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Walk through your kitchen with a trash bag in hand. Load in everything with carbs... from rice to pancake mix to any candy, cookies... ANYTHING that you aren't supposed to have.
If you feel bad about throwing it away.. give it away ... do ANYTHING you have to do to get it out of your reach and DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS! This is YOUR health we're talking about.
You already know you'll have 1 uncomfortable week of detox. . some headaches, cravings. Substitute where possible... like... a handful of macadamias for crunchies or an ounce of cream cheese to give the illusion of sweet.
Now.. for the next 3 weeks, cook and buy what is on your diet. If anyone in the house complains, tell them to go to Mickey D's. They won't starve, trust me... but you will DIE if you don't get the carbs out of you (look at it that way). If your numbers aren't low enough yet that you can't be off Metformin, then go drastic. It takes about 21 days to form a "habit".. less if you have an addictive personality (like I do). If it weren't diet and exercise, I could be addicted to food or drugs... I figure, the diet and exercise is the least of all of those evils ;) .
The "not off metformin" thing really set off alarms in my head.
Where are your numbers first thing in the morning?
There used to be a BUNCH of us here a few years ago. I started my journey in 2008, and pretty well stayed on track because of the support of the folks here. One thing I've learned, weight has a direct effect on more than just physical health, but emotional health as well...
I ended up getting married and lazy (well... lazy when it comes to me). I got very busy with taking care of him and doing things for his adult children and ended up putting some weight back on but recently I made the decision to ditch everything else in favor of taking care of myself and have slowly lost 32 of the regain since December.
Originally I lost like 130 lbs by going low carb, exercising and paying attention to ME. This incuded: getting a shrink, getting a tan and a mani and pedi regularly. I guess the bottom line is that we need to feel we are WORTH it!
Also, I did stop taking insulin. I'm guessing that at least 50 lbs of what I had on me was directly related to insulin injections.... and the first 100 fell off in like.. ooh.. a few months.. maybe 4 or 5. Going low carb has reduced my weight dramatically... given me bursts of energy like you wouldn't believe.. controlled my sugar from the 3rd day on (and I was up around 330 at the time). Even with all of the meat and eggs I eat.. my cholesterol has dropped about 350 pts... triglycerides went from 650 (off the chart) to normal.
I will always say that you have to do what works for YOU! I happen to be very carb sensitive. Have you a good idea by now of what works and what doesn't for you?
Thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately around me is nowhere that I can afford as far as healthcare.
After a lot of the advice I have been given, I started excercising Monday. I started out on the treadmill (5 Min @ 2MPH, 5 Min @ 2.5MPH, and 5 Min @ 3MPH). I did it fine and I sweated my butt off. Then I proceeded to do some weight lifting (assisted weight machines) and managed to do pretty well on those. After the weights, I did another round of Treadmill and was done for the first day.
The rest of the days were similar except for Friday, which we called out light workout day. We also added swimming on M,W,F.
I truly think the hardest part now is the dieting. I'm really enjoying the working out (I may be a big person but I have always loved being active) but the dieiting is what is the tough part. For example, I know it sounds stupid but I am addicted to Mt. Dew. I have drank it my entire life and up til this diet started, I drank at least 3-4 two liters a week. I'm trying to limit myself to 1-20 ounce a week and even that is tough.
We have gone online to look for healtheir recipes and we have started eating some of those. Problem is that a lot of these recipes cost us more than the food we usualy eat. Our normal food budget for a week is usually about 30-40 dollars but after this week, it was 75. So we gotta figure out a way of eating healthy for way less. This only included Dinner. No lunches or breakfasts which I know we are supposed to be eating.
Can I say one thing up front?
Whether you are 400 lbs or 140 lbs, don't expect to begin any serious regime without at least SOME discomfort... so... keep it low impact for now. Water = excellent. Walking = excellent. You have a membership, so get on a treadmill and sweat your arse off (literally). Take it slow, grasshopper! One must crawl before walking and walk before running. You'll know when it's time to pick up the pace.
From my reading and personal experience I can honestly say that weight loss is 90% diet. The word
"diet" here does not mean "deprivation" either. It simply means a style of eating. I go low carb... as close to zero as possible at all times. My reason is that through this I have been able to ditch insulin which of course pushed my weight loss. No, I'm not talking 20 lbs. The first 100 lbs FELL off of me eating this way. After the first.. oooh.. 70 or so, I got a membership to the gym. At 330, I wasn't walking very well... at 260 (when I began), I still wasn't breathing very well but man I wanted it. I didn't care who was looking and commenting on my huffing and puffing, I just kept banging away on that treadmill until I was able to walk up hill and at a good, strong pace for an hour.
I don't exercise for my weight. I exercise for my heart and lungs. I lift weights for other vain reasons though ;). (C'mon.. we'll admit it.. it's not ALL about health).
What worries me is your lack of proper healthcare. Is there a clinic that works on a sliding scale basis near you? The reason I ask is that you really should have your heart/lungs checked so you know where you stand and what you are capable of. Where's your blood sugar? Liver? Kidney function?
Ok... so I ignored my own advice and ditched the insulin AMA, but I was at a crossroads. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired so one day my day began with a simple prayer. I'd thrown away the insulin and asked God to either take this out of me or take me and get it over with. Laying on the couch waiting to die was NOT what I called a "quality" life. That is a stupid move for someone who wants to live... it just so happened that my body reacted violently to the change... I was lucky. I pissed my doctor off but at the same time pleasantly surprised him.
What I will say is that no matter what the doctor says, it's YOUR BODY. You can be the only one who best determines how to care for it, but a doctor can help you determine how far you can go safely.
I wish both of you all the best in your journey! No one knows the freedom of being active and healthy more than a person who has suffered under the burden of obesity. I found that freedom as well as many of us around here... and we want you here with us!
God be with you!
Lori
I think water exercise is great for someone of a larger stature becasue there is no impact on the joints and water exercise burns a lot of calories because it involves total body movement, other then this I would recomend just moving your body, take extra steps when ever you can, but no need to be a crazy man when it comes to exercise, just move your body everyday! As you get lighter and lighter you will be able to add more rigorous exercises to your routine, for now I think that the water is a great place to start!
I currently am in school to become certified as a holistic health coach ( I will start working with clients this Nov) and hope to one day open a health and wellness center specializing in weight loss, through detox and healthy living, I personally have released 115 lb's through nutrition and exercise (and still going), at my heaviest I weighed 322 lb's.
One last word for you is to try and focus on eating healthy and not losing the weight, eat more fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains, stay away from packaged diet food's and try and stick to food that comes from nature, if you start to nourish your body with these foods the toxic fat will release, I have seen it happen in my own life and the lives of many other's on this same journey, ditch the "diet" mentality and embrace a healthy lifestyle.
Blessings to you and your girlfriend as you embrace this new life!
Good luck!

Michelle Hendrickson Holistic Health Coach http://www.gracioushealth.net
The last time I was weighed was over a year ago and back then, I was 425. I have probably gotten heavier since. We bought a scale but it only goes up to 400. The one at the YMCA only goes up to 350. Short of paying a doctor, I seem to have no other options as how to find out my weight. Does anyone know of any way other than the bathtub trick to do so?
What are some recommended excercises or warm-ups for someone my size? I got a membership to the local YMCA and they have a weight room and a fitness room plus a pool. What are some recommended excercises?
The whole problem with the doctor is that I do not have my own doctor. I do not have any insurance and I already owe the hospital thousands of dollars. I make minimum wage at 25 hours a week. I barely make enough to survive off of, let alone enough to pay a doctor.
As a sample of what I have been doing...
We decided this on Wednesday of last week. We officialy started it yesterday but Sunday, I started a routine with a game given to me. It is the UFC trainer game. I know, it's probably stupid example but I was able to do some excercises from that. Granted, two days later I am sore but I managed to do most of the beginner activities (For about 1 1/2 hours). Yesterday, we went swimming and I did some minor water excercises and felt fine afterwards.
Any other opinions or suggestions are very welcomed. This is gonna be hard and I have been researching like crazy but it seems like there is nothing for people at my weight. I could really use some expertise on the subject.

Kathy Draper
Open RNY 2-6-98
130+ gone!
Morbidly obese then... Certified personal trainer and nutrition coach now!
Certified Personal Trainer, NASM-CPT, Pn1 Certified Nutrition Coach