My personal Battle of the Bulge

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BVickery

Contributor
Messages
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Location
Jacksonville, FL
# of dives
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Have had weight issues since I was young (not as bad then due to fact I was actually pretty active, hip problems then forced into sedentary life for close to 7 yrs).

So, to attack this like a squad of U.S Marines hitting an Open Bar went and talked with my Primary Care Physician.

Seems I hit a good one, since he looked at my weight and asked 'How serious do you want to be about your weight loss?" When I said I wanted to be very we sat down and made this more of a team approach than solitary struggle. We went over medical issues that are specific to me and looked at ways to adapt things so I can do them (SCUBA is still a go, but still keeping that off to the side as I get healthier, using it as the carrot so to speak). Had 3 visits, first was the initial one, second was a follow-up where he encouraged me the work I was doing (dropped about 6 lbs). The 3rd follow up visit (again, being put on new meds as well) turns out I did gain back the weight and then some. As I write this now, what I liked about the doctor was he was upset that I put it on, just by his body language, but what he said was different. Instead of lecturing me and trying to make me feel bad, he was "Well, lets see what we can do to get you back on track." Got another follow-up next month again mainly for the weight loss right now.

First off is we looked at my sleep patterns etc. Seems I exhibited many symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Current research it seems have sort of linked Sleep Apnea with weight issues and he was telling me that one aspect is some people with it would get hunger signals from the brain even though ate a good meal only a few hours prior. Told him I was having this problem and it was driving me crazy. No matter how big or small the meal was or what it was made of, like clockwork 1-3hrs later I was severely hungry again. From here we agreed I should see a specialist and get this diagnosis either confirmed or denied. After undergoing the sleep study was determined I had severe sleep apnea.

Up next was exercise. Since I really can't go for extended walks due to issues of arthritis and other medical issues in my ankles, it was a no go. Talking with him we came up with some of the new cycling machines at gyms would be ideal. I am lucky that the local Y is part of my health care providers initiative to cut costs by trying to get more people into healthier lifestyles. Additional benefit is to get my problem joints moving/used as well as hopefully helping me improve my cardio for diving.

Sadly, the third step is proving to be the issue. Since I am disabled and on disability, my health insurer is pretty much tied as far as what they can and can not provide for coverage even in terms of medications. One of these is weight loss meds at least as prescribed by my Primarey Care Physician. I have appeals in so need to see how that goes. But, in the denial letter they did send me the actual language of the fed. regs that they were, in essence, being told they had to follow. Basically, if I can show tangible reason the weight loss is important to my ongoing health issues as it stands now, it could be covered. Given I have a hip replacement and an increased weight on said joint causes the artificial joint to wear faster, I am hoping would be cause to approve it.

My advice on others in my situation:

- When talking to your doctor, be brutally honest. Let them know what the problems are and don't BS them.
- Not all weight issues are a symptom of other medical issues (IE sleep apnea) but perhaps talk to the doctor if there could be other factors in that are attributing to a difficulty in losing weight.
- If you fall off the track don't get upset over it. Just start up again the next day. When I was in a support group the nurses running it said studies have shown its not that 1 night that you went off your diet that killed you, it was the days following where you were depressed/upset that caused you to relapse back into the old behavior that was the problem.

I saw this first hand. I had 2 instances of where I fell off my plan. First one was an active part because a group of us was going to a BBQ place. I knew I was breaking my diet, I knew the stuff I was having was bad, but I looked at the whole and saw I was going out and having fun with friends. That one meal was a small blip, since the next day I started back up again. For that period I still managed to drop about 5 lbs. Second time was not planned, went off plan and got depressed. I had something I shouldn't have and relapsed. I gained back about 6 lbs that period.

- Most of all, try to keep a positive mental attitude and make sure your support group is the same way. If they start getting negative it will just make things worse. You will be amazed what positive energy/emotion coming from the support group can do for you and your own weight issues.
 
Thanks for your honesty! It can be very frustrating to eat a healthy meal while dining out. I just came back from a trip to Ireland & I ate everything: meat, potatoes, scones, brown bread, and desert to die for. One thing I noticed was that all the food tasted so good. Every bite was a flavor explosion in my mouth. My mother & sister agreed. We weren't in the city areas and so everything was fresh. Now I have to adjust and get back on track. But also I want to eat more fresh foods. I know I have to eliminate the breads - that is a big gainer for me. Fortunately I don't have medicine issues to contend with. Good luck on your ventures & I hope it leads to more diving for you.

under water some where
 
A turning point for me was watching the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. You should be able to find it on Netflix or Amazon. Basically it's promoting the benefits of juicing. I lost 50lbs and overcame borderline diabetes following it. It's surprisingly easy to do.

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I have just gotten my CPAP machine and it has really helped me turn the corner as far as appetite. Had the machine for about 2 weeks now and my appetite has definitely changed. How you may ask?

1) First and foremost is after eating a meal I am no longer very hungry a few hours later. Before I had the machine I would eat and a couple hours later I would be hungry and after about 3-4 I would have hunger pains. Doesn't matter the size of the meal I had, I would be hungry. With the machine I'm now having what I feel is a normal/regular appetite. After I eat I feel full, few hours depending on what I ate/how much I ate etc I would range from not really being affected to slightly peckish.

1a) Doctor has put me on 37.5mg of Phentermine HCL (generic form of Adipex-p). Again, I am under Doctor's supervision with monthy appointments to monitor my health. I know there are a few Doc's here and wanted to point this out. Doc didn't just give me an Rx and call it good. I only get 1 month initially, he checks to see how my body is acting with it etc before giving me more.

2) Better nights sleep. When I wake up in the morning I am groggy for the first few minutes after waking up but I do notice I am well rested. I still take some naps during the day due to other issues (IE arthritis flare ups). But, overall I am now staying up most of the day and I am filled with energy and alertness.

3) As I was talking to my mom I decided to hold off getting back to diving when I get to a much 'better' weight than I am now. I want to use the time to get healtier, improve my cardio to really allow me to enjoy my dive.

Selchie - Yah, it's tough when you go out to eat, so agree there. As the support group said, just be smart as you can be. If you do screw up, just don't dwell on it.

FloridaPhil - I had been borderline diabetic for almost 3 years before I actually got my blood sugar to normal. I don't have a juicer and honestly, I don't mind the various juices but the cost for it would really screw up my budget (I have a max budget of about $120 per month for food. I do try and get fresh fruit and veggies when I can. I actually avoid canned veggies like the plauge whenever I can get away with it (which is a lot, I think I may have 2-3 cans of canned veggies per year or so).
 
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Well, had a setback over the holidays. Gained 5 lbs. but went to a weight in yesterday and almost lost all that added weight (need to drop about 2 more lbs).

Went to the first support group that the local Doc. Office has. I can't emphasize this enough as how well these support groups well. During our discussion we went on the 'why's' of eating and the lifestyle changes needed. A few things is being more social and how it can help. Also, sometimes the small things add up over a year for weightloss. The counselor was talking about a woman who dropped about 40lbs by doing 1 thing and 1 thing only - stopped eating hotdogs.
 
I've had several patients lose weight after starting cpap. One even lost 50lbs without trying! I'm waiting to get a sleep study for myself right now. I'm trying to lose 25 lbs and having a heck of a time.
i think sleep apnea also changes your metabolism and makes it hard to lose. I've been eating about 1200-1400 calories but just can't lose. Didn't help that I was in a wheelchair for four months!
Have you considered swimming? Even if you're not a great swimmer, its so good for arthritic joints. I walk 2 miles daily, which is all my joints allow but I also swim laps. Thinking about adding weight lifting, which is also good for weight loss. I also love my rowing machine, although I've been battling a tendinitis in my shoulders so haven't used it much lately. Rowing is great because its low impact but still weight bearing. It also puts your hips/knees and other body parts through a wide range of motion, which keeps you flexible. I also recommend yoga classes. Many people lose a surprising amount of weight doing yoga. I haven't been able to do yoga lately because I can't put weight on my knees, which keeps me from doing a lot of the movements.
Good luck and keep us posted!
 
I've had several patients lose weight after starting cpap. One even lost 50lbs without trying! I'm waiting to get a sleep study for myself right now. I'm trying to lose 25 lbs and having a heck of a time.
i think sleep apnea also changes your metabolism and makes it hard to lose. I've been eating about 1200-1400 calories but just can't lose. Didn't help that I was in a wheelchair for four months!
Have you considered swimming? Even if you're not a great swimmer, its so good for arthritic joints. I walk 2 miles daily, which is all my joints allow but I also swim laps. Thinking about adding weight lifting, which is also good for weight loss. I also love my rowing machine, although I've been battling a tendinitis in my shoulders so haven't used it much lately. Rowing is great because its low impact but still weight bearing. It also puts your hips/knees and other body parts through a wide range of motion, which keeps you flexible. I also recommend yoga classes. Many people lose a surprising amount of weight doing yoga. I haven't been able to do yoga lately because I can't put weight on my knees, which keeps me from doing a lot of the movements.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Well, I sat down and became realistic about my Diving this year. Here are my resolutions, and the carrot is diving.

First is to drop 50 lbs. for the year.

Now from what I took out of my meeting yesterday, just having that 'goal' is worthless without a plan to do it. So here is the plan:

1) Meds - Doctor gave me an Rx for Adapet-p to help overall. He said if after 3 months no weight loss off the med.
2) Change of Diet - Was really bad eating McD's and such over hte holidays. Need to get better food, not eliminate it, but really cut down.
3) Cut down on soda again. For the past year or so I very much only drank water and just got so tiring. So gonna grab some filters again etc.
4) Change diet a bit to be more varied. Don't be afraid to grab a lasagna for dinner, but don't eat the whole thing. IE, get the small that has 5 servings and make 4 out of it (just easier to cut)
5) Get up to the Y some more, which means budgeting bit more gas for the car. I use the cycling machines there (reclined) as well as the pool.
6) Really utilize the pool when it opens. This is big since I want to dive.
7) As I drop some more, try and take my dog out for bit longer walks.

Since I have put diving on hold for the year, the diving related things are:

1) Get my dive gear serviced (send the Wing back to Tobin at DSS for repair) as well as send my reg back to Atomic for an overhaul.
2) Replace needed gear (IE new Dive Computer or Bottom Timer)
3) Update my rig a bit to be tad more GUEish (Longer hose, finish up the BP/W with the crotch strap)
4) Pick up few essentials (Light, Spool + SMB)

Having this aspect gets me jonsing to go diving, hopefully keeping me on point. Getting my needed gear will be here and there, and thankfull not to expensive save for the reg service and replacement DC or BT.

I can't do rowing really because of Impingment Syndrome, shoulders are kind of screwed up. Also, I got a non-scoliosis curvature of the spine.
 
Ok

First real weight in since they got the baseline last week. Lost 9 lbs.

This week wasn't much but seems the place I am working with is bringing in another person to help. They are looking to become a Registered Nutritionist or Dietician. The one where a person has to pass a test given by the state.

Overall very informative since she is still in school for the most part and has some of the newer research etc to help us.
 
I tried everything - gym daily and pretty much going without eating. After nearly a year it had made no difference. Since I have decided that I'm stuck with whatever weight I am. I go to the gym every day but Sunday and have a different regime MWF from TThS. My goal is to go to the gym - period. I no longer weigh myself and I don't look at calories burned or distance. I go to do the exercise without missing a day and it's entirely to complete the routine. I'm just as heavy (5'10" - 225#) but much happier.
 
I have lost 20 lbs in the last two months. First 10 came easy after stopping drinking mountain dew and the next 10 were in the last week after being sick.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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