It’s my last day of being 39 years old. One year ago today, I’d told myself that I would turn 40 weighing less than I did twenty years ago. For the record, I weighed 120 back then. I most certainly do not now.
I am not going to be slipping into my size 4′s today. I won’t be slipping into my size 6′s or 8′s, either. No, I’m not going to tell you the size of the jeans that I’m wearing. Let’s just say they depress me almost as much as turning 40 does. Almost.
Over the past year I’ve tried numerous diets, some with more success than others. The Atkins plan? Sure, I lost weight on that: probably because thanks to IBS I spent more time in the bathroom than in front of the fridge. South Beach? Yeah, I tried that, too, and while I didn’t experience the same GI disturbances, I was hungry all of the time. All. Of. The. Time.
Then, of course, there was the week I spent doing that Cabbage Soup diet. Surprisingly, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the rest. I happen to love soup, and I love cooked cabbage. My husband, however, can’t stand the smell of the latter and thus repeatedly poured out the pots of the former whenever he found them in the fridge.
Recently, I’ve been following a plan that emphasizes raw vegetables and large amounts of whole grains, along with clear broths and very lean protein, on the principle that the volume of those foods promote satiety with lower caloric intake. I’ve lost a couple of pounds — I’ve been exercising along with dieting this time — but it feels like I’m constantly making food or cleaning up from having made something. A very labor intensive diet, that one.
I know better than to try diet pills, even the herbal ones. It’s not just that I’m afraid of turning into a Britney Spears, freaking out in public and acting all crazy because I’m hopped up on too many different things. Besides making me jittery, even herbal diet pills are how hard on one’s liver. That’s the last complication I need, given my health problems from earlier this year.
So I’ve been continuing to diet, yes, and I’ve been continuing to exercise, too. But I’m not pleased with how slowly I’m seeing changes. Sometimes I think glaciers melt faster than the fat I’m trying so hard to lose.
Which is why I’ve decided to hold myself accountable. Publicly.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you my latest blog venture: Chubby Mommy.
Thursday, June 7th, 2007, 10:47 am | 
My Venomous Life | 
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June 7, 2007 at 11:43 am
I was afraid I would need surgery to correct my weight. I went to see my doctor to tell him my fears. We talked for about 45 minutes (most doctors don’t do that anymore; I think I got lucky with this one, who spent even LONGER with me when we were going over my migraines). He put me on some medication and we worked out an exercise plan. I lost 23 pounds in six weeks.
Your doctor may be able to help you get the ball rolling in ways you never expected.
I do know that to get the surgery paid for by insurance, you need to try literally every other method of losing weight, and that takes a year or more. Also, my doctor had some stats that said many people who get the surgery figure out ways to overeat again anyway. I know three people who have had it; one is still thin (too thin; he has no time to build muscle), one is still over 350 pounds, and one only made it halfway to her target weight and is stuck there.
June 7, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I agree with you about those commercials being enticing. So are the programs like “Big Medicine” and that one about the obesity clinic. I lost 50 pounds on Atkins a few years ago, put it all back on and then some – and STILL get that pukey feeling in my mouth when I think about meat, cheese and eggs. Here’s what I’m doing now: walking, and eating smaller portions. My husband and I walk a mile a day (it takes about 25 minutes), and I simply eat half of my normal portions. If I would healthy-up my food choices, I’d probably lose weight faster – hubby’s eating a lot of salads and has lost about 20 pounds in the past three weeks. As it is I’m losing about 3 pounds a week – I’ve dropped ten in the same three weeks. As slow as it seems to be coming off, I can’t help but think this is better than any plan based on deprivation of some nutrient such as fat or protein. Hang in there, and happy birthday!!
June 7, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Thanks for the encouragement, both of you! It’s kind of odd how this time I’m exercising mostly for the feel of it — my joints hurt less, I sleep better, and I’m far less stressed throughout the day when I use my exercise bike.
But the dieting? Ugh! I sure wish I’d start seeing some results.
June 7, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Kate, I don’t know if you read SarahK at Mountaineer Musings, but go read this:
http://mountaineermusings.com/?p=3661
Or read this post she linked to by Gluten Free Girl
http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.....sease.html
(sorry – without preview I can’t tell if hyperlinks work in your comments and for the life of me I can’t remember if I’ve seen them in other comments)
When I see you posting all your symptoms and all the problems you’ve been having – especially after mentioning the IBS – go READ THEM. Forget the bands the “diets” etc.
SarahK gained a ton of weight because of gluten intolerance. (you’d think it would be the opposite!!!) Along with a huge list of physical symptoms.
But the best thing is – you can actually do this diet at home with no special equipment or anything. It won’t hurt you – it involves no surgery or pills. And while trying to figure out where gluten lurks – is a royal PITA (see Sarah’s category “ack she’s a celiac” for posts on the fun and games – gluten LURKS EVERYWHERE)… if it makes you feel better – what a blessing. Working out a good diet isn’t so onerous if the reward is feeling good… this is one thing I know for sure.
At the very least think about giving it a try, email Sarah or Gluten Free Girl, either of them would be delighted to help. What have you got to lose… except feeling horrid! If it doesn’t work – you’re in no worse shape than you are now.
What I’m most sorry about is that I didn’t make the connection sooner so I could recommend this. Sometimes I wonder if my brain cells took a vacation and never returned. Heh.
June 7, 2007 at 2:09 pm
My husband and I lost a lot of weight with the Body for Life program, which just emphasizes proper diet/portions and intensity level exercise coupled with weights. My best friend lost 100 lbs and has kept it off for four years now. It definitely works and the diet really isn’t bad. It’s your typical lean proteins, veggies, good carbs in proper portions and small meals spaced throughout the day. My problem was getting pregnant and getting out of that lifestyle. More often than not, the people I know who’ve gone this route have maintained.
My brother-in-law had the lap band and while he lost a lot of weight, he also essentially became bulimic because he didn’t change his views about eating and food. He stuck to the recuperation plan but gradually began overeating and then purging because he’d overdone it — and then go back and eat more. I honestly believe any successful weight loss is probably 95% psychological change, if not more. Good luck.
June 7, 2007 at 9:33 pm
They’ll have to pry the vino from my cold, dead, chubby hands!
June 7, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Happy early birthday, VK!
On the topic of weight loss, have you added strength training to your regimen? Increasing muscle mass really helps burn more calories while at rest. Even five-pound dumbbells are enough if you use them correctly. Years ago, I learned an awesome 10-15 minute arm routine that I continue to do 3 times a week. It’s from the very first Cindy Crawford work out video, and I cannot believe that I’m admitting this!
June 7, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I hit 220 lbs, and, by good fortune got a job two miles from my home. I decided to walk to work. 4 miles a day, 5 days a week and the pounds melted away. I got down to 185, which was OK for my build. Eat right, walk lots.
These days I run marathons and drive to work. I still weigh 185. Looks like the vino has to go.
June 7, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Yep, I’m doing strength-training, which I think might be why my pants are fitting a bit looser now even though the scale hasn’t budged.
June 8, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I do so love seeing on someone else‘s blog, “SarahK gained a ton of weight…” Hahahaha! Thanks, Teresa. Just kidding, you know I love you. 43 pounds in 2.5 years, to be exact. And I was thinking the same thing when I saw IBS + weight gain. And I know we’ve (Kate and I) talked about the mysterious pain in our hands and feet over email before, so we share several similar symptoms. If nothing else, it’s worth taking the quiz at the end of Gluten-Free Girl’s post.
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September 19, 2007 at 2:29 am