Pcos Diaries

What to Expect after VSG Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 1 Sep 2017 12:18:00 -0400

I had VSG surgery in Tijuana Mexico on April 25th 2017, and since then I’ve had nothing but a positive experience. Of course with any procedure there is a learning curve each person must go through as this is a life change. For me it feels so different to have food in front of me that I love to eat, but I’m only able to have a fraction of it. As a result, food don’t really drive me the way it used to. Now I get excited over new outfits and taking selfies. I guess it’s because since I know I’m not going to be able to finish it, I don’t get excited about meals anymore. I still very much enjoy food, except now I eat for nourishment and not to indulge.

What to Expect :

· You will only be able to eat a small portion of food at one sitting (which is the point of the procedure)

· Expect a level of uncomfortably if you try to eat and drink at the same time

· Expect to always have a doggie bag with you if you go out to eat (at least I do)

· Expect to try and consume up to 90 grams of protein a day. This can be accomplished by eating meat or liquid protein like premier protein for example.

· You must stay hydrated because if you don’t, you will begin to have a light headed feeling (dizziness)

· Stay away from slider foods. Slider foods are food that can be consumed in large quantities without having a “Full” feeling. Some examples would be popcorn, chips, cheese doodles, milk shakes etc.

· You will not experience a dumpling syndrome with the sleeve procedure

Because the Sleeve procedure is less invasive than Gastric Bypass, you may lose weight slower than a bypass patient. To offset this, light to moderate exercise and eating right should speed up your weight loss nicely.

Preparing for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:14:00 -0400

Sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent weight loss surgery option that shrinks your stomach to help you lose weight. It’s a less invasive procedure compared to gastric bypass surgery as it doesn’t involve a reconstruction of your intestinal tract. with a lot of thought, I have decided to have Gastric sleeve surgery. And Im having the surgery in exactly 2 weeks.

This decision did not come easy. Unfortunately my job does not cover weight-loss surgery so I decided to do something a little different. Im going to have my procedure performed overseas. Im using a company called alighterme and they specialize in medical tourism. The hospital perform over 200 procedures a month and have great reviews so im going to have my procedure done through them.

Luckily for me my boyfriend is in the medical field so he will be able to take care of if I need him. I just started my 2 week diet to prepare for the procedure. And on 25th of this month the surgery will take place. And of ourse I will provide updates each step of the way : )

Overcoming Adversity

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 2 Apr 2017 08:28:00 -0400

It has been 4 years since I made a post on this website. Needless to say a lot has changed since then. If you follow me on facebook, then you may remember that ive been trying to have a baby. Ive been doing multiple IVF treatments and it all ended in disappointment. I guess I stopped posting because I didnt know what else to say. I felt like a failure. I felt like I let so many people down... including myself.

On top of that, the guy I was trying to have a child with, we are no longer together. That was an even worse blow. I loved him with all my heart and I would have never thought things between us would have ended. So there I was, hitting my mid 30's, childless and now single. I wasnt in a good state for a long time. It took me a while to wrap my head around the reality of it all. And when I did, I would become depressed all over again.

With time and help from loved ones I was able to bounce back and rediscover myself. My ex boyfriend and I are still great friends and I've become more social and outgoing. Ive been out of the country twice so far and I have a few more trips coming up this year. Im still living life, Im just living it a different way.

Im now dating someone new. We've been together over a year now. He's very outgoing and he forces me to step out of my comfort zone and do different things. As of right now were both on the same page when it comes to children. We both agree that if a child was meant for us to have... then God will give us one. Im no longer going to put myself through another emotional rollercoaster again.

My focus now is:

Becoming a healthier me.
Start focusing on my happiness and the things I want for my life.
Making sure my money is right so I can retire early.

And the rest is yet to come ; )

Concealing women facial hair with makeup

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 12:16:00 -0500

Concealing women facial hair with makeup

I suffer from having Women Facial Hair and I hate to say that the person in this picture is me. This picture was taken at night after just removing makeup and scrubbing my face. Unfortunately for me I have been shaving my face every single morning for many years. I literally will not walk out the house without shaving and putting some type of concealer on my face for obvious reasons.

Here is a little history about me :

I learned how to put on make up by watching you tube videos.
I tried Waxing my chin and lip once but for some reason the hairs are too short and the wax never grabs the course short hairs.
Embarrassed to leave the house without shaving and concealer or make up of some kind on my face.
Hell I wont even open the front door half the time with out at least some lotion on my face. (it helps me feel like i have something to help cover the ingrown hairs and razor bumps. And if i did, I'd never make eye contact with anyone and will keep my eyes and head to the ground just hoping that no one will notice.

This is me with my awesome boyfriend on our 6 year anniversary.

You can still see the razor bumps but for the most part I was happy with the way my foundation covered those imperfections. And for a bonus, My boyfriend finally likes the way my face looks in makeup (well this brand any way). Remember I learned all about makeup on YouTube. I evened watched videos of drag queens using different creams and foundations to hide their 5 o'clock shadows. So there was a lot of trial and error on my end. I always would purchase a shade of foundation that was too light for me and put way too much on because I felt I had to "cake it on " to hide my flaws. So while looking through many videos online I came across Make up forver which is a mat finish, waterproof , oil free foundation sold by Sephora. What does that mean ? well it means I no longer have to worry about breakouts on my face because im trying to cover whats growing out of my face. In other words this makeup is actually safe for acne prone skin. Women Facial Hair do exist, however with so many different options for concealers and foundations in an almost unlimited amount of shades, we can overcome it. Having Women Facial Hair and pcos goes hand in hand with some women, myself included. I will probably never stop trying to find the perfect razor,tweezers, hair removal cream etc because Facial Hair just like Infertility and PCOS is just another obstacle I will have to overcome.

Weight Loss Mistakes Most Women Make

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 6 Jan 2013 15:29:00 -0500

You might have more motivation than anyone else to lose weight. You may munch on healthy snacks. You probably count calories. You try to exercise as much as possible. But still the number on the scale refuses to decrease. What are you doing wrong?

Here are seven dieting mistakes you could be making. While each one seems fairly innocent, added together they can really sabotage your weight loss efforts.

1. Consuming Too Many Calories
There are two ways to consume too many calories. First, you know your goal and repeated go over it. Or, you could have the wrong goal to begin with. How many calories should you really be consuming each day?

According to a recent study by the American Dietetic Association, only 11% of Americans correctly estimate their ideal daily calorie requirements. The rest overestimate.

Figure out the right intake for you and your activity level. If you think you should be consuming a maximum of 2,000 calories each day and the real number is 1,800, those extra 200 calories will cause you to keep 20 unwanted pounds.

2. Assuming You Are Burning More Calories Than You Actually Are
Most women are kept pretty busy. As a result, we assume our daily routine torches more calories than it really does. For example, a simple trip to the mall is usually quite the production. Schlepping kids in and out of the car, hauling shopping bags from one end of the building to the other and then unloading everything when you get home burns a whopping…400 calories. That is about a tenth of a pound. Not nearly the workout you imagined, huh?

While 400 calories is better than nothing, there are simple ways to make your every day activities more of a workout. Studies show short bursts of intense activity burn more calories. The next time you take the kids to the park to walk around, keep your normal pace for about five minutes. Then, for a solid minute, crank up the speed to a brisk walk. After the minute, take the pace back to a comfortable walk. Keep repeating this schedule and you’ll burn 30% more calories.

3. Not Being Mindful of Portion Sizes
By now, you have probably kicked most of your unhealthy eating habits. Your high-calorie snacks have been replaced with healthier options. However, just because the food is packed with nutrients doesn’t mean you can eat more of it.

Be mindful of the recommended serving sizes of the following healthy foods:
• A serving of chopped fruits or vegetables should be about the size of a baseball.
• A serving of nuts or shredded cheese should be about the size of a golf ball.
• A serving of rice or pasta should be about the size of your fist.
• A serving of lean meat should be about the size of a deck of cards.

4. Choosing the “Healthiest” Item on the Menu
Image this scenario. You and your girlfriend are at the mall shopping and swing by the food court for lunch. You make a beeline for the sandwich shop, opting for a nice, healthy turkey sandwich. Your girlfriend meets you at the table with two slices of pizza. Who has fewer calories? She probably does.

Your turkey sandwich has the potential to be healthier. However, the focaccia bread, cheese, and mayo pack an unhealthy punch.

Before going out to eat, check the restaurant’s website. Most dining establishments share nutritional information about their dishes online. At the very least, be familiar with the lowest calorie options at all your favorite restaurants. That way, you are always prepared if someone your with insists on making a quick pit-stop.

5. Buying Diet Foods
Many people see “fat-free,” “low-fat,” or “sugar-free” and think they have made a wise purchase. However, that is rarely the case.

Those diet foods often have the same amount of calories as – or just slightly less than – the regular version. However, instead of paying attention to the fine print, dieters trust the large-print marketing schemes. As a result, they feel more inclined to eat larger portions - usually twice as much as normal – of the food because it is “healthier.”

Instead, go ahead and purchase the full-fat version. Don’t totally deprive yourself of the food items you love. If you do, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Eventually you’ll cave; when you do, you’ll seriously overeat. Give yourself the occasional treat; just be mindful of the portion size.

6. Doing a Million Crunches
Most women want a toned tummy. To get it, they do a gazillion crunches. Sure, this will probably work – your ab muscles will be toned. But if you don’t burn the layer of fat keeping them hidden, no one will ever see your ab muscles.

To burn your belly fat, try interval training. Alternate between high intensity and toned down bursts of cardio activity. This will burn more calories – and fat – than a steady paced workout.

7. Not Counting All Your Calories
Are you a sampler? You grab a spoonful of dough while baking cookies. You snag a handful of popcorn from your husband’s bucket at the movies. You steal a corner of your daughter’s brownie while helping with her homework. Did you count all those calories? Sure, they might not be much. But added together, those unaccounted for calories can cause a lot of damage.

Try to avoid eating while you are distracted. Don’t eat your dinner in front of the TV. Walk away from the computer before getting an afternoon snack. And chew gum while you’re cooking. We tend to eat more when we are focused on other tasks.

Well, what do you think? Have you suffered any of these dieting set-backs? Could one of these situations be the cause of your unshed pounds?

Guest author Jane Allen is a health blogger. She regularly writes about various health, fitness and weight loss topics. Recently, she has been researching how B12 injections can provide extra energy for interval training.

Lose weight by choosing the right food

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 3 Dec 2012 16:33:00 -0500

Losing weight requires a perfect combination of diet and fitness program. To get a real weigh loss you need to take of your grocery and kick off the addiction for candies. Proper diet and exercise will result in enhanced metabolism and help you to achieve your goal of shedding kilos. Adding some great foods in the diet you can expect better results of your weight loss program. A good way of controlling the calorie intake is having a low-cal large salad. It is the sheer volume of salad that makes you feel full and reduce the urge of eating more. Studies have revealed that people having one salad per day contain high levels of folic acid, lycopene, carotenoids and vitamins C and E and they are better disease fighters than others. A breakfast with egg makes you feel fullers for quite a longer period of time, prevents spikes in blood sugar and thereby reduces craving for food. Eggs are highly rich in protein and the egg white is great for all those who are looking to shed weight.

Beans are great in helping in keeping the blood sugar level perfect so that staving off hunger for a longer time becomes easy. Apart from helping you losing weight beans are aids in lowering your cholesterol level. The antioxidants present in Green Tea speed up our metabolism and the rate of burning fat. The people having green tea have found a significant reduction in their body weight and level of cholesterol and a boost in metabolism as well. Pears are great for filling your stomach and they come with high pectin fiber. According to researches people having pears in their diet lost more weight that those who had other items in meals. Taking soup is a great way of filling your stomach and it acts as appetite blunting item. You can satisfy your hunger even with the simplest of soups. Keep lean beef in diet for shedding weight. The amino acid that is abundant in meat helps you lose weight while maintaining calorie-burning muscle. The women who have lean beef in diet lose more weight than others and have fewer hunger pangs.

Cinnamon play a good role in losing weight by keeping a control on post-meal spikes of insulin and does not let you feel hungry. Vinegar makes your tummy feel fuller and reduces the tendency to eat more. Eating bread dipped in Vinegar you can shed more fat than ever. To curb your appetite you can take a breakfast that contains high-fiber cereal. The magic ingredient capsaicin hot red pepper can help to suppress appetite and lose weight. It has been seen that taking Grapefruit before meal or drinking juice of the fruit people can shed more than who do not have Grapefruit in their diet. Including Peanuts in your diet you can consume less at subsequent meals also get a boost in metabolism. Tofu, the appetite-quashing protein is effective in reducing the appetite and people having Tofu in their diet eat less food than others. Extra virgin olive oil in food helps to boost the metabolism and aids in getting rid of unwanted fat.

Sandeep Arora is a senior chef who has been working as the Chief Chef in the top hotels of India for twelve years now. He has written many articles on restaurants noida. In this article he is providing us with some valuable information on how to lose weight by choosing the right food.

Sugar and Fat Free Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 5 Nov 2012 15:11:00 -0500

Sugar and Fat Free Cake

This time we are bringing you a recipe for a delicious cake but without the sugar and fat, rich in protein needed to build muscle!

When most people are on a diet constantly get the desire for something sweet. Thus it is even worse if the "hunger" catches you in the evening. All of this is normal, because when you're in a calorie deficit and the body defends, it is sending you a signal that it wants power, it wants sugars. So we present you this sweet cake which can deceive your desire and stay on the right path with the diet. Even better is the fact that this types of cake you can eat at night before going to sleep without guilt. Forget those stories that you are not allowed to eat in the evening, it may be true for carbohydrates and fat, but not for proteins! For more info about nutrition and proteins visit wikipedia. For a baked cake, these are the best possible ratios of macronutrients for one active exerciser in the process of definitions and deficient diet.

In addition to the favourable composition, you can put this meal in a plastic bowl and place in the fridge or even take with you when you to go somewhere. A couple of bites and you're already absorbed a large amount of protein, with minimal fat and carbohydrates. It is actually a combination of curd cheese, egg whites, and fruit you can choose according to your taste. It is recommend to choose berries that will add their own juice to the mixture during cooking, and so it will give a nice aroma.

INGREDIENTS:

- 500 g extra curd low-fat cheese
- 10 egg whites and 1 egg yolk
- 150g of frozen cherries (or similar fruit)
- An artificial sweetener

PREPARATION

1- Take 9 egg whites and 1 whole egg, put in blender and mix for a few seconds until the foam is formed

2- Then add half a pound of extra curd low-fat cheese and stevia sweetener. Mix it until the mixture is fine and smooth (20-30 seconds)

3- Pour the entire mixture into a glass ovenproof dish. A glass ovenproof dish is recommended because it is not necessary to coat any kind of grease on it. There will be nothing to paste, and when the cake cools it will unstick from the pan by itself.

4- When you pour the entire mixture, decorate it with chosen fruits and place it in the oven at 220 degrees Celsius, but put it at the lower third of the oven. This is very important because the top of the cake will bake faster and you don't want it to burn.

5- During backing the cake will puff, but this is normal because of the egg whites. You just have to monitor the situation so that the upper part doesn't bake faster than the rest and burn. It's over when the upper part becomes brown, and the lower part is dry. It can take 40-60 minutes. When it's done, remove the cake from the oven and allow ten minutes to cool and settle.

6- Now, the cake is already done. So, it is important that you leave the cake to cool down, because it will be easier to take the cake out of the dish. In the end cut it into desired shape and serve it on a plate or pack it in a plastic bowl and take it with you and show the others your fat and sugar free cake.

Nutritive value of the whole cake (4 servings):
- Kcal: 578
- Protein: 101g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fat: 6g

Author Bio:

Maya is a food blogger. She loves cooking and baking for her family and friends. She is currently working on a project for one of the leading kids birthday cakes wholesaler in Perth – Cake Factory.

Water Pills to Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 4 Nov 2012 20:35:00 -0500

What are Water pills ?

Water pills also known as Diuretics, are herbs or drugs that increase urination and amplify the excretion of body water. Medically, they often are used in the treatment of conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, liver cyrrohsis, and some kidney diseases, but more and more often, diuretics are being marketed to the average consumer as a weight loss aid.

Taking Water Pills to Lose Weight is pretty controversial mainly because when it comes down to using pills for weight reduction, it is very taboo amongst fellow dieters. The reason I bring up this topic up is because about a month ago I went to a dietician to help me further my weight loss to reach my goal. After checking my blood pressure, heart and weight, he created a diet plan for me and also to my surprise prescribed me Water Pills and an Appetite suppressant.

I figured ... this is different I'll give it a shot and see how things go. Well the appetite suppressant went horrible for me. I work 8 hours a day doing customer service at a computer desk. About 30min after taking the pill, I would feel dizzy and zombified (lifeless and disoriented) . But the scariest thing of all was the feeling I felt in my chest. Just to give you a little medical history about myself, I have an Irregular heart beat or a heart murmur depending on who you ask. And for any pill that causes side effects in my chest, just isn't good for me. So I stopped taking them immediately.

The water pills however, I did have a very good experience with. The only side effect I felt was of course increased urination and sometime dry mouth. Im sure the dry mouth comes because your losing more fluid than your putting in. Other than that, I did lose excess water weight that I frankly did not need. Think of it like this when your working out in the Summer time your body is heated up and your sweating. In the Winter time you can work out just as hard and just as long, but you may not get as much from the work out. This is because you sweat more in the summer time than you do in the winter time. Your still retaining water and that extra water is preventing you from seeing the scale go down. As a result some people do tend to use the aid of a water pill to help get rid of that extra water weight.

How to Use It ?

Use the pills as directed, if your doctor tells you to use them once a day ... then use them once a day. Don't double your dosage because you feel you ate too much salt or because you feel "Fat". You will severely dehydrate yourself and may cause serious harm. If you feel you don't need to take them everyday, and only want to use as needed. Then I think that's perfectly fine if your using the pill only for Weight Loss. If you need water pills because you have a medical condition... then please use as directed by your doctor. Stay hydrated and stay away from too much high sodium foods because that will defeat the purpose of taking water pills to begin with. High Sodium per-packaged foods and overly salted foods will make you retain the fluids you drink, causing you to gain weight.

Making a Decision

If you decide to use water pills or simply having a low sodium diet, do your research and figure out whats best for you. And remember you didn't gain the weight over night ... so don't exspect to lose it over night. Take your time and eventually we will all meet our goals.

Common Concerns After Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 1 Nov 2012 01:33:00 -0400

Having a baby is a life-changing experience that brings joy to a new family. However, with the new baby also come many bodily changes that can leave women wondering if they will ever return to normal following their child’s birth.

Throughout a woman’s pregnancy, her body must stretch and expand in order to accommodate a growing baby. This can lead to significant changes that can linger for many months postpartum. For this reason, the following common concerns for women after pregnancy are explained along with some simple solutions in order to help women get back their body following the birth of a new baby.

Weight Gain
No matter what kind of physical shape a woman was before pregnancy, it is known that she will gain weight. While the recommended weight gain for pregnancy will vary according to a woman’s body type, it is likely that a few pounds will remain after the baby is born. Fortunately, many of these extra pounds will slowly melt away after the first few months. However, once a doctor gives their approval, a woman may find that moderate exercise can help them to shed the last few extra pounds.

Loose Abdominal Muscles
Throughout a pregnancy, the abdominal muscles become stretched as the baby grows. Once the baby is born, many women find that their abdominal muscles feel looser and contribute to a flabby belly. Fortunately, loose abdominal muscles are a temporary problem. Special exercises can be started immediately after giving birth to begin building these muscles back up. Once the post-partum period is over, more strenuous forms of exercises can be started, such as crunches and leg raises, in order to help develop tone and definition.

Fatigue
Giving birth is hard work. Additionally, sleep deprivation, extra household chores and breastfeeding can all contribute to the exhaustion that many new mothers feel in the first few months. Left untreated, this feeling can also contribute to postpartum depression. For this reason, it is important for new moms to make rest a priority. Additionally, making sure to receive regular exercise can help to combat feelings of fatigue.

Stretch Marks
The rapid weight gain and expansion of skin during pregnancy can contribute to stretch marks. Most mothers can take comfort that these reddish scars will eventually lighten over the coming months. In the meantime, keeping them moisturized with a quality lotion will help them to fade. Additionally, staying on top of exercise and eating a healthy diet will help a woman to continue to maintain a healthy body image.

After pregnancy, a woman will often be left with several concerns regarding her new body. Fortunately, there are many things that can be done to help a woman to regain her former shape and physique. By taking the time to care for herself during the postpartum period, a woman will be better equipped to meet the needs of both her and the newborn baby.

Author bio: Karlee Wiggins blogs about health topics. She is the mother of three kids. After her last child was born she looked into breast augmentation to help with her self-esteem and found it was a beneficial option for her body image.

What does Health Insurance for IVF Cover ?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 02:19:00 -0400

Deciding to do IVF can be a pretty pricy decision. Depending on the clinic you go to an IVF can cost up to about $9,000 per cycle * Not including medication, office visits and any additional cycles needed* . Health Insurance Coverage for IVF is recommended to keep the cost down for you and your family.

What does Health Insurance for IVF Cover ? The average Health Provider covers ...

Clinic Visits
Sonograms
IVF Procedure
IUI Procure
Medications

States with some kind of infertility coverage mandate - as of 2008
Arkansas	Illinois	Montana	Rhode Island
California	Louisiana	New Jersey	Texas
Connecticut	Maryland	New York	West Virginia
Hawaii	Massachusetts	Ohio

As you may already know I exhausted my Current Health Insurance on 3 IUIs and today is the day I switch to another health provider that my job offers. If everything goes correctly by January 1 I will have the coverage I need to go straight to an IVF. If you live in one of the states above and you exhausted your current health insurance, see if your company have another choice you can switch to at the end of the year. We have the right to change our Job's health plan if we decide to. If you live in the NEW YORK CITY area then Re- enrollment time is NOW ! So get involved and ask around, if you can switch then do so in order for you to have more chances to have a baby .

Try a different clinic, maybe a fresh pair of eyes is want you need. Stay opened minded, instead of doing another 4 or 6 IUI, move on to IVF and give that a try if your coverage allows it. You still have options so weigh them out and do some research it might guide you to the next step your going to take.

HGH Benefits In The Form Of Human Growth Hormone Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:43:00 -0400

HGH human growth hormone is a naturally occurring hormone whose levels start to decline at the age of thirty. It is associated with many body functions. Decline in HGH shows different signs of aging. HGH supplements are helpful in reversing the signs of aging.

HGh is responsible for the growth and development of the body. Its deficiency causes many problems in children and result in short stature. The Human Growth Hormone is one of the most beneficial chemicals that keep your body systems strong and youthful. The absence of this hormone makes it difficult for your body to function properly.

Human growth hormone therapy is used to treat a variety of medical problems in humans. The benefits of HGH supplements are strong muscles, reduction in fats, high energy levels, increase in sexual desire and cell regeneration. It gives your body a young and youthful experience.

HGH Benefits for Humans

Enhanced Immune System
Increase in Physical Production
Faster Recovery Time
Better Endurance
Anti-Aging Abilities
Increased Weight Loss
Amped-Up Energy

HGH products are available in the form of injections, supplements, pills and sprays. Each has their own effects. HGH supplements are safer than other forms. HGH injections produce quicker results. However, long-term use of HGH injections is associated with many side effects. Human growth hormone therapy restores HGH levels back to normal that reverses the signs of aging. Decline in HGH causes weak muscles mass, low body fats and weak sex drive. FDA approved it for children who have growth hormone deficiency. In adults, it is allowed for those patients who have severe deficiency.

In case of minor problems, it is suggested to balance your hormone levels by taking good diet and exercise as these two factors are quite helpful to overcome minor deficiency. Must consult doctor before using HGH treatments for safe and effective results.

PCOS - Keeping Track of Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 03:22:00 -0400

What Can Keep You on track when Losing weight ?

Constant weigh ins
Many people feel that weighing yourself too much is not good for your progress. I believe becoming obsessed with the numbers on the scale is the thing that is not healthy in your weight loss. I weight myself a couple of times a week just to keep an eye on things. and for the other days I'm feeling good, I may weight myself only once that week which is the average most experts would say to do.
Keep Track of the Weight you lost
In the previous post I created a little chart to track my weight from week to week. As Im sure you can see I did not I did not continue that tracking on that chart. But hey that's just me, someone else might think this is a great Idea.
- Writing my weight in a notebook I bring everyday to work with me.
- Use your Cell to help you track, There are so many application these days that are great at tracking your weight loss and help you lose weight too if you follow their diet plan.
When you Gain Weight don't Binge eat
Ok so you feel off the wagon and ate some ice cream, cake , cookies, a hamburger, large milkshake with some chips on the side, this type of thing happens to the best of us. But what you should never do is give up. Don't just throw your hangs because you saw the number on the scale. The next day is a new day to continue where you left off. And every time you want to give up and pig out .... Don't . You'll see next time you get on the scale the numbers will be a little bit lower than before.

As for me I'm still hanging in there, I just moved in to the 230's so im going to start working my way down from there. if im not mistaken my heaviest weight might have been around 270's maybe 280's at one point I stopped getting on the scale. So I'm pretty happy with my progress so far. My goal is to continue with my weight loss so i can be in better shape for the future. And as always, I'll let you know every step of the way .

Tracking Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 17:00:00 -0400

Starting This week I will be starting my high Protein diet and hopefully in 6 weeks I would be meeting or exceeding my goal. Every week I will be up dating this chart with my new weigh in results and then write a post about it. Hopefully by me doing this, it will encourage me to keep going and keep track or my results.

See you guys next week my First week Goal is to lose 5 pounds, So I will keep you all posted - Smile .

Inspiration IVF Success Story

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:00:00 -0400

I came across these videos and a lot more she posted and got so inspired by her journey. To see more of her videos you can visit her You Tube Channel . This video really did inspire me to keep going and never give up, because even though it can be a long journey ... at the end the reward of holding your child is soooo worth it. - smile.

Losing Weight Before IVF

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:14:00 -0400

You might already know, I was thinking about doing IVF a little while ago but I got discourage because the doctors want me to lose weight before I do it and i was waiting for the IUI to take effect instead. Well now things have changed, right now im on the 5th day of my injections to prepare for my 3rd round of IUI.

To Re Cap ...

First attempt with IUI got Pregnant - Then Had Miscarriage after about 5 weeks

Second attempt with IUI - Got Negative Pregnancy test

And now I'm working on my 3rd attempt at IUI. I have decided that if the 3rd attempt does not work I will then move on to IVF. As a result of that, I have already lost 5 pounds. My doctor want me to come down to 220lbs in order to do the IVF.

Plan of Attack to Lose 35 pounds !

Step One - Eat anything that is Healthy and Fast. - I work as a customer service agent at a Large communications company on the night shift, so I really don't have time to prepare a bunch of meals the night before.

Step Two - Make it a No Brainer - I'm always on the go so I don't have time to think about what I eat. I have to be able to just " Pick it up and Eat "

Because of the reasons above I have decided to order the Slim fast 321 Bars and the Kind Bars . The reason I picked the meal bars over the shakes is because I travel to work everyday, for me it would be too difficult to carry 2 or 3 of the shakes with me on a daily basis. So for me to just put the little bars in my bag and have them for lunch and a snack would be great. So I will be updating you on everything, Thanks for Reading. - Smile.

Miscarriage and PCOS

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:31:00 -0400

People say one of the best type of therapy is talking about things that happened in your life and not keeping everything all bottled in. So here I go, on 2/22/2012 I stood up to go off to lunch, and the moment I did that I felt a strong feeling like I was squeezing to hold something in. Well as I was leaving and heading to the bathroom to see what's going on, I felt a large gush in my underwear like something just exploded. The moment I felt that I knew something just went wrong.

After walking inside the bathroom stall, I tapped that outside of my jeans .... and saw an imprint of blood on my finger. By the time I pulled down my pants and under wear and sat down ... I saw it right there still in my underwear. Its funny sometime, I have never been pregnant a day in my life and I knew I looking at a fetus. The next thing I did was text my boyfriend the one sentence he will never forget " Babe I think we just lost the baby". We talked a bit while I was still on the stall about what to do next, I swear I didn't even want to leave the bathroom, but I knew I couldn't stay there forever.

The next thing I did was call 911 and went to the Emergency, my boyfriend met me there. After spending a few hours doing test and sonograms. The pregnancy test they made me take still came out positive, but the Doctors could not see any signs of pregnancy when they did the sonogram. Over the next few days I woke up crying every morning feeling so empty. At one point it was the three of us, and now its back to two.

Something that dramatic took some what of a hold on the relationship too. Im sorry to say but in a way because of things that was said between us, I blamed my boyfriend and the Doctors for the miscarriage. Its now almost a month later and I'm in a better place. 2 weeks ago I had a D & C procedure done to remove the rest of the pregnancy to avoid infection. After about 4 days post procedure, I did have light bleeding and cramps but then ultimately that stopped. For the most past it took about 2 or so for everything to fully clear out, this includes Cramps, Discharge, Bleeding etc.

Some time last week I went down to the clinic to do some blood test. After the procedure, the two weeks wait after the procedure was completed my HCG results was down to 7.59. Once the HCG levels are down to 0 then we can start over again. The best thing is i got pregnant once, So if I continue doing everything I did before, but this time make a few more changes, I will get pregnant again and this time have a successful Pregnancy.

Getting Pregnant With PCOS

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:44:00 -0500

If your follow me on my Fan Page then you might remember me saying that I thought I was pregnant. The test strips kept coming up with two lines, but I wasn't sure because I thought this might be a false positive since I took the Ovidrel shot. However I can positively say that after visiting the doctor on the 8th, they confirmed to me that I am pregnant. I found this out because they left me a beautiful voice mail on my phone that I kept playing back over and over again, just to make sure I'm hearing things correctly. The doctor also mentioned that my "Beta Levels" was 261 which was great.

My Doctor wanted me to come back on the 10th to do more blood test just to see how things are going. And to my surprise my Bets Levels went up to 751. If I had to take a guess, I would say I should be around 2 almost 3 weeks pregnant. Later this week I have to go down again to do blood test and my first Sonogram ... So excited.

How I'm Feeling Now ?

Right now I feel both excited and scared at the same time. I read a lot of different blogs and visit forums. I hear terrible things about miscarriages and women giving birth but the baby pass-away after a few hours. I feel like the battle just begun. Getting pregnant is one thing, Keeping the baby is another. I just hope and pray that everything works out.

I pray that this baby make it through the 9 months and that he or she is healthy, from there we will handle the rest. I love my baby already before He/She is born. I will continue to eat better and drink more water and I'm already taking some Prenatal vitamins. I have an official Doctor appt coming again soon, and on that appt we will discus Iron Pills and maybe other prenatal vitamins.

Thanks so much for all the support again, from Myself and My Hubby. I will continue to make updates as soon as they come. - Smile.

Faint Positive Pregnancy Test

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 02:18:00 -0500

Over the last week or so this is what has been happening. On the 25th of January I got my IUI done. And Since then the same things has been happening like the last time ... tender breast (side effect from Ovidrel Shot) . However this time new things are happening. Breast are still tender after ovidrel is out of my system, and I have been feeling sick for days now, I never threw up but i felt like I needed to. And also have I've been have light cramps for maybe 4 or 5 days now, but I'm not even spotting yet. I cant wait. For a while I thought... Ok my period is going to come really soon, and with my luck probably over the weekend. So I didn't really have high hopes at all.

The Ovidrel shot should now be out my system because I took a Home Pregnancy test strip a couple of times a week and it was Negative. My nurse told me not to do anything until the 8th of Feb to take a pregnancy test. But me being me.. So I took a HPT (Home Pregnancy Test) tonight and this is what I saw.

The darkest line is the negative line and the one on the very top is just a part of the test strip.... But do you see the one in the middle (the faint one) ?

These are three test I took over the past 3 days. The one at the bottom was Taken today.

So I have about 4 more days to do before I can test for real. But since I've seen nothing but Negatives in the past few days ... This test is giving me some hope.

So What do you think ?

Could the test be like this because the Ovidrel still in my system ?

Should start getting happy Here ?

40 BMI To Get IVF

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:44:00 -0500

I Have To Lose Another 30 Pounds To get IVF ? And the struggles continue... Just when you think Infertility was going to be my biggest obstacle, now I have to Lose weight too !

To give you a bit of an update I talked to my Doctor over the phone because I wanted to get information on using IVF just in case the IUI didn't work this cycle. And then Boom ! she tells me the shocking news that I cant get IVF without a BMI of at least 40 or below. If my BMI is over 40 then the Anesthesiologist will not approve me .

Since IVF involves a needle our going in your vagina you have to be put under medication to block the pain. So now I have another decision to make (because I always Like to think ahead) In case the IUI did not work on my first cycle, I might take a month or so off to try and lose more weight in order to skip to IVF. The reason I'm thinking this is because I have noticed the success rate for IUI is pretty low and from what some women are saying ... It took them 4, 6, 8 months using IUI to get Pregnant. Personally I cant afford that and my insurance will only cover 2 more of either IUI or IVF, then that's it I pay out of pocket.

So (fingers Crossed) I wont have to go through this because I will be pregnant and me and my boyfriend will start preparing for the baby. However if it does fail then I will focus on losing weight and getting down my BMI. Do Any one know of any Good Diets out there that help to lose weight fast ? Because My natural way of doing things may not work for the amount of time I'm working with.

IUI Procedure

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:25:00 -0500

So I had my first IUI done today and I can say it was a very pleasant experience. After the Doctor called me in and I got undressed we went through the process as if it was a Pap Smear. Very little to no pain at all, and honestly it was so quick I didn't even realize when he was done. The most important thing I noticed was after laying there about 15min, I stood up and I can honestly say I did not feel anything drip out of me.

The Doctor informed me my boyfriend has over 50 Million mobile sperm and the minimum the Doctor need was 10 million. So that's good to hear that he doesn't have a low sperm count, at least that's one less thing to worry about. At this point I have to simply wait about 2 weeks to see if Either my cycle come down or (Fingers Crossed) my cycle does not come down and I'm Pregnant.

The IUI procedure went by so quick I went to YouTube to see exactly was done to me. And I found a beautiful video about How IUI Works. To anyone interested in doing IUI before IVF, I say go for it. Its much cheaper than IVF from what I heard any way, and most importantly .. its "Pain Free" Check out the video below and Learn a little more the IUI Procedure like I did. - Smile

RMA of NY Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:55:00 -0500

Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York is a fertility Clinic located in NYC. This Clinic hold dear to my heart because this is the clinic I go to.

What can be said about this clinic ? First let me say that the moment I walked through the doors they was "on point". If you follow this blog then you might remember a post about my Bad Clinic Experience. In that post I talked about how terrible the previous place was and how I had to wait 6 months at a time to see my doctor again. But I tell you the very first time I came to RMA, my Doctor gave me all the medication I needed to get started without so much as a blink of the eye.

How's The Staff - Wonderful group of women that always have a smile on their face. Very pleasant and professional women, the nurses that works there are the same way. Each of them have a very pleasant disposition. Even the Doctors are professional, never gave me an uncomfortable vibe at all.

How's The Cost - LOL, well this is lower part of Manhattan were talking about. However from my experience the price is fair. My medical insurance covers a lot of things for me, so the most I pay for out of pocket is a $30.00 co pay per visit. Now depending on how often you have to go, that money can add up. Other wise that's about it, the cost for medications differ depending on what medication you need and what your insurance will cover.

What They Do - Everything is the best answer I can think of, below is a sample of some things they do and for a full list you can visit their website by clicking here

Reproductive Medication (clomid)
IUI
IVF
Metformin
Sperm washing
Egg Donation
Egg Freezing
Fertility Injections
Classes to teach you how to Give Injection
ETC .......

RMA of NY is the first clinic I have ever come across that is serious about what they do and takes your time in to consideration. If anyone Live in the NYC area or anywhere close by... Don't hesitate to give them call and stop by for a visit, I'm sure you will not regret it.

RMA of NY
635 Madison Avenue • 10th Floor •
New York, NY 10022 • (212) 756-5777

IUI vs IVF ?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:07:00 -0500

The time has come to make a decision... I'm very happy to say that with Low dosage of Follistim and a little patience I now have one egg 19cm which is large enough to do IUI or have timed Intercourse. For many women this would be a great opportunity to try and have the IUI done but for me, that just makes things harder.

As I might have Mentioned in the past I have United Health Care medical Insurance. This insurance will cover IUI or IVF (3) times in total for the life of my acct with them. What does that mean ? This mean that if I do an IUI and it was not successful then I just lost 1 out of my 3 chances to have a baby and the insurance cover it. Keep in mind this is for the entire time I'm at my current job and have this insurance. So once the 3 times are up even if all 3 fail, then the insurance won't cover me for these procedures any more.

After speaking with my Doctor, I found out that they can't change from IUI to IVF and my best option for now would be to continue with with the IUI or this cycle. Worst case scenario is if the IUI fail then on my next menstrual cycle I will do the IVF (in vitro fertilization). From what the Doctor told me the success rate would be around 18% for the IUI And naturally when I heard that, I Immediately thought about getting the IVF done instead. However to prevent everything from going to waste (medication, blood work, and sonogram cost) I will go ahead and give the IUI a shot and who knows maybe I'll get Pregnant and won't need the IVF after all.

Starting tonight I will take Two shots of Ovidrel to start my ovulation and in two days I will start the IUI procedure. I hope to have good news when I make another post. And thank all of you for following me on my site and the fan page. I will for sure update everyone on what happens next.

Follistim Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:22:00 -0500

How It Works: Follistim is administered as a subcutaneous injection. Follistim acts like naturally produced FSH by stimulating a follicle (egg) to develop and mature in the ovary. Follistim is also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for assisted reproductive technologies.

I mentioned in the past the Clomid didn't work for me so I was upgraded to Follistim Fertility shot. As of right now I have been giving myself the shot every night at 12am, because that's the time for me. The dosage I take right now is 75mg because I have 18 eggs in me. The Doctors don't want too many eggs to grow at the same time because if too many grow then Doctors will not perform the IUI. The good news however is that my estrogen levels have gone up 65% since taking the Medication.

I have to go back to the clinic soon to do another sonogram. This sonogram will determine if my eggs are growing or not, and if not then they will slowly increase the dosage. Below is a video I found as a guide to follow when I took the shot for the first time. The video shows step by step how to set up and administer your Follistim Shot.

Fertility Injectables

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 1 Jan 2012 14:54:00 -0500

" Fertility Injectables is what you get when Clomid Fails "

That is my quote of the day. Since the last time I posted I mentioned that I am a Clomid Failure. The 150Mg of Clomid did not increase the size of my follicles to produce eggs. After having a conversation with my Doctor it has been decided to move on to Injections. Before I get started with the Injections I had to take a little class that teaches how to do the injection and where on the body I can safely inject Etc.

So after the class was done I found out that I will be prescribed "Gonal F" Which is the name of a Fertility Injection. While going to the class I also found out that this will be expensive. The nurse mentioned every other day I will have to do a Sonogram and Blood work. Now for me that is a $30.00 co pay each time I go. Plus the price for the Injections themselves ... I was quoted $150.00. Not sure how accurate that is because I didn't get the prescription for it yet. But regardless that Is money ... So I got to thinking, If im going to put all this money out to do this, then I mind as well go through with the IUI instead of doing timed intercourse.

Since the IUI will have cleaned sperm placed directly in the uterus or where ever they put it. Maybe this will better the odds over doing timed sex. Because frankly, putting money out like this ... I can't do for too long.

Brands of Fertility Drug Injectables :

Pergonal
Humegon
Fertinex
Repronex
Gonal-F
Follistim

As always I will continue to update my readers on everything that happens. In the mean time give me your opinion.

Did the fertility Injections Help you get pregnant ?

What was your thoughts about the medication ?

How did you feel when you was on it ?

Would you use it again ?

Pregnancy Test Strips

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 2 Dec 2011 02:16:00 -0500

I made an announcement on my Fan Page about the fact that my cycle came down. Needless to say i was a bit disappointed. I brought some Pregnancy Test Strips because I had to test on Wednesday to see if I was pregnant or not. However since my cycle came down ... that answered my own question. My dear, dear boyfriend wanted me to take it anyway thinking "May Be" I still could be, so to make him happy I tested anyway and the result was a very strong negative.

When I thought I was pregnant I use to stand in Rite Aid starring at their Pregnancy Test thinking to myself ... "Should I buy One " . Well I'm sure glad I didn't around here those test are over $20 for 3 Clearblue digital test. The cheapest one I found was the store brand, which was $9 for one test.

So I did some research and found these test online. I picked up 50 strips for $9 only because I wanted the test in 2 days and it had free 2 day shipping. For any one who is planning on taking Pregnancy Test or Ovulation Test maybe you should consider using Test Strips, you get the same result and save money at the same time. As for me, today I start my second round of Clomid. I hear a lot of women say they get pregnant on their second or third try, So I have high hopes.