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Hello Barbara,
I was exploring your website and indeed, was very impressed with all you
have achieved and done for yourself. It is good mentorship for the rest
of us who have also been struggling with weight issues and have
undergone bariatric surgery in the hopes of creating a drastic change in
our food intake.
I had my surgery 5 months ago; I am a
diabetic, 5'1" and weighed 209 pounds. Now, five months later, I weigh
almost 157 and feel and look much better. However, I find the weight
loss has virtually stopped and someone told me it was due to the fact
that diabetics do not lose as much as others.
I am 54 years old, not very active but not
inactive either. Due to a bad leg, I have not been able to join a
fitness class. Depending on how active I get, whether it is cleaning up
at home, running around doing errands, or simply doing some dancing at
home, that is the extent of my exercise.
I only have a cup of cornflakes with
skimmed milk in the morning for breakfast and sometimes after dinner for
dessert too. I might also have a slice of multigrain toast with half a
slice of cheese with tomatoes. For lunch and dinner I have a bowl or two
of chicken corn soup with bits of chicken in it. Here and there I pick
at a piece of low fat cheese and a bite of an omelet. I have also taken
a handful of nuts on occasion. I also have a bottle of Fuze vitamin
drink along with my vitamins. My calorie intake does not exceed 1200,
although sometimes it goes up to 1400 calories. I am trying to keep it
to 800-900 calories and can only do that if I avoid anything in the
evenings. I am not sure if this is the correct diet for me, so anything
you can suggest would be very helpful!
I find my weight loss has almost come to a
halt. I know there is something more I can do and was wondering if you
could help with some tips on how I can expedite the weight loss.
Although I have lost 52 pounds, I do want to lose another 30 to reach my
goal and not sure what I am doing wrong to have slowed the process.
Your assistance and inspiration would be
great! I eagerly await your response.
Please also let me know if you have any
plans of visiting Toronto, Ontario in the near future? I would like to
attend your sessions
Tess Hamid
thamid@rogers.com
Dear Tess,
You bring up a lot of issues that I can address. So I will just approach
them by topic:
1. You said you had heard that
diabetics do not lose as much weight after surgery as those who don’t
have diabetes. I have not heard that diabetics
don’t lose as much weight. That may be true but I have not heard that.
I would be very interested to hear from other readers that are or were
diabetics and have had surgery.
2. You describe what you are eating.
I first wonder how you determined how many calories you are eating.
Have you journaled and written down everything that you put in your
mouth? For instance, are you counting the calories in your Fuze drink?
Depending upon which drink you consume, a bottle could be 0 calories to
200 calories. Unless you weigh and measure, your calorie count could be
as much as 25% off.
3. Where is your protein? You should
be getting in 60 to 80 grams of protein and I don’t see it in what you
have reported. You could eat some very low calorie protein such as
broiled fish or grilled chicken or you could try a protein drink. But
remember to count everything.
4. You need more variety in your
diet. If you eat the same thing day in and day out, your will lose less
weight. Your body naturally looks for ways to conserve energy. If your
body becomes so efficient at burning calories from the same food every
day, it will burn fewer calories. You need variety.
5. You haven’t mentioned anything
about drinking water. Be sure that you include 64 ounces of water in
your diet.
6. You definitely need to exercise.
Even with a bad knee, there are things that you can do for exercise.
Try water aerobics, or try the “Sit and Be Fit” type of exercises. Try
lifting hand weights to build up your muscle mass so that you will
increase your metabolism. Exercise is very important. You have a narrow
window of opportunity in order to lose weight. Your weight loss will
never be as easy as it is during your first year. But exercise is a key
to taking advantage of that window.
7. You are not that far away from
your goal weight; therefore, weight loss will be slower. Your Body Mass
Index has crossed over the obese limit and you are in the overweight
category right now. The additional 30 pounds is a good goal because that
will put you into the normal weight range. But these last pounds will
be more difficult.
Everything that I am suggesting is what I
teach in my Back on Track Program Internet Mentoring
http://www.backontrackwithbarbara.com/ . The program is not only for
those who have started to regain weight but for those who aren’t losing
enough weight. Plus you have access to me to guide you every step of the
way.
I hope these observations will help you to
move faster along your journey. I would love to hear from other
diabetics and if they have been told that diabetics lose weight more
slowly. Also, if I have skipped anything in my haste to send out this
newsletter, please let me know. Email me at
Barbara@WLScenter.com.
And I have no plans to come to Toronto at
the moment, but would just love to!!
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