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Yay Mindy! I hear you on a lot of that... My knees are pretty weak and the first time we went skiing they wanted to call Ski Patrol to get me down- I was in that much pain. Of course- I'm a stubborn ass and that wasn't gonna fly! I made it down... But was laid up for the next 2 days.

The hardest part is the withdrawl. Yes- there's seriously a withdrawl period. After that- it's really much easier.

The best advice I can give you is don't buy any of that crap to begin with. There's no such thing as buying it for "once in a while" if you want to buy it "once in a while" go buy 1 serving and eat it out. Don't bring it home!

Read ingredient labels, if it has too many ingredients or weird names... don't buy it. I was buying the Publix brand fat free yogurts for a while but once I actually stopped and read the labels... All that fake sugar crap! Yuck! I stick with the greek yogurts now which have real sugar in the ingredients. Works much better for me.

I also dropped milk in lieu of almond milk. That was a good step for my body. I don't buy red meat anymore- instead I buy 90/10 or 96/4 ground turkey and use that as a meat. That and chicken. Veggies are delicious- and you can always dress them up with garlic and onion. The broil function on my oven gets so much use now, i'll cook a big pan of veggies and broil them off at the end to get that nice burn/char look.

Mindy:

I have MUCH of the same issues you are talking about. I have clubbed feet, as well, as spinal (spina bifida) and knee issues. I too, had my feet completely curled and facing up. My right foot was completely SIDEWAYS and had an extra set of toes on it. -.- I totally understand where you are coming from when the feet issue. Because of that, have a fused ankle, and one that has been partially fused. That being said, have you tried stationary bikes, or the squat machines. Those were recommended to me by my ortho, as well as my GP, because you are not putting a lot of pressure on your feet/knees (although the squat machine does some, because you are pushing the board back and forth). I have lost 7 pounds doing those two machines 4 times a week, ALONE.

I can't walk, literally, CAN'T because it tears grinds my bones in my ankles and knees. So unless I am walking because I have to go to school, or daily activies, I use machines that take the pressure off of my body.


A lot of people will recommend elipticals, and if you can handle it, go for it, but it does have the same amount of pressure as a treadmill/walking on your body, it just doesn't do the jerking movements that you get when walking or running. The eliptical is particularly bad for clubbed feet (even if they are corrected) because our feet don't bend the same way.

I will support you! and root for you! Everyone needs a support team, and some one who will hold them accountable. I've found several people on here that are good for that!


LIke Kristina, I too eat little to NO red meat. The only time I eat red meat is when my iron is extremely low, and I need an iron boost. Then I have a steak (maybe once a month). I don't LIKE red meat, anyways. lol.

If you are a pasta fan, and like chinese, most chinese markets have a ramen type noodle that is made from green beans, or green peas that have very few carbs and very low calories. I LOVE those things! They soak up the flavor of spices amazingly and when you toss them in with some veggies, it's a very satisfying meal!


ETA: I know you aren't being overly dramatic, because I am in the same boat as you, with the wheelchair situation. You CAN do this though, even if it is slow as snails!

PS: DId you know that Kristi Yamaguchi had a clubbed foot??? JUst a tidbit of info lol

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26nikita wrote:

arooroomom wrote:

Yay Mindy! I hear you on a lot of that... My knees are pretty weak and the first time we went skiing they wanted to call Ski Patrol to get me down- I was in that much pain. Of course- I'm a stubborn ass and that wasn't gonna fly! I made it down... But was laid up for the next 2 days.

I'm sorry you have to deal with something similiar. I HATE telling people I can't do something becuase of the pain. I always get a look. Most people look at me like I have a normal life and do not understand I have to take it slower than most. I think most people just see an overweight person being lazy.

I HATE that about people. They even go so far as to say "You only have a handicap placard because you are fat!" People DON'T understand, and honestly, it's not because they can't, it's because they don't want to!

It really comes down to ignoring what everyone else says, and doing what's best for YOU, and finding peopl who support that!

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26nikita wrote:

Tiffany, you made me cry and I do not cry! I have never known anyone else that has club feet and I HATE telling people that I have it. I feel like a freak because of it. I think it's because I don't know anyone else who has it and really it's just not talked about even in my family. My brother's dissability is far more severe and I feel silly talking about my issues when he has to deal with what he does. I haven't been to a podiatrist since they took the last of the braces off of me. Mainly becuase they scared me when they said they would have to fuse my joints together and back then I didn't have the pain as much. I wanted to forget that I had issues and just be normal. I love outdoor activities and it bothers me that I am so limited so I'm usually just in denial. Thank you for all the tips and I am a huge pasta lover so I will have to look into the green bean/peas noodles you mention. My biggest weakness is my ignorance of healthy. I know I gotta take it slow and that is hard as well. I mean, who doesn't want to see results instantly?

Yeah, I totally understand! I know so many others that have far worse disabilities, and it IS hard to expose yourself. I didn't have a choice about fusing. My feet were so severe that my joints were fused when I was 2, or I'd never be able to walk. I am 25, and was supposed to be in a wheelchair by the time I was 7. I'm still walking!

I'm not ashamed of who I am, or how much I weigh. I am 220 lbs. I'm supposed to be under 105 lbs. (I also have DD breasts, and had Fs when I was 16, and had a reduction) THat's NEVER going to happen. However, like you, the pain is so bad that I have been on oxicontin for about 3 months now, and it's not working anymore.

You AREN'T a freak, and just because some one else has something worse then you, it doesn't mean that what YOU deal with isn't hard. I don't understand a lot of times how people can say they are in pain and can't walk when they pull their back, or twist their knee, etc. because I deal with a level of pain daily that would cripple people.

DO you know what that makes us? It makes us STRONG! It makes us stronger than most people, because we are still fighting for our lives!

One baby step at a time! That was the advice given to me, and I will pay it forward. Those baby steps have helped me loose 7 pounds in alittle over a month, when everyone else just gave up helping me!

If you can survive braces, and surgery and pain, you can survive this too! It will be hard, and you will get angry, and hurt, and want to give up. BUT when that happens, come back here, and we will be here to root you on!

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Mindy,
Congrats on making the life change. I dont have the physical issues, but I know the lack of will power all too well. I grew up eating whatever I wanted and still graduated high school at 95lbs, Then life began and stress has not helped with the weight at all. I would love to have my weight stay about 135 but thats what I am working on now. I had my gall bladdar out last year in May and by November I had put on over 20lbs trying to figure out what I can eat. At my heaviest I hit 189 and that was huge for me. I am only 5'4" and my body was feeling the effects. I am down to 163 now and am happy with where it is going. I was down to 155 but has a slip up in the past few months when stress hit me hard. I have tried to make only healthy food. I love turger burgers and roasted veggies. My issues are that I crave carbs, potatoes and bread is my weakness and it definatley is a life style change. It can be done and gets easier each day. I do keep natural peanut butter in the house, and that helps when I have a craving for something. I just crab a tea spoon and have a scoop. It really does help.
For the cooking, I would start by getting skinless chicken and just cooking it in a pan and then saute' up some veggies. It is easy and a great start. I have tried to substitute veggies for potatoes..Not and easy thing. I could eat mashed potatoes and meatloaf and would be so happy. Just try and plan out your meals a few days at a time that will not make you think too far out. Make sure you get some healthy snack for those in between meals.
Good Luck and we are all here for support. You will be great at this.
Also would biking be a little easier on your body, but still give you the exercise?

Just a tip too! If you LOVE mashed potatoes, take HALF of a small potato, and 3 cups of caulflower. Boil it all together, and you then put in the butter/butter sub and a little salt. It's mashed taters, but with like 1/4 the cals. The half of potato adds the tater flavor, but you don't have all the calories and carbs!

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I love the idea of the cauliflower and mashed potatoes. What a great idea!!!
I usually do a cup of cheerios and yogurt for breakfast and light lunch and I never eat dinner past 6pm. I usually would snack way too late and that has made a big difference. I know that is really hard when friends want to go out for dinner they first want to meet at 7 or even 8 and thats way too late for me to eat. I will usually eat dinner early and then just have a light snack when we go out. They all understand now.

If you have health insurance check with them to see if they cover a nutritionist. When a person doesn't know what is or isn't healthy for them the nutritionist is priceless. As Kristina mentioned veggies are awesome, plus the great thing about them is that you can eat a whole boatload of most veggies and still be within the calorie count for the day. Just stay away from cream or gravy type sauces used with veggies.

Mindy, you don't have to spend 1-2 hours in the kitchen every night to eat healthy. I've found a bunch of recipes that are great and very quick and easy to make. I'll be happy to share them with you

I don't have anywhere near the problems that you and Tiff do, but I do understand where you guys are coming from. I have always been an athlete, and I just can't do what I used to anymore. The diet will make or break you when you can't exercise much, but I've been able to take off 20 lbs with very little exercise. It's all about what you eat and more importantly portion control. That's been my biggest issue, but once I figured it out I was golden.

Good luck!

libbybell74 wrote:

I know that is really hard when friends want to go out for dinner they first want to meet at 7 or even 8 and thats way too late for me to eat. I will usually eat dinner early and then just have a light snack when we go out. They all understand now.

Work is going to be hard becuase everyone likes to go out for lunch and treats are brought in constantly. I have told my closest friends at work so they can help support me. Plus I sit right next to them so they will know if I try to cheat!

Here4thePics wrote:

If you have health insurance check with them to see if they cover a nutritionist. When a person doesn't know what is or isn't healthy for them the nutritionist is priceless. As Kristina mentioned veggies are awesome, plus the great thing about them is that you can eat a whole boatload of most veggies and still be within the calorie count for the day. Just stay away from cream or gravy type sauces used with veggies.

I would never have thought to see if insurance would cover a nutritionist! Thank you for that! I had thought about taking a cooking class, but I want it to be a healthy cooking class. I'm not having luck finding one... I wish I loved veggies as much as you and Kristina but I really don't. I'm sure it's becuase I don't know how to properly season and cook them so I would love to hear some good veggie recipes.

blueeyedghost wrote:

Mindy, you don't have to spend 1-2 hours in the kitchen every night to eat healthy. I've found a bunch of recipes that are great and very quick and easy to make. I'll be happy to share them with you

I don't have anywhere near the problems that you and Tiff do, but I do understand where you guys are coming from. I have always been an athlete, and I just can't do what I used to anymore. The diet will make or break you when you can't exercise much, but I've been able to take off 20 lbs with very little exercise. It's all about what you eat and more importantly portion control. That's been my biggest issue, but once I figured it out I was golden.

Good luck!

I would love for any healthy recipe! I really am trying to stay away from processed, so any recipe that doesn't involve processed food would be great. Meredith, I have been following how you have been losing weight with your ankle issues so that has been very inspiring!

While my mom makes it totally better than I do... One of my big meals that I cook a whole bunch of and then eat throughout the week (I too have a lot of customers who bring in crap for us as well as there's a BK and Walgreens within 2 minutes walking from us!) is red quinoa with zucchini, yellow squash, and yellow bell pepper topped with basil. It's so delicious! I cook a whole bunch of the veggies in the oven and then the last 5-10 minutes broil them on the top shelf. A little bit of olive oil topped with fresh basil makes a super filling meal!

I also love asparagus and cook that on a pan in the oven and throw in garlic for the last 2-3 minutes or so. You just have to find seasonings you like. I LOVE garlic and onion so I put that on everything!

My favorite snack food to keep me from eating is peanuts, they are quite high in fiber so a small 1.5-2 oz. packet are very satisfying and stay with you for a long time.

I had to google quinoa. I don't know what that is. Found this recipe when I googled. It looks good!
http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/quinoa-burgers.php

Len, I bought cinnamon almonds to take for work as a snack!

Mindy and Tiff, wow. You girls made me tear up. You are two tough young ladies! Not only was I born premature and weighed TWO pounds, but I was also born with both of my feet completely turned inward. I had to wear leg braces until I was 2 years old in order to fix it. I still kind of stand with my feet turned in, but it's not noticeable at all.

It's real hard to eat healthy especially if you don't know where to begin. My advice:

- If you're going to eat carbs make sure it's whole wheat/brown (brown rice, wheat pasta, wheat bread, etc.)

- Like the girls already said...stay away from red meat. I stick to chicken, tilapia, salmon, ground turkey, etc. If I eat bacon it's Jeannie O, Extra Lean turkey bacon. I make it in the microwave. Yum.

- Dress up veggies. I don't like them either, but haven learned to! For example, I can ONLY eat asparagus if i grill it in a little bit of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Top that with a little of parmsean cheese and it's actually really good. You can do this in the oven also.

- Always carry almonds, a fruit, granola, etc with you in case you need to pick on something.

- Try to eat small meals every 3 hours or so to speed up your metabolism.

I also have recipes I can send you, which are easy to make!

MelissaI wrote:

- Try to eat small meals every 3 hours or so to speed up your metabolism.

This! This works so well for me. Usually I eat around 9, 12-1, 3:30-4, and either after work/run or around 6-7pm. If I exercise after work I get in some quick easily digestible carbs like an apple, toast and banana, or popcorn. It helps me to take it easy on portion sizes too because I can tell myself i'll be eating in 3 hours again, calm down! lol

Also, don't hate carbs! They are in a lot of things (everything, honestly) but your body NEEDS them. I eat a lot of toast, cereal, oatmeal, wraps ect. ect. (whole grain)

Keeping a food diary (such as myfitnesspal) has helped me so much. Honestly you really don't quite understand just how MUCH you're eating until you log it...

arooroomom wrote:

Keeping a food diary (such as myfitnesspal) has helped me so much. Honestly you really don't quite understand just how MUCH you're eating until you log it...

I use myfitnesspal religiously, and they are right, it helps more than I could stress. I don't eat ALOT, but I used to (and still sometimes do, I had biscuts and gravy for breakfast) eat really unhealthy things.

I will say this though, I know it was meantioned, and you should always eat them OUT of the house, that way you don't consume them again and again, but don't deprive yourself. If you want ice cream, eat it. If you want a cookie, have ONE cookie, etc. Because in all honesty, if you don't eat them, you will be MISERABLE, and will never stick to what you should be eating. Everyone needs a treat! It's all about portion control!

My biggest flaw, and I know it doesn't make any sense, was anytime I would loose 10 pounds, we would go out to dinner, as my reward. I did this because I was raised as ANYTHING you accomplished, you treated yourself with dinner out. Now, if I loose my target goal, I will buy myself a new pair of shoes, or a shirt, or something material, so that I'm not adding back the calories. Now, I buy stuff for my dogs if I hit my target goal. My last one was when I got under 225 lbs, I bought myself a coach purse. (I was 234 at my heaviest, and that i AM ashamed of).

MelissaI wrote:

.

I also have recipes I can send you, which are easy to make!

Send them, Send them! (As long as they don't have fish HA! I hate fish!) I'm always in search of a new recipe.

I'm making spaghetti tonight, which is my favorite, but I've learned that 1/2 cup of pasta is just as satisfying as 2 bowls. -.- I told you I'm a pasta freak. I've tried the tofu noodles, but I can't force myself to eat them again. I was going to buy them last night, and I almost gagged just thinking about it. I'm such a whimp!

MelissaI wrote:

Mindy and Tiff, wow. You girls made me tear up. You are two tough young ladies! Not only was I born premature and weighed TWO pounds, but I was also born with both of my feet completely turned inward. I had to wear leg braces until I was 2 years old in order to fix it. I still kind of stand with my feet turned in, but it's not noticeable at all.

It's amazing how many people have had birth defects and you can't even tell! Thank you for the asparagus tip! I'm going to try this! Please mention any recipe you would like. Nothing too difficult yet though...let me get the easy recipes down and then I can try the harder ones.

[quote="arooroomom"]

MelissaI wrote:

- Try to eat small meals every 3 hours or so to speed up your metabolism.

I have heard this is better for your metabolism. I have my snacks all cut up and ready!

Here is what I have so far!

Strawberries are my favorite!


Pinapple also a a favorite


Watermelon is just ok but I want variety


Brussel sprouts I just made...burnt them a little


The rest I haven't prepared yet. Not sure why I bought an avodado...don't know what to do with it. lol

I was thinking about doing a diary/blog so I can have an outlet when I get frustrated. It may help me to stay on track.

Avacado's are high calories, but have really good antioxidants and such.

I make mine like this:

Half an Avocado, sliced into strips (it needs to be a little on the firmer side)
sprinkle with salt, pepper and a little olive oil (if you want)
Grill or pan sear until warmed

Eat with a fork, or with few sticks of celery. It's a high calorie food, but the benefits are worth it.