Like a lot of people, I’m not happy with my weight. Haven’t been for a while. Over the years I’ve tried different things with various degrees of success. Sometimes I’d lose the weight, but eventually after I quit paying attention, the weight would creep back.
However, after my recent “big” vacation, I’ve been making a concerted effort to not only lose the few pounds I put on, but get back to a healthier point on the scales. And one thing that I’ve always counted on is that I’ve been able to lose the weight when I really tried. Not this time. If anything, the scales have continued to creep up.
I was in recently for a series of doctors appointments and a couple of things have come to light.
First, my cholesterol and triglyceride levels are way above where they should be. Further, my fasting glucose is creeping up to the “pre-diabetic” area. With heart disease and diabetes on both sides of my family tree, this is not good. My thyroid is perfectly normal, so I can’t look to that area for relief.
The other thing that I learned that some people have a gene that “turns on” later in life that increases your resistance to insulin. This means that rather than metabolizing carbohydrates as you once did, your body stores them. So you can eat exactly what you’ve been eating, but gain weight because you’re storing the carbs instead of burning them. (Okay, this is a simplistic explanation, but you get the idea.)
The bottom line is, I’ve got to get serious and things that worked before aren’t necessarily going to work again.
Talking with the nurse at my gynecologist’s office, she referred me to Medi-Weightloss Clinic. Several of the nurses in the practice had been through the program with great success and were maintaining their weight loss.
I had been on a program similar to it in the past and had also lost weight. It definitely is not for everyone. It’s an extremely low-calorie, low-carbohydrate program with medical supervision. (It’s also pretty expensive.)
On the plus side, besides the weight loss, it’s definitely gluten-free, so I should also reap the joint-pain benefits from that.
My first consultation is next Wednesday. Between now and then, I’m going to start cutting out the carbs so it won’t be such a shock to my system. After that I’ll keep you updated on my progress.
If you’re interested in learning more about this from a personal experience, there’s an excellent blog that I found (which helped me make the decision to move forward with this decision). You can read it here.
I hope today’s scales tip in your favor. Thanks for checking in.
Good luck Carla. It is always good to find a program that works well for you. Wishing you lots of luck.
Ah, Carla, I know exactly of which you write. I’m fighting the slow upcreep of poundage, too. My old way of dropping a few pounds here or there don’t work anymore. But I HAVE had some success by sticking to only “good” carbs (wholegrains) in moderation. Now, though, even that doesn’t seem to work. I’m blumphy and unhappy with how I look and feel.
I recently read a very informative book, “Why We Get Fat” by Gary Taubes. It gives the scientific explanation as to why carbohydrates end up as fat in our bodies (but put in layman terms). His answer is to drop all but about 20 grams of carbs all the time, eating protein, some fats and plenty of low-carb veggies instead. It makes a great deal of sense. It also made me mad because for many years–and indeed, even now–we’ve been told that a diet high in carbs and low in fat is healthy. Instead, it’s the main reason we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic and the dire medical problems that go along with it.
I’m trying (but having a tough time) to drop the carbohydrates from my daily diet. So far, my success has been limited, but I’m gonna keep at it. I hope the diet you’re planning on starting will work beautifully–I’m definitely part of your cheering section.
Ironically, that is the one thing I got from this disease so far. 25 lbs down since MTX (4 months). I tolerate the stuff pretty well(after I got the folic acid part dialed and pushed through the first month) and it is working for me so I’m willing to give up a day. I find I don’t like breads, pasta very much now, and hate greasy stuff. Very weird. Of course not drinking (much) also didn’t hurt. ( who am I kidding, it hurts a LOT!) .
That of course is no diet plan… I admire your discipline and will be cheering for you!
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Hi Carla,
I am in the middle of Week 5 on Medi, and I have lost 13.5 lb. so far! I am really thrilled with the results and can’t wait to reach my goal! Good luck with everything!
Congratulations! Losing weight is definitely a battle and you deserve a medal! You go girl!
How is the journey on Medi going? I am thinking of joining?
Hi: If you keep reading the blog, you’ll understand that I opted NOT to go to the clinic, but to adopt the basic principles. Overall I’ve lost 15 pounds. I’ve been basically “on hold” since I had surgery the first of October, but expect to get back on track next week and continue the weight-loss journey. Good luck if you start with them. Please come back and post your decision and your successess!