Stacie's Journey for Weight Loss and the 1/2 Marathon Jan 09!

[traceycooper]

Hi stacie - way to go on the shopping trip
hope the appt goes well tomorrow - i will be thinking of you

 

[toystoryduo]

Great job on the shopping trip, Stacie!

Sending your way for your doctor's appointment tomorrow.

 

[postesf]

Thanks for stopping in everyone and Welcome to my journals AmyK!

Just a quick update that I forced myself out of bed this morning and did my C25K W2D1. It took me 20 min to finally get out bed (I was secretly hoping it was raining outside...It was not, so out I went). Because I got a late start, I did not have time to stretch properly and now the back of my knee is aching. ugh.

I've decided to carve out 15 min twice a day, once mid-morn and the other mid-afternoon, at work to get some activity in. I will either do some of my Physical Therapy strength training exercises or some stretching. I've come to realize that stretching is an equally important party to any exercise routine. I plan calendar this as a meeting so it will pop up on my computer screen to remind me to get active!

This afternoon we have to meet David and Daneen (My BIL, SIL) at the airport and drive one of their cars home. Since we have to leave work a bit early to do this, I am hoping to make Step Class. The timing will be cutting it close so cross your fingers for me. Then I plan to aquacise as well. I will lots of activity today and that makes me feel good! The laundry is getting a little behind, but at least we have clean undies! lol!

I am off to my doc appt in just a few. I'll update when I return.

 

[postesf]

I'm back!!! So... the Doc appt. Hmmm, it was OK. I'm not loving the doctor. He was not very personal at all. He didn't listen well and he jumped on me about my weight. He asked how much I weighed when I was 16 and proceeded to tell me that I need to lose weight...duh. I know that. I told him "well, 188 is better than 206. I was there a few months ago." I understand this gatroinerologist is into nustrition and how it affects his area of study, but I didn't come to him for his opinions on my weight. I don't mean to be ugly, but geez. He asked what I do other than work and told him I try to excercise, that I have done 4, 5Ks and a 15K and I going to do a 1/2 Marathon in January. Do you know what he said??? He told me I should forget about it. I should not run it because I am too large and it is bad on my knees. I should go to this gym here and have them do a Heart rate/Oxgen test and work up to walking 15, 20...min. I told him had no plans to RUN the 1/2 Marathon but I was going break it up with walking and running. He said walking is fine, but I should not run. It made me MAD!!! I will do what I please. I have been to the Ortho and am going to Physical Therapy to take care of any knee issues I have. I am working towards to losing weight. I do not need this to be his focus. He told me not to eat so much and not snack and lay off the sweets. It was very frustation. He does not know my history. I felt like I had to fight to talk and even express my issues and how my sister has some of the same ones. He barely even looked at the other test results and turned his nose up to them. He said Blood test is the only accurate one, not the Stool test. Susan said I should pretty much expect that reaction to the test. You would have thought he would have been a little more open-minded though.

Regardless of his personality and lack of people skills, he ordered blood test for my thyroid, celiac, genetic to test for celiac, liver function and hmm...I think that's is. I think one of those will also check for vitamin deficiency (the liver?) I am also going next week for an endoscopy next Wednesday. I should hopefully have the results next week except for the Celiac test. It has to go to California and can take 10 days.

I don't care for this doctor at all, but as long as he can look at the blood work and tell his professional opinion regarding the gluten then that's all that matters in the end.

So...there you have it.

 

[kimwim8]

Oh Stacie. No patient deserves to be talked to like that. Don't let that guy get you down. You are absolutely right....188 IS better than 206. You are doing a GREAT job with your exercise and all-around healthy lifestyle. I can't believe he told you NOT to run. That gets me so mad. That choice is up to you, and only you. I really think I would have walked out.

But, I'm glad you kept a cooler head than I would've and you're getting some good testing done, which will lead to answers for you.

Also, GREAT job for getting out of bed and doing the c25k program, girl! YOU ROCK!! I agree with you on the stretching. It can be done at any point of the day...doesn't always have to be be right after running if it's not feasible.

Keep that chin up, girl. You're a major inspiration!

 

[AmyBeth68]

STACIE! I'm so sorry the doctor had terrible bedside manners. Makes me SOOOO angry. How can someone in the medical field have absolutely no empathy!?!

I know you are doing the right thing to follow up with him and get those blood tests. But once you do...I'd find a new GI. Not worth having a doc who isn't in your corner and doesn't listen to you!

Hang in there kiddo. You are doing a great job getting to the bottom of things with your health. Please try not to be discouraged!

 

[deekaypee]

I know I posted over in the Lean Meaner thread, but I just have to say again that your doctor makes me so Dr. Bruce Banner mad! I try to be a little Miss Ray of Sunshine here most of the time (unlike in my everyday life, go figure). But there's no real words for that guy, at least none that would get by the DIS censors. Drop him and you'll lose approx. 175-200 pounds of dead weight. That's my suggestion.

You should be so proud of what you've accomplished. You're running, you're challenging yourself and those around you, you're making changes in your diet and exercise program. You're adopting a healthier overall lifestyle. I mean, come on! RftC? The Minnie? Medals and AG awards? Aquacise? PT? Lost weight? Healthier PB & J? Gluten-free cookbooks? And just this morning you were talking about how you're going to make your workday more active, adding more stretching to your day. Plus Step Class.

This is all because of decisions you've made and have followed through on. This doctor? Psssh. Not worth my oxygen (so I'm glad I'm typing this).

Just one more thing: sometime people in authority try to assert their knowledge/power over you by tearing you down. It's a lot easier to do than, oh, say, earning your respect or helping you realize the best, healthiest you possible. Don't give him the power.

 

[keenercam]

Stacie -- Don't let anyone discourage you from doing something you are willing to work hard to accomplish. You know what works for you and you have a very sensible plan in place to work towards being ready for the 1/2 marathon. As for your weight, a person can be fit and be overweight. Dont' let anyone tell you differently. I am larger than almost every person in my office and only one of them can run further distances than me. Only one other can run a mile and he plays tennis too. That doctor needs an attitude adjustment. I am glad he ordered the tests for you and I'll reserve judgment on his professional abilities until we hear how he reads the results, but don't let him get you down. We know you can do ANYTHING!!!

 

[larry's girl]

Hi, sweetie. I'm sorry you had such a negative experience with the M.D. I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm not. You know my history and that it wasn't the traditional M.D.'s who found and started to help me correct my problems, so I won't go into all that. I will say that if he doesn't listen to you and you have to fight to talk to him, then you should probably consider firing him. After all, he works for you, not the other way around, and if he isn't going to listen to your concerns, then he won't do a good job for you. As far as the tests he ordered, I hope he is professional enough to look at them without having his judgment clouded by what he expects to see. Especially since this is a variant of celiac, and not the "normal" presentation of it, he won't find the classic signs for celiac that he was taught in medical school. If he isn't willing to consider that there might be something beyond the traditional approach, he may not give you the information you need to make informed decisions about your health. In fact, the weight issue is a part of this variant of celiac. Doesn't mean you can't do something about it, just means it is a lot harder than the average person to lose and keep weight off. If he doesn't get that, then nothing you do with regard to weight loss will ever seem like enough for him and he will just assume that you are eating too much junk and sweets, even when that's not true. I wouldn't have much confidence in his ability to be my doctor, but of course only you can make that call.

Don't let him discourage you - you are a warrier and you ROCK and don't let anybody tell you any different! Hope you have a good day! Love ya!

Susan

 

[postesf]

Thank everyone!!! You guys are the best! Stupid doctor!

So...here's how my night went last night.

So...In addition to my C25K yesterday morning, I also went to the gym (after meeting the IL's at the airport) and did a 30 min Step Class and 30 min aquacise class. Yay! I felt good, but tired after. I showered and went to straight to the meeting. Towards the end of the meeting, I started feeling really sick--nauseous. I thought it was because I was hungry and possibly dehydrated. As soon as it was over, I grabbed a hand full of Chex Mix to see if it would settle my stomach. Once I got home, I ate too many garlic knots and some lasagna. Initially I felt better, but it came back to visit me about mid-night. Lesson learned...Do not go from eating lunch at 1pm to eating dinner at 9pm. I still don't feel great today. I'm super tired and feeling pretty weak.

Tonight we're going to my mom and dad's for dinner (hmmm, I should call and let them know that.) due to Matt have doct's appts in Wilson. I'm bring my Pilates DVD for mom and I to do If I feel up to it.

Tomorrow I will C25K in the AM before work.

I am trying to be a good Yoda student and therefore I am trying to stop saying/typing the word try. In the words of Yoda "Do or do not, there is no try." I am actually trying to take these words to heart and to just DO my daily activity whatever may be scheduled for that day. If I try to do it, I can alway find excuses, I just need to do it--plain and simple.

Thanks again for all your support!!!
Stacie

 

[toystoryduo]

Stacie,

I'm sorry to hear about your doctor's appointment. It sounds like that doctor needs some lessons in bedside manners. Who does he think he is?!?!?! Maybe he needs a dose of his own medicine!

You have accomplished so much, Stacie and you know your body way better than the doctor does. Please don't let him discourage you from what you are trying to accomplish. You have a great plan in place for the 1/2 marathon and I know that you CAN do it!!!!

Great job on getting your workouts in!!! Keep up the good work!

 

[larry's girl]

Morning, sweetie.

Glad your Yoda mantra is working for you! I say whatever motivates you to get the exercise done is the right approach for you. Sounds like your days are as stressful as mine, so it's very inspiring to see you making it happen even when it's difficult.

I want to interject one thing here, and please don't get ticked at me:

Has it occurred to you that the reason you got sick might be WHAT you're eating instead of WHEN you're eating it? Garlic knots, lasagna and Chex Mix are not good choices if your body is rejecting gluten - in fact, they are like poison. I know you haven't started the gluten free diet yet, but I am wondering if this is your body's way of crying out for help. Food for thought, anyway.

I hope you are feeling better today and that you have a good one. Love you!

Susan

 

[postesf]

Hello. I am feeling better today.

Susan...I thought about the "what" part of what I was eating, but I had it the night before with no ill effects. I do think it was the fact that I hadn't eaten in 8 hours and then I just gobbled it down. I think I was dehydrated too. I plan to go Gluten-Free the week after next I think regardless of what this stupid doc says... I also had some very NASTY water at the gym between those two classes. One of the fountains was not working or something. One tasted horrible, so I switched over to the other and it was fine. I'm wondering if there was something wrong w/ the water there?

Oh, and Yoda didn't work for me this morning...

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Stacie
I'm sorry the Dr was a pain in the a*$e !!!
& i totally agree with what everyone else has said!!!
You have inspired me to get my act together,
i hope your stomach has settled now!!

 

[larry's girl]

Hiya, sunshine. Don't feel bad, Yoda doesn't work all the time!! Just keep going with it - one missed day won't derail you, 'cause you have too many races to do!

Hope your stomach is feeling better. I think you may be surprised at the difference in how you feel once you start and get used to doing the gluten-free thing. It's so amazing how much our diet affects everything else in our lives. Let me know if you hit any stumbling blocks - maybe I can help!

Hope you have a great weekend! Love ya lots!

Susan

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Stacie
hope your having a great weekend

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Stacie,

Man, I read about that dumb doctor and I want to go slap the guy silly! I agree, lose the jerk, there are other doctors. And this is exactly why overweight women don't go to the doctor, we all have one of those medical morons in our past that made us feel very much worse than we already did. And then they wonder why we don't go? Just makes me madder than heck. In fact, that is why my mom didn't go to the doctor very often, she had gotten balled out by a medical moron and just got very upset at the thought of another similar encounter. Again, it makes me mad!

I think you are doing great, keep up what you are doing, you haven't lost 25 pounds without some amount of intelligence and dedication. Do what you feel is right with the 1/2 marathon. I think you'll do great!

 

[momof2minnies]

Hi Stacie,
Yup sounds like a jerk of an MD! But maybe some good can come from this.Use this as a motivator to do what you know you can and prove him wrong.

Be proud of the progress you have made so far.We all know this is not easy.

Have a great day,
Linda

 

[AmyBeth68]

Stacie...miss ya' girl...hope all is well in your world. I'm still on vaca but thought I'd pop in and check up on everyone. Have a great holiday weekend!

 

[postesf]

Hi guys...quick update.

I had the endoscopy done yesterday. He found a few polops in my intestines and removed those for biopsy. Nothing serious I think... He said my intestines look fine which leads him to believe I do not have Celiac. We're still waiting on some of the blood work to come back. I have to go back to the office in two weeks to discuss the biopsy and the rest of the results.

All for now!
Stacie