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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by MidnightBlue on January 4, 2008, at 12:19:22
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5, posted by Dinah on October 8, 2007, at 8:29:39
Dinah,
Thinking about trying this again with you soon. Posting once a week. I need to slowly lose about 60 pounds. Gotta psych myself up first.
What do you think?
MB
Posted by Dinah on January 4, 2008, at 12:31:05
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 4, 2008, at 12:19:22
I was *just* talking to my husband about this. I've gone up another few pounds. :( I really do need to lose, at least fifty pounds.
Sounds good to me. Well, maybe not good, but you know what I mean.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 4, 2008, at 13:04:50
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on January 4, 2008, at 12:31:05
Maybe we could start Monday? still need to get my head right on this and need to get better food in the house. If you want to wait an extra week let me know. I'm still eating my way through holiday goodies! LOL
MB
Posted by Dinah on January 5, 2008, at 10:10:49
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 4, 2008, at 13:04:50
I think I might take a different approach this time.
According to Dr. Bob's very rude BMI calculator I'm severely obese, and a very restrictive diet for a few weeks won't help the problem at all. Given the magnitude of the problem, and my previous failures at losing the weight, I think I need to go into a planning stage this time.
So starting today I will carry around a notebook and start recording every single bite that I put in my mouth. After a week of doing that I should be able to identify the worst offenders and come up with a plan? And then I can start the actual change in eating.
For example, I rarely say "Oh, I really want something yummy to eat." It's more often that I don't really pay much attention to my eating and either forget to eat then get so hungry that I eat everything that doesn't move. Or I get tired and have trouble concentrating on work, and since eating helps that, I'll grab some bread or tootsie rolls. Everything is designed to help me short term. I only rarely actually binge on something I enjoy.
One area that I am stymied at figuring out a way to avoid failing is carbs. I could easily live on a plain white bread diet forever. I don't mind eating things other than bread or potatoes or pasta. But only if they come *with* bread or potatoes or pasta. I see little hope in cutting these things from my life or even in making them a minor part of my diet. Somehow I have to figure out a diet that relies on these things as a staple, or I just as well give up now.
:(
I think I'll leave out the drinks, since I now only drink sugar free. Although I rather suspect I am often dehydrated, so maybe I should pay attention to that.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 5, 2008, at 14:09:02
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on January 5, 2008, at 10:10:49
Dinah,
Starting Sunday I will start writing down what I eat and drink, too. I agree this needs to be a long term moderate approach that can be lived with a lifetime.
I, too, could live on white bread as long as it is french and comes with butter! And completely giving up white pasta is NOT going to happen. I've given up white rice for brown and that is sacrifice enough! LOL
MidnightBlue
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2008, at 18:57:41
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 5, 2008, at 14:09:02
I fear recording what I eat is affecting what I eat. :(
Not just because I don't want to write down something bad, but because it's such a pain to write down everything I eat that it's less trouble not to eat snacks.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 6, 2008, at 19:06:11
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2008, at 18:57:41
Yeah,
And I've actually been eating worse than usual today! But then I'm extra tired and hurting and food seems to comfort. Maybe I'll try tomorrow.
MB
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2008, at 20:24:33
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 6, 2008, at 19:06:11
I was doing fine until my mother called.
I'm sorry you're hurting.
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2008, at 20:42:37
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5, posted by Dinah on January 6, 2008, at 20:24:33
The perfect diet seriously after being on them all going off them gaining more wt was the day I stood on the ob-gyn's scale naked and weighed the same as I did every year of my life. That was the day I stopped dieting and you know what I didn't focus on food anymore and no more diets. My weight stayed the same til a year ago. Old age. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on January 6, 2008, at 21:24:26
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2008, at 20:42:37
I'm glad that worked for you. I had a relative who ate like a trooper all her life, and never gained an ounce.
But I'm around 200 pounds, diabetic, and on increasing diabetic medications. I have to make lifestyle changes or I'm going to end up losing my feet or my eyesight eventually. It's not a question of dieting per se. I know what happens to diabetics. I've seen my mother. She'll live forever, but she's disabled because she didn't make changes.
It's very frustrating to me that even though I know all that, and even though I don't want to put my family through that, I still can't seem to muster the self control to do what I need to do.
It's important for me to identify the problem areas, so that I can find other ways to deal with them instead of eating.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 6, 2008, at 22:51:27
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2008, at 20:42:37
I have some serious medical problems that are made worse by my weight. They were not caused by it, but they do make it much more difficult for me to lose weight. I really need to try and lose 60 pounds.
This is not a matter of looking younger or being fit. I will never be fit. I'm just trying to stay out of a wheelchair or make the transfer to and from one easier.
I know what a good and healthy diet is. But it is hard to never eat a dish of ice cream or a slice of white bread or a plate of pasta when that is one of the few enjoyable things you can do.
MidnightBlue
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2008, at 23:40:21
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » Phillipa, posted by MidnightBlue on January 6, 2008, at 22:51:27
Dinah and MB you're both so right. Would weight watchers work? They say it's the healtiest one. You know lost taste and smell about four years ago who knows why? but I don't get hungry as why bother. I guess you two need to work at it very hard together. Can you both do any form of excercise? Dinah know you work and have a family so it's next to impossible. MB don't know your situation family wise but maybe a diet consultant? Any on the internet? Talk is cheap and that's how I feel. I'm sorry if I down played your situations as they are serious for both of you. Phillipa
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on January 7, 2008, at 6:20:05
In reply to Starting weight. 186. Target weight. 136., posted by Dinah on February 9, 2004, at 23:05:51
to get started again. drop the idea that you have failed somehow. you are going to spend today getting back on track. if you can do ONE thing, that's still better than zero things.
((((dinah)))))
((((MB)))))
you guys are in my thoughts.
-Ll
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 12:00:11
In reply to today is the day » Dinah, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on January 7, 2008, at 6:20:05
It's kind of hard to feel positive.
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 12:20:19
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Earlier 204 Today 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 6, 2008, at 19:06:11
I'm kind of surprised. My clothes feel tighter.
I've been writing down everything I eat. Unfortunately for the purposes of accurate recording of my behavior, the act of writing it down does seem to change what I eat. Observing changes the behavior observed. My therapist says this is a good thing. But it's not what I was trying for. The main change seems to be in small snacks. Reaching in and grabbing a few tostitos or croutons. It's too much trouble to have to record it.
At any rate,
1/5/07 peanut butter and simply fruit sandwich on white, banana, fruit cup, slice white bread, can of spinach (with vinegar of course), one bagel crisp, medium dressed veal cutlet poboy
1/6/07 2 slices white bread, 3 taco supremes, 1 cheesy fiesta potatoes, fruit cup, mac and cheese, peas, 2 slices white bread, 7 dibs
1/7/07 peanut butter and simply fruit sandwich on white, 3 dibs, bottle of pickled asparagus, 2 plain burger king burgers, 2 dibs, 2 snackwells devils food cookies, controlled portion of spaghetti and meatsauce, salad
I left out minimal calorie stuff like diet drinks and pickles.
The triggers for eating more than I need to eat are so far what I expected. Stress (call from mother) and going too long without eating.
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 12:46:22
In reply to Starting weight 186 Still 199.5, posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 12:20:19
Ok, after doing some calculating, it would seem that I'm eating between 1800-2000 calories a day without feeling hungry.
It also looks like I need to reduce my calorie intake by 500 calories a day to lose a moderate amount of weight per week, and after a year or so of that I'll be close to my goal weight.
If I add some exercise.
I'm grabbing a brownie and going to bed. :(((((
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 8, 2008, at 13:15:53
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5, posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 12:46:22
So far today:
Oatmeal and 1/2 cup coffee.
Salisbury steak and asparagus (diet meal)
Several pieces french bread and diet margerine.
Yoplait Whips
Tea
Tonight will probably be salmon, brown rice, and slaw.
I'm just trying to be more conscious of what I'm eating. Probably wouldn't have had that much bread except the doctor's office called and they screwed up a lab test. This is the THIRD time they have made the same mistake!
MB
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 13:50:08
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 8, 2008, at 13:15:53
I think I can identify a few things I can do.
Dibs are great and they give me an instant pick me up when I'm feeling tired. But those calories add up fast. I'll ask my husband to stack sweets I don't like. There are plenty of those. I'll keep some nuts and dried fruit on hand to use as pick me ups. They aren't calorie free, but at least they have nutritional value.
I'll try using the whitewheat bread again, although it's kind of soggy.
Since one of my major problems is going too long without food then eating too much, I'll try to make sure I have a snack before I leave the house in case I am held up longer than I expect (which I basically always am). And maybe eat some broth or drink a lot of tea a half hour before dinner?
Apparently it's hard to stick as many calories in food you eat at home as when you eat at fast food restaurants. So I'll try to limit eating at fast food restaurants to once a week.
Large exercise commitments probably aren't wise, but I could try starting with walking ten minutes a day. My dog will like that. But she seems to get diahrrea when we walk from sheer excitement, and that's not easy to scoop.
I'll avoid my family of origin. (just kidding!)
My biggest challenge in this is that I'm going to be working at the office more often per my new years resolution. More stress, limited access to palatable food. I used to keep granola bars and other healthy snacks at the office, but I preferred not eating anything at all to eating them. Maybe pretzels or walnuts or dried fruit...
I'm guessing my officemate might mind a big bottle of pickles.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 8, 2008, at 16:02:55
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 8, 2008, at 13:15:53
A cream soda and prunes. No, not together!
MB
Posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2008, at 19:46:47
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 13:50:08
Okay to add something? Tell me to leave if bothering you two but when did aerobics also did body measurements and had people keep a food diary as you are doing. Found most people if they used less margaine , mayonnaise, salad dressing, little things the calories sure added up. Nuts are great but the sugar content of dried fruit is way up there seriously. And granola bars too. A big pretzel is low in calories too. Keep the protein every four hours for even blood sugar. One inch of cheese, few nuts. It will work and plenty of water. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 21:07:22
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2008, at 19:46:47
Of course I welcome your input!
I'm such a picky eater. If I could find cheese I liked, I think that would be a great snack. Maybe I'll try again.
I've gotten my boss's approval for putting a small refrigerator at my desk, but I haven't decided if it's worth doing.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 8, 2008, at 21:08:45
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on January 8, 2008, at 21:07:22
Dinah,
I'm sorry I just can't do this.
MidnightBlue
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2008, at 10:00:44
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5, posted by MidnightBlue on January 8, 2008, at 21:08:45
(((Midnight)))
Do what you need to do to take care of yourself.
I think I'll go ahead and continue here, so if you want to join me at any point, that would be great. But if not, I understand.
Dr. Bob has a diary exception to the three post rule, and my therapist thinks it's good for my self awareness and choices to keep this up.
Posted by MidnightBlue on January 9, 2008, at 11:34:17
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2008, at 10:00:44
Seven sips of cream soda. Oatmeal. Water.
MB
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2008, at 22:20:21
In reply to Re: Starting weight 186 Still 199.5 » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on January 9, 2008, at 11:34:17
I didn't do so well today in eating. I'm not entirely sure why I had a "to h*ll with it" attitude today. Maybe it just looked like too big a task. Maybe I'll downgrade my expectations to ten pounds or twenty pounds.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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