The #FatChick Asks: What the Hell Happened to My Glasses and Why's the Print So Small? #MyWANA #ASMSG

Welcome back to my weekly Memoirs of a Forty Something Fat Chick. I'm sure you all can figure out I'm "The Fat Chick," aka Tammy. Each week I'm detailing my journey to better health. Along the way I'm finding the humor in all that comes with being fat, over forty and dealing with medical issues. 

This week's question: When did everyone start using the ultra small fine print?

My body went to hell the instant I turned forty. Not only did my bladder shrink down to the size of a walnut, my vision went from bad to worse. I kid you not. One moment my bi-focals worked just fine and the next I'm struggling to drive looking through the higher magnification part of the lenses. 

And let's not forget about my hearing! I swear it was like someone turned down the volume and lost the remote. The only time I hear well is when I have my stethoscope in my ears and I'm listening to the heart and lungs of my patients.  Looks like a hearing aide is on the horizon for this almost forty-seven year old broad. Yip. Eee. (cue the voice dripping with sarcasm).

If anything else breaks down, I'm going to have to seriously consider retiring earlier than my hubby and I had planned. I mean, what good is a legally blind and deaf veterinarian? If I can't see for shit without the aid of super ultra magnifying lenses crafted by scientists with only the highest security clearance, nor hear without the assistance of listening devices that rival those used by the CIA, what's the point of keeping up the pretense?

Okay so it's not to that point...yet. I've still got enough sass to keep the "kids" at work on their toes. Kudos to me for making them all talk louder by using the tried and true method.  I ignore them until they talk louder. I mean I really can't hear two thirds of what they mumble, so if they want me to respond, they better SPEAK UP! 


My hearing and vision are just two more things I can take care of to make life a bit easier...and for those around me too. Who wants to hear me ask them to repeat what they just said two, three and four times? Now I know how my Dad felt when his hearing started to go on him. I'm sure it was a blessing in a house full of teenagers, but not so much in a crowded room at a family function with everyone talking at once.  Sigh...

Well, on to some fabulous news about my fitness program.  I'm down 13 pounds since I started three weeks ago. I'm checking my blood glucose (sugar) level before and after meals and at bedtime. This started after my first diabetes class last week. What an eye opener!



I learned many of the ailments I've had over the last six months, at least, have all been due to my diabetes. The intensely itchy skin, out of control migraines, dizzy spells, GI issues, debilitating fatigue, all due to high blood sugar.  Carbs are not my friend, but they're not my enemy either. I have to retrain myself on portion control and plan for those special days like birthdays so I can partake in cake for example. There has to be a trade off, just like with everything in life.

I've discovered the wonderful world of low carb versions of my favorite food like the Everything Bagel, flat bread and multi-grain bread, tortilla and milk. Yep. I found a milk product that's higher in protein and half the carbs per serving than skim milk. Whoohoo!


I tried the sugar substitute Truvia. I'm not impressed but willing to keep using it to help me decrease the amount of real sugar I add to things like my tea and some cereals.  

The best thing?  SPAGHETTI SQUASH!  Who knew?  Well, I'm sure all of you knew it, but I was the goofball who never tried it until this last weekend. I made a simple shrimp scampi, balsalmic and scotch mushrooms to go along with the squash. Yummo!




Well, that's all for this week my lovelies. I'll check back in next week to give you more details on the nutty world of this Forty Something Fat Chick.

~Tammy

Ode to the Forty Something Year Old Bladder of This #FatChick #MyWANA #ASMSG

Welcome to this week's edition of Memoirs of a Forty Something Fat Chick. I'm Tammy..."the fat chick" and each week I'm detailing my journey through finding my way to better health. This week I thought I'd fill you in on part of my life I'm sure many women can relate to...the inability to go without a bathroom for more than a few hours, if that.

That's right. I'm talking about the good old bladder control issues, squirting when you sneeze or laugh too hard, or just take a deep breath. It's bad enough my bladder shrank by 50% the INSTANT I turned 40, but now at 46 with diabetes AND a diuretic on board I can't be more than 100 yards from a bathroom at any given moment!

My friends and family used to make a joke that we couldn't pass a rest area without me having to ask to stop. Before I turned forty, it really wasn't much of an issue. Scratch that. I have to say it started in my late thirties...sort of like peri-menopause (topic for another post!). Before the actual bladder shrinkage and leakage age, my body thought it would give me practice having to always know the nearest bathroom location wherever I happened to be.

Now here I am at a point in my life where I already own stock in the Poise Pads company and my trips to the loo have more than doubled. I drank plenty of water before diabetes entered my life. Combine that with having to take the diuretic for my blood pressure and you see my dilemma.

The commercials on television, although funny as hell don't help matters. For one, laughing during them usually brings on a "little" accident. LOL! Come to think about it, I bet those companies do those commercials on purpose. Bastards! LOL  Here's one that used to get me giggling all the time.

Hopefully, as my weight loss plan continues on it's merry way, I'll get more control over my bladder. My goal is to be able to stop taking the diuretic and get my blood sugar regulated back to normal. That would mean no insulin injections in my future..bonus! It also means I'll stop chugging so much water. I swear my back teeth are floating most of the time. ;)

I do have good news. I've lost a total of ten pounds so far in these two weeks since I got my ass in gear. I've been checking my blood every morning and can tell if I had too many carbs the night before. There's no hiding the fact when the numbers pop up on the One Touch.

Tomorrow I have my Diabetes Management class. Hubby informed me he took the day off to be able to go with me. Wow. I didn't expect that but that's just one more reason why I love the man. He said, "I got to be there for my boo. I want to be sure she's with me for another 50 years."

Me too, honey. Me too.

Until next time,

~Tammy

#Diabetes Rears It's Ugly Head In The World of the #FatChick

Welcome back to Memoirs of a Forty Something Fat Chick. Last week I touched upon my health issues with my obesity and high blood pressure taking center stage. The day after that post, I got another call from my doctor with the rest of the blood test results.

I'm diabetic. Type II diabetic to be precise.  It's the most common form of diabetes and also called non-insulin dependent or adult onset diabetes. It's really not a club I'd hoped to be joining any time soon, but as I said last week, I did this to myself and now it's time to pay the piper.

When I shared my diagnosis with family and friends in private and on Facebook, I got several comments that struck me as odd.  

"Oh, how can this happen?"  

"So sorry to hear. That's just horrible."

"No more sugar for you."

LOL! You know what I thought when I saw the results online? "Damn. Well, I have something else to motivate me now."  Yep. It was almost a relief to get the numbers. I am 148 mg/dl.  The high end of normal for this lab is 122.  It's not horrendous, but it is high enough to warrant testing my blood sugar daily.  Good Goddess! I hate needles!  So far it's only going to be those little lancets and no insulin.

With my obesity, it was only a matter of time before I flipped from being pre-diabetic into the diabetic state. I have to own that, accept I DID THIS TO MYSELF and let it go. Now I can use it as a goal for my plan to get healthy. I'm not going to wallow in the poor me stuff. I've had enough of that!

Just over the last week alone, I've lost six pounds. I've cut out coke and other soft drinks completely. I've increased the amount of fruit and veggies in my diet and continue to drink the water like a fiend. The water is great for me anyway but it's the blood pressure medication that's added to the increased thirst—also the weight loss as it's a diuretic! BONUS!  LOL

Through my doctor, I've signed up for a Diabetes management class. There they'll go over the lifestyle changes that go along with the diagnosis, food choices, exercise programs and of course testing my blood daily with my new One Touch Ultra 2. 

I just started using the machine yesterday and still getting used to stabbing my fingers.  It was a bit messy the first time, but today my technique improved. You would think a veterinarian would be more graceful with this machine, but noooooo. Not this chica! LOL

So for those of you reading about my diagnosis and feel sorry for me? Don't. Like I've said numerous times, I DID THIS TO MYSELF. I've got no one else to blame. Yes the amount of stress in my life contributed to it, but my uncontrolled overeating made me morbidly obese and put me at risk for so much more than high blood pressure and type II diabetes. I thank the Goddess I've got myself back on track and hopefully will have all these conditions under control in no time.

Until next week my friends,

~Tammy