How have you lost weight in the past? Did a doctor help?

Question

I am about 35-40 lbs overweight and have a doctor's appt tomorrow. I have asked different doc's in the past for their help and one referred me to a nutritionist who said "just follow the pyramid". Gee, thanks. I didn't know I should eat that many veggies per day (that's sarcasm, if you couldn't tell). I know HOW to lose weight, but the motivation, temptation, and picky eater syndrome gets in the way. I was wondering if you thought my doctor would actually help me...or just blow me off.

Also, if you have lost ~40 lbs, I'd love to know how you did it...be specific. Did you research? Did you join a program? Take a pill? Make up your own program and stick with it?

Answer 1

I lost 60 kg (130+ pounds) over the last couple of years. Did it slowly by firstly strictly watching what I eat and then walking for exercise. It took 3 months before I could walk further than a mile or so - by the end of 12 months I was walking for an hour and a half daily and covering about 6 miles (10 kms).
You have to make your mind up to do it and set goals. Every time you reach a goal then reward yourself (new clothes or stuff that will make you feel good).
You need to build a strong resolve and stick to your guns. However dont beat yourself up if you have the occassional bad day, just start again the next day.
The motivation must come from within you - no other reason is good enough, do it for you. - Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

I have lost weight several times, anywhere from 10 to 80 pounds. Losing the weight is only part of my problem. Keeping it off is what causes me the most trouble. Your doctor, if he's worth anything, should help you. Ask him specific questions so he knows just what is on your mind. When I lost the 80 pounds the doctor put me on a medication called Fastin. I lost 40 pounds in 2 months and the last 40 in about 3 more months. The problem with this medication is that it can be very addictive so you are only allowed to take it for a limited number of months. As soon as I stopped taking it the weight started coming right back. Will power is not a strong suit of mine. There is another one called Xenical. This one stops the absorption of fat by your body. Some people have success with it, some don't. On December 5th I had a gastric lap banding done. Hopefully my days of being overweight will soon be behind me. If you only need to loose 35-40 pounds this is not for you. Good luck on your wight loss adventure!.

Answer 3

The wonderful world of weight loss- UGH!!!
As for me, I wanted to loose 50+ lbs before having another child (we were talking about having another) so I did the Atkins (low carb diet)
I just followed his diet by doing the 15 carbs per day for 2 weeks and then gradualty work in more. I lost 50 lbs in 5 months and felt WONDERFUL! I also didn't have any more heartburn (something I've suffered from since I was young)
After having my 2nd son, I put weight back on and then 2 years later, 'surprise' I got preg with my daughter. Wasn't happy because I'm now wanting to loose the 50+ lbs again. I will probably do low carb again- but have heard that it's harder to take off once you've already done the diet (and then put it back on)

I did Medifast last year, and lost 18 lbs in 3 weeks (one of the fastest weight loss programs out there) It's a liquid diet and it wasn't "that" bad. I went on vacation and all went out the door. (or back on my *** :o) You have to order their food too, and it's not cheap.

What I've noticed is that you first HAVE to have the mind set of 'knowing' that you're going to loose the weight and you're going to stick with it. When I did Atkins it actually started to become a game and seeing how dark I could keep my ketone strip purple (little test strips that tell if you're in ketosis- a chemical that burns fat)
My mother-in-law did Weight Watchers and was VERY successful. But agian, she has the mind set of eating better now that the weight is off, so she can keep it off.
My drs have all said "eat healthy and work out" WELL DUH!

GOOD LUCK!

Side note- I just read that drinking warm liquids aids in digestion. That cold liquids cause the fats/oils/etc... to harden up and become fat. I think it was on yahoo actually. They mentioned that's why asians drink tea all the time.

Answer 4

I had a few friends that gave me a few tips that helped them and I will pass it on to you maybe it will help.
First if you can or you might already have, go out and buy smaller plates.
Second always drink a full glass of water before you sit down to eat. The water makes the body feel full before you finish your food.
Third do not eat after 7pm and if you feel hungry eat a piece of fresh fruit with a glass of water.
Fourth use housecleaning as your exercise. Vacum twice a week, this helps the stomace muscle. Use the stairs all the time
Last thing that is very important, don't say you are on a diet. When you say that the mind and body start to work against one another.
I did these few things and before I knew it I lost 45lbs in 41/2 months.

Answer 5

1) I learned why I overate. I wrote in a food journal for a month before I changed anything. I looked at which meals I ate at most often, when I snacked, etc. After awhile I noticed a pattern.

2) I learned how to eat in moderation. Weight loss is a lifestyle change, and the lifestyle I wanted to change was moderation. Now I can enjoy my steak or chocolate cake, but I don't have to eat the whole thing to feel satisfied. I ate the veggies and fruits, but I also let myself have a little free room. I knew I would mess up. This isn't about calorie counting or dieting unless you want to do that for the rest of your life.

3) I stepped off of the scale. Instead of depending on the scale as my tell all sign of my health, I focused on my clothing. I measured myself monthly and weighed myself weekly, but I knew that if I were to gain muscle then the scale wouldn't really be accurate to tell how healthy I really was.

4) I exercised each night--I ran 12 minutes. When I say that I ran for 12 minutes, I mean I ran for 12 minutes. If I walked for 30, that's fine but I RAN for 12 minutes. I kept up with it. Within 3 months I lost over 50 inches over my body. I went from a 16 to a size 12.

5) Reward yourself...but not with food. When I went down to a size 14, I bought myself a new dress. When I dropped to a size 12, I bought myself a new pair of shoes and a matching purse. Now my husband has made me the promise that when I drop to a size 10 we'll splurge and buy an outfit I really want from my favorite store I couldn't go into becuase of my size.

6) If you need help, try Weight Watchers. They don't require you to buy anything special and it's relatively easy. You don't depend on any pills or foods, and instead the weight loss is based on how amazing of a woman YOU are!

Answer 6

The nutririonist didn't know what they were talking about then. I went to a nutritionist, and he put me on a plan that doesn't follow the pyramid at all. You should get a second opinion. BTW: as to whether nutritionists and their plans can work for someone.... three people in my family have lost a combined weight of 159 lbs in less than 7 months!!!!

Answer 7

I know my parents lost a lot of weight just in the first 2 weeks of The South Beach diet. The Zone diet is also really great.

You probably already know this, but just exercise for about 30 minutes a day every day, trash the junk food and start eating salad, and drink water.

Answer 8

Yes I did, I was using the Weight Watchers Diet.it was great because you dont have to eat just all veggies or fruits......it works on a point system and you can eat anything you want as long as you stay with your points, there is also a page that show the amount of points that you are allowed per day....... you can get this online

Answer 9

I know how you feel. As a freshman in high school, I was over 210 (at 5'8" and not athletic) and creeping upwards. So I decided to split off of who I used to be, and be a new person.

The biggest isn't what you DO, it's who you ARE. Visualize your fat self. Visualize your thin self. Visualize your thin self lifting your fat self and power-bombing them (or your favorite ridiculous wrestling move). Look in the mirror, consider what you like and what you don't. Then visualize what you want in the areas where you're not quite satisfied.

After awhile, your self-image will change, and the details will mostly fill themselves in. Mostly. All change starts inside, with who you are. You'll never "will" yourself to do much of anything if you think of yourself as a try-hard fat person. You ever listen to a person who lost a lot of weight. They look at pictures of their fat selves as a different person. The language they use is different in regard to that person. "That person was me, but not anymore."

Once my self-image began to change, I began really wanting to lose weight and become who I saw myself as. I began wanting to lift weights, to do pushups, to walk (then run) around the track.

As a freshman, my gym-class mile time was 24 minutes. That's not a typo, I was that freakin' slow. As a senior, on my own time, I made a 5:30 mile -- not exceptional, but respectable. The old me must've had a heart attack or something, because he's dead. The new me wants to live a long, powerful life. And I'll do it, too. Care to do it? (that didn't sound right)

Hope that made some sense. I sound like a recent convert, or something.

Answer 10

I just cut out a lot of stuff. Like no cokes or candy just pretty much everything sweet. Drink lots of water. Then also try exercising every day. Things like walking, sit-ups, push-ups, jump rope, and this thing (really hurts) stand up against a wall then sit like your in a chair but don't put your hands on your knees.