Paleo Pals - Health, Weight Loss & Support

Hey, Pebbles. Keto wacked out my kidney numbers, and Tamoxifen is pushing me toward fatty liver disease. There's now some evidence that low-fat/plant-based helps restore metabolic functions, and I need to get and keep my A1c a bit lower. My wife and I decided to eat this diet for 12 weeks (it's Barnard's anti-diabetes diet, but functionally it's similar to Fuhrman's Eat for Life and not that far off from Forks over Knives). We'll eat turkey at Thanksgiving and meat at Christmas, not worrying too much about added dairy and milk in the interval, though I'm guessing I'd adhere more closely than she will, since it's hard for her to get adequate vegan protein with her legume intolerance.

Cute, cute puppy!

Yikes! I'm so glad he made it through. What a shock!

OMG, Pi-Xi, I am so sorry to hear about your DH. He has been such a supportive partner that I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. Thank goodness he didn't have his heart attack while traveling - at least you were back home and in familiar surroundings. I am sure that his healthy lifestyle helped him survive this scary incident and I am equally sure that your love and support will be instrumental to his recovery. While I understand that you are probably hesitant about having surgery right now, I'll bet taking care of you will enable him to focus on something other than his health issues for awhile and that's probably a good thing. Do you have some back-up (family or friends) that can step in to help if things get to be too much for either of you? It will take time for both of you to recover from this so don't expect things to feel normal right away. And please come here any time you need support or just to vent. Sending you both big hugs and wishes for complete recoveries.

Vamp, so good to hear from you! I'm sorry you're still dealing with fatigue. (Although with twin boys I think you have an obvious explanation for your exhaustion!) Have you had a recent physical and the concomitant lab work? Even if your iron levels are good now, you could have low levels of vitamin D or potassium. Are you sleeping well? That, too, can take a toll on our energy levels. Hopefully the arrival of fall will make you feel more like moving. Don't give up looking for an answer; you'll get through this! (And kudos to you for continuing to exercise even though you're tired!)

Ksusan, thanks for the recipes. I am making your lentil loaf this weekend and looking forward to it.

Pebbles, Primal is essentially Paleo plus some dairy. I'm hoping that adding some cheese to my diet will help me recommit to healthier eating (as a native Texan, I'm all about the cheese!). I'm also thinking that an occasional meatless day (with some beans and/or grains) might be something to try, just for a change of pace. PS, you're killing me with the cute Finley pics! Makes me want my own Finley sooooo much!

To any of you impressed with my workouts - don't be! I put in the time but I don't put in nearly the effort most of you probably do. I just turned 70 (it still shocks me to admit that) so, when it comes to working out, my weights are low and my aerobics are slow! I wish I could claim that I am gaining muscle but I think that would be a fantasy. In addition, DH and I are retired so we spend a lot of time traveling and visiting friends and family and those activities always seem to involve a lot of good (and decidedly non-paleo) food. And did I mention that my DS is an amazing baker and is always tempting me with home made goodies? So I fall of the wagon often but try to enjoy it and forgive myself when I do.

Like all of you, I would love to see this thread become active again. I miss the community that we were building here. I feel really good these days (exemestane has been much easier for me to tolerate than anastrozole) but my body occasionally reminds me that life without estrogen isn't always easy. And all of you understand that in a way no one else can. So thanks for that and it's good to see so many of you back here!

Pi-Xi, what a scare! Glad your DH is ok now. Good luck with your surgery.

Love to hear from everybody! I miss this thread.

We went to Alaska in summer. I highly recommend this trip. It’s breathtaking!

I had my exchange surgery in May. Got back into my exercise routine at the end of August. Unfortunately, since my ovaries were removed along with my TE’s, I acquired extra 10lb in addition to the 10lb I already had. This weight drives me crazy! Trying to get off Effexor, which, I am sure is not helping in this department either.

I seem to also be heading toward another surgery. Hoping to correct lymphedema, which makes my life miserable. Will see a surgeon on Nov. 6 to figure out if ism a good candidate. If so, will do it before the end of the year to capitalize on the met out of pocket maximum.

ksusan, we took a land and sea package, so we write 3 days on the ship and 8 days on land. We started in Vancouver, then went through the I side passage to Juno. Then we disembarked in Skagway and traveled to Whitehorse in Yukon Territory, then Dawson, Fairbanks, Denali park and finished in Anchorage. Saw so many beautiful places, I can’t even describe them.

Btw, very impressed with your Camino de Santiago walk!

Inna, nice to see you again. I am crossing my fingers that you are a good candidate for Lymphadema surgery. Which of the surgeries are you hoping to have? Several women on BCO have had very good results and the surgeries seem to be becoming more mainstream with time. Be sure to update us after your initial appointment. Your Alaska trip looked beautiful. My DH and I have been talking about taking a cruise from Seattle to Alaska and your pics make me want to start planning it!

Ksusan, I am going to check out your Camino de Santiago thread. What an impressive accomplishment! What is your next goal?

BTW, Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian sisters. Hope you all had a wonderful, relaxing day with friends and family.

Ksusan, I just visited your Camino thread and your photos are gorgeous. My DH loves walking so maybe I can get him interested in something similar (although we'd have to find a route that accommodates our rather advanced ages!). I'm not a huge fan of free weights, either, but I kind of enjoy weight machines. Some days it makes me feel like a superhero to strain and sweat so much! And I do like the arm and leg muscle definition that lifting is creating.

On another subject, we ate your lentil loaf today (with cauliflower mash and roasted carrots) and I really enjoyed it. (DH was somewhat skeptical but seemed to like it.) Now if I could only find a way to break my sugar addiction ... why is chocolate so very good????

ksusan - Thanks for letting me know. I'm on tamoxifen as well and have been FEELING fine but haven't thought about whether stuff is happening behind the curtains. I'm due for a check-up in Nov. and maybe will get the blood tests etc. too, although I'm loathe to do more tests. Would want to take a break from it all! I still eat meat but am trying to up the veggies and fruit, so please keep sending recipes and suggestions!

Pi-Xi- oh my goodness, sending healing vibes to both you and your DH! Life keeps presenting us with challenges. I am glad at least that your DH is on the road to recovery. Hoping all goes smoothly for you as well with the upcoming surgery.

Vampeyes - please do what you can to bring Egads back, thank you for checking in on both (with her, and us!). How are you doing by the way? Sounds like it's been busy for you too!

JKL2017 - you are 70 and working out more than I am at 44, so you are officially my inspiration. :-) Speaking of which, I need to try and head to the gym during my lunch break. I may do Primal with you! I just started eating cheese again... I was avoiding dairy before because of the estrogen positive breast cancer, but now I'm on tamoxifen, so maybe that means I can have some dairy too again. On sugar addictions, I think dark chocolate is beneficial to breast cancer so maybe that's one option? Plus, somewhere earlier in this thread I posted my recipe for almond butter cookies!

InnaB - gorgeous, gorgeous photos and so glad you are enjoying these beautiful trips! Thanks for posting!

Finley says hello to all... Domino and Tucker are getting jealous so here is a pic of them too...

Hi, everyone. Glad to see you. OMG Pixi, what a scare with your husband. I am so sorry to hear that and hope you both get past the health issues soon.

ksusan let us know how your health looks after trying the plant based lifestyle. I am starting to get into veggie soups now that it is cooler.

Pebbles you have another cute pup. Your house is filled with fluffy black and white cuteness.

I spent my summer off enjoying a lot of walking, biking and being outside and then in September I started a consulting job. So far I am loving it. I am so glad I did this and hope it can last. The stress is gone. I sleep at night. It is such an improvement from my former job.

I have been working on getting back to a little stricter eating because I gained about four lbs over the summer and I don’t think it was all muscle. I have discovered the cafe at Whole foods for lunch and it has been helpful on days i don’t take my lunch. I will get a little chicken or fish and carrot salad and broccoli salad and then for my treat i have two chunks of plantain.

I need to get strength training in more often. I need to join a gym for the machines, think. I am more inclined to do those than pick up a dumbbell, which I have at home. .

Hello Everyone!

I had my surgery on Monday morning and I made it home by 10:00 pm. I was determined to get out!The surgery went better than anyone expected and I was able to avoid a larger incision. Four laparoscopic “stab wounds” for instruments and they got it all out in one piece. The surgeon even took pictures for me. She said I was beautiful inside! I guess not after this, but still, it was nice to hear. Now the wait for the pathology and the long road to recovery. Feeling fairly decent and I haven’t had any medication since the OR. Praying to avoid complications. I haven’t been too much more of a burden on DH than usual yet!

Thanks for all of your support! Pebbles and TwoHobbies, I don’t think I responded to your good wishes. They meant a lot.

JKL, I won't be missing workouts any time soon. Feeling not so great today. Started out pretty well this morning, but around noon I felt off. Took a nap. Didn't help, so I'm back in bed now. Hoping it's just a wave. I will hold off restarting the tamoxifen for a few days.

DH is doing alright and staying active, but I worry about him. It'll be interesting to finally talk to a cardiologist next month. Things move slowly here!

Time for a nap.

Missing all the cave chicks!

Thanks, ksusan! In many ways, I’ve only just begun. Recovery is work.

Surgeon called just after I posted to say that the results were completely benign! She must have put a rush on those. Thank goodness.

Pi-Xi - That's wonderful news, I am so happy for your clear test results. Wishing you a speedy recovery! You and DH definitely need to take JKLs advice and binge watch something, have you seen Murdock Mystery's? It's based in Toronto, I quite enjoyed this series.

JKL - how are you? I haven't gotten any results, but I am thinking there has to be anemia. I worked out the other day and spent the rest of the day unable to feel full when I would breath. Last year when this happened I thought it was aspartame that did it, nope not so if it's happening again. I do see a specialist at the end of the month so hopefully she can help me figure this fatigue out. As for my osteoarthritis in my spine there is nothing that can help it. Up my Gabapentin the doctor says and stretching.

ksusan - how are you?

How is everyone else doing?

Pebbles, congrats on the clear mammogram!

I'm just working, nothing special going on.

Congratulations Pi-Xi on the benign results and Pebbles on your clear mammogram. We sure learn to appreciate those things after having had BC, don't we? Don't rush your recovery, Pi-Xi. You will be back to your active life before you know it and you may even feel better than ever now that you've dealt with something that could have become a problem in the future. And don't worry about occasionally feeling a little off - you had major surgery! You and your DH have been through a lot lately; you both deserve some rest and relaxation.

Vamp, have you had your Vitamin D, iron and potassium levels tested? Low levels of any of those might explain your fatigue and could be easily resolved. As to your breathing issue, this will sound strange but have you considered that you may have GERD? Several years ago I had some breathing problems and my PCP ran all kinds of tests, even sending me for a stress test. (I kept telling him it couldn't be my heart because I was doing 5 miles a day on my treadmill with no problem.) After reviewing the stress test results and examining me, the cardiologist said that she thought it was silent GERD (even though I had never felt any heartburn, reflux, etc.). The diagnosis was later confirmed after an endoscopy and the problem was easily resolved with minor diet changes and OTC meds. Whatever the problem, I hope you aren't feeling too stressed and that you get a definitive answer soon.

It is beautiful here in Virginia, with cool weather and wonderful fall colors.Thanksgiving is coming soon here in the states; time to start planning our hopefully healthy menus. Anyone have a (paleo-friendly) recipe they'd like to share?

And Pebbles, please keep the pics of your adorable puppies coming. They always make me smile!