MJ August starters #4

[Wingingit11]

New thread as #3 full and to mark my disastrous crashing off plan today so hoping to be reinspired !

Solidarity @AnnieMcFanny . I have a rectocele too which is ok ish after seeing a pelvic physiotherapist for a while but I really really don't want this constipation to continue and aggravate it further.

I've just bought some dried figs, lactulose and Movicol. I tried a couple of squares of dark chocolate too as chocolate usually triggers my IBS-D. Again, did nothing.

FFS! The emoji was supposed to be a flower, not a bar of chocolate @AnnieMcFanny

I'm a bit conflicted now. Finally had a Voy coaching call and it was really helpful. Still not sure I can justify an extra £80 a month for some thought-provoking WhatsApps. Not when there are so many of you here doing the same!

I thought this would be helpful to share as it came up in my procrastination time this morning:

https://www.benendenhospital.org.uk/health-news/diagnostic-tests/cortisol-levels/

I'm chronically stressed (thanks, life, for all your curve balls!) but hadn't stopped to think about the impact it was having. On top of the cravings and bad sleep I've been experiencing a lot of the other symptoms including weight gain around the face and abdomen, and also slow healing. I've had a niggly injury for months and it's magically healed since starting MJ. Managing stress and cortisol levels is definitely something I'm going to look into more to help make current changes stick.

Hi @Timetochange24 how in particular was the coaching session with Voy useful? I've just had to postpone mine, so I'd be interested to hear a bit more about how you found it - if you don't mind sharing a bit more.

I've had a ginormous rectocele repair so you both have my sympathy @AuntieDote and @poppym12 . I had it done in 2012 and it has improved matters but I'm still not as I was pre-children.

Clean the pen as normal.
Poke your insulin needle into the red bit and up into the pen.
Slowly draw out as much of the fluid as you can!
Prime your insulin needle as you did with the mj pen before to get rid of any air bubbles.
Make sure to note how much you got out so you can calculate your bonus dose amount, if that is importatnt to you, it was to me!
Then instead of holding the pen needle straight on at 90 degrees to your skin, and sticking it straight in, hold it at a bit of an angle, a slant, of about 45 degrees, then slowly inject yourself.

I did mine yesterday and got 0.78mls out which is 3.25mg. I have never used an insulin needle before, and can honestly say the whole thing was really easy and not at all uncomfortable.

You will be fine😊

@MargoLivebetter we didn't talk about actual weightloss at all, it was more focused on what I thought were the barriers to it happening and looking at some of the detail around that, then agreeing some actions that I'm going to try this week. It's hard to summarise but I felt I'd covered a lot of ground in 20 minutes.

I was worried that she'd just say "we all have busy lives and stresses, just move past that and move more" (recent experience from a PT session!) Or make me commit to setting a gym schedule that doesn't work with my family setup.

Thanks @Timetochange24 that does actually sound useful.

Yes too much stress can be terribly damaging to the body. I noticed mine mainly in my jaw and face and make a conscious effort to relax my jaw. I also do somatic exercises to relax my pelvis, and I find medication makes me feel great.

The problem is, of course, sticking too it on a regular basis. Which is why I hope Mj will be successful. By the time the weight is off the good eating habits will be second nature.

NSV

A neighbour said to me I've lost weight.

First one

She walks behind me to school and said she's noticed my bum is smaller

And face is slimmer

Happy to take that as a compliment

Finally someone has noticed

Have lost 2 stone - 1.1 dieting and .13 mj

Sympathy for those with rectocele.💐

i don’t get the impression some of you are having enough fibre. Guys, take or leave this, I don’t mean to patronise. Constipation aids have their own problems and should be used sparingly and as a last resort. Check your veg/fruit intake first. Remember with our slowed digestion it will take a while to see the effect, but if you have sufficient fibre each day your system will thank you. You’ll have the added value of vitamins and minerals too. It is also setting up healthy and sustainable eating habits. Again, please don’t feel patronised, offended or criticised. I’m just offering an opinion.

High cortisol for me too. I used to go to bed really late, snack late, grind my teeth when asleep. I see a marked change in appearance already! I take a book up to bed quite early and feel so different.

Can anyone recommend a good psyllium husk supplement, every time I look on Amazon I am overwhelmed with choice. I have been thinking about the Boots one because it's a well known brand but it's quite expensive.

By medication I actually meant meditation!

Hi there. New to mumsnet and can't seem to do the placemarking on my mobile. Any tips please - already asked Google but what it said didn't work!

I had to into town today and felt pretty good in my size down jeans and bounced along. But saw my reflection in profile and felt old and fat. Still so far to go, sigh.

Ah, commiserations @FlappingMadly, I feel the same. I'm trying to spend more time being pleased with what I've lost so far rather than stressing about how much more there is to go, which is what I usually do, but it's hard!

I have my own personal version of the overweight/obese/severely obese classification. Mine is:

• over 14 stone (where I was at the start of MJ and I am very short) - you're not even human! you can't go out! you've turned into a monster! (note: I have been at least two stone more than this in the past, but I gave up weighing as it was too upsetting. More than this just became 'here there be dragons' territory)
• over 13 stone (currently) - you're revolting and shameful!
• over 12 stone - you're mighty fat! But like a normal person could be fat
• over 11 stone - you're pretty fat but can look ok and other people treat you like you're normal
• over 10 stone - you're pretty normal! People may not realise you're secretly fat!
• over 9 stone - hey, you're no waif, but stay away from the bikinis and you'll be fine
• over 8 stone - you're in your 30s again, rejoice!

It strikes me that it would be helpful if I could replace all these mental labels with somewhat more positive ones, as I don't apply them to anyone else no matter what they weigh! It's easier to dwell on how far you have to go if you see even lower weights as being a problem. I'm certainly not going to get to my lowest weight, so I must find a bit more to celebrate in the higher ones :)

Could anyone that isn't struggling with constipation give me an idea of the foods you are eating? At meal times, not supplements or prunes.

Thank you!

@Pinkjenny fruit and veg is the key

So breakie I will have maybe toast /cereal with grapes and apple

Lunch salad or Sarnie and fruit

Tea pasta and veg

Snacks trying to be fruit. Sometimes protein bar

That's not dissimilar to what I'm eating. Just can't get things going! This is going to be the third week in a row I'm resorting to a laxative.

Going to try ryvita for lunch tomorrow!

@Pinkjenny
breakfast: with protein powder and fruit, such as half a mango, half a banana, handful of berries. Or overnight oats with a grated apple, walnuts, vanilla and yogurt,
Lunch: roasted veg with tikka paste. On flatbread with tzatziki. Or stir fried veg with whole grain noodles. Or an omelette with kale , mushrooms, tomato and broccoli on the side.
Dinner: bolognaise which is beef cooked with celery, carrot, courgette, aubergine, sweet peppers. Last night with spaghetti. Tonight as a shepherds pie with a mash of 1 potato skin on, big sweet potato, 2 small turnips, 1 parsnip.

Had my bonus dose of 3.25mg yesterday.
Glad I didnt jump straight up to 5mg as for the first time, I have had mild nausea today. I popped cyclizine and that has taken the edge of. Still a bit burpy and hiccupy, just the same as on 2.5mg.
Appetite supression still good and food noise non existent.
Planning to take 4mg from my 5mg pen next Monday, then the full 5mg the week after.

@Pinkjenny I don't eat loads of fruit and veg. I just about hit my 5 portions a day. I don't have constipation, which I largely attribute to good fortune. We all seem to react a bit differently to this thing. I have developed acid reflux instead, which is a whole new thing for me.

Today for lunch I had 2 eggs with soldiers of roasted asparagus and broccoli stems. It was really nice.
Sometimes a few sushi rolls with kimchi.
Hope that gives some ideas!