Hello all

Hello all,

Ok Im new to this forum, but I have no where else to turn. I am a 30 year old single mother. I have IL Medicaid and a current BMI of 35. Thankfully, I have lost about 20 lbs from last year, but Ive hit a wall. Im not losing anymore no matter what Ive done. I have depression, back pain, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes. I have been battling my weight for most of my life, but its been alot harder since the birth of my son almost 6 years ago.

I finally got up the courage today to go to my PCP, but she really didnt listen to me at all. Immediately she started asking about prescription weight loss medications and explaining the side effects of it. She ended up prescribing Phentermine (the generic form of fastin), but after reading up on it over the internet and chatting with other people on here, I discovered that it is addictive and not really going to be much help.

I desperately tried to find a surgeon on my own, but everywhere I turned I hit a brick wall. Its either a refusal because of my Medicaid insurance or Im simply not heavy enough to be a candidate for WLS. Does anyone have any advice for me now?

 

Hi! You have come to the right place for advice and support, just take one day at a time its hard to lose weight, but we all are here for you. I do Weigh****chers, have you tried it? its really a good place to start. They have real good plans to go on, Delilah

hi, thank you for the suggestion.  I started weigh****cher's about a year ago. I prepare all my meals (at least 99% of them) from WW cookbooks. I love the recipes. There's been very few i have been dissapointed in. At the same time of starting WW, I also started taking a thyroid medication, which has helped me to lose about 30 lbs. However, I have stopped losing weight and started gaining it back....while not changing anything Im doing. Im just not sure what else can be done from my end. But I will be finding a new PCP after today, I am just not happy at all with her generic and dangerous response to immediately putting me on Fastin.

Hi,  I'm in Illinois too.  Nice to meet you. I don't know if it will help, but maybe you could keep a journal of exactly what you eat and what exercise you do for say, 6 weeks.  Then take that to your doctor.  Maybe that will help you get her to at least listen to you.  Then perhaps she can help you start working on some real solutions to your weight problems or maybe refer you to a good nutritionist.

You and I have a similar story! I started looking into wls just over a year ago at 37 bmi. I was denied by 12#!!!!!  I did have insurance, but no dice.  Hang around and see if anything catches your eye. I too am trying Weigh****chers, my third time. It does work and for all my whining, it is not all  that much suffering!

Welcome to our crazy little world.  As you will find everyone one around here has a little different strategy, but we are all here for each other, and I have found that some of the things I have found here really help!!!  I mostly just try to follow a balanced meal plan while keeping my caloric intake down to around 1400-1500 a day.  I was doing a walking 2 miles every night plan as well but haven't been so good with that lately, still try to get in at least 3-4 times a week, plus wear a pedometer and include all the walking and stair climbing I do at work.  Elevator is now a dirty word.  LOL!!!

My approach is to eat between 1200--1300 calories (sometimes less), eat about 35% protein and never more than 25% fat, and exercise every single day-- either running in water for 45-60 minutes, lap swimming, a half-mile or mile walk, a little recumbent biking, free weights to a chair exercise dvd. I weigh myself about twice a week, and really don't "cheat" because I allow myself anything that fits inside the 1200-1300 calorie range.  I started at 2200 calories a day and slowly lowered that over the course of a month. I found that I really just didn't *need* that much, and I never feel stomach-hungry. One way to handle the pre-diabetes is to watch the high-glycemic index foods. I think I will post about that at the tope of the board-- it's been on my mind a lot. Best of luck-- whatever you do!

Hello and welcome to the group.  I'm just in the beginning stages of my WL journey and I have found keeping a food/exercise journal really does help.  It is shocking how many calories some items are and how fast things can add up.  Please post your health plan with exercises so we can see how you're doing.  That way some people might be able to give you ideas on how to get past your weight loss stall. Remember, we're all in this together so post any struggles you might have.  We understand.

Welcome to the gang.  You are still young and your BMI is not incredibly high.  You can win this battle.  I find that walking or biking everyday and eating fruits veggies whole grains and lean meats works for me.  I don't follow any set plan.  I have taken all I have learned from years of dieting and tweaked all of it to work for me and my budget and lifestyle.  I have a 6 year old and an 8 year old.  I bought them scooters and they scoot while I walk.  In the process they have lost some excess weight of their own.   Please come here often for support and encouragement.  We all fight the same battle and I have picked up several useful tips from this sight.