General Diet Plans and Questions - Merida February 2002

Just beginning anew....we were on page three.

Marie, how did you make out with nutrionist? Part of my program was group with psycholologist. She gave us so many techniques for dealing with food cravings, snacking, etc etc. How to know when it is your mind that is hungry and not your body. Think I would list her as the #1 reason I have been successful--well maybe Merida # 1. Anyway sounds like you are doing well.

Ruthxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, glad to "see" you. We are never in chat at the same time.

Things going alone fine here. I am tolerating the 15mg of Merida well---no side effects and it is helping me a bit more although not a huge difference. Have been exercising every day.

Keep posting.....

Hi Nikolas!

I am still around...I am still taking Merida although it doesnt seem to be helping me quite like it did, but I believe it still makes a difference.


I am glad you arent experiencing any side effects on 15mg. My doctor increased me on my second month even tho 10mg was working fine! This really screwed me up, because when I went back to 10mg it never seemed as effective.

Oh well, the support group you are in sounds interesting. Do you go every week? How did you find it?

Take Care,
Elle

Hi Girls,

Just wanted to post on the new thread. I haven't been on for most of the week because I have had a horrible cold. Fever, aches, stuffy nose, cough...the whole ball of wax. I haven't done so good food wise this week..eating a lot of comfort foods I guess because of the way I was feeling. I am feeling much much better today and plan on resting the rest of the weekend. Then going to get back on track come Monday:).

My doctors appt last week showed that my blood pressure and heart rate are fine. So he gave me a prescription for another month of Meridia. I am down 11 lbs. Haven't weighed myself this week.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Marsha

Just checking in...doing fairly well. I put on a pair of my fat pants today and I don't think they will be fitting much longer (once they fall off I can declare success!) I haven't officially weighed in since starting the Meridia but I think I am down about about 3 or 4 pounds in the last week. I went to the gym today for aerobics but lasted about 5 minutes before my stomach started giving me shooting pains...oh so charming! So I made a quick exit and went home to curl up in my PJ's instead. I think I deserve to have burned the calories since I actually made the effort to get there!

Still waiting for my additional visits to get cleared by my insurance. The letter actually got to where it needed to be so now I just need to wait for the approval (which shouldn't be an issue). I have an appointment with the nutritionist on Thursday which hopefully I won't have to cancel.

I made a great recipe last night- I know this isn't where people are supposed to post recipes but it is so easy and yummy I thought I would throw it in. I had it years ago at my college roomates house and she just got around to giving it to me last week!

So you grill up some marinated teriaki chicken, throw it on some lettuce and whatever else you like on a salad (cucumbers, carrots, etc) and top with this yummy low fat dressing made of:

1 cup ff kraft mayo
1/2 cup OJ
1 T honey
1 t dry mustard
Shake well and refrigerate before serving

I am a one step cook so this was a great/easy thing to make.

I hope everyone is disappearing (melting pounds that is). I will check in after my official weigh in on Thursday with some good news hopefully!

Marie thanks for the recipe for salad dressing....it sounds yummy. Normally I do not use fat free mayo (use the low fat) cause I do not like the taste but will try this one. Fortunately low fat is so ingrained in me now that some days I do not even eat 15 grams of fat (am allowed 30 grams a day). However, do have to watch calorie count. I would most certainly count those calories as burned.....after all you did make the effort, lol. Hope your weigh in goes well on Thursday.

Marsha, glad you are feeling better and you are doing super with your weight. You and your doctor must be so pleased.

Elle, it really is so good to "see" you again. Hard for me to believe I have been on this board for a year now. I found my group through the doctor that heads the obesity program at a nearby hospital. I had, however, to wait four months to see him.

I had my WW weigh in today. Joined WW at Work since there were so many people joining and the more support the better. I don;t do the points, as yet, but may start. I am now losing one lb a week and that is only if I am VERY good with my food and exercise. I knew loss would slow down eventully

Stay well all of you.

So I thought I would post...Perhaps someone could give me a tad of a motivation boost! I had to cancel ANOTHER nutritionist appointment because of more insurance issues...I know have finally gotten another 5 visits approved (hmm only took about a month!!!)

So last night was not so good...No valentine, went out with the girls and decided just to eat what I wanted. So we had....fried cheese curds, onion rings, cheeseburgers and fries. I am a bit surprised that I didn't puke in some sort of rejection from all that grease but I felt just fine (looks like I could have used a grand dose of XENICAL!!!) I guess I didn't eat as much as I might of in terms of a portion but I will certainly be working to get back on track.

I have been thinking about joining weight watchers. I have found that it really isn't enough for me to be weighing in during my infrequent trips to the nutritionist/doctor. Plus I haven't been good about writing down what I have been eating so WW could certainly be helpful. I had been fighting spending the money but I think it might add to my success.

Hope everyone is doing well....Well Nik I hope you are well since we seem to be the only people posting:) Did you end up trying the salad?

Hello!
I've been reading your posts for awhile now and thought I'd hop in. I started taking Meridia on Friday and I don't know if it's in my head but my appitite has changed. It's great to be able to talk to other people who are taking Meridia. And Nik - what an inspiration! 90 pounds is incredible!
Looking forward to talking with all of you!

Here I am......thought I would post prior to doing my exercise tonight, think I am trying to avoid doing any. Boy after a year one would think I would get used to exercising. Some times I have to just force myself. The pounds are coming off slow slow slow now. I am trying to drink two of my meals for two days using Kashi Go Lean. Had cereal this a.m. and Kashi for lunch and will have it when I am done exercising. I need to jump start my weight loss. Fortunately the Merida really does help. I am not recommending this approach to anyone by the way (usually I eat very healthy portioned meals) but needed to do something different.

Marie, I tried the salad dressing. It was delicious. Everyone in my family liked it. Thanks. Yes Weight Watchers does help, Marie. I am however the opposite of you. I began in a program where you did not have to get weighed, although I did so weekly in the beginning. Then I switched to every two weeks. WW and the scale drives me crazy, so I hid my scale at home and will do the meeting without getting on the scale weekly.

Shelly, welcome. Glad you joined us. I too found that the Merida seemed to help me within a few days. For some people it takes up to two weeks. Good luck and keep posting.

Marsha, hope we haven't lost you. You were doing so well. Let us know.

Hello Everyone,

Meridia really is the help tool I needed. If it weren't for it I am afraid I would have to have the gastric bypass surgury and that is just too radical for me, so I thank God for Meridia. It is so nice not to be thinking about food allllllllllllllll the time.

Hope you are all doing well. Nikolas you are doing so well, I cant wait til I hit 95 lbs lost, it seems so far a way.......

I am going to New York the first week of March. I hope I can stay focused and not go off my diet. I don't feel the need to take time off from it for my vacation. I can still enjoy myself just as much without getting out of control with food. Its just harder when you have to eat out more often. I don't want a set back. Sometimes it takes me too long to come back from a set back, ya know!

Take care,
Elle

I am still here. Still not feeling quite up to snuff. Lost my voice and still have a nasty cough. So I have only been reading lately then turning the computer off. I was off my Meridia for about a week due to interactions with cold meds. I started back on it yesterday. I am going to weigh myself today and TRY to exercise. Notice I said TRY. Everytime I exert too much I end up in a coughing fit. I will let you know how it goes.

Have a great day everyone!!

Marsha

So after 3 tries I finally made it to the nutritionist. The official loss since my last visit is 5.1 lbs. That was about 5 weeks ago- about 3 1/2 of those weeks on Meridia. Definately not as much as I would have hoped for but 5 lbs is 5lbs! I think I always compare my losses to the last time I was losing- and I had a couple of 5lb losses in a week. I guess there is no harm in it coming off a bit slower.

I am going to concentrate on eating slower and making much smaller portions. I am a member of the clean plate club and I have eaten past a satisfying full feeling more than a couple times recently- and there is no reason to do that. I am going on vacation to San Francisco next week- there are lots of big meals planned at wineries, etc. so I will have to be up for a challenge! The only good thing is that I am going with my parents- and my mom recently started Weight Watchers- so hopefully she will be my partner in crime and split most meals with me. Plus she is very active so she is always up for a walk- and San Fran has alot of hills!

Welcome to the newbies- and come back to all the oldies...I am still a newbie but it is always alot more fun where there is more to read!

I went to aerobics again last night- no tummy ache so I made it through the class- although after 60 minutes I was pooped! I also made a big ol' pot of veggie soup on Sunday...and well it tasted like a bit ol' pot of veggies- but since I am not much of a chef I thought it was a good effort.

My size 14's are starting to fit again. The goal is to fit into a sassy little outfit from Arden B (one of those fashionable annoying stores that only goes up to a size 12) for my friends bachelorette party in April. I was discussing this with her last night and she informed me that there 12's are probably smaller than a comparable 12- so I may have to adjust that goal! Particularly since things seem to be going a little bit slower than planned...

Hope everyones week is going well. :)

Hello everyone :wave:

It's been a very long time since ive been on here( :o almost a year) so Im sure some of you dont remember me. Hopefully this time around i'll be here a bit longer. The price of the meridia made it impossible to continue last year. Fortunately I am now working so I can "indulge":smug: . Im looking forward to getting to know all of you who i have not met, and reaquainted with those who i have. Untill then,
Meredith

So I woke up today at 4 am (again). Since starting the Meridia I have definately experienced some sleeplessness but it also seems like I need less sleep in general than I did in the past. Does anyone know if I really could be needing less sleep or if the Meridia is somehow keeping me from sleeping- causing some sort of inner sleep deprivation when I really should be getting more sleep? If that makes sense...

:)

It hasn't happened to me, but I have heard that from several other people I know who are taking Meridia.

Are you taking 10mg or 15mg?


Elle

Hi -

I have been taking Meridia since November 2001. I also experienced sleep problems - like waking up and not being able to get back to sleep easily. This only lasted for about three weeks and I have had no problems since that time. The doctor told me it takes a while for your system to adjust. Good lunck!

Hi everyone. Found your posts interesting on sleeplessness and Merida. I never had that problem and still had trouble getting up in the a.m. I am not a morning person. However since being on the 15mg dosage, I notice that I can still get to sleep, don't wake in the middle of the night but do wake up early in the a.m. Weird. Since I tend to go to bed late (love to read), this getting up early isn't a plus. Had to nap when I got home tonight. Well perhaps it is the Merida.

Elle, I had considered gastric bypass surgery also. I was so desperate since I could not seem to stop over eating. So glad that the Merida is working for both of us. Have a wonderful time on your New York vacation. I will be honest and say that I have been on two mini and one large vacation since beginning this food journey. During my first trip to Baltimore to see my Red Sox play (we were there five days) I gained 2 lbs....not bad. Our trip over Labor Day was a gain of 7 lbs but it came off fast...and Hawaii-------yaaaaa 12 lbs. However, it was fairly easy to get back on track, however and I did not beat myself up over it.

Marie, congrats on your weight loss. I think that the 5 lbs is wonderful. Another way to look at it----where would you be if you were not watching your food intake. Before I began, I was probably gaining about a lb each week. Keep it up. I know it can be slow but you will get there.

Meredith, hope you are having success with Merida. It is expensive, no doubt about it. However, because I was such a junk food junkie, I'm sure I spent $3 a day on junk food. Anyway, so glad you are back and I am pulling for you.

Hello I am new to this part of the board.

I just started taking Meridia today and I am doing WW along with it. I need to lose about 100 pounds. I have lost weight before but have not had success in keeping it off.


Can someone tell me what to expect from Meridia? I go back to the doctor in April. I would like to lose 10 pounds by then if possible.


TIA

:love:

P

Whaaaaaahhhhh! I am off to the doc on Thursday. Am planning to discuss Meridia with him - YET AGAIN! - but this appointment is for CTS. Sure hope he can handle two concepts at once!

I really would not mind the waking up side effect if I knew it was from a drug that was helping me lose weight.

Wish me luck on Thursday.

Hi everyone :wave:

Well, it's been a week now and I am finally feeling the effects of the meridia. Now comes the hard part for me, getting off my lazy bum and going to the gym. :^: It is very nice to feel content after a meal and not feel embaressed because i want more or had too much.DH says he doesn't notice, but i sure do.
I have a question for you all, I remember reading that the reason why it takes so much food to give a full feeling was because your stomach has stretched, and it actually does take more to fill it. Do any of you know how long it takes for it to shrink back to 'normal' size?
Also curious, are any of you using other systems (ww, atkins etc) while using the meridia?
Well, I really have a million questions but i'll save a few for later :lol:
meredith

Myrose I am doing WW along with taking the Meridia. I have only been talking it since Tuesday. And on Tuesday I did not eat well at all. Yesterday was a really good day. I even went to bed early because I was tired instead of eating because I was tired.

I want to lose 50 pounds and then go off the meridia and lose the rest on my own.

I can tell I am not hungry as often either. Yesterday I had breakfast at 7:30 and did not have a snack till 11:45. Which was not bad.

Also had 6 boxes of GS cookies and did not touch one. That is a first for me.

Now I want to see how long I can make the cookies last. I know they last longer if you don't open them. :lol:



P

Ruthxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, hope your doctor's visit went well. Do let us know. I really love your avatar. I now want one of those dogs. I love dogs....would have one of each type if I could.

Pyria, welcome. I think everyone's weight loss is different. I was averaging 2.3 lbs per week last year until my November Hawaii trip and the holidays. Since I have lost almost 100 lbs my weight loss has slowed considerably. Seems like a ten lb loss is certainly a reasonable amount to lose by April. Personally, I never set lb. goals for myself. On many of the boards people put their Easter goals, Mother's Day goals etc. Perhaps I did not want to set myself up for failure. It sounds like Merida is working for you. I too have six boxes of GS cookies. Mine are opened since there are others in my house that love them. I run by them. lol. Keep posting.

Meredith, I am now doing WW at Work but really am just there for the weeky support. I am in a program at a local hospital which is based on low fat and small portions, exercise and lots of water. Also and I hate to honestly answer your question regarding the streeeeeeeeetched stomach.....but I think that is correct. Yours stomach gets bigger and requires more to fill it. Unfortunately, (and it may be just me) I can still eat as much as I used to before my weight loss, my vacation eating proved that. However, I was very heavy so that would make a difference.

Take care, all of you. We can do this together.

Well, my Doc is a sweetie and really cares about me. However, he does not want me on Meridia yet!

He prescribed Xenical to be taken ONLY with high fat meals - says it helps overweight diabetics stabilize. (The darn thing costs $155 - not covered by insurance - and that is for a month's supply! Maybe I'll just take up smoking instead!) He says that once I lose a bit - like 15 pounds - we'll do the stress test thingie again and then he will prescribe Meridia if the heart checks out OK.

I may get the prescription filled today and give it a try. I eat mostly low fat anyhow (20-25 grams daily) so may not use it much - except for chicken wings! Pretty silly to be on a drug you don't want just so you can get on a drug you do want. :shrug:

Anyhow, I'll keep snooping in here. We don't seem to have a Xenical thread anymore.

Well, I finally did it. For the first time in nearly a year, I went to the gym :sheep: . I did the begginner step class although i know most of the advanced stuff from my "thin" days :strong: . Lets just say that im somewhat relieved that my schedule doesnt allow me to go again untill monday.(due to work) .

Im having a really tough time with the water thing, because i cant stand the stuff. Its hard to convince my body that water tastes better than pepsi, lol. Over all, im having a much harder time committing to things than i did last year when i was on meridia. I had really wanted to find some 'local' people with similar problems, which is the main reason im thinking of ww. So i guess once my next payday rolls around i'll go to my first meeting.

For those of you on ww, how is the fact that your taking meridia viewed? I know that for example my family was all very supportive, but other friends tended to think i was taking the 'easy' way out. What kind of views should i expect when i walk in the door?
Untill next time
Meredith

Ruthie, I don't know where the Xenical thread went....perhaps all are in the bathroom. We will just chip in and get you some Depends....only kidding. I considered Xenical also but since eating fat was only a small part of my diet (sweets, junk, sweets, sweets) I decided against it. You are fortunate to have a doc who cares. In this day so many of them don't . It was good to see you in chat

Meredith, I love your little icons....cute. Exercise is supposed to be fun or at least that's what our WW leader told us last week. Sometimes, I just do not want to do it but once I start I always feel like I've accomplished something.

I am in WW at Work and some of the people know I take Merida and others do not. It is certainly not somthing you have to announce unless you want to. I laugh when people think Merida is the easy way. I do agree it helps especially in the beginning but it is an aid. You still have to do it on your own, eat smart, drink water and exercise. Have you tried the flavored seltzer water. I am never without it. I do however, like just plain water, but prefer the flavored seltzer. They also have flavored water without the fizz.....you should try them. Good luck

AM NOT IN THE BATHROOM, NIK! So far no horrible side-effects. Down 2 pounds BUT probably would have been down anyhow. I have been pretty careful of fats - only taking a pill with a higher fat meal. However, am getting a major craving for chicken wings and may indulge on the weekend. Then we will see if there are many yicky side-effects. Am still working towards Meridia.

Hi all,

What an inspiring thread - I am a new to this. I just started taking Merida and so far so good! (I used to be on Xenical - without much success and yes I can relate to the toilet comment- now THAT was a bad side effect...bring out the Depend alright)

Anyway, I can't believe that for once in my life I really DON'T want to eat...this from a person who ate regardless of whether I was hungry or not - I just like the taste of food. ;)

I was interested to know how long most people need to take it before noticing weight loss and how bad are the side effects (if any)?

MyGirl :wave:

Hi MyGirl,

I cant really speak for the others, but Ive been taking it for two weeks and have lost 4 pounds (keeping in mind that i have only been to the gym once and my water intake is pathetic :p) so i think it works pretty well. Ive been on it twice, and this time as far as side effects go, theyre nonexistant. Last time on the other hand, i felt like my tongue was made of cotton, and 'fibre' became a regular word of my vocabulary. I guess when you loose 16lbs in a matter of a month the side effects dont seem worth worrying over. I understand that some people can have their bloodpressure zoom up, but fortunately i dont fall into that category. I hope that some of this helps, but Im sure some of the other girls on this thread will be able to help as well. Hope to see you here often :wave:

meredith

Thanks meredith! :) and congratulations on the weightloss - this was so encouraging to read.

I haven't as yet been exercising although my intentions have been good...lol. I will probably wait a few more days until a week has passed before I hop on the scales.

I do feel a bit thristy especially at night I suppose I better up my intake of water.

Please God let this be the ONE thing that works for me - I think I have tried just about everything to lose weight. :^:

My Girl. The only side effect that I had with Merida was dry mouth. This continued for me for about six months but was well worth it for the benefits I gained.

My doctor, monitors my blood pressure as I',m sure do all the docs that prescribe Merida.

I began to lose weight immediately but this was due to decreasing my portions, drinking 80-100 oz of water a day, and exerercise.

Hope you too have success.

Ruthxxxxxxxxxxx, will be out getting Depends for you. Hope you enjoyed your extra fatty meal over the weekend.

doing ok so far...until today....when I just HAD to have chocolate yikes I felt a bit our of control!

I am little restless at night and not sleeping all that well, but on the upside, the dry mouth seems to have gone. :p

Just took my first half pill yesterday and the other half this morning. One a day split in half is my doctor's prescription. I've also just started taking Metformin for my diabetes and I'm not sure which medication is making me so dizzy/lightheaded.

My doctor wasn't too clear on what Meridia is supposed to do for my diet but after reading some of this thread I see that it's supposed to help curb cravings. Is this correct? I've been on WW since last June and have only lost 19 lb. Well, actually 14 lb since I gained 5 back over Christmas which I haven't been able to lose. I've been binge eating for two months and even missed my last WW meeting because I was so certain I'd blown it again.

Has anybody else experienced dizziness with Meridia? Does it eventually go away? I still have over 100 lb to lose and I sure don't want to be spinny for as long as it takes.
LindaBC

Just checking in. Welcome Linda. I have not had any dizziness with Merida. However, you must have a different form of the pill there. All of the pills sold here in the US are capsules so can't be broken in half. WW is a good program.....at least you can eat everything. Take it slow....you will get there. With diabetes your doctor must want you to lose weight.

my girl.....chocolate (yum). I had Irish bread today. It tasted sooooo good. Sometimes I just can't control myself.

Hope everyone is doing well.

The Meridia IS in capsule form. I take one a day. It's the Metformin for my diabetes that I have to cut in half.
Anyhow, whatever was causing my dizziness seems to be easing off now. Today I'm feeling full of energy so I have a feeling the Metformin may have already lowered my blood glucose levels enough that I don't feel constantly drowsy. I've been whipping around the house vacuuming, dusting and cleaning stuff that I'd been ignoring for weeks.
I think the Meridia is helping me to control my cravings. I haven't had any to speak of since starting the meds. I seem to be quite satisfied with my WW meals and snacks. I was down 1/2 lb at my WW meeting yesterday which is better than it's been lately.
LindaBC