Diet Community

Hi BariBlue,

I'm new to this community. Looking for friends:). I weighed 298 lbs. about 5 years ago. I now weigh 149. Not very encouraging considering how long it took, I know, but you have to take into account that I am very inactive due to illnesses. The main change I made was eating regular food most of the time instead of take-out.

I live with my in-laws and my husband, who is also disabled. Because of my back and knees, I need to weigh around 130. I'm shooting for 135, lol. It wasn't too long ago that I had 60 lbs. to lose. It's just so hard. I'd love to help you in any way I can!

Congratulations on taking this very important step. Dieting never worked for me. I'm 56, so I've been overweight most of my life. Making healthy choices has made all the difference. It sounds like you are ready to do that too. I've been eating all kinds of junk lately, and it makes me feel terrible! Hoping this tool will help me. If you want to talk, I'll be around. Good luck and Godspeed!

Hi BariBlue. I used to get really discouraged when I'd think about where I was and where I wanted to be ("I've got to lose 60 lbs!").

But then I just started thinking short term: "I want to lose 1 pound this week." That make it a whole lot easier and kept my attitude up (which is a very positive "vicious" cycle).

Hi Stirrings,

Thanks for offering your support and experience. When I look what you have accomplished, I inspired and hopeful. And the fact that you just kept at for 5 years is really pretty cool. I think that eating regular meals rather than take-out, fast food, and junk is really a good place to start. You are right that it's hard, and even though I feel a little shaky getting started with these changes, I still believe I have it in me to pull it off. I plan to be around as well, so keep me posted.

Take care.

Hi HolroydBob,

That's really a good point you make to think short term. I like how doing so has given you momentum. So often I have been gung-ho to start, and then lose steam after a short while. And I would be focusing on what I still had to lose instead what I had already lost. I think focusing on the pound I want to lose this week could be a great mental approach. Thanks for sharing that.

I joined yesterday I was so happy to find this support group without having to pay for it. I can't believe how lucky we are to have this. I am definetly going to take advantage of this opportunity, I have 4 kids and having this system do all the math for me is such a relief, now I just jot in what I've eaten and wbmd takes care of the rest allowing me to do all those other mommy things that caused me to ignore my waiste line for far to long. Good luck to you.

Pat yourself on the back for stopping the weight gain now instead of much later when you've gained more weight. My weight gain caused me to feel discouraged, embarrassed and self conscious. Go ahead and feel that way, it helps motivate us. If we were happy with the extra weight we wouldn't be on this website trying to lose it. One simple thing that is helping me every day is a full length mirror on my bedroom door. I look myself up and down every day and like to see the weight loss and don't want to gain it back. Now that I've lost the weight I'm on the scale every day. I'm determined that 1 pound isn't going to become 3 and 5 and 15 and 50 and on and on. Don't worry about exercise, get on track with the food. Food is our problem and we know it. Don't use your inability to exercise as an excuse to not eat the way you know you should. You can lose weight in the situation you're in right now. There is no easy way and every overweight person already knows that. Get on a good eating plan 1200/1400 calories a day and the weight will come off. Self control where food is concerned is absolutely necessary. It's the one thing we don't want to do and hear but it's essential and lack of self control with food is what caused us to gain weight. All gastric bypass does is force us to eat a lot less and you can do that on your own. If we don't learn to control our food nothing will ever work for us. If there is any other way, please let me know. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.

You need a healthy and safe way to lose weight again, without the expense, danger and worry of surgery. The healthiest way to lose weight is to follow only a few, research-based strategies, write down what you eat before you eat it, don't eat out (as you have no control of ingredients and portions are shockingly high), eat at least every 3-4 hours to keep metabolism going, sleep at least 8 hours a night, drink adequate water, and limit your calories to around 1200 a day (1500 for men). I have found this easy to do because of very high antioxidant , low calorie, cold-processed chocolate shakes (and "candies") that really suppress appetite. Since I have been on the ISLAMORADA PLAN, I have lost 38 lbs, and my husband and son and I have lost 80 lbs together. It is, by far, the HEALTHIEST way to lose weight. . . even the US Patent Office agrees, and they just awarded MXI (who makes the shakes) the Registered Trademark for the words HEALTHY CHOCOLATE. Impressive. This is the only weight loss program I have ever been on when I lost significant weight and kept it off.
And every weekday, an evidence-based research Strategy arrives in my email from a PhD Nurse Practitioner who specializes in weight management. I know I am always up-to-date with the latest information that helps me be smart about losing weight and changing behaviors to healthier ones. Check out www.islamoradaplan.com for a lot of info about healthy chocolate, weight management, and longevity. . . what all this is about anyway, isn't it. Plus, right now, I love the feel of my slacks being loose, how much easier it is to move around, the fact that my arthritis in knees doesn't hurt me anymore, and everyone is telling me how good I look (for my age!!!). There is no downside to this simple, healthy and SAFE program. I know that I will never be fat again, because if I gain a pound, I simply have an extra shake or chocolates the next day, and get right back on track.

Very best wishes to you, and to all who desperately want to, and need to lose weight. It is a struggle that is certainly worth the effort, and anything that can ease that effort is a good thing. That is why I am sharing this information with you today.

Same problem with me.RNY in late 1996, have gained back about 20 pounds. My pouch is still working, because I am unable to overeat. My greatest problem is carbs. I keep buying the chips and crackers for my husband, but then end up eating them myself. I have to tell myself that junk foods are poison. I used to graze on almonds and low fat cheese, so am going to try to use those as my go to grazing foods. Lets face it, we are experts in dieting, so don't need other's help, but we do need to quit making excuses about being too tired, too sick, too old or too stressed. I think I will call my new healthy eating plan "KISS" - keep it simple stupid. Good luck to us all.

Wow you sound like me? We both know how great it feels to be smaller and it;s more fun& healther but how do we get the food demons to leave us alone to be well again? I had gastric bypass 7 yrs ago and now need to drop 55 lbs I re found it is very depressing to have all those pretty clothing and not fit you ! Where do you live and would you like to chat on facebook sometime?Be Well Cindy

This sounds like me except I have one more problem that causes weight gain I am on high doses of predisone for Asthma and I am 62 years old need to lose about 70 lbs just gain 32 lbs over the past 2 months on this medication. Had gastric bypass in 1999 and did loss all my weigh but gain about 45 lbs over the 10 years or so and now I am up 70 lbs since I got sick .. anyone out that that can help me push a button to stop putting food in my mouth seems like that is all I can do my breathing is so bad. I know if I could drop some lbs it would help.

Hey BariBlue,
I'm in the SAME boat. I had my bypass 12 yrs ago and now after additional surgeries and babies I have 60 pounds to loose too. I joined a local support group and began weekly weigh-in's. So far I've lost 12 pounds and have GREAT hope to push myself to go all the way. It's hard though. Most people think the weight should never come back once you undergo the surgery but they are wrong. I have 3 small kids (1,3,7) and I CANNOT get the excersize in that I need. I began taking walks or riding my bike in the late hours of evening. My hubby gets home after 8 so I'm talking 10pm or so. The local library has books available on a prerecorded machine that you can check out so I've also begun to "read" again. Get with it sister, I'm behind you all the way! I'll be checking in with you too. Power to the US!

Your post sounds just like me, I too had the bypass about 6 yrs ago and have gained 50 lbs. I am struggling to drop these extra lbs and depressing. I have been going to the pool every morning before regular classes and walking and exercising for at least an hour, but have lost very little of the weight, so I know I must cut down food intake to be sucessful. Just seem to be stuck in a rut. I like in Overland Park, Kansas and I would like to be your friend and also BariBlue on Facebook.