need advice

[hoteacher]

Hello Ladies,

Well, last time I posted was in the spring...at that time I had gone from being 8 percent body fat for about 6 years, getting down even lower for my shows. THen, the hormonal surge hit my body! I had not had my period in 6 years. I gained 20 lbs in a a very short 8 weeks and broke out in cystic acne. Well, things have gotten MUCH better...however with a price. My endocronologist put me on aldactone....I have to take 3 pills a day in order to keep the acne at bay. I have now lost all of the weight...but lost my muscle in the meantime. I have accepted the fact that I will no longer be shredded year round and if I am on the aldactone to block the extra test, then my gains will be non existant. Right now, I am just trying to hold onto the muscle I have. During this hormonal surge, my body also decided to shut down my thyroid...I am now on 3 grains of armour thyroid...a pretty hefty amount. I also know that the t3 in the armour thyroid will eat my muscle....so I am a bit sol in so many ways. I am the diet listed below. My boyfriend is encouraging me to do a "cheat meal"....I honestly have not cheated since December and at that time, my cheat was a couple pieces of cheeseless pizza. I am lifting 6 days a week and doing HITT cardio for 20-30 minutes 6 days a week....I know you will knock me for this, but on my day off, I do 40 minutes of hit cardio.

Please let me know if you have any words of wisdom in regards to my situation. I am just wondering if a cheat day may spark my metabolism...or is it better to carb rotate and see how that goes?

Diet:
meal one: 30 g carbs (brwn rice), 1 scoop whey

TRAIN

meal two: 30 g carbs (brwn rice), 1 scoop whey

meal three: 2 cups veggies, romaine lettuce, 5-6 oz lean protein (talapia, cod, org roughy, 99 % lean turkey, chicken breast)

meal four: 2 cups veggies, romaine lettuce, 5-6 oz lean protein (talapia, cod, org roughy, 99 % lean turkey, chicken breast)

meal five: 2 cups veggies, romaine lettuce, 5-6 oz lean protein (talapia, cod, org roughy, 99 % lean turkey, chicken breast)

meal six: 1 scoop casein protein

Thank you so much....any words of wisdom would be fantastic! The good news is, I feel SOOOOOOOOO much better!!!!! I have energy and no longer feel like I am in a fog....my depression is also GONE....I believe that had alot to do with the low thyroid.

 

[needtogetaas]

I think you may be pushing it a bit to much. Maybe you are mentally letting everything get to you too. I truly hope things work out. I want you to get the best advice you can get and be happy with yourself and your life.

 

[Thandie]

Hi hoteacher,
i'll do my best to answer this since I'm on my iPhone, however I'll come back tomorrow and be more clear.

First of all you're not eating enough food, which is one of the reasons, I suspect, you're having thyroid issues.
I really encourage you to either have a cheat meal or a carb up day. You can not be on a comp diet all year round. I believe I said this to you in the past. You can still be lean without killing your system in the process.

The cheat meal will help your metabolism get to where it should be.
You need to eat grains, starchy carbs as well as vegetables.

Ok, I'll come back.

Hello Ladies,

Well, last time I posted was in the spring...at that time I had gone from being 8 percent body fat for about 6 years, getting down even lower for my shows. THen, the hormonal surge hit my body! I had not had my period in 6 years. I gained 20 lbs in a a very short 8 weeks and broke out in cystic acne. Well, things have gotten MUCH better...however with a price. My endocronologist put me on aldactone....I have to take 3 pills a day in order to keep the acne at bay. I have now lost all of the weight...but lost my muscle in the meantime. I have accepted the fact that I will no longer be shredded year round and if I am on the aldactone to block the extra test, then my gains will be non existant. Right now, I am just trying to hold onto the muscle I have. During this hormonal surge, my body also decided to shut down my thyroid...I am now on 3 grains of armour thyroid...a pretty hefty amount. I also know that the t3 in the armour thyroid will eat my muscle....so I am a bit sol in so many ways. I am the diet listed below. My boyfriend is encouraging me to do a "cheat meal"....I honestly have not cheated since December and at that time, my cheat was a couple pieces of cheeseless pizza. I am lifting 6 days a week and doing HITT cardio for 20-30 minutes 6 days a week....I know you will knock me for this, but on my day off, I do 40 minutes of hit cardio.

Please let me know if you have any words of wisdom in regards to my situation. I am just wondering if a cheat day may spark my metabolism...or is it better to carb rotate and see how that goes?

Diet:
meal one: 30 g carbs (brwn rice), 1 scoop whey

TRAIN

meal two: 30 g carbs (brwn rice), 1 scoop whey

meal three: 2 cups veggies, romaine lettuce, 5-6 oz lean protein (talapia, cod, org roughy, 99 % lean turkey, chicken breast)

meal four: 2 cups veggies, romaine lettuce, 5-6 oz lean protein (talapia, cod, org roughy, 99 % lean turkey, chicken breast)

meal five: 2 cups veggies, romaine lettuce, 5-6 oz lean protein (talapia, cod, org roughy, 99 % lean turkey, chicken breast)

meal six: 1 scoop casein protein

Thank you so much....any words of wisdom would be fantastic! The good news is, I feel SOOOOOOOOO much better!!!!! I have energy and no longer feel like I am in a fog....my depression is also GONE....I believe that had alot to do with the low thyroid.

 

[Tatyana]

Hi,

Nice to know that you have made some progress.

I wouldn't be so sure that T3 is going to eat up your muscle if you are restoring it to normal levels, if you are concerned, then I would suggest you ask your endocrinologist about taking levothyroxine, which is basically thyroxine or T4. Your body will convert the T4 in the peripheral tissues to the levels that it requires, and it is easier to stabilise your thyroid levels.

As far as getting your metabolism back in line and eating in a way that supports you, you are going to have to take some time to get that right.

I realise you may think this is fat after being such a low bodyfat percentage for such a long time, however, 16-17% is considered by some to be the optimum bodyfat for putting on muscle.

I think that it might be difficult for you to have a cheat meal after so many years of dieting, however, food is great. You can always have a 'healthy cheat' meal, or just have one day on the weekend where you eat higher calories.

I really quite like carb cycling, but my low carb days are typically around 100-120 g/day, not in the keto range (low carbs can suppress the thyroid as well), but I also count everything, all veggies etc.

 

[Tami Bellon]

Hey you! Long time, no talk to!!!!

You have always pushed it too hard . Eat the cheat meal, girl! You're body is TIRED. I know a little more about your history due to knowing you way back when. Give yourself a break, ok. You need rest - you don't need to stop training or cardio (and I know you won't anyway! lol), but lighten it up just a little. Mentally, it's probably going to be difficult for you, but it is MUCH needed and MUCH overdue.

You're body is now retaliating against you for your "break-neck" striving to always be your best. You NEEEEEEED REST! You NEEEEEEED your cheat meals!

If you need anything you let me know!!!!!
Remember this?

 

[Tami Bellon]

I have a client I'm helping with Hypothyroidism. This is some of the research I've done for her. Maybe some of it would be beneficial for you as well. Not all of it will apply directly to you, and I know you are educated on your fats and what is good and bad - this is just a good read.


How does L-Tyrosine relieve hypothyroidism symptoms?
Alternative Medicine and Hypothyroidism

Natural Treatments for Hypothyroidism

Iodine is required to make thyroid hormones. Bladderwrack, kelp, and dulse are rich natural sources of iodine. Dosage: 300 to 400 mcg of iodine/day.

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid required to make thyroid hormones. Dosage: 500 mg/day.

Ashwagandha (Withania sominifera) has been proven helpful for low thyroid conditions. Dosage: (standardized to contain 1.5% withanolides) 150 mg/day.

Selenium works as a cofactor for the enzyme that converts T4 to T3. Dosage: 100 to 200 mcg/day.

Homeopathic remedies Fucus vesiculosus or thyroidinum. Dosage: 6X to 30X, 3 pellets, two to three times/day.

Make sure to avoid soy products as they may block the absorption of thyroid hormone.




Recommendations For Wellness

* Reduce soy consumption. Soy can depress thyroid function and has been shown to cause goiters (an enlargement of the thyroid gland) in healthy individuals.

* Alkalinize the body! This may help to prevent thyroid dysfunction in the first place.
Alkaline Foods / Acidic Foods

* Get rid of the saturated fats from your diet. Saturated fats have been found to inhibit thyroid function.
o fatty cuts of meat, including meat drippings
o bacon, sausage, and processed meats
o duck, chicken, or turkey with skin
o egg yolks
o butter
o fat or oil that is hard or in stick form, lard, and shortening
o hydrogenated vegetable oil
o coconut, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter
o avocado
o cream, half-and-half, and whole-milk dairy products, such as cheese, ice cream, and sour cream
o processed grain products, such as cookies, cakes, muffins, and pastries

Goods fats vs. bad fats
* You need to eat fats they are required for your health.
* Dr Udo Erasmus has said it already there are fats that heal and fats that kill.
* The problem is that most people are not aware of this and they choose for 100% fat free foods.

o A word of caution here the food can be 100% free but at the same time it can contain a lot of sugar. High fat foods that are bad for you.

Saturated fats
Products that are high in saturated fats are.
- Butter
- Ice cream (contains milkfat)
- Cheese
- Chicken fat
- Meat fat
- Palm oil
- Coconut oil - Beef
- Lamb
- Pork
- Veal

Trans fats
Products that contain trans fats are.

- Some margarines
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Snack foods
- Shortening
- Doughnuts
- Cake
- Frozen foods
- Potato chips
- Candy

* Work to balance your estrogen levels. Estrogen slows down the thyroid gland.

* Eat organically raised meats to avoid meats that are loaded with added hormones that have been introduced to increase the weight of livestock prior to sale.

* Begin a hormonal balancing program using progesterone cream to help bring your body back into balance.

* Vitamin B3, (niacin), which is often taken to reduce cholesterol levels, has been shown to also lower thyroid hormone levels.

* Gentian (a flower) is known to normalize the function of the thyroid gland.

* Incorporate kelp and other sea vegetables that are high in iodine. Iodine is needed by the body to produce thyroid hormone.

* Radishes have historically been used to treat thyroid problems and have been known to keep the levels of thyroid hormones balanced.

* If depression due to hypothyroidism is a problem, try taking St. John’s Wort to help elevate your mood.

* Chronic constipation can be addressed by adding additional dietary fiber such as psyllium to your diet. Herbal laxatives, such as cascara sagrada or Nature’s Sunshine’s LBS II can also be used as required.

* Try supplementing with zinc and selenium. Studies indicate that severe zinc or selenium deficiencies can cause decreased thyroid hormone levels.

* Coconut oil stimulates the thyroid gland and is a good choice for those suffering from an under active thyroid.

* One of the most effective supplements for hypothyroidism is desiccated thyroid gland that comes from pigs. It was used long before synthetic forms of thyroid medications became available and is processed by the body more naturally.




68 Most Commonly Reported Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
o Fatigue o Swelling of eyelids o Emotional instability
o Lethargy o Dry skin o Choking sensation
o Low endurance o Dry mucous membranes o Fineness of hair
o Slow speech o Constipation o Hair loss
o Slow thinking o Weight gain unexplainably o Blueness of skin
o Poor memory o Paleness of lips o Dry, thick, scaling skin
o Poor concentration o Shortness of breath o Dry, coarse, brittle hair
o Depression o Swelling o Paleness of skin
o Nervousness o Hoarseness o Puffy skin
o Anxiety o Loss of appetite o Puffy face or eyelids
o Worrying o Prolonged menstrual bleeding o Swelling of ankles
o Easy emotional upset o Heavy menstrual bleeding o Coarse skin
o Obsessive thinking o Painful menstruation o Brittle or thin nails
o Low motivation o Low sex drive o Dry ridges down nails
o Dizziness o Impotence o Difficulty in swallowing
o Sensation of cold o Hearing loss o Weakness
o Cold skin o Rapid heart rate o Vague body aches & pains
o Decreased sweating o Pounding heart beat o Muscle pain
o Heat intolerance o Slow pulse rate o Joint pain
o Non-restful sleep o Pain at front of chest o Numbness or tingling
o Insomnia o Poor vision o Protrusion of one or both eyeballs
o Thick tongue o Weight loss o Sparse eyebrows
o Swelling of face o Wasting of tongue

 

[Tami Bellon]

One more homeopathic suggestion: Guggulsterones

» What Is Guggulsterones (guggul/guggulipid)?
» What application does guggulsterones have?
» How does guggulsterones work?
» What other benefits does guggul have?
» Are there any side effects?
» What form of guggulsterones is best?
» References

What is guggulsterones?

Guggulsterones, also known as Guggul or guggulipid, is an ethyl acetate extract of the gum resin of the guggul tree Commiphora mukul, a small bushy tree found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This yellowish gum resin has been used for more than 2000 years in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of ailments, and many active constituents have been identified. It has been studied in the treatment of many conditions, including hyperlipidemia, obesity, and arthritis.

What application does guggulsterones have?

Although the majority of studies on guggulipid have been on its cholesterol lowering ability, it has also been identified as a weight loss agent. It activates lipolytic enzymes (1) and increases T3 levels, presumably due to increased conversion of T4 to T3 in the liver, although it may also stimulate the thyroid directly (2).

Quite a few studies have been done on both humans and animals accessing guggul's ability to stimulate fat loss. Animal studies have shown a positive effect (2, 3), and human studies have either shown a benefit or have been equivocal (3).

How does guggulsterones work?

As stated, orally administered guggulipid increases T3 (tryiidothyronine) levels in animal models. T3 is the conversion product of T4, which is produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormone levels are intricately involved in metabolic homeostasis. Increased thyroid levels cause more fat to be burned and decreased levels increase the likelihood of fat being stored.

When one normally goes on a diet, the body responds by decreasing T3 levels and thus decreasing metabolic rate. But if T3 levels are increased, diets are much more effective at causing fat loss (4). It has not been established how guggulipid increases T3 levels, but the prevailing theory is that it is by decreasing lipid peroxidation (2).

What other benefits does guggulsterones have?

* Cholesterol reduction - It is well established that orally administered guggulipid decreases LDL cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels while either having no effect on or slightly increasing HDL cholesterol levels (5, 8). Depending on dosage, it generally reduces LDL and TG levels between 10 to 25 percent (6, 7). Guggul functions in this respect by decreasing hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis (1).

* Anti-inflammatory - Guggulipid is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, as evidenced by many studies done on individuals with arthritis (8, 9, 10). The compound primarily responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of guggul is myrrhanol A, which is found in the acidic fraction of the extract (1, 8).

* Reduction in acne - There are many anecdotal reports of guggul causing a reduction of acne. There has been only one clinical study done, in which guggul was shown to be as effective as tetracycline (an antibiotic commonly used to treat acne) (8).

* Reduced oxidative stress - Guggulipid may significantly decrease lipid peroxidation (2). One controlled study showed a 33% decrease in lipid peroxides after 24 weeks of 50 mg of guggulipid per day (6).


Are there any side effects?

The studies do not report serious side effects, although some users experienced gastrointestinal discomfort which did not necessitate discontinuation. High doses have been used without the incidence of ill effects. Guggul may compete with some cholesterol reducing medications, so if you are on such medications you should consult a doctor before taking guggul. Likewise, you should consult a doctor if you have a thyroid disorder.

The primary side effect that the athlete should be worried about is the possibility of muscle catabolism. Increased thyroid levels may also increase mitochondrial uncoupling of muscle tissue and decrease insulin secretion and nitric oxide production. Although fat loss will still be the primary effect, a portion of the weight lost may be from muscle. Fortunately, you can avoid or at least highly limit the amount of catabolism caused by increased thyroid levels by increasing your testosterone levels, because testosterone blocks the pathway through which thyroid-induced protein uncoupling occurs (11).

Simply stated, guggulsterones can really increase the metabolism to the point that your body is burning up everything in sight - from fat to some muscle as well. The best "remedy" for this is to make sure you do NOT cut calories too drastically and keep your protein in take higher then usual.

What form of guggulsterones is best?

As guggul has various constituents, isolating the desirable ones may increase its effectiveness while reducing unwanted side effects. On the other hand, in the case of many of the constituents of guggul, the activity has not been adequately studied - especially for fat loss purposes - so it may be unwise to leave these out.

* Guggulipid standardized for total guggulsterones - The majority of studies - and all of the studies done on thyroid activity - have been done using guggulipid, usually an extract standardized to 10% guggulsterones (which is the exact amount found in Rx Fat Burner™). As it contains all of the constituents, this extract should stimulate the thyroid and have anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic activity. The extract can be further divided into neutral, acidic, and basic portions. The acidic portion possesses the anti-inflammatory activity, while the neutral portion is hypolipidemic. The hypolipidemic portion has been studied in detail, and the E and Z guggulsterone isomers have very strong activity while some of the other isomers have weak activity.
* Guggulipid standardized for E- and Z-guggulsterones - Most standard guggul extracts contain .5-2% E- and Z-guggulsterones. Since these are the primary hypolipidemic agents, it is probable that they are also primarily responsible for some of guggul's other effects. Hence, increasing the total amount of E- and Z-guggulsterones may make the formulation much more potent. Products containing higher quantities of E- and Z-guggulsterones may be ideal, but two studies have shown that most products that claim to have higher quantities of E- and Z-guggulsterones than conventional extracts actually do not (12, 13). So, if you are buying a guggul extract that claims to have higher quantities of the E and Z isomers, chances are it isn't much more potent than other extracts despite label claims.
* Synthetic E- and Z-guggulsterones - This is a relatively new and promising development. These are just as effective as the E- and Z-guggulsterones derived from guggulipid, but they are much more concentrated. The only downside is that some of the other guggulsterones may have important activity as well. If your goal is cholesterol reduction or weight loss though, synthetic guggulsterones will probably be more effective than a standard guggul extract.




References

1. Kimura I, Yoshikawa M, Kobayashi S, Sugihara Y, Suzuki M, Oominami H, Murakami T, Matsuda H, Doiphode VV. New triterpenes, myrrhanol A and myrrhanone A, from guggul-gum resins, and their potent anti-inflammatory effect on adjuvant-induced air-pouch granuloma of mice. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2001 Apr 23;11(8):985-9
New triterpenes, myrrhanol A and myrrhanone A, fro...[Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2001] - PubMed Result

2. Panda S, Kar A. Gugulu (Commiphora mukul) induces triiodothyronine production: possible involvement of lipid peroxidation. Life Sci 1999;65(12)L137-41
Gugulu (Commiphora mukul) induces triiodothyronine...[Life Sci. 1999] - PubMed Result

3. Bhatt AD, Dalal DG, Shah SJ, Joshi BA, Gajjar MN, Vaidya RA, Vaidya AB, Antarkar DS. Conceptual and methodologic challenges of assessing the short-term efficacy of Guggulu in obesity: data emergent from a naturalistic clinical trial. J Postgrad Med 1995 Jan-Mar;41(1):5-7
Conceptual and methodologic challenges of assessin...[J Postgrad Med. 1995 Jan-Mar] - PubMed Result

4. Koppeschaar HP, Meinders AE, Schwarz F. The effect of a low-calorie diet alone and in combination with triiodothyronine therapy on weight loss and hypophyseal thyroid function in obesity. Int J Obes 1983;7(2):123-31 [abstract]
The effect of a low-calorie diet alone and in comb...[Int J Obes. 1983] - PubMed Result

5. Beg M, Singhal KC, Afzaal S. A study of effect of guggulsterone on hyperlipidemia of secondary glomerulopathy. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1996 Jul;40(3):237-40 [abstract]
A study of effect of guggulsterone on hyperlipidem...[Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1996] - PubMed Result

6. Singh RB, Niaz MA, Ghosh S. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1994 Aug;8(4):659-64 [abstract]
Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphor...[Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1994] - PubMed Result

7. Nityanand S, Srivastava JS, Asthana OP. Clinical trials with gugulipid. A new hypolipidaemic agent. J Assoc Physicians India 1989 May;37(5):323-8 [abstract]
Clinical trials with gugulipid. A new hypolipidaem...[J Assoc Physicians India. 1989] - PubMed Result

8. Urizar NL, Moore DD. Gugulipid: A Natural Cholesterol-Lowering Agent. Annu Rev Nutr 2003 Feb 26; [epub ahead of print]
GUGULIPID: a natural cholesterol-lowering agent. [Annu Rev Nutr. 2003] - PubMed Result

9. Meselhy MR. Inhibition of LPS-induced NO production by the oleogum resin of Commiphora wightii and its constituents. Phytochemistry 2003 Jan;62(2):213-8
Inhibition of LPS-induced NO production by the ole...[Phytochemistry. 2003] - PubMed Result

10. Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, Khiyani R. Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7 [abstract]
Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata ext...[Phytomedicine. 2003] - PubMed Result

11. Ferrando AA, Sheffield-Moore M, Paddon-Jones D, Wolfe RR, Urban RJ. Differential anabolic effects of testosterone and amino acid feeding in older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003
Differential anabolic effects of testosterone and ...[J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003] - PubMed Result

12. Mesrob B, Nesbitt C, Misra R, Pandey RC. High-performance liquid chromatographic method for fingerprinting and quantitative determination of E- and Z-guggulsterones in Commiphora mukul resin and its products. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1998 Dec 11;720(1-2):189-96 [abstract]
High-performance liquid chromatographic method for...[J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. 1998] - PubMed Result

13. Nagarajan M, Waszkuc TW, Sun J. Simultaneous determination of E- and Z-guggulsterones in dietary supplements containing Commiphora mukul extract (guggulipid) by liquid chromatography. J AOAC Int 2001 Jan-Feb;84(1):24-8 [abstract]
Simultaneous determination of E- and Z-guggulstero...[J AOAC Int. 2001 Jan-Feb] - PubMed Result

 

[Tami Bellon]

Keep your protein intake up and get your BCAA's in. How is your kidney function?

 

[hoteacher]

Hey Tammi!

I could NOT BELIEVE those pics of you!!!! Yes, lots and lots has changed since that time.. shattered my femur two years ago and now have a titanium plate in my leg with 16 pins...nice scar though, my battle wound . I broke riding my dirt bike like a bat out of hell...as you know, I never do anything part way. Got a divorce in October, by FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT time I have EVER been through. I thought I could link the hormonal change to the divorce, but the symptoms did not show up until February. I now have lost tons of weight, but not due to diet...did not change that or the workouts...I believe it is due to the aldactone. I have to take it though bc it is the only thing that keeps the acne away. Very difficult to accept in the fact that I have taken anavar in the past and NEVER had acne! Never in my entire life....I hope to start weaning myself off it in August. I will eat the cheat meal...I know it is long over due....Good news is, I get my period now on a regular basis and will be getting remarried next june so hopefully a baby will be on the way shortly thereafter. Things look good for you! I am SOOOOO PROUD of you...you look AMAZING!

 

[Tami Bellon]

Hey Tammi!

I could NOT BELIEVE those pics of you!!!! Yes, lots and lots has changed since that time.. shattered my femur two years ago and now have a titanium plate in my leg with 16 pins...nice scar though, my battle wound . I broke riding my dirt bike like a bat out of hell...as you know, I never do anything part way. Got a divorce in October, by FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT time I have EVER been through. I thought I could link the hormonal change to the divorce, but the symptoms did not show up until February. I now have lost tons of weight, but not due to diet...did not change that or the workouts...I believe it is due to the aldactone. I have to take it though bc it is the only thing that keeps the acne away. Very difficult to accept in the fact that I have taken anavar in the past and NEVER had acne! Never in my entire life....I hope to start weaning myself off it in August. I will eat the cheat meal...I know it is long over due....Good news is, I get my period now on a regular basis and will be getting remarried next june so hopefully a baby will be on the way shortly thereafter. Things look good for you! I am SOOOOO PROUD of you...you look AMAZING!

I'm sorry to hear about your divorce It sounds like things are getting better for you now though. A BAAABY, huh?

So how did your students take your accident on the dirt bike? I'm assuming they showered you will cards and gifts! lol

EAT, girl! EAT!!!!! As you start to wean off the Aldactone, you might try the guggul. I actually learned about it from our friend, Scott Stevenson (too many credentials behind his name to list). He also took his class, best poser and the overall at our Show last weekend . He is extremely knowledgeable about homeopathic alternatives. It also helps with acne.

Thanks for the props! ....and stick around, will ya'?!?!?!?