Getting back on track...again and sad statistics i heard on tv!

[CatholicChick]

I am going back on the Slimfast plan..its the easiest for me. I know perhaps not the best but it helps keep me on track to only have one meal a day to worry about and then the 2 slimfast shakes. I seem to cheat less if I know I can only eat once a day..except for the fruit/veggie snacks 2 times a day with the plan. Wish me luck...again!
I heard the statistics of someone who loses weight are 90 percent chance of regaining it in a year. (non weight loss surgery weight loss)



...please tell me this isn't true!

[GratefulDeb]

I heard that too. I hope it isn't true either.

However, I lost a lot of weight in my 20's but did gain it back plus lots more, in my 30's. Pregnancy doesn't help either! Especially for those of us who have Polish ancestry--like me!

I too, want to do Slim Fast. I got a can of the powder tucked away in my kitchen cabinet. I have to do something because I am very close to 300lbs. I never thought that would happen to me. Other people pretty much ignore you when you're that heavy. Which really doesn't bother me much because I like being left alone, but it does hinder one in the job market. I will be retireing from the job I'm in within 5-6 years, so I want to look fit when I go to look for another job.

Also, I just feel heavy. I am tired all the time, achy, and out of breath a lot. So something must be done!

[3DOCTORS]

I am feeling desperate. Is there a patron saint for dieters? I heard St. Thomas Aquinas was a rather portly fellow. Maybe we need to pray to him for intercession.

The bland food idea is something I'm going to try and some other ideas but please anybody who is willing, would you pray for me that my hernia which I had surgery June 10 to repair is not going to need further surgery? It has swollen in this past week and I see the doctor Monday. If it turns out that things are OK, I am going to ask for exercise recommendations. I'm just so afraid of re-injuring my body, and the weight itself may be pulling on all the repair work.

This is so frustrating!

[CatholicChick]

Q: Is there a patron saint of dieters?



A: To my knowledge, there is not a saint who has been officially delegated as a patron for dieters, but it is possible to choose a saint with similar interests or life situation and pray to him for that intention. Some possibilities include St. Martha, who was known for her hospitality and is a patron of dietitians (although not dieters); St. Raphael the Archangel, whose name means "God heals"; St. Thomas Aquinas, who is believed to have been a large man; St. Catherine of Siena, who, at periods in her life, survived on the Eucharist alone; and St. Anthony of Padua, a patron of starving people.

—Michelle Arnold

I found this on here, nope no real weight lost for me, been focusing on being healthy though and eating right, lost weight and it found me again and again, I think its my cross to bear but all I can do is do my best

[3DOCTORS]

Maybe we all need St. Jude (patron of impossible cases) first, to help us regain our hope! I went to 2 different doctors this past couple of weeks where weighing occurred. I forbade the nurses at each place to tell me my weight.

My main physician, whom I dearly love, says "Cut back on carbs," But if I did, I'd hardly eat a thing. I am a picky eater to whom the taste of vegetables is repugnant. I can eat some of them a little better raw or cooked in Chinese food. But still it's just habit to pass them by. I live by myself, so if I buy a bunch of produce and then eat very little of it, it rots.

With protein, there is more hope, if I remember to think outside of the box of "protein = meat." I'm trying to find (in health food areas) some grains that have higher protein content but might still feel like "comfort food," avoid trans fats and minimize sweets, etc. Sort of tailor a nutrition scheme that suits my individual quirks.

Due to health and budgetary concerns, I have pretty much broken the fast-food habit. And since I have, on the rare occasions I do eat at such a place, I eat a small item instead of a big "combo" and I also notice how generally inferior the quality is to what I could cook at home.

I'm kind of rambling here -- mainly I set out to say that as much as is possible I think we each have to keep searching for what works for us. I will never, for instance, "do Atkins." But someone else might really like Atkins and have success on it. I also will never forbid a food, because that for me just sets up an obsession.

Once the food is "unforbidden," though, I do have a friendly yet firm talk with myself about the need to keep it within reason if it's a more fattening or sugary food. I think some people convince themselves they're "addicted" to sweets or carbs because they've failed in discipline at its early stages, when balance is difficult to achieve. But there again, if the person feels it's in his/her best interest to avoid sweets and carbs altogether, and if they can do it without tormenting themselves to death, then who am I to say they are wrong?

So . . . I'm going to put together a diet or whatever you call it, lifestyle change, etc. for me. And hoping that anything I have just said might be helpful to someone else who is discouraged. We can do it. Let's keep on encouraging each other.

[beth40n2]

Originally Posted by 3DOCTORS

Maybe we all need St. Jude (patron of impossible cases) first, to help us regain our hope! I went to 2 different doctors this past couple of weeks where weighing occurred. I forbade the nurses at each place to tell me my weight.

My main physician, whom I dearly love, says "Cut back on carbs," But if I did, I'd hardly eat a thing. I am a picky eater to whom the taste of vegetables is repugnant. I can eat some of them a little better raw or cooked in Chinese food. But still it's just habit to pass them by. I live by myself, so if I buy a bunch of produce and then eat very little of it, it rots.

With protein, there is more hope, if I remember to think outside of the box of "protein = meat." I'm trying to find (in health food areas) some grains that have higher protein content but might still feel like "comfort food," avoid trans fats and minimize sweets, etc. Sort of tailor a nutrition scheme that suits my individual quirks.

Due to health and budgetary concerns, I have pretty much broken the fast-food habit. And since I have, on the rare occasions I do eat at such a place, I eat a small item instead of a big "combo" and I also notice how generally inferior the quality is to what I could cook at home.

I'm kind of rambling here -- mainly I set out to say that as much as is possible I think we each have to keep searching for what works for us. I will never, for instance, "do Atkins." But someone else might really like Atkins and have success on it. I also will never forbid a food, because that for me just sets up an obsession.

Once the food is "unforbidden," though, I do have a friendly yet firm talk with myself about the need to keep it within reason if it's a more fattening or sugary food. I think some people convince themselves they're "addicted" to sweets or carbs because they've failed in discipline at its early stages, when balance is difficult to achieve. But there again, if the person feels it's in his/her best interest to avoid sweets and carbs altogether, and if they can do it without tormenting themselves to death, then who am I to say they are wrong?

So . . . I'm going to put together a diet or whatever you call it, lifestyle change, etc. for me. And hoping that anything I have just said might be helpful to someone else who is discouraged. We can do it. Let's keep on encouraging each other.

I was to the doctor recently and he was so happy that I had lost 20 pounds since April, but he warned me not to loose it too fast or I will rebound. Yeh, I though, been there, done that a few times. So I am trying to stay stable for a few weeks before loosing more weight.

3Doctors - When your doctor said to cut the carbs, that does help. I first started counting calories, then I went through a period of time when I thought I might be Diabetic. So I really cut the carbs and boy did I loose weight. Well, good news, I am not Diabetic, the blood test show I am fine. But now I know how to loose the weight. A friend of mine told me to only eat 35 carbs in a meal, that is what her husband was told by the dietician when he got diabeties.. I have another person tell me to cut back to 50-60 carbs per day, that was too extreme. I am with you, cutting carbs are hard. I first cut all of my junk food which consisted of a lot of sugar, so fruit was the natural, second best sweets I could find. But fruit has lots of carbs. I also did not want to eat too much meat due to the fat even though meat has no carbs.

So now I eat normal portions of meat and try to eat extra vegetables. Some nights I don't even cook potatoes or pasta for supper. I do eat plenty of fruit. I have gotten in the habit of eating nuts for a snack. I buy the snack baggies and only put about 1 oz in there and that seems to help cut the hunger if I go too long without food.

Now I feel like I am rambling. How are you doing on your diet 3Doctors?

[pippin]

3Doctors, I have the same problem with vegetables. I have been trying to lose weight for a year now. It just creeps up. I take thyroid medicine, you think that would help. I find writing down everthing I eat helps. It keeps me honest.

[beth40n2]

I hate keeping track of everything, but that is what works best for looking. I have a calorie counter on my iPod touch. It also shows how many carbs are in the foods. You can look at it in the evening and know if you dare have a snack.

[3DOCTORS]

Well, my "diet" as such is still coming together. I bought some new higher protein products to try, and I decided to start looking at carb contents of foods listed on the boxes while at the store. I can also do this with foods in my cupboard. (Of course, I also have to remember to look at what a serving size is, which is usually way smaller that I think it would be.)

I think maybe I've lost 3-4 pounds just from sheer dumb luck, but I'll take it!

Back to the carb labeling, it's been an eye-opener -- some things that look sweet or starchy have fewer carbs than other things I wouldn't have suspected. Of course this is unscientific as to portion size and other variables, but still.

The other thing I think, with my need to prevent diabetes, is to do some studying about the glycemic index thing.

I did see a book "Carb Lover's Diet" at Wal-Mart the other night and it says there are some kinds of carbs that are actually helpful -- will look for that book at my library also.

I'm the kind that has to customize since I have weird food issues and aversions -- and preferences -- which is why I gather lots of information and then kind of wing it from there.

[beth40n2]

Originally Posted by 3DOCTORS

Well, my "diet" as such is still coming together. I bought some new higher protein products to try, and I decided to start looking at carb contents of foods listed on the boxes while at the store. I can also do this with foods in my cupboard. (Of course, I also have to remember to look at what a serving size is, which is usually way smaller that I think it would be.)

I think maybe I've lost 3-4 pounds just from sheer dumb luck, but I'll take it!

Back to the carb labeling, it's been an eye-opener -- some things that look sweet or starchy have fewer carbs than other things I wouldn't have suspected. Of course this is unscientific as to portion size and other variables, but still.

The other thing I think, with my need to prevent diabetes, is to do some studying about the glycemic index thing.

I did see a book "Carb Lover's Diet" at Wal-Mart the other night and it says there are some kinds of carbs that are actually helpful -- will look for that book at my library also.

I'm the kind that has to customize since I have weird food issues and aversions -- and preferences -- which is why I gather lots of information and then kind of wing it from there.

There is also a group here called "No sugar, no carb Catholics ". The group leader, tuscany started it to help people who have diabeties or hypoglycemia. But anyone who wants to loose weight can benefit from reading the group and forums. Some basics are that any meat product has no carbs, veggies are low carbs, some increase in carbs when cooked such as carrots. Some fruits are high in carbs such as bananas comparied to strawberries a lot lower. Any bread, pasta, rice or tortillas are high in carbs. Mission brand does have a low carb tortilla. Most diabetics my friend tells me should stay to 35 carbs per meal, but tuscany on the group I suggested says she controls her diabetes without medicine with 50-60 carbs per day which is very low.

The thing I worried about was eating too much meat, as you also have to watch your cholesterol levels. I am lucky and have low cholesteral, but my husband inherited high cholesteral, If you eat a normal portion of meat at each meal then try to fill in with low carb foods, that seems to work the best for me. I am still struggling. I also hop on the scale a couple times a week to keep everything in check.