Obesity Support Group
This community is dedicated to those of us struggling with obesity. Obesity is thought to be a significant risk factor in certain health conditions, leading to increased mortality. Find the support you need by sharing your story, asking questions, and learning from others on how they have coped.
Plan's name: Eat Fat, Get Thin
Book(s): Eat Fat, Get Thin! - first published in 1999 by Barry Groves.
About the author: Dr Groves and his wife, Monica, became overweight in the first few years after their marriage in 1957. He discovered the low carb diet in 1962, and both he and his wife lost weight with great success. They have maintained the weight loss since then.
He began studying the role of food types in the aetiology of obesity at that time, and in 1982 when he retired from the Royal Air Force, began full time research, later broadening the scope of his research to the relationship between diet and other modern 'diseases of civilisation' such as heart disease and cancer.
He has a PhD in Nutritional Science.
Basic Philosophy: This is a high fat, low carb plan, which allows 60g carbohydrates per day. Calories are unrestricted. Ketosis is considered unnecessary; Dr Groves even feels it is undesirable.
By the numbers: : There are no phases in this plan. One continues eating 60g carbs until goal is reached. At that time extra carbs can be added until no further weight is being lost.
Method: : Reduce your intake of refined carbs.
You can eat as much as you want of any meat, fish, poultry, cheese, cream, butter and eggs.
You can eat as much as you like of green leafy vegetables: cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, and so on.
He does say that it is advisable to cut out some foods such as sugar and cereals completely, but does include small amounts in his menus. He cautions that you may need to be wary of such foods.
Fruit and vegetables are permitted, just cut down on the sweeter, starchier ones.
He says it is a good idea to give up bread, but if you feel you cannot, cut down to a maximum of 2 slices per day.
Exercise only if you want to.
Dr Groves states that exercise has its place in a healthy lifestyle, but says that as a means of losing weight it is a dead loss. Only do the exercise you enjoy.
Leave the fat on meat.
And do not remove the skin from chicken, duck or turkey. Use full cream milk in preference to skim, and have cream with your fruit if you wish.
Eat a high protein breakfast.
It is essential to start the day in such a way that your blood sugar levels are high and you will not have to snack between meals.
Chapter 9 cites studies which show that doing this can keep your blood sugar levels steady all day long.
If you are not overweight, do not diet.
The book includes a chapter where normal weight ranges are discussed.
Book(s): Eat Fat, Get Thin! - first published in 1999 by Barry Groves.
About the author: Dr Groves and his wife, Monica, became overweight in the first few years after their marriage in 1957. He discovered the low carb diet in 1962, and both he and his wife lost weight with great success. They have maintained the weight loss since then.
He began studying the role of food types in the aetiology of obesity at that time, and in 1982 when he retired from the Royal Air Force, began full time research, later broadening the scope of his research to the relationship between diet and other modern 'diseases of civilisation' such as heart disease and cancer.
He has a PhD in Nutritional Science.
Basic Philosophy: This is a high fat, low carb plan, which allows 60g carbohydrates per day. Calories are unrestricted. Ketosis is considered unnecessary; Dr Groves even feels it is undesirable.
By the numbers: : There are no phases in this plan. One continues eating 60g carbs until goal is reached. At that time extra carbs can be added until no further weight is being lost.
Method: : Reduce your intake of refined carbs.
You can eat as much as you want of any meat, fish, poultry, cheese, cream, butter and eggs.
You can eat as much as you like of green leafy vegetables: cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, and so on.
He does say that it is advisable to cut out some foods such as sugar and cereals completely, but does include small amounts in his menus. He cautions that you may need to be wary of such foods.
Fruit and vegetables are permitted, just cut down on the sweeter, starchier ones.
He says it is a good idea to give up bread, but if you feel you cannot, cut down to a maximum of 2 slices per day.
Exercise only if you want to.
Dr Groves states that exercise has its place in a healthy lifestyle, but says that as a means of losing weight it is a dead loss. Only do the exercise you enjoy.
Leave the fat on meat.
And do not remove the skin from chicken, duck or turkey. Use full cream milk in preference to skim, and have cream with your fruit if you wish.
Eat a high protein breakfast.
It is essential to start the day in such a way that your blood sugar levels are high and you will not have to snack between meals.
Chapter 9 cites studies which show that doing this can keep your blood sugar levels steady all day long.
If you are not overweight, do not diet.
The book includes a chapter where normal weight ranges are discussed.
I'm not even going to ask where you found a diet like this and why it seems to be the "answer" for you. I'm appalled though, that someone who you say has a PhD in nutritional science would advocate such a plan.
Regardless though...wishing you the best on your journey.
Janice
Since my start on this new way of eating,I have not binged on cakes or candies and I feel energy! I feel good! I don't feel sluggish.. Am more alet!!
I will exercise for tone and having a lean shape..Thats my goal!!
Stop trying to choose this plan or that plan, or listen to this professional or that professional. (Dr. Groves should have his PhD in nutritional science revoked.) Losing weight is not rocket science. The most difficult thing about losing weight, particularly a great deal of weight, is getting to the source of your emotional eating and your dysfunctional relationship with food. That is truly the "grunt work". Doing that has NOTHING to do with any plan, any professional. As Geneen Roth so eloquently stated, it's not what you're eating - it's what's eating you. Once you get to the source of your dysfunctional eating, the actual losing of the weight comes much more easily and naturally, because you're now listening to your body and not your emotions.
You go through these "I've got it - I'm going to lose this weight!", followed shortly by, "I can't do it, I'm giving up..." cycles so quickly, I'm beginning to wonder if you're using this whole forum as some kind of joke or something.
I wish you well with this, but, if you're not listening, there's no point in sharing.
Janice
Janice
I have learned that there is no cure to compulsive overeating. I don't know Geenen Roth, Have she ever been heavy??? Never seen a photo of her being at 100 plus?? I do have her old books..which that did not help.
Am a stayhome caregiver and do plenty of online searching for other people success...tips and thier struggles and winning this battle of the buldge.
Low Carb works, and was happy that the scale moved on me and feeling great. But one side effect that I was not moving my bowel movements normal. That is what I gave this up. Look at lowcarbfriends.com where a 500 Lbs woman lost over 200 Lbs, no pills ,no surgery.. A real person with a Dr, Atkins success.and that what had made me try this..It worked for me for a short time, and wish I can continue, But as I mentioned before, was not moving my bowel issues..
Weight loss is complex, there is so many people struggles. I share my struggles..Am honest as I can be ..I eat when am bored..most people eat from stress, either dieting or not. I had tried therpy, but my mental health clinic does not servies food addiction..just drugs and liquor.
Take Care..
Liliann
Hon, believe me, I totally understand what you are dealing with here. Food addiction is a very, very difficult thing to deal with. I've dealt with it nearly all of my life.
It's nice to know that you are serious about this, because, I gotta tell ya, hon, based on some of your posts, I've had my doubts. I mean, take your post here, for example. You posted your original post about this lunatic plan from this Dr. Groves guy on January 12th where you were all gung ho and ready to go with the weight loss. Then, the next morning you post that you've "gained all the weight back" and were sad and giving up. I mean - please! Research shows that it takes a MINIMUM of 30 days to form a new habit. ALL of us who have entered into a weight loss program that we needed to follow for several months, if not years, know that the most difficult part of the journey is the first 4-6 weeks. (Thankfully, after that, it does get easier to stay on track). That said, how in the WORLD do you think you have any chance at losing the significant amount of weight you have to lose if you're ready to throw in the towel after 24 hours??????
As far as the freedieting website, you've totally lost me here when you write that following their recommendations is totally impossible for 100+ people to follow. I think one the biggest enemies of morbidly obese people when it comes to weight loss is that a lot of us could write a book on excuses of why we can't take the weight off. At the point where I recommended the freedieting website, you had posted that you were going to follow a 1,200 calorie a day plan, which, particularly at the weight you are, was ridiculous. I shared with you that, VERY shortly, both your body AND your mind would let you know that you were out of your mind if you thought you could eat 1,200 calories a day, at 450+ lbs, for an extended amount of time. The freedieting website, no matter WHAT weight you are, gives sensible, safe info for healthy, gradual weight loss.
Personally, I feel that Weight Watchers is the one of the best weight loss programs in the world. I lost 104 lbs in 18 months doing WW's, and kept it off for 4 years until thyroid surgery caused problems with my weight again.
As far as Geneen Roth, during her lifetime, she estimates she gained and lost over 1,000 lbs before she decided to stop driving herself crazy and get to the source of her food addiction. Getting to the source of a food addiction is the central theme of all of her books.
That is the point I'm trying to make with you, hon. I feel like you keep honing in on this weight loss program, or that weight loss program, but, what you really need to hone in on is YOU. Until you (and ANY of us) get to the source of our food addiction, no book will help us, no plan will help us - because it's not the plan, it's US!
That old saying that sanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. In so many ways, hon, your posts remind me of that saying. You keep jumping from plan to plan to plan, and, despite your good intentions, you end up with the same result (no weight loss), because you're looking outside of yourself for the answers instead of INSIDE.
Once you get to the source of your weight problem, ANY safe and sound weight loss plan will work, because the real answer to successful weight loss doesn't come from the PLAN - it comes from YOU!
So, ok, you say you're listening...so, please read my last paragraph until you really, really GET it. Lord KNOWS this is a difficult road to be on, but, you have to GET ON THE ROAD and STAY THERE to have any chance at all at success with this.
Please stop driving yourself (and us) crazy with this. Time's a wastin' and the older we get, the less our bodies tolerate morbid obesity; in your case, super morbid obesity.
You really can do this, you're just looking in the wrong place for the answers.
Hugs,
Janice
If you find the scale that intimidating, why not limit weighing yourself to once a month? If you liked WW's otherwise, if you have the materials, you could always just follow the plan at home.
We create so many things that can trip us up though. I remember, decades ago, during one of my earlier attempts at doing WW's, I would binge for the first 2-3 days after my weigh-in...especially if I had a good loss during the previous week. Then, I would have to start "making-up" for the weight I gained back. I wouldn't start actually losing weight again until about day 4; then it would be like cramming for a final to try to lose weight before my next weigh-in. Obviously, I didn't "get it".
I think that's why you really have to listen only to yourself when it comes to finding a custom-fit weight loss plan. What totally works for one person may prove to be another person's downfall.
Wishing you the best on your journey. Your sweet little dog is adorable. : )
Janice : )
Your right about "not getting it" I think I've learned a lot since then, we will see, I just joined the weight loss buddy group for next month and I believe we have to weigh in each week.
Wishing you many happy years with her. And, best of luck on your weight loss journey as well! : )
Janice
I have been overweight since childhood and have tried every diet known to mankind. After MANY years of trying to "diet" I have now been diagnosed with diabetes. That's all it took for me to get serious about my health.
Diabetic exchanges are very similar to Weight Watchers.(at one time I lost 127 pounds and taught for them.) Stopped going and gained it all back.
Through finding the right therapist, I've learned not to stress out as much as I used to. My nutritionist is helping me to learn to eat a different way so I will be around for a long time. Please keep these things in mind:
1. Stop beating yourself up and hating how you look.
2. Seek counseling and talk out your problems with someone you trust.
3. Find a nutritionist at your local hospital and you will find that NO food is forbidden(within reason) Take their sound advice.
4. Treat yourself well-pamper yourself somehow.
5. Hang out with positive people.
My heart goes out to you as I have experienced it all. We'll be here to support you! Joan