wrong on my plate. I think I can eat like before. But now I can eat a lot less before I feel full. Hard leaving food as we were brought up not to leave food on the plate. But trying to retrain my eating habits an on going process i am afraid. But I am get there. I am now eating so much more healthier and when I do eat out much better choices which is a big step for me. I am fast approaching eating healthily for a year now. So hope to lose 51/2 stone in a year.

Since I had physio I can stand for much longer. I was out of alignment as I was favouring my strong leg. When I get attacks 9 times out of 10 it hits my right leg making it weaker. So I favour my good leg. I didn't realise I was doing this. But did physio every day for over 6 months and it has made things so much better. But hard work doing the physio but I see the results so worth pushing through. Took me a long while as my right leg had really atrophied with me not using it properly. It is never going to be a 100% but far better than it was. So a big win for me. Plus losing the weight I am sure as had a impact on my back not having to lug around such heavy weight. My back is dodge as I started nursing in the days when there was no such things as lifting aids so lots of manual lifting. Which has taken a toll on my back like every other nurse of my generation. But I really enjoyed nursing. but I couldn't no longer do the job safely as I couldn't control and restrain safely a patient who was disturbed and need this to protect themselves or others. But only done as a last resort. I couldn't break the phial safely either ended up looking like a blood bath not what you need in an emergency.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Oh love it must be so hard to leave nursing when it's clear how much you loved it - but your own health comes first now, and I'm so pleased to hear the physio is helping.

I really do recommend the eled trolyte drink to ease RLS, at least during the day - it's 4tlbsp lemon juice, 2 tblspn ACV (a good one with the mother in it, Willie's is the one I use and I buy 5 litres from Amazon for £15 - a very good price, they use excellent apples), 1/2 tsp cream of tartar and 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt, mixed in 1 litre of water - and just constantly sip at it throughout the day. Some people worry about the effecto f all the vinegar on their teeth - but quite honestly if I thought it would stop RLS I'd run naked up and down in front of my pervy neighbour's house LOLOL.

Been feeling down all day, and really worried about money, thanks to my idiot solicitor taking so long with the sale of the flat. Normally I'd reach for comfort food - and I did today as well - except that this time it's all been OK comfort food - a l/o Bratwurst, two eggs and cheese - and boy did that hit the spot, guilt free! Followed up later by chicken Jalfrezi, again with some cheese, but it needed cooling down spice wise. So I made good food choices, and that makes me very happy.

 

[purpleorc]

Thanks for the help, I have acv in the home, I know what you mean you will do nearly anything to get rid of the incessant need to move your legs.

I loved nursing, I wasn't very academic but worked very hard to get my registered nursing in mental health. I eventually ended up working on a forensic locked ward. Some of the patients were there because of their violent unpredictable behaviour but others were through the courts they had committed a serious crime (rape, murder etc) but found to be mentally ill at the time. I loved the fact I never knew what the day would bring. One day at a maximum secure unit assessing a patient, another in police cells assessing a person there, another day at crown court or going to prison to assess a prisoner to see if they could be cared for by us. Although if a prisoner became well they had to go back to prison to finish their sentence. I know this field of work isn't for everyone but for me it was the right fit.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Isn't it brilliant when you find a job that suits you so well - although you're a brave lady hun, I would be way too scared to interact with serious crims!

We are such night owls, you and I lol - I've been up since 2, and it's now 6am. I have to leave lots of jobs for myself round the house so it occupies my mind, but that's no bad thing if I'm going to be up anyway. Been thinking about meals - I've got some defrosted chicken pieces, so will roll those in pork panko and cook in the oven, and then have with cheesy cauli mash, I think.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Managed to get a bit of sleep today, with a small omelette and l/o bolognese to keep me going.

Was going to use use one of the KFC pizza bases for tea and forgot I should have put them straight in the freezer when they arrived because they've all gone off! I nearly cried as I put them in the bin - but they weren't salvageable, covered with mold . Lesson learned. I'll have pizza toast instead.

 

[purpleorc]

Isn't it brilliant when you find a job that suits you so well - although you're a brave lady hun, I would be way too scared to interact with serious crims!

We are such night owls, you and I lol - I've been up since 2, and it's now 6 am. I have to leave lots of jobs for myself around the house so it occupies my mind, but that's no bad thing if I'm going to be up anyway. Been thinking about meals - I've got some defrosted chicken pieces, so will roll those in pork panko and cook in the oven, and then have with cheesy cauli mash, I think.

Definitely a night owl often up till nearly 3 am then up at around 7 am then every so often this lack of sleep catches up with me and I sleep really well and can sleep for about 8 hours.

I rarely felt scared we carried a device that if pulled alerted everyone in the hospital that someone was in trouble. But never had to use it because I was in danger. Only used it when I found a patient hanging. Fortunately, we saved him without any brain damage. Most of the work was common sense of not putting yourself in positions where you are alone in a room with a patient. I was hit way more times on the dementia ward never once on the forensic ward. Staffing was high as you could imagine. giving up nursing was hard but I have my memories.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Reporting in from Night Owl NE branch lol - had a couple of hours sleep, then bing, wide awake - this is the usual pattern, so i get up and pootle about doing housework etc, or watching TV or whatever. Am hooked on Only Murders in the Building on Disney+ so watched the latest episode of that, then cleaned out the cupboards. I was checking the carb content of an unopened bottle of Options drink, only to discover that it expired in Feb 2019 - whoops!

Also had a really hungry sort of day, but have recorded everything and came in at 40g carbs - which is high for me.
B 1 - 2 Megga bread and cheese (early am)
B2 - 3 egg omelette with bacon and cheese, coffee
L - L/o bolognese - and cheese (hmmm)
T - Southern coated chicken and cauli mash
S - ice lolly, Sweet Freedom/nuts/seeds.low sugar granola

Overjoyed to have found a zero carb ice lolly, probably full of fake sugars, but my home made ones have been terrible, just big blocks of teeth shattering ice! I like them at night to help cool me down, and at 30 for £3 on Amazon, they are cheaper than the supermarket. Just need to find a ready made sweet treat because 1 tablespoon of Sweet Freedom, plus 20g carbs each nuts, seeds and granola came in at 11g carbs - ouch! Any suggestions, LC friends?

 

[purpleorc]

Night owl reporting for duty lol I have been busy catching up on housework today, stripped the bed and laundered all the bed linen, made a sw rice pudding. A lovely day out even felt well enough for a short walk. So hubby and I ventured out taking our furry baby for a walk. Who would have thought it wearing short-sleeved in October it was about 16c out.

Since going into the menopause I suffer from hot flushes and I get warm so easily. I use to be the opposite that hubby nicknamed me Eskimo Nell lol Fortunately hot flushes are about the only symptom I get from menopause. So cold drinks, fan hogging are a few ways I deal with being so warm. I am constantly throwing off the bed covers as I get too warm in bed.

I don't know if you bake or if these recipes are low enough in carbs for you. I did dabble for a while in low carb (not the best thing for me as I am not a huge diary lover so not keen on cheese or many of the things that make up the diet of a low carb diet) https://tasty.co/article/jesseszewczyk/low-carb-keto-dessert-recipes I hope these are low enough in carbs for you and fit into your way of eating. So nice to have a sweet treat to hit the spot.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Yep menopause heat here too - I have the fan on all night, even in winter! I've noticed since my legs healed that from the knee down, after a couple of hours sleep, they go very red - not sure why and i asked the nurse and she didn't know either. I'm guessing it's a combo of the venous insufficiency and just being hot anyway, or maybe the blood is racing around because the legs are horizontal - but it did alarm me for a bit because I thought I was back in cellulitis territory!

But oh my goodness you are a genius with that link, Purple! Why did I not know about fat bombs?! That very first recipe is so easy and looks amazing, I actually started drooling LOLOL. Will make them tomorrow - I could do them now but I'm in an eating mood and I'll eat them all! Plus sweet stuff sets off the RLS, which is going on at the moment. As it is, I've just zapped a Megga roll with some (more) cheese) to have with a cup of tea. Lush - the new Megga rolls look a bit smaller but seem less chewy and are lighter in colour. Decided I'm not going to stress about having full on eating days - they don't happen very often, and over the last 2 weeks, since I started, I've been mostly OMAD or 2 meals a day, so it'll be fine in the long run.

Am also trying to apply "reduction of stress" to most of the little challenges going on in my life (odd sleeping patterns, not following normal meal times, temperature, money, etc) because when I do worry less, I feel much more content. Not rocket sicence I know, but I' come from a long line of worriers and that kind of genetics can be hard ot re-programme - but doable!

It's like relationships - I'd been really feeling very alone over the last six months in particular, dearly wanting to be in a relationship and getting all silly and menopausally weepy at love songs on the radio, etc. But doing Ian's NLP workshops at KFC made me realise that actually, if I wanted to be in a relationship as much as I imagined, I would have been! The truth is, I like being on my own and not having to compromise for someone else - maybe it was my bad luck, but every one of the many relationships I've been in involved compromise on my part. Ian was talking about "the grass being greener on the other side" and bells started going off for me. I do that a lot, imagining that everything will be perfect if i can only lose weight - but that sort of thinking has been holding me back and I am going to work really hard to not do it any more and just live in the moment .

"Start with happiness, end with happiness" - that's the new mantra!

 

[ChilliQueen]

I definitely concur with having your own off beat and flexible schedule. My sleep was terrible right up until I did nightshift. Suddenly it was socially acceptable for me to sleep at odd times, it was an unexpected little mind trick that helped me sleep better and feel better about when I was sleeping. In the long run I think it helped reset my circadian rhythm and I now do sleep quite well most of the time at night, but when I'm tired and feel like a nap in the day I don't feel guilty anymore I just do it. I think same should apply with our eating just whenever suits. Our ancestors didn't have clocks, they ate either when they were hungry, or simply when they had food after a period of none! I doubt anyone said oh... the sun's too low we can't eat now.

 

[purpleorc]

Yep menopause heat here too - I have the fan on all night, even in winter! I've noticed since my legs healed that from the knee down, after a couple of hours sleep, they go very red - not sure why and i asked the nurse and she didn't know either. I'm guessing it's a combo of the venous insufficiency and just being hot anyway, or maybe the blood is racing around because the legs are horizontal - but it did alarm me for a bit because I thought I was back in cellulitis territory!

But oh my goodness you are a genius with that link, Purple! Why did I not know about fat bombs?! That very first recipe is so easy and looks amazing, I actually started drooling LOLOL. Will make them tomorrow - I could do them now but I'm in an eating mood and I'll eat them all! Plus sweet stuff sets off the RLS, which is going on at the moment. As it is, I've just zapped a Megga roll with some (more) cheese) to have with a cup of tea. Lush - the new Megga rolls look a bit smaller but seem less chewy and are lighter in colour. Decided I'm not going to stress about having full on eating days - they don't happen very often, and over the last 2 weeks, since I started, I've been mostly OMAD or 2 meals a day, so it'll be fine in the long run.

Am also trying to apply "reduction of stress" to most of the little challenges going on in my life (odd sleeping patterns, not following normal meal times, temperature, money, etc) because when I do worry less, I feel much more content. Not rocket sicence I know, but I' come from a long line of worriers and that kind of genetics can be hard ot re-programme - but doable!

It's like relationships - I'd been really feeling very alone over the last six months in particular, dearly wanting to be in a relationship and getting all silly and menopausally weepy at love songs on the radio, etc. But doing Ian's NLP workshops at KFC made me realise that actually, if I wanted to be in a relationship as much as I imagined, I would have been! The truth is, I like being on my own and not having to compromise for someone else - maybe it was my bad luck, but every one of the many relationships I've been in involved compromise on my part. Ian was talking about "the grass being greener on the other side" and bells started going off for me. I do that a lot, imagining that everything will be perfect if i can only lose weight - but that sort of thinking has been holding me back and I am going to work really hard to not do it any more and just live in the moment .

"Start with happiness, end with happiness" - that's the new mantra!

Your most welcome are there any recipes you can freeze if you don't want to overdo it with baked goods.

We naturally get days where we seem to have hollow days. Some days I am never full, and joke I am feeding the worms lol Then others I am not very hungry at all. So your right not to stress out it balances out in the long run.

Like you I am a worrier, hubby says if I haven't anything to worry about I will create something to worry about. I am better than I was but my hubby is that laid back it is a wonder he doesn't fall over lol they say opposites attract definitely true in our case. I have been very lucky to find a partner who has struck with me through all my ailments which have at times left me in a wheelchair. He has had to nurse me. Not once does he complain. I need help daily for all sorts of chores. He just takes up the slack where I need the help and does what I ask him. We have been together 23 years now. Known each other for much longer. He is doing the sw journey with me and he has also lost nearly 5 stone. He is not too far from target now. I am just over half way.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Oh your hubby sounds like a lovely person, you were lucky enough to find your perfect match, big hugs! It's the dream really, to be with someone who has your back but lets you 'breathe' at the same time.

Dozed on and off and played Merge until about midday, and since then I've been looking at fat bomb recipes (@purpleorc you bad influence LOLOL). I've been really fancying something sweet so made this - https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/keto-mug-cake-recipe/ - well frankly ladies, it needs renaming to WORST keto mug cake, it was just a gooey mess, even though I maxed it out in the microwave then left it to cool, and the nutty fragments weren't very nice. I'd be hopeless as a recipe tester, i take every failure to heart - but not to worry, there's lots of other things to try! . I've taken cream cheese and peanut butter out of the fridge to soften so i can make this tomorrow - https://www.eatwell101.com/cheesecake-keto-fat-bombs-recipe

If it works out ok I can see adaptations - rum and raisin essence and rolled in dessicated occonut mmm, for example. All ideas welcome!

Food - ok I guess, no actually that's a lie - I found two Mr Kipling lemon tarts in a hidden cupboard in the fridge, so had them. Othwrwise, I've had 2 megga rolls (including the one I had in the early hours) with cheese, and that's it, so not much - oh apart from that 4g carbs NOT mug cake...although it has filled me up.