Realizing Reality

Current Weight:  265.5 lbs

Today’s Activities:  “Raking” with the lawn mower - 30 minutes

Current Weight:  265.5 lbs

Current Weight:  264.5 lbs

Today’s delta:  0.5 lbs

Total delta:  0.0 lbs

Mini-Goal 1, 259 lbs (Just Because)

I’m thinking of taking a flyer on yet another weight loss program.  This one is a medically supervised program that starts with a high protein, low calorie, low carb, low fat diet (with the aid of appetite suppressants and B-12 supplements), then gradually adds back healthy foods and weans you off the medications.  My uncle (who is a fantastic and fanatical gourmet chef) has been doing this for a couple of months and has lost about 25 lbs so far.  I called and talked to the clinic yesterday and got most of the details on their program (except for the part about their diet recommendations).  I talked to my uncle today and read over the details of the diet recommendations.  He said he had waited over a year to try it because he had the same hesitations about the program that I have - that any weight lost with the assistance of a “magic pill” would come back double as soon as you quit taking the medicine.  Before he started he talked to some of their friends who had used the program before to see how they’ve done on maintenance.  For the most part, they’ve done well.

My uncle is in a different position than I am.  He really had significant medical issues related to his weight, including knee problems that made it nearly impossible for him to exercise.  By some miracle, I don’t really have any health issues related to my obesity yet (other than being obese).  All of my lab tests come back perfectly normal, every time.  My blood pressure is normal.  I don’t have any issues with mobility or being able to perform normal tasks.  But how long can that possibly continue?  In any case, I’m just unhappy with being fat and I would really like to get back to doing beyond normal activities (e.g. - hiking in the mountains!).

The issue I’m having is that this program falls really close to what I would consider a “quack shack” program.  The fact that the woman I talked to yesterday was peppily chirping about losing 25 pounds by Christmas if I start this week really did not help improve that first impression.  I’ve always felt that if you work really hard and follow medical recommendations for diet and exercise, you should be able to lose the weight.  Unfortunately, I’m quickly closing in on 10 years evidence to the contrary, as far as my body is concerned.  Isn’t trying the same things over and over again and expecting a different result the definition of insanity?

I guess I’m looking for some additional opinions.  Is it a worse idea to keep plugging away without success or to take a risk on a new approach that may run contrary to what you have always believed to be the correct and healthy approach to weight loss?

Current Weight:  264 lbs

Today’s delta:  1.5 lbs (kind of misleading because I’ve actually been as high as 267 since I last posted)

Total delta:  -0.5 lbs

Mini-Goal 1, 259 lbs (Just Because)