Archived Ask a Dietitian 4/24/14 - 10/21/14 Topic

U5740621 04/25/14 replied to Dietitian
Thanks for answering Kathy! I have a brand new meter and it is accurate. I have been using new strips.
When I test I have clean hands and use alcohol wipes just in case.
I will definitely read the articles you mentioned I am just starting to get the hang of counting carbs.
I will see how my numbers go over the next few weeks and if they are still like this I will ask for another screening. Last week I had my tests run and they showed vitamin b12 deficiency as well as anemia. She did check the a1c I'm not positive of the number but I think she said it was 5.8 but I'm not positive. They have me on vitamins and a nerve blocker for the pins and needles with pain I have in my extremities.

U5743844 04/26/14 replied to U5740621
Hi Kathy!
I'm new to this app. as of today. I have 136lbs. I would like to lose. I'm a 61yo female. Cardiovascular disease & diabetes mellitis are very prominent in my family. I want to be able to do some type of exercise to promote my wt. loss. I have tons of osteo arthritis in my lower back, bad knees, & worst of all, fibromyalgia. I live in a rural area w/ no access to water exercises. Land exercises flares the fibromyalgia. Do you have any suggestions for exercises that I can do in my home that won't flare my disabilities?

U5709100 04/27/14 replied to U5743844
Hi Kathy,
I am 26 female, 5.1" and currently at 94.7 pounds. I have been struggling with underweight concerns my whole life, however over the past three years my weight seems to always be going up and down. Also, I had a sever deficiency of iron, which I now treat with supplements. My weight is mostly down, it is very hard to keep up. I currently am recovering from appendicitis, so I have lost a lot of weight over the last three months and over the past three weeks I have been working on gaining weight. What can I do to keep it and to stop the severe fluctuating? My body suffers from it since cellulite and other skin disorders happen when weight is lost and gained in such a way. I would really like to keep a healthy weight and move from there.

U5649290 04/28/14
Hey! I've loved using MND; I didn't manage when I was away on holiday but have come home and straight back on :D

My analysis seems to be a bit whacky, on my overview for today it'll list "Remains: 110 cals" and be green, but when I open analysis the bottom line is red and says I should exercise more by 3 calories (yup not many, but that's just today!). There's also a note about needing to adjust daily food calories to match my plan - does that have something to do with it?

Thanks! :)

Emma

Dietitian 04/28/14 replied to U5740621
Hi U5740621, definitely get the A1C test repeated when your anemia has been corrected. Anemia can cause the A1C test to be low (even when a person has high blood glucose levels).

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/A1CTest/#9

Copied from that website:

Can the A1C test give false results?
Yes, for some people. The A1C test can be unreliable for diagnosing or monitoring diabetes in people with certain conditions that are known to interfere with the results. Interference should be suspected when A1C results seem very different from the results of a blood glucose test....

False A1C results may also occur in people with other problems that affect their blood or hemoglobin. For example, a falsely low A1C result can occur in people with:
anemia
heavy bleeding

Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD, CDE

Dietitian 04/28/14 replied to U5743844
Hi U5743844, with your multiple medical issues, I would definitely seek help from a physical therapist - ask your doctor for a referral. Many insurance plans cover physical therapy. I know with fibromyalgia, you have to be careful to do just enough but not too much at any given time.

I would use the FIT principle to gradually increase fitness - change one thing at a time:
Frequency (# days/wk)
Intensity (how fast or how quickly you move)
Time (duration of activity)

You might do best starting with seated movements - like a reclining bike or some such device. You could opt to start 3-4 days/wk with a very short duration and low intensity and then over time, vary frequency, intensity, and time (one at a time) to eventually reach 30 min total over the course of the day.

Most of your calories deficit will be created from lowering food intake. Your journey will be very gradual so try to be patient yet persistent.

Also, consider asking your doctor about medical/surgical weight control options - just to be aware of what is out there and your insurance plan covers.

But definitely work with a physical therapist so you know the supportive exercises to include daily to help increase functional strength safely.

Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD, CDE

Dietitian 04/28/14 replied to U5709100
Hi U5709100, to some extent, everyone's weight fluctuates even during weight maintenance - this has as much to do with hydration/dehydration as body comp. Weight changes in very short periods of time (e.g. hours) is likely water weight changes.

But to answer your question, tracking is an excellent way to control weight - in your case, to gain weight, as well as to maintain once you are at goal. Monitoring your weight regularly will help keep you on track.

Please read this post I wrote for weight gain and let me know if it helps: http://www.mynetdiary.com/trying_to_gain_weigth.html

Eating on a schedule as a supportive/therapeutic action is a helpful way to look at eating for weight gain. Athletes have to do this to get enough calories and nutrients - it is a part of their "job".

Let me know how it goes.

Tip: If you have a medical condition that causes cachexia (cancer, ALS, etc), then use a HIGHER activity level as your baseline setting. In addition, you should also log exercise. This tactic will help avoid the problem of underestimating total energy expenditure.

Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD, CDE

Dietitian 04/28/14 replied to U5649290
Hi U5649290, yes, I would follow the prompt in Plan to update as it recommends. It could be that.

But also, be sure you know the details about how calories are calculated and what affects the calculations and how Daily Analysis works: http://www.mynetdiary.com/customizing-calorie-goals.html

Let me know if you need more help!
Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD, CDE

U5649290 04/29/14
Ah hah, that was it! For some reason my plan had been customised, when I hadn't intended it to be. Gosh it's all a little complicated. All correct now - thanks :)

Dietitian 04/29/14
New to tracking or just new to MyNetDiary, please be sure to read my recent blog post about tips for losing weight - it includes lots of great links to basic stuff you need to know: http://www.mynetdiary.com/basic-tips-for-losing-weight.html

Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD, CDE

Archived Ask a Dietitian 4/24/14 - 10/21/14