For the first time in over seven years...

A friend of mine is a postgraduate nutrition major, and she recommended that site to me as soon as I told her about my program. You're right -- it's a very cool site.

 

A bariatric surgeon is someone who performs gastric bypass and other weight-loss procedures. Mine also minored in nutrition and psychology, so he has a really good grasp on the 'big picture' of obesity and binge eating.

We discussed several different options, including basic diet and exercise, diet/exercise/meal replacements, diet/exercise/meal replacements/prescription meds, and surgery/diet/exercise. We both agreed that the diet/exercise/meal replacements program was the best fit for me. So far it seems to be working well.

 

My doc and I agreed that surgery is a very last resort, and should be avoided unless everything else fails.

He didn't want to put me on meds because of all the meds I'm already taking (5 different Rx's per day), and didn't think it was necessary anyway.

The core of all of the programs he offers is learning healthy eating habits, beneficial long term exercise, and healthy perceptions of food. The only thing he's added to that for me is the meal replacments twice a day.

 

Thank all y'all for your support and encouragement. You have no idea how long I've been jousting this particular windmill. Aside from the 18 months from June 1989 to December 1990, I've been fat since I was 10 years old, and I'm now 34.

Everyone in the last two generations of my family on both sides have been overweight to one level or another. My dad had been 75 - 100 pounds overweight for almost 30 years, but since he turned 60, has finally started to lose weight. I don't want to go down the same road my parents and grandparents went down, and face the same health problems they all have or had. I want to be better than that. For my wife, yes, but mainly for myself. For the first time in a very long time, I actually have hope I can beat this thing.

 

thats great HB. make time to take care of yourself, its an investment in your health and its worth a whole lot more than money can ever buy.

if you aint got your health you aint got much (pardon my southern drawl)

 

I have shared that struggle most of my life too. I have been over weight often. I have been able to lose most of it several times but it always comes back. I am currently exercising two or three times per week. I feel better but I have not lost much weight.

Glad to hear you are having success. Just remeber it is not about losing weight but it is about keeping it off. I have not been able to do that yet.

 

This reminds me of a stand-up show I saw Rosie O'Donnell do once. Talking about all the weight-loss programs she's tried, when she got to SlimFast, she described it thus:

For breakfast you have...a shake...
And for lunch you have...a shake, yes...
And for dinner, you kill anybody in the room because you're STARVING!
...
No, for dinner, you're supposed to have "a sensible meal." Hmmm...
If I could have "sensible meal," I wouldn't NEED fucking SlimFast!

Seriously, HB, this sounds much healthier than most "diet" choices, & I'm thrilled you're having success with it! Stay stoked! We want to have you around for a long, long time!

About the hypoglycemia--sounds like your doc is a good one. Has he recommended that you snack on certain foods between meals, or have more, smaller meals? It's really important to keep those blood-sugar levels from dropping too far between meals.

 

Well, look at the little stomach on Hasbeens.

 

Good going HB - sending good thoughts and wishes your way for your journey...a picture diary might be a really cool deal too - and very inspiring .

 

dude, keep it up. it will be a lifestyle change. enjoy it.