Join Team MM for The Walk From Obesity in Lowell, Massachusetts. Join us to walk, I would love to meet you! Details at the link.
Okay gang, I have decided to give away all three containers of the Click so you can be like the good little Energizer bunnies I know you can be.
With the help of The Randomizer, I am picking the winners at nap time today because it's quite like chaos in here right now.
I almost don't want to tell you this. I tried something at GNC - and I loved it. When we were shopping in the mall, I went BACK into GNC store for another (and another for my pocket) FREE SAMPLE of the darn things, because, it was not "Gold Card" week.
GNC Omega-3 Soft Chews - Citrus Flavor
Who knew? These little chews, are my favorite orange-creamy(ish) flavor. I was quite impressed, which is probably why I snagged three samples, and I want to buy a case. I will chew ANYTHING chewable that tastes good, but when it comes to taking pills and capsules, forget about it, especially things like those giant omegas and fishy oils - they are ginormous! These wee squares are soft, chewy, sweet and orange, you would NEVER EVER EVER KNOW about the squeezed fish in 'em. That's because they're totally cloaked in carbs, but, to get them down - I would eat sugar dipped fish - for sure - it's good for my brain.
120 mg total omega-3 fatty acids May reduce the risk of coronary heart disease* Helps maintain normal healthy cholesterol and blood pressure* Supports joint, brain and skin health* Purified - Citrus Flavor
GNC Omega-3 Soft Chews are great tasting and a convenient alternative to pills. Fish oil naturally provides the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). Each soft chew features a total of 120 mg of omega-3 fatty acids; 105 mg total of EPA and DHA.A landmark study involving over 11,000 participants has confirmed the major benefits of fish oil on cardiovascular health. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are necessary for heart health.* They help support normal, healthy cholesterol levels and are necessary in the maintenance of normal blood pressure.* Individually, EPA is important for circulatory system health, and DHA provides support for healthy triglyceride levels.*In addition for the numerous health benefits, fish oil also:
Supports joint health*
Maintains healthy looking skin*
Supplies DHA which is required for optimal eye and brain function*The fish oil in GNC Omega-3 Soft Chews has been purified and manufactured for freshness and removal on contaminants such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and PCBs. We use only the best quality ingredients derived from wild, deep ocean fish.
Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. FDA evaluated the data and determined that, although there is scientific evidence supporting the claim, the evidence is not conclusive.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
So, even if it's fishy candy - it's brain food. And Beth needs all she can get. I wouldn't touch fish if you PAID me. My complaint - so. many. carbs. in so little chew. I wonder if they could find a way to make these with alternative sweeteners? (I know, ick. There's only so much you can do to mask it.) But, if only.
Tune in tonight, Wednesday, July 16, at 10PM Eastern / 9PM Central to Discovery Health for the return of BIG MEDICINE!
We are asking that you specifically watch the show tonight, and pass this along to anyone that may be interested in the show, as the ratings earned tonight will play a big part in whether or not there is a Season Three!
The weight-loss surgery community and the public as a whole continue to benefit from the education and up-close stories provided by BIG MEDICINE. Season Three will showcase a whole new cast of characters and a new, state-of-the-art clinic to act as a fresh backdrop for the compelling patient stories of victorious transformation and overcoming of personal demons.
Wow - this is big for BlogHer. Just announced. I am sharing this because if you hadn't noticed, both of my top ads are from BlogHer Ad Network, they get the gravy spots, and if this strategic partnership is a good thing - maybe Mama can get some new shoes. No, really, this sounds exciting, iVillage is hugantic! Maybe it will bring opportunities, I wasn't really referring to ads. Read this:
New York, NY – July 16 2008 -- iVillage, the leading online destination for women, has entered a strategic partnership with BlogHer, the Web’s number-one community for women bloggers. This landmark agreement provides iVillage access to BlogHer’s extensive network of 2200 women’s blogs, and promotional opportunities across BlogHer’s large and influential audience. As part of the arrangement, iVillage, Oxygen.com and BravoTV.com will feature select BlogHer content. The announcement was made today by Lauren Zalaznick, President of Women and Lifestyle Entertainment networks for NBC Universal.
The deal includes a $5 million series B investment, financed by Peacock Equity, the joint venture between NBC Universal and GE Commercial Finance’s Media, Communications & Entertainment business, and returning investor Venrock, a venture capital firm.
With an extensive online community of women, whose diverse writing includes core lifestyle topics, BlogHer perfectly complements iVillage. The deal builds on iViIlage’s incredible momentum, marked by 23 consecutive months of year-over-year growth in unique visitors.
My eight week trial of the continuous glucose monitor is on the way, and should be here via UPS on Friday thanks to a very helpful woman at Medtronic, more helpful than my health insurance happened to be anyway.
Once it arrives, I am to literally "hook up" with an educator to teach me how to shoot myself in the gut and keep the sensors from falling out of my loose skin. This is something I had not really thought about, my skin and the sensors. Most of my excess skin is in my abdomen, and that is where the sensors are shown. I hope they have alternate site placement.
Then, off to Old Country Buffet.
Kidding.
I have been doing really well lately, obviously while watching food intake, carb intake tends to go out the window first and those are what trigger the blood sugar the most.
Sure, I still have major fluctuations and can't eat many normal foods (Do not give me a potato!) or any mixed meals (duh) I CAN eat a "low calorie and low carb diet" and not die. But, my brain is still flip-flopping, and I would like to see if blood sugar is at all related to it, because I have been blaming glucose for so very long.
I self-diagnosed since doctors wouldn't listen to me - and I called myself a "reactive hypoglycemic" a couple years ago.
The seizures started after that in the form of complex partials, but have not been linked to blood sugar levels.
Do I think the seizure activity is related to my blood glucose levels? I always have, but it's the what came first thing. I just don't know. I may never know.
But, this trial of the continuous glucose monitor may give us insight - because it will show us a pattern of glucose levels 24/7.
I will be able to track things for myself in conjunction with the graphs the meter saves:
I am only alloted an eight week use of the meter. So, I was only half-joking about the buffet. I need to sort of trigger events. Life happens. So what if I have been "Very Good" for the last so many weeks? I nearly went comatose a few times in the last few months too, and on some occasions I don't see it coming. I cannot base my entire future with a broken pancreas on six or eight weeks of being on a diet.
______________________________________________________________________________________
When hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia persists, continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM) can give a more precise picture of the individual's
blood sugar pattern. The CGM system is worn continuously for three days. It contains a small
catheter that is inserted under the skin to obtain blood glucose
readings every five minutes. Results from the monitor should be
compared to the patient's food and activity log for those days. Blood
glucose that is always low, even during fasting periods, may more
likely indicate a diagnosis of insulinoma, while postprandial
hypoglycemia is probably reflective of more diffuse islet hyperplasia.
| Figure 2 |
 |
| Medtronic CGMS System Gold |
An MRI or CT of the pancreas is needed to rule out insulinoma if the patient is still symptomatic after the CGM and dietary changes. There is a case report of a 65-year-old woman who suffered repeated episodes of hypoglycemia after undergoing gastric bypass for continued weight gain. Her symptoms were misdiagnosed as dumping syndrome, and a CT and MRI, which located the tumor, were done only after months of dietary intervention. It is not certain that she had the insulinoma prior to her weight loss surgery, but it seems likely, as an OGTT prior to her operation revealed hypoglycemia. Resection of an insulin-secreting tumor can be curative. In this case, after surgical removal of the insulinoma she became symptom-free and remained so going on two years.9
| Figure 3 |
 |
| Patient wearing Medtronic CGMS |
Dietary Treatment
Diet should always be addressed first. Often patients will be able to
recognize some of the foods that cause them difficulty on their own.
Recommendations are to eat a high-fiber diet of three meals plus 1 to 3
snacks daily, to avoid simple sugars (such as juice, soda, and candy),
and to include protein with most of the meals. Protein and fat slow
down carbohydrate digestion and allow blood sugar to remain more
stable. Soluble fibers, such as pectin, guar, and hemicellulose, act by
forming a gel in the intestine, delaying gastric emptying and
prolonging transit time. Dietary recommendations to prevent reactive
hypoglycemia are summarized in Table 1. Hypoglycemic attacks are
treated with pretzels, whole grain cereal, or plain graham crackers. It
may take 3 to 6 weeks for the diet to take effect, but often dietary
changes alone can decrease the incidence and severity of symptoms.
Medical Treatment
A handful of medications have been utilized to treat this condition.
Unfortunately there is a scarcity of information available on use of
medications for hypoglycemic patients who have undergone weight loss
surgery. Medications called a-glucosidase inhibitors, such as acarbose
and miglitol, work by decreasing the absorption of carbohydrates from
the intestine by inhibiting the a-glucosidase enzyme. This results in a
slower and smaller rise in blood sugar. A 78-year-old man experienced
unexplained loss of consciousness (LOC) associated with meals seven
years after partial gastrectomy due to gastric cancer. After OGTT, his
LOC was blamed on late dumping syndrome and he was successfully treated
with acarbose. A second study describes six post-gastrectomy patients
treated with a-glucosidase inhibitors. The medication improved
hypoglycemic symptoms in all patients, but side effects of flatulence
and meteorism were problematic for one patient whose dose needed to be
lowered.10,11
Diazoxide, somatostatin, and prednisolone are other medications that have been used to treat late dumping. Steroid treatment was successful in one case report of a patient who was suffering from post-prandial hypoglycemia after undergoing total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for gastric cancer. After being found unconscious, this 51-year-old woman was treated unsuccessfully with both acarbose and diazoxide before successful treatment with prednisolone. She was on the medication for three years until she was successfully weaned. She has remained asymptomatic and off of steroids going on six years.12
Surgical Treatment
There is a role for surgery in cases of nesidioblastosis and
insulinoma.6,13 The latter is considered curative, while the former has
been shown to be helpful in alleviating hypoglycemia. Selective
arterial calcium injections are used to identify areas of hyperplasia.
This allows for guided resection of affected areas. However, there is
controversy over how much pancreas needs to be removed, due to reports
of symptoms returning after subtotal pancreatectomy. It is possible
that total pancreatectomy will be necessary in some cases. It should be
noted that even reversal of gastric bypass may be an ineffective
treatment for this disorder.6,13
Conclusion
The incidence of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia following weight loss
surgery appears to be low, but since increasing numbers of weight loss
operations are being performed around the world, we must be on the
forefront when it comes to recognizing and treating the side effects of
these life-saving operations. The exact etiology of this troublesome
condition has yet to be agreed upon. More research needs to be done to
clarify the causes and most effective treatment strategies for this
problematic disorder.
Bariatric Times - ISSN: 1044-7946 - Volume 3 - Issue 9 - December 2006 - Pages: 1 - 12
Weight - 154 lbs. Thank you Protein Ice Cream. (Heh. Could be? It upped my protein from whatever to 75-100 grams a day)
I completely admit to swiping this from The Pioneer Woman website. There's like two thousand comments on this one post - so it must be quite the interesting. Discuss:
How similar is your life now to how you imagined it ten years ago? Twenty years ago? Are you exactly where you imagined you’d be? Or are you constantly asking yourself, “How did I get here?” Do you mourn the unrealized plans in your life? Or are you happy no matter what your circumstances?
Twenty years ago? I am a little too young to be wondering how I might have imagined life when I was nine years old. I don't think I ever thought of myself as a parent to half of a Scout Troop at any point though. I I probably knew that dancing was never going to be my full-time occupation, because I forgot my tights.
Ten years ago - I was nineteen. I was already engaged, and had not one, but nearly two babies. If you were to ask me then where I thought I might be in 2008 at age 29?
My answer would be very realistic, I would bet. Although, I didn't forsee having two additional children (yeah, what about that?!) but I definitely knew that any major plans for career "advancement," (joke) and college would probably sit on the back burner until I had either:
I saw myself getting the kids into school, getting myself established in college and getting a "REAL"
professional job. I figured by NOW, age 29, I would be well on my way in a career, and I would not be any part of a "SAHM."
Sure, a lot has happened, even if it feels like not a damn thing has happened either in the last ten years, because I never got a "job." I have had a bunch of jobs, part-time and a few full-time, but, only a few would have ever amounted to anything I could put on a resume.
I am still waiting for that. There really isn't much I can do at this point because I am stuck not being able to drive due to my seizures. (Didn't see those coming ten years ago, or five years ago either.) But, if even if that little issue were wiped out - it's still a lot of work (mostly money, it always comes down to the mighty dollar) to get where I want to be.
I think I need a re-do. I could re-assess. My goals have been pushed out further and further.
Where do I see myself at 35? Alive. I hope. That's the first goal. That's not sarcastic. I would like to live., as healthy as possible.
Beyond that - I want to have had completed a degree or professional certification. I want to begin this by January of 2009, but getting it arranged or physically getting to/from school is the issue. By 35, I want to be beyond (by years) done. I want to be working, preferably in biz for myself.
Family-wise, I hope that we are out of this house before we kill one another. That's it. Six humans cannot live in this much square footage.
This is my niece, 23 months, and new nephew. I think she likes the new baby. She bites Tristan, but she hugs the baby.
My sister in law wants another baby, but her blood pressure is out of control right now, it spiked when she was pregnant with her daughter (in the photo) and it hasn't come down. The baby fell asleep on her at the bridal shower, look:
Weight - 155 lbs.
Exercise -
Five miles, walking outside.
Walk from Obesity Event Registration Free for Children 12 and Under
The Walk from Obesity
is excited to announce that a new registration category has been added.
Family participation is strongly recommended and to encourage youth
involvement in our events, children who are 12-years-old and under may
register free and receive a free T-shirt.
To register online, visit www.walkfromobesity.com,
click on the "Join a Walk" link to locate your city. A paper
registration form is also available on the event page for those who
prefer to register offline.
(I'm having way too much fun over here with my protein. And, I have never gotten in so much.)
Minty Cookies + Cream Protein Ice Cream
Mix all ingredients, I use a blender. Into the ice-cream maker for 25 minutes. Add the cookie bits in the last five minutes. Scoop into a container for the freezer and let harden for an hour in the freezer.
Mr. MM is back to work. That means I am back to blogging if only because we are again stuck in my radius of where I am willing to walk to with four children in tow. That's not why I write, but it definitely gives me the time to do so. Every time Mr. MM is on vacation, we do not go on vacation, he applies for alternative employment, even if we are all too aware that the grass may not be greener, because it's probably brown and burnt to a crisp in this economy. (Really, that is what we do on vacation. Every single time. We have not been on a family vacation or otherwise aside from some camping *not.a.vacation.in.my.book* um, ever?)
He got several phone calls - and two or three offers - without even really properly interviewing. He does not realize that the grass truly is not greener, these other positions offered nearly one third to one HALF of his income, all of them.
"Well, you see, Mr. MM, we start all of our new prospects in this District Training program and in this program you will be started at such and such dollars for a billionty hours per week, and we think that is quite fair, are you ready to sign on?"
He may have had a jaw-drop moment a few times. I was surprised by his ability to turn the conversations around and tell the recruiters and HR peeps to stuff it in the nicest way possible.
I don't know what he expected from the kind of jobs he applied for, I know what he wants. He wants a job with equivalent pay to what he earns NOW with room for advancement in the near future - because he is stuck.
I know what we "need." We need another income. I am willing. I might call one of the recruiters. One job he phone-ter-viewed for? I'm totally appropriate for. The income I would earn with him - would be amazingly helpful. A-mazing. For him to earn that kind of money, no good, for me? It pays bills, many, fast.
That is, if I can get there, and you know, not tell them I have kids.
MM's Mint Chocolate Cookie Chip Protein Ice Cream
(Tip to Michelle because this is still all her fault.)
I put all of the ingredients in the blender for a few seconds, and whizz it together, and pour it all into the ice cream maker.
This is AMAZING.
Pre-WLS, Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip was my favorite ice cream. This made me think (fondly remembering) about it.
And hardly any sugar.
I just found this, I could do things with this - I mean - I just made Cookies + Cream into Mint Chocolate Chip?
Weight - 155 lbs.
Exercise -
Weight - 155 lbs.
-A couple bites protein ice cream (to taste it, I made another batch, a different recipe) + unsweetened soy cappuccino.
Rockstar Roasted Light (100 calories)
Bridal shower: Inside of a small chicken salad roll (three bites, mayonnaise makes me sick) green olives, frosting from one very small slice (of what I was told was "Paula Deen's" orange cake)
Peanut crunch bar (150 calories)
1/2 slice Domino's "Gotham" Pizza
Creamsicle Protein Ice Cream
Black Bean Chicken Soup
Exercise -
Four miles walking, outside. I got a cheap-o pedometer. Anybody tell me how many steps four miles is for you?
He smells of a baby. I sniffed his wee head today.
Tip to Eggface For the Protein Ice Cream Idea. (YOU, WOMAN. YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.)
I bought a cheap-o ice cream maker yesterday when I saw it on clearance.
"Oh! We could so do this! Kids! Look, we can make our OWN healthy ice cream."
I figure, even if we use it 10-20 times? I only paid $19.00 for it. I DO NOT BUY ICE CREAM, EVER. Not even the fake stuff. Ick. Sure, we always have popsicles, but, there is never ice cream in the house. But there is now. And, after tasting this? I bet you there will be for days and weeks to come. If I don't break this machine - it will be so worth it's $19.00 cost in just a few weeks of uses. :)
MM's Orange Creamsicle Protein Ice Cream!
I'll show you a photo tomorrow. I ate some at the soft-serve stage, and the rest is in the freezer hardening up for MY BREAKFAST.
Vanilla Soy Milk Nutrition
Calories 200
Total Carbohydrates 20g
Sugars 14
Protein 12
Unsweetened Soy Milk
160 calories
Carbs 8g
Sugars 2
Protein 14
Matrix Nutrition
Calories 440
Carbs 8g
Sugars 8g
Protein 92 grams
Totals
With Vanilla Soy Milk
640 calories
28 carbs
22 sugars
104 protein
With Unsweetened Soy Milk
600 calories
16 carbs
10 sugars
106 protein
Weight - I bit under 156 lbs. I guess. I didn't weigh.
Totals - 1,100 approximate calories
Exercise -
4 miles walking outdoors
