renewedhope

I am staying on plan today because I want to make lifestyle changes, and I need consistantcy to do that!

My scales seem to be stuck!! You ladies are doing great!! Keep it up!!

No it didn't felicia. I actually agree with you 100%. The point the man on Good Morning America was making is that these are all commercialized diets. He reccomended these 5 things instead of following any diet. For me, the results showed what a difficult time our culture has with weight management. I didn't see that any group really excelled. if you look at those 5 steps it's really a combination of all 3 eating plans. Even more than that, for me it seems to get back to the basics of being healthy and eating well. I may be going too far with my opinions on this thread. This is a low carb support group. I don't want to bash low carb in any way. Low carb has served me well. I just find the article interesting as I am choosing a new direction in my eating. I am NOT saying that low carb is not ok. We should all do what works and supoprt each other in that!!

OK, I watched the info on the new study. I watched it on Good Morning America. They compared Low Carb, Low Fat, and Mediterranean. They followed 322 obese people. They had dieticians assist them. The cafeteria's at their work places prepared "allowed" foods, etc. With all of this support here were the totals.... The average dieter lost the following over 2 YEARS!! Low Carb - 12 pounds Mediterranean - 10 pounds Low Fat - 7 pounds Low carb won, if there is a winner really. For me, this supports the difficulty America is having with weight management. 12 pounds in 2 years is hardly stellar. I am feeling even more blessed that I have my band to help me with whatever "plan" I am on. There was a Dr (i think) Tim Johnson on discussing the results. He said that he believes we should do some of all of the "diets". He said that if we follow the following 5 "rules" we will lose weight and be healthy. 1. Cut down on saturated and transfats (dairy products and marbled meats) 2. Cut down on refined carbs (sugar and desserts) Consume some good carbs) 3. Count calories (It is still calories in vs calories out) 4. Focus on plant foods. (they are lower in calories and high n nutrition) 5. Exercise He really stressed that we have got to get moving. He said that we should follow a diet that we can do long term. So my friends....The above is my new plan.... This is what I was thinking that I have just had trouble putting into words. Thank you Mr Johnson for doing it for me. So its high Protein, low fat, no processed or refined carbs, count calories, eat plant foods and EXERCISE!! Sounds alot like our ancestors ate. I'll call it Eating Back to the basics at Amy's House.

Orange, I am reading that same book right now. It is VERY interesting. I want to see God that way!! I am about half way through.

Thanks Skinnie. I am at the opint in this whole journey where my focus is brginning to shift from "how am I going to lose all this weight" to "how am I going to eat and what am I going to feed my family from now on?" There is a different mindset, and both are necessary at different times. I have about 25 pounds to lose before PS and then only 15 to goal, so I am trying to switch to a lifestyle of eating healthy. I will still make Protein my priority and I will eat healthy veggies and fruits. Only whole grains and very little bread. If it doesn't work I can always go back to strict low carb. I am really nervous about this decision. I fear cravings and weight gain, but I think, like you said minnie, that if I stick with healthy choices then I will be ok. I am not going anywhere!! You guys rock!!

Way to go mamato. For me, week 3 is definately harder. I am going to do day 2 tonight. We have been gone all day. Wednesday is our parent visit day for our foster kids. We let at 8 this morning for visits and got home after 3. The kiddos are exhausted and grumpy, so I will wait until they go to bed!! Everyone is doing sooo good!! Keep it up!!!!

Thanks everyone. Hollyberries, you are right. I am not switching to low Protein, low fat. I will still eat high protein and I will still limit carbs, but I plan to add good fruits, some grains, Kashi Cereal (can't wait to try it). Protein is definately needed to build muscle. Like I said, I do believe in the low carb concept, but since I increased my exercise I have no energy. Now that I found out that I may be burning some muscle, I am convinced that my body needs some carbs. While deciding what to do I have pretty much eaten crap. Really good, huh? The bad carbs I have eaten are not good, but I have t say I have more energy. I didn't realize how drained I was. This is because I need some carbs. Healthy ones. I hope this makes sense. So I guess it's not really that I am not eating low carb, but that I am adding some carbs to my low carb diet???? Something like South Beach or Sugar Busters. Thanks for the support!! You guys are the best!!

OK, I am making a change in my eating. I have been mulling this over for several days. I thought I could low carb right to my goal, but I don't think that is going to be possible. I LOVE low carb. I like being able to eat the fat, meat and cheese. Here's the problem. I went to the doctor this week and I am losing muscle, not fat. The only thing I have changed is the amount of exercise I am doing. It looks like I need more carbs to sustain the increase in physical activity. DH has been worried about this with me for awhile, but I refused to see it. I think it is time for me to look at how I plan to eat for the rest of my life. Low carb has been my rock in losing this weight, and to be honest I am very scared of adding carbs. I am so afraid to gaining it back. Here is my plan...I am going to eat whole unprocessed foods. I am going to add back fruits and whole grains. I am also going to cut back on saturated fats. This should mean that I don't take part in this thread with yall, but unless you kick me out I am sticking around. I find such good support here and would miss you all terribly. So......As of today I am no longer low carbing it. However, I do still believe in low carb. It is just time for me to modify. I need to shake things up a it. And....I will still be here rooting all of you on!!!

Happy birthday to you!!!!! You are definately a star. i hope you get an unfill and are felling MUCH better soon. Amy

WAY TO GO GEORGIA!!!!! I am so proud of you for doing this. It is really hard to get started, but you have started. Do what you can without hurting yourself. It will get better. Do week 1 as long as you need to before moving to week 2. Can't wait to hear how it goes on Thursday!!

Thanks Salsa! That really supports what I have been thinking. In fact, I was just talking to DH. He thinks that I don't eat as much as I thnk I do. He is concerned that my calories aren't enough to support my exercise. I do not plan to do low carb from now on, but thought I would do it until I am at goal. DH was saying that I may have reached a point the my body doesn't need such an "unbalanced" plan. As far as how I want to eat for life...I want to eat whole, unprocessed foods. I want to add back healthy fruits and veggies, and whole grain pastas. I have always exercised some and have a very muscular frame, however, since I recently increased my exercise and started running I seem to lack energy. I think I need more carbs to support the extra exercise. I am actually starting to enjoy running so stopping that is absolutely not an option. I just don't want to stop low carb and stop losing, but I certainly don't want to lose muscle either. The progress you have made is awesome. I really value the opinion of all you ladies who have been so successful. Yesterday I was kinda freakin out. I freaked out all the way to the hot fudge sundae I ate. Now that was helpful wasn't it. Now that I have calmed down I do realize that I just need to tweak things to keep losing well. That fear of going backwards creeps in every so often. I am going to low carb it until I get well into ketosis again (my sundae knocked me out) and then I am going to add back healthy carbs and go from there.

Here's a link to the thread for the current challenge. Come join us! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/general-lap-band-support/67738-labor-day-weight-loss-challenge-lets-lose-some-weight.html

jjsmiles, yes that is the machine that my doc has. I was just thinking also, I usually go to the doctor in the morning as well, but my appointment yesterday was at 4:15 in the afternoon. When I go in the morning I have not run yet or eaten anything. Yesterday I had just drank a protein shake and prior to that run 2 miles, so that has to make a difference. Also in the past 3 weeks I have had a stomach virus, TOM, and increased exercise. I have decided that I am going to log my food, but other than that I'm not going to make any other changes. I'm just going to wait and see.

Holly, you have probably just saved my low carb career. :confused_smile: I have had a really hard day. Went to the doctor. Somehow I am losing muscle since starting to exercise. I won't bore you with all the details, but I was even sitting here wondering if I should lay off low carb for awhile. I don't think I am eating enough to support the exercise that I am doing.... Then...I clicked on the recipe link. That Enchilada bake looks wonderful!!!There are sooooo may really good looking recipes on that site.. I will be using it to create my next sopping list. I am going to keep low carbing and just see if I can add a few good carbs to help me continue to burn fat while exrcising!! Thanks again!

I just downloaded the fre trial of diet power. It looks really neat. now I just have to figure it out. I will begin logging my food in the morning. I am really thinking about stopping low carb and just eating very healthy and balanced. Low carb has always worked well for me in the past, but you know, my body is changing. I am getting closer to goal, and I may not need such an "unbalanced" diet. Decisions, decisions.

Thanks Karey! My doc does not have a nutritionist. In fact, my insurance didn't require it because I did a weight management program through the insurance company. I have a bodybugg. I need to get it back out. It will keep up with % of protein as well. I am just not good at logging, but obviously I need to get good at it. When I go for visits my doc has always commented that all of my weight loss is either water or fat. never muscle. This is the first time I have lost any muscle, much less 3 pounds. During the last 3weeks I have increased exercise, had a really bad stomach virus, and TOM came to visit. I wonder if all fo this just has my body a little out of whack. I'm thinking I might start logging my food in my bodybugg program and contiue what I have been doing, but make sure i get plenty of protein and just see what happens.

mcgreen, you are too funny. Chasing all these kids is probably helping to get the fat off more than I know!!

The 3 weeks prior to the past 3 weeks i lost 9 pounds. However, I tend to lose in spurts. During this past 3 weeks where I have only lost 3 pounds I have had a stomach virus and TOM, so that may be all it is. When I weigh I take off socks and shoes and stand on a metal surface. The machine reads my BMI, tells how much more I need to lose, etc. I know it is not fail proof, but it has always showed that I lost fat or fluid not muscle. Muscle loss is just not acceptable to me. i am pretty concerned about this. Not exercising is not an option for me either. Minpin, according to your doctor I should be increasing my exercise at this point. I am over halfway. I am wondering if I need to quit doing low carb. BUT.... low carb has always worked well for me in the past. Maybe i jsut need to chill out, change nothing, and see if all levels out. I may be freaking over nothing.

Can you say HARD!! Man week 3 really seems to have stepped it up. The man who talks at the beginning said that they increase the BPM of the songs by 2 on week 3. So....I increased my speeds by 2. I am walking at 3.7 and running at 5.2. The 3 minute runs are hard, but I ran and made it through!!!! Here's the crazy part. I don't know where my brain was when the cool down tones played because I sooo didn't hear them. I ended up running the last 4 1/2 minutes. I thought I would die. I didn't think the cool down would ever start. Then the music stopped all together. It was done. I'm such a goob. I went to the doctor today. I got a slight fill of only .1cc. Anyway, I began the couch to 5k 3 weeks ago. In the 3 weeks prior to starting it I lost 9 pounds (all fat). In the last 3 weeks I have lost 3 pounds (all muscle). This is so not good. I eat low carb. I'm thinking witht he increase exercise I need to add more healthy carbs and more protein. What do you guys think??

Very good insight Jacquie. I went to the Dr today and got a .1cc fill. I had only lost 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks. The 3 weeks prior I lost 9 pounds, so my weight loss has really slowed. Here's the deal.. According to her scales the 3 pounds I lost was lean weight not fat. 3 weeks ago i really stepped up my exercise. I'm doing low carb. I don't eat many carbs at all. I'm thinking I need to increase my carbs and eat more protein. Most of what I eat is protein, but I just don't eat much at all. I never thought I wouldn't eat enough to lose weight. Man oh man. You ladies are the pros and have been at it along time. What do yall think??

Bloo - when I went to my last Dr appointment she told me that I am now overweight not obese. I never thought I would be sooo proud to be overweight. I share your joy!! It is a huge accomplishment!! Ok, I just went to the Sonic to get my daily Route 44 unsweet tea. The lady is the truck beside me was a girl I went to school with. She is probably a size 4 and very pretty. I looked over to see her inhaling a cheeseburger, fries and a drink (she was on her lunch break I'm sure). I am so ashamed of my initial response. I was sitting there thinking why can she eat that and be so thin. I was jealous. For that second I wanted a cheeseburger, fries and a coke. i was feeling sorry for me. Here I am after losing 80 pounds feeling sorry for myself that I can't eat something so unhealthy. Then I thought about how far I have come. Skinny or fat those foods are very unhealthy, and my desire is to be healthy. Wow, I have come a long way in my eating habits. I do make better choices.. But....I still have a long way to go with the emotional part of having been obese and unhealthy for so long. I am still learning to accept myself as the not obese, beautiful, healthy lady that I have become through taking control of my life and taking responsibility for my choices. So... I proudly left the Sonic with my daily Route 44 unsweet tea. :cursing:

Ok, I just went to the Sonic to get my daily Route 44 unsweet tea. The lady is the truck beside me was a girl I went to school with. She is probably a size 4 and very pretty. I looked over to see her inhaling a cheeseburger, fries and a drink (she was on her lunch break I'm sure). I am so ashamed of my initial response. I was sitting there thinking why can she eat that and be so thin. I was jealous. For that second I wanted a cheeseburger, fries and a coke. i was feeling sorry for me. Here I am after losing 80 pounds feeling sorry for myself that I can't eat something so unhealthy. Then I thought about how far I have come. Skinny or fat those foods are very unhealthy, and my desire is to be healthy. Wow, I have come a long way in my eating habits. I do make better choices.. But....I still have a long way to go with the emotional part of having been obese and unhealthy for so long. I am still learning to accept myself as the not obese, beautiful, healthy lady that I have become through taking control of my life and taking responsibility for my choices. So... I proudly left the Sonic with my daily Route 44 unsweet tea. :cursing:

OK, I am turning over a new leaf!! I need yall's help. I am only going to check my ketones once and weigh once each day. I have got to quit obsessing and start living!! I am so consumed with what I weigh each day!! On another note....I am ticked off. I bought this turkey leg at our local grocery store. I checked total carbs and it said 0. I have been eating on it for 2 days. Really yummy dipped in my spinach dip. Anyway, I was telling DH this morning that I need to go get another on because it is a really good way to get my protein in without carbs, and it tastes oh so yummy. He asked if I was sure there were no carbs. no brown sugar, ect. I pulled it out to show him the nutritional values. Total carbs - 0. Sugar - 6. How can that be. Sugars are carbs. It can't be both. I didn't even look at the sugar when I saw that it was 0 carbs. Yes it has sugar in it. That is why it tastes soooo yummy. I am really ticked. I only had trace ketones this morning. Between my werther's and my mislabeled turkey leg I know why!! ARGHH!!

I'm staying on plan today because I love this new me!! I love how I look and feel. I want to finish what I have started!!