Health and Fitness, June, 2015

[Sunny]

I have updated my meals for today in MFP and also added Kathryn and Twins. Yesterday's total calorie count was 1052, today's was 1002. I have my daily goal set at 1100.

Despite being on my feet and walking around the house a good part of the day my step counter is showing a little over 3300 steps. For part of the time I was mostly in one spot by the dining room table as I was sorting the contents of the china closet drawer. I also think that the counter doesn't count every step; lots of times I don't hear a click when I walk. I haven't used the treadmill for a long time. That is another option for walking and getting more steps in at least a few times during the week.

My weight was also down a couple of ounces this morning when I got on the scale.

Breakfast... waffle (frozen) with cream cheese, strawberries, coffee and my vitamins. Standard, most every morning.
Lunch... 1/2 ham salad sandwich, 1/2 cup cole slaw, 1/2 cup macaroni salad and coffee.
Supper... meatloaf sandwich (97% lean beef, two slices bread) and diced peaches snack cup (4 oz) (no sugar added)
Snack... two chocolate chip cookies (T ollHouse recipe made with s plenda) Yum!

** Harriet....Most of the time one or both of the ddogs are in the same room with me. If I leave that room and don't come back right away, they will follow me to the next room! They are my personal groupies!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Sunny: my fitbit doesn't count under 10 steps. So if I'm dusting, for instance and walk 9 steps to the cabinet, stand and dust, move 3 to the table, dust, move 8 to the book shelf and dust, I get credit for 0 steps.

That's why those of us who have worked church sales or church suppers (back and forth from the serving counter to the sink is under 10 steps for me) get little credit on the step counter. The fitbit has a flower that is on the display and if you are continually active, the flower grows. I find for things like church suppers and light housework, the flower is large but my step count is low.

[Twins' Mom]

I didn't get to 10,000 steps yesterday. Feet are slightly sore so I didn't push on to 10K. Got in about 8,000 and a walk last night could have finished it, but I'd rather keep my feet on the pain-free side of things.

Third day successfully entering food, and first day I've come in slightly under on calories and carbs, assuming I haven't forgotten or undervalued something.

Does one set a weight in day on MFP?

[Lady Maverick]

Taking care of myself has moved up on the priority list.

For some unknown reason my blood sugar keeps bottoming out. Many years ago I had this problem, but haven't had any episodes in so long that I assumed it was a thing of the past.

Last Saturday I took LO & DGD4 to a local fair/carnival. While standing in line with them, I suddenly felt like I was about to pass out. I immediately knelt down (so I wouldn't hit the ground hard) and stayed there until I felt strong enough to stand back up. I wasn't hungry but immediately got something to eat in case it was blood sugar messed up. I felt better by the time we arrived home so just thought it was a weird moment and went on with life.

Yesterday I was sitting & watching LO at award ceremony (basketball camp) when it happened again. I felt like I was about to faint. I got on the floor and waited until I felt stable enough to stand up. I didn't have anything with me to eat except gum. ARGH! I did chew several pieces of gum in hopes that it would help somehow. I made it to the school cafeteria and ate a good lunch. I felt better but still a little weak. When I arrived home, I used DH BSugar monitor and think I have found what is causing the near fainting spells. My BSugar was 79 (taken about 30 minutes after eating) so I know it must have been very low when I was struggling with fainting.

Today I have been monitoring my eating & BSugar fairly regularly. So far, I haven't been able to get it up above 100. I have appoint with our family doctor in the morning and will see what he suggest.

[lucylee]

(((LadyM))) IKWYM!!! I have to be very careful about eating too much sugar on an empty stomach. Was diagnosed hypoglycemic in high school. Called dmom to pick me up one day.
She said, "Did you faint?"
I said, "I think so, I woke up with my face in the flower pot in the library."

They never gave me any meds for this though, just advised more careful eating and suggested I carry m&m's for emergencies. To be followed by a good protein-rich meal ASAP.

I think during the glucose tolerance test day, my low was around 30.
Now, whenever I have fasting blood tests, my bs is always right around 100, so I must be managing it fairly well. I've always been afraid it would go the other way and they'd tell me I am diabetic, but so far it's been fine.

[Lady Maverick]

Yesterday when I was feeling so bad, I realized that I wasn't 100% sure that LO would be able to call 911 if something happened to me.

Thankfully the day before at Summer Library program, I was the reader to the group of children. I read a book about Firemen and part of the story was about calling 911 to get help. I talked to LO about the book and told him we were going to practice what we read.

So I handed him my phone and asked "Do you know how to call 911?". I wanted to know if he could unlock phone and find phone icon. He had no problem doing that, but did mess up on the button punching. He first punched 991, so I had him try again. He punched in 911 and hit the call button. I didn't mean for LO to actually call! I didn't have time to cancel the call because they immediately answered!!!! I explained to the dispatcher that we were practicing calling 911 but didn't mean to actually call them. They wanted our address and information anyway. I answered their questions. Then they had LO get on the phone with them and they asked if he could answer the 3 most important questions they would ask him -
** What is your address?
** What is your phone number?
** Why did you call?
LO answered them without any problem and I could see his confidence zooming. I think if LO is ever in a position that he needs to call for help, he will do fine.

[lucylee]

That is WONDERFUL for LO, LadyM! I am so proud of him! You are really raising an amazing young man there!

[Lady Maverick]

Thank you LucyLee! You and this board have been invaluable in helping to raise LO. I don't know how I would have got through the last 6 years without ya'll

[Lady Maverick]

Well. Well. Well. My appointment with family doctor showed more than I expected.

Cliff note version = Apparently I have had a heart attack. Doc didn't actually say heart attack, but that is my take away.

Long version =
My appoint started with Doc saying the fainting could be a symptom of many things, but most likely is low blood sugar. He said we could do a bunch of tests (scan head, heart, blood work, etc) if that is what I wanted, but the tests normally don't find anything. I told Doc that I felt fine with no pains and thought it was low blood sugar and I wasn't interested in doing a bunch of random tests.

However the low blood sugar expectation of cause changed when Doc did hands on exam. He heard something while listening to my heart and wanted me to have a EKG test. During my EKG test the nurse looked at the print-out then made sure the connections were good and ran it again. It was at that moment that I got a clue that the EKG was showing something.

After I got dressed from the EKG test, the family doc came in solemn, sat down and stared at my EKG printout. He wanted to compare it to a previous EKG to rule out my heart giving weird readings. I couldn't remember the last time I had an EKG, but doctor pulled my records and found a EKG from 2007 to compare today's results against. Then he very quietly started talking about what today's EKG is showing. He was talking medical terms something about Q, R, P waves which I didn't understand. I told him that I wasn't going to freak out - just tell me what it showed. He said "it is showing heart damage". He showed me the lines on the EKG that were showing the spikes going downward --------\/--------\/------ and said they are supposed to be showing spikes going upward -----------/\-------/\--------.

Doc is sending me to cardiologist. He is also scheduling a Doppler Ultrasound test on my carotid arteries. And also a slew of blood work. I couldn't do it today because he wants it done fasting.

Doc told me three times today to LOSE WEIGHT. He wants me to eat High Protein, low carb 6 times a day. He wants 20 lbs off me ASAP.

I have resisted doing low carb because it is hard for me to maintain. But now I am more interested in losing weight than maintaining the weight loss. One thing at a time…..and now is the time to do low carb. Sooooo…….I need to figure out what the ratio of Protein/carb/fat I should be eating for High Protein/Low carb diet. I need a percentage or number to have as a goal.

[lucylee]

OH MY, LadyM!!! (((BIG HUGS)))
Praying this is all a big scare over a very mild occurence, and that you get this under control ASAP!
Low carb would be very hard for me too, but I know you can do it!
Praying for you to be able to maintain your usual calm in the midst of this latest storm, for strength to do whatever is needed, and for wise guidance from all medical professionals you come in contact with.
(((BIG HUGS)))