shellyb1203
Still here. :)
Jun 13, 2011
Ok so It has been over a month since my last post. After realizing that the sleeve was what I wanted, but that it was still "just" out of reach (ins. not covering it yet), I went through some pretty intense depression about my weight. I guess you could say I "gave up". I stopped caring and started eating bad foods again, sugary soda, and snacking at all hours of the day. I wasn't sleeping right and that didn't help either.FINALLY, I got myself out of it. Still not sure what brought me out of it, but I started doing my "research" again. Not only on surgery but all the other stuff out there. The medications for weight loss, new diet trends....all of it! I began to realize that all of this "info." was part of the problem. While it looks legitimate and may even have "case study" results, much of it is still all glitzed and glamoured to make you want to buy into the idea.
So I stripped it all down. Got down the the facts. I wasn't sleeping well during this time anyway so why not put my "wake time" to use. I felt like I was researching information for a thesis!! I was checking and double checking facts left and right. And while some of it out there looked "great on paper" the results where not as promising.
One thing I have started to give a little more thought to is the BMR (basal metabolic rate).
All my life I have heard, "cut the calories and you will lose weight". True statement but missing out on a VERY VERY important link.
Who would have thought that all these years of me "cutting calories" only to gain it back and more, might have been avoided if someone would have explained this to me!!!
Your basal metabolic rate is the amt. of calories you need to take in for your body to function. If you go too far below this number your body will actually start turning muscle into glucose for energy and your metabolism will get slower!!! This is the "starvation mode" we have all heard about. So while a "crash' diet of extrememly low caloric intake will work for a short time and you will lose some weight. The long term weight loss will never be accomplished. Now the rule of thumb from what I have found is that a 3500 calories approximately equals 1 lbs. of fat. So by eating 500 cal. less a day would result in a pound a week weight loss, and 1000 a day less would result in 2 lbs a week ( the recommended amt. for long term benefits.)
But then there is that BMR thing. Now for example, for me my BMR (for a 5'11", 355lbs, 34 year old female) is approximately 2500 calories a day. HUH????WHAT??? Well ok. I guess I see that?
NOW again. This doesn't mean you can go out and have fast food everyday or eat an entire pizza for a meal. We are talking about eating healthy foods that give us the the "good stuff" and calories that we need to survive.
So here it goes. I am going to see how well this will work. Granted, I have health conditions that may be altering my BMR from what the calculators are giving me so this might be trial and error for a bit. But this is what I am going to do. Because it is saying I only need the 2500 cal a day to survive. That is what I am going to strive for. Within 2 weeks or so, I should either see some weight loss or gain (barring any sickness or anything ouf of the ordinary). I will also be making sure I am still getting my vitamins and minerals in for the day and pushing to try to get the 8 glasses of water a day. Wish me luck on that one!!
So because the sleeve is the only surgery I will have but cannot. I am becoming a home scientist!!! hmmm I wonder if a lab coat would help???
