this is off topic, but i have a Q for you opal.
A theory is out that weight loss surgery works because they end up cutting ghrelin levels by 80% or more, meaning that one day people may experience some of the benefits of weight loss surgery just by taking a pill that blocks ghrelin. Do you know if the duodenal switch cuts ghrelin levels? Have you completely lost interest in food (which is a symptom of low ghrelin levels).
Oh I agree. My point was just that really obese people aren’t not exercising because they are “just lazy”… there is more to it than that 
I have no idea. No, I still love food and I get hungry and eat every 3-4 hours.
Water aerobics and yoga, though I really need to start going more often :X
Once I get my VCR hooked up (it’s hooked up TV → VCR for recording at the moment, but not VCR → TV for watching, as we always use DVDs these days) I’m going to start my belly dancing workout tapes 
I’ve been trying to remember how many calories I was on when I had liquids only for six months. I think that it was less than 475 – maybe as low as 425. I certainly lost quickly and felt great. Exercised too. But I do remember plateauing out and one week I gained five pounds. I guess that could have been muscle.
I also lost interest in food and even though the drinks tasted good, I saw drinking them as a sort of chore that I had to live with. After my gastric bypass, I again have much less interest in food and will sometimes forget to eat. But I’ve never known why until now! Ghrelin levels!
Scylla. I can’t picture the kind of tubing you are talking about. Would I get that at a surgical supply company? Is this a really dumb question? I do have some large coated elastic bands. They look like jump rope. Hmmm…where did I put them…
Excuse me for a little while. I think there is a tornado coming.
calculus and Zoe:
Sorry it took me so long, but if you are interested in reading some really high quality nutrition information, I’d highly recommend anything by Liz Applegate, PHD.
That babe knows more about nutrition and fitness than most of the rest of the world put together.
If you like the rubber bands, chances are, you’ll lo
ve her balls!
Literally.
Some very good exercises, particularly if you’re hurt or not in the best of shape, or even obese.
You don’t have to buy the book, you can print out her program for free. Particularly interesting is her take on nutrition and dieting:
http://www.lizapplegate.com/nutrition.html
Liz is an acknowedged expert in elite sports nutrition. She’s taken a lot of it and applied it to us more moderate folk to extremely good effect.
I have this book by her, which is also very good:
A lot of emphasis on the basics of consumption/expenditure, and the body physics of how it works.
I don’t have this one, but it apparently is a good primer on the basics:
I wasn’t aware this was out, so I just ordered it:
And, I would also highly recommend this:
Don’t be intimidated that these books are sports/marathon oriented. We learn a lot about nutrition that applies to everybody from what we learn from athletes. This last book is written and is particularly useful for somebody who is out of shape, eating badly and wants to get in shape and eat well. It is not an elite book by any means.
Applegate has a better focus on weight loss than this last one, but don’t discount it.
(My pregnant wife is doing fitness ball workouts)
Oh, and this is supposedly excellent as a beginning running book (it’s written by a guy called “the penguin” and titled “No Need for Speed”)
His “marathoning for mortals” is also supposed to be very good if you are interested in running and nutrition.
Oh, and I’ll throw this out as a great resource on exercise/nutrition/weight loss.
I second the recommendation for the Penguin. He runs SLOW and stops to smell the roses along the way. He even stops for a cup of coffee and to chat during marathons. His ideas have been very inspirational to non-athletic types who want to be fit. I haven’t read his book, but have read articles about him in running magazines.
I second the recommendation for the Penguin. He runs SLOW and stops to smell the roses along the way. He even stops for a cup of coffee and to chat during marathons. His ideas have been very inspirational to non-athletic types who want to get fit but aren’t interested in competition. I haven’t read his book, but have read articles about him and by him in running magazines.
Wow, Syclla! Thanks for those links. I’m trying to think of the nutrition books that I have also misplaced. I think one of them was called The Good Food Book and the other was a sort of sequel by the same author. Lots of recipes too.
Just the image makes me grin. Congratulations on the critter!
Sycllla, what width of surgical tubing would you recommend for someone who is starting all over?
The 1/2 inch, the biggest. It’s not all that hard to stretch. Get a 10 foot section (or a couple of them.) You can fold them over for more resistance when you want it, and get the latex, not the silicone.
I got a piece that’s about 8 years old and gets used every day to loosen up my ankle.
It’s tough stuff, works just the same as the rubber bands, and lasts.
**Zoe[\B], I see that you have your email function turned off. Would you mind emailing me? I would like to get some info from you please.
I appologize if this has been talked about but I only made it to page 4 and then it seemed that the points being made were just being repeated.
I am about 40 pounds overweight. On the surface I would agree that it is my fault and my choice to be this way. That said, there are very deep and real reasons why I am overweight.
I was sexually abused by my father from the time I was an infant to the time i moved out at 18. When he would abuse me, he would steal a part of my soul and my heart at the same time. Over the years the hole inside of me got bigger and bigger. As a child I would try to fill this hole with cookies or candy. As an adult I do pretty much the same thing.
When I am full I feel whole. Like a whole person, not just a part of a person. But the self loathing that comes from being overweight only keeps the cycle of self destruction going on.
I know what I need to do to not be overweight and I can assure you, its not eat less and exercise more. Somehow I have to heal my childhood scars. When I accomplish that I won’t need to fill up the holes with food because then I’ll be whole person. I am in counceling right now.
I truly and so strongly believe “its not what you’re eating, its what’s eating you”.
The best way to help someone lose weight? Let them know you care. Don’t judge. When overweight people realise that they are worthy of kindness it becomes much more easy to take proper care of themselves.
Anyway, enough rambling from me.
All I can say is, Atkins is great - my take: no counting calories and more energy, less gastrointestinal problems, clearer head, better vision, enjoyable foods, no hunger, all while I’m losing weight. I’m drinking plenty of water every day, I’ve had a glass of wine here and there (which doesn’t interfere with fat burning, just delays it) - it’s amazing how effective it is. I’ve got to watch it, though, because I’ve been sneaking a small bowl of ice cream each night, and that’s a no-no, even though it doesn’t really put me much above the 20g of carbs per day for the Induction Period. I would have to say in honesty that I’m eating as many veggies as I was before I started the diet. Definitely less fruit, but since I’m only 2 pounds away from my goal (only wanted to lose 7 or 8 pounds), I’ll start incorporating fruit into my diet again. What have I dropped? Any and all bread/grain products. MOST of the sugar (except in that ice cream). Milk.
I am really amazed - I’ve never found it easier to lose weight than with this diet. Read the book (no, I’m not a salesman).
The Straight Poop on Atkins:
http://www.runnersworld.com/home/0,1300,1-53-86-5004,FF.html
Hi,
Once again, the article cited fails to address the true nature of Atkins. It refers to an 1800s diet of meat and sherry… for the millionith time- Atkins is not a “meat and fat” only diet. Dr. Atkins ENCOURAGES eating most vegetables. Many people on the low carb boards have mentioned that eating Atkins has changed their diet to include more vegetables, not less. Another omission was the studies that show that Atkins dieters DO lose at a faster rate. As far as calories in/out thing- explain why I lose at a faster rate on Atkins than I did on a low calorie, low fat diet while I was exercising more? Carbs are not “bad” and Atkins never says they are, Carbs do need to be limited, especially “junk” carbs like sugar & starches.
Basically, the proof is in the pudding for me- my body tells me this is a healthier diet- based on how I feel and the diets ability to give me power over my health weaknesses- in this case my alcohol consumption (gone from frequent to rarely), my meal schedule (gone from maybe breakfast to three excellent, healthy meals a day), my sleep habits and soda consumption. All have improved to the point where, for the first time, even if this diet only allowed me to maintain at my current, still 25 lbs over weight shape, I would stay on it just for how it makes me feel and the good habits it encourages. Can’t say for same for the umpteen low fat “healthy” diets that made me miserable.
Once again, the article cited doesn’t seem to understand what Atkins is, wish at least one of these authors would actually read the book before they criticize the diet.
The article cited is an excerpt, and you seem to have misread what is there. The meat and Sherry diet refers to a precursor of Atkins.
Because you lose a lot of water weight in the induction stage of Atkins, and muscle. In a low fat, exercise diet you may gain weight in the initial stages as I’ve said about three times in this thread.
Eating better than you were doesn’t mean you couldn’t be eating better than you are. The unfortunate think with the Atkins diet is that while it undeniably produces remarkable and encouraging short term weight loss very few people actually maintain that weight loss.
If you search GD for my “Debunking Atkins” thread, you’ll see the National Weight Loss Registry cited. This is an ongoing long-term study. It’s simply a study of people who have lost 30 pounds or more and kept it off for a year or longer. Less than 3% do it on Atkins, in spite of the fact that it is and has been a very popular diet and has been around for 30 years.
The Atkins site itself keeps no records or studies of long-term weight loss, which is also a telling fact.
I really am glad that you’re eating better, feeling better and losing weight. If it works for you and you’re one of the three percent, God Bless you.
I’m sorry to report the fact that long term success on the Atkins plan does not have a good prognosis.
The article is not calling the meat and sherry diet “Atkins.” The author is giving the history of high fat diets. She characterizes the Atkins diet later on in both its past and present forms, and does so accurately. I beleive you’ve misread the article.
The author is a Phd in her field, and has on several occasions written on various aspects of the Atkins plan. One of the studies of which she was a part of is cited on Atkins’ own website. Specifically I am referring to the study that showed Atkins dieters consumed on average 1,000 calories per diem less on the plan than they were before the diet started.
That’'s also in the Debunking Atkins thread.
So I think it’s safe to say she knows what she’s talking about.