WebMD had an article about a new fad diet, the Morning Banana Diet and its popularity. In fact it is so popular in Japan that there is a banana shortage. For the diet, you eat bananas and drink lukewarm water for breakfast and nothing else.  Then you can eat anything you want for lunch and dinner. No eating after 8:00 PM.  There is no exercise required.

This reminds me so much of all of the fad diets that I have been on.  Eat a magic food, followed by eating anything you want and no exercise, how prefect is that?  Remember the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet and the pineapple diet? Could there be a magic food such as bananas that holds the key to weight loss success? The answer is no. Yet I would blindly follow those diets, lose weight and then eventually regain the weight and more.

We are the product of calories in versus calories used, plain and simple. I know that, but when I heard about this diet, I was intrigued.  It is so easy to fall into old patterns.

If you do want to read the article, I hope it is only for amusement and not because you want to follow the diet. At any rate, you can find it here.

USA Today carried an interesting article about the value of walking.  While we are encouraged to walk 10,000 steps per day, it takes a lot of steps to burn off calories. If you overindulged this Thanksgiving, consider the following.  It might help you to be more careful during the rest of the holiday season!

A mile is about 2,000 to 2,500 steps depending on your stride. Calories are based upon someone who weighs 150 to 165 pounds.

Adapted from Bonnie Jortberg, co-author of The Step Diet Book

I want to thank Sue Failer for submitting her success story. Here is her story:

Barbara mentioned that she is in dire need of success stories and even if one had been already been submitted, to think about resubmitting a story written from a different perspective.  So, that is what I am doing…

I am almost 3 years post surgery and had the roux-n-y open procedure.  I lost an initial 135 lbs but have put on 5 since the introduction of my boyfriend living with me.  Even though 5 lbs doesn't seem like a big deal, the warning bells are going off and I see now in my 3rd year out of surgery evidence that  my eating disorder has again reared its ugly head.  I have come to terms with the fact that I am a food addict and know that I will always bear this addiction for the rest of my life.  I also know that there are certain things I have to do in order to continue to be successful.  One of them is to make it to the gym 5 days per week and to do something physical the days I don't go.  I have discovered that exercise for me creates the accountability I so need.  Another thing I realize is that I cannot "graze" and if I do, I will consume more calories than what my body needs. I make time daily to prepare my meals and will even be late to work in order to get my meals made.    

I have since realized too, that I need to stay away from sugar.  Completely. No if's and's or but's about it.   Consuming sugar seems to be like a drug for me and I completely lose focus, willpower and direction.  Another important thing that I have learned is that I need to utilize the wonderful tool that the surgery has given me…namely portion control.  I need to never push the envelope and eat that one last bite--I have learned that whatever is on my plate, I will eat.  So I need to pre-measure my food in order to stick to the portion control. 

The surgery is life-changing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  In retrospect, the surgery was the easy part.  Now, comes the true challenge of maintaining the weight loss. I encourage everyone to figure out what will keep them successful and to incorporate whatever accountability they need in their lives.  I frequently look at my before pictures to remind myself of where I came from and to continue to keep myself on the right path.

Sue Failer LICSW
After Hours Lead Clinician
800-241-4057  Ext 3264
Susan.Failer@cigna.com

Congratulations Sue

“Reprinted from Barbara Thompson’s free e-newsletter featuring helpful information and research material to help patients succeed following weight loss surgery.
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