Help Please

i have tried several times to lose weight on my own but it always comes back on. I need to lose 100 lbs and would like to be looking good by summer. What are the best best diets? Surgery is out o fth equestion for me b/c of insurance exclusion. As far as caorie intake what should I reach for each day? I know lots of water also helps. Thanks!

Dear Susan: I am Denise Phares, and I belong to Weigh****chers. It's really difficult to lose weight on your own, and Weigh****chers offers lots of support from both the lecturer and the other people attending the meeting. You can eat whatever you want, but I would suggest sticking to healthy foods - fresh fruit or canned with only juice (drain the juice before eating). Also, broiled, baked, or grilled meats, like (believe it or not!) low fat ham, pork, chicken (preferably breasts without skin or bones), an occasional steak, lamb chops, tofu (please season it - or it'll taste like nothing!). Eat either canned vegetables without salt, salads, frozen veggies or steamed vegetables, whichever you like. If you have bread, let it be whole grain, not white. Winter squash is good, in place of potato. Brown rice is good, and they sell ten-minute cooking brown rice in the stores. I hope this gives you some idea of what to eat. Also, plain yogurt with sugar-free preserves in it is good! Fat free cottage with preserves is nice, too. Fish, if you can, either tuna from the can or fresh tuna, broiled or grilled. Tilapia is a nice tasting fish, as well as halibut or salmon. As you can see, there are many healthy foods you can choose from. I hope this helps give you some direction. Denise Phares

I just started seeing an endocrinologist. She had me do a resting metabolic rate test which was very informative. You lay on the table and breathe in a tube for 10 minutes and that allows them to calculate the amount of calories your body uses just lying there. The machine actually printed a nice report telling me how many calories to maintain my weight and how many to lose. Surprise, surprise, I actually have a FAST metabolic rate. I was shocked. Anyway, she did thyroid and adrenal tests and has been checking me out for diabetes. This has been a good way for me to start trying to lose weight again. At the suggestion of the PA at the endocrinologist's office, I am using MyFoodDiary.com to keep track of my intake and exercise. I'm finding it very helpful. It costs $9/mo, but if you need a free site use FitDay.com. This really helps with accountability and doesn't give me a headache like the old days of writing things down and calculating calories or grams myself. Good luck! Caryl

Susan, you can see the details of my diet and exercise regimen on my profile. Scroll to the Nov. 6, 2005 entry. Best of luck. Kasey 365/210 (nonop)

Hello Susan, You can read my profile as well to find out what I have been doing to become healthy. There are plenty of programs out there. You need to find the one that works for you. Research, research, research. You can find out what your caloric intake should be based upon the program you choose. You have to also figure out what your "issues" are. Are you a carb addict, are you an emotional eater, do you binge and purge? Figuring all that out first and beginning to work on it will be instrumental in beginning a program. To launch into something with your eyes closed only sets us up for failure. In addition you should begin exercising. If you haven't been active in the past, start slow. Just begin moving, until you can work up to moving at least 30 minutes a day. Read the profiles of the people on the non-op board to find out where we are in our journies as well as where we came from. Good luck and keep coming back. Donna - non-op 342/259/200

Hello Susan, I too invite you to read my profile. I agree with the others above, you have to do some soul searching and find a program that works for you. I know how trying it is to lose and regain weight. Even WL surgery is not A "locked in" permanent solution if we are not willing to change our lifestlye and find a program that works for us. That is one of the reasons I am a non-op by choice. I have to exercise , eat healthy, and control my binge eating issues. Again we urge you to keep coming back for support....... Good luck-- Phyllis........