Umpa, Joey is doing great!  He just returned home from his vacation with a friend and his family... Are you ready?  They eat FTS!  I cracked up when he came home and said that his friends mom had made a few of the things that I have made, and when he asked she said that she has been eating no carb and no sugar for a few months.  Joey told her about us, and she was excited to hear all about it.

He and I are back in full swing, and although our loss is not as fast as the last time, we are NOT giving up and we are working out at the gym.  School starts two weeks from today, I think Joe is a little worried about the lunch, but I told him "I got this"  Now I have to get it! 

Talk to you soon, and I'm sorry I responded a little late to this challenge. 

Mary

Thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes.  It's going to be a up hill battle with my two oldest kids, but we are going to do this, and if they don't like it... well I already told them they both have jobs and are welcome to eat out! 

Turkey rolls and sf jello are a great idea!  I'm running out in a while, and I think I will stop at my house and grab some for the office.  I'm not going to back down this time, no matter what!

Mare

I know I have not been around too often lately, My back and leg were so bad, that I really took a break from life and had to deal with the problem.  As I had said before, Prednisone blew me up like a blow fish and made me gain 6 pounds!  I am all better now, lots of PT and back to the gym.  So what's my complaint?  I started taking vitamins and a new Thyroid (ENERGY) pill.  Well guess what.... I'm 10 pounds heavier!  Have been doing my FTS program all along, figured the Prednisone weight would fall away soon enough, and then BAM I'm even heavier. 

So I looked on line this morning, and found that some people really do gain weight on vitamins.  So.... I'm going to stop taking them and see what happens.  I have to admit, I really didn't have any more energy than before, and I didn't feel any different.  I know that Sherri had lost weight on her Centrum, but go figure.... I gain! 

Oh by the way... Joey is going to the PROM tonight!  You can not imagine how proud I am of him:)

Well have a great Friday, and let me know if I'm the only one with the weight gain while trying to do the right thing.

Mary

Thanks Umpa

Hi guys,

Sorry I've been off for a week or two, as you know I have sciatica and lower back problems.  My PCP told me to take Advil for the pain and then I would do PT.  Ok that was fine, except that I didn't see her for 2 months after she told me to take Advil.   So guess what happens to Mary when she take too much Advil?  Yeah she blows up with Edema!  Joey informed me that my legs felt like PUDDING IN A BALLOON!  Thank God I love him!

So I went back to the Doc. and she told me No more Advil (duh) and she put me on Prednisone.  Oh joy now I'm even bigger!!!  OMG HELP ME.  I don't know what to do.  I have to take it for 5 more days and I'm not aloud to take any pain medicine at all.  Okay I can deal with that, but I'm not sure what to do about all this extra stuff on my body.  I don't know if it is water, or fat or both.  Oh and I'm not a very a nice person either (in case you have not noticed)

I am so sad, because I was doing so well, I had even lost two more pounds.  You can't imagine how I felt when I got on that scale and it was 10 pounds more that it was two weeks ago.  I just wanted to cry!  And the Doc was just like oh well you better cut back on the sweets.  Really?  I have not had Sugar in months!  I didn't even bother telling her, because she acted as though I have always been like this, and oh well... lets see what happens with the Medropack.

So... I guess I needed to vent, and to ask if anybody had any ideas as to what I can do to get rid of this (Water)

I love you guys, and I'm sorry for being a grump.  I'm just so upset, and the worst part is that I didn't do anything to get this way.

Thanks for listening.

Mary 

Hi Nana, and welcome to our wonderful family!  Look through the forum and enjoy reading as much as you can.

Look through the recipe forum and learn whats cooking.

Good luck.

Mary

Hi guys.
I just made these crackers. Half way through measuring out the sunflower seeds I realized I was out. I used about 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds and used cheddar cheese.
I figured I would use up my pumpkin seeds do after spreading the mixture out, I covered it with the remainder of my seeds. About 15.
Cooked for about 40 minutes.
I have to either hide them or go to the store very soon, because these crackers are the best!

Good morning all,

Got on the scale this morning, and after only being back on FTS for less than a week, I am back on track and losing again!  It felt so good, my oldest son was getting ready to leave for school and I keep my scale in the kitchen (kind of a way to make you think before eating too much) he looked down at the numbers and gave me a said with a big smile on his face. "Nicely done Mamma"  I pushed the scale under the chair and proceeded to dance around the kitchen.

It really works!  You just have to be strong enough to fight those cravings and know that you can still eat and enjoy your food.  It's a matter of paying attention and wanting to be the better you.  I'm back on track. 

Thank you Doug and Umpa for the books, the website and the family you have created through this forum.

I Love You!

Mary