Jami
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Posts posted by Jami
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I'm concerned about one thing... The way these surgeries work is *purely* by reducing the amount of food your body can take in. If calories in/calories out doesn't work for you, why would this? It works for other people because it is a truly extreme form of volume reduction (which translates to caloric reduction). It doesn't change the way your body processes nutrients. It doesn't change your metabolism. It just changes the amount of food you can take in. (And in many cases, that can translate to severe nutritional deficiencies on top of the risks of major surgery generally.)
I tend to agree that weight loss is far more complex than calories in / calories out, though one *will* lose weight on a forced starvation diet, which is what the first few months after surgery amount to.
I know you're not looking for alternatives right now. But I think understanding how the surgery works (and doesn't) is really important when deciding if it's worth trying.
:iagree:
If you're willing to do a very low calorie diet, why not consider something like Medifast or Optifast? (I think those are the names) with doctor supervision. Those are at least monitored so you get adequate protein and some nutritional supplements in the liquid shakes.
Since you've had good luck with low carb and you know you're very metabolically resistant, I'd really urge you to go back to that way of eating. No products, no sweeteners, possibly no dairy, keeping calories under 1800 or so to start. The book "The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living" by Drs. Phinney and Volek is very, very helpful to developing a nutritionally well-formulated ketogenic diet. You may need to start with something almost zero carb if you're that insulin resistant.
But, as you know, if you go back to eating carbohydrate-dense foods, you will regain. Someone with metabolic syndrome is carbohydrate intolerant the way some people are gluten or lactose intolerant. This is my reality too. I stopped eating low carb after losing 60 lbs and within 6 months had regained 20 lbs. That scared me, huge wake up call. And it's taken another 8 months to re-lose those 20 lbs. It was slower this time, but still doable. I've had to be more strict in some ways, but it's still come off slowly but surely.
I hope you can find what works for you. Obesity is very, very hard to live with, IME, but surgery just seems to carry more risks than benefits from what I can tell.
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I wanted to say one more thing about why we use AO and Classical Writing. Like most homeschool moms, I don't have time to reinvent many wheels, so I need to rely on others who have gone before me for a few things. These two programs (and I know there are others, these are just the two that we use) were created by individuals that I know share the belief that the goal of education is cultivating wisdom and virtue. And so they have chosen books and exercises that they believe honor the humanity of the child and promote that goal. There may be areas that they fall short, as do we all. But the stated purpose for these programs is cultivating the very things that I desire for my children.
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Okay, I'll give it a shot. :-)
I'm a longtime Circe/Andrew Kern student, almost from the beginning of homeschooling. So those ideas always informed the way I read WTM or other methodology books.
I use AmblesideOnline for a lot of our literature selections, and also consider lists from Great Books Academy, Veritas Press, and 1000 Good Books.
I've never made a huge effort to read primarily historical fiction or watered down versions of classics. Ambleside provides younger adaptations of many classics that are great literature in their own right.
Someone linked Cindy's blog (Ordo Amoris) above and she's been a mentor of mine in many ways.
Here's how the best days go here when I'm being conscious about contemplation and teaching from a place of rest. :-)
I'm up before the kids. I've prepared the day before for what lessons we'll be covering and have thought about what I want to draw out of our readings or lessons. After breakfast, my son does math with dad (works from home) and I do math with the girls.
Then we all begin our "Morning Meeting" (search for the blog MorningtimeMoms and look at Ordo Amoris for ideas on Morningtime Meetings). We start with Bible reading, Catechism, and singing a hymn with dad. Then he goes up to the office and I spend an hour or so reading to the kids from our Ambleside and history selections. There's usually some discussion as we go. I like to read history one day, fables one day, church history one day, etc.
After we finish our reading time, it's back to the table for lessons. I do teach language arts more formally than Ambleside suggests. We use Classical Writing primarily. And do Latin. The kids all do copywork daily. Dictation twice a week. And oral or written narrations 2 times a week. There's always a lot of discussion as we go through the day.
The older two have history reading they do on their own through the week and are responsible for narrating those readings to me.
Music practice is interspersed through the day. We try to be done by 1:00 and then the kids all have a couple hours to read, draw, and play. Sometimes we have a bit more to do late in the afternoon.
On Fridays we do our picture and composer study and will eventually add in Shakespeare and Plutarch.
So it doesn't *look* that different from most classical homeschoolers probably, or AO users. I try and be mindful about not doing busywork. About choosing beautiful language to imitate and read in all subjects. I try to not over-lecture and give them predigested facts, facts, facts--instead I try to set ideas before them and draw discussion out with questions. This is hard for me, I'd rather give soundbites that they should know then trust the process of letting them dig a bit.
We memorize poetry and Scripture primarily, because it shapes their language and imaginations so well. We listen to music that shapes their ideas of beauty and order. Training the affections to love that which is worth loving. Same with literature. I try to minimize reading books that I don't feel train the affections in right ways. Again, no lectures or moralizing, just setting before them the best so that their tastes are shaped for lovely things.
I try to get them out in a natural setting beyond our yard once a week or so, because nature teaches so much about God's character and beauty. More than any lesson or lecture I could give does.
I've attended 3 Circe conferences now and spent time with several lovely homeschoolers who have also been deeply shaped by Andrew's work over the years, and I don't think any of our homeschools looks much like the other. But I would say our goals for our children tend to be less utilitarian overall, though I know I need constant reminders not to get distracted by pragmatic outcomes and trust that educating the soul for wisdom and virtue and with eternal things in mind is the higher goal. And usually, the pragmatic, utilitarian things are easy to pick up along the way.
Does that help? This is an ideal day of course. Some days are just getting through the next Math, Latin, writing lesson and checking off checklists and mom being disengaged and kids wanting to watch TV. ;-)
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Hmmm...I read WTM when my oldest was still just a future idea. LOL. So 12? years ago I guess.
I was reading everything I could get my hands on about liberal arts education--Charlotte Mason, Marva Collins, Doug Wilson and on some website I found The Well-Trained Mind mentioned and the subtitle hooked me. I had already been convinced that I wanted a classical education for my kids, but up to that point had mostly just read about the Classical Christian school movement. Do it at home? Use my history and lit background to teach my own children? Perfect!
Wouldn't it be great to feel like you were reading it again for the first time?
The first edition is still honestly my favorite, I feel like the general philosophy comes through better without so much emphasis on specific resources. But I like the later resources too.
The emphasis on reading real books, not readers, not textbooks, and being chronological about history were the big hooks for me. I was already convinced about Latin and the Great Books from other sources. But this made it make sense for me at home.
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Ambleside Online for 4 years now, Rod and Staff Math for 4, Classical Writing for 3, Memoria Press Latin for 4...
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We're about to switch levels for a few things, but this is what I think we'll be ready for next Aug. when I call my then-8 year old a 3rd grader:
Math--Rod and Staff 3, and some Singapore 2
Language Arts--WWE 2, CW-Primer then Aesop A, ETC 7 and 8, New American Cursive from Memoria Press and copybooks; not sure yet about grammar--I have R&S 3 on the shelf
Latin--Latina Christiana 1
Ambleside Year 2--History, literature, nature study, geography, poetry, artist and composer studies
Memory Work--2 Psalms, 1 Bible passage, 3 poems, hymns, Westminster Shorter Catechism
piano lessons and children's choir
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And we've really enjoyed pairing the MP Guerber volume with the Veritas Press history cards. They match up pretty nicely. :-)
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We're currently using the Memoria Press volume which combines the two American history books. I haven't seen anything in them that seemed explicitly "Christian". I'd call them secular. But I'm a Christian and perhaps I don't notice phrasing or word choices that a non-Christian would. There is no providential slant. I haven't found any particularly offensive attitudes toward Native Americans, at least not beyond what I'd expect from an author of Guerber's period. I wouldn't expect at contemporary tone or view regarding colonization, but I don't recall anything that made me cringe either. Though Memoria Press may have edited out some of the more Victorian language like "savages".
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I have a current 2nd grader, I don't really care about "rigorous", but we take academics seriously and work for excellence. And she enjoys writing, so does a lot more than my son did in 2nd grade.
We use Rod and Staff math, because I expect the arithmetic foundation to be rock solid before they move into pre-Algebra and Algebra. I use it a level ahead.
For our language arts we use Explode the Code through Book 8 to reinforce spelling; Classical Writing-Primers for copywork, some spelling work, narrations, picture and nature study; WWE--we're about ready for level 2; FLL--almost done with level 2, we may do R&S Grammar 3 after this; and New American Cursive from Memoria Press; she also does oral narrations for our Ambleside readings.
For history and literature we're following AmblesideOnline Year 1. The literature is rich and challenging and the content lays a foundation of familiar myths, fairy tales, and historic legends. She also reads some easier books that correspond to the American history period that her older siblings are in.
Then she's started Prima Latina.
She participates in a children's choir and has started piano lessons. And then does memory work--poems, Psalms, Catechism, and other things I think are important.
For 3rd grade she'll continue with R&S math, Latina Christiana I, AO Year 2, Classical Writing-Aesop.
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All I make him do is 15 minutes a day of memory work - rote memorization of a history sentence, math facts, sometimes science or latin, if it's easy. He likes the other stuff he does - actually loves HWoT, and enjoys doing the map facts, like states and capitals. That's it! So please don't judge me and think I'm drilling my son endlessly...I'm not. But since he is a part of CC, it is something he is expected to do, and the tutor reviews the info with him in class every week, so he kind of has to know it.
My Not-so-humble opinion:
Having a 4 year old memorize these things that mean nothing to him and have no context for him is ridiculous.
Spend 15 min. memorizing lovely poems, songs, rhymes, *maybe* skip counting and ditch the CC.
You could be filling his mind and soul with beautiful, meaningful poetry and images, songs that help his mind develop, culturally meaningful rhymes and stories.
Or don't even require it to be memorized. Singing together, reading together, chanting lovely rhymes together--children naturally memorize, but *meaningful* memorization is important to.
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They're going by the name of the title, Earl of Grantham. The family name is Crawley.
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Oh goodness, I guess I'll have a 6th grader next year! :willy_nilly: How in the world did that happen?
Well if we continue on with what we're using now I guess it will look something like this:
Math--R&S 6, LOF Decimal, F&P whatever the combinations of those are.
Latin--Second Form Latin
Grammar and Writing--Classical Writing Homer B and Intro. to Poetry, frequent written narrations
Mapping the World with Art for Geography
Science--still working that out, possibly outsourced
History--1815 or so to the present depending on how far we get this year. VP Cards, SOTW 4, Ambleside Online Years 5 and 6 selections
Ambleside Online Years 5 and 6 selections for literature, science biography, composers, artists, poetry, Plutarch and Shakespeare
Violin, orchestra, piano, basketball, maybe Boy Scouts
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My dh is BP. The antidepressant he took during his initial depression kicked borderline BP into full-swing BP. Just so you're watching for a manic swing if you start an AD. He now takes Lexapro for the depression, and Trileptal (sp?) for the mood stabilizing. He's been on that combo for over 7 years and has been mostly stable during that time. There have been a few swings, but those were more weather (mild SADD) and situational (death of parent) more than chemical.
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I voted!
You are such an inspiration to me, MB. :grouphug:
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Ketosis? Does he eat lower carb? Maybe just the running starts the fat burning ketogenic process. Eating more carbohydrates might help.
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I know in Texas my midwife can deliver past 42 weeks but she would be stuck filling out more paperwork. :glare: Your last period actually happened later and you have mommy brain right...
You can refuse pitocin, and you can have dh or you insist he cuts the cord and wait till you are ready. It is after all a family tradtion that dh cuts baby's cord. ;) So please allow us to continue our tradtion. Thank you.
30 minutes how often?
Do you have a written birth plan? Are you getting a doula to go with you?
Glad your meeting went well with them.
My TX midwife was required by law to have me do a biophysical ultrasound 42 weeks after the most accurate due date. So we did that. And then I went about 5 more days until we started some herbs to help things move ahead.
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I forgot about massage! My only child who came early came after a massage where I told the masseuse massage anywhere I want to go into labor. I think palms and bottoms of feet in particular help with labor. I also felt being completely relaxed helped a lot.
Mine was just a regular masseuse.
Anne
There are pressure points in the webbing of the hand between the thumb and first finger that can help stimulate contractions.
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I'm not sure if you could find them in a natural foods store, but my MW with #4 in Hurst had me take a caplet of herbs to help labor get started. I was post 42 weeks, post the bio-physical ultrasound, up to 4 cm and even with stripping labor just wasn't getting consistently going. So I did 12 hours of these herbs and that evening labor started up. #4 was 42.5 weeks I think by our best estimates and her placenta was looking a little old there at the end, but she was super healthy. ((PP)) I can't imagine how stressed I would be in a new place with new birth plans. I will be praying for you.
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I'm starting to fade a bit but I want to see how it ends...
(Jami now in TX, formerly of St. Louis, MO)
Go Cards!
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http://www.acts29network.org/churches/
You might consider the Acts29 network of churches, they're often Reformed soteriologically but credobaptist. I don't think they have a particular eschatology, but tend to major on the majors.
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Dianne Wynne-Jones fantasy books are recent favorites here. Howl's Moving Castle, House of Many Ways, Um...something else is the trilogy.
N.D. Wilson's 100 Cupboards trilogy. And he has a new one out that's the current read-aloud. The Dragon's Tooth.
Gregor the Overlander series by Susan Collins.
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I find the comments about unschoolers being more creative, or taking a non-traditional path through community college in high school or starting a business at 17 interesting. The evidence here on our classical HS board seems to indicate that several of our classical educated high schoolers do those things as well. T
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Sounds fantastic! :001_smile:
From the CiRCE Website:Coming in October, you’ll be able to join other LTW teachers in a series of free monthly webinars. One part of the program at a time, these free web-based events provide in-depth teaching tips, advice, and insight from the folks who helped create and write the program and who have been teaching it for years.
The first webinar, scheduled for October 14, will cover Lesson One, especially Invention (The A.N.I.), and will be taught by CiRCE Certified Master Teacher, Renee Mathis.
Future webinars will cover sorting, the 5 topics, exordium, noun and verb editing, and much, much more.
Teachers: don’t miss this great opportunity to have your questions asked and your confidence renewed!
Here is the Webinar Schedule
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Since you're on the treadmill, doing intervals can help. There's no reason you have to run the full time. Do 4 hard running minutes, walk 1-2 minutes. If you can push yourself hard on the running, the walking in between isn't going to make a huge difference in fewer calories or overall workout. Being able to change up speed, incline, etc. helps me keep at it on the treadmill. When I'm outside I tell myself, "just to that stop sign," "now to the trees up there," "till this song is over," etc.
Lots of mind games. ;-) I think of friends who have run longer races, competed in tris, are fighting cancer...and push myself like they do.
Weight Loss surgery - discussion with boundaries............
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
My problem, based on my research, with things like juice fasts is the low protein and steady carbohydrates. So lean body mass is not protected and there's still constant insulin. Sure, it's very low calories, but what's truly lost then? And if muscle is lost, how will one keep weight off when resuming a reasonable amount of calories. For very low calorie diets, I'd rather see a protein-sparing fast with mostly protein and enough fish oil to cover essential fatty acids. But those should be doctor-supervised IMO.