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Reaching the end of my rope- lap band?
Posted: Feb 13, 2013
I am very unhappy right now. I am very overweight but have gone to my endocrinologist to see if anything can be done to help me out. I do have hypothyroidism but my weight has gone steadily up and up and I weigh now more than ever in my life. I was started on Metformin and went from 500 up to 1500 mg and went back today and on that have gained 6 lb in 5 weeks. I am very uncomfortable in my clothes, almost busting out my clothes. Saw a NP today who was probably about 6 feet or little more and looked to weigh about 100 soaking wet. My husband said he thought metabolically related some how and she tells me only thing less food, more exercise and that was the only thing to help me. I am thinking lap band. I am not against exercise although older here and have some feet issues but this past summer I spent so much time at our pool and walking until I had blisters on my feet, was walking 6 miles a week and still the weight there. Anybody with any good things to say about lap band if you have had or other ideas? Thanks so much. ;
see - message
[ In Reply To ..]If you think that the weight gain is related to your food intake and if you are able to get the lap-band then go for it.
I too have had issues with my weight over the last 2 to 3 years, losing and gaining up until recently. Having a sedentary job, you are prone to weight gain unless you make it a point to exercise.
My husband recently got me a treadmill and I also have another machine that I use that works my arms and buttocks. I have two 8 lb weights that I use also. I try to ride my treadmill about 45 minutes 4-5x per week and I also use the other machine when Im done with that and I do a few weight reps. Its actually working really well for me being able to workout right here at home. So I would say consider getting some exercise equipment for home, its convienent, saves money because you dont have to pay for and renew gym memberships and you are also less likely to skip workouts when you have the equipment right there at home, as sometimes half the battle is getting to the gym.
This is something to consider even after you get your lap-band if thats what you decide, because you will still need to incorporate some exercise to maintain the weight-loss from the lap-band, plus its healthy and keeps the body toned.
Good luck!
lap band or no - MTMT
[ In Reply To ..]I would consider the lap band only as a very last resort. Keep in mind that it is major surgery and you will have to take medications for the rest of your life afterwards. Also, unless you change your eating habits, you can gain the weight back. When you think about it, the surgery is a drastic way of forcing you to eat less... but do you really want to eat only a couple of spoonfuls at each meal?
My advice would be to start keeping a food diary. You'd be amazed at how much more you eat than what you think. If you can afford it, try Jenny Craig or something similar. I used Jenny Craig a couple of years ago & loved it; wish I could afford to stay on it. The food is really good (chocolate cheesecake... yum!). If you can't afford JC, then maybe pick up a couple of cookbooks, like the Biggest Loser cookbooks. I have several and I love just about everything I've made.
You definitely need to get moving. This job is killer when it comes to exercising. Too bad we can't wear little weights on our fingers, since that's the only thing that gets a workout all day. Find something you enjoy, because if it's no fun, you won't do it. I love Zumba and kickboxing for an aerobic workout. Hate the treadmill but I can manage it if I'm listening to upbeat music. And I just ordered a cool new toy called a Trikke so I can get outside when the weather warms up. Can't wait to try it out.
Also, try weight training. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so as you tone up, you'll lose even faster. I have a Total Gym (you know, the one on the Chuck Norris infomercials). It's a great way to get no-impact strength training and even aerobic training if you move fast enough. I always hate the idea of working out, but about 15 minutes into it, an amazing thing happens. Those endorphins start kicking in and I actually start to enjoy it! And then I start thinking about how good it feels to be doing something GOOD for myself!
It might also help to find a partner-in-crime so that you can work together and motivate each other.
Good luck! I hope you find something that works for you!
Great ideas MTMT, what I do with the treadmill - is...
[ In Reply To ..]watch TV or turn the TV to a music channel while Im walking it. I find if I turn it to one of my shows for example, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills I can go almost the entire hour before I know anything. The 15 minute thing applies there too, I notice once I've been on there a few minutes my adrenaline kicks in and I even get to the point where I will turn it up and do run/walk intervals.
i do that too - ugh
[ In Reply To ..]I have preprogrammed workouts on my treadmill and set it to the highest at 4.5 and in the hour walk, it totals 20 minutes of jog/running. Maybe I have to just run the whole time? I will probably have a heart attack.
LOL!! to ugh - Did'nt mean to laugh @ your post but - it sounded so funny.
[ In Reply To ..]the part about running the whole time and probably having a heart attack. You poor thing, 2hrs a day seems like an awful lot to me. From the sounds of it, your weight gain is probably not food related because if you are exercising like that, you should be super thin. I'll bet its the hypothyroidism. Best wishes to you and the OP.
Thank you. - ugh
[ In Reply To ..]I think it is probably stress and thyroid.
Two hours a day is a lot and I feel better, but certainly dont look better, and it is a horrible, exhausing feeling doing all this for nothing.
I read a good book on treadmill. - sm
[ In Reply To ..]T.V. doesn't work as well for me, so I get a good book that I am REALLY into and I refuse to read it unless I'm on the treadmill.
I cant lose either - ugh
[ In Reply To ..]I walk 5-6 miles a day, 5 days a week, also 1/2 hour of cardio. I have hypothyroidism also. I only drink water and coffee, and try to eat properly. I have no clue.
I bet its the hpothyroidism causing both of you - guys problems. Do you
[ In Reply To ..]take medication for it? The OP said she's on metformin, are you taking anything? and if so, what has your doctor said about you not losing weight despite the fact that you are exercising 5 days a week?
im on synthroid - ugh
[ In Reply To ..]I was just at doc and he said due to the family history of hypothyroidism (everyone on my moms side, including grandma, uncles, mom, me and sisters, and daughter), he is keeping me on the lowest end of normal and told me to bump up the cardio and that the 2 hours of exercise a day is not enough. Do I have to make this my part time job to lose anything??
On the subject of all this weight.... - Too much, way too much again!
[ In Reply To ..]The NP I saw today wanted me to join a senior citizen place for swimming for exercise as with the foot issues needing something- but hold it- hubby just called and this is what he has said. Years ago there was not a weight issue like today, not just me but loads of other people. My grandmother every night at dinner would have dessert, always a dessert, no one that I knew of back in the 50s or 60s had real weight issues, not like we do today. Hubby said first of all get rid of the milk I use. He uses the silk or almond but not the kind I use (low fat at that). He also said we are trying something for 30 days. He wants me to try dietary intake of lots of vegetables/meats which are only organic and see if that makes any difference at all. I do not cook but he said he would cook enough that all I would have to do is reheat and get this, he said not in the microwave because the food would lose nutrients. He also said need really good multivitamins. I am totally a piece of clay now for him to mold and I said I would try this for the 30 days and see if we can make a difference.
Gosh, I appreciate your responses and would be glad to increase activity, hopefully with something that my feet can get along with. Oh as far as the thyroid issue- mine is never under control- my medicine seems to go up and up (??? seeing a pattern here, medication and weight increase on both). Get this, the NP today told me with the Metformin I would not lose 50 lbs just overnight as she snapped her fingers and I said, did not think I would, did not gain it overnight either. Why do some people talk down to you like you don't have a brain in your head? Thanks again all. I will hopefully be back in a month saying guess what? and it won't be weight gain!
I want to move in, will he cook for me too? - ugh
[ In Reply To ..]We can be exercise buddies and I know for sure I could be a lump of clay (Im an MT after all)!
I know my aunt was a baker, and there was fresh bread and tons of homemade goodies daily at her house. She was all of 90 pounds!
I dont drink any milk, and hardly eat dairy. I do have a chocolate obsession occasionally where I will eat peanut butter M & Ms, but once a month or so isnt that bad, is it?
I guess I have to dump all bread and pasta. How will I survive?
Sure, come on over, enough for all - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]Could live the rest of my life without bread, love the pasta. I told the NP today there was not 1 single dessert in my house and that is the truth. I did have a brownie on Sunday but nothing since and before then had a dish of cobbler on the 3rd of this month. That has been it for this month. Yep, cannot chalk up to desserts, can I? I cannot even remember the last time I had a drive thru meal, maybe a month or so ago? I think and maybe others do also that addictives in our food might play a part. Here is wishing me luck and others as well.
Sounds like your hubby is on to something with - the organic foods. I sometimes
[ In Reply To ..]wonder if the weight epidemic has anything to do with the way food is being processed these days. I know there have been times when I was at the grocery store buying meat and the chicken peices, like wings looked extremely big, like bigger than usually. I wondered if they were feeding the chickens steroids or something to plump them up. You are right about the 50s and 60s, people ate 3 meals a day and pretty much meat, potatoes, bread and they did'nt have the weight issues we have today. Im starting to think organic is the way to go.
He is always careful about his foods because - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]he is diabetic- not because he is lard size but runs in his family. He has a sister who probably about a size 4 or 6 and diabetic. He educates himself always about things good for you. He is like a walking health food store but he said I would not listen. Yep, am listening now. Threw out all the milk after I talked with him and am willing to go the extra mile to see if a difference, if so then he has a friend for life!
Happy Days - 50s and 60s - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I have done a lot of thinking about this too--that the weight issues were not as bad in the 50s and 60s. Some of my observations:
We did not get to drink pop and other sugary drinks as much as I think people do now. We, as kids, did get to make some Kool-Aid in the summertime, but we did not have it all day long, just for a snack. There were no pop machines in the schools. They only sold pop on game nights.
My family had chips and snack food rarely. My mother made good old home cooking--even fried chicken, etc., but there were no chips and candies except for special occasions like picnics and birthdays, no routine fast foods, frozen snacks, etc.
A lot of our food came from the garden and my mom "canned" fruit and garden vegetables for winter use.
We only had 1 station on TV and that was quite boring. We spent our time playing "cops and robbers" outside, riding our bikes, outside games, sledding, building snow forts, etc. We used to walk to the neighborhood playground, hardly ever got a ride anywhere.
We pushed the lawn mower. We did a bit of snow shoveling and lawn raking.
I am quite surprised now that when I go to the mall, I see kids and teenagers who make me feel small.
I do feel lucky to have grown up in the 60s.
Back in the days - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]We drank Cokes and get this, I graduated with a girl who as a senior had to buy kids clothes and now she wears a size 4. She has a whole garage full of Coca-Colas- she lives on them. She is tiny, petite. She never drinks anything except so Colas are not the thing alone that cause this. If that were the case she would be huge. My grandmother and aunt always and I mean always had candy sitting out at their house in candy dishes. My aunt thought a day without chocolate was like a day without sunshine. She was never heavy. They had things like ice cream and desserts every day of their lives. We did activities as children but I am talking the adults and how they ate and how they were not obese. I go to the store and look and turn down things I would love to have, cakes, ice cream, cookies- how much would I weigh if I let myself eat those? 500 lbs? My last Coke was this past summer- on vacation- 2 desserts the month of February. No Big Mac, no have it your way burgers. Well, that leaf is fixing to be turned over come this next weekend and then I want to see if the NP was 100% accurate today- Ms Thin as a Beanpole told me NO way could you lose weight without exercising, no way. I want to so prove her statement wrong by a) going off the Metformin and 2) changing the type of food going in. Here goes....
Portion sizes. sm - Could lose a few pounds, too.
[ In Reply To ..]I've been reading some about this lately. Rather than dieting and avoiding foods one enjoys, I have seen suggestions to eat smaller portions of everything. Supposedly helps eliminate food cravings. When we had cake and sweets back in the day, the portions were much smaller. All food portions were much smaller back then. Plus, we didn't have all the artificial sweeteners and junk they put in food these days. The organic aspect is interesting. I try to use organic when I can afford it and also feed my dogs and cats some organic foods. Remember when foods contained real sugar and not high fructose corn syrup? Everything we eat has been cheapened down. Even cows and pigs and chickens are fed garbage. I switched to grass-fed beef.
I need to lose weight myself, and I am trying to downsize portions.
Cows, chickens fed garbage, what do we eat? - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]Yep, those same animals are ate by me (wish I was a vegetarian and had been brought up that way, really do) and others so as the old saying goes, garbage in, garbage out.
Veggie here - wasn't raised that way
[ In Reply To ..]I too wish I'd been raised vegetarian. I made the switch a year ago, and although it can be hard at times (specifically going out to eat), I think it's worth it, and I've never felt healthier.
I have to make an app't to get thyroid checked - wheres_my_job
[ In Reply To ..]I keep putting it off, I don't know why. One doctor said I had thyroid nodules. So I really need to get it checked. I have a doctor now, sliding scale, only a few minutes from my house!
So thanks to all for posting on this important subject - getting your thyroid checked!
Finally figured it out. - sm
[ In Reply To ..]First of all, I have 2 close relatives who did the lap band. There are side effects that I never knew about. Both now have problems with alcohol. One has recently had her 3rd hernia surgery. While they initially lost weight, (they may have gained it all back for all I can tell)I would say the amount they lost was not worth it.
OK, exercise alone will not help you lose weight. You need to change the foods you eat. I have cut out almost all bread and "bad" carbs. When I have a hamburger, I might eat half a bun. I eat lean protein, have some nuts, and as many fruits and vegetables as I want and try to eat a lot of fruits and veggies. I am losing and I feel a lot better. Some people say wheat is the culprit. Actually I have lost a lot of my cravings for sweets since I cut way down on the bread and it is not bothering me too much. I will still have something yummy on the weekend, but I will just buy a small individual portion so I am not tempted to eat more. No more baking pans of cookies, pies and breads.
Exercise. Yes. Exercise keeps me sane. I used to run 3 miles a day, never lost a pound and now have horrible knees. Now I walk my dogs about 30 to 45 minutes per night and it is a great stress reliever. I also do a quick routine of situps, leg lifts, pushups and yoga stretches and some weights. No more than 10 to 15 minutes a day.
It is working. I feel better and even my "lines per hour" has increased. Good luck to you.
Lap-band - no no lapband
[ In Reply To ..]I say no to Lap-Band!!!! I am sure there are success stories, but mine was not one of them. I lost some weight, but I continually vomit on a daily basis. I have had the Lap-Band since Aug of 2007, and it was the worst mistake ever!!! Food gets stuck that should not get stuck, i.e. cream of chicken soup!?!? I know people that it has worked for, but I would never ever do it again if I had it to do over.
What you are saying is sad I am sure for you - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]I have known of 1 person who had a bypass, not the lap, and this person absolutely had a change in character so I have heard of that. I never said the word lap band before, even thinking about it and hubby was so surprised when I brought it up. I am of a certain age and did not want to kill myself trying to get slimmer but am just very disgusted at myself and very unhappy right now and that is not the kind of person I am. I love to be out and going but when busting out the clothes I have now and not wanting to get my next clothes at the tent and awning company, got to do something. Do you still go to the physician who did your lap?
My best friend got one too and vomits... - After 2 bites almost every time we have lunch
[ In Reply To ..]She's currently shopping around to figure out how much it's going to cost her to have it removed. (She paid thousands to have it put in and lost something like 30 pounds all told.)
These are the ones you are not told about when - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]asking the bariatric surgeon about the bands. I think if specifically asked your would probably get the run around. This is really sad as is the one above yours as surgery first of all and then to have to have reversed.
Weight loss and thyroid - anon
[ In Reply To ..]I have thyroid issues too as I have no thyroid at all. I've been on Synthroid for 7 yrs. I finally did some research, Dr. Mark Hyman, and found some intersting info on Synthroid. It's a synthetic replacement hormone. Armour thyroid is a porcine hormone. Synthroid supplies your body wiht T4 in the hopes of your body producing T3. I just had my doc switch me to Armour. It supplies your body both T4 and T3. It's a thought. Also, make sure you are excluding all sugar and white flour (even bleach whole wheat, from you diet. The sugar cravings will bug you for a bit, but then they'll go away.
Not taking either thyroid supplement - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]Levothyroxine. I had really bad hair loss with the other 2 you mentioned (not that I have gotten any back with the one I take now). I do not have a huge sugar craving. As I mentioned above, 2 desserts this month only. Also no Cokes or other drinks, water here. My goodness, guess will have to cut out .... next- maybe that's fattening. (You can add your own word there).
Well at least you know your not alone with the thyroid - issue, pretty common problem.
[ In Reply To ..]I use to work with a lady at the hospital who lost a significant amount of weight. When I asked her what she did, she said it was the medicine her doctor put her on. She told me she had thyroid problems and once she started on the medicine, the weight just fell off. She got really skinny. I also have a sister-in-law who is on thyroid medication, she just started it and she has battled with her weight for years. I had mine checked about 8yrs ago and doctor said they were fine, but wondering if thats something that should be checked ever so often. After reading this thread, its got me thinking.
Told hypothyroidism runs in family, mine?? - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]I asked my elderly aunt several years ago about females in my family who might have and she knew of no one, neither did I. Told when first diagnosed if I had a daughter to tell her because runs in female family members. I must be adopted.
Here's something from my Dr.'s office - anon
[ In Reply To ..]This is something that was in my GPs quarterly newsletter. Apparently, a lot of his patient's have had a lot of success with it since he rolled it out. Might be something for you to look into with your physician or a different one. I have not personally tried it, although my GP has--he outlines his results below as well. I must say, he is looking quite svelte these days!
POUNDS AND INCHES MELT AWAY WITH HCG
Human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG) is a naturally occurring hormone that is manufactured by embryonic tissue. The presence of HCG in the urine or blood causes a pregnancy test to read positive.
A British endocrinologist named A. T. W. Simeons learned that one of the purposes of HCG is to protect a developing fetus in case of a famine. If a pregnant woman has insufficient caloric intake, the HCG allows her to access her sequestered stores of body fat in order to continue to safely nourish her pregnancy. These targeted body fat stores are not normally accessible, even with calorie restriction, dieting, and vigorous exercise.
Dr. Simeons learned that if you give non-pregnant obese patients a small amount of HCG each day, along with a very low calorie diet, the patients burned between 1,500 and 4,000 calories of their own body fat each day. With these fat calories circulating in their bloodstreams, the patients did not experience hunger, despite a Spartan diet consisting of less than 500 calories per day. This resulted in a loss of 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of body fat per day.
During a treatment cycle, HCG is administered for a minimum of 21 days and a maximum of 40 days. During a 40 day course, an obese patient can potentially lose up to 34 pounds. Furthermore, the fat loss is targeted to those difficult to reduce areas: abdomen, waist, thighs, hips, and buttocks. The diet protocol includes a maintenance program following the HCG phase, which enables the patient to maintain his or her new set point of body weight. During this maintenance phase the patient is able to increase quantity and variety of foods in order to satisfy hunger, while ensuring that the daily weight remains stable. Following six weeks of maintenance, a patient could then do another course of HCG and lose another 34 pounds, if necessary.
During the 1950’s, Dr. Simeons directed a clinic in Rome where he treated thousands of overweight patients, and claimed a 60-80% success rate for keeping the weight off. This high success rate compared favorably with other weight loss programs. He claimed that his method permanently reset the appetite control center in the hypothalamus of the brain. Kevin Trudeau introduced Dr. Simeons’ protocol to America in his book, The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About, published in 2007.
When I read Dr. Simeons’ manuscript, I was very skeptical but also very interested, so I tried his protocol myself. To my amazement, I lost 18 pounds in 23 days without hunger, and maintained adequate energy and a pleasant feeling of well being, despite eating a very small quantity of food. Since then, I have advised and treated fifty patients. Although one patient was unsuccessful, all the other patients were impressed, satisfied, and enthused by their success with the protocol.
If you are interested in learning more, you can obtain a copy of HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide from our office or from Amazon. Read the book from cover to cover so that you entirely understand the protocol. The protocol only works if you follow the directions precisely. Then make an appointment to see me in the office so that we can discuss your situation, goals, and assess if the protocol is right for you.
If we determine that you are a good candidate for the protocol, I will order some blood screening tests and then I will prescribe the HCG. Dr. Simeons used HCG injections in his clinic, however, I prescribe an HCG nasal spray, which is much easier to administer. During your course of HCG, you will be required to email me your weight daily, along with any questions or problems you may be having. We will meet again when your course of HCG is almost complete, to discuss the maintenance phase of this protocol. This daily communication and support is essential to the successful completion of the program.
The upside of the program is:
Temporary use of a naturally occurring, inexpensive, human hormone rather than a synthetic chemical drug;
Absence of hunger;
Quick results;
Targeted loss of difficult to access body fat;
The allowed foods are very healthy and are readily available at any grocery store; and
Exercise is not required to achieve weight loss.
The downside is:
The allowed foods are very limited and specific while you are using HCG;
You cannot eat at a restaurant, drink alcohol or soda, or stray outside of the dietary guidelines for the days you are using HCG; and
During the days you use HCG, daily caloric intake is less than 500 calories and you are strictly limited to eating only the foods and quantities specified.
Only those who are committed to following the instructions precisely should attempt this protocol. A serious commitment is required. However, successful results will improve your quality of life for many years to come.
The HCG protocol shows great promise for treating obesity, which unfortunately is an increasingly common medical condition that is threatening to overwhelm our health care system. Dr. Simeons’ method offers rapid and lasting results. With the loss of excess body fat and the improvement in appetite control, you can expect to see amelioration in diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and possibly other chronic diseases.
Have either of you tried a gluten-free diet? - FBL
[ In Reply To ..]I have the books by Dr. Mark Hyman on Kindle. I did just the 2-week prep and was amazed. Energy came back, lost about 15 pounds, but the best part was my joint pains (especially knees) totally disappeared. They came back when I stopped the diet, so I am pretty sure that was it. Blood sugar was much better while I was on it too. I plan to get back on it ASAP, just have too much else going on at the moment. Good luck to you!
Gluten free, nope but right now would stand - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]on my head and gargle peanut butter if someone told me it might work. Told hubby after having the brownie this past Sunday last chocolate for me, period, end of statement. Sounds radical but it really hurt me and like a couple of other foods, white rice and grape nuts cereal, have gotten to am having reflux with those so cannot eat anymore. Grape nuts my favorite and I hate giving that up but it would absolutely seem to stick right in my throat and sometimes have had to throw back up because could not swallow water, get that down, really bad issue. For this next month trying the organic route, vitamins hubs wants me to try and see where I go, no milk (boo-hoo, love milk but he swears really bad for people). Off the Medformin officially tonight, checked with pharmacist and told me could go cold turkey and I have.
Gluten Free . . . yup - Coder
[ In Reply To ..]I think gluten-free is the way to go. You should experience about a 29 pound weight loss in a few months AND possibly not be diabetic any longer.
Please read the book "Wheat Belly." It explains it all.
I went gluten-free for different reasons several years ago. Read that book last month and have to say that EVERYTHING he describes in the book was EXACTLY what happened to me. Lost weight, labs normalized, thinking cleared up, stopped itching . . . everything.
It isn't an expensive book and is totally worth it. You will feel SO MUCH BETTER when you are not consuming gluten that you won't believe it. You'll even be angry that the wheat industry made you so sick.
Avoiding dairy products at the same time really helps, too.
And, no, a gluten-free diet is not difficult at all. I eat from the produce department and the meat counter. No need for special "gluten-free" foods. (They're usually nasty anyway!) Just eat fresh.
Not diabetic now..... - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]started on the Medformin because endocrinologist thought could help with the weight loss. Gained 6 lbs over the past 5 weeks taking that.....Am going the organic route and see what happens there, can do without things like bread, wheat. Thanks for the advice.
Gluten-free - agree - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I went totally gluten-free for about three weeks and was feeling fantastic. Same experience. Joints felt better, GERD went away, headaches went away. As soon as I went off it, got bad headaches and symptoms started up again. Since I can not seem to be able to go totally gluten-free, I just have cut back as much as possible on wheat-containing products. One funny thing I found is that I was surprised at my reaction (not a good one) to having a beer. Yup, beer has gluten. Switched to Woochuck Hard Cider and feel very good.
You can have pumpernickel bread on this diet - FBL
[ In Reply To ..]I actually prefer it now.
What do you eat...keep a diary - and get rid of wheat and grain
[ In Reply To ..]Read the book called The Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis. Then check out a book called The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson. It's a variation on the paleo eating theme, but he addresses life style changes in it as well.
The big thing, as someone mentions elsewhere in the thread is you have to keep a food diary for at least a week. You'll be surprised at what you really are eating. You can lose weight even if you're hypothyroid.
Unfortunately, it does indeed come down to calories being taken in and calories being expended. Use a program like Fitday.com or Sparkpeople to track your ins and outs.
I cannot stress enough, though, that getting rid of any kind of grain is the key - at least it was for me. I lost 50 pounds in about 6 months without even really trying. Grain, especially wheat, has an inflammatory property to it. If I eat bread or anything that has a crust of any sort, I will blow up like a balloon. White potatoes have the same response to me.
Years of eating poorly have damaged my metabolism and I am very, very carb sensitive and I would be willing to bet that you are as well.
If you focus on eating whole, fresh foods that will help. A really easy (sort of) way to look at it is do not eat anything that has an ingredient list. What you're left with is good meats and lots of vegetables and fruits. Yes, you have to plan more and especially if you give up wheat of any sort (which I REALLY recommend) you can't just slap a sandwich together, but I promise you, this works.
I would stay away from the lap band or anything like that as an absolute last resort. As someone else said, you still have to get a handle on your eating issues. I know a woman who is still very heavy after having gastric surgery done years ago. It didn't change the underlying fact that she eats crap.
Best wishes to you.
Thanks for the advice. SM - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]The NP asked me today what I had to eat. It was 2:30 and today I had a bowl of shredded wheat- that was it until that time. Yesterday I told her, same cereal, fruit 1 apple and then strawberries and 1 banana in yogart and remembered 1 other day this week- that day I had an apple and ate out that night at Carrabba's, got grilled zuccini and Chicken Bryan, did not finish all that. She said might need to eat more little meals spaced out during the day, not just a snack here and a meal there. I will pass on to hubby (he probably knows this already) about your statement about all wheat- bread I could live without - I do like pasta though. What do you think plays a part in the wheat problem? That lap band has come as a last resort talk for me. We have been married 12 years and hubs was surprised to hear me say that. I am past disgusted about myself. I have a BMI higher than most I type on. I know I fit into the obese if not morbidly and I am not happy. I am basically a very outgoing, traveling as much as I can, swimming in the summer active person and I hate fat rolls and not feeling good in my own skin.
I dont understand - this grain thing
[ In Reply To ..]I am taking a nutrition class, and the instructor says wheat bread/bagels are healthier and give you more satiety. But you are saying wheat is an inflammatory. I really want to understand my diet choices and make the best decisions, but there is so much conflicing information. Maybe that is why I canot lose anything!
The grain thing and the Standard American Diet - aka SAD
[ In Reply To ..]Conventional wisdom (CW) has it that whole grains are good for you. Do an experiment. Take a whole grain whatever and make sure you know how many calories are in it. Eat that for breakfast one day. The next day, eat eggs or a small piece of steak - whatever it is that is the same amount of calories. See which one keeps you sated longer. I'm going to go with the protein and fat. Same amount of calories. Your nutrition teacher has been schooled in CW and they very often cannot see beyond that.
Dr. Davis of The Wheat Belly http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/ maintains that wheat has been so genetically modified that what we are eating now is nothing like what we had even 100 years ago. There's something like 22 proteins in today's wheat and in ancestral wheat there's only 11. I am going to have those numbers wrong, but it's something like that.
Mark Sisson of The Primal Blueprint http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz21JSZ7K5o goes a little bit farther. His premise is that wheat is not designed for human consumption, or humans did not evolve to eat wheat. His site has a lot of interesting information.
The wheat, corn, rye, oats, etc., are the seeds of the plants that they come from. Their sole purpose in life is to get into the ground to grow another plant. As such, they actually have antinutrients on the outside so that whatever eats them - birds, humans, other critters, etc., can't digest them, and poop them out somewhere else, to grow and spread the plants elsewhere.
I spend some time on the forum at MarksDailyApple, and there are a number of people who have gotten rid of IBS, chronic GERD, etc. in addition to losing weight.
When I eat this way, I feel better, I have more energy, I stay full longer. You know how you get that lightheaded kind of hunger where if you don't eat something RIGHT FREAKING NOW you just are going to pass out? I never get that any more. The only time I get that is when I've eaten processed carbs.
One other thing to look at and get rid of is milk consumption. Milk - especially low fat milk - is very bad for you. It doesn't make sense that the low fat is bad, but it is. Milk is designed to make baby cows grow fast and put on weight fast. Any kind of milk - even low fat milk - has an insulogenic response in the body that is even worse than sugar.
Your body uses three different things as fuel - protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The carbs are immediately turned into glucose to be utilized as fuel. If you are sedentary, then you don't deplete your glucose stores in your muscles and you don't deplete the glucose stores in your liver. Your body has to get rid of the glucose. Glucose in your blood is fatal. So when you eat a lot of carbs in the form of processed foods, your body has to move it out of the blood stream. If there's no room in the muscles and no room left in the liver it has to store it as fat. When you eat a protein-oriented diet, your body uses the protein to restore muscle and body systems, then it uses the rest for fuel. Same with fat. Your brain does need some glucose, but if you eat a very low carb diet (VLC) then your liver will actually create the glucose it needs in a process called gluconeogenesis.
It's the basis of why the Atkins diet works, but that has morphed into a horrible focus on just VLC and they have all kinds of low carb frankenfoods which are just as bad for you.
Get rid of anything that has an ingredient list. That's the easiest way to approach it. My breakfast this morning was 3 eggs and some sausage with some really good cheese on the eggs. Lunch/dinner will be a big salad with some cooked chicken on it. I don't get hungry when I eat this way.
The bottom line is you have to figure out what's right for you. If you are trying to "diet" using conventional wisdom and it isn't working, then that to me means that conventional wisdom is wrong.
I lost 50 pounds by keeping a diary - and eating less carbs
[ In Reply To ..]not zero carbs, but significantly less carbs. I had a number of grams I could eat a day, and I would not go over that number.
I lost 50 pounds in 6 months and it never came back!!
What I did - Alice
[ In Reply To ..]Just thought I'd share what worked for me.
I was born fat and was 200 pounds by age 12. My highest weight was 359 pounds.
After 45 years of struggling, with "help" from doctors, nutritionists, etc., I finally found the solution.
Prior to this, I was taking glyburide and occasional regular insulin shots on a sliding scale. I had tried metformin, but stopped it due to side effects. I had followed diets recommended by physicians and nutritionists, but these all included small servings each day of bread, cereal, etc.
Anyway, I had to cut out ALL flour and sugar (including fruit sugar).
Within 3 days, I no longer needed the glyburide or insulin shots.
I followed a basic protein and vegetable diet. I also cut out all milk products and switched to soy/rice/almond milk on a limited basis. I also cut out all wheat, so there may have been a component of gluten sensitivity involved here.
I lost a total of 160 pounds and no longer consider myself to be diabetic.
I believe the diabetic medications were hindering my weight loss and the fact that I was eating even just a little bit of flour/sugar/fruit products kept me from being able to give up the medication. So, once that problem was handled (by totally cutting out all those offending foods), I finally lost the weight.
I'm still upset and grieve about the life that I could have had if I had figured this out years ago.
Your story is inspiring and thanks - Original poster
[ In Reply To ..]I am most certainly going to copy, paste and print off for my in the know husband to see. You know, this man has for some time talked against the milk (regular low fat store bought) I use and he reads and well versed in what a person should eat, I know this but until now he has not pressed the issue to me nor would he ever. I am fed up, totally now and time to change. I was asked by NP yesterday had I ever gone to a dietician. Well, yes, and that was a complete waste of my time. I felt the person might have been a newbie and time with her just did not clicked right. Question to you, when you say fruit sugar would that be the low glycemic coconut sugar (hubs had some in the food pantry) which thought I could use instead of regular sugar in my coffee this a.m. How long did it take you to lose the 100+ lbs and how long have you kept if off? Again, thanks.
Weight loss battle - Alice
[ In Reply To ..]I took my time and lost the most part of the weight, about 80 pounds of the 160 total, in the 5 years from age 55 to 60. I'm still losing, very slowly. It is not a quick weight-loss plan. It is an eat-to-live plan. I can no longer go back to the old way of eating. I do "cheat" occasionally, and this is controlled. I schedule "cheats" so as not to get out of control, but to help me to not feel deprived. I cannot have the offending foods in my house if I don't plan to eat them. For instance, I am allowing myself to have chocolate today, but after today, no chocolate will be in my house.
I'm not really sure about artificial sweeteners, but tend towards using stevia over the others. I'm also not an expert, but find the information about coconut to be very interesting.
I'm currently trying to give up coffee, as the caffeine also wrecks havoc with blood sugar and insulin resistance, etc.
Please keep in mind that doctors, dieticians, etc., are trained in hospitals that are often supported by the pharmaceutical industry, which IMHO, is not particularly honest (putting it mildly). Also, financial support may be withdrawn from medical schools if the contributors have stock in pharmaceuticals and the medical school does not teach pharmaceutically-based medicine. Doctors only know what they are taught or what they experience themselves. Many cannot share their true feelings about medicine or information regarding alternative treatments with their patients, lest they lose their license or suffer shunning from their peers.
I also eat less meat than I ever did, and more salads and beans. I'm very careful about the kinds of salad dressings I use, and I stay away from high-fructose corn syrup, which I have found in so many products.
Consider labels, but remember that labeling laws sometimes allow for deception. For instance, I once had a "cheese" that claimed to be "fat free." However, it had 25 calories per slice and most of the calories came from vegetable oil, which is not fat-free. When I inquired about this, I was told that, since there were less than 2 grams of fat per slice, the labeling laws allowed the company to put "fat-free" on the label.
Alice, were you the lady who - also used a treadmill
[ In Reply To ..]after eating anything? I remember someone on this board a couple of years ago in the same situation as you, who, for the same reasons as you, started using the treadmill for 10 minutes after eating anything at all. I found that to be inspirational. I think most people think we have to start out with a block of 30 or 60 minutes a day to have an affect on our health, but the lady I'm thinking about started off simple and built her way up. It also helped her keep a schedule of eating, especially late at night, so she wouldn't be on the treadmill all the time.
Kudos to you for finding what works for you. You have basically taken the induction stage of Akins as your plan of action. That takes a lot of will power. Kudos.
To end of her rope - redmaj
[ In Reply To ..]What is eat is 95% of it. I understand you have a thyroid problem. Watch your sugar intake! You are heading for type 2 diabetes I am telling you! Keep walking. I exercise to music daily. Kinda like Zumba. Make a green smoothie with kale, different lettuce, kelp, apple, pear, lime juice (real thing) and 2-3 cups of water-blend it and drink it every a.m. I have a huge list of good snacks. I exercise a lot and lift weight, walk/run. Eat really good 506 days a week and ONE day eat anything you want. You will find that if you like sweets, after a while,they will be too sweet. Sitting and transcribing is hard I know. Take lots of small breaks, walk in place, etc. DONT GIVE UP and KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!! A good diet and you wont need Metformin after a bit. If you are like me and like to snack, I have a huge list of good snacks!!
to end of her rope part 2 - redmaj
[ In Reply To ..]That would be 5 to 6 days a week, not 506 LOL. Didnt spell check plus I was getting excited e mail you!!! Once you start exercising what will really get you is when you start seeing results!! Seriously, good eating habits and exercise are addicting!!!
Sweets, hmmmmm 2 for the entire month? - Reaching the end
[ In Reply To ..]Sweets are not the issue here at all, a brownie last Sunday and then a dish of cobbler on the 3rd of the month and my last cola was this summer on vacation. I have absolutely nothing that could be considered a dessert in my home. Having said that, people only need to read back thru my posts and find out how sweets were eaten years ago (g'mother and aunt both had candy dishes in their homes and dessert after dinner every night) and no one then obese so you cannot lay all weight gain at the foot of sweets. I also told about my little friend who has a garage full of Cokes and she drinks incessantly and is a size 4! Don't we all wish?? As far as my work habits do not take breaks, have never done this and if away for longer than 4 minutes I get disconnected! I do not need Metformin and in fact took the last yesterday morning. I was started on this by endocrinologist because SHE talked about it helping people in their weight loss which I noticed pedal edema while on it and had to stop it for awhile. Done deal on that. Changing the foods I eat going as much organic as possible and cutting out milk I usually use.
lapband.... - Effie
[ In Reply To ..]I got a lapband 3 years ago... lost 20 lbs... thats it... wish I could afford to have it removed.
You only hear about the really big loss - Too much
[ In Reply To ..]not the ones who have lost very little or maybe have issues with the band. Did your insurance pay for that and now would you have to pay to have undone? From the posters here I have changed my mind, seeing not the solution like I maybe thought. I have gotten to the end though and grasping at something to help me out. I am going the route others have spoken of here, the no milk, protein, vegetables which is a good thing I love and we will see how that goes.
paying for reversal - Effie
[ In Reply To ..]I work for a hospital that does lots and lots of lapbands.. the hospital covered the "hospital costs" and I had to pay myself for the cost of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, etc.. cost me about $7000 and that was with a discount from the doctor. I think for me the issue is that I eat emotionally..and I didn't realize somehow that you are expected to follow a high protein diet after the procedure... I seldom eat meat especially beef and the diet is all about beef, beef and more beef.
Link to short video by Dr. Neal Barnard - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Google Dr. Barnard, Dr. McDougall, Dr. Esselstyn and son Rip Esselstyn, also there are others who think along this same vein, basically the Forks Over Knives group. I eliminated dairy and meat, except for occasional salmon and egg, and kid you not, dropped my pot belly and fat around my middle within a month, did not do any exercise except walking now and then when I can get the time for a nice little walk. Try to lift weights a bit, doesn't have to be heavy, but building up more muscle will burn off more even just sitting.
I think a reckoning is coming for pharma and food/dairy/meat industries. Some of the above doctors have been around for a LONG time, but their ideas have been brushed under the rug. Most of the women in my family from way back (I am in 60s) lived into their 90s and were not overweight. Of course, they also mostly ate only the food they raised, the whole breads they baked themselves, their own farm-raised beef and chickens that yeah were scrawny not all plumped and beautified for consumption. No nitrites back then, no additives of this this, that, and everything else.
We try to buy only organic as much as possible, including cans with no additives to inside if possible. Mainly trying to cook whole foods that are not processed but at least as few additives as possible.
Reaching the end of my rope- lap band? - Too much, way too much - eat clean
[ In Reply To ..]I haven't read all the replies. I have to say, walking 6 miles a week is really nothing. You should walk at least 3 miles a day, in fact, you need to get your heart rate up in order to loose weight.
Also, eat healthy foods. Lean protein, vegetables, salads, fruits, no sugar, and low fat will do the trick. Cut out all processed foods. The weight will come off.
I would love to walk more than 6 but - More
[ In Reply To ..]I have tried to get help for feet issue for 12 years now. NP asked yesterday if I had worn a support. Well, lets talk. Had shoes specifically made for me over $200, wore inserts made by podiatrists,and bought over-the-counter, went to rheumatologists, had injections in my feet, wore brace at night, had nerve conduction studies done, foot physical therapy, electrical current shots up through 1 foot, only when walking, never know when that will occur, foot spur in the other. No one, be it ortho, podiatry, rheumatology, neurologist, no one has found out why. Now this summer spent 2 weeks at Disney and walked probably at least 5 or more miles a day- wound up with blisters on top and bottom of feet. Easy to say walk, right? Next.....
I would love to walk more than 6 but - More - eat clean
[ In Reply To ..]That's what I love....you try to give advice, but people don't want it.
There are many other ways to exercise without having to walk. Maybe you can join a gym and use the stationery bike. You do need to get your heart rate up in order to loose weight, and you also need to eat a clean diet.
Why the chip? Thanked others here. - More
[ In Reply To ..]If I do not know about exercise and role it could play in weight loss at age 70, then I probably will never figure out. I do what I can do and what my feet allow me to do. Extremely active in summer, swimming at least 3 days plus a week at my HOA pools and for your own information, I walk in my home 30 minutes plus a day- when the feet allow. You don’t have to join a gym in order to exercise- but then I am sure you knew this already. As far as giving advice- I have already started what others here have advised.
Lap band is a temporary fix, not a permanent solution - Snow Bunny (the original)
[ In Reply To ..]Would you be willing to post one day of food and beverage intake? I would like to know everything you ate, how much you ate or drank(IOW, weigh/measure it), and what time you ate it. If you use artificial sweeteners, I need to know what as well. Finally, do you have any health issues besides hypothyroidism (i.e. arthritis, menopause) and have you ever been checked for PCOS?
I may be able to help ... if you're interested.
I love brussel sprouts - wheres_my_job
[ In Reply To ..]For me, the thing is, eating vegetables and fruit - which means you have to buy it and have it in the house. It may sound stupid, but, it's hard for me to buy a lot of frozen vegetables and canned fruit, AND fresh fruit and vegetables - but I really love salads, tomato salads, throw a bunch of veggies in, or roasted vegetables, or soups - but you have to have this stuff in the house.
Instead of cookies and cake, etc, you can have canned fruit or make a fresh fruit salad, you don't need to add any sugar, and you can get the light syrup canned fruit and rinse it off - not perfect but better than cake and cookies.
I also love brussel sprouts, and dark leafy greens. You just have to get used to getting them in the house, so they are always there. Also, whole wheat bread and pasta, and shredded wheat cereal - oatmeal - don't need all the sugar, add raisins for sweetness.
I had a lot of sweets for Valentine's Day and now I feel a little sick from it. Made swiss chard tonight, so that was good. I'm craving a tomato salad, just vinegar and oil and maybe some chopped up basil if I can find any anywhere. So good.
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