Been a while

It's been awhile since i last posted. I'm really struggling to just  do this right. I've been reading books on diets even purchased Richard Simmons "Sweating to the Oldies" (Wayne inspired me to give that one a try LOL). I tried to play it on my pc in my room and only the intro would play. I haven't dared to take it upstairs to play on the DVD player. But with my eating I've gone off track. Since I got home from the hospital from having pneumonia I've been recording what I ate down in one of those black and white composition books. They wanted me to go on a diabetic diet - I have no idea what one is. I write down what I eat but not the amount or the calories. I know I am eating too much, because I don't measure what I do eat. I'm disappointed in myself because I know I was doing well in March when I did the 5 day pouch test and then stuck to drinking 3 - 4 protein shakes a day along with breakfast and dinner. I also cut out breads, sweets, milk (replaced with water and a little bit of half and half), junk food all was eliminated. I meet with a dietitian last Friday and i told her I need help. I'm pretty hopeless planning out my meals myself. I need a plan that I can follow. So she gave me a link to mypyramid.gov which I haven't done yet. She showed me the website and it put me on a 2000 cal a day diet, but she wants me on a 1600 - 1800 cal a day. I think that's too many calories, but I don't know. And as for exercising that hasn't been happening. My membership at the Y's been put on hold right now. I wanted to keep up with water aerobics but my doctor doesn't want me in the pool without oxygen on. I was on just 2 liters but am now on 5 liters 24/7. When I take the o2 off my levels fall into the low 60's. In May I have an appointment with a Pulmonary doctor, probably to set up a new sleep study and a breathing test. And the next day I have an appointment with a Hematologist because I am not absorbing Iron. I used to think if I used skim milk that I was doing something healthy, it turns out that skim milk has more sugar in it than whole milk. Why does food have to be so frustrating? Sometimes I envy those who have drug & alcohol addictions because they can get help by going into rehab and they don't need drugs and alcohol in order to live and survive. I love to eat food but I hate how I've let food keep me a prisoner from living my life the way I would like too.

Maz i am sorry that you have been having a hard time lately. At our size we will still lose weight even at 1600-1800 calories as long as we move. I am glad you picked up the Sweating video, hopefully you will be able to use it soon. As a former drug addict and alcholic I can honestly say that it was easier to quit meth than lose weight. You need to use a web site like  www.fitday.com instead of writing in  a journal. This will give you the calories and nutrition content of the food you are eating. I hve been  going through the same thing you are dealing with as far as not making the right food and exercise choices lately. Today this changes for both of us. We will make GOOD food choices and document everything that goes in our mouths. We will make an effort to exercise every day even if it is minimal WE will move. Please log on here every day and let me know how you are doing and I will do the same for you. I know we can do this. No more excuses.

Maz, Glad you are back.  Posting is one of the things that keeps me sane!  You need to look at the 175lbs that you have lost and recall what you did to acheive that.  You say you aren't recording the amt and calories of your food and that you have no idea how to set up an eating plan so don't question the dietician.  1600-1800 calories is just the right amount of food.
I went to this website, bodybug.com, and it gives Resting Metabolic rate (how many calories you burn just being alive) and your Daily Caloric needs.  I don't know how old you are or how tall you are but based on age 30 and 5'6" at 575lbs you need 3,324 calories just to run your body  and 5,069calories to run your body and maintain your weight.  So I hope that helps you to see that 1800 calories isn't alot.  If you don't eat enough to simply run your body your system goes into starvation mode.  I am not by any means trying to give medical advise I am just passing on what I learned.

MAz so glad your back here to recieve support. I wish you all the best. I would suggest that you at least try the calorie level the dietician suggested for awhile. you might be shocked with some weight loss. (((((((((HUGS))))))))