Weight Control

[carbomedic]

Hello All!

I'm looking for suggestions or feedback or advice on controlling weight.
Since my AVR, my weight has continually flucuated, inching higher by the month. I have been active as far a sports go, I am no marathoner, but have used free weights to condition for softball and volleyball. While it is difficult to maintain my 10,000 steps during the Wisconsin winter, I still try. I have had some success with the Mayo Clinic Diet plan, And intially had help with Phetermine to help change diet habits, but eventually my desire for good food takes over. My knees and ankles are taking a beating.
Any feedback? Am considering Weight Watchers. Cost has always been an issue.
I've realised in the past year that doing this without help is not working for me.
Current stats:
H=6'3"
W=270lbs
Years = 53

Thanks
carbo

 

[Jan]

Weight Loss

Weight Loss

I would suggest that you try WeightWatchers I joined in Jan 2003 and by July 2003 I had lost 42 pound

By May 2004 I had lost another 28 pound bringing the total too 70 pound

So far I have managed to stay within range, basically its a low fat eating plan and I try and follow it during the week but relax it a bit at the weekend

I do a bit of walking but not much else in the way of evercise


I still attend WW but do not have to pay as I am at my target weight

I know cost can be an issue but its worth it and sometimes the suport of others can be a big help

Go for it, Give it a try

Love

Jan

 

[OldManEmu]

It can be hard to loose weight and it only gets harder as you age, also some of the heart drugs such as certain beta-blockers have weight gain as one of the side effects. As far as diet goes it depends on what you weak point is. Firstly never go grocery shopping when you are hungry this makes it more likely to make inappropriate choices. If the problem is junk food, potato chips, biscuits (cookies) etc try not keeping them in the house this makes it easier to resist the temptation just to snack on them while watch TV or just sitting around. Try to avoid deep fried food. If you are hungry the key is to eat enough to be full, however the meal shouldn't be high in calorific value. As for the exercise you may want to try swimming if there is an indoor pool in your area. Weight Watchers can be good if you require a bit of encouragement and positive reinforcement. Don't give up.

 

[catwoman]

Carbo:

I started Weight Watchers in June 2004 and became a lifetime member 12/30/2004. Like Jan, I have kept my weight under goal since then and don't pay to attend meetings now. I lost 35 pounds in the program and am down 50 pounds from what I weighed the day before my MVR. I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 or 10. Many people don't recognize me now. I got to buy a whole new wardrobe, have rings resized, new shoes, etc.

I understand what you mean by cost, but the meeting fee was well worth it. We have an e-mail group within our group meeting and exchange recipes, encourage newcomers and even have holiday luncheons. Our next holiday luncheon is 2/10, with a valentine theme. BTW, we do have men in our group meeting, and one of them is in our e-mail group.
If I had been able to lose the weight on my own, I would have done so a very long time ago. That's what others say, too.

I weigh every morning I am at home -- it's easier to take off 1 or 2 pounds than 5-10.
This is not a diet -- it's a change in my thinking and eating habits. I eat more fiber, more veggies/fruit/fat-free dairy products, less meat than previously.

 

[carista]

My mom (53 years) does weight watchers and always loses weight. It's always worked best for her.

Dieting has always been my weak point, I can workout all day, but when it comes to dieting I'm terrible. Best advice I've ever received is to let yourself cheat one day a week, which will keep you sane and be more likely to keep you on a good diet.

Good Luck!

 

[carbomedic]

More history

More history

Thanks to all for your feedback.

In 1992, I Had quit smoking for about a year and i put on a bunch of weight. My doc sent me and my wife to a dietician. This person set up a plan that was point orientated, and it worked very well. The downfall, I had started changing my eating habits, but it was alot of work, particularly for my wife. Measuring, planning, eating regularly, etc. could not be maintained in the family lifestyle were we in. So, back I fell.
My latest efforts were based on the Mayo Plan, which was like that point system, but their food pyramid doesn't use carbs as the base, it uses fruits and vegatables. As many of you members here know, those items can play havoc with your INR, but after settling in as far as diet, my warfarin was adjusted, and that issue went away. Problem here? Family lifestyle again. Traditional supper at night, no breakfast, lots of bread, pasta, potatoes. Oh my, I wonder what lbs. if I didn't keep active.
I gather from the feedback that Weight Watchers provides support. I cannot do this on my own, I guess I'll go to the website and see where some meetings are.

Thanks to all!
carbo

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Carbo wrote: "no breakfast, lots of bread, pasta, potatoes"

And you wonder why you have a weight problem?

Breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day.

Potatoes are #1 on the glycemic index.

Maybe you need to talk with a nutritionist (again)...
or maybe not since they seem to think that carbs are essential to losing weight when the rest of the world has finally learned the opposite is true.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Karlynn]

No matter what type of program you choose - support always makes the process more successful. Losing weight, stopping smoking, living with a valve disease - all are more manageable with a support group of like-minded people with similar issues.

 

[Blanche]

You might want to try a diet tied to the glycemic index, which was developed at Toronto in the 1980's for diabetic patients. Food items are given a weighted number. The idea is to keep your blood sugar level at all times. I know I have not explained in full, so I will leave some descriptive links for you.
http://ginews.blogspot.com/
http://www.gidiet.com/en-us/
One of the women in my doctor's office, who was quite heavy, lost 40 plus pounds in 26 weeks. She told me that she got two diabetic cookbooks and only ate from things included therein. She said that she decided to "eat like the diabetic she would become if she did not lose weight."
She cooked for her whole family and her husband lost 10 lbs too. Seems like the index worked for her. In the article that I left, you will see that many of the weight control programs, including Weight Watchers, now have weight reduction programs tied to the Glycemic Index.

My very best wishes for your success,
Blanche

 

[Karlynn]

I think the Glycemic diet is the newest popular diet, based on good science, that has come out. I've been getting some ad mail relating to it and know of a few people who are giving it a try.

One of the things you need to be careful of is losing weight strictly through calorie reduction. If you aren't taking in enough calories, your body will produce the "starvation hormone" that tells your body to hang on to every calorie you take in. So when you go off your diet, you gain weight back like crazy.

Don't let yourself get hungry. Keep healthy snack available, like carrots, yogurt, almonds etc.