shanbr
07-24-2004, 01:06 PM
I have been overweight for 10 years now. I was almost to my original weight after my daughter was born and the Dr. talked me into getting the Norplant birth control in my arm.
Instantly within 20 days, I gained 100lbs and became very sick.
It took me over a year to get it out of my arm (couldn't afford it) and by the time that happened, my new Dr. said my matabolism had changed to where it adjusted to being overweight and how I ate.
He said with the amount of food I eat each day, loosing weight would almost be impossible without a lot of help and he was right.
I did the Atkins thing for over 6 months.... not one pound lost.
I did the salad thing..... not one pound lost.
Fat Trapper.... not one pound lost.
I have done just about everything I can to loose weight and nothing works. I do each at least 6 months in case they are slow workers.
The problem is, I sometimes eat just 2 meals a day, no snacks. My meals concist of a bowl of healthy cereal and a normal "small" dinner. (about half of a normal plate when you go out to eat).
The thing is, when I don't eat a lot, weight 240lbs, what can I do to loose weight?
I'm stuck in a rut and have no idea how to get out.
My Dr. said liposuction and a tummy tuck. "ouch". Not something I want, nor do I want to spend so much.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
Instantly within 20 days, I gained 100lbs and became very sick.
It took me over a year to get it out of my arm (couldn't afford it) and by the time that happened, my new Dr. said my matabolism had changed to where it adjusted to being overweight and how I ate.
He said with the amount of food I eat each day, loosing weight would almost be impossible without a lot of help and he was right.
I did the Atkins thing for over 6 months.... not one pound lost.
I did the salad thing..... not one pound lost.
Fat Trapper.... not one pound lost.
I have done just about everything I can to loose weight and nothing works. I do each at least 6 months in case they are slow workers.
The problem is, I sometimes eat just 2 meals a day, no snacks. My meals concist of a bowl of healthy cereal and a normal "small" dinner. (about half of a normal plate when you go out to eat).
The thing is, when I don't eat a lot, weight 240lbs, what can I do to loose weight?
I'm stuck in a rut and have no idea how to get out.
My Dr. said liposuction and a tummy tuck. "ouch". Not something I want, nor do I want to spend so much.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
Sponsor
LV40
07-24-2004, 07:12 PM
Well, the first thing you have to do is find out how many calories you need to consume each day. Try this site (http://www.practicalweightloss.com/nutrition/caloriecalculators.html) and click on calorie calculator for women. Enter in your information and it will tell you how many calories you need daily to MAINTAIN your current weight. To LOSE weight, subtract 500 from that total. These are the calories you can consume each day and lose unwanted pounds.
Now the hard part; keeping track of those calories. It sounds overwhelming and tedious, I know, but it's the only way to lose weight and once you get used to doing it, it gets much easier and you feel good about yourself knowing you're eating healthier and you're in control of your diet. I made it easier for myself by keeping a journal at fitday.com. I enter in what I've eaten and how much (I keep track of portions, cups, ounces, everything) and it calculates how many calories (along with fat and carbs) I've eaten so far. This way I know how many calories I have consumed and how many I have left to spend. Regardless of what you do to lose weight, it all boils down to calories. Calories in vs calories out. Exercise, of course, helps. But you don't have to exercise in order to lose weight. Weight loss is 80% diet, 20% exercise. Meaning what and how much you eat is vital.
Secondly, I cut back on lots of things. Saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, 'white' carbs (rice, pasta, white bread) and I try to eat more fruits and vegetables. I don't eat junk food, fried food or fast food and I've cut my portions in half, I never go back for seconds. This doesn't mean I've given up all the foods I love. But I eat them rarely and when I do, I make sure they're part of my daily caloric intake. Like my calorie level is about 1600 (although I try and keep it under 1500) so if I blow all of those 1500 calories in one fattening meal, that's my choice. But I choose not to do it that way. I eat several healthy snacks or mini-meals throughout the day. This keeps my metabolism in gear and keeps me from going hungry and ending up so starved that I blow everything by eating a whole pizza.
Basically the bottom line here is you have to watch WHAT and HOW MUCH you eat. You may only eat twice a day, but those two meals could possibly equal well over 2000 calories and for your weight, that's probably too much. You may not think you're eating a lot, but you probably are. And that's okay, I was the same way. I didn't really eat all that much - or at least I THOUGHT I didn't - until I started keeping track of everything. I was shocked at what a nightmare my diet was. I may not have been eating a lot in quantity, but I was eating all the wrong things. Things high in fat and calories. I calculated a typical day's diet for me (before I started eating healthier) and I'd blow most if not all of my allowed calories in one meal.
Anyway, I hope this helps you, or anyone else looking for help and I wish you all the luck in the world. You CAN do it! :)
**Editors Note: I am in no way affiliated with the sites I posted links to and am not trying to advertise or sell anything**
Now the hard part; keeping track of those calories. It sounds overwhelming and tedious, I know, but it's the only way to lose weight and once you get used to doing it, it gets much easier and you feel good about yourself knowing you're eating healthier and you're in control of your diet. I made it easier for myself by keeping a journal at fitday.com. I enter in what I've eaten and how much (I keep track of portions, cups, ounces, everything) and it calculates how many calories (along with fat and carbs) I've eaten so far. This way I know how many calories I have consumed and how many I have left to spend. Regardless of what you do to lose weight, it all boils down to calories. Calories in vs calories out. Exercise, of course, helps. But you don't have to exercise in order to lose weight. Weight loss is 80% diet, 20% exercise. Meaning what and how much you eat is vital.
Secondly, I cut back on lots of things. Saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, 'white' carbs (rice, pasta, white bread) and I try to eat more fruits and vegetables. I don't eat junk food, fried food or fast food and I've cut my portions in half, I never go back for seconds. This doesn't mean I've given up all the foods I love. But I eat them rarely and when I do, I make sure they're part of my daily caloric intake. Like my calorie level is about 1600 (although I try and keep it under 1500) so if I blow all of those 1500 calories in one fattening meal, that's my choice. But I choose not to do it that way. I eat several healthy snacks or mini-meals throughout the day. This keeps my metabolism in gear and keeps me from going hungry and ending up so starved that I blow everything by eating a whole pizza.
Basically the bottom line here is you have to watch WHAT and HOW MUCH you eat. You may only eat twice a day, but those two meals could possibly equal well over 2000 calories and for your weight, that's probably too much. You may not think you're eating a lot, but you probably are. And that's okay, I was the same way. I didn't really eat all that much - or at least I THOUGHT I didn't - until I started keeping track of everything. I was shocked at what a nightmare my diet was. I may not have been eating a lot in quantity, but I was eating all the wrong things. Things high in fat and calories. I calculated a typical day's diet for me (before I started eating healthier) and I'd blow most if not all of my allowed calories in one meal.
Anyway, I hope this helps you, or anyone else looking for help and I wish you all the luck in the world. You CAN do it! :)
**Editors Note: I am in no way affiliated with the sites I posted links to and am not trying to advertise or sell anything**
Katt Fink
07-25-2004, 04:38 AM
LV40 - great, informative post! I agree 100% but ...just my 2 cents:
Shanbr, you say you gained 100lbs in 20 days. That is an immense amount of trauma for you body to go through, but it is not your fault. I don't think I've ever heard of such a dramatic reaction to any form of birth control. I am absolutely appalled that your doctor did not do something about it before it was too late.. you could have died! That is negligence on your doctor's part and you could probably take it to court for some kind of malpractice case. Also, if the only weight loss suggestion your doctor had for you was cosmetic surgery, I strongly suggest you find a second opinion. I am not trying to be purposefully rude or judgemental as I do not know you or your doctor, but I would NOT be happy at all with that doctor if I were in your situation. To me, that is unacceptable! Please, find a doctor that actually knows what they are talking about and actually wants to help you! All of my empathy to you.. good luck and keep us updated.
Shanbr, you say you gained 100lbs in 20 days. That is an immense amount of trauma for you body to go through, but it is not your fault. I don't think I've ever heard of such a dramatic reaction to any form of birth control. I am absolutely appalled that your doctor did not do something about it before it was too late.. you could have died! That is negligence on your doctor's part and you could probably take it to court for some kind of malpractice case. Also, if the only weight loss suggestion your doctor had for you was cosmetic surgery, I strongly suggest you find a second opinion. I am not trying to be purposefully rude or judgemental as I do not know you or your doctor, but I would NOT be happy at all with that doctor if I were in your situation. To me, that is unacceptable! Please, find a doctor that actually knows what they are talking about and actually wants to help you! All of my empathy to you.. good luck and keep us updated.