Atkins and Low Carb Weight Loss
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While your specific health issues are unique to you, there's a lot of this issue shared among all of us. The thing that really stuck out in yoru post is .... You wrote "I need to live in maintenance of my final goal over the long haul."
The thing is, you could have written "I need to live," and stopped at that, because living is what all of this is about. Numbers on the scale are only significant in that they give us a measurable way of thinking about how we approach optimal health. But the point of the struggle, the point of the health, the point of improving everything is, "we need to live."
If it takes you a year -- So what? The year will pass whether you lose or not. If it takes five years, or ten ... It's still about having a worthy objective in mind, and struggling (while living) to approach that goal.
I think you rock.
1) Coffee -- the real stuff, not just junky Starshmucks drinks ...
2) Plenty of FAT in your diet, and I'm not kidding, this stuff'll make ya go
3) Lots of water
4) Lots of vegetables
5) It's horrible but if you can do it, OLIVE OIL
6) Avoiding cheese and black tea and bananas (don't know why)
7) These "cinnamon muffins" really do the trick for a lot of us here:
Cinnamon Muffins!!!
Just swiped this off of the main board, tried it -- and yummy!
ONLY ONE NET CARB!!!
1/4 Cup Flaxseed Meal
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon Splenda (optional)
1 egg
Mix everything together in a coffee cup. Cook for one minute in the microwave. Turn the cup upside down to take the muffin out. If it looks wet, let it sit for a minute or so. I have these for breakfast. You can add blueberries, or try other additions. Some people add a tablespoon of cream cheese before cooking.
Calories 195
Fat 9 gram
Protein 12 gram
Carbs 9 grams
Fiber 8 grams
Sugars 0 grams
First of all, welcome to the group. And congratulations on completing your supervised diet, how nice to have that behind you!
I've got a few questions of my own if you don't mind -- First, who advised you not to lose during the "3 month supervised weight loss"? The criteria for WLS are changing, but there are insurance companies that do not want to cover bariatric surgery unless the patient is BMI 40+ WITHOUT weight-related problems, or 35+ WITH weight-related problems. Is the issue insurance coverage because you have no co-morbidities?
Others may have different opinions, but from my point of view, it's unethical for a medical practice to have told you to participate in a "medically supervised diet" pre-surgically, with instructions not to use that opportunity to lose weight (and gain health). The point of that pre-op diet IS, in fact, to see if you can make a go of it on your own!
Having said that, it sounds like you are kind of on the fence about WLS, and since you're asking for suggestions, mine is -- If you're on the fence about WLS, don't do it (yet).
My other suggestion is, to realize that if you DO participate in an Atkins-type low-carbohydrate way of eating, you WILL lose weight. It can also be a liver-shrinking diet, but ... if your goal is to maintain your BMI, this is not the way-of-eating for you, because you'll shrink if you do it.
And as long as I'm peppering you with questions (hope you don't mind) -- What kind of WLS coordinator doesn't know whether you're supposed to participate in a liver-shrinking diet, or any other dietary change, pre-operatively? Isn't there a nutritionist or physician or SOMEONE there who can advise you?
Not sure if I helped you here or not, but we are glad to have you join our conversation about low-carbing!
Lisa
PS -- Of course, it's always better to regain your health without surgery, if you can. Many of us here are non-ops, and I myself lose (and kept off) about 70 pounds with Atkins, before I had surgery. If you think this is a good option for you, you should give it a shot.
My screen name MSW has been followed by several comments. Will Not Settle is my personal affirmation that I will not settle for being overweight. Not that many people read my tiraids ranting and *****ing etc; but, be clear that this is NOT a criticism of anyone's personal goal weight.
My bmi is once again in the overweight category by three of the nine extra pounds I'm carrying. I know, I know, in relation to this site I'm not very big. In reality I'm bigger than I should be by 10-15 lbs. Two plus years post op with under 100 lbs total wl needed. It is frustration beyond belief.
Recap for those who have not tasted this whine: I loose excrutiatingly slow then gain up to 15 lbs rapidly; loose again and repeat. I'm still 8 lbs shy of getting a 20 lb gain off these thighs. Yesterday I had a long detailed talk with my endocrinologist.
She is the third doc to tell me that's just how I'm made. Plus its agravated by medications. She is the only doc to explain in detail why as it applies specifically to me. I've only been seeing her six months or so but she noted I have all the signs of untreated long term hashimoto's thyroiditis and long term steroid use. Both conditions fight weight loss and make it painfully slow in an up and down cycle. I won't go over the mechanics of metabolism here but it is a far better explanation than that's just how you're made.
Bottom line: I can and will make my goal if I keep doing what I' doing now. The big however is it will and must be an extremely slow process. I may not be a stable 10-15 lbs lighter for another year. Or two years.
Why? Set points. My body is attempring to weigh 160 lbs. If I won't eat to 160 lbs it will fkcu me over with insulin resistance so it can store fat and I will gain weight or fail to loose weight doing the right thing. My body is working to slow metabolism; however, if I don't break and continue to behave like a 130 lb woman who exercises I will win the war.
Sooooo, giving up will make things worse but further cutting back or ramping up workouts to increase burn will also make things worse. I need to live in maintenance of my final goal over the long haul. She gave me guidance on how to do this as best for me. My weight will eventually catch up by going down. My smallest clothes will eventually fit for good.
If you are frustrated and ready to give up think about this. All of my unrelated docs have independently stated I should eventually be a very healthy 130-135 lbs as long as I keep living to plan. Try living the life of someone who is already where you want to be. If it can get me there with my issues it will likely work for you too. Just bear in mind the time line may be a non issue for you too. It will happen when it does.
I guess its time for me to stop stressing or at least try. I have detailed knowledge now. I'm going to put it to good use because MSW will not settle.
MSW Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass: Eat sensibly & enjoy moderation
Links: Are you a compulsive eater? for help OA meets on-line Keep Coming Back, One Day At a Time Overeaters Anonymous
LV'N MY RNY. WORKING FOR ME BECAUSE I WORK FOR IT.
Thansk for mental support... really appreciate that..
BTW: On Monday I almost ate a string cheese... got it... start chewing... thought about it, spit it out... ME GOOD... lol..
Doing great. 2 more days to go..
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
www.calmnatural.com/constipation-relief
www.petergillham.com/wp/2009/11/natural-calm/
on 3/30/11 3:04 am
~Ann~
Band removed and feeling alive with energy!
I have not had surgery yet, just finished my 3 month supervised weight loss. I was told not to lose or gain during that time as my BMI is just around 40. Anyway, when I asked yesterday if I was to start anything, the coordinator said, "I don't know" - so I decided instead of just waiting around, I would start Atkins. Atkins seems better than the liver reduction diet.
Anyway - I hope to get started losing. If I am losing steadily I may not have the surgery, I will just need to see what happens.
Any suggestions????
Thanks!