Iron Experiment Redux 26

Week 52 = 183.5
Week 51 = 185.4
Week 50 = 185.5
Week 49 = 191.6
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

I need to buy another pair of 2.5 lbs. plates. I hate having to change them during a workout. I did change the light bulb to one of the yellow light bug lights and there was much less swarming.

I also decided I don't like my body weight being in the 180s. It's too damn hard to get out of.

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Iron Experiment Redux 25

I realized that I have made it to week 4 of the workout routine. I haven't needed to up the weights yet, that comes in week 5. Twenty leg raises, but I still wondering if I need more lower ab crunches.

Problem: I need a bug light on the front porch. I got swarmed during this workout.

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Iron Experiment Redux 24

Two workouts a week is what I seem to be able to do. I don't know why that is. But I have reached forty crunches, woot!

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Iron Experiment Redux 23

The melatonin must have worked or my body had finally had enough time to adjust to the medication. Either way, I was up on time and got a Monday workout in. And frell, did I deteriorate in those two weeks. I'm hurting where I didn't use to hurt before.

I'm also semi-fretting over the state of the abs, as in do I need to add another version of an ab exercise to make sure I'm working them out. I'm blaming the Cosmo I was sent to review. One of the articles was a tummy workout.

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Iron Experiment Redux 22

Week 50 = 185.5
Week 49 = 190.9
Week 48 = 191.6
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

Weight goes down, yeah! Workout amount goes up, no I'm lying.

:p I don't know why I have only managed to get in a workout on the weekend for the past two weeks. I'm going to take some melatonin to see if that counteracts whatever has been keeping me awake.

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Iron Experiment Redux 21

Week 49 = 190.9
Week 48 = 191.6
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

This has been a bad week to try to squeeze in exercise, and I don’t really know why. I’m blaming the new medicine, well, retaking old medicine. Yeah, I’m coherent after a workout, sure.

Let’s try that again. Wednesday, May 21st, I restarted phentermine 18.75mg and started spironolact 25mg. And before anyone freaks out, that is a half tablet dose of the phentermine. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened the last time I had a whole tablet. That didn’t happen; instead, I got something new—awake until nearly midnight.

So far it’s been four days in a row like that, which has been havoc on my wake-up time. My body would prefer to wait until after sunrise, regardless of the schedule, and since the sun is getting up earlier, I have daylight about 6am. Is it equal part drug reaction and a craving to sleep in the dark because it’s not dark when I should go to bed?

The first workout of the next twelve weeks went easy. I had more trouble with changing the plates than with the weight I had to use. And bumping into columns and equipment trying to get situated. What gives, I’ve lost weight and gained klutz? One of these days, I’m going to have to rearrange the set up out there.

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Iron Experiment Redux 20

Not much of a workout. I found my max rep for my core exercises. I’m not going to change up what I’m doing with weights yet. I want to eventually start doing push ups and pull ups, but I don’t have a way to do pull-ups yet.

Well, crappola, I have been mis-figuring my dumbbell weights all this time. I finally found a box online that told me what was included in my set. Throwing the boxes away and combining all the weight plates not a good idea when it comes to doing the math while working out. I used the oh-so-clever method of I-bet-it-weighs-this-much while holing the bare dumbbells in my hands. I guessed 5 pounds together. They’re actually 10 pounds together.

It changes my max reps and it changes my fitness goals for the next twelve weeks, that’s why I care.

Squat = 50
Bench press = 50
Biceps curl = 50
Dumbbell rows = 50
Shoulder press = 40

Using reader Lisa’s Excel calculator found here, I have 12 weeks of workout weights.

Shoulder press

1. 20
2. 28
3. 28
4. 28
5. 30
6. 28
7. 30
8. 34
9. 28
10. 30
11. 34
12. 38

Everything else

1. 25
2. 35
3. 35
4. 35
5. 38
6. 35
7. 38
8. 43
9. 35
10. 38
11. 43
12. 48

So Wednesday, I need to get my butt out of bed on time and hustle with the workout. Since I had been working out in the thirties, I shouldn’t have any issues with the first week.

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Iron Experiment Redux 19 and End of 48 Weeks Measurements

I’m fairly proud of my workouts, nineteen of them in twelve weeks. There is noticeable muscle increase on my arms, legs, and butt. My massage therapist felt it on my abs, but it’s not a visible change yet.

Workout weights
Squat = 30 lbs.
Bench press = 30 lbs.
Biceps curl = 30 lbs.
Shoulder press = 25 lbs.
Dumbbell rows = 25 lbs.
Breaststroke level 1 = bodyweight x 50 reps
Crunches = bodyweight x 40 reps

The plan for the next twelve weeks is to measure my max reps for the lifts, and adjust my workout and warm-up weights for it. Some days, it feels I’m lifting as much as I can, other days, it’s too easy. If I plug those numbers into an interval training calculator, I have guaranteed pushing my body harder.

My goal is to reach Iron Experiment Redux 55 by August 10th, the end of the next twelve weeks.

However, stress eating plus muscle building negated the decreases of the last twelve weeks. I know I have overindulged the sweet tooth.

Week 48 = 191.6
Week 47 = 189.1
Week 46 = 188.9
Week 45 = 186.2
Week 44 = 185.7
Week 43 = 187.5
Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

Starting BMI Measurements

Height is 62.25 inches/158.1 cm.
Weight is 194.5 pounds/88.4 kg.
Body Mass Index is 35.3 kg/m2.

According to Better Ideal Weight Body Calculators, I should be:
between 105 - 138 pounds/47 - 62 kg
with a BMI between 19 and 25.

I want to weigh 120 lb/54.4 kg with a BMI of 20 kg/m2.

End of 12 Weeks BMI Measurements
Height is 62.25 inches/158.1 cm.
Weight is 187.6 pounds/85.1 kg.
Body Mass Index is 34 kg/m2.

End of 24 Weeks BMI Measurements
Height is 62.25 inches/158.1 cm.
Weight is 188 lb/85.3 kg
Body Mass Index is 34.1 kg/m2.

End of 36 Weeks BMI Measurements
Height is 62.25 inches/158.1 cm.
Weight is 179.3 lb/81.3 kg
Body Mass Index is 32.5 kg/m2.

End of 48 Weeks BMI Measurements
Height is 62.25 inches/158.1 cm.
Weight is 191.6 lb/86.9 kg.
Body Mass Index is 34.8 kg/m2.

How far to go:
Weight: 191.6 - 120 = 71.6 lb/32.5 kg
BMI: 34.8 - 20 = 14.8 kg/m2.

7/30/2007 9/9/2007 12/2/2007 2/24/2008 5/18/2008
height (cm) 158.1 158.1 158.1 158.1 158.1
weight (kg) 88.2 85.1 85.3 81.3 86.64
neck (cm) 37.5 37.5 37.5 36.4 37
bust (cm) 119.2 115.1 115.4 111.6 115
waist (cm) 102.2 102.3 102.5 97.7 100.5
hips (cm) 118.3 118.5 117.2 116.2 116.5
thigh (cm) 55.1 63.2 63.6 61.2 64.8
calf (cm) 40.6 40.5 40.3 39.5 40
upper arm (cm) 30.3 32.1 30.5 29.2 30
lower arm (cm) 25 26 26.2 24.6 26

The only areas of increases I’m concerned about are the bust, waist, and hips. Since I don’t see muscle definition, it must be more fat.

Easy enough to remedy, I hope. For the next twelve week period, I’m back on the South Beach Diet meal plans. I’m out of school, so no more too carb-y and too processed meals at the student union. It’s cheaper on the budget to pack food to work and SBD meal plans have snacks built into them, so no I’m starving runs to the vending machines.

The only drawback currently possible is suppers at my mother’s. It’s a food budget stopgap measure for me, but sweets and breads are always readily available and my willpower is typically spent by the time I get home. Maybe if I show her my weight chart. Never underestimate the power of visual aids.

Also to hold myself accountable, I’ll be using the food tracking feature at FitDay. Portion control will be aided by going back on phentermine once I pick up the prescription from the pharmacy. Get my sleep schedule straight and I should start losing weight again.

Comparison pictures will be added once I get the lighting fixed in my bedroom.

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The BookWorm

Iron Experiment Redux 18

May 10th: Yeap, same day, but not the full workout all at once. I did one exercise like the squats, and then went back for another session at the computer. I decided on this program after I spent a couple of hours sitting at the computer between writing the ethnography and cleaning out the email inbox.

May 11th: 18 is taking place over two days.

Week 47 = 189.1
Week 46 = 188.9
Week 45 = 186.2
Week 44 = 185.7
Week 43 = 187.5
Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

I can’t decide if my legs hurt from doing fifty squats yesterday or if it was the fifty squats plus the InStrider Walker. It’s not too painful, but I don’t think I’ll be doing either of those today.

I need a bigger porch. Actually, I think I’m glad I’m not in a gym right now. I just did my bicep curls. Moving the barbell off the weight bench, I hit the wall of my house. The barbell hit the ab ball in my first pose, so I changed positions. Finish the exercises, and then hit the post with the barbell as I go to put it back on the weight bench.

Yeah, finished off Session A workout with 50 Breaststroke Level 1! Time for a new exercise! Woot! I decided on this one Exercise Ball Prone Leg Raises. I’ve been waiting to try it out for a while now, and I only have a week before the twelve weeks is up. Damn that time went by quickly.

Wow, now that was a good aerobic break. I don’t remember the last time I had done something like that; probably been a few years. I put on the Mortal Kombat soundtrack and did a funky dance mix with TaeBo punches and kicks along with using Downward Dog, Plank, and Cobra poses to go down to the floor and come back up. Heart rate really accelerated with that and no triping over my own feet trying to keep up with cheorgraphed moves. Doing that a few more times today.

Just had another go. My left side weakness does go down to my feet. I can’t kick as high with my left leg as my right. Oh well, I’m not doing it to look pretty, I’m doing it to get my heart rate up. One song on the CD at a time.

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Iron Experiment Redux 17

Week 46 = 188.9
Week 45 = 186.2
Week 44 = 185.7
Week 43 = 187.5
Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

It’s been nine days between workouts. I’ve been stressing over the ethnography and forgetting exercise and maintaining a normal sleeping pattern, thus making sure I can’t wake up with enough time in the morning to workout. Then I feel so beaten up by the time I get home, I skip an early evening workout. And the stress from the ethnography getting worse as I reach the day I don’t want to relive in my mind and put on paper for everyone to see. I get fidgety and I don’t want to face the words.

So I decided to use all that nervous energy to good use. I spend 15 minutes on the ethnography and then get up from the computer. After cooking brunch and eating, now those breaks between 15-minute writing session are free for exercise. This will either break me or get me off of the weight slump I have been on.

So I completed a Session B workout. I still need breaks between rep sets especially on the squats and bicep curls. I still can’t get past 30 crunches on the ab ball. And since we didn’t get to have the garage sale last weekend, I spent 5 minutes on the InStrider and concluded I still hate using it. Next cardio session will have to be something different.

Considering the humidity, I didn’t break into enough sweat for me to feel it was an effective workout. My arm tremors beg to differ with me. Maybe I’m a little dehydrated, so I’m sucking down water instead of tea.

Next workout session will be yoga.

Okay, I did my yoga hip routine with pretty good results. It had been too long since I had done it though, my range of motion has decreased. Also from the state of my workout pants, I need to vacuum my living room rug.

Also all the measurements are updated, just in time for me to do it again tomorrow. :p

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Iron Experiment Redux 16

Yeah, I missed a workout while trying to get the sleep schedule straightened back out, so today is the 16th. Wow, I've been consistent for 16 workouts. I got 40 reps of breaststroke level 1 done, and added five minutes on the InStride Walker. I figured out if I bend my knees a little, the movement does feel more like walking. I also found out after five minutes, I need to do my hip opening yoga routine on a more regular basis.

I know 5 minutes is not enough aerobic activity, but it was time to go get dressed. I'm going to squeeze in a full thirty minute tomorrow.

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Iron Experiment Redux 15

Week 45 = 186.2
Week 44 = 185.7
Week 43 = 187.5
Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

I had my fun weekend. Now it's time to seriously cut out the carbs again; go to Phase One and stay there for two weeks.

I've done two workouts with the warm-up weight five-pounds under the workout weight. This workout kept both warm-up and workout weights the same. I think I will have to stay here for the next three workouts.

InStride Walker is what the exercise machine on my porch is. I meant to start using it this workout, but I ended up having to end the workout after the crunches. I did get on it to make sure it still works. Well, the parts move but I feel weird doing a walking motion with my legs that doesn't bend my knees. Convinced I was doing it wrong, I Googled about it looking for exercises. Everything relevant that came up were websites selling the used machines. It's not even listed on the company-who-made-it's page anymore. So since, I can't figure out anyway to bend the knees using it, I guess I don't bend the knees.

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Iron Experiment Redux 14

The next two workouts will be copies of this one with separate warm-up and workout weights rather than move to the same weight for both. I managed 35 reps of Breaststroke Level 1. I think in four more workouts I will be at 50 reps and can move to the Level 2 version.

My scale measurements are still hovering at 186.5 pounds. Should I add in more cardio? I know I need more than what I get, but I don’t know where to add it. Thanks to gas costs, I haven’t been to the gym. It’s getting warm enough to go swimming, but that means extra driving too. Mom put her glider machine on my porch (right in the way to the weight bench, which I didn’t discover until I went out in the dark to workout and had to move it) but I’m dubious over how useful it can be. At least, it doesn’t cost any gasoline to get to it.

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Iron Experiment Redux 13

I went up on the workout weight today, and I think I may have to plateau here a while with the rests I had to take. Humidity is up, and one rest was me going back into the house for water. I used the second barbell for the warm-up weight again, and it worked much better this time. I put my hands outside the iron plates instead of trying to keep them on the inside. So now all I’m left with is having to change the iron plates on my dumbbells. I need to buy another pair of 2.5 plates; I never have enough of those to use.

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Iron Experiment Redux 12

Week 44 = 185.7
Week 43 = 187.5
Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 24 = 188
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 1 = 205

Okay, I put the full 44 week weight loss record, and took up a whole page in Word on just the list. So I cut it down to the 12 week highlights and what I’m currently working with. The previous weeks’ records are archived in the blog and on an Excel file I’m keeping, so if it’s available if you’re that curious.

This week was period, which explains where two pounds suddenly went. I’ve been working out consistantly and watch the food but I haven’t gone real strict. But I’m happy to see the numbers go down.

I took a two day break between workout sessions because I was nice and did something stupid. I have two coworkers who are walking the stairs at least once a day, though often they manage twice a day. Well, one of them was out last Wednesday, and her partner asked me to walk with her. Our office has already had one accident in the stairwell (her sugar went off and she blacked out while making deliveries), so I said sure. I survived the stairwell. Then Thursday morning I did my Iron Experiment workout.

By the time I arrived at work, my thighs and calves were pulled taunt. It was teeth-gritting to get up and down out of chairs. Friday morning I put on Biofreeze and it helped loosen them up. I decided to do weights Sunday morning to give the legs a rest on Saturday. That strategy worked, I completed my whole workout with no pain, but I had a bath with Epson salt right after just in case.

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There is a new renaissance festival in Louisiana! Check out the Acadiana Medieval Faire at: http://www.acadianafaire.org/

Iron Experiment Redux 11

I bumped the warm-up weight to the same as the workout weight. The way I think it should work: two workout sessions with the warm-up weight five pounds less than the workout weight, then two workout sessions with the warm-up weight the same as the workout weight, then bump the workout weight up by five pounds. I don't really know if this is going to work, considering I just spent five sessions at the same weights.

I got both the ab balls aired up yesterday, and it is true, crunches are harder the firmer the ball is. I could only do thirty crunches this morning. Fatigue is also noticeable in the shoulders, especially the left one. I go through the full number of reps and there's no pain, just a little tightness. Course I also wonder if its my body being a little pissed at my budget brain. I called for massage rates and realize I probably can't afford it this month. My car always tends to make me spend money I had earmarked on something else, so why not my body?

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The BookWorm

There is a new renaissance festival in Louisiana! Check out the Acadiana Medieval Faire at: http://www.acadianafaire.org/

Iron Experiment Redux 10

So much for getting up on time. I overslept this morning. But I got home at 5:15 pm, so I dressed and went out to the front porch and worked out.

Last week, Mom finally found her barbell. About three years ago, I had borrowed it to use while working out with Escape Your Shape but had returned it a few months later. Course about six months after that, Mom asked for the barbell back. "I already gave it back." Mom's answer, "Well, I can't find it." Repeat for two years. She found it finally and put it on my porch with the weight bench. So I decided that if my weights fitted on it, I would use it for my warm-up weight rather than trading weights on my barbell.

Mom freely admits that she bought a cheap-ass weight bench. The weights that came with it are plastic-covered concrete (I leave them on the bench to keep it weighted down). The barbell that came with it is hollow and only four-feet long. Mine is six-feet long and weighs at least 15 pounds. Mom's barbell worked for what I wanted it (my iron weights fitted on it) but it was hard to get it up on my shoulders for the squats. I'm undecided if working with it is less aggravating than changing the weights on mine and having to do math.

I also got up to thirty reps of Breaststroke level 1. I'm not going to switch to level 2 until after I reach fifty. But on today's, I noticed a strange pull in my shoulders I hadn't felt before. I don't know if my shoulders were just tired from the day at work or if I was doing something wrong. The ball needs airing up, along with my office ball. I have to remember to do that tomorrow.

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The BookWorm

There is a new renaissance festival in Louisiana! Check out the Acadiana Medieval Faire at: http://www.acadianafaire.org/

Iron Experiment Redux 09

Week 43 = 187.5
Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 35 = 178.6
Week 34 = 179.4
Week 33 = 179.4
Week 32 = 178.8
Week 31 = 179.2
Week 30 = 181.7
Week 29 = 181.9
Week 28 = 182.8
Week 27 = 182.7
Week 26 = 185.3
Week 25 = 188.2
Week 24 = 188
Week 23 = 186.7
Week 22 = 187.4
Week 21 = 186.9
Week 20 = 186.2
Week 19 = 186.4
Week 18 = 186.3
Week 17 = 186.5
Week 16 = 187.2
Week 15 = 188.6
Week 14 = 188.8
Week 13 = 189
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 11 = 187.8
Week 10 = 189.6
Week 9 = 188.9
Week 8 = 193.4
Week 7 = 194.5
Week 6 = 194.5
Week 5 = 195.5
Week 2 = 199
Week 1 = 205

For the past few weeks, I've been laboring under an assumption that my left shoulder needed to stay at the weights I was lifting. Anything more would damage it.

This morning I said fuck it and up the workout weight by five pounds.

And executed the workout perfectly with no lasting damage. Plus 35 crunches. Now if only I could make this caffeine-withdrawal headache go away as easily.

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The BookWorm

There is a new renaissance festival in Louisiana! Check out the Acadiana Medieval Faire at: http://www.acadianafaire.org/

Iron Experiment Redux 08

Wow, I did 25 reps of Breaststroke level 1! That's the ball pilates exercise I do for back extensions.

Now don't get me wrong. I love pumping iron compared to other exercises. I'm in this for my health, ultimately. However, the vain part of me wants some body sculpting results. It's also locked in with the impatient part of me who wants the results now!

My butt is the perkiest it has ever been. Buns of steel are probably not in my genetic makeup, so I will settle for glutes that will help me kick ass if I need to. My stomach, however, doesn't seem to understand the program. Yeah, I know the chocolate cravings and giving into them doesn't help, but it's hard to stay motivated looking down at the gut that is still out past the boobs. I don't see my butt, so it doesn't work as a motivating body part.

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The BookWorm

There is a new renaissance festival in Louisiana! Check out the Acadiana Medieval Faire at: http://www.acadianafaire.org/

Iron Experiment Redux 07

Who says doctors can't motivate? Same day I have three month visit is the same day I got back to the weights after a fifteen day hiatus. Hadn't realizied it was that long. No wonder the body weight creeped up.

Week 42 = 186.1
Week 41 = 184.2
Week 40 = 181.7
Week 39 = 181.6
Week 38 = 181.2
Week 37 = 180.7
Week 36 = 179.3
Week 35 = 178.6
Week 34 = 179.4
Week 33 = 179.4
Week 32 = 178.8
Week 31 = 179.2
Week 30 = 181.7
Week 29 = 181.9
Week 28 = 182.8
Week 27 = 182.7
Week 26 = 185.3
Week 25 = 188.2
Week 24 = 188
Week 23 = 186.7
Week 22 = 187.4
Week 21 = 186.9
Week 20 = 186.2
Week 19 = 186.4
Week 18 = 186.3
Week 17 = 186.5
Week 16 = 187.2
Week 15 = 188.6
Week 14 = 188.8
Week 13 = 189
Week 12 = 187.6
Week 11 = 187.8
Week 10 = 189.6
Week 9 = 188.9
Week 8 = 193.4
Week 7 = 194.5
Week 6 = 194.5
Week 5 = 195.5
Week 2 = 199
Week 1 = 205

Now that the weather is evening out, I think I'm going to scale up my fitness schedule to every other day out at the weights. Until I notice bad effects. Hopefully the crap interfering with sleep has ended and I can get up on time.

For the health update, my numbers stayed the same since my last visit in November. I threw all conceot of sticking to the diet out the window for the last couple of months, so I'm fairly sure that didn't help. I think I'm going to pass Mom my South Beach Diet cookbooks and beg for meals conforming to the plan.

Since 500mg of metformin three times a day did not agree with my digestive track, the doctor switched me to Glumetza 500mg three times a day. I also got an Adpex refill and cosmetic treatment for the hair on my face. I haven't filled all of them yet; waiting for the paycheck.

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The BookWorm

There is a new renaissance festival in Louisiana! Check out the Acadiana Medieval Faire at: http://www.acadianafaire.org/