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Hi Everyone!

I weighed yesterday and am down a total of 104 lbs. It feels phenomenal. I still have about 75 pounds to go and now I KNOW I can do it.

Christy, I saw your challenge post about the 75 lb target by the end of October and the subsequent posts regarding it being too aggressive. I do think the number is a high one but......

I started my life changes on March 3, 2008. I was down the first 75 lbs by June 3. It is possible.

I have been working a very low calorie program and I know this approach is not for everyone but it has worked well for me and thats all that matters. This is a fabulous site (Thanks Banks!) and I really use it to track my intake and exercise. The Community support is also wonderful and helpful. I have seen a few postings by some indicating that they'd never pay money to help with weight loss efforts. I say that it is an individual decision and if it works for you do it.

I don't pretend to have the answers at this point. I am sick of being fat. I am sick of buying clothes from a guy named Omar the Tent Maker (no cultural slur intended here). I am sick of taking large qtys of medicine every single day in the hope that my health statistics will improve. I am sick of not being able to fit in chairs with arms. I could go on for hours.

My weight loss to date has done the following: I have been able to discontinue 5 of 7 daily medications. I am down 5 pant sizes and 3 shirts sizes. I sleep better. I am more alert during the day. Oh.......................... I can cross my legs for the first time in over 10 years.

I remain committed to this journey.

Cheers to all.
Tim

Christy,

I was desperate to make a change in my life throughout 2007 and was being pressed by my regular MD to get Gastric Bypass. As I've already stated I think whatever solution helps any of us regain a life is OK. I simply did not / do not have an interest in additional surgery. I had a hip replaced in 2005 and a knee in 2007. Both joints were destroyed by osteoarthritis. Who can say for sure if the arthritis was purely obesity induced or just hereditary. At 426 lbs. prosthetic joints don't last a long time either. This leads to..... more surgery.

I met a guy who told me he lost 160 pounds in six months working the same program I am working. It is offered through one of the local hospitals in the Houston area where I live. I am pretty sure its available in other areas around the country. If you have a Memorial Herman hospital I expect they will offer the program.

Its a 1 year program (no contract) that starts with 90 days of medically supervised liquid fasting. I had to get a physical before I could start. I go to the hospital once weekly for a check up and a brain wash. The check up is cursory, blood pressure, quick visual check, etc. I am type II Diabetic so I also turn in a blood sugar log. Yes, the Diabetes is obesity induced. The Brain Wash (my label, not theirs) is a 45 minute session where a dietitian talks about different topics. As a fat guy I thought I knew everything about food, nutrition, etc. but I've learned some pretty good things. Ironically the ultimate approach to living a healthy nutritional lifestyle is the same as what you see on this site - understand caloric requirements, count everything, exercise. I also get a weeks worth of high protein, low calorie shakes in powder form. I drink 4 each day and can eat sugar free pickles (Mt. Olive makes some really good ones). I do eat some lean turkey meat almost every day because I am exercising much more than is viable on 800 calories daily. The turkey is not part of the program. After 90 days some participants begin to re-feed, reduced shakes, add meals of limited calorie. I chose to work the shakes longer than 90 days because i started out at such a high number. I've met lots of people who have lost 100+ lbs via this program. As your move forward the shakes go away completely and you are back on food. the education/brain wash continues. The last 6 months are just education.

Everyone (including me) freaks out at the all liquid phase because it sounds like such a completely deprived way to exist. The irony is that the shakes are easier than you can imagine for one reason. There are no food decisions to make other than the flavor of the shake. It really works.

This is much less extreme than having my digestive tract reorganized and I am loving it. I am happy to share more info if you or anyone else wants it.

Tim

I know how you feel. I have a friend who lost 50 pounds in 6 monthes. I've been on MFP for 4 weeks and have lost 10. Several days, I've gained 2 or 3. I have a major "why do it day." But my husband tells me on those days (he has almost 250 to lose) that there are days in our lives we must binge to enjoy life. Just pick yourself up and start over. Kinda like riding a bike. This is a lifestyle change and we're not going to learn it the first try.

Kinda started preachin there, sorry! Hope today is better and tomorrow is too!