Recent Posts

(deactivated member)
on 6/11/07 7:29 am - 'Burbs of St. Louis, MO
Topic: Summer Reading List (Fat Girl Stories with HEART)
Here's a "fat girl" summer reading list, if anyone is interested. I always like to read books about characters who are larger. It always A) motivates me to work harder and B) reminds me that success and failure have nothing to do with clothing sizes. 1) "I'm Not the New Me," by Wendy McClure. This is a witty biography...totally hilarious. She has published another book and is the writer of a much-read blog at poundy.com (check it out!) 2) "The Next Big Thing," by Johanna Edwards. Reality TV meets plus-size women. I found it to be a fun read. Also author of a brand new (June 5) book called "How to Be Cool," (about a formerly heavy girl). 3) "Conversations with the Fat Girl," by Liza Palmer. This book isn't the BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD, but it has its moments. It's about a plus-sized girl that has a friend who had gastric-bypass surgery. 4) "Good in Bed," by Jennifer Weiner. First 2/3 of book was terrific, the last 1/3 didn't quite fit in. Happy Reading! Pamela
(deactivated member)
on 6/11/07 7:23 am - 'Burbs of St. Louis, MO
Topic: RE: New Challenge
I still have 26 lbs to go before I see 199...so losing it by mid-August is a lofty aspiration. I just like setting goals, and if I have to reset it, so be it. I keep telling myself we'll try again for a baby at 199, but I think I might want to be less than that...just to keep from EVER seeing 200 again. We'll see, though. Deeno, we CAN DO IT! We just have to keep plugging away at it, little by little. Pamela
jewelcrown
on 6/11/07 4:48 am
Topic: "Biggest Loser" Bounce Back
See article below of Season 1 Biggest Loser regain of all but 30 lbs of weight loss. Just another testament of how vigilant we must continue to be to maintain accomplished weight loss. Side note: I stop short of slapping a guy silly for telling me "in 3 years, you've only loss 100 lbs." This guy is genetically dispostion to be thin and a tennis instructor. My initial thought was "bite me!"... But then I thought about it. In 3 years I have maintained my 100 lb. loss SO THERE!!! Hugs... Denise Life as the Biggest Loser Forget Survivor and The Amazing Race and all the other reality shows that feature generally good-looking, generally physically fit people running around doing generally silly things. In our nation of overstuffed couch potatoes, The Biggest Loser hits closer to real reality by combining the TV genre's outlandishness and greed with the more mundane goal of shedding unwanted pounds. With its $250,000 grand prize and dramatic stories of weight loss, the show is a natural for the nation's chubby, if not huddled, masses yearning to breathe free without having to unbutton their pants after a meal. More than 100,000 people applied to be on the show's fourth season, now in production, and more than 5 million have had their diets assessed on the show's biggestloserclub.com But while the message of the show is inspiring, it is also unrealistic. The Biggest Loser achieves rapid transformations--contestants often drop more than 20 lbs. in a week--through calorie restriction, endless exercise and no small amount of dehydration that occurs behind the scenes. Ryan Benson, 38, an actor who works for a DVD distributor in Los Angeles, lost 122 lbs. to win the first season in January 2005 but says he regained 32 lbs. within five days simply by drinking water. Matt Hoover, 31, a motivational speaker based in Seattle, had a 15-lb. rebound within a day of winning Season 2. Last season's runner-up, Kai Hibbard, 28, an aerobics instructor in Alaska who says she spent the night before her final weigh-in hopping in and out of a sauna for six hours, consumed only sugar-free Jell-O for several days and wolfed down asparagus, which is a natural diuretic. "It's amazing the things you learn in a weight-loss competition," she says. The show tries to prevent unhealthy behavior by making contestants keep food journals (to make sure they're not starving themselves) and threatening penalties if tests show they are too dehydrated (although an executive producer says no violations have been uncovered yet). But like the $55 billion U.S. diet industry, The Biggest Loser places the bulk of its emphasis on shedding pounds rather than maintaining the loss. After all, a show called The Biggest Maintainer wouldn't have nearly the same zing. Contestants learn how to make healthy choices, but total-immersion exercise accounts for most of the weight loss. And it's not as hard to work out for four or more hours a day when urged on by professional trainers. It's also easier to resist high-calorie temptations when the cameras are rolling. Two and a half years after Benson's final weigh-in at 208 lbs., the new dad has slipped out of the spotlight and into old habits. "No one sees me get an apple pie in the drive-through," says Benson, whose weight now hovers at around 300 lbs. Still, by keeping those last 30 lbs. off for more than a year, he's something of a rarity. The National Weight Control Registry, which tracks the habits of some 5,000 successful maintainers, cites a study showing only a fifth of dieters with a history of obesity sustain a loss of 10% of their body weight for a year or more. "The best predictor of the ones who are not going to regain are the ones who are doing the most physical activity," says Dr. Holly Wyatt, an obesity expert at the University of Colorado. She says most registrants exercise, on average, at least an hour a day. Who has time for that? Kelly Minner, for one. The first-season runner-up dropped from 242 lbs. to 163 lbs. by the finale and now weighs 140 lbs. A school administrator in Bethlehem, Pa., Minner, 31, says she works out from one to four hours a day, six days a week. She exercises while watching TV--and did so throughout our phone interview. For motivation, she keeps a souvenir from the show in her office: a life-size photo of her old fat self. Other winners share this strategy. Hoover, who has gained 53 lbs. since November 2005, sees his cardboard cutout every day in his garage. Last season's winner, Erik Chopin, 37, who owns a deli in North Babylon, N.Y., and since December has put on 22 of the 214 lbs. he lost, keeps a photo on his fridge taken when he weighed 407 lbs. The Biggest Loser added a more realistic component last season when 36 of its 50 contestants competed from home sans trainer. "They really got none of the bells and whistles," says the show's physician, Dr. Robert Huizenga. Well, almost none: they were still eligible to be tapped for the main show, and the at-home winner got $50,000. If the producers proceed with plans for a reunion episode this fall, it will be interesting to see how the contestants have fared since they went off camera and stopped racing for a cash reward.
deeno
on 6/11/07 4:08 am - Kokomo, IN
Topic: RE: New Challenge
I feel a little renewed with my "tool adjustment" and I've lost 2 pounds since 5/25. I'm still a slow loser, but at least I'm a loser again. Starting on June 16 to August 16 is about 8 weeks. I weighed in today at 211. I'd also like to see 199 by August 16, too. Wow, under 200 pounds....what a dream, right? Let's do it, Pam!! Deeno
deeno
on 6/11/07 4:05 am - Kokomo, IN
Topic: sclerotherapy update
Hi July Family Well, without a doubt, I am feeling physical restriction when eating. Today I ate the meaty part of a Lean Cuisine, no rice, and couldn't keep it all down. I'm not sure if I am feeling full, but I'm definately feeling something. My head keeps telling me "you should try to eat more protein" or "you need a snack because you haven't eaten in a while"--not so much because I feel hungry, but b/c I THINK I should be hungrier. So, so far so good. A change has definately happened, and it is what I expected. I feel very positive about this, and I'll keep on trying. I've lost 2 pounds so far, and I'm going to try not to weigh myself until Friday morning--I'm an obsessive daily weigher, so it will be a challenge for me. Read my full post on the revisions forum if you're interested. Thanks to my July family for your continued support. Deeno
IrishIze
on 6/7/07 3:40 am - NJ
Topic: RE: Pain after eating (Out almost 3 years)
I'm glad you had the CAT scan done - it could be an ulcer. I had one early on after my surgery and it was the same - pain after eating and nausea. Hope it's better soon...please let us know how you make out. Hugs, Nancy
(deactivated member)
on 6/6/07 2:35 am - 'Burbs of St. Louis, MO
Topic: RE: my sclerotherapy experience
Diana, I'm glad that things went well for you. I'm excited to see what kind of progress you make. I don't know if my stoma is larger or how much my pouch has expanded, but I do know that I am certainly lacking in the self-control department. But there's no surgery to fix that! I was reading a post on the post-op pregnancy board (I go there to check in with people I was TTC with...and they're all finally PG), and a girl from the Missouri board was on there (Michelle, you might remember MARSHA). Anyway, Marsha continues to blame everything else for her weight gain, but NEVER says "Hey, I should cut back." A couple of years ago, she a had a scope that said everything was normal. She claims a scope the other day revealed that her pouch has doubled in size. I don't know...I kind of think she's either a hypochondriac, a pathological liar, or suffers from that Munchausen illness. ANYWAY, her post kind of ticked me off, because she NEVER EVER tries to change her ways...just wants to blame it on surgery failure. My tool still works...I get full on a sandwich, sick on certain foods, etc. I just have a tough time controlling my compulsive habits. And honestly, I think that's the case with the majority of us. ANYWAY, D, I know that you've tried unsuccessfully to take control and that this procedure might give you the boost that you need. I'd be curious to know whether a lot of it is mind-over matter (you know, spend the money, control the brain), or if it's the physical feeling of being so stuffed you can't stand to put any more in. Keep us updated! And best wishes on your size 14 journey! Pamela
jenniferwheeler
on 6/5/07 4:02 am - PA
Topic: Pain after eating (Out almost 3 years)
I was wondering if anyone else ever had very very bad pain after eating? I had my surg. on 7/7/04 and have never had any problems until now. I am getting pain and I feel like I want to vomit after I eat. What could this be? I alreday went to the Dr.'s and had a Cat Scan but I did not hear back from him yet... Any help would be great!!!
scholarmama
on 5/30/07 11:39 am - Hemet, CA
Topic: RE: New Challenge
I am up for the challenge... I am at 196, I would like to see 15 lbs gone by the time school starts. I will try to help with posting to keep us all on track.
AngelFlyingHappy
on 5/30/07 7:23 am - Oxnard, CA
Topic: RE: my sclerotherapy experience
Diana: Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I too think I have an enlarged stoma. I want to inquire about this procedure as well. I'm not sure how to say it though! ha ha! I like Nancy, look forward to hearing how your progress goes. Please keep us posted. Michelle
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