Gaining weight - yikes!

[julienc]

I'm not sure if it's related or not, but I've gained a few pounds since I found out about HFI. I think it's partly because I haven't been getting sick nearly as much since I'm now able to control my diet more effectively and know what foods to avoid. I think it's also because I'm trying all these new yummy foods (like Pixie stix and yogurt).

I need to be careful!

[colormist]

LOL, I don't think I gained any weight after I found out, but I don't eat much anyway. I was wondering what kind of weight issues everyone had with HFI. I'm in my healthy range, but still on the borderline. There's not much to do in the diet area, I mean, really, how do you diet when you can't eat any diet foods anyway? I exercise whenever I get a chance, but I'm still concerned about gaining weight.

[julienc]

Yeah, I know what you mean about dieting. I laughed when people started eating burgers without buns. I was on that trend long before it was popular. ;D

Weight hasn't been an issue up until now. I've always been a super tiny person. The smallest one in my class growing up. I'm not quite 5'-1" and fall in what I would call the "normal" weight range for that height. I generally would eat whatever I wanted (without sugar, of course) and didn't have to worry about putting on weight. Until now, so it seems. Maybe it's an age thing.

[Tammy]

Regina has always been on the small side. From baby up. Now she isn't quite 5 foot, and she weighs about 120 lbs. Her problem is that she isn't active enough. Since she doesn't walk, she has a big butt. (wears about size 12 pants). But a lot of her weight is her legs. She has trouble with fibrosis. So her legs are big with fluid. On the other hand, she has been this same size for many years now. It's not something that is getting bigger. Now her top half is small. Skinny arms short abdomen. She reminds me of one of those cut out dolls, where you can put different tops on different bottoms.

Now I'm not sure just how much her height is inherited. Since I"m about 5' 2", and my mom is only about 5", and I had a half sister who was only about 4' 11". And we all stand beside my 6' Dad, my 6' 2" brother, and my 5' 10" sister and other brother. Pixie's and giants. Yep, that's what we look like together.

[sarahk]

Mike: As far as Sarah’s weight-she’s always been in the normal/healthy range-but maybe slightly on the higher end-she was diagnosed at age 12, so her diet hasn’t changed in the last several years. I’ve mentioned this before, last summer she lost 25 pounds while in a running clinic and using myfooddiary.com–getting ready for baby weight. As far as baby-she only gained 21 pounds-which was pretty hard for her-she kept exercising(since Ethan was 3 weeks early-she was also teaching the day before she went into labor-surprising, she was feeling sickish all day) and really watching what she ate–her being sick and throwing up often the first 15 weeks probably helped too, but not in a good way

Getting her thyroid level in order also helped. I know diabetics have thyroid issues, so I’m assuming its probably similar for HFIers. She instantly dropped about 5 pounds with the thyroid meds.

She not (nor am I) one of those people who could eat anything without any weight gain.

I think Julie might be right-I’m pretty sure Julie, Colormist, Sarah, Regina (myself) are all about 28. I’m noticing I can’t drop weight as quickly as the high school or college days.

"Dieting" is nearly impossible for Sarah-and I'm sure all HFIers b/c of the sugar issue and the hyperglycemia. So, we try to eat healthy-consider it a lifestyle not a diet: Fresh salads with dinner, lean meats (99% lean turkey breast, 4% beef, no skin chicken breasts) , non/low fat diary products. Sarah does get tired of chicken very quickly though.

To cut down on carbs, every now and then, we buy this flourless bread from Trader Joe's (Ezekiel’s?)-which has like 9 grains in it-a trainer/nutritionist at the gym recommended it when sarah was pregnant. It's not nearly as good as a sourdough/asiago bread, but you feel better about yourself.

Glad to see the pixie stick/yogurt mix is catching on.

And as soon as Sarah stops falling asleep so early in the evenings, (those late night feeding sessions continue...) she’ll get on this board too.

[julienc]

I don't think my size is inherited - most of my family is much taller. I kind of figured it may be HFI related, but maybe not.

Sarah did great with the weight during pregnancy! Gosh, I gained 40 pounds. Fortunately most of it came off, but now I'm back up again a bit. I do think it has to do with age. (I just hit 31 years.)

[sarahk]

Yeah-sarah worked hard those 9.5 months. Your height may be HFI related-I recall reading that people with liver problems may have their growth impeded –who knows how HFI effects childrens’ livers and growth. I also read that people with liver problems are often late talkers–sarah was. I'm with you on the age thing

[julienc]

Oh my gosh Fred what cute pictures!!! What an adorable little boy!

I guess I'll chalk it up to age. I'll need to start exercising. Like everyone here has said - dieting is not much of an option for us.

[Tammy]

Hey Fred,
Great link. It's nice to finally put a face to all those words of wisdom.

[sarahk]

Mike: I agree, I always like knowing what people look like, so, since I can't figure out how to get a picture under our name, here is a link with some of our pics (OK, most of the pics are of Ethan, but you'll find some of Sarah and me)

karatov.shutterfly.com/action/

[julienc]

Again, great pictures. It's fun to see what you all look like. I'll have to try and post some from my home computer.

[Tammy]

Usually my family uses Kodak.com to share our pics. When it came to getting one to show up under our name on here, I tried for a long time. Then finally had to ask how to get it on here. I was sent to photobucket.com. It's a free site where I uploaded the little pic I wanted to put on here. Then just go in your profile and under avatar URL, just link to the webpage that shows the pic. Turned out to be pretty easy, after this "I can do this" old brain finally broke down and asked.
When I get a chance, I'll have to look for one with both of us on it. In the meantime, here is the newest ones that I have shared (Actually from last Easter in Phoenix) www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=7z0pb6o.8zv1lwz0&x=1&y=-krkzpa
I am the short fat one pointing at the thermometer with my mom, (This was to send home to say Nah Nah Nah to the ones who didn't go along and were in the cold) or the one holding Regina in the pool. That's my son and his new wife with us. (And her parents). Or I'm the one in the pink shirt holding the birds. Regina is always the one in the wheelchair.

[sarahk]

Tammy-what next, ask for directions?

[Tammy]

Mike,
go to photobucket.com and create a free account. Then just upload a small pic. I cut it before I uploaded it because it really comes out small under your name. Then when you click on the pic, copy the address. Go into your member profile on here, and modify your profile. Paste the address under avatar URL. That will put your pic under your name.

[sarahk]

thanks

[colormist]

Aside from my avatar (wedding photo), this is me on the right (the one with the poorer posture) with my sister (who does not have HFI). www.flickr.com/photos/elf_spotting/890072851/

I like to think that I don't typically look like this. I've been told that I continually make really weird faces. I only act normal for photographs.

[sarahk]

I end up making weird faces in photos, while trying to act normal

[Tammy]

Mike,
ok, after having to play around with it again to change the pic, I got it now.
The pic that you upload to photobucket can be no bigger than 100 X 100 pixels.
After it's on photobucket, links will show below the pic. Copy the one after "direct link". Paste that into your avatar URL in your member's profile. I'm not sure if there is a quicker way or not, but This is how I did it.

[colormist]

LOL, love the picture, Fred.