I’ve been sort of complacent about my diet lately.  I’ve been controlling my intake, but the quality of the food I have been eating is low.  Waaaaaaaaaaay too much processed stuff.  Because it’s easy.

Mama need produce.

I’ve recommitted myself to being committed to myself.  I’ve lost 96 pounds.  I have 77 pounds to go.  The problem right now is that I am very happy in my skin, and I’m not self-hating everyday, so there’s not the same urgency there anymore.

Until I try to swing it for Tenderoni, and then I see it.

The gut.

The arms.

Ugh.  How am I ever supposed to be naked again for anyone?

Seriously.

It’s not just gonna magically fall off.  I’m going to have to work much harder.  So I’ve been searching for motivation.

And motivation, I have found.

At long last.

I made a promise to Tenderoni that I would clean out and remodel my jewelry studio.  If you don’t know, I create jewelry and have a website at www.glassbeadery.com.  In Spring 2008, after the devastation of my ex-husbands infidelity, my inspiration to create just died.  I haven’t created anything in months, and the studio has all but turned into a storage space.

This morning I started changing that.

While I was rifling through boxes of old bills, tax statements, photos, and the dust of the past several years, I came across a piece of paper.  And as I started reading it, my eyes flew open when I realized what it was.

It was the vision I had from 4 years ago, of my highest, most beautiful self.  The person I wanted to be. 

And as I read through the prose, I realized, this is exactly the person I have become.  Tears poured down my face.

Back then I weighed 353 pounds.  I was miserable.  I was completely broke, living on all government assistance.  My husband at the time had been deported.  I had just claimed bankruptcy.  My son was throwing tantrums and beating the hell out of himself and I had no idea why.  I had gotten a terrible hair cut, and my hair was really, really short.  I was lazy, withdrawn, selfish, and scared.  One day in my gluttonous misery, I sat down to the computer, and I wrote the following:

The Person I want To Be

I am strong.
I am independent.
I have two soulmates, and their names are Zoe and Zion.
I am at or nearing a healthy weight.
I can provide for the needs (and occasional desires) of my children and myself.
I am generous with the abundance that I have.
I am patient and sweet with my children.
I am writing a book.
I am determined.
I am beautiful.
I have fierce courage.
I am confident, and no man owns me.
I own a Lexus RX300, which I bought myself.
I have hair down the middle of my back.
I exercise every day.
I monitor the caloric intakes of myself and my children.
I have a chocolate Lab named Mocha.
I am addicted to chocolate.
I own my own jewelry business.
I am reconciled with my father.
I am taking my family to Hawaii.
I relax everyday in my garden tub.
I am loving my peaceful, drama free life.
I invest part of my time in someone who can never repay me.
I am anger and resentment free.
I am proud of who I am.
And I am married to the most wonderful man.

This is the person I want to be.  The person I already am.

I’ve re-read this a dozen times, and I’m still as astounded now as I was the first time I read this just a few minutes ago.

What in the world?  With the exception of the Hawaiian vacation and the wonderful husband thing, (I still want the great guy, just not marriage everrrrrrrrrrrr again) every single bit of this is exactly who I am. 

This is the life I envisioned, and this is exactly the life I am living. 

And have created.

I love it.

The thyroid is an amazing little gland that plays a significant role in your overall health and well being by regulating your metabolism. If it becomes under active then the correct amount of thyroid hormone essential to your body’s needs will be under produced.

Your thyroid is the primary dictator of your metabolism and any malfunction or disease affecting your thyroid will cause you to have problems in metabolism leading to a drastic change in your weight – you may either gain weight, lose weight, or may find that losing weight is much harder than usual.

There is a connection between adrenal glands, thyroid glands and weight gain. When these two glands are not kept in a healthy state, the result most often will be weight gain. On the other hand, if you keep these two glands healthy and feed them with the proper nutrition, it can lead to a natural weight loss.

Thyroid is of two types – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In the first one you gain weight and in the other one you lose it. Basically thyroid is a gland that is located in the neck. It produces two hormones – T3 and T4. Such ailments occur when these hormones lose their balance. The key symptom of hypothyroidism is rapid weight gain. Most often this disease happens to the women that too during or immediately after pregnancy. So when ever you gain or sudden weight, the doctors suggest you to undergo a thyroid check. One you know that you have this ailment you must consult the doctor immediately.

Hyperthyroidism can include any of these symptoms:

Some of them include:

- Weight gain

- Fatigue

- Sensitive to cold

- Your skin is pale and dry

- You have a puffy face

- Your voice is hoarse

- High blood cholesterol levels

- Aching muscles

- Pain, stiffness, or swelling in the joints

- Muscle weakness

- Hair and fingernails brittle

- Depressed

Besides the medications (that you must take rigorously) there are certain tips that you must adapt in your day to day life in order to get rid of weight gain due to hypothyroidism:

• It is very important to keep a check on your weight in this case. So now you must avoid oily foods, junk foods, processed foods, etc.

• Avoid sugary foods and the items that have excessive salt.

• Switch over to a healthy & balanced diet. Take short or mini meals at least 5 to 56 times in a day. These must be very rich in the fibers & healthy fatty acids.

• You must not have processed cereals. In stead have whole foods like whole grains & nuts.

• Eat diet rich in vitamin B.

• You must take lot of root vegetables and the raw fruits & vegetables. Prefer to have the fresh & organic ones.

• You must also exercise regularly for at least 30 to 60 minutes in a day, at least 5 times a week.

• Yoga helps a lot in getting rid of the rapid weight loss due to hypothyroidism. In many cases thyroid is caused due to stress. Meditation and yoga really help in such cases.

• Have natural weight loss & diet suppressants like acai berry.

• Rebounding May be the Best Exercise for Your Thyroid

• Stop Using Fluoride Toothpaste and Fluorinated Water

• Add Sources of Natural Iodine to Your Diet

• Add Pure Virgin Coconut Oil to Your Daily Diet

Read About Quick Weight Loss also Read about Surgery for Weight Loss and Thyroid and Weight Gain

Losing weight is necessary for people who are obese. There exists a variety of means and ways and for weight loss. Weight loss surgery is one of the popular choices for those obese people. Folks whose body mass index is over 35 and who have health problems caused by their extra weight are recommended for this surgery.

For a growing number of people weight loss surgery sounds like a miracle cure that will give them the body and lifestyle that they dream about. Weight loss surgery can certainly have a dramatic impact on a person’s lifestyle but like anything in life there are pros and cons. This article will give a brief introduction to the costs and benefits associated with surgery for weight loss.

Once the decision has been made to opt for Weight Loss Surgery, several factors come into play. There is a huge amount of recorded misinformation about the procedures that comes about through hearsay, misunderstandings, and exaggeration. Unqualified sources may have heard so called horror stories and tell lurid tales, but generally, there are only a tiny percentage of procedures which are problematic, or need additional surgery.

There are two types of common weight loss surgery:

1. Restrictive procedures that reduce food intake- Gastric Restrictive Procedure – Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) is a purely restrictive procedure which decreases the flow of digested food from the stomach, making the patient feel full for longer periods. The advantages are that they have a reduced amount of well chewed food entering and passing through the digestive tract. Also, patients tend to maintain their weight loss many years after the surgery.

2. Malabsorptive procedures that alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed, so that it is eliminated in the stool. These operations also reduce the size of the stomach, but to a lesser degree. The idea is to restrict the amount of food consumed and alter the normal digestive process. These procedures adjust the way that digestive and intestinal juices regulate the amount of absorption of protein, fat, and fat-soluble vitamins.

Benefit of Weight Loss Surgery:

Obesity is one of the primary health issues facing developed countries. It is associated with a number of health problems including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Many doctors consider the weight loss that result from the surgery to be of great benefit. After the surgery patients are generally healthier and they often find that many of the health conditions they suffered from before surgery are alleviated and sometime the symptoms disappear entirely. Weight loss surgery can also have a major psychological benefit.

Things to remember about weight loss surgery

Please do keep in mind that weight loss surgery is a SURGERY and does come with possible complications and side effects like most procedures do. Noting among the negatives are hernia, infections and blood clotting. If you are 100% content with this then I strongly recommend to consulting your doctor before even going to the next step.

Cost of Weight Loss Surgery:

Generally, weight loss surgery such as the gastric bypass will cost between $20,000 to $30,000 – the clinics do make substantial profits, which is why some you see advertised offer free chauffeurs and even airplane flights to the city and clinic. As in all lines of ‘business’, some surgeries will do all it takes to coax you there, within the law of course.

Read About Quick Weight Loss also Read about Surgery for Weight Loss and Thyroid and Weight Gain

Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and self-discipline to stick with a weight loss program and wait for the end results. Many people want to find the magic shortcut that will make the process just a little shorter and less difficult. Many over-the-counter and prescription pills are purchased for just this purpose. They are available from pharmacies, natural health food stores, and even online.

Weight loss pills are not magic bullets, so don’t let anybody or any web-site tell you or convince you of that. They are most often recommended for people who are medically obese, people whose weight is causing serious health concerns. In certain instances of morbid obesity, weight loss pills are needed to help spur weight loss and reduce the risk of serious medical conditions.

Basically these weight loss pills are divided into three types:

- Prescription weight loss pills

- Over-the-counter weight loss pills

- Natural herbal supplements

Side Effects of Diet Pills:

It is important to know the dangers of diet pills and diet pill side effects. One of the dangers of diet pills that inhibit the absorption of fats are gastrointestinal side effects, such as, oily spotting, flatus with discharge, fecal urgency, fatty/oily stool, oily evacuation, increased defecation, and fecal incontinence. Other gastrointestinal diet pill side effects may include: abdominal pain, nausea, infectious diarrhea, and rectal pain.

Another one of the dangers of diet pills that inhibit the absorption of fats can be a deficiency in vitamins A, D, E, K, and Beta-carotenes. Also, rare diet pill side effects have been hypersensitivity with symptoms of pruritus, rash, urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis. It is recommended that patients taking this type of diet pill also take some sort of multivitamin supplementation, like VäxaGreens Drink, that contains fat-soluble vitamins to ensure adequate nutrition.

Other diet pills work by norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine reuptake inhibition. One of these diet pill side effects is that it is known to substantially increase blood pressure in some patients. Serious dangers of diet pills of this nature can arise in those patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. Also, this type of diet pill is a controlled substance and can be habit forming. Other diet pill side effects from this type include: headache, back pain, abdominal pain, hypertension, palpitation, anorexia, constipation, nausea, thirst, joint disorder, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, depression, rash, acne, etc…

Prescription diet pills are to be used in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and reduced fat intake (no more than 30% of calories from fat). They are primarily used to treat a specific group of obese people. Most candidates for prescription weight loss medications or diet pills are those suffering from Metabolic Syndrome or otherwise referred to as, Syndrome X.

There are dangers of diet pills in patients with malabsorption syndrome, in patients who are taking MAOIs, have anorexia, and those taking other centrally acting appetite suppressants, and in patients with advanced arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, moderate to severe hypertension, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, a history of drug abuse, etc…

Other dangers of diet pills and diet pill side effects are: pulmonary hypertension, regurgitant cardiac valvular disease, palpitation, elevated blood pressure, overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, headaches, dryness of the mouth, diarrhea, constipation, urticaria, impotence, etc…

Lap Band surgery can be an effective choice for those who are clinically obese. Diet and exercise are always a better alternative to weight loss surgery, but if these do not work or if you have tremendous amounts of weight to lose, you may need some extra help. Before you sign up at a Lap Band Toronto surgery center, make sure you completely understand the benefits and risks of the procedure.

The name Lap-Band comes from Laparoscopic Gastric Band. Laparoscopy is the surgical technique used to place the band. With Laparoscopy the surgeon makes a few incisions in the abdominal wall and inserts narrow, hollow tubes. Extremely small and thin instruments are then passed through the tubes. The instruments include a microscopic camera that sends video to a monitor that is used by the surgeon to see inside the abdomen. This technique is the least invasive of all weight loss surgeries and has the least risk of complications.

Any surgery can be risky and many have more risks than others. In any event elective surgery is always something that should not be taken lightly. As a nurse I’ve been present at many surgeries and although most of the surgeries go well, there are those that have complications. If a patient is obese or overweight or are carrying a lot of extra fat tissue, there can be some serious health problems present that may or may not be evident or known about and may have serious health consequences regardless of the type of surgery the patient is having.

Some of the risks to be concerned about are those that are general to any surgery and are influenced by your age, weight, how you react to the anesthesia and what diseases you may have and whether they’re related to your weight problem or not. I won’t go into all the risks of general surgery here but focus on the specifics risks and complications for lap band surgery.

RISKS OF LAP-BAND SURGERY

•Infection – 1 in 200; treated with antibiotics

•Vomiting/Nausea – possible, most patients have it once or twice only if they eat too fast.

•Band slippage – 1 in 100 chances is always fixed laparoscopically.

•Death – The nationwide death rate is 3 in 10,000 or less, which makes the Lap-Band a safer procedure than routine surgeries like hernia repair or gallbladder removal.

•The biggest risk of lap band surgery is the possibility of gastric perforation during the surgery, which happens in about one percent of the surgeries. Gastric perforation is a tear in the wall of the stomach.

Make sure that you completely understand all the risks of lap band surgery and adjustable gastric banding and discuss them fully with your bariatric or weight loss surgeon before undergoing this surgery. Although safer than the more permanent gastric bypass surgery it does come with risks, possible complications and side effects. What is not known are the long term effects of this surgery? This is true whenever you tamper with nature. So it’s better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you do plenty of research before you commit.

Read About Quick Weight Loss also Read about Risks of Lap Band Surgery and Side Effects of Weight Loss Pills

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that it will host its first conference on obesity prevention and control. The conference, titled Weight of the Nation, will be held July 27-29, 2009, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The United States leads the world in obesity rate, with 30.6 percent of all adults in America are now considered medically obese with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. Healthy body weight is reflected by a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 in the United States. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered to be overweight in the US. The National Heart, Lung and Blood institute has an online BMI calculator.
The CDC’s U.S. Obesity Trends chart shows that American obesity has risen drastically from 1985-2007. Colorado is the only state with an obesity rate of less than 20%. The federal government’s Weight-control Information Network says that “About two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and almost one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004.”
According the conference literature, “Weight of the Nation is designed to provide a forum to highlight progress in the prevention and control of obesity through policy and environmental strategies.” Some critics point out that the statistics clearly show that there has been no progress made on this issue and that the conference might better be used to create some policy and strategies to help fight the obesity epidemic.

I know I’m a little blog crazy right now, but I keep finding these intersting things that I know I need to be sharing. So, I stumbled upon this article that I thought that everyone should read. It really hit home for me because I have a very close friend of mine is considering weight loss surgery much to my dismay.

You can read the article in its entirety here: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ENDO/14670

But here are a few major points:

• Bariatric surgery doubled the risk of fracture in a study
• Hands and feet bore the brunt of the fracture risk, occurring at rates three to four times greater than would have been predicted
• Although aggressive calcium and vitamin D supplementation after surgery may well help, it may still be insufficient to prevent the increased risk of fracture
• The findings came from long-term follow-up of about 97 patients — mean age 44, 86 women — who had bariatric surgery from 1985 to 2004. Gastric bypass accounted for 90% of the surgical procedures, and the rest of the patients had either vertical banded gastroplasty or biliopancreatic diversion. Follow-up averaged seven years.

This just proves that yet again the medical community is not considering the risks of “obesity treatments” and in trying to eliminate what they view as a “problem” all they are doing is creating more problems.

With the release of Alli this past June, diet pills are once again in the spotlight. The claims are appealing: “Lose 30 lbs in 30 days” or “Melt your fat away”. But, do these pills really work? And more importantly, are they even safe? We’ve broken down for you some of the more popular over the counter and prescription diet pills on the market to let you decide for yourself. As a disclaimer, we believe that there are no magic pills to get you to your goal – changing your lifestyle is the only truly tested and effective method.

Prescription Drugs
Research regarding prescription drugs is more thorough and credible since they have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Prescription weight loss drugs are intended for individuals with medically significant weight problems, and are intended to be used in conjunction with dietary, behavioral, and exercise programs. If used correctly by the intended group of users, oftentimes they can be a lifesaver. For those who do not fit the description of the intended user, or for those who simply take the pills without changing their lifestyle, expect disappointment.

Orlistat (Brand name prescription drug: Xenical; OTC drug: Alli)
How it Works: Orlistat blocks the absorption of fat by working on the digestive system. It is claimed to inhibit the action of an enzyme called lipase, which breaks down dietary fat so the body can absorb it. Orlistat blocks the absorption of up to 30% of dietary fat, and the unabsorbed fat is eliminated through the stool.

Research: According to the FDA, before orlistat was approved in 1999, it was tested in seven clinical trials, in which more than 4,000 obese individuals participated. Each of these trials used orlistat in conjunction with a low-calorie, low-fat diet, and an exercise routine. Overall, 57% of people taking orlistat lost at least 5% of their body weight as compared to 31% who took a placebo.

Side Effects: Due to the fact that unabsorbed fat will exit through the stools, many gastrointestinal side effects may exist. Perhaps most embarrassing is that users may experience oily rectal seepage and in extreme cases, may need adult diapers. Fecal urgency, gas with discharge, and frequent, oily bowel movements are also possible. In addition, orlistat interferes with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E, and K) and may also limit the absorption of healthy fats like fish oil or flaxseed oil. As a result, nutritional deficiencies may occur.

Sibutramine (brand name: Meridia)
How it Works: Sibutramine is a monoamine reuptake inhibitor, which means that is blocks the reabsorption of certain neurotransmitters, or messengers to the brain. This allows the levels of these neurotransmitters to increase, which then helps to control appetite. Thus, sibutramine is mostly an appetite suppressant.

Research: Manufacturers report several double-blind, placebo controlled trials. There was evidence that various levels of sibutramine led to significantly more weight loss in obese individuals, than for those who used the placebo. As with orlistat, these studies were done in conjunction with a healthy eating and exercise plan.

Side Effects: The most common side effects are dry mouth, anorexia, headache, insomnia, and constipation. Some users also experience an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.

OTC Drugs
Over the counter weight loss drugs are not subject to approval or regulation by the FDA. As a result, we have limited research on the hundreds of OTC diet pills out there, and almost no long-term research. In addition, because these pills aren’t regulated, they may not even have the amount of an effective ingredient that is stated on the bottle. There are hundreds of diet pills out there. This is only a small sample.

Alli
The only FDA approved OTC drug. See orlistat (above).

TrimSpa X32
How it Works: Trimspa, endorsed by the late Anna Nicole Smith, has many different ingredients in it. Unfortunately, TrimSpa no longer lists each of the ingredients separately, but rather states that it has a “x32 proprietary blend”. We were able to uncover some of the ingredients. Ingredients like caffeine, bitter orange, and green tea extract are thought to work as stimulants. Hoodia, chromium, and glucomannan (fiber) are proposed to work as appetite suppressants.

Research: Clinical trials have not shown that the ingredients in TrimSpa can reduce body fat. There is some evidence that green tea extract may aid in weight loss, and there is clear evidence that fiber (i.e. glucomannan) will lead to satiety, thus decreasing one’s appetite. However, none of the ingredients have been significantly proven to lead to weight loss.

Side Effects: Due to the fact that many of the ingredients have been insufficiently tested, there is concern that in large doses, some of these ingredients may be harmful. Bitter orange (naringin) may interfere with many common prescription drugs such as antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants, statins, immunosuppressants, calcium channel blockers, and protease inhibitors. Ingredients in TrimSpa may lead to insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, and restlessness. TrimSpa may also cause migraines in susceptible people since it contains cocoa extract which contains tyramine. Hoodia, a popular ingredient on its own, and thought to suppress appetite, is also still in the beginning research stages. There is a possibility that it can lead to liver toxicity. Moreover, Hoodia is a protected plant, and because OTC diet pills are not regulated, most of the pills don’t have as much Hoodia as is stated on the packaging.

Xenadrine EFX
How it Works: As with the TrimSpa, Xenadrine has a long list of ingredients. These include green tea leaf extract, bitter orange, caffeine, cocoa extract, grapeseed extract, ginger root, and guarana. These ingredients are purported to speed up the metabolism.

Research: Though proponents of Xenadrine claim numerous clinical trials have been completed, it was hard for us to find any. The two we did find were extremely small studies of six and ten subjects. In addition, we found it dodgy that the Xenadrine website listed “returning shortly…” under the tab for clinical studies. When we called the company, they could not elaborate.

Side Effects: The same side effects noted for specific ingredients in TrimSpa are noted here. In addition, people taking Xenadrine have noticed nausea and upset stomachs, anxiety, shaking, cramps, increased heart rate, and increased sweating.

Let me first warn you that there may be some foul language in this post…

I am a bit pissed off as I weigh in this morning. I seemed to have gained ½ pound this week. I know it’s not a lot of weight but after all the work I did in eating well and my awesome cardio and strength training workouts, I don’t understand why I gained and didn’t lose.

I really don’t think it’s muscle gain wither since I am not lifting huge amounts to really make a difference and since I am watching my sodium intake I doubt it’s water gain either.

So I am pissed and baffled at the same time. I am not a happy person right now. Not happy at all!

Now that I got that out, life goes on and I will continue to do what I have been doing. Nothing is going to change except maybe I’ll work harder. Plus even though I am upset, disappointed, and pissed off, I am not going to turn to food as a source of comfort; as I would have done in the past. The body is one huge mystery and I’ll just have to accept what it tells me and continue my journey ahead.  Like I said in a previous post nothing is going to stop me from achieving my goals, not even a setback like this little one.

For me “Quitting is not an option”!

Well time for work and then the gym…