Kim, Thank you for the encouraging words, respect, suggestions and most of all hopes for futures blooms. God, how us gardeners know each other and how we relish the tiniest victories out there in the dirt! In fact, when I receive the "green thumb" compliment, I've learned to respond with an honest answer that sometimes surprises most. "Oh, I say, I've had more failures than victories when it comes to gardening. What you see is an obsession and years of trial and error." If I'm talking to a man, I usually analogize that my gardening is like golf, spending hours trying to get that perfect swing knowing all along, one can't. Ha! Maybe I need to be really honest,lol, and tell them I'm no gardener; just a plant collector/hoarder, going for quantity not quality! Karen, If it wasn't for you guys here at the GP and the tv I'd be even more blind to this menopause thing than I already am. Good gracious, I am dumber than a potato when it comes to this menopause stuff! I don't know if I'm in denial or just plum stupid or both,lol! I was watching "The Closer" the other night and the main character was concerned about some medical symptoms she was having only to discover she was experiencing menopause. She was in shock,lol. Her doctor said: "I've gained weight, haven't slept in 3 years and carry a fan in my purse." I thought, Omg, that's me!!! Like you said it just sneaks up on you and takes over your body. Incidentally, when I went to see my doc for this infection last week, I complained about the possibility of the antidepressants causing me to not get rid of these unwanted extra pounds. She suggested that I get some blood work done checking for anemia, thyroid, etc. before we change my script. I think she's smart enough to remember I was totally clueless months ago when I complained to her about these strange symptoms(sweating profusely, not sleeping through the night, etc.) Tee, hee, the poor woman had to break it to me gently,lol. Again, I don't know if I'm in denial or dumber than a potato,or both. Won't be the first time or the last. ;o)

Does she like a particular flavor of ice cream? My father was in a nursing home and when I went back to visit he had lost so much weight. I didn't ask, I just went to Dairy Queen and got him his favorite shake. He sucked that down like no tomorrow. I did that everyday while I was home. He then started drinking Ensure. My husband told me the regular Ensure is chalky but the Plus has a better flavor and he likes the milk chocolate the best. If she likes an ice cream flavor where Ensure has the same flavor, you might want to buy the ice cream and mix it in a blender with the Ensure to make just enough for 1 glass. She may not want to eat but ask her what sounds good. I found that taking the time to fix a well rounded meal is too long of a wait for them and then they decide they aren't hungry again. Also sometimes the new types of foods aren't pleasing to them. Chicken soup is a good standby. If too soupy, put in enough crackers to thicken it up. Take time, and I know that is hard, but if you could make a mental note or write down what seems to upset her tummy or what she doesn't like and then the list of possibilities. If she's ok with tomato sauce, what about some of the canned meals like ravioli or spaghettio's or even a frozen meal. My husband is 64 and disabled and we went through and still do sometimes, the problem of him eating. There are different medicines to stimulate appetite too. Now he can have no salt whatsoever. I find things he thinks will be good and keep it on hand. His favorite is chocolate ice cream and his milk chocolate Ensure. Talk to her doctor of your concerns and the two of you will come up with a plan. She may be old and her mind in another place but I bet she knows she loves you and that you love her. Stick that thought in your pocket, take a deep breath and take one step at a time, even if baby steps. Lynn

Even middle age people are being over medicated by many Dr's The pharmaceutical people who visit the Dr's will really push their products, free this free that etc even to the reception people. Very few Dr's will evaluate a persons condition why??because the insurance companies dictate how long they spend with each patient, in fact a Physician's Assistant will do most of the work, ask most of the questions, and Doc will glance at the chart, ask about 3 questions, and say get this filled and rarely follows up and gets annoyed if either the patient or family asks a question. Just the way it is unless you yell, scream and threaten! Which I have been know to do. Our Dr is so good with us and takes more time that he is prescribed to and does follow up and/or listens to us Very unusual!

Yup! And that "better approach" must include exercise for it to be successful at all. I know lo-carb eaters who don't exercise at all! So, they lose all that weight and then their metabolism is still next to nothing, which means they will need to eat very carefully to not gain it all back.