Anyone Succeeding!

I have tried all diets!  Even lap band surgery.  Infection caused it to be removed.  Gaining weight again and not happy.  What has been working for you?  I have got to get control again.  So what is working!

Nutritional cleansing worked for me. I discovered what it feels like to have energy. That was new, and I hadn't even realized I was so lethargi****il I GOT energy and it's like having a new life.

It's simple logic and amazing science. It's also going back to the basics that Americans are far too spoiled to practice. Almost every other culture practices some kind of cleansing (NOT talking about colon cleansing here!!!) as a way to maintain health and optimum weight.

The other things I do on a daily basis is to MOVE (whether at the gym, in my yard, walking, or moving appliances at our appliance store), drink 100 oz of water, and avoid chemicals in my food like the plague they are. NO high fructose corn syrup. NO splenda or other chemically altered sweeteners, no white flour/sugar. (The occasional intake of that can't be avoided if you eat out) No boxed, processed foods. Organic whenever possible, and hormone-free (meats and dairy products). Is it easy to eat this way? Absolutely. Is it easy not to? You bet. So you get a daily choice, and over time, the RIGHT choice becomes the natural choice.

My routine is simple. I have a meal replacement shake for breakfast, and sometimes one for lunch. I change these up so I always enjoy them a LOT, and never get "bored". I eat smart meals. And I drink, drink, drink water. Two days of the month, I do a complete internal body cleanse by drinking a cleansing mineral drink, and even more water. This allows me to urinate out accumulated impurities, while also emptying fat cells of water and fat (as well as those impurities). As I do this over time (it's been over 2 years) my body constantly changes. Fat gone, muscle appearing. Since it's so easy to do, I know I will do it for the rest of my life. Since it's so easy NOT to do, many people struggle.

Since we own a used/new appliance store, I keep my blender on a little table along with my canister of shake mix, canister of vegetable phytonutrient powder, and chocolate shake packets for variety. Ice is in the freezer, bottled water right next to the blender table. 15 seconds to a healthy and satisfying lunch, which allows me to avoid McD (who goes there, anyway?), Taco Bell (more tempting), and the Teriyaki place. I'm energized rather than weighed down, so I can continue cleaning and moving appliances. If I am hungrier than usual, I will have a protein bar as a snack between lunch and dinner. I don't count calories, because I'm nourishing my body wisely rather than relying on a number. If the scale begins to creep up in the wrong direction, I use shakes more often. If I get too low, I bump up the traditional meals.

This works for me. Everyone finds their "secret", but with all the reading and listening I've done, I've come to learn WHY what I do works so exceptionally well. The best response to the "why" is - nothing else addresses the under lying issue of toxicity.

Of course, it does require that you have about 30 seconds a couple times a day in order to succeed, so some people won't try it.

Diet and exercise...but not the "commercial" way.  In my yearlong journey and 60lb drop, I have learned a few things:

-most commercial diets are WRONG and dieters end up taking in too few calories, further harming their metabolic rate and resulting in re-gain and yo-yo-ing
-you have to workout frequently and intensely
-exercise alleviates boredom and depression
-sufficient protein and fat intake is best for lasting weight loss and keep you satisfied
-healthy alternatives to indulgences prevent you from cheating
-carb reduction is necessary for insulin resistant, and most 100lb o/w people are IR
-healthy and sustainable weight loss is slow 1/2-2lb a week at most
-stalls happen
-patience is necessary and expectations need to be reset from what the diet world sets as a standard

I used to think I had to eat less and move more and I learned I have to eat to fuel activity and weight loss.

What do I do?  Currently (as it changes with what my weight is), I eat 1900-2500 calories to lose weight, eat low carb 50g or less, count calories and protein/fat/carb grams, strive for a diet of 65% fat, 5% carb, and 30% protein, workout 6 days a week, 5 hours cardio/3 hours strength training/plus extra classes of interest.

Personally, I think WLS is rarely necessary or best for most people.  You can do it without WLS, whether you have 20 or 200lbs to lose.

I don't believe there are many right ways to lose weight, there are just many methods to try.  Anything that claims weight loss through a pill, injection, or detox (sorry poster above), is just another hoax, fad, or gimmick.  And IMHO surgery can for many rob them of what they need from their metabolism and cause more problems with weight loss maintenance than it's worth.  Can you lose weight those ways?  Sure.  Water is weight.  Muscle is weight.  Bone is weight.  Blood is weight.  Fat is weight.  But it's not about weight loss, it's about fat loss. 

I originally started out researching wls but have to do a 6 month supervised diet before I can even think about surgery.  I need to lose around 90 pounds to be at my personal goal.  I have metabolic syndrome/ insulin resistance, thyroid issues and PCOS.   Limiting carbs is the only way I can lose weight.

I started out my first two weeks with a strict low carb, Atkins type, diet.  Then, I switched over to South Beach which is giving me more options and is easier since they have readily available foods that I supplement into my regular plan.

I start my day with a protein shake (I like Slim Fast low carb chocolate) then have a real breakfast a few hours later.  I eat 5-6 small meals a day focusing on protein.  I use daily plate to record when I eat, drink and exercise.  I like DP because it helps you determine how many calories you need to eat to lose 2 or 3 pounds per week and it adjusts your calories as you lose weight.    I started out eating 1750 calories per day but now I eat around 1600 and I'm losing about 2.5-3 pounds per week.

I started one month ago and have lost 15 pounds.  I'm eating healthier and exercising more. 
I have energy and don't feel like I'm punishing myself by withholding foods I like.   The biggest plus for me is that I am feeling successful and now think I can do this without wls.

HI Linda! As a 51 yo, I have been all over the map. In March of 06, after being denied lapband by my primary care physician, i got his blessing to go to a bariatric doc. We took a baseline ekg, the bariatric office monitors my borderline bp, and off I went.

I was up to about 225!  My highest known weight was 230+.  I was getting back up there. The scale was NOT budging no matter what I did. i am a faithful exerciser, marathon bike rider, blah blah blah.

I took and still take phendimetrazine, 35 mg.  I needed .25 to a .5 pill at first.  They helped me a lot to drop this 40# i have lost and kept off.

Doing the math, i am at 185 ish +/-, so that is success for me as I am a yo yo ho to keep it off.  I would like to drop another 20#. I am 64 " tall.

The bariatric food really has made the difference:  hi pro, low fat shakes/bars with fresh veggies & a little fruit all day.  I have a VERY hectic job - my day will re-route lots.  Having my better food choice with me all day in my briefcase helps me bunches. One could do the same thing by preparing real food in low cal/lean portions too. I call my way the Yuppie Diet - the food costs some do-re-mi!!!!

At night with my DH I eat most every food, from pasta to lean meats with veggies.  i watch my portions for that meal. When I am better at keeping that meal reasonable, I will lose.

I do not eat low fat; about 35-45% fats, and try for plant sources of fat. I eat a moderate level of cals...maybe 1400-1600 daily average. I do not beleive in eating too low, alas, for a 50+ woman, this is the way it is i fear.

best of luck!

Hi Linda:
There are lots of success stories on this board.
My 'regimen' is quite simplistic - eating healthy by trying to avoid empty calories, limiting eating out, and working out.  I believe that weight training is critical to success.  Building muscle enables our bodies to burn energy without even moving.  I am committed to working out 6-7 days a week (except when I'm recovering from surgery as I am now).  I also eat 5-6 times per day to keep my body burning energy and strive to have protein with every 'meal'.
Best wishes!  You can do it!
Kim

+1

For me, weigh****chers has worked wonders. It's not a diet. It's a lifestyle. I'm doing WW's Core program. It focuses on the energy density of the food you eat. I eat a balance diet of whole grains, lean meat, fruit, veggies, low fat dairy, water, and healthy fats. You eat when you're hungry. If you are constantly starving while doing WW, you're not doing it right. It has taught me how to read food labels, to read my body's hunger signals and identify true hunger vs. boredom/emotional eating. I've met so many new friends at my meetings and my leader is one of my biggest cheerleaders. She helps get me past those hard times when the scale isn't giving me what I want to see! lol

What's been working for me is attempting to stick to 1600 calories/day.  I find that when i write down my food intake, I do a lot better than when i don't.   Right now, I focus on staying at or below the 1600 cals.  I try to get all the food groups in, but sometimes i find myself eating crap and just hoping it doesn't go past 1600.  Right now, a calorie is a calorie and it's equating to weight loss, but at some point, I'd like to be healthy, too!  :)

Baby steps...I just gotta take baby steps and eventually I'll get there....