Your new Thin Commandments!
I just read a post by Meg (Mama477) that brought me back to 1998 to a time when I was able to lose 100 lbs in one year all on my own...with the help of a great psychologist and weight loss Gugu, Dr. Stephen Gullo. I highly recommend his books and I can tell you his strategies work and will help you stay on track even after wls! I'm so glad Meg mentioned him this morning! I thought I would tell you all what it's like to be a patient of his because I know you all would love his philosophy and strategies....even if he is a little strange-looking and sounding! And just to let you know, this guy costs big bucks. His patients have ranged from Oprah Winfrey to Donald Trump to little ol' me. My mother-in-law gave me a great gift of paying for my sessions with him or I could never have even considered seeing him...... here's the story (I originally wrote this just for Meg).
Dr. Gullo was my weight loss doctor in NYC for an entire year back in 1998! I lost 100 lbs in one year in his care. Then I had some health issues and gained it all back in 2002. By then I had moved away and could not go back to see him again, or believe me, I would have. He was fantastic and I highly recommend reading, or better yet listening to the audio versions of his books.
I wondered why you thought Billy Crystal narrated his audiobooks, so I went on Amazon to listen. I couldn't stop laughing! The voice you hear is Dr. Gullo's! He was a poor boy from the Bronx and he still has a very strong accent! I remember being so shocked when that voice came out of his mouth upon meeting him way back when. But that voice has become iconic. What he does best, and his very effective "schtick" are the personalized tapes he makes for his patients. When you are in his care you see him once a week for about a 40-minute session. The session is very much like a therapy session. (He has a PhD in Psychology and this is how he approaches weight loss-- He understands it is more in the head and heart than anything.) So he reviews your progress for the past week and talks with you about any struggles you are having. He always asks how the week ahead looks. Any stressful events coming up? Parties? Dinners out? He then discusses strategies for how you will cope with these upcoming potentially triggering situations. Then at the end of the session he places a new "tape" into his old-fashioined tape recorder and he proceeds to make a mini tape recording for you. He is looking at you as he speaks and records so you get to hear his advice in the office, but then you take it home with you and play it over any time you feel your spirit and conviction weakening.
His tapes are so funny too. They are great, but honestly, he does sound funny! People have described Dr. Gullo as part coach, part psychologist and part preacher! He talks into the recorder and he basically gives you a pep talk for the week ahead. He weaves in personal stuff that you have shared with him and he remembers every single thing you have ever told him about your struggles and accomplishments, your kids, your husband...and he makes a little mini sermon just for you! I have shoe boxes full of them. I couldn't find them for years after we moved and not until after I had my WL surgery. I always knew that if I still lived close to New York and could get in to see Dr. Gullo again (and could afford it) I would be able to take the weight off without surgery. Dr. Gullo is awesome. I highly recommend his books. By the way, I see he has LOTS of new food ideas and tricks to try on this Youtube video I found and I would think they are also in his book The Thin Commandments. Check them out.
Here are some of his "Dr. Gullo-isms" that are part of his Thin Commandments
The first one is that Strategy is Stronger than Willpower.
The winners at weight control do not have more willpower than those who fail - they have more strategies.
Think Historically, Not Calorically
Structure Gives Control
Separate Mood from Food
The slips should teach you, not defeat you
About food whining...
It is important not to lock ourselves into "food whining" or thinking things like, "I deserve it," or "I can't do it now, I'll do it tomorrow," "It's too hard." It's time to grow up in the world of food and realize you've seen it all and tasted it all. It hasn't made you happy - it's only made you heavy!
Remember, you didn't come this far in your life to lose to a cookie!
And, by the way, Dr. Gullo originally coined the oft-used expression "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" in his first book, Thin Tastes Better from 1995.
www.amazon.com/Thin-Commandments-No-Fail-Strategies-Permanen t/dp/1579548989
Watch/hear him on Youtube! lol
youtu.be/rxnYt7gD1nU
Hope this is useful!
Dr. Gullo was my weight loss doctor in NYC for an entire year back in 1998! I lost 100 lbs in one year in his care. Then I had some health issues and gained it all back in 2002. By then I had moved away and could not go back to see him again, or believe me, I would have. He was fantastic and I highly recommend reading, or better yet listening to the audio versions of his books.
I wondered why you thought Billy Crystal narrated his audiobooks, so I went on Amazon to listen. I couldn't stop laughing! The voice you hear is Dr. Gullo's! He was a poor boy from the Bronx and he still has a very strong accent! I remember being so shocked when that voice came out of his mouth upon meeting him way back when. But that voice has become iconic. What he does best, and his very effective "schtick" are the personalized tapes he makes for his patients. When you are in his care you see him once a week for about a 40-minute session. The session is very much like a therapy session. (He has a PhD in Psychology and this is how he approaches weight loss-- He understands it is more in the head and heart than anything.) So he reviews your progress for the past week and talks with you about any struggles you are having. He always asks how the week ahead looks. Any stressful events coming up? Parties? Dinners out? He then discusses strategies for how you will cope with these upcoming potentially triggering situations. Then at the end of the session he places a new "tape" into his old-fashioined tape recorder and he proceeds to make a mini tape recording for you. He is looking at you as he speaks and records so you get to hear his advice in the office, but then you take it home with you and play it over any time you feel your spirit and conviction weakening.
His tapes are so funny too. They are great, but honestly, he does sound funny! People have described Dr. Gullo as part coach, part psychologist and part preacher! He talks into the recorder and he basically gives you a pep talk for the week ahead. He weaves in personal stuff that you have shared with him and he remembers every single thing you have ever told him about your struggles and accomplishments, your kids, your husband...and he makes a little mini sermon just for you! I have shoe boxes full of them. I couldn't find them for years after we moved and not until after I had my WL surgery. I always knew that if I still lived close to New York and could get in to see Dr. Gullo again (and could afford it) I would be able to take the weight off without surgery. Dr. Gullo is awesome. I highly recommend his books. By the way, I see he has LOTS of new food ideas and tricks to try on this Youtube video I found and I would think they are also in his book The Thin Commandments. Check them out.
Here are some of his "Dr. Gullo-isms" that are part of his Thin Commandments
The first one is that Strategy is Stronger than Willpower.
The winners at weight control do not have more willpower than those who fail - they have more strategies.
Think Historically, Not Calorically
Structure Gives Control
Separate Mood from Food
The slips should teach you, not defeat you
About food whining...
It is important not to lock ourselves into "food whining" or thinking things like, "I deserve it," or "I can't do it now, I'll do it tomorrow," "It's too hard." It's time to grow up in the world of food and realize you've seen it all and tasted it all. It hasn't made you happy - it's only made you heavy!
Remember, you didn't come this far in your life to lose to a cookie!
And, by the way, Dr. Gullo originally coined the oft-used expression "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" in his first book, Thin Tastes Better from 1995.
www.amazon.com/Thin-Commandments-No-Fail-Strategies-Permanen t/dp/1579548989
Watch/hear him on Youtube! lol
youtu.be/rxnYt7gD1nU
Hope this is useful!
5.5 POUNDS TO 100 LB LOSS!!!
http://books.google.com/books?id=Nl2bfrlGW4AC&lpg=PR1&ots=Fr kuEEWBTi&dq=%22thin%20commandments%22&pg=PR4#v=onepage&q&f=f alse
I prefer a paper copy so I can write in margins, but that has all of the stuff except the diet, which is too carby for the likes of me.
He and this book have helped me to sort out how to box in and box out foods, so I can still have foods I really love, but cannot stay sane around them.
I am only exaggerating *a little* when I say it seems I mention him in every other post of mine. :}
Thanks Kathy and good to see you back!
HW-218/SW-208/CW-126/ Lowest Weight-121/Goal-125 - hit 8/23/09/Height-5'3"
Regain 30 lbs from 2012 to 2016 - got back on track and lost it. Took 8 months.
90+/- pounds lost BMI - 24 or so
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
Oh hello... I still cannot reply to posts the right way ... you know what I'm talking about Kathy. Thanks for sharing in this post. I'm sure that was a remarkable experience for you and how nice that your mother-in-law gave you that gift!
I've heard those type of tapes before -- but never the customized version I bet those are still great tools.
I thought you were going to say that IS Billy Crystal in the audio version! =) Would have been my luck.
Glad to see you back on the board, Kathy!
I've heard those type of tapes before -- but never the customized version I bet those are still great tools.
I thought you were going to say that IS Billy Crystal in the audio version! =) Would have been my luck.
Glad to see you back on the board, Kathy!
Hi Meg- Yes, it was a fun experience - taking the train into NYC once a week. Dr. Gullo was really REALLY good. But his method doesn't work for everyone. Oprah didn't last very long with him. He is pretty strict. Back then his mantra was "white and green are the Concorde to lean". Meaning you should stick to meats and fish that are white only and veggies that are green and white only. Now the veggie part i just couldn't stick with. I ate carrots and red & yellow bell peppers etc. But I did succeed in staying on that diet until I was at goal (135 lbs) losing 100 lbs in less than a year....and here is the amazing part: I did not cheat once during that year! NOT ONCE. Maybe he does a little hypnosis in those tapes of his too! lol.
It was a nice gift from my mother-in-law. That's why I felt really awful and guilty for gaining the weight back. Even though I was having some health issues that limited my physical mobility, I still felt rather ashamed. I was kind of hoping to get an offer of some help paying for my WLS, but that did not happen :( (My insurance did not cover it.) Oh well.
So you are having your surgery soon? You must be so excited. I tried to friend you but your profile is private. You can send me a friend request if you want. Or not. Either way.
It was a nice gift from my mother-in-law. That's why I felt really awful and guilty for gaining the weight back. Even though I was having some health issues that limited my physical mobility, I still felt rather ashamed. I was kind of hoping to get an offer of some help paying for my WLS, but that did not happen :( (My insurance did not cover it.) Oh well.
So you are having your surgery soon? You must be so excited. I tried to friend you but your profile is private. You can send me a friend request if you want. Or not. Either way.
5.5 POUNDS TO 100 LB LOSS!!!
Most Active
Recent Topics
