Cheriz: My life with Cystic Fibrosis

Big Macs huh? I've had a couple customers at work mention things like " you're so skinny, you probably could eat anything. and still look that way."  Which I always just respond " yep, I guess I'm lucky" But I always think... Lucky.. lucky. yep I'm lucky I'm struggling to stay above 90 lbs right now. I have a stomach tube in me, have had it for 12 years and will have it for the rest of my life. I'm supposed to eat at least 4,000 calories a day. But I also have to fit in exercise to keep my lungs active, plus make up for all the calories that I burn. I get easily tired and if my weight drops suddenly it usually means I'm sick again. But since I'm skinny, yep I guess I'm lucky (rolls eyes). I hate telling people that I'm lucky. I'm not lucky when it comes to weight. Here are some phrases I hear that drive me nuts: - I'm lucky cuz I can't gain weight - you need to eat to put some meat on those bones...     ...

An Update: I have my next CF Clinic this Thursday! Yipes, I'm a lil concerned. I didn't have my therapies for a week, so I'm gonna have to work really hard the next 4 days to get my lungs in better shape. Also, weight wise, not what I was hoping for. But otherwise, I'm doing good! Its sooo weird how fast I can drop weight. Seriously, a couple days ago while weighing myself at mom's I weighed 98 lbs. I need to get back up to 107 again (dr. B wants 115). However, today this is my weight: Not sure how I dropped so much, especially since yesterday I had breakfast, lunch, steak n shake last night (with some friends) And I even hung out with a friend and had a couple beers last night. I didn't jog, or do any dance practices, just work, and went saw a show. Calorie wise, I shouldn't have lost any weight yesterday. [side note: I don't drink much or often, but I did start drinking in 2012, when my dr. gave me the "green light" and said it is ok...

Food and Dancing (what a busy day!) On every Saturday morning for the last year and a half I deliver mobile meals to people in the community. I really love doing it, the people I deliver to are amazing! Today, one of the older men I deliver to gave me a picture that he cut out of the paper. It was of my cousins (twins) holding their soccer team's trophy. Then I had play practice (its a hour drive there, and an hour back) so that takes up a chunk of the day, but since the play is Hairspray, I decided it is more than worth a couple hours in the car. It had been 5 years since I had been to our local Mexican Restaurant Los Ranchitos and I'm not sure why. However, I loved it! The food was great, the price was decent, service was good, and overall a fun time! It was really busy, good thing they added on a while back! I ate quite a bit today, but that is good, since the pharmacy hasn't sent me more stomach feeding bags. Tonight will be my third night without any feeding....

Weight Watchers in Reverse? I didn't even realize that I had started to count calories. I was talking with a friend who is currently participating in Weight Watchers, when I realized I count calories too. I started to count calories in college (because I would lose track of time and forget to eat meals). At the end of the day I would make up the amount of calories that I need in order to gain weight (or maintain if I'm at my goal weight). I eat the regular 3 meals a day and I snack quite often too;  you're probably thinking "why can't she gain weight"? However, on top of my digestive problems due to my Cystic Fibrosis, I dislike fatty and sugary foods too. I love pickles, grapefruit, pretzels, cereal, yogurt, etc. Even the food I cook tends to be healthier and less calories (prefer broth to creams, etc)... Therefore, I force myself to make a certain number of calories per meal and snack. Then I make up my calories I didn't eat du...

        Valentines Day... I'm not sure how many of my friends are (or aren't) celebrating Valentines Day. And oddly, thinking back...I don't think I have ever had a boyfriend during Valentines Day..  I realized the majority of my relationships ended a few weeks before it.. not that it matters, because we all know the best part of Valentines Day is Brach's Candy Hearts! This year I have decided to celebrate Valetines Day with a best friend of mine. We do dinner once a week usually, and I figured why not Valetines Day. I'm excited to make dinner ( I have sundaes planned for dessert, with homemade raspberry sauce, and heart sprinkles)! I'm also thinking of making chocolate/raspberry milkshakes (mine would be super high calorie of course)... I add my calories after my friend has her's poured. CF TIP: If you want to make a high calorie drink but are sick of milkshakes, because lets face it from birth, our doctors, nurses, and nutr...