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Messages - catznflwrz

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1
General Discussion / Reading past posts helps a lot!
« on: May 23, 2012, 01:25:27 PM »
Hello FTS family, I'm writing this because I just experienced a "Eureka" moment when I read something that I already know, but it had been put another way. Also, I found this info by just  perusing the web site and reading over many, many posts, new and old, in the "general discussion", "ask a question" and "posting meal plans". As any one who reads the web site often knows, I,  have had a major struggle getting the FTS plan to work for me. BUT through the help of the FTS family I keep tweaking and keep finding more and more things that I either have to start doing, stop doing, add (like more water) or change in some way from what I originally understood about FTS. In reading old posts what I finally understood was that our bodies will burn sugar alcohol's before they will burn any fat. That is the same info as  "eliminate all sugar alcohols from your diet". THE BIG DEAL though is that hearing the info the second way hit me in a much more effective way, as it will empower me to deal with sugar cravings better than just the simple direction of "eliminating sugar alcohols". For me to "get it" to know that if I eat the sugar substitute "treats" is giving my body fuel to feed on, instead of my body fat is HUGE. Because, I am inclined, in a weak moment, to have the treat, but hearing it differently as to the "why" of it makes such a difference for me. So, in the search to get your FTS plan to "work" for you, I highly recommend taking time, especially if your feeling down about your weight loss results, and read new and old posts, because you might find a "gem" that will help you in 1 or more ways. I'm waiting to announce that first weight loss breakthrough, but I am convinced it will come. catznflwz

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Meal Plans / Re: catznflwrz meal post
« on: May 23, 2012, 11:48:49 AM »
Hi Everyone, Andrea you are too funny! Yes, it is pre-sliced cheese, I'll pick up some new cheese from the deli. Thanks for the tip. Yes, I was hungry and did eat some more later in the evening. Again, I have to say that I am up til 1-3 AM most of the time, so if I eat dinner earlier like between 5-8 I will absolutely need something additional to eat by around 11 or midnight. I'm trying to make that late snack to be a mixed greens salad if I can't face any more protein in the form of meat, cheese or eggs. Although I would like to try making deviled eggs as they might be something that I could enjoy, especially if I have a sweet itch. I'll start pre-carb counting today as mouseissue suggested the other day. I'll post todays food later. As always, thanks for your help, catznflwrz

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Meal Plans / catznflwrz meal post
« on: May 21, 2012, 05:54:56 PM »
Hi All, thanks for the responses to my previous posts. Here is the last 24 hrs. and I am getting in  the 64 oz of water, so, that said, I won't be writing it in throughout the menu.
    Monday 5/21
Breakfast: 4 bacon slices, tea w/1 tbs cream, 2 drops zero

Lunch: hamburger pattie, 1 slice American cheese, 2 dill pickle "stackers" (thin slices of pickle)
afternoon snack: 6 raw almonds
Dinner: 4 oz chix breast, 3/4 cup yellow squash w/ butter, salt & pepper,  4 oz mixed salad greens ( package says 2 net carbs ) EVOO and red vinegar, decaf iced coffee 1 tbs cream and 3 drops zero  If I have a snack tonight I'll start tomorrows post with it. Thanks

4
General Discussion / Re: Food to cope...
« on: May 20, 2012, 06:08:15 PM »
Dear Amandacheryl, I am new to FTS too, but not so new that I haven't already experienced everything that you are going through...all of it, the new stuff your experiencing as you apply FTS concepts and the old...abuse. I am currently struggling with slow weight loss disappointment, facing giving up what (in a former post) I called the only pleasant thing in my life lately...food and extra issues that slow weight loss significantly in the form of not much or no exercises and medications that affect my metabolism. So I UNDERSTAND how you feel about many things. I've written plenty of "pity party" posts in the past 2 months as I've begun the fight to find my former (or better than that) self both physically and mentally. I HAVE NEVER FOUND BETTER HELP THAN FTS... everyone, and I mean everyone, will help you with advice and support. Remember, the first thing that must happen to begin to heal from ANY abuse you have suffered; forgiveness. Without it your abusers will continue to steal your happiness/success and will still be controlling you. I certainly am not judging that you haven't forgiven, I'm only saying this in case you haven't...because the lack of it will sabotage any other efforts to move on/change your self or your life. If you supply the "want to" FTS will help you succeed! Welcome, you are among friends here. There is no agenda other than successful weight loss and health. catznflwrz

5
Meal Plans / catznflwrz confused by numbers
« on: May 20, 2012, 05:14:35 PM »
Hi FTS Friends, Sorry I haven't been able to continue to post my meals after just posting one but, I began a 5 day, overnight stint, pinchhitting as petsitter, with no computer access. I just checked in today (Sun) on the responses to my Tues. meal post and boy was I surprised! I've been eating strawberries based on the carb count from Doug's sugar and carb count E book, which says strawberries are 2gs per 1/2 cup, which equaled 4 gs from my calculations, not 10, which is the number given in my meal critique...so what gives? I want the feed back and believe me I'm not being defensive here because I desperately want to loose weight. Also, I only used 1/3 can (28 oz can) crushed tomatoes, so that would be about 9 oz and a 8 oz can of Rotelli diced tomatoes with green chilies, mixed with 1 lb of hamburger. I don't believe that eating 1 cup of the total combination would have yielded a 10 g  carb count for the amount of tomatoes I ingested. Although, I see here that I need to pre measure all the "carby" things going into the recipe before combining them so I can get a more accurate count for the amount I end up eating, once everything is mixed together. I realize that you all figured the carb count when I didn't divulge the amounts (particularly of the tomatoes) that I used in my chili recipe. I didn't count the Worcestershire or the spices though, so I have to count the carbs for those. Also I was talking about the veggies in terms of "cooked amount" not raw, so I was off there also. I guess that means that I actually ate more than I thought. I really need a clarification on the berries as  they've been in our diet daily. As I'm typing I rechecked the E carb book, and sure enough it says 2g per 1/2 cup??? Normally, we eat simple meats ie: chix, beef etc with out combining them in a recipe like the chili. I'm glad this was what I first posted with though, because it brought out some important measuring details I needed to be made aware of. I'll continue to post meals when I return home this coming Tues. and hopefully I'll be drinking the min. of 64 oz of water as instructed. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PASSION AND THE GUIDENCE! I'm looking forward to the strawberry question. I'll be remeasuring the almonds too, catznflwrz

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Meal Plans / catznflwrz tues. meals
« on: May 16, 2012, 12:38:44 PM »
Hi FTS Friends, I hope this is the right place to post my meals. I'll start with yesterday Tues. 5/15/12
Breakfast: 8oz water, 3 bacon strips, 2 hot eng. breakfast tea w/2 drops zero and 1 tbsp heavy cream
I don't usually have a mid-AM snack because I try to start getting going on my water for the day
Lunch: grilled bone and skinless chix breast 2cups fresh spinach sauteed in EVOO with garlic powder and water
Snack: 1 oz almonds
Dinner:  1 cup beef only chili made w/ crushed tomatoes,cumin,garlic powder,yellow mustard, Worcestershire,and cilantro. Mixed greens salad w/ EVOO and red vinegar Italian spices. 1 cup sliced steamed yellow squash w/ butter, salt and pepper.
Snack: frozen "pop" make from 2 tbsp heavy cream, water 2 drops zero and later 1 cup sliced strawberries
   Note: I'm aiming for 64 oz of water a day sometimes I only get in 48 oz I have to stop drinking liquids by 6-7 PM as urinary retention is a side effect of narcotics that I take ie: you end up getting up countless (5-7) times per night having to pee because every time you go you only pee a little, go back to bed feeling relieved then wake up feeling you have to go again, only to pee a tiny bit again and so on. So, to avoid that from making my sleep worse than it is I don't drink past 6-7 PM.

7
General Discussion / Re: Medical Dr supports FTS
« on: May 15, 2012, 11:40:23 AM »
Thanks so much for your big E Hug Doug, Yes I can swim in the pool. I usually try to keep moving in the pool for at least 1/2 hr but I have an old shoulder injury that keeps me from doing a classic swimming stroke. I swim on my back and I "dog paddle" and I stay in the deep end and "run" instead of the classic "treading water" movement. Also, where do I post my menus for you to review? Thanks Doug and all the FTS Family, Catznfwrz

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General Discussion / Re: Medical Dr supports FTS
« on: May 14, 2012, 04:25:42 PM »
Hi Guys, Sorry I'm so late in responding to your questions. I don't sleep because I speed on the pain pills that I have to take to survive. I mentioned them in another post. Of course, if I didn't speed on them I wouldn't be able to have any life at all as the other reaction for most people is to be a zombie. I take 60 mgs of MS Contin at 7AM, 3 PM and 11 PM every day. I take Percocet 10/650 for breakthrough pain. I've been on these or a variation for 10 years now. I started at 125 at 44 yrs old when 1 back surgery turned into 5, then I remained bedridden for 23 mos and began menopause. It's been 10 years and I weigh 190. I've been exercising at a gym, or walks or the pool for the past 4 years. The first 2 years when I was bedridden I gained 40 lbs. Back then people were always saying that it was good because I was too skinny anyway. I went  from living an extremely active life running a horse boarding, lesson and show stable to this. I gained another 10 lbs when caring for my (then) blind and demented mother. This year I gained another 5 lbs when I got plantar faciitus and couldn't walk or swim for the past 6 mos. For the past 4 yrs I have actively tried to loose weight trying: vegetarianism, The Zone, Flat Belly Diet, Atkins and Weight Watchers. Every time I thought I had found "IT" and failed. In WW I had to give up my "extra 49" weekly pts in order to loose. That left me so hungry I decided that I could starve without spending money! I'm committed to FTS because I believe the science and the help from FTS is the first real help I've  ever gotten from anyone. Oh yeah, my Dr. put me on 1200 calories per day.....and I didn't loose. You are the first to mention that I might need to not use any sugar substitutes and I bought FTS zero. So far, as I've posted recently in two months of effort I've lost 0 lbs. I keep readjusting. I've used sleeping pills and Ambian had me eating at night with no memory of it the next day! I currently take Flexiril a muscle relaxant and it helps to get some sleep. I am never that tired because I don't do very much, but I know other people wheelchair bound etc can loose weight. I keep adding water, cutting sweetener use, quit eating OMMs but still nothing. I am truly miserable but the e mail I got from SarahC the other day helped. I'm willing to keep trying. The weight on my gut is very bad for my back and that's where most of it is. I was going to start posting my menus a few days ago but got burdened with a lot of computer work to help my husband with resume and job apps. I'll start posting today. Thanks for everything, Catznflwrz

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General Discussion / Medical Dr supports FTS
« on: May 11, 2012, 04:05:13 PM »
Hi FTS friends, I was watching the 700 Club a few days ago and they had a Dr. Hyman on the show. His book, The Sugar Solution, 100% supports FTS! I gave it a quick read at the book store and was happy to find he agrees with the LC lifestyle. His version is much stricter only suggesting lean proteins, LC veggies and water. He also stresses the use of NO SUGAR or SUGAR SUBSTITUTES ever! This book might be very handy when you need to show others that the FTS lifestyle is medically correct AND it might help to persuade other Dr's if they want a medical person to agree with Doug. I find it funny that this book is being talked about as "new" since Doug has been doing this for a while now! Thank you all for your advice and support in response to my last post. I must find a way to get through the long nights of not getting to sleep until 2 or 3 AM. So many hrs go by way past dinner that I am really hungry. By that time of day, I can't face any more meat, cheese or eggs. I used to eat berries at this time of day... but then I can't loose weight. I think I can give up sugar substitutes but I must find some way to ease through the long nights. At this point this is the, ( I think) the final battle for me to figure out before I can finally begin to loose some weight.  I haven't had time to post my meals yet as my hubby needed me to redo his resume just as I was saying I'd start posting so you all could help me. I will soon, but know that no matter what I'm still following FTS.Any thoughts for late nite snax besides celery? Catznflwrz

10
General Discussion / Re: Help! 2 months 0 lbs lost
« on: May 08, 2012, 02:03:46 PM »
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!! Thank you for the research Umpa, the advice, understanding and kind words from "THE TEAM" (Umpa,Andrea,TooSweet,SarahC,Maddysmom,and mouseissue-Tony). I have never had anyone other than my husband, be as patient and consistently supportive, as the FTS"Family". 1) I take MS Contin (oxycodone time released similar to Oxycontin) every 8 hrs. and use the Percocet for breakthrough pain ie: if I do much of anything. I used to take Oxycodone alone for breakthrough pain and prefer it over Percocet because I hate taking all the Tylenol that comes with Percocet. Interestingly, I've gained 25 more lbs since being switched from the plain Oxycodone to the Percocet,so I will talk to my Dr. about it. I've never seen research before that suggested that either of these drugs could cause weight gain. 2) I will make a concerted effort to stick to the basics of protein/LC veg and try to let go of the OMM so often. I get truly revolted by so much meat/cheese. I wonder if some of it is years of indoctrination that it is bad for you and that your diet should be largely veg/fruit/grains. I let go of "white food" and real sugar 3+ yrs ago and never lost a lb. I thought I'd kill the next person who told me how they lost 20 lbs and all that they did was either give up soda or "white food"! Nothing changed for me, ever. I've been eating "so called" healthy for yrs! I really did stick 100% to Weight Watchers, The Zone and The Flat Belly Diet (Jorge Cruise, very similar to FTS),of course, I was always using sugar substitutes, mostly Stevia. Until conversing with FTS I really thought I've been loosing my mind. FTS is the first and only info I ever heard about sugar substitutes blocking lb loss etc. 3) I will pre-plan my menus and post also so FTS can continue to help me whip this fat thing. I must admit that I'm having to keep getting over "pity parties" for myself as I have to face how each diet/lifestyle I try, doesn't turn out to be what I initially understood it to be. Not FTS at fault here, as clearly I have many unique complications going on. I promise I'm going to hold onto FTS like the life line that it is! I'll post later today. Thanks so much FTS family, Catznflwrz

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General Discussion / Re: ketones? & KY Derby day!
« on: May 07, 2012, 10:40:52 AM »
Hi Maddysmom, I was an equestrian my entire life until 5 back surgeries and subsequent bankruptcy took it all away. I rode H/J and was a Jr. Jumper champion throughout my junior years. I became a trainer/coach and ran a 20 stall boarding stable near Ft. Lauderdale for 20+ year. I switched to dressage in 1990 and rode a marvelous mare through 3d level when it all stopped when the surgery that was supposed to help me ruined me. We later invested in real estate and lost all. If I could at least loose the weight I've gained throughout all of this I'd feel so much better about everything. I just posted a "cry for help" again this AM as I'm not getting anywhere for 2 months now. I hope you find the nice pleasure/trail horse that you are looking for. I miss my "horsey" life something fierce. I went back to school to get educated in a job that was less physical but can't find employment even with help from vocational rehab. Gee, reading what I've written sounds so awful, and it is BUT there are many blessings in the past 10 years too and I certainly haven't missed any meals (I'm rolling my eyes) FTS has been the best hope I've felt in a long time. Thanks for your advice and encouragement. Catznflwrz

12
General Discussion / Help! 2 months 0 lbs lost
« on: May 07, 2012, 10:16:10 AM »
Please help FTS Friends! My tears are going to ruin my computer. It's been 2 long months since starting FTS and 0 weight loss! My clothes, measurement EVERYTHING still the same! I don't mean to be so dramatic but I am truly tearful and very sad and confused. I've faced not using sugar subs only FTS zero and gotten up to 64oz of water daily and I journal all. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME? I have to take 60 mgs of MS Contin 3xdaily and 2 or 4 Percocet 10/650 daily. I've been on this kind of pain meds for 10 yrs. while going through menopause etc. I haven't posted my menus because they've been consistant with all that I've read on the board. I'll start today and hope you can figure out what I am doing wrong. My husband has lo st 12-15 lbs with the food that I prepare for us! I was annoyed by his success but now I'm just devastated by my failure regardless. I've stayed off of the scale, measured and used ketone strips. How can they show "moderate" for 4 days and yet I am the same in every way? I started 2 months ago at 190 and that is where I am today. My clothes fit the same and every measurement is the same...how can this be. I feel so stupid and sad. I don't like eggs much and have been eating and almond flavored OMM flax every AM with 2 strips of bacon, lunch is either salad greens with salami or ham with olive oil/vinegar dressing or some meat (4 oz or so )  cole slaw (mayo,3 drops zero,vinegar,celery seed) I don't use whip cream or jello but sometimes eat the egg custard, OMM choc, or some cream cheese flavored by coconut oil and 2 drops zero. Under 20 carbs daily. Some days I'm so hungry I eat a second OMM flax. Dinner is always beef, chix or pork and spinach or collard green sauteed in OO or yellow squash in butter. I miss fruit terribly but have even cut out the straw/raspberries. Today so far: 2 hot teas with 1tbsp cream and 2 drop zero ech. 1/2 Josephs pita with mayo on 1 side, 2 strips bacon, .6oz lettuce and 1.6 oz tomato) 8oz water and 1 more 8oz now. Should I post my menu's here or where it says on the other part of the board? I am at the lowest I have ever been. I keep telling my self it's proven science so what is wrong? Thank you, I'll check the board later today and will post any more food. Thank you, I'm believing in all of you, Catznflwrz

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General Discussion / ketones? & KY Derby day!
« on: May 05, 2012, 03:03:08 PM »
Greetings FTS Friends, in my frustration of still seeing inconsistent weight loss results, mostly up and down, I started using ketone test strips to see in more detail, what is going on. I've found that with use of no sweeteners at all I'm staying in the strongly "moderate" zone. Without use of any sweeteners I drop back to "small" or less than moderate but more than 0. I'm playing with less and less carbs now. Any way, what does having ketones show up in your urine tell us exactly? Also, my husband is loosing weight consistently and I am not yet and when he tested he showed no ketones at all. We thought he'd be off the charts with ketones! Enjoying reading FTS posts today while digging on the Pre Derby racing on NBCSP and looking forward to The Kentucky Derby later today. Any other horsey folks in the FTS family? I don't usually follow racing but The Triple Crown and the coverage they give it, with all the back stories etc I really enjoy! Catznflwrz

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General Discussion / Re: Eating Cardboard
« on: May 05, 2012, 02:03:41 PM »
Hi There WaterLilly, Did I read this right..."with a big spoon(or some term like that) of coconut oil" in your coffee? Is it super good or what? Are you adding any other sweetener? I am struggling with getting the sweeteners out of my AM tea or coffee. Coffee with coconut oil sounds like it could be good. I've been trying to get all the "sweet" out of my diet becuz I don't seem to be able to loose at all with any sweetener present and AM time is not what it used to be...I'm thinking, coconut oil sounds great, isn't it supposed to be a very healthy thing to add to your diet? I think it has something to do with fighting dementia??? Keep up you good work, you've been inspiring me! Catznflwrz

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General Discussion / Cauliflower Pizza Crust is FANTASTIC!
« on: May 01, 2012, 04:01:57 PM »
My husband and I tried the Califlower Pizza Crust recipe this week. We were actually ready for disappointment, particularly having owned a real NY pizza pizzeria  and my husband is a NY Italian...It was SUPER! I'd recommend it to anyone...another example of how using the FTS recipes help us make this venture a lifestyle and not a diet. Thanx again Doug and Umpa, Catznflwrz

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