# The SDMB Weight Loss Club - Part Deux **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675 "2003-05-12T12:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/81 "2003-05-16T12:49:17Z")
This may have already been discussed before but I’m new so … What’s your opinion of gastric bypass surgery? The permanent kind, not the kind that can be reversed? Husband’s aunt is getting it done soon and IMHO, she’s just given up on herself. I couldn’t believe she even got approved for it because she’s not that big, but since she’s a nurse she has connections in the medical community. A couple of years ago she lost a pretty decent amount (25 pounds or so) and was doing great but quit trying so gained it back. She’s pushin 40 though, and with her family history the weight’s gotta come off somehow. Maybe I’m just being hard on her but I don’t see how I can outweigh her by almost _coughahemcough_ pounds and I can find my way to bust my ass at the gym and quit pigging out, but she can’t. Maybe I’m being unfair, she IS 15 years older than me and we all know the weight doesn’t come off as easy at 40 as it does at 25, no matter how hard you work at it. I’m just worried about her; if she’s gonna have this done I WANT it to work for her but I don’t want to see her suffer. Ok, vent over. Please understand, I am not saying that I think that ALL people who get the surgery are lazy or whatever. I know it’s a lifesaver for a lot of people who have sincerely tried everything else possible to lose the weight, and God knows I’ve mulled it over in my mind a time or two. I’m just saying that in this particular family situation, IMHO, it seems to be 1. unnecessary and 2. an easy way out. Not that having major surgery is “easy,” mind you. But I’m sure you know what I mean when I say easy. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/82 "2003-05-16T12:50:40Z")
PS (totally unrelated to my previous post): How often should I lift weights? I remember hearing something about not doing it every day because you have to give the muscles a day to rest in between sessions, and if you do it every day you’re pretty much just undoing the progress you made the day before. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/83 "2003-05-16T15:25:41Z")
Yoinks, I’ve got some catching up to do! _deep breath_ Welcome goes out to: **SnoopyFan, Avarie, and Aglet** **Aglet** - I too was an anti-water type. It just has never tasted good to me, I didn’t like drinking it, and I really had a psychological resistance to increasing my water intake. I have to admit, after about a week or so of forcing myself into 64+ ounces per day I am a convert (brainwashed?). I don’t mind it at all now, find myself actually feeling badly physically when I’ve not had enough. On the upside too, my skin has never been clearer!! **Avarie** - I don’t care if you are a low-carber, just don’t go leaving your Low-Carber Lighttower Magazines on my door, mmm’kay? **Phlosphr** asked: > [@](#): > > How much carbo’s should I take out of my diet? For me, I try to aim for a 30% fat, 20% protein, and 50% carb diet. DietPower’s nutrient summary is great for showing you this information on what you are eating in more detail than you’ll probably need. > [@](#): > > Does counting calories really work? (for a 6’ 220 person used to an english muffin and peanut butter every morning) For me, yes it has worked great. Others may have different experiences. I found it to be some logical and simple it almost seemed too easy: Eat less calories than you burn = weight loss. That is a drastic over-simplification I’ll admit but it does hold true. What terrified me at first was the idea that there would be nothing I could eat and stay within 1600 calories per day. I’ve gotten VERY good and finding the items in the store that let me eat a great balance of foods and still remain low-cal. Great discoveries I’ve made include: Wonder Light bread (Wheat, White, Sour Dough, and Italian) Healthy Choice Ice Cream Healthy Choice Microwave Pop-corn EggBeaters Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Low-Fat Waffles Hungry Jack Light pancake mix Wishbone “Just 2 Good” Salad Dressings Splenda sugar-substitute Oui, I could go on and on. The point being, outside of pasta and fast-food, there are great substitutes for almost everything I ate previously, only lower in calories and without substituting taste. > [@](#): > > How much exercise is enough exercise? Currently, I do 3x’s a week at the gym, Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday. My emphasis is on at least 30 minutes of intense cardio exercise. I usually, but not always, finish with weight lifting for up to another 30 minutes. I also play competitive league volleyball 2x’s a week so that is another 2 hours minimum of exercise. This works for me. Some do more, some do less. I’d think that cardio 3x’s for a minimum of 20 minutes would be “enough”. _deep breath_ **SnoopyFan** - Definitely give yourself a one day rest between weight lifting sessions to allow your muscles the chance to recover. Also, I cannot stress enough when lifting weights: _learn, and use the proper form for your exercises_. It will a.) help reduce risk of injury and b.) ensure you are getting the maximum benefit from each repetition. Personally I think that surgery, along with many of the “miracle weight loss cures”, can be abused by those who want an easy way out of weight loss. That said, I think its intent is for those who have explored, honestly, all available methods and now need a last resort. **Norinew** - Send that recipe my way: [mjsmith0469@yahoo.com](mailto:mjsmith0469@yahoo.com). Mmmm… meat-loaf. **Fizzlestothetop** - Hang in there, I’m right with you in fighting the frustrations. It’s a harsh blow when you think you’ve made progress only to slip backwards a little bit. No one promised us this would be easy so we’ll make a deal with each other to refocus and keep at it - WE SHALL OVERCOME! 😃 By the way, my stay at sub-180 was quite enjoyable and I highly recommend it - 4 out of 5 stars for sure. Sadly, 179.4, 181.2, and today’s 183.8 are really not quite as lovely and I shall write an angry letter to the Tourist Board to inform them of my displeasure. Mean “Yo-Yo” Joe ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/84 "2003-05-16T16:35:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by norinew \* > \*\*This is true, of course, only within reason. \*\* Yeah. What **norinew** said. Guess I got a little carried away with the welcome schtick, but no, I wouldn’t want you doing something to the detriment of your body just to lose weight. [sits back down on bench, picks at his cheerleader skirt, plays with his pom-poms and waits…] 😃 Q ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/85 "2003-05-16T19:00:28Z")
Well, I just got home from the gym, which is where I weigh myself (they have a doctors’ scale there). I’m down another 2 pounds, for a total, so far, of 43. I’d like to have a total of 50 pounds off by the middle of June, and a total of 75-80 off by the time I cruise to Bermuda in late October. I’m currently 72 pounds from goal. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/86 "2003-05-16T20:42:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Aesiron–Have you come up with any workouts you can live with yet? If not I wonder if maybe just fitting in a lunch time walk wouldn’t help you along the way (especially if you’re new to the whole cardio thing). > > Also, I understand the embarrassment factor when it comes to the gym. Maybe you could try some work out videos? Alot of times you can check them out from your local library, to view before you buy it. or look them up on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) to see reviews. (Your library will also have tons of nutrition books) > > in addition, ANY walking/jogging/running you can do will help your body! grab a walkman, borrow a dog, get outside and go! I’ve been doing a bit of exercise here and there over the past week or two. At least two hours of almost continuous walking (I have a menial labor job) and lifting at work. After I finish up there, I usually find a secluded spot and do as many pushups as I can stand along with some rapid arm and leg movement exercises I’ve made up. I don’t know how well they work but they do get my heart rate up. Then, after that, I walk the stairs until I feel like my legs are going to fall off. There’re three flights there and about 37 stairs in all and after walking up and down them rapidly about three or four times, I’m ready to swear off exercise for life. I hope it’s working but I don’t know for sure. I haven’t weighed myself in about five days and I’m not really noticing any marked improvement. I’ll find out Monday, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/87 "2003-05-17T00:01:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Aesiron_ > I haven’t weighed myself in about five days and I’m not really noticing any marked improvement Coming from someone who started with quite a substantial amount of weight to lose, I don’t feel out of line saying that when you start off really large, it takes a while to notice marked improvement. I don’t think I was really aware of a difference in my weight til I had dropped about 10% of my starting weight. I can’t tell if your exercise program is as effective as it could be, but any time you go from no exercise to some exercise, it’s got to be a step in the right direction. Also, the fact that your heart rate is up is a good sign. Keep going! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/88 "2003-05-17T01:00:00Z")
stomp Stomp STOMP **YAY, DAMMIT, YAY!** 😃 STOMP Stomp stomp [sits back down, rustles pom-poms and waits] Q ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/89 "2003-05-17T01:00:02Z")
I like a lot of the low-fat products that have been mentioned. Read the label, though–“Low fat” sometimes means that sugar or other refined carbs have been added. I have read some studies where just cutting down sugar, refined grains, and starchy vegetables has led to weight loss. I assume that’s because these higher-glycemic foods increase blood sugar, and thus insulin, and thus fat storage. I can now walk to work (3.3 miles) in about 55 minutes even though there are a lot of points where I have to stop and wait for traffic. I find that a CD with a good beat on the Walkman helps keep me at a quick pace. Yesterday I bought new shorts and a tank top **in the regular women’s section, not in the mature (sic) women’s section.** Oddly, the only person in my state who’s ever seen me weigh this little is one of my doctors–we went to college together many time zones away. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/90 "2003-05-17T01:15:43Z")
Before y’all think I’ve really gone over the deep end, that last post of mine was as “The Cheerleader” of The SDMB Weight Loss Club. I just felt like you little heathens needed a boost, so I did a **YAY** to all of ya’. 😃 Q [examines his legs while sitting on bench, crosses them suggestively, and winks] Hey! I got this cheerleading stuff down, **MeanJoe**! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/91 "2003-05-17T01:33:01Z")
Went to the gym at 5:30ish, turns out it closes at 6, not 7. So I had about 20 minutes to do something. So I did 20 minutes on the stairclimber. 250 calories gone. It takes me 40 minutes of walking to burn that many calories so guess what I’m going to be doing more of next week? \*\* I don’t feel out of line saying that when you start off really large, it takes a while to notice marked improvement.\*\* This holds true for me too. I’m just now starting to see a little bit of change and I’ve dumped 30 something pounds. One thing that kinda cheers me up, though, was seeing my mom’s doctor today. She has lost 70 and she looks like the same person but boy, what a dramatic difference. It makes me wonder just how different I’ll look minus 200 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/92 "2003-05-17T01:34:45Z")
Thanks **Quasi** babe. You made my day. 🙂 Love ya, hon. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/93 "2003-05-17T02:07:21Z")
Do **not** let yourself become intimidated by the bunnies and the jocks! Learn the machines, get comfortable with them and know that you are there for one reason only: To become healthier. **Anything** extra that you can do within your limits is going to make you feel better. Chances are the guy you’ll be seeing to walk you through the first time already has his eye on the door waiting for the next person to sign up. That is not the club you wanna belong to. Do some research on the web, and do **not** let yourself be intimidated. You can find out what you should be able to do, you just gotta test out your own limitations. Still wanna belong to a health-club? Scope it out good. That’s **your** money… And It’s **your** body. Use both wisely. Love Y’all Q ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/94 "2003-05-17T02:34:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > \*\*Do **not** let yourself become intimidated by the bunnies and the jocks! Learn the machines, get comfortable with them and know that you are there for one reason only: To become healthier. > > **Anything** extra that you can do within your limits is going to make you feel better. Chances are the guy you’ll be seeing to walk you through the first time already has his eye on the door waiting for the next person to sign up. That is not the club you wanna belong to. Do some research on the web, and do **not** let yourself be intimidated. You can find out what you should be able to do, you just gotta test out your own limitations. > > Still wanna belong to a health-club? Scope it out good. That’s **your** money… And It’s **your** body. Use both wisely. > Love Y’all > > Q \*\* This is some of the best advice I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/95 "2003-05-17T05:12:50Z")
Yeah what Quasi said. I have a theory about gym jocks and bunnies. There are 2 kinds. The first kind are people who are really serious about fitness for life, the second kind are people who go to the gym to see and be seen and get laid. The first type will be GLAD when your fat ass walks into the gym, as they’re glad when anyone decides to take care of themselves. They might even go so far as to show you how the eqipment works if you ask. The second type would be the most likely to say something nasty to you. Apparently my school’s gym is full of Type #1. I’ve never had one comment, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/96 "2003-05-17T07:01:36Z")
Some of Y’all know I’m going through a bit of what the J Geils Band used to call **Love-Itis** over in the BBQ Pit. The lady that I am so in love with and who is so much a part of my life right now is also over-weight, just like me. I did not fall in love with her because of her looks and she sure as hell did not fall in love with me because of mine. We just fell in love. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. When she speaks, she commands all of my attention, because everything she says is important to me. When she wants to just be quiet and lay on the sofa and watch a flick, well, that is just heaven to me, because she lays down inbetween my legs and her pretty little head rests against me, allowing me to smooth her hair… Okay! I told y’all that to tell ya this: Don’t leave 'em behind, okay? They might not be of the same mindset as you are. or maybe they don’t have as much willpower as you do. Whatever the case may be, do **NOT** impose your plan to lose weight on your overweight partner. She/He needs to know that this is not a threat, just a thing to help **you** feel better. Let 'em make their own decision, but let 'em make it without fear of losing **you** if they can’t join you. You didn’t love 'em for that, remember? 😃 Also, I need for you to know that this is not the reason for the 2 year time limit I talked about in the **Pit** thread. We are both on diets, and we both love each other despite our overweight status. I guess she just needs to go… Don’t forget about your partner, okay?😃 Love Q ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/97 "2003-05-17T12:54:15Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Quasi-rahrah-modem_ > Whatever the case may be, do NOT impose your plan to lose weight on your overweight partner. **Quasi** , you’ve reminded me of one of the things I love most about my wonderful hubby. A bit of background: For the first 6 years we were together, I was overweight, and he was not. Then, when he got to be about 30, his metabolism crashed to a halt, and simply eating the way he had always eaten packed about 50 pounds onto him. About 10 years ago, we both lost a substantial amount of weight following low-fat diets, but our continued cravings prevented us from keeping the weight off. About 4 years ago, he was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. Still, when I first started this no-white-carbs plan that’s working so well for me, he decided to follow along (with **no** prompting from me). Because of his metabolism, his weight-loss hasn’t been as dramatic or fast as mine, but he stopped gaining weight (which he had been doing pretty steadily), and has dropped about 15 pounds. We are one anothers’ best support-people and cheerleaders ( **Quasi** , you’re my second-best cheerleader) because we have a mutual desire for both of us to be healthy as we get older, so we can travel, and enjoy life together! We never criticize one antoher, or get nasty because of slip-ups, we just provide unconditional support. I really don’t know how people with non-supportive SOs do it! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/98 "2003-05-17T14:54:12Z")
Got on the **Tanitas** this morning for my weigh in, and that’s what the numbers were. To help it along, I farted. The scales didn’t buy it though, so 203 it is. **Dayum!** 😉 Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/99 "2003-05-17T14:58:49Z")
**norinew** , your husband sounds like a great guy. I wish you both the best of health and much fun on your future travels! 😃 Der Quas’ ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675/100 "2003-05-17T15:12:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shoshana \* > \*\* I find that a CD with a good beat on the Walkman helps keep me at a quick pace. \*\* **Shoshana** , if you like working out to music, may I recommend a company called **Sports Music**? (you can find them on the internet) I started buying their tapes when I weighed 260 and wanted to start power-walking. The music is geared to your taste and is timed to beats per minute. CD’s are also available. When I don’t ride my bike, I power walk. Right now I’m up to 4 MPH and walking (marching) to march music. You should see the stares I get on the trail! :D:D: Q [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-weight-loss-club-part-deux/174675.md?page=6)