Where a very medicated Jenn waxes on and on about her weight :(

[Guest guest]

Angie and everybody,

Darn, I was hoping it was a good five to ten pounds at least. It sounds

like we have the

same kind though. I'm surprised something that lightweight can hold up my

twisty spine.

But then again, it's probably the mechanics of how they put it all in there that

make it

sturdy.

I'm 36, but I think because of dieting for the past three years and the

gallbladder diet of

the past two months, I have actually lost weight. Maybe getting older and

hopefully wiser

has given me better impulse control. This has *always* been a problem for me

and since

most folks with SMA seem to have trouble with the opposite end of weight scale -

gaining/maintaining - I've always felt rather lonely in my plight.

The frustrating thing is I have no real way to exercise. All I can do is limit

food intake.

And in general I don't " pig out " on stuff. I avoid fried food, watch calories

and fat, avoid

things with " real " sugar, etc. I eat twice a day - a protein shake (Kashi

GoLean, 220

calories, 1 g fat, 7 g fiber) made with soymilk and water for lunch, and the

usual dinner

with the family (low cholesterol main dish (because of hubby), veggies, salad, a

little bread

with very little butter). For awhile I was trying to eat smaller snacks

throughout the day to

keep my metabolism " up, " but I think that actually caused me to " plateau "

instead of

continuing to lose. Oh, and if I drink anything besides water, it's usually 1

can of diet

soda a day. I do like desserts, but I cannot get to them myself and try to not

have them

around the house in general to avoid the temptation. In the morning I take a

amino acid

protein supplement that has 50 calories and no fat. (If I don't, I'm rather

zombie-like

during the day.) To top it all off, my body seems to like to burn up my muscles

instead of

my fat first. So there is a very fine line for me between eating too much and

not eating

enough.

I mean I know I'll never have a super model shape. My virtually non-existent

abdominal

muscles kind of just allow my squished together internal organs to spill forward

and to the

left when I sit up, giving me the tummy of someone 5 months pregnant or so.

Ugh! I just

want to know *really* how much I'm supposed to weigh based on my significant

residual

curvature, etc. I remember attendants in grade school and junior high

complaining about

lifting me right in front of me. They made it sound like I weighed 400lbs or

something.

Sorry this is so long and rambly. I took a Vicodin for pain right before I

started this reply

and am rather loopy at the moment. I guess it's like truth serum or something.

Jenn

>

> I was told less than a pound, but I am not sure if mine is exactly like your

> hardware. I have the Harrington rods (one long one and one short one along my

> spine plus one across the hip area at the base of the spinal support rods)

> and all three pieces equal less than one pound.

>

> I do not think the stainless steel hardware has a huge effect on your overall

> weight or Body-Mass Index.

>

> Maybe it is just a metabolism change? What is your age again? We all slow down

> as we travel the road of life so you may have to change up what you eat and

> how much.

>

> Angie