Obesity Support Group

WTG! The hunger is always the worst in the first couple of days...give yourself a break while going through the transitional phase...it will get easier!

This is a long response. It comes from my heart because we are such an under served population and I'm passionate about ending unnecessary suffering.

I have the opposite problem. Can't lose weight unless I eat enough and have too little appetite. Meal by meal is much easier for me than daily goals. Learning how to eat in a nurturing way for my body was much more difficult than eating that way once I learned the basics. Even keeping my Food Logs here at DS was maddeningly difficult both emotionally and mentally at first, then it got easier.

Ultimately my goal is to eat 5-6 meals a day and consume 2200-2800 calories per day with at least 149-160 grams of protein and 45-60 grams of fiber. Even though I'm only getting 4 (not 5-6) meals a day, I'm already doing better than the 2-3 I was eating before. I trust in time things will shift as I do me best and keep recording my progress.

I'm not hungry on my food plan unless I fail to eat for 7-8 hours. I keep raw walnuts and dry roasted almonds around for those moments when I must snack or have a meal but don't have an appetite.

My nutritional program is part of a larger system called the Schwarzbein Principle by Dr Diana Schwarzbein, an endocrinologist that specializes in diabetes, auto-immune disorders and thyroid problems.

It was helpful for me to type it all down or write it all in a physical journal. My personal trainer initiated my journaling this time. Having to turn them into her, I was sure she was going to say that I was eating too much. We checked the protein/calorie requirements for breastfeeding moms and I came up short routinely for awhile and then I got the hang of it.

When I require myself to eat the things that nurture and heal my body first, I just don't have time, energy or desire to eat the trash that keeps me fat, ill and miserable. Example: (Per meal) 2-4 cups of raw or steamed vegetables, 1 inflammation reducing raw fruit, 37-40 grams of lean protein. Just chewing all that until it is liquid is exhausting. I'm sure I'll feel differently when the Vitamin D deficiency is resolved. Till then, I start with the fruit if I wait too long to eat, I eat the protein first if my body feels like I need to eat a whole cow and I make protein shakes to fill in the holes in my meals or when I'm in a big hurry.

Results of doing all of this: the fat is melting off almost effortlessly. The muscles are rippling over my back and shoulders that seemed non-existent a few weeks ago. Metabolism is up and energy is improved. None of this would be happening with nutrition and walking only. I quit stimulants, changed my lifestyle to eliminate activities and people that place me in "fight or flight" mode, adopted habits that cause the "relaxation response". And the two newest tricks in my bag of how to heal obesity: "Z Health" and RKC Kettlebell training. I just found out that 5 minutes of something called Tabata style conditioning recently developed by a Japanese researcher does more than hours of running so I'm doing Kettlebell Thrusters Tabata style. Why didn't they know this when we were little kids and teach it to us? Only 10-15 minutes of easy exercise that I like to do 2-3 times per week and I never have to be obese again.

Whether WW works for you or not, know that there are those of us who are finding cutting edge scientific solutions to being morbidly obese. I once weighed 352 pounds and had 212 pounds to lose initially. I now have had a healthy pregnancy, begun to recover from that, am down to 320 and have only 180 to lose and I look healthier than I have in years. If I can do it anyone can.

I believe in you.

RW

Day 2 was easier. Still having hunger pangs but learning to fill them by making small meals throughout the day and not having 3 big ones. Truthfully, by now I would usually give up but I'm too determined to do this. I can deal with a few hunger pangs for a while until I get it right. I know the payoff is worth the effort.

Good job soulsearcher. Sticking with it is the key. No matter what plan you follow it has to be one you can stick with for life. It's really easy to slip a little then give up. (I know, I'm an expert at that). So just keep hanging in there and don't give up.

Just take one day at a time. It does get easier.

Well, I hear you!!!! I am on day one of WW online. I am getting hungry right now and have dinner cooking. I think my problem is that when I am dieting or changing my eating as I should call it........all I can think about it FOOD!!!!!!!! I get so fixated on it. So I am here if you need a partner. Hugs Denise