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I'm gaining weight and don't like it one bit! Being confined to the house 24/7 and not getting out enough is putting the pounds on me. I have the type of body where I can look at a piece of pie and gain 5 pounds.....you get the idea. The grind and boredom of being a full time caregiver to my elderly mother has given an already hefty appetite.....more momentum. I'm am starting a "strict diet" tomorrow and will keep you all posted on my success. I would like to hear from others who have gained weight from being "tied down" in their role as caregiver.

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Every time something from this thread pops up in my news feed I get hungry. Maybe I need to stop following? 🙄
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Hi. I live with my mother who is still pretty independent. She comes from a large family and does grocery shopping (and other shopping) for several reasons. 1) one to get out of the house. 2) she buys stuff 'because I got a good deal' etc. She buys stuff for me i think as gratitude for my help and having me around the house. I have asked her not to buy stuff for me. I will take full responsibility for putting it into my mouth but it would be great if it wasn't around.
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I'm checking it out for sure. Money is not the only deciding factor, but, why pay too much if I don't have to? My brother and his family attend the Y and that's a plus, but, they go at night and I would mainly be there in the day.
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Sunny, I wasn't a student when I went there; that's why the hours of use were restricted - students first, families second, and the rest of us last.

The friend who told me about this wasn't a student either. But it also might just have been a policy at that community college.
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I will check with the local community college to see what they may offer in the form of gym opportunities. Somehow, I'm not sure that they would let me utilize their facilities, if I'm not a student.

My mom makes great fudge and that's all I have each Christmas. She makes a large assortment for the family and also gives some away as gifts. She makes enough for me to take some to my office and to give the staff at my LO's MC as a nice gift. The MC staff really look forward to it.

What I now keep in mind is that some treats are not my friend. I can have them, but, not hang with them too much. lol I remind myself that the problem is not having one piece of fudge on Christmas Eve. The problem is to have 6 pieces on Christmas Eve and some everyday for the next week! lol I'm learning that moderation is the key and that a little bit is just fine.
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Think I’m gonna peruse the Sees website. No calories or fat grams in just looking, right?
I’ll google Mackinaw Island fudge while I’ll at it - maybe I’ll get lucky and find some that ships. So naughty!!!
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RainMom, if you're ever in the Michigan area and visit Mackinaw Island, you must try their fudge. It's thick, creamy and literally decadent. But it's delicious.

I've had See's candies and they're very creamy; love them, but it's too easy to eat too many and get a sugar headache. But there's a certain lightness to them that I like.

For homemade fudge, have you tried a real simple recipe of 12 oz. of Hershey's chips, about 1/2 tsp. of vanilla (if desired), nuts (if desired), and a can of condensed milk? It doesn't seem grainy to me, just decadently delicious and fattening. I do have the strength to hold off making any until the first blizzard, when I'll be able to work off the calories.


CWillie, we're only mentioning, and dreaming, but I'm sure we all have enough will power to resist (smirking as I write this knowing that I don't have that will power).


Ms. Madge, if you get any cranberry orange truffles, you can have a few pieces for me. That reminds me of a delicious cranberry orange relish I had when Trader Joe's first opened in the area in which my sister lives. It was the best cran relish I've ever had - fresh and light, not heavy with sugar.
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Sunnygirl, the peppermint ice cream is so special that sometimes you can see Sugar Plum fairies dancing in your mind as you imagine watching the Nutcracker and lithe dancers in fluffy pastels.

Are you anywhere near a community college or a city that has a fitness center? Years ago I learned that the county community college had a fitness center in the upscale campus branch. It was something like $10 for a year and a nominal fee (maybe $3??) for each visit. There were time limits, as students if I recall were given priority.

The gym was well equipped, not just dozens of treadmill and ellipticals but a really good variety of other equipment, some of which I had never seen during the varied rounds of therapy I had had at hospital outpatient gyms.

One of the local communities also has a fitness center, with rates that are reasonable (last time I checked it was something like $10 or $20 for nonresident membership). Residents did have priority times though.

Over a decade ago one of the local hospitals built its own fitness center, in part I suspect to channel rehab patients to a facility at which the hospital could bill Medicare for rehab, as opposed to patients going to a private, commercial company that provided limited rehab at the patient's home.

I was enthused until I went for a tour and was asked to sign the indemnification agreement even before I saw the facility. I kept the agreement, with the intent of contacting the hospital or complaining to someone about the indemnification requirement, but eventually decided not to bother as I suspected nothing would be done, and that monitoring agencies or the hospital probably wouldn't find it as objectionable as I did.

But do try community colleges and adjoining neighborhoods (especially ones with good senior outreach programs, not just casino trips).
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Rainmom
I have the recipe for See's fudge - used to make it every year for mom's Xmas party

They have a special November truffle assortment - pecan and a cranberry orange

I think instead of cleaning the bathroom today I'll head to See's which is right next door to Starbucks
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Does it actually have coffee in it Rainmom? I dunno, sounds kind of strange.

Does anyone else think it's kind of counter productive to keep mentioning all these delicious foods on a weight loss thread? To heck with weight loss, now I'm hungry!
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Glad to hear I’m not the only one who has a hard time resisting the temptations of the holiday treats. Don’t even get me going on fudge! Okay - just a few words.

If it’s homemade it’s hard to find fudge that isn’t grainy. But when it’s done right - either with or without nuts - I have no willpower or self control!

Store bought fudge has to be See’s. At Christmas they have a bordoux fudge, vanilla nut fudge and a chocolate nut fudge tri-pak that is sheer heaven! I wait until about a week before Christmas to buy it or God knows how many boxes I’d go through!

As for exercise- I’ve had three back surgeries- all considered a fail - and I need a fourth, which I’m not planning on doing. I have a problem with scar tissue causing nerve damage. Plus - if I sneeze too hard it’s nearly enough to blow another disc so I avoid exercise. Even walking can be problematic as I walk with a limp and it throws my hips all out of whack even on relatively short walks. Pretty good excuse? I do have a yoga program for my Wii that I’ll probably dig out. Swimming is an option but I don’t like it much. I took lessons from age two and got my lifeguard certificate at about age 15 - but somewhere after that I just started to hate swimming. Don’t know why.

But today is a rainy, cold Sunday and I’m thinking a Eggnog Latte would be perfect. Seriously- if you’ve never had one - and like Eggnog- you have to try it. It’s sooo good!
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I went to visit the Y last week to see if I really want to commit. I do, but, did you know they charge a $100.00 enrollment fee? This is on top of the monthly membership fee. I think that is outrageous. I can pay it, but, I just think it's abusive for seniors. (I am over 50, though, I often forget. Am I really a senior? It's seems so strange to me. lol) They have a pool, but, OMG, there were so many kids in there. I hope there's room for adults with all those kids. I'm not much on water aerobics. I'm more likely to swim laps on my own.

Rainmom, those tasty treats really got my mouth watering. I LOVE Starbucks beverages and that Peppermint ice cream sounds AWESOME! I will try them. When I started my plan, I didn't rule anything out. I eat something that I want every week, not just everyday. lol I could never give up treats and my favorite dishes. I just limit it to once a week. The rest of the time, I eat lots of very tasty, healthful food. So far, it's worked great. Slow and steady....which is what I wanted.
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I have the oposite problem. Stress causes me to not be interested in food and drop weight like crazy. Right now I have a feeding tube for dysphasia and severe malnutrition.. I am down to 5' 3" from 5" 7" due to arthritis and scoliosis and my weight is being maintained at 124 lbs and have bones sticking out everywhere. Now i don't actually want to be any heavier as it is kinder to the O/A.
I have had run ins with weight gain in the past and I got it off by not eating lunch. I would drink a diet cola and eat a sandwich then cook in the evening because hubby wanted a meal. My closet ranges from 12 to 18 but I am not getting rid of any of it.
I love the look of all the foods the diet plans advertise on TV but too frugal to consider buying. Besides which I don't believe a thing i see on TV. Too many snake oil salesmen!.
Hubby is the one who needs to loose weight round here. Right now he looks about 12 months pregnant. I don't even bother to comment anymore.
As I have said about other things do the best you can and don't rush at it
Rain mom do you think you can start with the exercise between now nd the holidays. that may give you a good start. Even if it is only a leisurely swim at the Y.
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RainMom, I remember with fondness the special peppermint ice cream. It was a holiday treat for us; we'd have it after Christmas dinner.

I've seen it in the Kroger ice cream section and just the thought of the light, deliciously cool flavor brings back memories, and fragrances...of turkey in the oven, of my mother's Armenian rolls, the crisp outdoorsy fragrance of the tree...good memories, all.

Peppermint ice cream is indeed special. So definitely have some before you start on a diet!
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Just yesterday I decided it’s time to get the extra weight off - again.

I’m 5’8” and didn’t break 120lbs until my “freshman 10” in college. I had Rainman at 31 and that brought the “baby weight” - which I’m still trying to loose!

But it was the stress of a bad marriage that really did me in. But after I got rid of The Donor - I got rid of most of the weight.

But then the stress of being a single mom with a disabled child - weight back on.

Met new hubby - happy at last - weight back off.

Stress of looking after my parents - weight back on. SIGH!!!

I have a wardrobe that ranges from a six to a sixteen. The number markers on my scale in a 60 pound range are worn off from the needle going back and forth so many times!

So - come New Year’s Day - actual the day after - I’ll be back at - trying to loose the weight. I’ll work on just being better until then, when I’ll have to fully commit. I just know it would be foolish of me to start now - setting myself up to fail if I did.

It’s the holiday season. Two things I look forward to all year - Starbucks Eggnog Lattes and Haagen Daz Peppermint ice cream. They are only available this time of year - and they make me happy. Not in a comfort for stress kind of way but in a “WOW, that’s good” way.
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I actually lost weight when I first became a caregiver. I had so much stress, anxiety and exhaustion, that I dropped a lot of weight. THEN, I gained it back when things got stable. HOWEVER, I then decided to take my health back and lost 45 pounds so far. It's amazing how much better I feel. I have some more to go, but, am confident that I've changed my eating for a lifetime. IT's not just a diet.

Also, if you have unexplained weight gain, I'd consider sleep disorders and thyroid imbalance. Both can cause you to pack on pounds.
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Research "cortisol stress" as a cause of weight gain. I think it's the cause of caregiver weight increase.
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I was able to lose some weight before the broken ankle saga,, but the 4 months mainly off my feet ( foot..LOL) and the stress since have put it back on. I'm back to getting it off, but it is slower now! The metformin has worked great for me, and it's cheap.. but it does have some "gastrointestinal issues" if you get my drift! But my A1C is awesome now!!
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Akkkk, I cannot believe how much weight I have gained in the past couple of years. Now pear shape, and I dislike how I look.

When I am stressed I don't want to eat, yet the weight piled on. If I keep this up, you will see on "My 600 lb Life", and that is scary.

Can't into my favorite blue jeans, ones that looked pretty good, and did not make me look like a letter P.

Pam, I was also diagnosed a pre-diabetic last year, but so far no meds were given to me. My doctor said for me to lose 4 pounds, and I thought that would be easy enough, BUT IT'S NOT !!! I know walking is the best thing, but I hate to walk alone :( And I don't want to give up my Starbucks Hot Chocolate.
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I stress eat. I was diagnosed as prediabetic last year, and put on metformin. I lost about 7 lbs,, all good . My numbers were better. Dr asked if I wanted to stop the drug,, heck NO,, I know myself and my "winter gain". And the stress is back up and so are the 7 lbs! So back to the healthy eating ( yeah right,,, mom likes country cooking). Wish me luck!
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I waffle between thinking "eat, drink and be merry!" and feeling disgusted with myself. Then I have some cookies.
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I know how you feel in two years I have gained 20 lbs and it is depressing.
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I tend to snack a lot while caregiving, mostly crackers and cheese. I don't really eat regular meals, but just basically snacking throughout the days. I have found it helpful to weigh myself every other day, if I am trying to lose weight. Also, it can help to write down in a notebook what you ate and what time you ate.
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Emotional eating is a problem. I'm quite early in the caregiving process. My husband looks OK and can go to the store by himself. But he can't pay the bills or make decisions or use a sharp knife or handle complicated things or even sort bills by date. I have to do "everything" myself, and I don't like it at all. I think that makes me hungrier than normal.

I know, I have no idea how bad it will get. It scares me.
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I can't really blame caregiving for my weight gain, but I'm using a free website called My Fitness Pal to track my food and exercise. My daughter forced me to start by saying she needed me to do it too so she would keep at it.

I find I look at french fries and actually don't want them because they will "waste" so many of my calories. Desserts - I fantasize about desserts. But again, I usually don't want them enough to order a whole one.
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Weight gain? You could say that. Part of it has to do with a medication for my fibromyalgia. I've put on 35 lbs in the past year. Yikes! And I was 20 lbs overweight before that gain. I'm starting to outgrow my fat pants. I hate this. Definitely time to start the diet. I want to get a treadmill, but have no place to put it in the house. We have a pool in our subdivision, and water exercise is great for Mom, but I've only been able to get her go down there with me twice. I'm hesitant about leaving her alone, although I could probably go while she's napping.
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I've gained a couple of pounds as well. I'm finding that using my mom's treadmill and using online exercise videos help--and all can be done in the home. Of course, finding the motivation to do these things is its own challenge. One thing that's really easy is using an app to track your calories. I LOVE the app Lose It. it's free, and has a really simple, clear, ad-free design. Also--remember that each day is new, and no matter how "bad" you were the day before, you get to start over each morning!
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PS. It took from Feb 4 to Aug 28 to lose 40 lbs. I lost it slow and really changed my eating habits.
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A couple of years ago I bought a wii and started using their basic exercise program. I could barely do any of the activities when I started. I just kept at it and changed my eating habits a bit. Have almost eliminated sugary stuff from my diet, especially, sodas, pies, cakes, cookies. Nuts are a great filler, high in fat but its the good kind. Makes you feel full, lots of fruit. I always try to eat a good breakfast. I LOST 40 POUNDS. I'm almost 60 and menopause had a major affect on my waist line but two years later, still in a size 4, exercise at least 3 times a week about 40 minutes. Weights, Calisthenics, Yoga. It is working so far for me. BTW, about once a week I eat whatever, Snickers, Pizza, Chinese and I eat as much as I want. My Basic Resting Metabolic requirement is 1380 calories. I try not to ever eat more than 1500 in a day.

Now I'm trying to quit smoking using the e-cigs and I'm exercising more to keep my metabolism up. We'll see. But so far I'm not replacing smoking with eating using the e-cigs and I've smoked 45 years but I don't see it as a cake walk. Weaning my brain off nicotine is a real challenge.

Just try to figure out what you want to do and stick with it. But yes, if you are confined to the house most of the time, you need an exercise routine. Just running in place will boost your metabolism and your energy level.
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The south beach diet is a quick healthy way to loose it.. My problem is sugar, I have been eating candy like its going out of style. Some days I wake up and eat nothing but candy all day. That's what I do when I'm stressed, I keep willy wonka in buisness. Not pies and cakes just gobstoppers, laffy taffy , nerds that kind of candy I am probably going to be a diabetic after all this.
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