Desperate to slim down

The hardest thing for me being obese is feeling like I'm in a completely strange body. I have never gotten used to having my thighs rub together when I walk or seeing the cellulite bumps on my thighs and butt and arms.

I lived on an Indian reservation for about five years during the 90s, and although I wasn't exactly skinny at the time, the people were always telling me it was dangerous to be "so thin" because what if there's a famine? You'll be the first to starve!

I hope my weight gain isn't my body somehow preparing for a famine that it knows instinctively is coming. Did you know that for the last three years, we've grown less food than we've consumed, globally? That's right, we've got less than two months' of food reserves now, and the supply is dwindling much more rapidly than ever before, with the die-off of honeybees worldwide (they pollinate the crops!) and with so much grain going to ethanol production now.

Ethanol to cut carbon emissions - what a cruel joke! The production of ethanol creates many times more carbon dioxide than it saves. I do think the real agenda behind the "global warming" craze is the tax the gov't wants to collect from us - as if a tax could have any effect on the climate. Aside from which, CO-2 has very little to do with climate. Don't believe me? Go to video.google.com and watch "The Great Global Warming Swindle".

So maybe it's a mistake to shed excess weight at this point, since it appears we're in for some lean times. I'm already feeling the pinch of higher grocery prices.
 
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1. What is your current height and weight? 5'8", 188 lbs.

2. If you were at an ideal weight now, what would that weight be? I felt best around 130, but I don't think I can ever get down that low again. The least I've ever weighed as an adult was 112 when I was dying of cancer. It was definitely too little for my height and bone structure.

3. At what weight would you like to be at four months from now? 145

4. Why do you want to lose weight? (a) health (b) resume use of good smaller clothing (3) improve appearance

5. Do you want to lose weight for a specific life event such as wedding or reunion? No particular date or event, but I'll create one when I get near the goal.

6. What obstacles could get between you and your weight loss goals? My tendency toward procrastination, physical limitations and dental problems.

7. Why do you think that you now have a weight problem? It's probably a combination of restricted mobility and hormonal imbalance

8. What lifestyle changes do you think would help you lose weight? Nothing in my control unless I start shooting dogs that bark all night and keep me from getting enough sleep. (Moving is not an option.)

9. Have you lost weight in the past? If so, what has worked in the past to help you lose weight? I lost 10 lbs and 4" off my waist when I used the Arise & Shine herbal cleansing program the first time. I'd love to do it again but can't afford the ingredients.

10. Why do you believe that you did not lose weight or you gained the weight back? Slow metabolism?

11. What, if anything, has not worked for you in the past in helping you to lose weight? Why do you think it did not work? I don't think I've ever been strongly committed to losing weight.

12. Would you try writing down all food and drink consumed for a given period of time? Already started.

13. Do you cook at home often? If so, what do you cook? I cook at home about 98% of the time. I cook everything.

14. How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go? 1-2x/month, Subway, any Oriental or East Indian restaurant or Ryan's

15. What are your three favorite foods? Natto, unagi, miso soup

16. What are your three favorite restaurants? Ryan's, any Oriental or East Indian restaurant

17. What are three things you can do differently when it comes to food? More creative menus. Can't think of anything else!

18. If you woke up tomorrow and your body was exactly the way you want it, what would be different? I'd be thrilled to have clothes to choose from again, instead of wearing the same two pairs of elastic waist pants all the time. I would probably have less pain in my low back and hips. And looking in the mirror would be fun once again.

19. Do you eat when you are not hungry? I find that extremely difficult.

20. Do you binge eat (large amounts at a time)? Only when there's snow crab on an all-you-can-eat menu.

21. Do you hide your food or eat in secret? Nope.

22. Do you eat when you are sad, nervous, or depressed? I tend to lose my appetite at those times.

23. Do you eat as a reward? Only as a reward for having a good appetite, when I do.

24. Do you eat while watching TV or using the computer? I eat all my meals alone, so I'm usually watching a movie or reading something while I eat.

25. What do you normally eat for a meal? Whatever is around that needs to be used up before it spoils. It's not easy shopping for one.

26. What type of snacks do you eat? Plain baked crackers, soup, tins of smoked herring, vegetable juice, leftovers.

27. In terms of exercise, what, if anything, are you currently doing? Bicycling, walking, chores in the yard and garden, housework.

28. Where do you go for exercise? A local public gym? School/work gym? Home? Around the house and the neighborhood.

29. What, if anything, are your three favorite types of exercise? Sex, walking, swimming.

30. What is your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly motivation to move towards your goals? I don't understand this question. I just know I don't want to die fat.

31. Do you have rewards for certain goals? Meeting any goal is its own reward.
 
Good morning, diary and lurkers. This morning, for the first time in years upon years, I feel slightly less "bloated" than I did when I went to sleep. It's a very slight and nearly imperceptible difference, but it's there. I wonder if it's a fluke, or a sign that my body has realized that I mean for it to slim down. What do you lurkers think? Anyone had a similar experience?
 
I can't win. I thought, based on the feeling expressed in the previous post, it would be interesting to check my weight, and it has increased by several pounds!
 
Do your measurements tell a different story? There's a topic in the On Topic forum called the Scale Mentality -that is really a must read.... The scale can be incredibly fickle -andnot always an accuate indicator of what's going on with your body...
 
I read the first few posts. I got the point, in fact I got it a long time ago, and it's not like I've sunk into a funk over this. No, in fact I'm quite used to it. I especially remember an experience I had a few years ago, but before I tell the story I should mention that my scale is digital and I always use it in the exact same location, stand on it the same way, and get naked first. I've also heard that the reading will usually be higher in the evening and lower first thing in the morning.

So, a few years ago I had a very interesting day. I was working hard and it was very hot. I didn't have time to eat (nor an appetite) that day, and didn't drink much either, even though I lost a lot of water through sweating.

At the end of the day I thought, wow, I worked so hard and sweated so much and ate nothing, I bet I lost a few pounds today. So I weighed myself.

The next morning for some reason my bowels decided to have a spontaneous cleansing. After filling (and I do mean FILLING) and flushing the commode for the fourth or fifth time, I stopped counting and just waited until it calmed down, then figured, HEY... I bet my weight will be down now from last night, because - as they say - your reading will almost always be lower in the morning than it was the night before, and here I've been pooping mountains for an hour, this is gonna be exciting! Especially since I haven't had anything to eat or drink yet this morning!

So I stripped down, got on the scale, and then, boom, the reading showed that I was a few pounds heavier than the night before.
 
I don't know how I'll ever whip this obesity, because I simply cannot consume the amount of calories I supposedly "require" in a single day, without making myself sick in the process!

I signed up for "fitday.com" today and filled in everything I ate throughout the day. Here are the totals:

Calories 1052
Fat grams 30
Carb grams 144
Protein grams 59

The above covers three meals + two snacks.

Again, I couldn't have eaten more food than I did, without bursting, but according to most diet gurus, I didn't eat nearly enough to sustain my body.

However, the types and amounts of foods I ate today are typical of what I've been eating on a daily basis since about 1972 (with the exception of special occasions). The only difference now is that I am eating more than one meal and one snack per day, after about 8 years of eating just one meal and one snack per day.

Activity-wise, I didn't do anything in particular that could be called a workout, but I've been moving around more than usual, doing some cleaning. Between taking time out to prepare food, eat, and clean up the mess several times a day, and trying to get some work done, there's no time leftover for much else.
 
Hi JD, welcome to the forum :). I'm so sorry that things turned out like this for you. I would agree you need to figure out what's going on with your weight/health first, but then its time to start fresh and find you a new man to wake up with. Case in point, my mom was a recluse after her last marriage ended after 20 years, she wasn't sad about him though and didn't care to meet a man but she became ill and just started focusing purely on her illness, she just hung out on her couch all the time. Then she started dog sitting for this guy's dog whom she met through a friend. Well low and behold mom and the guy with the dog hit it off and now mom is over there at least 4 days out of the week. She's happy again, socializing all the time, and back to herself. So you never know who crawls out of the wood work or when. You dont need to stay alone forever.

As to your food, I noticed that you don't seem to eat any dairy whatsoever. That could be a huge problem for your bones and could potentially be part of your problem. I have no scientific basis for that whatsoever, but you never know (there have been studies showing a yogurt a day helps weight loss). You also dont seem to have much fat in your diet and somehow that could also contribute, I have no idea how but I do know fats are essential for our bodies and some things may cause it to work less than optimally.

On the other hand, you could be eating too little calories and your metabolism may have slowed down significantly. You may have significant hormonal problems. You may need estrogen/testosterone supplementation or you may have serious thyroid issues, as you noted. Hormones are significantly connected to our weight. I obviously have no idea and urge you to see a doctor and get this figured out. You're going to have to get over your fear of needles and get some tests done. This is not normal on the extremely low amount of calories you're eating and this weight gain issue really needs to get addressed by a medical professional at this point.

You also seem to be dangerously depressed, and I dont blame you after what you've been through, but it seems like you may be at the point where you need to speak to a professional about this. Perhaps there is something that could help you get back to your former self. Despite your ex leaving.

I would be careful lifting weights without a doctor's permission given that you broke your pelvis and said you get severe pains if you lift more than 20 lbs. Be careful that you dont injure yourself any further.
 
Thanks for your concern, Blancita. I've been to counselors in the past for depression and got nothing from doing so. They always try to prescribe a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor like Prozac or Paxil, but I've read the PDR and want nothing to do with those very dangerous addictive drugs.

Blancita said:
As to your food, I noticed that you don't seem to eat any dairy whatsoever. That could be a huge problem for your bones and could potentially be part of your problem. I have no scientific basis for that whatsoever, but you never know (there have been studies showing a yogurt a day helps weight loss).
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I cannot handle milk, nor do I like it, and wouldn't want to consume dairy if I did like it and wasn't allergic. Why? Aside from how adulterated it is (if you've never visited a big dairy farm, you should, and once you do, I guarantee you will never touch milk or anything made from it again), it's not a natural food for adults. It's intended for infants who do not have teeth. And it's species-specific, to boot!

Where do cows get the extra calcium that goes into their milk? From the grasses and the feed (grains and soybeans) they are fed. We can do the same.

Do you know there is plenty of calcium in leafy green vegetables and seaweeds? Also, sesame seeds have a very high calcium content. All the above are a part of my daily diet. I probably get more calcium than the average person who depends on dairy products for their calcium.

Bear in mind that the American Dairy Association funds a lot of the research that gets quoted in commercials. I recommend doing some research at an unbiased website such as NotMilk.com - if you go there, read "The Famous Milk Letter" first. It's quite enlightening.

.
 
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Found on MilkSucks.com:
Dairy products are a health hazard. They contain no fiber or complex carbohydrates and are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. They are contaminated with cow's blood and pus and are frequently contaminated with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Dairy products are linked to allergies, constipation, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.

The late Dr. Benjamin Spock, America's leading authority on child care, spoke out against feeding cow's milk to children, saying it can cause anemia, allergies, and insulin-dependent diabetes and in the long term, will set kids up for obesity and heart disease, America's number one cause of death.

And dairy products may actually cause osteoporosis, not prevent it, since their high-protein content leaches calcium from the body. Population studies, backed up by a groundbreaking Harvard study of more than 75,000 nurses, suggest that drinking milk can actually cause osteoporosis.
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Down 3.5 lbs. since last weigh-in. Now I must keep up this downward trend. I'm tempted to start skipping meals again, before I completely lose the ability to do it so easily.
 
Good job on the weight loss... Slow is the way to do it. Don't start skipping meals, you will stop losing weight. Looking at your food from the other day, I would suggest more calories (no less than 1200 a day) and increase your protein intake while decreasing your carb and fat intake slightly. JMO. Hope you have a great week!
 
paulab_5 said:
I would suggest more calories (no less than 1200 a day) and increase your protein intake while decreasing your carb and fat intake slightly.
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Else where on this forum I am being advised to consume more oil as a way of upping the calorie content of my diet without increasing the volume of food by much (since I'm already eating as much as I can without feeling overstuffed). So now I'm a bit confused!

Somewhere I read that 10-15% fat is ideal. That's an easy target to achieve when you take very little meat and do not use dairy at all. I've never had to worry about looking for "low fat" on a label except rare occasions when I buy chips. It also seems like it ought to aid in weight loss, but I'm living proof that this is not necessarily the case.

In other news, I did the exercise class again on Friday and this morning. Had a nice Chinese meal Friday evening - vegetable soup, steamed crab with lemon, stir-fried Chinese vegetables and a bit of rice. No dessert. Saturday and Sunday I didn't eat much at all, so I may have lost a bit of weight, but I am not checking the scale again just yet. Instead I am going to wait until my pants feel a bit looser.
 
Jane Doe said:
Else where on this forum I am being advised to consume more oil as a way of upping the calorie content of my diet without increasing the volume of food by much (since I'm already eating as much as I can without feeling overstuffed). So now I'm a bit confused!

Somewhere I read that 10-15% fat is ideal. That's an easy target to achieve when you take very little meat and do not use dairy at all. I've never had to worry about looking for "low fat" on a label except rare occasions when I buy chips. It also seems like it ought to aid in weight loss, but I'm living proof that this is not necessarily the case.
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Depending on what kind of OIL, it can be considered a healthy fat and that is good, depending on how much total fat you are consuming. I just know from my days of personal training and nutrition counseling that my clients got the best results when they increased their calories in the form of protein and I never reccommended low fat foods. Again JMO (just my opinion). Do with it what you want.
 
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If taste was the sole consideration when it comes to food, I could live on fish. I think it would provide extra protein and fat in correct proportion. Fish is getting to be more expensive, but I'm still able to get enough; I have it at least twice a week, but when I eat it too often, I start getting acne! So I tend to rely more on beans and bean products, nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, and the occasional egg, for extra protein.

I think my biggest problem is that I don't move around enough. I do as much as I can within the limits I have. I would walk more if I had someone to walk with. I've thought of getting a dog. It would force me to walk at least a short distance a few times a day. But I can't afford a dog. I've already got too many cats. Too bad they won't walk on a leash. Well, they will, but they stop every two inches.
 
I woke today feeling ever-so-slightly slimmer. I even thought I could see a difference in the mirror - slight reduction of bulge in the gut. Been eating far less than normal the last few days, thanks to a toothache. No change in weight on the scale, but I was able to do more activity before being forced by low back pain to take a rest. That was a surprise. Also, a friend I don't often see happened to drop in this afternoon and rub my back a bit. It felt extremely relaxing.
 
Busy weekend, much hunger, little food, more physical activity than usual (but not a whole lot). Dropped 1/2 lb. since Friday.
 
Three pounds heavier this morning. All I had to eat yesterday was a bowl of vegetable-bean soup, two slices of whole wheat bread and a glass of apricot juice.
 
Have been exceedingly busy but haven't forgotten this site or diary. Lost a few lbs. thanks to dental trouble keeping me from eating for about 10 days. My feet have been swelling terribly for about a week. No idea why. Today finally they have gone down almost to normal. Had my 55th birthday a few weeks ago. Hoping that well before my 56th birthday I'll have achieved my weight loss goal.
 
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