Controlled Settings

I have to comment on a few of the posts that I've read in here lately.  Many people have asked what "program" is best, and of course there was the revelation that many of the Biggest Loser people had gained back some of their weight. Everyone needs to understand that in a controlled setting it's very difficult to fail at losing weight.  With a program like LA Weight Loss, NutriSystem, Optifast, Medifast, even WW and Atkins and South Beach there is a whole design around the patterns they are putting out there.  In the centers like LA Weight loss they are also there to sell you "supplements" that will make your life easier.  Nevermind NutriSystem where they give you ALL the food.  In a controlled situation where you eat what they say and get weighed in once a week, well, we'd all be pretty idiotic to fail. It's when we get into the real world and we have to make the choices every single day that will determine whether we have a good day or a bad day, whatever that is to each individual person, where the real progress is seen.  It's about the day to day regimen that we develop for ourselves that will indicate our long term results.  ANYTHING works in the short term.  People have to begin to realize that 3 months is not an indication of how well you are going to be able to lose weight and keep it off.  Many "diets" only last a few weeks.  Now people, who in the world got to where you are in 3 weeks time?  This is something we really have to work for a good year before we can determine if it is working or not.  Then we have to spend another whole year seeing if we can maintain this loss and lifestyle change.  That is my huge beef with WLS.  How many folks were REALLY honest about their weight loss efforts?  How many people really committed to a life long change before submitting their paperwork.  I'd hazard a guess that not many did.  Did they do a thousand diets?  Sure.  But let's do the math.  If you have a 30 year old woman who has been overweight for 10 years of her life, and she has tried 10 diets, then that means she cannot have committed to any of those programs.  Lets just say she has done 1 a year on each, which we know would be ludicrous, did she committ the time necessary to lose the weight and then spend a reasonable amount of time maintaining it? Nope.

I am all for doing whatever it takes to take off a huge chunk of weight before getting into the routine of things.  But in the end, no matter what program you do, even WLS, you HAVE to committ to a life of healthier existing.  That means watching everything you eat, exercising regularly and revamping your head to not include food as a recreational sport.

I agree with everything you said. I know for me a lot of the things you listed are the reason why I never maintained my weight loss.  I have to change my way thinking forever and realize what it's going to take to succeed.  As we all know this is the hardest part by far.  This is where the only 5% of people are able to maintain comes from.  It's a lifelong commitment that you are willing to make or not.   Brenda

Hi Brenda, I think the great part is knowing, the rest is implementing.  Sometimes I wonder whether it's very very simple or the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. 

Donna, You are a true inspiration to me.  You are so freakin focused with the food and ALL THAT EXERCISE.  DAMN, GIRL! Brenda  

 

So true, Donna! It is hard to find that translation from a controlled setting to the Real Deal...Your Life and how WILL you use this stuff that the controlled setting gave you? I went for my weigh in at the bariatric doc office yesterday.  I saw the actual doc..who is SO inspiring. He lost and has kept off for 10 years 75 pounds. he drew a picture of a toolbox and we listed all the tools that I have learned. (fitday, weigh ins, small meals, support like OH, etc) I am in a place currently that recognizes that I need the accountability of weighing in somewhere. THAT is not real life, but years of being a YoYoHo (like that?  LOL) have shown me that left to MY Life, I tend to stray and not keep my weight my priority. The SECOND i take my eyes off it, the scale begins hopping.  I am not sure what to do about this, build another tool called "Keep my weight in the forefront of my mind all the time"?

I went to see my doc last week to talk about my knees and get a referral back to an Orthopedic surgeon.  I noticed he was thinner so I commented on it.  Well he was so excited that I had recognized and launched into this whole scenario of how he had done a program at the hospital.  We talked a lot about loss and gain and regain, etc.   I think what it taught me was that even those with a medical background and appear to know how to keep healthy also struggle with these issues. I think understanding what it is that present as our challenges is so important.  Recognizing them and changing them is what we have to ultimately do, but being accountable is so paramount.  I think that so many of us bury our heads in the sand and hope that if we don't acknowledge it it will go away.  Uh, not so much.

I am still celebrating the fact that so many of these things I've learned are sticking, and that is a huge thing for me.  I have to stop focusing on the number, but I also won't lose sight of it.  But knowing that sometimes is sticking for me is just a great feeling.

*choir singing in the background* Amen.

Hi Bert, I mentioned before but I'll say it again.  Horribly simple or the most difficult thing to do?  Amazing how one thing can be both issues.

Told you he'd approve.

One day I might not be scared of him!!! LOL