SaraRiley's Journal, 09 Oct 23

Hi Sara, you were so kind to me, so I thought I would read your journals. You have lost a lot of weight this year and I admire your discipline. It's great that you gave up the soda pop. That extra sugar is just added calories and it's so bad for your gut health; well actually for your all over health. Sugar and high carbs are close to the worst things for us. And of course they are the things we want the most. And that includes me. I'm sorry your knees and back, etc. hurt you so much. I wonder if as you lose weight if it will help them to not hurt as much. About the cholesterol, may I mention to you if you decide to take any statin drug the doctor might give you, I've seen many people that have trouble with it. They seem to cause pain in the legs for many people and even do damage to the legs for a few people. My husband had terrible trouble with them since we think he had permanent muscle damage from them. I suggest you research about cholesterol before you take any drugs for it. Our brain needs cholesterol. Did you say yours was up 12 points? That doesn't sound like much to me. Personally, I would not take statins for any amount of high cholesterol. I'm sorry your mother-in-law broke her shoulder falling. That put stress on you visiting her in the hospital and then the nursing home. I think it is great you are trying to do intermittent fasting as much as you can. I try to go to 12 noon before I eat anything, and I rarely eat anything after dinner. I started nearly 5 years ago to help my brain and help me keep my weight under control. It's probably the best thing I do. Even though I weigh less, I still am probably as absorbed with what I eat as you are. I gained 3 sizes last winter and have yo-yo dieted all my life. I was never good at maintenance, but once did go without desserts for 6 years. Do you have a sewing machine? I take my pants (mainly but all my clothes) in down the side as I lose weight. I got hand-me-downs through the years from my sister-in-law, plus things from thrift stores. Not having money to spend I altered my kid's clothes then just continued to work on mine till it became my hobby and helped me focus on controlling my weight. My only sister started out at 5'2" but shrank, and weighed about 300. It makes life more difficult. She fell 2 years ago and never woke up. As I said I admire your diligence. You are a special person and I appreciate you.  

Oh, and I wanted to mention, that I'm sorry your husband has been ill. How is he doing? My husband has been in the hospital quite a few times with pneumonia. Your lack of sleep is a hard thing. I'm right there with you. I've been sleep-deprived for a long time. 

Sorry about your sleep.  

Snow White, Morticia Adams thank you ladies so much I hope you both have nothing but good blessings in this life, and snow yes I have noticed that my knee has not hurt as much since loosing weight but I have a torn meniscus and very bad osteoporosis in it, I have so much arthritis it kills me daily but my surgeon said loose 50-60lbs befthe would do surgery and at the time I was 374lbs I lost 21lbs took a year using the ozempic shot because I had prediabetes and I didn't change my eating habits and pop so since June 11th right at 4mo now I have lost almost 40lbs since Changing the way I eat, fasting and quit drinking pop. So hopefully after my surgery I will be able to walk/stand up longer than I do now which is about 5min unless I can lean on something like a shopping cart then I can walk at least 20-30min it's just my bad left knee that keeps me from doing so much but I am getting out of the house more and walking around more than I was thank God.. my husband is doing better but still his lungs have some infection in them hopefully it goes away soon our vacation starts on next Monday well we leave Tues but pick up the rental car on Monday. Mother in law is having a hard time and can't walk lost all her strength in legs and arms she's only 71and doctor said she has to go back to the nursing home because if not she will be bed bound before long but they are waiting for a bed to open up. Thank you for your help and support and encouragement I appreciate everyone's support and encouragement and I love my fs family. I will be praying for you snowhite and your hubby.  

Oh and about the starin they gave me it but I have not taken it yet and doubt I will I've heard some bad things about them but I think I can lower it on my own, and my back has been really awful for over 25yrs even when I was 180lbs it hurt so much so I have gotten used to it except for when I am starting my monthly cycle then I have bad back pain and it stops me from doing as much on top of the other back pain. But thank you so much for asking and for your support and encouragement 🙏🙏🙏...  

I meant to say statin not starin LoL...