Third year Day 126 - Friday April 18 - 2014

Some interesting things about meeting with Dena, the nutritionist, today.  First of all, she attached some probes, and tested Bridgett's basal metabolic rate (or index I think she said, anyway the rate at which she burns calories while sleeping/resting), and ratios of muscle in the body etc.  Bridgett has gained weight since her accident, which all of the doctors attribute to disturbances in the brain affecting glands, including pituitary and hypothalamus. Anyway, even if she eats on a restricted calorie diet, she still doesn't lose weight.  So, we are getting a good food plan, and we'll see what happens.  Perhaps the allergy food elimination will help as well.  Anyway, it was kind of crazy, because Bridgett burns like almost 1800 calories at rest.  So, she was eating 1750 calories a day and not losing weight, so that was messed up.  Dena says that she needs more protein.  Also, you may have guessed this, but she still has a lot of muscle in her body.  Not surprising really.  Dena recommends she eat about 2100 calories a day to lose weight.  She gave us a good outline of what to eat and really we need to work on protein drinks twice a day, as well as three servings of 3-6 oz of protein.  The big fun thing at the end of the meeting--Bridgett wrote Dena a check herself!!  I don't remember of I told you before or not, but I had ordered some checks for Bridgett's account that her social security is depositing to (as of this month).  They were supposed to have my name on them and Bridgett's, but they only have Bridgett's name.  So, I asked her if she could write the whole check out and she did!  She needed a little prompting about how to spell out the amount, but I showed her an example check after she had already put in the name and date and dollar amount, and she did the spelled out dollar amount.  She apologized to Dena about her handwriting but Dena assured her it was just fine and as good as most of the checks she receives.  Bridgett always had such great handwriting, so she is frustrated that it's not better, but it's getting better all of the time still.  Anyway, it was a great achievement for her!!