Maintenance Weekly 1st May 2006 - Focus on Health

[Mitra]

We hope you fully appreciate the fact that overall health is what is ultimately important, and not just your weight... Americans need to shift their focus from a person's weight to a person's overall health.

While it's true that obesity is a sign that a person's health is somewhat compromised, the goal should still be an increase in overall health. Weight reduction is one way you can measure your succesful change to better health, but it's not the only marker.

Christian B Allan, PhD & Wolfgang Lutz, MD, Life Without Bread

I don't think the quote applies just to Americans, but it was published in America, and aimed at an American audience.

I'm not sure what made me choose this quote today. Maybe the fact that my monthly weigh in shows I've gained a couple of pounds :rolleyes:. Or maybe the fact that I'm suffering from one in a series of cold/flu-type infections that have hit me over the last few months.

When we stop to think about it, it seems obvious that it's more important to have good health than to be a particular weight, but society's images of the perfect physique are hard to escape. Having the chance today to experience both a small weight gain and an illness, I know which one is having most effect on my life, and restricting my choices ;) .

I'm not saying that it's good to be significantly overweight, but for each of us, a "healthy weight" takes in quite a wide band - most of which is higher than is currently fashionable.

I don't believe that there's any diet that can guarantee you'll never get ill, and most of us have some weakness either that we were born with, or have acquired along the way, but eating and exercising as well as you can for good health gives your body the best chance.

[Shadow]

Janet - You may not be happy about the weight but I'm glad to hear you're now in a comfort zone :D. Besides, I think you'll find once this health issue passes that it will come back off ;).

Great thoughts and quote for the day! I know I still put weight first :o even though I know in my mind that it's health that counts. Just one more thing to work though - I don't think I'll ever get done with all the issues that go on in my puny little brain :rolleyes: :p....

[Mitra]

Janet - You may not be happy about the weight but I'm glad to hear you're now in a comfort zone :D. Besides, I think you'll find once this health issue passes that it will come back off ;).

I thought you'd be pleased ;). But I agree that some of it might well be water, because I often hold a couple of pounds of extra water weight while I'm fighting an infection (cytokines, I'm told - I still haven't read up about them).

Great thoughts and quote for the day! I know I still put weight first :o even though I know in my mind that it's health that counts. Just one more thing to work though - I don't think I'll ever get done with all the issues that go on in my puny little brain :rolleyes: :p....

Well, if you had it all sorted, there'd be no challenges left for you :D .

[Shadow]

Oh believe me, Janet, I am sure I'll never run out of challenges :p ;) :eek:!

And I think you need to read up on cytokines so you can tell us all about them :D!

[Mitra]

Well, I've read a bit about cytokines, but although I've found out they're bits of protein and are involved in encouraging cells to mount an immune response, I couldn't find anything about holding water. I have noticed on several occasions that with a cold/infection or big allergy attack I'll pick up 2-3 pounds that goes as soon as I'm better. The cytokine idea came from Mary (Petra, not Banshee), but I just checked back to her actual comment, and she said that while they do hold water, she'd expect to see a couple of pounds for a whole inflamed leg or something of that severity, but not for a few sniffles. So, as they say, more studies are needed ;).

By the way, the sniffles are pretty much gone now - so I just need to get my energy back :). I did a slightly longer yoga session today, but still keeping it pretty mild, and with much more resting than usual between postures.

[Relief]

Neither my wieght nor my health is optimum at the moment. With the thyroid issues etc plus I seem to have an increased suceptibility to infection lately, had a spiderbite go septic and am on antibiotics now for that--and that is the second time in 6 months that I had to get antibiotics. Also very bad aches and pains in hips/back/sciatica. Can't sleep without taking ibuprofin. All this is unusual for me to say the least and not sure what it means/ what I might be missing diet wise or if it is just old age!

On the more upbeat I HAVE been seeing a steady down trend in the scale hit a new low today so that is 5 pounds down over the last 2 weeks. 15 to go. We seem to have found the right thyroid dosage now. hurray hurray.

Glad you are feeling better janet and hope ethe wieght is indeed water and will go quickly.

shadow I'm not exercising AT ALL--partly 'cause everything makes my hips worse and partly 'cause i just can't seem to make myself do it any ideas.

and can antibiotics cause water weight gain? I want to be mentally prepared if thats so.

[Shadow]

Janet - So glad the sniffles are gone! And hopefully the energy will return soon although I'll admit I'm beginning to wonder if I ever had any energy at all ;).

Deborah - It is so good to see you :D! Congrats on the weight loss too - I am so happy for you! Shoot, Deborah, I think where I'm at right now everything causes weight gain :p. But seriously, I don't think they do. I know they can cause yeast infections and mess up the bowels (if they destroy the good bacteria and leave the bad) but that's about the lump sum of my pitiful knowledge. Gosh - sounds like you have a lot of bad things going on too, though :(. I hope you can get it all straightened out and get back to feeling human again!

As for the exercise... that's really tough when you're not feeling well and are having pain issues :eek:! The only suggestion I can make is to find something that you can look forward to with even a modicum of interest, even if it's not normally considered "exercise." Like an evening of dancing with your sweetie, gardening, stretches, yoga - just anything that strikes your fancy and doesn't exacerbate your hip and back pain. You can always return to a more formal exercise routine once your heath issues are tended to :). Right now, I would say getting in whatever daily activity you can is all you should aim for. If you overstress by trying to do more demanding exercise, it will just deplete your healing stores. And you need all of those to get well!

[Mitra]

Deborah, I'm glad you're seeing some progress with the thyroid meds. I don't think antibiotics cause fluid retention, but I haven't taken any recently. My husband had some a few years ago when he had tonsilitis, and had mouth ulcers afterwards - the same story - killing off the good bacteria.

My dentist's just phoned and offered me a cancellation appointment, so I can get my root canal fixed this Thursday. I'll be really glad to get it over with, and I am so much hoping that when the chronic inflammation is gone I will have a bit more energy, resistance to infections, and less trouble with allergies. This last winter I seem to have picked up every bug that was going :(. I'm not sure how long it will take before I'll know if my health is picking up generally - and starting out with the tail end of a cold and TOM hormones means the odds are I'll feel better after a few days anyway.