I get really nasty leg cramps, usually late at night and usually after working both jobs.  Fortunately for me, I'm also on muscle relaxers for my back so when the iron grip leg cramps start, I take my night time muscle relaxers and 20 minutes later, I'm fine.  Not the preferred way to deal with it, but it's the one positive in being a walking pharmacy.

I have surgery on my back scheduled for October 5th.  Yippee!  I have dreams of walking upright and getting off all these meds so I can crap.  Upright and crapping.  Not at the same time.  That's not too much to ask, right?  The surgery requires a full 12 weeks of recovery, at least, and the better shape I'm in, the better and faster I'll recover.  If I'm not in good shape, I might not fully recover.  This is the last option as I've tried everything else.  This is serious stuff.  I'm so serious about this that I'm willing to risk paralysis or my life. 

So it begins.  I've tried low carb, no carb, counting calories, not counting calories.  Weighing myself, hiding the scale, scaling mountains.  None of it works long for me so I'm not going to focus on a number and I'm not heading for a goal other than to be in better shape than I am now.  I just need to take it a day at a time and this is way too important to screw up. 

So for the last week, I've been avoiding anything that comes in a box or bag or through a window.  No processed foods like chips and cookies, no fast food that comes through a window.  I've been eating lots and lots of fresh fruits and veggies and lots of protein.  I've rediscovered the fresh fruit and protein shakes that I've gotten away from.   I feel better, but don't have a clue of whether or not I've lost an ounce. 

Wish me luck.

Connie

Marilyn,
I am 5 years out. at goal weight for 4 years, I have had bad leg cramps to the point that i was only getting 2 hours of sleep at a time. Potassium is not the ONLY mineral you may be lacking. I look to holistic treatments as much as i can and have found in my readings tht there is a "combination that helps with leg cramps. it is CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM , and POTASSIUM. all 3 work in unison. hope this helps  

So very sorry you ar having to deal with so much right now. Was this your son you are
talking about? It is important to remember that he was sick & that is what took his life
was the illness. It will be a tough week & months ahead of them, but, I bet they will be
O.K. Please try & hang in there!!

I've not used fitday.com in a long time. i had gone to a few other message boards and they talked about how it helped. truthfully the last time i used it i found it hard to do. but i thought maybe they had updated it and they did!
i find it much easier to use now.
it was easier to create some of the different things that i eat that they do not have listed. customized.
i liked their charts now too i found them much easier to read and understand.
and i liked how they showed how many calories i need to eat a day to lose depending on my level of activity.
while all of this i know is just examples i liked being able to keep track that way of my eating. i write it down in a little note pad during the daytime so i don't forget what i've eaten but having it all listed on my computer is even nicer.
so for today i'm liking it.
i've been walking at night too.
i hope everyone is doing fantastically wonderfully GREAT!