100 pounds of weight on the scale,

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
100 pounds of weight on the scale,
17
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 6:46pm
Hi, I'm Stacey and new to ivillage. I recently enrolled in a "medically supervised" diet after being denied baritric surgery. So now I am basically starving at 500 cals a day. Losing weight but losing hope too. I am hungry all of the time. Any suggestions

Stacey

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 7:10pm

I would suggest a second opinion.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 7:18pm
Medically supervised at 500 calories per day? If that's the case, the best advice would be to follow your doctor's advice to the letter, and discuss with the doctor any problems you are having on it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 7:28pm
Um, who put you on a "medically supervised" diet of 500 calories a day?

500 calories a day is not enough. It doesn't matter how much you weigh; eating only 500 calories a day will send your body into starvation mode and if you lose weight at all it will all come screaming back as soon as you begin to eat enough to sustain a living person.

If this was a doctor, I would seriously question returning to that doctor. You need at least 1200 calories a day or you could be endangering your health and making it far more difficult to lose weight in the future.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2004
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 7:35pm
Can you really say that? It's between patient and doctor, after all. And maybe the doctor knows something about her medical condition that you do not. If a doctor found it necessary for her to do this, this way, then there must be a good reason and lay-medicine long distance versus a patient following her doctor....is a very dangerous thing. Bariatric patients, after all, have to eat very little. It is possible this doctor finds a medical necessity in such a recommendation to her, and that's not something you'd know about as an ordinary fellow dieter on an anonymous board. Why not leave it to her doctor to tell her what's best for her health...at least the doctor has examined the patient and knows something of her medical history.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 8:47pm
I must confirm that I am no dietitian, and I am certainly not qualified to offer medical advice to anyone. That being said, it might be wise to seek a second opinion, in any case. Talking to more than one doctor couldn't hurt. 500 calories seems awfully low to me, even for someone preparing to undergo surgery.

My heartfelt apologies, Stacey, if I stepped out of line.

And good grief, Gloria, do you have no other hobbies? :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-31-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 8:49pm

zorb...I think I love you...will you marry me?


warm/fuzzyonawinternight


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 9:11pm

Hi Stacey Welcome to the boards!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 10:02pm
Stacey....Im completely in agreement with getting a second opinion.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

Avatar for suamomi
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2001
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:42pm
Stacey...if you're miserable you should definitely talk to your dr about it. I know I would give up on anything if it made me miserable...ya know???

And if your dr is the type that doesn't listen to what *your* needs are then you should definitely look for a second opinion. Even if he/she is, *I* think you should look for a second opinion. There is no reason why anyone should not take charge of their own health...and if that means firing your dr then so be it. (sorry...it's a sensitive subject with me...lol).

After all, no one knows you better than you know yourself. Trust your instincts...if you feel like this is not the plan for you then don't do it. Find something you can maintain for life...I know it sounds like 100 pounds is so unattainable but I am proof positive that it is possible. I have lost almost 70 pounds so far with another 70 to go. I never thought it would be possible...but I'm doing it.

I guess I just really believe that just because ONE doctor tells you to do something doesn't mean you have to accept it. After all, no matter how much they deny it, doctors are human too...lol. They are not all knowing...yes they know A LOT...but not everything. and only you can know for sure what is going to work for you.

Undereating got me 140 pounds overweight...and I am not about to continue undereating...I had to force myself to eat enough at first...now my metabolism has kicked back up and I am losing at a healthy rate and feel great.

You can do this...big big hugs...

Sarah

Atkins since 8/25/03

276/207/135

Sarah


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
Mon, 03-15-2004 - 11:53pm
Stacey,

Sweetie, I feel your pain!!!! Are you, by any chance, on a liquid diet like Optifast, Medifast, or HMR? I just went off of HMR, a liquid diet. I was allowed 960 calories per day, though. There is another discussion board that I know of that solely deals with liquid diets. And many of the people on there are on Medifast, which is 450 calories per day. I want you to know I am NOT a dietician or a doctor. That being said, though, I am studying nutrition and have a great deal of knowledge in certain areas. Plus I have first hand knowledge of very-low-calorie-diets (VLCD), having been on one recently.

First things first: It's a good thing you were denied bariatric surgery, in my humble opinion. Many people think that is a cure-all. The truth is, like someone else posted, you would be surviving on very few calories after having that surgery...and many people who have that surgery become seriously nutrient deficient. I know you don't want to hear this but you're ONLY 100 pounds overweight. I feel for you, I really do. I have to lose about 150 pounds!! I'm not saying you're not going to have to overcome a huge obstacle; you are! But starving is not the way.

Second, I know you want to lose weight very fast. That's how I was about a month ago when I decided I would do a medically supervised diet that was highly calorie restrictive. So I started the diet and guess what? I felt horrible. I was hungry all the time. I exercised and would have shake after miserable shake (all liquid diet). I just decided I couldn't do it. Also, it wasn't healthy. And you know how I know? When you're on a VLCD, you lose tons of water at first. It's not uncommon for people to lose 7-15 pounds their FIRST week. However, by the third or fourth week, it isn't uncommon either to begin to only lose 2 pounds a week. Why is that? The people's metabolisms come to a screeching halt. And that's what will happen to you. You will continue to lose weight but at what cost? Is it worth it to lose weight that quickly? Afterall, half of what you will lose is lean muscle mass. In reality, many of the people who lose weight on very-low-calorie-diets end up being a smaller fat person. Does that sound ridiculous? Well, what happens is you end up losing a ton of your lean muscle mass...that's why the weight comes off so quickly. We've all heard it a million times: muscle weighs more than fat. IN FACT, muscle is 6 times more metabolically active than fat. SIX TIMES!!

What does this all mean? Start working out. Start strenght training 3 days a week, along with cardio. And don't be afraid about building muscle. You will NEVER look like a man, no matter how much weight you life. Another piece of advice...don't worry about the scale; at least not in the first month. Why do I say that? When you start strength training, you will either stay the same or gain a little weight. Why? Muscle weighs more than fat. But guess what? After you start training and build up that muscle, you will be a fat burning machine!! You'll be able to consume more calories because you'll be burning more.

I KNOW you want to lose weight quickly. And I know it's vital to your health to become slim. But I also know first-hand it's not worth it to starve yourself. I was practically starving on 960 calories a day (at 320 pounds). Like others have said, it sends your body into starvation mode. The best thing to do, if I were you, is to get a healthy eating plan together. It can be anything from South Beach to Weight Watchers to Atkins to whatever. Whatever works for you. Then start working out with weights. Build up your muscles. Challenge yourself. You will feel so much better. I'll tell you this. A month ago I weighed a little less than I do now. Why is that? I've been strength training for a month and I've built up some nice muscle. I've lost inches all over my body...2" from my thigh, 2" from my waist, 1" from my arm, 3" from my hips, and 1/2" from my neck (of all places!!). The only negative is my chest has stayed the same! :)

I hope this helps. I hope in places I didn't sound like a know-it-all...that is not my intention. I just want you to know that I've been there. Guess what? Even if you lose a pound a week only, you're still going to keep it off longer. Your doctor has your best intentions in mind, but I wouldn't continue it. That's just my opinion. I've been through this VLCD thing and to me, it wasn't worth it. Get healthy all over. Eat right, exercise, practice stress management, and laugh a little more. Start introducing yourself to new foods...high fiber bagels, a new fish (if you like fish), whole grains like couscous or quinoa, etc. We all want to be to our goal weight yesterday! You can do this!! If you have any questions at all, feel free to e-mail me.

sriddle78@sbcglobal.net

Shannon

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