OP
mikemath
Contributor
I recently started a new doctor-monitored weight loss plan. When I started my DiveMaster class, I realized that I wasn't going to be in the best position to assist other divers until I improved my fitness level. Workouts, strength, and endurance have never been a problem for me--I go to the gym regularly and run about 20 miles a week. However, I love food and I stress eat (I'm stressed a lot in my job). So my spare tire hung around no matter what my workout habits were.
The weight loss plan consists of several parts: a 3-times-daily appetite suppressant pill (phendimetrazine), a low-carb and low-calorie diet similar to second-stage Atkins (about 14oz of protein per day), a weekly vitamin injection, a twice-daily fat burning supplement pill (calcium pyruvate), and a moderate exercise plan (at least 30 minutes walking a day or whatever your existing workout plan is beyond that). The theory behind the diet is by restricting carbohydrate and sugar intake, you keep insulin levels low, causing the body to generally pull energy from fat stores instead of storing fat away. The calorie restriction and exercise makes sure your body needs more energy than you're consuming, so it has a reason to pull energy from your fat stores. It's a more aggressive weight loss program than generally advised--most sources recommend losing a maximum of 2lbs per week (I've been averaging just over 5lbs). That's where the doctor-monitoring comes in. Every week, I have an appointment to discuss and modify the program if necessary, monitor weight progress, and check blood pressure. Every few weeks, they do bloodwork to make sure everything is okay on that front too.
My wife started this diet a few months ago to shed some of her pregnancy weight, and lost 30lbs in about 2 months. I've had even better luck so far, and am at 22lbs after 4 weeks. I've got high energy and haven't felt hungry or cravings for things I can't have on the diet, so I'm quite happy with it. It's not a national, high-marketing weight loss program--my wife found it through a referral from a friend. So unfortunately I don't have any links to send with more information, but if you're interested, you can talk to your physician or look for physicians in your area with experience with the prescription drug used (phendimetrazine). I don't think there's one diet that's right for everyone, but this one has worked well for me so far.
Most relevant to this discussion, 20lbs of body weight is worth about 2lbs of weight dropped. If I hit my goal of 60lbs in 4 months, I'll be dropping about 6lbs of lead, be more streamlined in the water, and have lower health risks due to obesity. Win-win-win in my book.
