M
MaryannC
Guest
Hi Guys - here's my story - I would be happy for any inspiration, ideas , advice, criticism...
....I have been "trying" at this for almost(most ) of my 51 years...& I am STILL trying - I am so glad I found this WLF site and other folks facing weight-loss efforts....
~ I am a 51 years old married gal , live in a small rural town ( pop. 2,000 people) - in Alberta , Canada. - have struggled with weight issues for most of my life - weigh 250lbs. today (Sheesh) & made up my mind this week to get-bak-on-wagon working at weight loss.....
Motivation/History :
- frustrated fed-up with being overweight for so much of my life( have struggled with weight since childhood).
- have lost weight numerous times, only to creep-back, gain back & more each time.
- starting to really find degree of overweight affecting my quality of life ( fitting in airplane seats, movie theater seats, tired/hot all the time, won't go flying with husband on private plane because too embarassed to give weight,( health - blood pressure, not diabetic yet, but fearful of .)
- have annual medical with family MD this Oct.2012 - am 15lbs.up from last year - immediate goal-to lose those 15lbs.before MD appointment, have friends wedding in Oct., and trip in end Nov. - would like to have some weight-loss before those events., and then continue weight-loss until I reach goal weight of 120lbs.- then work on maintaining weight at goal.
Recent insight :
- I went to a workshop on addiction ( for work ) ( to help counsel patients on quitting smoking - ), workshop had some excellent insights into addiction/addictive behaviors - used some of the ideas to reflect on my own behaviors with eating ( I have developed many "unhealthy" eating habits over the years - I use food for comfort, rather than for healthy nutrition ( I eat poor choices( junk food, carbs ) - especially when upset / & or bored,( & I suspect it is the junk-food/carbs that create my further cravings for more junk food/carbs, and have developed habit of preferring/chosing those junk foods/carbs as 1st choice ) , rather than follow healthy nutrition/healthy food choices.
- one technique the workshop recommended is to look at a scale of 1/10- how important is it to change your issue ?( 10/10 for me with weight), how confident do you feel you can change/deal with your issue ? ( I felt 5/10 in confidence) , What would it take to move to more-confident? I felt some science(proven approach) might help me., Has anything worked for you in past with this issue ? ( I did have some success in past with logging/food diary + calorie restriction ( Nutra system, LA weight loss, The Rotation Diet ) .
Plan:
- decided I would sign-up for Dr.Bernstein weight-loss clinic ( Medically supervised low-cal program) - but when I contacted them - (and googled a bit on-line for others' experiences) - found it is quite costly ( ~ $100. /week) & very strict ( daily clinic visits - I live rurally-would mean 1 hr drive each way for me to get to their clinic, and weekly vitamin injections ( I work in health-care , am a bit "leary" about a "clinic" injecting me, especially so frequently ), and comments on-line from others on the program were mostly negative ( gained weight back, could not maintain/tolerate the extrememly low calories).
- so , feeling that Dr.Bernstein might be a bit too extreme/not sustainable for me, I started pondering on what else I might try , ...per the Addiction course - thought back again on what worked for me in the past- did lose some on LA Weight loss ( but again -that one involves travel/1hr each way & $$$ , then remembered also lost a fair amount on the Rotation Diet in my late 20's (its' a book by Dr.M.Katahn) ( published way back in 1986) - dug thru my closet & still have the book !
- it's a 3 week plan - varying calorie amounts, then rest/off diet for at least 1 week, repeat diet on/off cycles as desired, until reach desired total of weight loss. - ...so , I reviewed the first week groceries needed, made my shopping list,
got the groceries ( lotssss of veggies - they are the back-bone of this diet,and low-fat), and some healthy/lean protien, healthy whole-grain low-carb, bit of fruit ( it's actually a very healthy plan ).
- so here I go , first week - quite hungry first day - googled Rotation diet ( seeking how others were doing with it, looking for tips on dealing with the hunger ) & found link to the Rotation Diet thread on this weight-loss.fitness.com site - it helped - thread reminded me about "free-veggies", I whipped some up, hunger was satisfied, and I've squeezed off 6lbs. this first week ( likely a lot of it is water weight, but still am very happy with it.)- am reading thru the entire book now ( Dr.Katahn writes in a very simple, but compelling style) - I am really finding his recommendations reasonable /and I am identifying with his own history and struggle with weight. I am currently reading his chapter on exercise, and that introducing ( and then maintaining) daily exercise , will be the key to keep weight stable/off , ( once I have reached my goal ) - his calculations - for my degree of overweight - 100+ lbs. over - I will likely need 1 & 1/2hrs exercise daily for life, to keep my weight stable,....a fair amount....but doable- a 1/2hr walk at lunch, and 1hr in evening ( treadmill, walk, golf , Zumba ) - think I'll mix it up to keep from getting bored. - I am hopeful, that with enough time at healthy-eating, I won't creep back to junk-food/old diet - and that with healthy daily diet long-term, will be able to maintain weight with less than the 1 & 1/2hrs daily exercise(but will see.)
- so , am feeling like I have a very reasonable, healthy, maintainable, not too expensive, not excessive driving, not scary/extreme clinic, plan. - follow rotation diet ( I am planning 5/7 days each week- low-cal on-diet week days/, off-diet normal eating on weekends ) - continue this for 3 week stretches, have 1-2 weeks breaks between rotations, repeat , as tolerated, until I reach goal weight, keep up with his exercise recommendation - have done the 15mins.+ daily this week, am now moving to the 1/2hr daily for 2nd week, will then move up to 45mins.daily until reach goal weight/or until am fit-enuf to work up to the 1 & 1/2hrs daily he recommends for someone with my degree of overweight. ( * I plan to adjust amount exercise a needed, once I am at goal weight- and exercise enuf to keep weight stable, without being excessive - to avoid injury and support being able to maintain the exercises.)
- here I go - maybe by spring 2013 - I'll have lost enough to brave admitting my weight to my husband , and be able to go fly with him on the small planes he pilots. It's a bright sunny day here today - clear blue sky - he's headed out for a flight , and I am here at home (boring)- so will eat my crab salad / triscuits/fruit for lunch, do my yard work & take dog for 1/2hr walk, and keep heading to my goal to "fly" with hubby ! healthy / slim/ & happy.
cheers,
Maryann C.
....I have been "trying" at this for almost(most ) of my 51 years...& I am STILL trying - I am so glad I found this WLF site and other folks facing weight-loss efforts....
~ I am a 51 years old married gal , live in a small rural town ( pop. 2,000 people) - in Alberta , Canada. - have struggled with weight issues for most of my life - weigh 250lbs. today (Sheesh) & made up my mind this week to get-bak-on-wagon working at weight loss.....
Motivation/History :
- frustrated fed-up with being overweight for so much of my life( have struggled with weight since childhood).
- have lost weight numerous times, only to creep-back, gain back & more each time.
- starting to really find degree of overweight affecting my quality of life ( fitting in airplane seats, movie theater seats, tired/hot all the time, won't go flying with husband on private plane because too embarassed to give weight,( health - blood pressure, not diabetic yet, but fearful of .)
- have annual medical with family MD this Oct.2012 - am 15lbs.up from last year - immediate goal-to lose those 15lbs.before MD appointment, have friends wedding in Oct., and trip in end Nov. - would like to have some weight-loss before those events., and then continue weight-loss until I reach goal weight of 120lbs.- then work on maintaining weight at goal.
Recent insight :
- I went to a workshop on addiction ( for work ) ( to help counsel patients on quitting smoking - ), workshop had some excellent insights into addiction/addictive behaviors - used some of the ideas to reflect on my own behaviors with eating ( I have developed many "unhealthy" eating habits over the years - I use food for comfort, rather than for healthy nutrition ( I eat poor choices( junk food, carbs ) - especially when upset / & or bored,( & I suspect it is the junk-food/carbs that create my further cravings for more junk food/carbs, and have developed habit of preferring/chosing those junk foods/carbs as 1st choice ) , rather than follow healthy nutrition/healthy food choices.
- one technique the workshop recommended is to look at a scale of 1/10- how important is it to change your issue ?( 10/10 for me with weight), how confident do you feel you can change/deal with your issue ? ( I felt 5/10 in confidence) , What would it take to move to more-confident? I felt some science(proven approach) might help me., Has anything worked for you in past with this issue ? ( I did have some success in past with logging/food diary + calorie restriction ( Nutra system, LA weight loss, The Rotation Diet ) .
Plan:
- decided I would sign-up for Dr.Bernstein weight-loss clinic ( Medically supervised low-cal program) - but when I contacted them - (and googled a bit on-line for others' experiences) - found it is quite costly ( ~ $100. /week) & very strict ( daily clinic visits - I live rurally-would mean 1 hr drive each way for me to get to their clinic, and weekly vitamin injections ( I work in health-care , am a bit "leary" about a "clinic" injecting me, especially so frequently ), and comments on-line from others on the program were mostly negative ( gained weight back, could not maintain/tolerate the extrememly low calories).
- so , feeling that Dr.Bernstein might be a bit too extreme/not sustainable for me, I started pondering on what else I might try , ...per the Addiction course - thought back again on what worked for me in the past- did lose some on LA Weight loss ( but again -that one involves travel/1hr each way & $$$ , then remembered also lost a fair amount on the Rotation Diet in my late 20's (its' a book by Dr.M.Katahn) ( published way back in 1986) - dug thru my closet & still have the book !
- it's a 3 week plan - varying calorie amounts, then rest/off diet for at least 1 week, repeat diet on/off cycles as desired, until reach desired total of weight loss. - ...so , I reviewed the first week groceries needed, made my shopping list,
got the groceries ( lotssss of veggies - they are the back-bone of this diet,and low-fat), and some healthy/lean protien, healthy whole-grain low-carb, bit of fruit ( it's actually a very healthy plan ).
- so here I go , first week - quite hungry first day - googled Rotation diet ( seeking how others were doing with it, looking for tips on dealing with the hunger ) & found link to the Rotation Diet thread on this weight-loss.fitness.com site - it helped - thread reminded me about "free-veggies", I whipped some up, hunger was satisfied, and I've squeezed off 6lbs. this first week ( likely a lot of it is water weight, but still am very happy with it.)- am reading thru the entire book now ( Dr.Katahn writes in a very simple, but compelling style) - I am really finding his recommendations reasonable /and I am identifying with his own history and struggle with weight. I am currently reading his chapter on exercise, and that introducing ( and then maintaining) daily exercise , will be the key to keep weight stable/off , ( once I have reached my goal ) - his calculations - for my degree of overweight - 100+ lbs. over - I will likely need 1 & 1/2hrs exercise daily for life, to keep my weight stable,....a fair amount....but doable- a 1/2hr walk at lunch, and 1hr in evening ( treadmill, walk, golf , Zumba ) - think I'll mix it up to keep from getting bored. - I am hopeful, that with enough time at healthy-eating, I won't creep back to junk-food/old diet - and that with healthy daily diet long-term, will be able to maintain weight with less than the 1 & 1/2hrs daily exercise(but will see.)
- so , am feeling like I have a very reasonable, healthy, maintainable, not too expensive, not excessive driving, not scary/extreme clinic, plan. - follow rotation diet ( I am planning 5/7 days each week- low-cal on-diet week days/, off-diet normal eating on weekends ) - continue this for 3 week stretches, have 1-2 weeks breaks between rotations, repeat , as tolerated, until I reach goal weight, keep up with his exercise recommendation - have done the 15mins.+ daily this week, am now moving to the 1/2hr daily for 2nd week, will then move up to 45mins.daily until reach goal weight/or until am fit-enuf to work up to the 1 & 1/2hrs daily he recommends for someone with my degree of overweight. ( * I plan to adjust amount exercise a needed, once I am at goal weight- and exercise enuf to keep weight stable, without being excessive - to avoid injury and support being able to maintain the exercises.)
- here I go - maybe by spring 2013 - I'll have lost enough to brave admitting my weight to my husband , and be able to go fly with him on the small planes he pilots. It's a bright sunny day here today - clear blue sky - he's headed out for a flight , and I am here at home (boring)- so will eat my crab salad / triscuits/fruit for lunch, do my yard work & take dog for 1/2hr walk, and keep heading to my goal to "fly" with hubby ! healthy / slim/ & happy.
cheers,
Maryann C.
We are a lovely bunch on the diary section so hope you'll carry on posting! Will you be logging your food each day? Have heard of rotation diet but thought the strict calories and then way it changes each day would confuse me. How many caloires per day is it? 
5lbs is kinda scary, but I think you're right, it must be mostly water? You would have had to consume so many calories for that to be actual body mass!
cruising along ......
googled diet/hunger - came up with - water, protein, fibre, ...too low fat - so tried lots water ( still hungry ) , tried bowl of spinach salad (better- but still pretty hungry) , tried few nuts - bit better, had my supper protein(salmon)-bit better , then tried a serving of my all bran-shreddies ( all natural - no salt/no sugar) - that finally did the trick -fullness kicked-in- couldn't finish the shreddies.
