New Here!

May 23, 2001

Hello . Welcome to the club. I was

relieved like you to know that I wasn't alone. What you

said about the blank look you get from people when you

try to explain what you're experiencing is true for

me, too, and very frustrating. I've beaten myself up

for a long time for not having the energy that most

other people seem to have. I was hyperthyroid in my

early twenties when I had my first two children. I

didn't know it at the time, though. I lost 60 pounds in

6 months and I wasn't dieting or anything. I was

supermom...doing it all. It was emotionally exhausting, but

physically, I felt energetic and fine...until I started

having heart palpitations very badly. That's when I saw

my doctor. He found nothing wrong with me. I thought

I'd done everything I was supposed to. I had blood

work done and what is generally thought of as a

" thorough " physical exam (which I now think is a joke), but

nothing was found wrong with me. I started gaining weight

quickly. I became weak, dizzy a lot, and extremely

sluggish. I have hypoglycemic symptoms and nearly fainted

several times during my last pregnancy 3 years ago. I

have fainted twice at home in the past two years, both

times needing paramedics and being taken to ER via

ambulance once. I agree with you that this hypothyroidism

stuff is taken way too lightly. I think it's the entire

endocrine system that the medical profession really doesn't

know very much about, even though they try to pretend

they do. I think it's very sensitive, varies greatly

from person to person, and is difficult to understand

and to manage when things go wrong. I don't think I

have a case of " isolated " hypothyroidism. My

hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's. It's an autoimmune disease with

no known cause or cure. I also think that I may have

Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, so I've found yet another new

doctor, with the hopes that she will stick with me and

remain open-minded as we sort out my symptoms and work

on managing them. I want to live an active life. I

understand what you mean about how hard it is to take care

of your two-year-old when you have so little energy.

I'm in the same boat. I feel terrible that I had so

much energy for my older two, but so little for my

youngest child. Guilt is a big problem for me with this

disease. I hate how much it slows me down. I feel so out

of control and it drives me crazy! I think it's

every bit as important to have emotional support when

dealing with a health problem such as this as it is to

have good medical care. Together, we'll keep

looking for answers, and we'll learn how to survive and

hopefully even to thrive! Tammie

May 23, 2001

Like I said it is just so relieving to know that

we are not alone in this fight. Feel free to message

me or email me if you ever just need to talk...or

cry. This goes for everyone!!! Love and Hugs

**

June 17, 2001

Hi a, welcome to the list. You will find loads of information

here. There are a few of us from Ontario on this list, as well as some

out west. Your son can easily go to daycare and school (if you aren't

homeschooling) without being vaccinated. Most people here are under the

mistaken belief that it is a requirement.

Kathy in Whitby

: Hi my name is a, my husband is and our

: unvaccinated baby is Elijah (5 months on Monday). We

: live in Ontario, Canada where I'm a SAHM and

: is a service manager at an automotive repair shop. We

: had always intended to vaccinate our children but I

: research EVERYTHING I do and my research led me to

: some scary stuff I hadn't known. I always thought the

: doctors wanted what was best for the babies but now I

: feel differently. Elijah is completely unvaccinated

: and will remain so. We are keeping him healthy

: through regular chiropractic care, making our own

: organic baby food (he isn't on solids yet) and

: nutritional supplements (when he's older).

: Unfortunately I couldn't breastfeed due to health

: problems but he's doing great. He's never been sick!

: If he does fall ill we'll turn to homeopathic medicine

: before going with conventional medicine. Anyways

: that's my intro. Looking forward to being informed!

:

: __________________________________________________

:

January 26, 2002

Hi Colleen, good to meet you as I am new to this as well. My name is Esther

and I'm retired , got bored as I can not sit and watch TV. My daughter and I

started making soap and going to craft show. I love it. I always stayed home

with my kids also, they grow up much to fast. I have 2 sons and 2 daughters

and 7 grandchildren. What do you do with your business at home, good luck and

have a great day Esther

June 29, 2002

Welcome to our group...

I am also new to this BLF thing...so I better leave it to the experts

to adivce you on this...We are here to motivate and help each other

to reach our goals.

Good Luck

Geri

> hi! im new here, have started challenges 2 times before but fell

off

> shortly after.. im motivated now! im going to actually take

> pictures, and take measurements.. i dont think i even wieghed the

> first two times i started. im pretty familiar with the program, but

> was wondering.. im a waitress, and there are days when i work from

4

> to 11:30ish at nite.. im on my feet the whole time and dont have

> time to eat anything.. i was just wondering if i MUST eat during

> those hours??? and if so, what?!?! another question i have is for

> college.. i am leaving in late august, and will be on about week

7..

> anyone else in college doing BFL?? what kind of foods that are

> available in the cafeteria can i eat?!?! lol, well i am starting on

> monday, taking pics and measurements tommorow!! =) wish me luck !!

> Love Laurs =)

June 29, 2002

You may not have time to sit down and eat a meal with a knife and fork, but you

do need to eat every 2-3 hours. I work from 3pm to 11:30 and I have 3 meals

during that time. Here's some stuff you can eat while walking or standing:

shakes

bars

string cheese

turkey jerky

tuna pouches

hard boiled eggs

Gogurt (yogurt in a tube)

dried apricots

soy nuts

wrap sandwich (in a whole wheat tortilla)

Get an insulated lunch bag and one of those blue ice things. Bring what you need

and keep it nearby. Grab a few bites whenever you get a chance. It may take you

an hour to eat half a sandwich, but at least you're eating, and the frequent

meals are critical to this plan working. I usually have a protein shake or a

Myoplex around 4:00, a semi-sit-down meal on my break at 6:30, and a bar at

about 9:30. Be sure to keep a bottle of water nearby too.

I've seen hair dressers, flight attendants, emergency room doctors, and all

kinds of people with tricky no-lunch-break type jobs pull this off. It's just a

matter of planning ahead of time and being creative. Good luck with your

challenge. I'm sure you'll do great.

New here!

hi! im new here, have started challenges 2 times before but fell off

shortly after.. im motivated now! im going to actually take

pictures, and take measurements.. i dont think i even wieghed the

first two times i started. im pretty familiar with the program, but

was wondering.. im a waitress, and there are days when i work from 4

to 11:30ish at nite.. im on my feet the whole time and dont have

time to eat anything.. i was just wondering if i MUST eat during

those hours??? and if so, what?!?! another question i have is for

college.. i am leaving in late august, and will be on about week 7..

anyone else in college doing BFL?? what kind of foods that are

available in the cafeteria can i eat?!?! lol, well i am starting on

monday, taking pics and measurements tommorow!! =) wish me luck !!

Love Laurs =)

June 29, 2002

HI Lauri - I wanted to wish you good luck. I know you will be given lots of

advice by the wonderful women in this group so WELCOME!

Rita