I haven’t been getting on the scale at home because it sends my weight to Ron’s phone.
I also haven’t been measuring. I just figured if I was walking 6x week and working out 2x week I was okay.
I did realize at some point (maybe April?) that I was not losing weight and that I was going to have to watch my food intake. But I haven’t done anything about it.
Measurement discrepancies
Two days ago I decided I should take my measurements. It was the end of the day and my calf was 14. My thigh was 20. When I looked at the last time I wrote it down, those were both losses. Whoopee!
Then I put in my waist and it was significantly larger.
So I thought, I’ll get up some morning and take my measurements.
Measurement today compared
This morning I did that. My calf was at 15.5 and my thigh at 24. I’m not sure why the change. Did I do something wrong the other day measuring?
The difference between my measurements in November of 2013 and now (July 2014) is 11.75 inches gain. This is not muscle (except maybe in my legs and arms).
When I looked up pounds per inch, because I remembered losing weight and inches in a ratio, I found something that sounded familiar. 10 pounds = 1 inch lost
If I gained 11.75 inches, that would mean I have gained 117 pounds, which would put me at 280, which would, in fact, get me into my mother’s normal weight range. (Since we left Edinburgh I have been feeling like I look like my mother’s body shape. I never feel like I look good or skinny now.)
There is no way, even with stuffing myself in and size changes that the US has made so people won’t feel bad about being overweight (or bigger–but bigger only works for a little while or if you are a weightlifter), that I could still fit in my 10 jeans (even lapping over the top) if I had gained 117 pounds. (Plus the 10 jeans were after the size changes, so they wouldn’t be impacted.)
However, it does mean I have gained a lot of weight potentially with very little evidence of muscle increase.
Muscle increase
My legs, I will buy that as muscle increase. Why? Because my calves have no jiggle at all. I can’t pinch anything, not even at the top where there used to be a little excess.
My thighs now have more of that dimpling from cellulite, but don’t rub together (but they’re bigger?) and appear smaller…. Of course, it’s obvious perspective is an issue, but I still think my legs could be muscle increase only. I’ve been walking a lot here–even more than at home–and Edinburgh at least was very hilly. London is pretty flat. I feel like I ought to go climb stairs.
I have the same circumference on my arm and I will take that as muscle gain too because it is not as jiggly. Yes, it still has the floppiness, but not as much.
Clearly fat increase
However the 5.25 gain around my belly button cannot be anything except fat. And the 2.5 under my ribs the same.
Mostly belly fat
I am seeing that “more weight in the middle” thing.
I gained half an inch in my breasts and 1.75 in my hips. That is not good.
However, the really scary thing is that using the two waist measurements–under the ribs and at the belly button, I gained 7.75 inches.
Let me repeat that. In my waist alone (using the two measurements), I gained 7.75 inches.
I vaguely remember apple as being a bad shape to have, so I am going to look that up.
Apple shape
According to Mayo Clinic people who have apple shaped bodies (where most of their excess weight is in their middle/belly section) have metabolic syndrome.
Okay, that sounds bad. A syndrome is always bad. So I look that up.
According to Wikipedia (info at your fingertips), it is a disorder of energy utilization and storage. It does, in fact, make you look like an apple shape.
However, the shape is not the sole diagnosis factor. Instead you have to have at least three of the five symptoms:
abdominal obesity
elevated blood pressure
elevated fasting plasma glucose levels
high serum triglycerides
low HDLs
I have the first.
I have the second, but that’s because of the ADHD meds. When I’m off, I don’t have that. That might not matter for the syndrome; I don’t know.
I had elevated glucose levels when I was pregnant with Micah (as far as I remember the only time I’ve been tested), but they weren’t elevated enough for gestational diabetes. If that was not because of Micah, but me, then I have that.
I don’t remember my triglycerides, but I vaguely recall that my HDLs are higher than my LDLs–though perhaps not high enough.
So, I could have this. Basically, according to Wikipedia again, this is prediabetes.
Why didn’t someone tell me that when I was pregnant with Micah?
Prediabetes
According to diabetes.co.uk prediabetes, which I’ve heard more often as borderline diabetes, “almost always develops into type 2 diabetes.”
I am NOT going to get diabetes. I refuse. So what do I need to do?
Diabetes prevention and treatment
Still on the diabetes.co.uk website…
ALA
They say that ALA is a good antioxidant and helps diabetic neuropathy and reduces pain from free-radical damage. So maybe I need to add that. Anything that might reduce pain would be good.
Biotin
Biotin helps create an enzyme which is the first step in glucose utilization. That enzyme tends to be very low for folks with diabetes.
Carnitine, L-Carinitine, Acetyl L-Carnitine)
This helps the body use body fat.
They said that diabetics who use this get a rapid change and that their fats in the bloodstream (both cholesterol and triglycerides) may fall fast.
Chromium
They say it is crucial. That it improves glucose tolerance.
It can be in brewer’s yeast or as chromium chloride.
Exercise will also increase chromium.
They said, specifically, that it is important for people with pre diabetes.
Coenzyme Q10
Animals suffering from diabetes are low in this.
It lowers blood sugar levels and oxygenates the blood–which may help with retinopathy.
Inositol
Believed to play a role in reversing diabetic neuropathy.
Manganese
Commonly deficient in diabetics. Maybe a cause? Could be important for glucose metabolism.
Magnesium
Magnesium directly influences blood sugar level control.
Too low:
interrupts insulin secretion
increases insulin resistance
Vanadium
Using vanadium supplements may increase sensitivity to insulin, which is good/important.
There is a proved link between vanadium levels and diabetes.
Vitamin B6
Also known as pyridoxine, B6 improves glucose tolerance.
Vitamin B12
Helps reduce nerve damage.
Vitamin C
May improve glucose tolerance.
Vitamin D
Boosts insulin sensitivity.
Vitamin E
Oxygenates blood, fights toxins.
Increasing vitamin E may decrease risk of developing diabetes AND reduces risk of diabetic complications.
Zinc
Crucial for insulin metabolism.
Weird diet information
Still diabetes.co.uk…
Says that diets low in carbs and high in fats are healthier for blood glucose control and weight loss.
So now what?
Start with getting multivitamins and actually taking them.
Quit eating simple sugars (especially candy, ice cream, etc).
Eat more fresh foods or foods you make yourself.
In fact, I guess I am going to get up and make teriyaki stir fry for lunch right now.