Marge

Dr. Marc sent me a plan for lowering lipids. IT TOTALLY WORKED! My Dr’s office called me yesterday and my cho. was 300….NOW 230 My trig. were 300….NOW157. I cannot take statins to reduce fats in the blood and this is like a dream come true. And it is all done with food and exercise. No insulin, no needles, no glucatrol. B/P is 110/60 with way less meds, no angina pain. Taking exercise classes 5 days a week and spinning all over town. I feel so free. Who KNEW! Why haven’t any of my docs mentioned this plan to me before? When I talked with my physician last week (before the tests) he reviewed the plan and said, “A lot of things you can’t eat,” and I told him there were more that I could! His nurse said, “You’ve got it goin’ on, girl!” when she called with my new results……. It is never to late to change our lives. I am living proof of that. Just be willing to change your eating plan when necessary. And find a way to stick with it! Plan, plan, plan ahead. Learn to love the challange! Make a game of it. I love my small treats every afternoon. A frozen smoothie of vanilla soy milk and frozen mixed berries (so thick you must use a spoon to eat it). A big cup of white peach tea with a little soy milk. A handful of fresh raspberries. Life is good. Headed for my exercise class. I may have to take it sitting down but you would be amazed at the workout I get. Take care, buddies and know I love you, Marge

the whiney trap! I have nothing to really complain about, just inertia. After finally being sick of all my self pity, I turned on the computer and saw all the wonderful messages from my buddies. I answered a few last night and found that it may take a little more effort but I can control the tremors in my hands for short periods of time. What am I doing to myself? I was finding it harder and harder to socialize with my neighbors and staying cooped up in my apartment reading. Music is needed, LOUD music! I went for a spin in the heat and I didn’t wilt. As a matter of fact I felt better. Then I signed up for 3 classes in the Community Room in July. If I sign up I am obligated to go. A low impact exercise class, a Tai Chi class, if I can do the upper body movements only. Then a Cooking for One class. I may learn something new. Hey, can’t hurt! Looking around for new foods to try. I am going to dig my way out of this rut I am in. Thanks again. Report in later. Love, Marge

I have no excuses. I am still chugging along at 2 lbs under goal. Those new habits have really kicked in. I am not journaling my food and exercise for the last couple of weeks. So far, so good. I know I have become obcessive over my no meat, no dairy, no sugar, no white flour, no trans fats. I eat all the veggies and fruit I can hold, sprouted bread, legumes, especially beans, all kinds of beans, walnuts, almonds, in moderation. I am trying new ways to exercise, within my limits. Happy? Yes, very. Getting stronger, have a new taste for green teas with a little soy milk. Another heart med was lowered….I can’t tell you how much better I feel. Saving a lot of money, too. No needles, insulin, or diabetic meds. I have joined the church I went to in my childhood (same denomination) since I can spin there (12 blocks)and the members get so much done in the community. Living waters for pure water in small towns in the mountains, work with Hospice. So many things that have interested me for years. The members are loving and welcoming….just like Buddyslim!! I have missed you all. I don’t know if I should come on here and comment. I really don’t want to sound smug. NEVER GIVE UP!!!! That is the most important thing. Find a plan that suits your lifestyle and keep at it. The rewards are fantastic! The pride you feel at combating this obcession and standing proud and tall. It is alright to have pride in a job well done. Even the everyday struggle to stay on plan, when you can look back over your day and know you have done well, or see your mistakes and find a way to prevent them next time. Be so careful when the stress is great. Find a way to get around that food that is calling you. That food is lying to you…it will not make you feel better. Maybe for a minute but the moment it is gone from your mouth, things just get worse. Not only are you stressed, but now you feel guilty, too. When it happens, get back on plan as soon as possible. Get on the computer and read some blogs. We understand each other. Forget and forgive your slips. We are human. That’s how we got in this situation. Thank you for your comments and for your wonderful support. I am here, just not on the computer as much. I am having a little problem with tremors in my hands. Today I am having to hold the mouse with both hands to get anything done. The Dr. doesn’t seem concerned because it comes and goes….just old age, I guess. Battle fatigue. I love you. Take care, Marge

Now my prince can climb the ladder and swing in to my apartment. A prince older then me so I don’t have high hopes. I am on the third floor so he will have to be agile. Dream on, Marge. Staying on plan and exercising more then ever. Just thankful that I can. 32 pounds less does make it easier to travel up ramps and around town. Yesterday I was coming home from my rambles when I saw someone had littered our front lawn with torn up paper. I pulled onto the grass and was bent over to the ground picking up the scraps. A car pulled into the entrance of our parking lot and stopped. I raised up and about that time I heard a woman’s voice ask if I was okay. I told the two women what I was doing and we had a good laugh, BUT wasn’t it wonderful that they stopped to see if they could help? Sometimes I feel a little isolated since Ed is gone, but the kindness of strangers is so comforting. Thank God for all the wonderful people out there who care about others. Take care of yourselves and smile at the people you meet on the street. It will raise your spirits whether they smile back or not. Keep battling our problem! You will make it. Just never give up. Hugs and love, Marge

so keep your seat belt fastened. I prefer to pack my lunch and not eat at the “greasy spoon” rest stops. We may not be driving but we can do our best with whatever life brings. Enjoy the scenery. I have missed you. Mother’s Day about finished me off. Sat. and Sun were so full of hugs and love and talking, I am exhausted! My hands have been shaky for the last couple of days. Too much excitement, whether good or bad, makes my nervous system act up. As that old Dr. whispered in my ear, “Battle Fatigue”. I have been out and about taking many long spins for the last couple of weeks. That helps me manage my stress and my blood sugar. Still on plan and still maintaining. Now I am getting the old “Don’t you lose anymore” refrain. I don’t intend to lose more, but my way of eating requires more food then I am used to. My daughter-in-law Allison is still in remission. I will be reading blogs and catching up later today. Have a blessed day and do your best to stay focused and on plan. Love, Marge

I feel GOOD, as James Brown said it. I am traveling via wheelchair to more and more places….the farmers market. 12 blocks to church and then back. Rode down to neighborhood Irish pub and found no handicapped entrance, but they have their sidewalk cafe open now and the ice tea is wonderful. The owner said just rap on the window and he will serve me. My little baby 22 year old grandson is a physics major and wants to teach high school physics. How does he understand that stuff? Maybe he can teach me. I will be child sitting (or running) a couple of days a week this summer. I will love being busy….all the energy God has given me with the right food and Dr. Marc. Those two boys will be going on long spins with me…. no vegging out in front of the TV. The little 7 year old already has high cholesterol. He reads labels and is learning to make wise decisions. Poor kid…the curse of genetics. BUT we can do our best to over-ride our genes with SUPER foods and lots of exercise. I don’t want to hear excuses! “My whole family has an eating problem” SO! Be the first to break out of the family pattern. It is just harder to do but can be done. I know…been there.  Have a great week and ten days from now is the KY Derby. You are all invited. The marathon is this Saturday. I will be on the sidelines cheering them on. I think the “Moon Glow” is tomorrow night when they light up all the hot air balloons on the ground. Really crowded but lots of fun for kids and kids at heart. Get outside this weekend and enjoy the green…such a lovely light green…and all the flowers, the fresh air. My terrible grief has lifted and “I think I can make it now”, as the song goes. Thank you for all your caring and know you are all in my thoughts as I wander the streets and alleys (Mace in hand). Big hugs, Marge

shelter so they can help someone get out on their own and start a new life. It is rainy, cool and grey here this morning, but had a lot of fun going to the college next door and being interviewed by the students about life over 60. Four of us volunteered to tell all. The good, the bad and the ugly. How important good health is to us so we can continue to be independent, on our own, and not be a burden to our children or society. We all enjoyed the interviews because we enjoyed talking with the young people and SOMEONE  LISTENED! They might have been a captive audience, but we had fun. My weight is a pound below goal, but I am leaving my goal the same. This being vegan has really helped with the weight and the way I feel. I can’t comment on blogs and will have to see what can be done….you know I can’t live without commenting! Have a SUPER week and I am reading blogs, just can’t talk back. Love, Marge

that are really in dire need of food. It is not a hoax. I have been playing for several months now and try to earn 3,000 to 4,ooo grains of rice per day. The more people who play the better the results, of course. My b-i-l-, my nephew, grandsons play. It is free and a lot of fun.

  Water off in my apartment today. No warning. Where’s my oatmeal? Tomorrow my new fridge arrives and I get to move all the food. My kitchen looks like it exploded and parts are over the closets, the livingroom, the bedroom. Where are the bowls? the coffee filters? the COFFEE POT? They will finish the remodeling late Thursday evening, if all goes well. You know how independent I try to be. My b-i-l moved a large cabinet and the microwave for me. The rest I have done myself. And I will put everything back myself or I will never be able to find it! There will be things I may not find for a year.

    Enough whining. I WILL MAKE IT THROUGH THIS!!  I really am laughing at myself. I get so upset about the silliest things. Hope you are all on plan and have a lovely week. I will be eating out all week and PLAN to come back with no gain. Take care and get moving! Love, Marge

Not a good idea for me. Two young men were just here to break the seals on the cabinets and the counter top, so as to get a head start on  the cabinet removal, new DOUBLE sink (I love that) new cabinet tops, new cabinets, fridge, stove and new floor. What a mess I am in for! Trying to pack up the contents of 15 cabinets and put them somewhere so I can still move around in my w/c. It will be beautiful, if I live through the trauma. May not be able to get to the computer from the 7th thru 10th. I need to go back and redo my eating and exercise plan. I have been slipping and need to visit buddyslim and record my food as well as CHILL OUT!! It’s only remodeling. Plaster dust and floor adhesive everywhere. Paint fumes and mess! AHHHH, help. Love, Marge

People from 14 states are reporting illness from the melons grown in Honduras. The water they were irrigated with was contaminated. If you have any melons from the last few days call your place of purchase and if from Honduras DUMP them. Here we are trying to eat healthy foods and I think ”they” are trying to kill us. Not sure who “they” is but all the recalls are driving me crazy. Hugs, marge