Is it possible to lose weight and not have surgery?

I also found out that when I keep track of my food I can eat MORE.  I was ripping myself off, not eating enough.

Hi,

Welcome to the board!  Well I'm not one to tell ya because I can't seem to keep it off myself.  But I do know that I know how to eat correctly, and you might also.  It sounds like you have had a successfull few weeks.  Don't knock your five pound loss, it's a great start.  Losing on your own your not going to see a dramatic drop in weight like you did on the other diet programs.  BUT, it does sound like your eating healthy and losing slowly is a good thing!  My doctor recommends losing one pound a week!  He did that for a few years (he was obese) and if you ever met him you would never know.  He's thin as a rail!  Slower the better, keep it that way.  The weight is moving down and that is what counts!!!  Within a few months it will start adding up before ya know it.

Congrats on your new lifestyle. :) 

Welcome!  You have definitely found the right place to be here....friendly and supportive people.  I am 61 and had joined WW last April and lost 30lb the first five months....then quit (don't ask me why) and put on about half of it and struggling to get back to that 30lb loss.  HOWEVER, I have gained a lot of information and inspiration from these kind folks and really feel like I am finally on the right path.   I have a great deal of difficulty with exercise as I need a total knee replacement but am chicken.  Have recently started a water aerobics program which I love....if there's one available near you it really is great to get your body moving without gravity being involved...LOL.  I think you're doing great by starting out with "baby steps" and now walking over a mile a day.  That is key, to keep on moving...wil definitely speed up your weight loss.  Do you have any exercise videos at home?  They work too and I enjoy not being on public display at this weight and the convenience of doing them at home when time is available. Sounds like you're doing a lot of research with the food, which is good....but I agree a consult with your primary doctor or a nutritionist would be ideal with the diabetes.  You'll want to keep close track, as your levels will change with the increase in exercise also. You're off to a great start!  If you're anything like me, you didn't put this weight on overnight and we can't expect to lose it that quickly either.  My goal for this year is 50lb...I'll only be half way there, but a lot healthier and happier and I think stand a better chance of keeping it off for the long run.   We're rooting for you!!  Sherrie

Hi bek!  i, too am 50!  It sucks in the weight loss arena, our metabolism just does nto require as much. I think you should still lose eating 2000 cals daily, which is a goodly amount of food and planned out, can be very satisfying and do-able for many months, if not years.  Others have asked about your diabetic counselor....most diabetic diets drop the weight off you. My friend who is 60 and known of her diabetes for ten years cannot tolerate many grains at all - even the good ones -  so Atkins may be just what you need. Ask a diabetes counselor! Two weeks begins the journey of a lifetime. There is a reason for that famous statement:  One day at a Time.  All it really means that it can be overwhelming to think of doing for as long as we live what we all must do to lose, so break it up into TODAY. TODAY, you can eat 1500-2000 calories. TODAY, you can walk a mile TODAY, you can do these things knowing that it is the right way btw:  there have been days where it has literally been "for this 20 minutes I will not dive into the cake in the break room"!  I mean it....it has to be micromanaged like that at times. Every little thing we do right DOES count, and the trouble is, it can take months for the advantages to begin to peek out.

Stick around...we need you like you need us!

I went to a dietition once, that's all my ins. would pay.  I've learned more on the internet than I did from them.  I have an appt for a physical next month.  I think I'm finding out that the carbs, or type of carbs I've been eating, IS what's my problem.   I dropped most carbs from my food plan yesterday, my morning blood sugar test was 120, very low for me.  I have no headache.  I lost 2 pounds. WOW.

Hi there!  I am new to this board and as I am sure you have realized by now how supportive everyone here is.  I have lost 6 lbs.  I get to weigh myself tomorrow so maybe more.  I had the same question - can I do this on my own?  Only time will tell but we can do this!  WE CAN!  It might be slow but make small goals for yourself and when you reach that, set another one.  For example, I should really lose 150 lbs.  My goal is to be down 50 lbs by the end of 2008.  That's only about 5 lbs a month.  I am not looking past that 50 lbs right now and I will be a heck of a lot healthier by the end of the year!  When I reach that goal, I will start with another 50 lbs. Best of luck to you and hope to see you around!

I'm so glad I found you gals!

Keep on coming back here and posting!  You will not believe the changes in your life that this site can bring along.  You shoulda seen what I was eating less than a year ago! Not only that but I had a STRONG aversion to exercise. I love it now. :)

he he, snicker snicker re: exercise.  ((doin' da told ya so dance))

Hi Bek! I just wanted to introduce myself and wlcome you to the board!!! I love this board. I wanted to tell you how I am losing weight. And it looks like you may have found your answer to help your weight loss along. And YES it can be done without Surgery! Anyways...I am one of the youngins on the board I'm 21 and my name is Christa. Lets see I am not doing Atkins but am "trying" to keep my carbs low atleast under 100g. Which like I said "trying" it doesn't alwasy work. lol. I also have a prescription diet pill that I get from my doctor that suppresses my appetite. I am known as binge eater or compulsive overeater, so I needed help with it. So due to the pill I usually dont ever exceed over 1000 calories. I drink TONS of water. Water water water. I try to go to the gym as much as possible but dont always get there. If I dont go to the gym then I work out at home. I have dvds or i do stuff off of Exercise TV from Comcast On Demand. Which usually is only 20 minutes of cardio or so. Since December I have lost 34 pounds. It is the most I have EVER lost in my life...and I plan to keep losing. :) I wish you the best of luck with your journey! Glad you are here on the board!