Hello Readers!
I am combining my blog and will no longer be posting on this one. You can still continue following me on my journey by viewing my new blog located here:
http://mommaof4hobbits.wordpress.com/
I'm so glad that you have been following me despite not posting regularly. I do hope that you continue to follow me at my new location.
Be Blessed!!!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Buuut I Loooooove Cooow Juuuuice! :'(
Yup this is me whining... So with all the lovely allergens I can't have milk and cheese... I think I'm going to die. I LOVE MILK!!! Evidently it does not love me back. I stuck to my new ridged diet for like 2 days and caved... I thought, Oh I could just have a little. But a little was all the temptation I needed and I was right back in my old ways... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! The milk made my tummy inflate so much I surely thought I would float away. Whhhyyy? was I could say. The only cereal I can stand so far with soy milk is the Special K red berries. I'm gonna starve. I like it but not enough to eat it all the time. I love oatmeal and bagels but they have wheat in it, which I also can't have. Oh not to mention the yeast in the bagels. Can't have eggs and I've been eating hard boiled ones like they are going eggstinct... haha see what I did there?
So dear friends of mine back to the hardcore diet of veggies, fish and some chicken. Funny I can eat the chicken but not it's pre-chicken form... what the heck? *sigh* I must remind myself every morning "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 I can do this... well I HAVE to do this I want to meet my maker some day... but not because I decided to have a glass of milk 6 times a day to make me ascend to the heavens.
xoxox
So dear friends of mine back to the hardcore diet of veggies, fish and some chicken. Funny I can eat the chicken but not it's pre-chicken form... what the heck? *sigh* I must remind myself every morning "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 I can do this... well I HAVE to do this I want to meet my maker some day... but not because I decided to have a glass of milk 6 times a day to make me ascend to the heavens.
xoxox
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Does the immune system have effects on weight?
Now that I've had my fourth and final baby, yes final, I've had my tubes tied, I am digging deeper to find a permanent solution to my weight loss. I've had some funny symptoms over the last decade that have surrounded my weight gain and enough is enough. I went to my doctor, Dr. P and gave her my book of symptoms for her to look over. She sent me to the ENT for a sleep study. So now I'm a patient of Dr. K. He sends me for a sleep study, skin allergy testing and a CT scan of my sinuses. After my skin testing the LPN shares with me my results. So here is a list of my allergens:
Grasses
Bermuda grass
blue grass
Weeds
lamb's quater
Trees
oak trees
cottonwood trees
Dusts
house dust
dermato farinae
Molds
penicillium
candida
alternaria
helminthosporium
fusarium
TCE
As allergens attack the immune system I decided to do some research on how the immune system and body weight are connected if at all. You have to know if I discover something about my body I must research the affects on my weight. While researching I found this article that I believe sums up all the information very well.
Malfunctioning Immunity Causes Weight Gain
Here are a few key points of the article in case you do not what to read the whole thing.
"Leptin is the key hormone in your body that enables your survival, as it is the hormone that permits your body to spend energy. Since energy is needed for everything your body does, its fundamental importance cannot be overstated.
For example, leptin signaling to your subconscious brain following a meal gives you a full signal and sends the subconscious message that you have been to the gas station. You now have plenty of fuel in your tank, and it is time to kick your energetic systems into gear. That is an example of a central regulatory system in your body that sets your overall energy spending policy."
"Metabolic flu is the inappropriate and chronic activation of your immune system6 cells, malfunctioning in a way that promotes weight gain and makes weight loss difficult. I will explain this first in the context of leptin resistance and then explain step-by-step how someone goes from being normal weight to being overweight, and finally what you need to do to solve the problem.
Leptin resistance means that your white adipose tissue is making too much leptin and for a variety of reasons the leptin signal is not easily getting into your brain or registering in it. This is what I call a false state of perceived starvation. Your body thinks it is starving and so must keep eating, even though you are far from starving. In other words, the problem of leptin resistance means you don’t have enough leptin in your brain in relation to eating a normal amount of food. On the other hand, you have too much leptin in your blood stream. Therein lies the problem."
"Once this combination of problems starts, the metabolic flu begins to ramp up and lock itself into place. The inflammation within white adipose tissue activates monocytes that go out into your circulation and recruit more macrophages to come to your white adipose tissue. Interestingly, this appears to be a self-defense mechanism against being poisoned by too much food. The macrophages are actually trying to liberate the fat from the fat cells using a highly inflammatory backup strategy. Unfortunately, their last ditch effort is overwhelmed by even more calories coming in that must be stored as fat. We now have excessive inflammatory macrophage activity locked into place, worsening in direct proportion to the expansion of your waistline. The inflammation in your white adipose tissue enters your general circulation and induces wear and tear, causing you to feel tired. One of your genetic responses to tiredness is eating to get energy – and around we go in a vicious circle of progressively worsening health, i.e., metabolic flu."
"Immune cells work best when they go from a resting to an active state when needed. Metabolic flu chronically activates immune cells; they get tired and resistant to leptin signaling. It is like a repetitive strain injury to immune cells. Immunity in general starts to malfunction."
"The bottom line is that developing the metabolic flu is what causes you to gain weight in the first place and is clearly locked into place in people who struggle to lose weight. Furthermore, the longer the problem exists and worsens, the more likely it is that other more serious metabolic problems and immune system problems will develop."
So now as a part of my weight loss regiment I am going to get my allergies under control by eliminating as many allergens and taking an OTC to help with symptoms. I will start again with a very well balanced diet by strictly following a veggie based food pyramid while removing foods that contain my allergens. I will also take great care in preparing foods to ensure the best to my ability that certain allergens are not on my foods, like washing root veggies very well.
xoxox,
Shan
Grasses
Bermuda grass
blue grass
Weeds
lamb's quater
Trees
oak trees
cottonwood trees
Dusts
house dust
dermato farinae
Molds
penicillium
candida
alternaria
helminthosporium
fusarium
TCE
As allergens attack the immune system I decided to do some research on how the immune system and body weight are connected if at all. You have to know if I discover something about my body I must research the affects on my weight. While researching I found this article that I believe sums up all the information very well.
Malfunctioning Immunity Causes Weight Gain
Here are a few key points of the article in case you do not what to read the whole thing.
"Leptin is the key hormone in your body that enables your survival, as it is the hormone that permits your body to spend energy. Since energy is needed for everything your body does, its fundamental importance cannot be overstated.
For example, leptin signaling to your subconscious brain following a meal gives you a full signal and sends the subconscious message that you have been to the gas station. You now have plenty of fuel in your tank, and it is time to kick your energetic systems into gear. That is an example of a central regulatory system in your body that sets your overall energy spending policy."
"Metabolic flu is the inappropriate and chronic activation of your immune system6 cells, malfunctioning in a way that promotes weight gain and makes weight loss difficult. I will explain this first in the context of leptin resistance and then explain step-by-step how someone goes from being normal weight to being overweight, and finally what you need to do to solve the problem.
Leptin resistance means that your white adipose tissue is making too much leptin and for a variety of reasons the leptin signal is not easily getting into your brain or registering in it. This is what I call a false state of perceived starvation. Your body thinks it is starving and so must keep eating, even though you are far from starving. In other words, the problem of leptin resistance means you don’t have enough leptin in your brain in relation to eating a normal amount of food. On the other hand, you have too much leptin in your blood stream. Therein lies the problem."
"Once this combination of problems starts, the metabolic flu begins to ramp up and lock itself into place. The inflammation within white adipose tissue activates monocytes that go out into your circulation and recruit more macrophages to come to your white adipose tissue. Interestingly, this appears to be a self-defense mechanism against being poisoned by too much food. The macrophages are actually trying to liberate the fat from the fat cells using a highly inflammatory backup strategy. Unfortunately, their last ditch effort is overwhelmed by even more calories coming in that must be stored as fat. We now have excessive inflammatory macrophage activity locked into place, worsening in direct proportion to the expansion of your waistline. The inflammation in your white adipose tissue enters your general circulation and induces wear and tear, causing you to feel tired. One of your genetic responses to tiredness is eating to get energy – and around we go in a vicious circle of progressively worsening health, i.e., metabolic flu."
"Immune cells work best when they go from a resting to an active state when needed. Metabolic flu chronically activates immune cells; they get tired and resistant to leptin signaling. It is like a repetitive strain injury to immune cells. Immunity in general starts to malfunction."
"The bottom line is that developing the metabolic flu is what causes you to gain weight in the first place and is clearly locked into place in people who struggle to lose weight. Furthermore, the longer the problem exists and worsens, the more likely it is that other more serious metabolic problems and immune system problems will develop."
So now as a part of my weight loss regiment I am going to get my allergies under control by eliminating as many allergens and taking an OTC to help with symptoms. I will start again with a very well balanced diet by strictly following a veggie based food pyramid while removing foods that contain my allergens. I will also take great care in preparing foods to ensure the best to my ability that certain allergens are not on my foods, like washing root veggies very well.
xoxox,
Shan
Monday, July 23, 2012
I'm joining the PARTY!
First and foremost I would like to thank my readers who have waited for my return. I'm back! We had our beautiful little surprise Carolyn Rose on June 18th. She has been such a joy, our little surprise. We also bought our first home and moved since the last blog. Which brings me back to finally loosing the weight for good. Wooohooo. I have had my tubes tied so I know that now weight loss after the baby should stick as long as I stick with proper diet and exercise.
I am breast feeding so that should help with burning some of the calories. But I'm also eating like crazy. So here is hoping I can eat the healthy stuff and cave in and eat or buy the junk. I am having a really hard time kicking the Oreo habit though... I guess I felt pretty guilty about that and am bummed that I now live about hour away from my Freakin' Awesome ZUMBA! instructors because I bought the videos.
I logged on to QVC and found this kickin' ZUMBA! deal. It's going to be here tomorrow and I absolutely can not wait. When I was going to ZUMBA! class last year around this time I lost a size and it was enough weight loss to get pregnant again, and that was just in two months. I can't wait to shake my booty. But the best thing about using ZUMBA! as a weight loss tool this time is that my best friend and husband will be doing it with me. Having his support through participation means the world to me.
So I am joining the ZUMBA! Party again with very high hopes and expectations. It's that time to get the kids off to bed so off I go for another night. Live well friends!
xoxox,
Shan
Friday, December 30, 2011
Dinner is served!
And on tonights menu, crow. Ok so for this to make any sense you need to read the blog previously posted. Go ahead I'll wait... ... ....
.... ....
Crazy right?!?!? Well the plot thickens... and so does my hair. I need to clear a few things up about my last post.
1. When it felt like my abdomen/cysts exploding, that was actually my ovaries, are you ready for it, ovulating on their own.
2. Yes I was loosing my hair, literally and yes, it was due to hormones. But not at all for the reasons I thought.
3. I am still steadily gaining weight, which in it's self is rather annoying considering all my hard work, but I can certainly deal with it.
4. I am eating crow, because not only am I evidently now a "fertile myrtle" but we are also pregnant again.
I would just like to say, we absolutely in no way shape or form planned this. It happened, in a heat of the moment kind of situation. So I am eating crow big time and feeling a tad bit sheepish about it. ^_^ Just thought that a proper update would have been appropriate.
Needless to say my weight loss has been put on hold once more. But you can follow my other blog at Life with Mumsie until I can pick this one back up again, then you should have two to entertain you.
Peace!
.... ....
Crazy right?!?!? Well the plot thickens... and so does my hair. I need to clear a few things up about my last post.
1. When it felt like my abdomen/cysts exploding, that was actually my ovaries, are you ready for it, ovulating on their own.
2. Yes I was loosing my hair, literally and yes, it was due to hormones. But not at all for the reasons I thought.
3. I am still steadily gaining weight, which in it's self is rather annoying considering all my hard work, but I can certainly deal with it.
4. I am eating crow, because not only am I evidently now a "fertile myrtle" but we are also pregnant again.
I would just like to say, we absolutely in no way shape or form planned this. It happened, in a heat of the moment kind of situation. So I am eating crow big time and feeling a tad bit sheepish about it. ^_^ Just thought that a proper update would have been appropriate.
Needless to say my weight loss has been put on hold once more. But you can follow my other blog at Life with Mumsie until I can pick this one back up again, then you should have two to entertain you.
Peace!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Q: Did you hear the one about the butcher?
A: She's fat and balding. :-(
This PCOS crap is really make me mad! I'm gaining weight rapidly... again... and now my hair is falling out in clumps. I'm so sick of being plagued with this. I have so many things I need to worry about like, playing with my kids and being a confident woman for them to look up to. Instead, I'm doing exercise classes, going to the gym, starving myself and now spending extra time, whenever I can, in front of a mirror. Not because I'm being self righteous and fixing my makeup... but because I'm looking for bald spots on my head. :'-(
Tonight, I feel alone. Like no one can possible understand what I'm going through. I have an appointment with the endocrinologist on October 18th, but I feel like I'll be completely bald by then. Not to mention I feel like my abdomen is going to explode sometimes, most recently with the pain from the cysts. I've been having so many insanely weird things going on with my body and my OBGYN is treating me like I'm a hypochondriac... telling me to take tylenol and that it isn't anything to worry about...
REALLY??!?!?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I know my body, and this stuff is really weird and not normal for me. I'm in severe pain most days and you're just gonna sit there collecting your $200k a year and tell me not to worry this is normal.... Suddenly now that my husband and I have decided that we will not be having more children, I'm not as important as the Fertile Myrtle in her 20's huh?
I'm alone and scared. The only people who can help me, I have to wait until the 18th to see or don't want to schedule to see me at all. If there is anyone out there reading this blog, I feel like I'm falling apart physical right now and there is no help or hope. This is the worst part of this weight loss journey for me. Working my tail off and not getting any results or hope of getting any results because of the little trickster living in my body known as PCOS.
I just want to be me again.
xoxox,
Shan
This PCOS crap is really make me mad! I'm gaining weight rapidly... again... and now my hair is falling out in clumps. I'm so sick of being plagued with this. I have so many things I need to worry about like, playing with my kids and being a confident woman for them to look up to. Instead, I'm doing exercise classes, going to the gym, starving myself and now spending extra time, whenever I can, in front of a mirror. Not because I'm being self righteous and fixing my makeup... but because I'm looking for bald spots on my head. :'-(
Tonight, I feel alone. Like no one can possible understand what I'm going through. I have an appointment with the endocrinologist on October 18th, but I feel like I'll be completely bald by then. Not to mention I feel like my abdomen is going to explode sometimes, most recently with the pain from the cysts. I've been having so many insanely weird things going on with my body and my OBGYN is treating me like I'm a hypochondriac... telling me to take tylenol and that it isn't anything to worry about...
REALLY??!?!?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I know my body, and this stuff is really weird and not normal for me. I'm in severe pain most days and you're just gonna sit there collecting your $200k a year and tell me not to worry this is normal.... Suddenly now that my husband and I have decided that we will not be having more children, I'm not as important as the Fertile Myrtle in her 20's huh?
I'm alone and scared. The only people who can help me, I have to wait until the 18th to see or don't want to schedule to see me at all. If there is anyone out there reading this blog, I feel like I'm falling apart physical right now and there is no help or hope. This is the worst part of this weight loss journey for me. Working my tail off and not getting any results or hope of getting any results because of the little trickster living in my body known as PCOS.
I just want to be me again.
xoxox,
Shan
Thursday, September 8, 2011
From a potato sack to... jeans... and damn they look good!!!
So much has happened on this crazy journey in the short time since my last post.
ONE-
Aunt Flo FINALLY came to visit me on her own without having to be drugged... I had a super "YAY!!" moment and then an "ahhh crap, are you freakin' kidding me?" moment as I came upon this realization at work, with nothing at my disposal to be hospitable to the old crone.
a.) The "YAY!" Moment
So this was great because I am starting to loose enough weight and my
hormones are starting to level back out to do these things on their own.
Which means good things for the PCOS. Maybe this means my body is finally
starting to take back control!
TWO-
When Aunt Flo came whirling in she did it with force and destruction that Irene did all up and down the east coast. It didn't matter what I used to be hospitable to this twit of an Aunt... She wanted to make her mark... all over my nice clean jeans... Let me remind you that she showed up on the first day of three day work stint at work. This means I wasn't getting to laundry right away... so I HAD to buy more pants... But this is where this weight loss story gets good.
I brought in the typical size 16 and 18 jeans to try on. Most of the time in places like Target and Walmart I have to opt for the 18 because of how tight they are... I have never been a super fan of really tight jeans, on me or anyone else. That is something the 80's and 90's can gladly keep... Well I had been working my buns off at the gym and at ZUMBA so I thought I would try the 16's on first... I was soooo excited! I was able to pull the 16's up so fast I almost gave myself a wedgie!
I could have probably gotten the 14's and they would have been just as tight as they are typical suppose to be... stupid clothing industry, but I got the 16's instead. Let me say, in that moment I was so insanely proud of myself that I wanted to go to the gym again that night... but Auntie was being really dominating... so I had to put it on hold.
Even though my weight seems to be fluctuating a bit, clothing never lies to you the way a scale does. I'm pretty stoked about this new discovery and I hope that it keeps me motivated on this insanely difficult weight loss journey.
As for me right now, right this minute... off to sort through some stuff since we'll be moving within the next month and then to ZUMBA class tonight!
xoxox,
Shan
ONE-
Aunt Flo FINALLY came to visit me on her own without having to be drugged... I had a super "YAY!!" moment and then an "ahhh crap, are you freakin' kidding me?" moment as I came upon this realization at work, with nothing at my disposal to be hospitable to the old crone.
a.) The "YAY!" Moment
So this was great because I am starting to loose enough weight and my
hormones are starting to level back out to do these things on their own.
Which means good things for the PCOS. Maybe this means my body is finally
starting to take back control!
TWO-
When Aunt Flo came whirling in she did it with force and destruction that Irene did all up and down the east coast. It didn't matter what I used to be hospitable to this twit of an Aunt... She wanted to make her mark... all over my nice clean jeans... Let me remind you that she showed up on the first day of three day work stint at work. This means I wasn't getting to laundry right away... so I HAD to buy more pants... But this is where this weight loss story gets good.
I brought in the typical size 16 and 18 jeans to try on. Most of the time in places like Target and Walmart I have to opt for the 18 because of how tight they are... I have never been a super fan of really tight jeans, on me or anyone else. That is something the 80's and 90's can gladly keep... Well I had been working my buns off at the gym and at ZUMBA so I thought I would try the 16's on first... I was soooo excited! I was able to pull the 16's up so fast I almost gave myself a wedgie!
I could have probably gotten the 14's and they would have been just as tight as they are typical suppose to be... stupid clothing industry, but I got the 16's instead. Let me say, in that moment I was so insanely proud of myself that I wanted to go to the gym again that night... but Auntie was being really dominating... so I had to put it on hold.
Even though my weight seems to be fluctuating a bit, clothing never lies to you the way a scale does. I'm pretty stoked about this new discovery and I hope that it keeps me motivated on this insanely difficult weight loss journey.
As for me right now, right this minute... off to sort through some stuff since we'll be moving within the next month and then to ZUMBA class tonight!
xoxox,
Shan
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