A new chapter...

Hi everyone!  I'm just getting started here.  A friend of mine recently lost over 80 lbs. through a local doctor in town.  She's been after me to give the doc a call and get started.  So, this past Tuesday, the 28th, I began the EXTREME weightloss chapter in my life!

I've known I was overweight for quite a while, but I was definitely shocked to hear my weight was 268 at 5'9"!  Doc called me Morbidly Obese.  Ugh!  He gave me a huge lecture on what not to eat: sugars, salts, SODA POP (diet, either), etc.  Drink 3-4 bottles of water a day (no problem) and eat no more than 1200 calories a day (no problem) but eat 5-6 meals.  He also gave me a vitamin B12 shot and some phenteramine to help curb hunger.

My biggest problem lies in that he's told me to exercise at least 20 minutes a day.  I can walk, swim, steps, etc.  Just MOVE 20 minutes at a time and get my heart going.  Well, I'll admit it, I'm lazy.  I just have no oomph to get up and go.  I tried the first night.  I took a walk with the dog (who rather pulled me along).  We only went 2 blocks.  I had to stop several times because the pain in my back was maddening!  (I had back surgery in 2005.)  I was in so much pain when I got home.  I haven't gone out since. 

So, here I am, just completed day 3!  I feel pretty good about what I've done so far, but am kicking myself for not getting out and exercising like I should. 

Has anyone else gone through this?  If so, how did you overcome it?

Thanks for your help!!!  - Sopranorose 

I think there are two sides to this.  The first is finding an activity you enjoy.  If you enjoy something you're a lot more likely to do it.  If you can get a friend to join you that's also a big help because it adds a sense of mutual responsibility.  If you have back problems you may find swimming is a more supportive exercise.  Cycling is also an option... do you own a bicycle?  Try walking again only this time without a dog pulling you about.  Simply walk 10 minutes away from your house turn around and walk 10 minutes back.  You can even split your 20 minutes into two different sessions... whatever fits with your schedule.

(My solution to your problem was to buy a cheapo stationary exercise bike off E-Bay and position it across from a portable TV and a stack of comedy box sets!)

The other side, I think, is 'energy'.  I note that you're on 1200 calories a day but for someone 268lbs who needs to get moving, that's nothing like enough energy.  1200 is the bare minimum intake for a very light, very sedentary, elderly woman.  That really isn't you.   When your tank's empty and your batteries are flat you'll feel more like sitting around conserving energy rather than getting up and moving around.  Whilst hating to go against any advice you've had from a qualified doctor, I'd suggest that if you start to feel poorly, light-headed, lacking in energy, horribly hungry (bingeing) or if your weight-loss suddenly hits a brick-wall, you should add an extra 500-700 cals to that 1200 and take it from there. 

Good luck

I'll second gi-jane re: calorie intake. Not sure why your doctor would recommend 1200 - seems rather misinformed to me. If you restrict your calories that much, you're naturally going to feel hungry and exhausted. I'm certainly no expert, but if I were you, I would aim for at least 1800 - especially in the first few months. 

I read a story about a guy that was like 1200lbs (no that’s not a typo) and he lost like 700 pounds, he started by doing exercise from his hospital bed, just moving his arms & legs. You can do this while watching TV.

Hi and welcome to the site.  First of all, I have the exact same quote from my doctor & it hit me like a ton of bricks!  Honestly, I didn't see it & most days I still don't.  But, I decided to take her advice and started changing my lifestyle.  I am 5'4" & 221.8 was my starting weight 3 weeks ago, (July 9th, 2009) and I have already started to loose weight.   

I too am on a 1200/day limit & 96 oz. of water consumption.  800-960 calories a day comes from a meal replacement program that my doctor has me on.  Are you also on a meal replacement program?  Don't let the 1200/day scare you - and don't let others second guess you & your doctor's decision.  The doctor knows you better than all of us on this blog.  We will never meet in person, but you will see your doctor on a regular basis.  We are just hear to give moral support and ideas to make this journey easier for all of us.  We are all in the same boat as far as weight is concerned - we are never satisfied. 

As far as exercise goes, I tried walking with my dogs too & I got frustrated everytime they had to stop at every mailbox on my walk!  I finally decided to walk without them and it goes much better.  I can now walk 1 mile in 30 minutes and it is at a faster pace than before and that is only in 3 weeks time. 

You can do this, only if you truly want to do this.  What is your true motivation?  Be honest with yourself.  I use the tools on this site & blog with others to keep myself honest.  I also keep a small notebook in my purse and write down EVERYTHING that I eat & how much water I am drinking per day.   That also helps keep me honest. 

By the way - my name is Shelli too...

Original Post by azule08:

I read a story about a guy that was like 1200lbs (no that’s not a typo) and he lost like 700 pounds, he started by doing exercise from his hospital bed, just moving his arms & legs. You can do this while watching TV.

Ummmmmm?!?!?!?!?! Sopranorose is NOT 1200lbs!!! How is that advice relevent?!?!

Seriously, listen to what GiJane says.. she knows her stuff.  I also second that you should be eating A LOT more than 1200 calories a day. 

Have you explored all the tools on this site?  Have you worked out your daily sedentary burn?  If you eat 500 calories less than your sedentery burn each day you should lose a minimum of 1lb per week.  My advice is to take it slow.  Try to eat healthy (of course!) but enjoy diet soda in moderation (if you like it) and treat yourself to something you really want 3 or 4 times a week (just make sure you stay within your calorie limit for the day).  Even if you have a 'bad' day just make sure you get right back on track the next day and you will lose weight! :)

I'm the same height as you and started out a week and a half ago at 261.  My dr hasn't said anything, really, but last year she did give me some advice when I asked.  She said start with the South Beach diet for a month or two, to get a good idea of the foods you should be eating, then go to Weight Watchers to learn to control portions of those foods. 

I semi took that advice, started the South Beach, then promptly went off it again when I went on vacation. It worked though - I lost 12 pounds before I stopped.  But they came back, and brought friends.   I started again earlier in the year, but wasn't eating enough and made myself sick - I just wasn't hungry. I gained more weight after I stopped, and was at the heaviest I've ever been.  When that middle number changed to a 6, I went ballistic. 

So now I'm trying again.  No more of this yo-yo diet crap, I'm aiming for healthy eating for life.  But I'm counting calories this time, so I make sure I'm not undereating again.  I'm on 1800, and even though I haven't been hitting that amount often, I've been trying to keep it close.  I've lost 7 pounds.  Some of that's undoubtedly water weight, but hey, it's a result and it feels damn good.  I'm still doing the first phase of South Beach, because it gets rid of my sugar cravings, but I'm modifying it a bit after that and not worrying too much about carbs as long as they're healthy carbs.  I doubt I'll use Weight Watchers because I prefer counting calories to their point system.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that when you start cutting sugars and processed carbs (white flour) and replacing them with healthier foods, you'll find that you're less hungry.  It takes a week or two for your body to adjust, though.  That's the hard part, but just stick it through, one choice at a time.

It seems like a lot of doctors advise 1200 calories.  Personally, I think that's too little, especially if you're trying to get more active, but I'm not a doctor.  My sister-in-law was advised 1200, but she was told that when she exercised she should eat more to account for it.  She has PCOS, so she's also on a low carb diet.  Last time I talked to her, she was doing really well.

I feel your pain, too, though in my case it's a foot problem rather than back.  If you have a place to swim, that might be easier on you.  Cycling might be, too.  They're both lower impact than walking.  My sister-in-law started bellydancing (she took a class, but there are videos) and she says it's a lot of fun.  I would advise yoga, which I've always loved and which always makes my back feel better, but I don't know the details of your back problems and that might not be safe for you.  Calisthenics you can do while sitting might be good, or weight training like bicep curls with free weights.  If you try walking without the dog and it feels better, do that.  Maybe when you're more used to it you can leash train him so he won't pull on you. 

On the positive side, exercise should increase the strength of your back muscles, which will give you more support and might help with the pain.

I rather suspect that her doctor is counting on her fudging or miscalculating so that she's eating 1500-1800.  Even without exercise, the pounds should slowly melt away.

Exercise for me is about finding something that I like to do.  Do you garden?  All that bending and moving and digging can be done at any rate and it does get you moving.  Walking doesn't sound like your thing, how about playing fetch with the dog?  Even though the dog does most of the work bending and throwing sticks does take energy.

What did you do on vacation?  Anything physical?

I am also wary of questioning the advice of a doctor you have seen personally, but I agree that 1200 seems quite low for someone with your stats.

It may seem strange, but doctors actually do not receive much (if any) training in nutrition, beyond "eat low fat" for cardio patients and "eat less salt" for those with high BP.  So it may be that the standard nutritional advice handed out by your average general practitioner is a bit "off," or out-dated.  A one-size-fits-all diet (as in, eat 1200 cals for all women who want to lose weight) is generally not the best way to go about losing weight.

It might be best to use somone whose background is in nutrition (an R.D.--registered dietician, make sure he/she is actually licensed) to design your weight loss program. 

Just my 2 cents; feel free to take or leave;)