<p>Dadguy, the good thing is with healthy eating and exercise, you should begin to feel more energy. Maybe not right now, but it will happen. And 5+ pounds a month is huge! If you keep losing at that rate, you’ll be buff this time next year. 
If you think about it, the battle is similar to any treatment for a chronic disease- it won’t be done in a week, or a month, but you can look forward to feeling much better in the future. Congratulations on your progress so far.</p>
<p>Anybody follow “the Biggest loser” TV show? I find it inspiring to see how determined these people are to meet their goals.</p>
<p>Some of the posts on this thread make me sick. And from people who are adults and are raising their college aged kids to think like this as well!</p>
<p>As a 19 year old with many health issues that cause me to be 70 pounds overweight, it’s just depressing. I have celiac disease, am going through diagnostics for chronic fatigue syndrome or possibly some other autoimmune disease, am insulin resistant, have PCOS, and have a genetic disposition for obesity. I gained 50 pounds when I was 12 years old and no doctor could figure out why- considering I was playing 2 sports concurrently (tae kwon do and either basketball or softball) the entire year or training for the next season. I am allergic to dairy and sensitive to sugar and the hormones in meat and eggs so am effectively vegetarian during the year, in addition to not being able to eat anything that has so much as been cooked on the same surface as something with wheat- which is almost everything. Half the time I CAN’T eat because I’m so sick. Yet I still walk at least 3 miles a day, average climbing about 400 stairs a day, and work out in my room. It’s still taken me 5 months to lose 15 pounds. I have to count EVERY calorie that goes into my mouth and because my intestines are so damaged from celiac (which I was just diagnosed with), I have to take 7 vitamins just to keep going because I’m so deficient and I’m in the doctor’s office practically every other week for more blood tests, sleep studies, and more pills.</p>
<p>And through all of this, I get dirty looks every time fries from McDonalds (which is often the ONLY thing I can eat in a foodcourt since most things- including salad dressings- have either gluten or dairy in them) and have people lean out their window and scream “cow” at me while I’m on my daily walk into town to get fresh veggies since my school cannot fully accommodate my dietary needs since they’re so specific. </p>
<p>I dream of a day where I can eat a cheeseburger and large fries with a large milkshake and not gain 5 pound the next day from it (or, you know, be rushed to the ER ) or when I can fly in a plane or ride a bus or subway without worrying about being in someone else’s personal space. But more so, I dream of a day when people who DARE call themselves upstanding adults learn a little compassion. So many posts on here have said they feel sorry for the people who have genetic or other health problems that cause them to be overweight - but does that change the fact that you probably look at many large people with at least a twinge of disgust in your mind? If only you knew how hard many of us work EVERY SINGLE DAY and what a battle it is EVERY SINGLE DAY. I know women who have lost over 100 pounds but are still “large”, and they are full on lambasted on streets. People are CRUEL to overweight people. I’ve not met a large women yet who hasn’t been accosted at least once on the street- sometimes accidentally (“Oh, when’s the baby due?”) and even more so on purpose (“moo!” “who let a whale into the pool?”). Just because you don’t do it doesn’t mean your child doesn’t- in fact, more often than not, the offenders are teenage and young adult children of people like some of those who have posted here- people who might not say something to an overweight person to their face but certainly carries prejudices.</p>
<p>Perhaps I’m a bit defensive, but when practically every ounce of your energy goes into your health- including losing weight- and people still treat you like crap, there’s a problem in this society. I’ve had to consider dropping out of school for a year just because its near impossible to exist in the way I feel necessary to push myself to. But if I drop out, people will just see me as the lazy fat chick. It never ends.</p>
<p>A salad with no dressing would be a better choice (for everyone) than McDonald’s french fries. </p>
<p>Rather than “dream” of a cheeseburger, fries and large shake, everyone should eliminate that meal from their diets permanently.</p>
<p>Thanks to all the well-wishers.</p>
<p>Obviosuly, I could have tried to lose weight before my diagnosis. But there is something about the threat of amputation, or loss of eyesight or premature mortality that just got me going.</p>
<p>
It’s not just burgers and fries. Don’t forget the calorie and caffeine laden Starbucks and specialty coffees. I think some people are blissfully ignorant of what’s really in these things that they drink every day.</p>
<p>“Starbucks and specialty coffees”</p>
<p>I always make it a point of calling those “milkshakes”. Most jamba juices pack the same or more calories. For what it’s worth, I can’t relate to "dreaming of a day I can have milkshakes, fries, and a burger, and I only mention it because like many cravings, they fade with time away. I CAN imagine relate to living without cravings, or without having to think about it what you put in your body.</p>
<p>Silverclover,
I can relate. I appreciate the candor of your post and the eloquent way you described what seems like a daily struggle. I am blessed with good health and healthy children. Every once in a while I actually remember to be grateful for that and to appreciate what others go through.</p>
<p>Dadguy - First of all, congrats with the weight loss. Secondly, I know exactly how you feel! 18 months ago I too was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. In my case, I think I just happened to lose the genetic lottery - my mother and 2 of my grandparents had diabetes. At the time of my diagnosis I was not overweight and had a great, well-balanced diet; in fact, when I went to my doctor to ask for a blood test (I had a suspicion that something was wrong), one of the interns rotating through the office blurted out “but you can’t be diabetic! You’re not fat!”</p>
<p>My point is this: don’t beat yourself up. Maybe a weight loss would have prevented your disease - but maybe not. You just do the best you can every day, and then the next day you get up and try it all over again. I still get a little peeved with that intern’s attitude (not every diabetic “brings it on herself”), and believe me, it’s a really common attitude. </p>
<p>Good luck! Those first few months can be a real roller-coaster! I spent a lot of time thinking I was going to die at any time, but now, I’m probably the healthiest person I know… even with the diabetes.</p>
<p>When H got a new job a few years ago he was under a terrific amount of pressure, and he piled on the pounds. Weight gain runs in his family in later years. and I didn’t say anything because it would have hurt him, and I figured he knew it anyway. (which he did) It took a couple of years but he started working out more and managing the stress better. I was relieved because it concerned me that he was getting so heavy, healthwise for him. (heart) Do other spouses worry about their partners’ weight this way? I kept thinking of how my father passed away before he could walk me down the aisle (cancer, not a weight issue) and how much I wanted H to be healthy for our relatively young kids.</p>
<p>I always worry about my husband, but not really because of weight issues. He has a VERY stressful job that involves travelling over 100k miles a year. He works 60-70 hours a week, and doesn’t really have a formal exercise program. I would really like him to find time for something, but that would probably mean giving up sleep. He REALLY doesn’t have time to go to a gym, although we walk on weekends and he walks a lot because of his travel. Long ago I figured out that my nagging was just one more stressor he didn’t need. So I try to provide healthy, nutritional meals at home, make sure our homelife is peaceful and just try to not add to his stresses in life. He’s in his early 50’s and I want him to be around for many more years.</p>
<p>i hear you, sjmom…very similar circumstances here. Worrisome but not alot you can do unless they quit!</p>
<p>Dear SilverClover</p>
<p>I am SO sorry for your predicament. You are truly going through difficulties the rest of us don’t want to imagine.</p>
<p>But even more so is the lack of compassion expressed here, even for the simple normal desire to dream of eating the yucky food that most people “normally” eat. There’s nothing wrong with having that desire (even though it might not be my desire) or eating fries if that’s the only “treat” you can occasionally have. My heart goes out to you for being criticized for even that, considering the lifestyle that you’re forced to have.</p>
<p>I still don’t have compassion for the lack of compassion that is expressed here. I actually thought we were done and haven’t checked back for days, but here it is! Still continuing!</p>
<p>Re: dke #202 The Biggest Loser</p>
<p>Yes. I gave a challenge to all of the intolerant perfect people who think that just exercise and eat good food is all that there is to solve the issue. I asked them (or at least those who are intelligent enough to have an open mind that can be changed by evidence, whether scientific or anecdotal) to watch the show and still think it’s so easy. These poor people go up in front of a national audience, (which has to be HUGE incentive!) after spending a week sequestered with a trainer and good food and be disappointed at losing just a few pounds (2- 5 for someone more then 100 lbs overweight with all of that work and incentive and environment is REALLY disappointing.) I would really like to hear some feedback from some of the intolerants after watching that show. If you remain so intolerant and without compassion after watching these struggling sincere people, then (to put it in the words of Mrs. Laningham) “I really don’t want to know you.”</p>
<p>Losing 100 lbs in 5 months (i.e., 5 lbs per week) would be an outstanding accomplishment for anyone.</p>
<p>Here we go again!</p>
<p>Were talking about losing 2 lbs (and UP TO 5 lbs) after an absolutely SUPREME effort under the MOST ideal circumstances and support and incentive! With people who are AT LEAST 100 lbs (and maybe 200 lbs) overweight. NOT projected consistently over 6 months or a year.</p>
<p>This is the MOST ideal of conditions and the MOST they can expect to lose. And several of them only lost 2 lbs. Can you possibly have ANY empathy for how disappointed they were???</p>
<p>And how truly difficult and demoralizing it is overall for them to lose ANY significant weight?</p>
<p>At a rate of 2 lbs per week, a person could lose 208 lbs in 2 years. I don’t see the disappointment in that.</p>
<p>OH MY GOD! You just don’t get it.</p>
<p>Youre extrapolating and projecting what likely is not going to happen. That’s like saying that If I lose a lb a week, I’ll weigh 40 lbs in 3 years! Makes no sense and … shows NO compassion for the difficulties less then “perfect” people face in their day to day struggle. You are really showing your limitations intellectually and with no empathy for the normal human condition.</p>
<p>PLEASE do not respond. This is just ridiculous.</p>
<p>But on Biggest Loser, MBK, they learn about plateaus and how, yes, one week they’ll work incredibly hard and only lose 2 lbs, but the next week they may lose 10. Apparently this show is done in something like 20 countries…their own versions of it. Very inspriring. Most of the contestants do admit that they had to work pretty hard to get to that size in the first place.</p>
<p>Ok</p>
<p>I only watched one show, so there is no question my experience may be limited.</p>
<p>I just can’t stand the lack of compassion for people truly struggling with everything they have to overcome what seems (or truly are) insurmountable obstacles. Logic might tell people that they should be happy with a 2lb weight loss, but that doesn’t help the anguish that they are going through.</p>