Merida....going into the Spring of 2002
 

Starting a new thread....hate when it gets to 3 pages.

Well Linda right now it seems to be just you and I. It sounds like your body is beginning to adjust to the medications. I always hate to begin to take new medications and you had to begin two at once.

Wish you lived closer with all that energy. My house needs a good cleaning.

I have been losing very slowly (or not at all) and had to tweak my exercise program a bit. Tonight I went and got weighed on the same scale where I first got weighted 14 months ago. It is official tonight---have lost 100 (and a half) lbs. I still have a ways to go and since I am now losing at the rate of 1/2 lb a week, it will be another year before I have lost all. I am convinced, though, that it is better to lose slowly.

Keep up the good work and take care of yourself.

whooo hooo!
 

Hey everyone...Sorry I have been absentee lately but I have been on 2 vacations (San Fran and North Carolina) and very busy at work.

Nik- Congrats on your 100 lb loss! What a great feeling that must be!

I had a nutritionist appointment today and by some miracle I lost 4 1/2 lbs in the last 2 weeks. That is the best I have done since starting Meridia and I consider it a bit of a miracle considering I was visiting friends in North Carolina and was not eating very well- although I was good about working out.

My clothes are finally fitting again so I feel a bit better when I look in the mirror. I have decided I can officially declare success when I lose another 10 lbs- which will put me back at my lowest adult weight. So far I have lost about 20 lbs or so- I think about 10 of those on Meridia. Only about another 50 or so to go total (but I will keep with the mini goals for now!)

I had been reading a bit on another site about some of the recent health concerns/scares. I spoke with my nutritionist today and I don't feel like I have anything to worry about. My blood pressure is perfect and I have even had a better time sleeping lately. I also starting taking my pill at around 11am- this has helped take the edge off a little better later in the day.

I am going to work on doing a food journal....haven't been very good with that lately! My nutritionist suggested a few different diet websites that don't charge that might help with tracking. Have any of you tried any you like?

Off to bed...I will check in again soon...

Hi, Would you mind if I joined your thread? I started taking Meridia on Wednesday. I have about 60 pounds to lose and just can't seem to do it on my own. I have tried WW points but I get so stressed trying to keep track and then when unexpected plans come up I panic. I really like to just eat healthy, whole grains, protein, fruits & vegetables but my hunger was unbelievable...I find that I'm still really hungry on Meridia but I haven't cheated in 2 days so it must be doing something...I can't explain it but it's almost like nothing really appeals to you so you can make better choices...like chocolate isn't as appealing...I don't know...I did a bad thing and weighed myself this morning and I'm down 2 1/2 pounds...not bad in 2 days...keep this up and I'll be at goal in 60 days (ha ha)...I know that won't be happening!! Well I hope to get to know you.

Kim

183.5/181/125

Hi...
I've been a "lurker" forever and have finally decided to post! I have just restarted my Meridia. I loved it,but had to go off of it for a while due to some other health problems, and regained some weight :(
I was doing great before I had to go off. I had almost passed the dreaded 200 mark. I wasn't much over 200, but oh the joy in seeing that scale read 199!
Well, guys wish me luck....this has been the only thing that has worked for me,so I'm hoping to see 199 soon.

MauiMamma
218/ist goal 199/goal weight 150-160

Hi Mauimomma,

I was wondering if you had headaches when you started Meridia...I've had a slight one each day that I've taken the pill. I've only been on it since Wednesdaypass so I'm hoping that they will pass. Do you feel that Meridia changes your appetite? I'm still hungry but I haven't had any junk so I'd say it's working for me...I'm glad that Meridia worked for you and I hope you see 199 very soon :)

Marie, welcome back. I forgot you were going on vacation. You did such a super job. Can;t believe you lost that much weight while you spent time on vacation. I have consistantly gained on every vacation I have taken.....12 lbs while I was in Hawaii. You are really working on this weight loss.....I do journal sometimes and find it very helpful but time consuming. I know people who used some of the tools on line but know for me I would never use it---too lazy.

Welcome I'm losing it and MauiMomma. Glad you are both joining us. Headaches are one of Merida's side effects. I had slight ones when I first began but they went away. The side effect that lasted the longest for me was dry mouth but that too has disappeared.

MauiMomma, it is wonderful to break that 200 lb mark.....feels wonderful. You will do it again---you are not far away from 199. I was in Maui in November. It is a bit of heaven and look forward to returning some day.

Keep up the good work everyone.

Hello,

I have read a lot of your posts and I thought I would contribute...

I just started taking Meridia today..In Australia we call it reductil, but I will refer to it as meridia..

I am nervous, I don't know what to expect...

Can anyone tell me how long before I start to notice it working?.

How long until the side effects ease?..I have been dizzy today and feeling a bit off...(probably because of dizziness)..

When is the best time to take it?, I've taken mine in the morning to avoid sleeplessness...is that right?

I am concerned about my blood pressure, but the doctor seems OK with it so far. I have been on Xenical for 12 months and we are trying this instead as the Xenical seemed to lose its effectiveness..

I am especially interested in the antedepressant side to it....

thank you.

Hi glasseyes:

I was also dizzy the first 4-5 days but that stopped...I also didn't have a headache today for the first time so hopefully that side effect has stopped too. I take my pill at around 8:00 AM and that seems to work for me. It's been 6 days and I finally saw the 170's for the first time in months...I am going to weigh myself tomorrow because that will be one week...after that I'll only weigh on Wednesdays...

Nikolaus - thanks for the welcome!

Kim

183.5/179.5/125

meridia side effects
 

Hi to everyone who is new! I have been on the Meridia for a few months now and most of the side effects I have felt initially have subsided a bit. Initially I felt very "zippy." In general I don't often feel like that except for when I am rushing around alot (days like today!) When this happens I am often so busy that I haven't eaten- which in my opinion can add to the edgy feeling!

I had quite a bit of problems with sleeping and had been taking my pill around 9am to help with that issue. That lasted about a month (the sleep disturbance) and I haven't had too many problems recently- although I have noticed that I sleep less overall now. A few weeks ago I started taking my pill around 11am. I found that when I was taking it earlier I had no hunger in the morning and early afternoon (when I didn't have problems with portions to begin with) and was often starving in the evening. 11 seems to be a good time for me. It takes the edge off for my evening meal and hasn't kept me from sleeping. Yesterday I forgot to take my Meridia and took it around noontime- and last night I had a horrible night sleep! I am thinking that perhaps that the extra hour made the difference!

I haven't had any increase in blood pressure, have had dry mouth the whole time (have been drinking alot of water and chewing lots of gum!) I also have had a few bouts of constipation (yuck/ouch!) I eat alot of fiber and have tried to be good with the veggies but the few times it has hit me I have been in some MAJOR pain.

While I felt like I was less hungry initially, my best losses have come recently. Maybe I just think less about being on the medicine and have adjusted to some of my new habits.

Aloha All,
Thanks for the welcome :)
I had very few side effects on the meridia. I had a headache the first day and a little trouble sleeping the first few weeks. After that i was fine :)
I noticed that my appetite didn't neccesarily lessen, it was more like food was less appelaing and i felt satisfied with less.
Nikolas, so glad to hear that you have been to my lovely island :)
Mauimamma
216/1 goal 199/ final goal???

Welcome glass eyes (interesting moniker you have). I am glad you have joined us. I was fortunate in that I did not have any side effects in the beginning with Merida except for dry mouth. However my mouth was REALLY dry. Marie, like you I had to increase my water and always carry a bottle with me. The upside of this is that we need water....I now drink 90-120 ounces a day.

I did not feel zippy in the beginning nor did I lose sleep. I take my pill first thing in the a.m. It is only recently, perhaps since my increase to 15mg, that at times I feel hyper and need less sleep. Not bothersome but lets me know I am on a drug.

I do not know about the antidepressent effects except that Merida works by increasing your seretonium (sp?) level (feeling of well being??) And old poster once mentioned that she had been on prozac and Merida had the same effect on her but to a lesser degree. My own experience is that Merida helped me stop thinking about food. I have no experience with antidepressents but I thought that they caused people to gain weight?????

I hope you are all aware of the recent media attention that Merida is receiving. There are some concerns about its safety and depending on which source you are listening to 24-30 people have died while on Merida. If you have not heard this, don't panic. You can go to the Merida site www.4Merida.com and get their view point and hopefully there is a Good Morning America site that should have info on it since they aired the story this week Obviously, the heavier people are the more health risks they have....high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes etc.

I have been on Merida since Jan 2001 and have BP and heart checked every two months. It is important that everyone is monitored. Pay attention to your body signals....don't ignore chest pain. They interviewed a woman whose husband had died after going on the 15mg pill (yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa) and they asked her if he had any warning. She said that he had been having chest pains for two/three weeks before he died.

Again, I am not trying to scare anyone (I am still taking Merida) but just wanted to make sure that you were all aware and did your own reading.

The Easter bunny will be here on Sunday. For holidays, I try to plan out what I am going to eat or not eat. There are some foods that my family only makes on Easter. I will indulge in these and leave the lasagna, ham etc alone. Also I think the Easter bunny is bringing me a choc. cream egg which I plan to eat and enjoy.

Have a good weekend everyone.

My experience so far
 

Ok, it's been 5 days now, I've just taken pill # 6...

The decrease in apetite I have experienced so far is phenomenal. I won't say I am not hungry, because I still desire food, but I only really want the food that is good for me. I have been eating really well, and I don't want it ALL the time!!

Prior to starting meridia, I was constantly thinking about food, sweet things, chocolate and chips, takeaways and junk food. Now I find myself rarely thinking of it at all. This has been the greatest freedom I have known in a long time. There is nothing worse to me than being trapped by your own thoughts!.

I read that meridia was originally developed as an ante depressant, then they discovered that it actually helped people to lose weight, so it has been marketed as a weight loss drug. I sort of wish they'd taken the ante depressant slant, as it might have been cheaper to buy then!!. :D So far, I think it is really helping me as I suffer depression which is made worse by being overweight and constantly tired...

I need to know how much exercise you people are doing. One
thing I really struggle with is exercising...

I just wanted to see how everyone was doing on the Meridia? I've been on it 13 days and have lost 6 1/2 pounds. I am happy with that. The only side effect I'm experiencing now is constipation. I haven't had any candy or sweet since starting and I was a person who ate junk all day. I just started doing 1/2 hour each night on my treadmill. Well I hope you all are doing good too...

Kim

183.5/177/125

Started 3/20/02

Hey, I'm Losing it....
I am doing good so far. Down about 4 lbs in a week, I know that will slow down ,but it still feels great :)
How is everyone else doing???
MauiMamma

Hi everyone. Sounds like you are all doing well. You have all lost quite a bit of weight. It does feel good to lose a lot but just remember it slows down.

I have to tell that to myself over and over and over. I have lost just a bit over 100 lbs and it has taken me 14 months. The weight is coming off slowly now so I only get weighed every few weeks.

Now, glasseyes, please do not scream when I tell you how much I exercise. I try to exercise every day but usually 6 out of 7 days for a minimum of 45 minutes to one hour. There are many days, that I don't want to do it but I feel better afterwards. The endorphins (sp?) help elevate your mood.

Keep up the good work everyone. Check in...I am so glad to have company.

scale addiction
 

Nikolas...
Oh well, I seem to be stuck at a plateau...I think i'd better nto weight myslef for a while. Maybe i am just getting scale happy! Since you seem to have been battling this wieght thing and winning---100 pounds yipee!---I thought I would ask you...what's my hang up about the scale?
My clothes are looser and i'm in things i haven't been in for quite a long time....so why am i so hung up on the numbers???
Any advice on getting over my scale addiction?
MauiMamma

oh no!. not EVERY day!!..
 

45 minutes a day , EVERY day?. My gosh...I better get moving!!!!!

I went back to the doctor this week because I just didn't know what to think about the racing heart and the muscle tension, I thought my High Blood pressure was going to kill me....
He put my mind at ease, my bP wasn't up that much at all, I am just stressed because my husband just lost his job...
I just need to relax...

AND I KNOW exercise is a good way to do that...

So off I go on a walk..

Also, the doctor weighed me, and I had lost 3.8LBS in 10 days..
so that's a good start considering I dont exercise every day (once every 2-3 days is all I am doing at the moment).

;)

till next time!

MauiMama, I had hubby hide my scale. Well, not really but I don't know if I mentioned it but I am also doing WW at Work. I became obsessed cause they weighed us every week. I found myself getting depressed when I hit a plateau. The scale was hurting me more than helping me. Put it away somewhere and get weighed every two weeks (if you can stand to wait that long)

Glasseyes, teriffic weight loss. You must be psyched. Glad doctor found your bp to be OK. Sorry to hear about your husband's job. That is very stressful. I am sure he will find another soon and I will think postive thoughts for both of you.

DON'T let me scare you about the exercise. I did not exercise at all in the beginning and the weight still came off. However, I was in a group of people who were all trying to do some exercise and I was the only one who was resistent. Start slowly, I had to---could not do more than 10 minutes at first.

Take care.

hairdos that make you cry....
 

So I tried a new hairdresser yesterday (at recommendation of one of my friends). I currently live in Chicago and my sister and I had been driving all the way to Milwaukee to get our hair done with someone who she had gone to when she lived there (it is about an hour and a half away without traffic- but the traffic is the big question). Anyways I have been trying to go back to my natural brunette color- and I told the new person I wanted her to put in highlights to blend what my old hairdresser had done as it is growing out....next thing you know, I have paid $200 (hairdos are a big rip off in the big city) and I have LIGHT blond streaks. So anyways I cried when I got home- and this morning with some perspective I have realized it doesn't so much look horrible it just isn't what I want...although I do feel a bit like a skunk because she put a very light one right at my forehead which looks a little weird...I think I might go back and ask her to tone the highlights down...boo hoo :(

Oh yes...my meridia :) I think I have probably been eating a little more than i need to...Although I am comfortably back into my size 14's and back to within 10 lb's of my lowest adult body weight. I have been good about going to the gym about 3 times a week (which always helps).

Things are really picking up at work- and I am getting concerned about being able to continue to make all of this a priority- this was the time of year last year that I started packing the pounds on- I am going to try to keep encouraging myself to be selfish :)

I met a new guy...very nice, the keeping kind from what I can tell. We are going out tonight. The only problem is that he has bad teeth- anyone have an opinion about whether one can gently suggest that a mate get braces down the road in a relationship? :)

Off to see the babies at the Children's Hospital (I volunteer there every other week). Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

anyone having stomach trouble on meridia
 

I am about a week or so into (retaking) my meridia....i am having a lot of stomach upset....cramps, nausea, bathroom problems---did anyone else find this to be the case?
Nikolas ( i hate calling you that, you're a girl! is this your hubbie's member name or did you just have a cool with it Mom???)
i think i need to go and bury my scale in some kind of ritual ceremony...i went up by a pound and a half and felt like i was going to flip out! Thanks for your advice :)
MM

new member
 

HI Everyone I am new to this site & to Meridia. I just started Meridia on Thursday. So far so good, only down 3 pounds. But it hasn't been hard, not hungry at all! I currently have to lose 31 pounds to even start in the healty range, would like to lose 46, but will be better off with any loss.

Welcome Christina. I think you are off to a wonderful start. Keep up the good work and check in.

MauiMamma, Nikolas is one of my dogs names. He is a Welsh Corgi Pembroke--also have a female Corgi names Elvis...so I guess I am a cool mom. I never had stomach problems with Merida and I have not heard of anyone who has had those type of severe problems. Perhaps a stomach bug? Let us know how you are. Yes, try to dump the scale.....we are women and our weight tends to flucuate from week to week. A woman in my WW group just lost 3.2 lbs since last week. ??????? is what she said...she had been so depressed since the past 3 weigh ins prior she had not lost a thing. Then all of a sudden it was gone. Let us know how you are feeling.

Marie....boy do I know that feeling......getting hair done....paying a lot and hating it. I live right outside of Boston and pay the same type of prices for color/streaking. DO take yourself back -- call first and tell her you are very unhappy and tell her the reason why. We tend not to complain about our hair to the haidresser but our friends, signifcant others etc. have to hear it. I finally decided that if I was not happy especially if the hairdresser did not do as I asked that I would say something immediately and make another appointment before I left to have the problem corrected. Good Luck

Glad you have met someone you think might be a "keeper" As far as his teeth??????? Well, if you don;t like them now you will not like them in the future. Either he likes them the way they are or perhaps doesn't have the $$$ to pay to have them fixed. Catch him asleep and just extract the whole lot.

Take care everyone....I have not been weighed in two weeks...don't know if I have lost anything.

Hi Everyone, So far I have not had a single problem/side effect with the Meridia. I have had trouble sleeping, but I am not sure if that is from the Meridia, the stress at work, or the riding that blessed stationairy bike at about 8 every night. I am not tired the next day, so it may also be more energy from eating right & still going to bed at the same time. I will be gald when it gets a little nicer out & I can do stuff outside with the kids & be active, that doesn't feel like torture to exercise in the basement at night! Have a good day! I haven't weighed myself since this weekend. OUr scale was so inaccurate, that I finally broke down & ordered a really good one. I decided to wait until that came to log the progess. Have a good day everyone!

deaths related to meridia...truth or hype?
 

Hi all :)
I am really concerned with some of the things i have been reading about these deaths that they are saying are meridia related. It didnt' say anything about how these people died. Was it people with high blood pressure/heart problems and this just contributed or what???
Any body have any thoughts on this?
MauiMamma

Sorry MauiMamma, we had some personal things come up and I did not have a chance to get to the board.

I had posted earlier on when I first heard about the Merida deaths. I saw two people interviewed on GMA. One woman's husband had died of a heart attack. Unfortunately, he had chest pains for week-2weeks and ignored them. I am sure that if you did a search on the net you will find info on what happened to the people who died. I get checked every two months by my primary care doctor and I would immediatly go to the hospital if I had chest pain. I think we should be concerned no matter what drugs we are on. I, right now, am not overly concerned with taking Merida but will keep my ears open.

How are you doing with your weight? I have lost 104 lbs to date and still have a ways to go. Some days it is easier than others. Today I was sooooooo hungry, I drank tons of water and will be up and down all night.

Check in......this is how these threads are. People come and go.

Take care.

still here!
 

I am still here, but the initial quick weight loss has slowed of course. I am into my 4th week now, but I have only lost 2lbs in the last 2-3 weeks. I am a little disappointed in that, considering I have been exercising and not eating a lot at all.

Perhaps I am not eating enough, but I am seriously not hungry at all. There were a couple of hungry days, but I got through those without overeating..

I am still feeling positive about it, I feel like I am losing size, if not weight, but I haven't taken measurements so I don't really know.

Most side effects have stopped, get the occasional headache and muscle aches, but I would probably have that without the drugs!.
This is so much better than Zenical, I feel like I am normal, not having to rush to the bathroom every 5 seconds!!.

HI NIK!!!
 

Hey Nik,

How's it going? Have not checked in for a while as I am quite bummed out and not really eating well or taking my Xenical....I did not do well over xmas and january....and just can't seem to get back on track. Went on holidays to Mexico in March (all inclusive - need I say more???)...and had a REALLY GOOD TIME....and the scale confirms that, so I'm still kinda stuck in a bad eating/weight gain/depressed cycle.

But I'm mainly here to say CONGRATS ON YOUR AWESOME WEIGHT LOSS....very well done. I am very proud of you!

After reading all these posts I'm wondering if I should give up on the Xenical and see my dr. about Merida??? I still have a substantial "supply" of Xenical, and have re-started a couple of times, only to be waylaid by a big dinner out, or just a binge of sorts, and then I just give up! I think my motivation is at an all time low right now.

Anyhow, good luck to everyone and keep up the good work!

Frouf:cool:

Nikolas...
Thanks for gettingback to me....and way to go on your weight loss!!!
I am doing pretty well. So far i am down about 8 lbs in 3 weeks. It is not showing much yet, mostly just in the way my clothes fit. When i get into a size 10, i will be doing the dance of joy :)
I am in about a 14-16 now. It depends on the cut and the maker. My ultimate goal is a size 9. A nice size that i know i can maintain.
Well, keep in touch everyone!
MauiMamma

I forgot to say hi to Froufy....
Hey, glasseyes hang in there! I was stuck at a killer plateau for a while and now i am moving down again.....
MM

Froufy, hey there.....good to "see" you. Thought you had fallen off the face of the earth. I understand where you are now....we all have been there. Think that's what helps me try and stay on this food journey---being depressed over gaining seems to be far worse than staying OP. However, I certainly have my moments. Gained 12 lbs while in Hawaii, so of course you gained why you were in Mexico. How was it? Did you enjoy? I have never been to Mexico (TJ does not count). I still go into chat and that helps keep me sane by keeping me away from the kitchen at night. Hope you get back on track for your sake. Come and visit in chat.

Glasseyes, I wish I had taken my measurements before I began. If you think about it, that's what it is all about. Getting healthy and losing inches and sizes. If I weighed 300 lbs and was a size 10...would I care? Well would want my health of course. Think you are doing well but do make sure you are eating enough. If you starve your body, it will slow slow slow down and you can't lose weight.

Ms. MauiMama...how are you doing??? I gather you are still worried about Merida. I will tell you a secret---shhhhhh. I am taking my Merida every other day. Not really trying to cut back because of the scare but while researching the deaths came across a study that found after using Merida for four months, people were taken off. Then in a blind study some were given Merida every day, others every other day, and the third group a placebo. Anyway study showed that the first two groups did equally well losing weight. Anyway, it seems to be working and it is saving me money but I had been on Merida for 14 months every day.

Take care everyone.

Hey all....
Nik, you sneaky thing, you!
As long as it works why not cut back and save a little money?? Go for it!
I have a confession too. I took it ( or i should say retook it ) for about 10 days and then got the heebies after all the side effects hype and havent' been back on it! The good news is that i am still down in weight even off of it...working out and a little less food.
I invested my meridia money in an exercise bike. I am in a 14 but my body is really fighting these last few pounds. I am still over 200 and that's the only scale weight i care about. If i was 199.99 and in a size 14 , i'd be fine! weird huh? My ultimate goal is a size 9-10. I really would love to see about 155-160 on the scale ( at that weight i am in a size 9-10) but for now i just want to slide that old weight off that 200 bar ya know? I am going to add on quite a bit of cardio. I do go to curves 3-4 times a week,but since that is weight training too, i don't think i am getting enought "pure" cardio. I am going to bike for 45-60 minutes a day. Nik, i know you do major cardio, does it really just make the flab melt as they say? If you could share any tips you have ( since you are 14 months into this thing) i would greatly appreciate it :)
Well, everyone goodnight :)
Ms. MM
218/212/155-160

Wish I could drop off the face of the earth....
 

...but no such luck....still hanging around trying to figure this all out. I think I am at the point where I understand there are some underlying issues regarding weight loss.

It is fine and well to go on an eating plan and exercise, etc., but I know this is just a temporary bandaid as I need to explore why I eat so much...overeating is obviously a major coping mechanism for me (and others obviously) and until we get to the root of the problem, overeating remains a symptom of a bigger issue.

I feel I am pretty stressed: home life is challenging, with an almost 16 yr old (need I say more?)...a 10 yr old (who thinks she's 20) and a 3.5 yr old.....we are suffering from "step parenting" issues, and this is starting to wear me down as I seem to be the "referee" in most battles. I think I turn to food as it makes me feel better - at least for a while....but once I step on that scale it's a different story.

I am also in a "career transition" mode as I try to find a better job after just completing my MBA!

I am now over 200 lbs...which means I have gained back about 10 of the 25 lbs I lost while on Xenical. I am again "restarting" my eating plan today, and trying to focus on one meal at a time, one day at a time. I am doomed genetically, with both parents having suffered from heart problems, and with my mother who suffered from many complications due to diabetes and angina...you would think this would scare me into eating right but it doesn't!!!

Enuf moaning I guess...and did I mention it's actually snowing here today (Ottawa, Canada)....last week we were wearing shorts and enjoying 90 degree weather...go figure!

Good luck with you Meridia Nik...sounds like the "every other day" plan is a good one.

I will try and drop by in chat....hopefully that will keep me out of trouble (and the kitchen!).

Take care and good luck to all!

Frouf:dizzy:

P.S. ...and Cancun Mexico was WONDERFUL>...left the 3 kiddies at home and were pampered and spoiled in a 5 star resort....would love to be there right now!

Hey All,
Well, I did it. I am back on meridia! I noticed the difference in my appetite right away. I must have eaten a third of what i normally eat. I was really reluctant to take it again after all of the media attention it got recently,but it is the only thing that has ever worked for me! I have been battling my wiehgt big time since my second daughter was born. If i can take this at least long enough to get in a somewhat normal wieht range, then it's worth it. I have neve rhad any side effects from it--except really bad dry mouth--so i am going to stick to it. I'm sure I will be leaning on you guys ( especially you Nik, you being the "veteran" of the bunch) for support, so I hope we keep this topic going :)
MauiMamma
218/210.5/155 ish

5th week for me, and I am still going OK. I haven't lost a huge amount, but the side effects have gone. No more headaches, no more muscle aches (Except my back ,but that isn't the meridia, I think it is our mattress that needs replacing!!)

I have lost about 7Lbs. I haven't been back to the doctor yet to get officially weighed, and our scales are not the same as his..
My next doctors visit is on 6th May, so I've got another week to see how things go.

My appetite has shrunk so much it's not funny. I eat about a third of what I used to eat, and it's so good to feel full and satisfied after eating, not full to bursting, sick and ready to eat more.

I find that my cravings for sweet things has reduced so much. I used to go to the shop and buy chocolate almost every day, now I can leave the chocolate and not feel bad.

Froufy gal, you sound stressed. This battle with food is a hard one and when you add all the other stresses of life it can sometimes be overwhelming. I know how you are feeling...believe me. Just hang tough---you have NOT gained back all of the weight you lost so that is a real positive. Are you going back on Xenical? I wonder if everyone knows that people can take Xenical and Merida together. I have never met anyone who has though. I think it is good to explore why we eat but the basic fact is we still eat. I'm sure I could come up with twenty different reasons why I eat...ah well. You take good care of yourself...check in.

MauiMama, I had terrible dry mouth....but that was about it. If you nervous about Merida still, get checked by your doctor often. I really think the danger comes when people ignore the symptoms they might get. Glad to hear your appetite has decreased.

Glasseyes, 7 lbs is super. That is over a lb a week. I think your doctor will be very pleased. I too have a doctor;s appointment on May 13th. I am not that excited. After losing quite a bit of weight my weight loss has slowed down. We shall see what he says.

Keep up the good work. I'll be checking in

Hi Glasseyes, Froufy and Nik,
Froufy sorry to hear things are stressful for you right now :()
Just hang in there...i love the saying when you hit rock bottom there is no where left to go but up!
Glasseyes i think 7 pounds is killer.....i would be so stoked right now with another 7 lbs. It doesn't seem liek a lot, but i bet if you took a pic of yourself before and after the 7 lbs, you could really see the difference!! My friend recently lost 11 lbs and it hit me how different she looks when i saw a picture of us back in december...hang in there :)
Nik, i am back on and doign fine. I have never had trouble aside from the dry mouth--so i am committed to stickign with it. So far, so good....
how much have you lost to date, nik??
bye all :)
Ms. MM

JUST CHECKING IN.....
 

Well here I am again....still trying.....but it is hard.

I have started back on the Xenical as of last Monday the 22nd and I am determined to keep trying and do the best I can. I am also using Fitday (www.fitday.com) to keep track of my food intake and seem to be able to keep my calories between 1500-1700 daily with about 30% fat. (Okay we did eat out last weekend and I may have overindulged slightly!...but at movies last week I just had a couple of handfuls of popcorn instead of gorging on the whole bag and getting a refill!).

I find if I plan my meals and keep track of them it makes me more accountable and better able to eat properly. I have been bringing lunches & snacks to work to try and avoid grabbing whatever is around when I'm hungry.

I think I have already lost about 3-5 lbs (scale is fluctuating a bit and its PMS week) so something is working. No I am not exercising...yet.....that is something I REALLY NEED TO WORK ON!

The main problem is the candy dish on my desk. I am extremely WELL KNOWN and appreciated for having a candy dish on my desk. I try to fill it with lower fat stuff....but alas I find myself nibbling a little too much (today I have those marshmallow bananas and strawberries in it)...any ideas or suggestions.....I don't want to remove it....everyone who visits my office/desk expects their little treat????

Glad to hear everyone is hanging in...Yes Nik, I know you can take Meridia and Xenical together...but I hope I don't have to resort to that. I will be making another dr appt towards end of May - I have not been in a while due to "falling off the wagon". I hope to be close to where I was at my last appt. in January...and go on from there.

Good luck to all!

Frouf:cool:

Froufy, you are not going to like what I am going to say so either close your eyes for this paragraph or skip my message. YOU MUST GET THAT CANDY DISH OFF OF YOUR DESK NOW. There is just no other way....and don't tell me will power. I am not a believer in throwing everything out at home etc that will tempt me....I have four others in my family so I have had to learn to resist. But having candy (well I love candy) sitting right in front of you is just too much. Waaaaaaaaa I love those marshmallow bananas. Never have had the strawberries....could you send me some??? I too always had candy in my office. Now I still bring in things (tootsie roll pops, blow pops, and occasionally Hershey's kissses) but I leave them on the receptionist's desk. Either that or get something that you hate hate hate but others like. That would be a hard one for me....hmmmmmm maybe airheads. Anyway that is my advice---sometimes too honeys

You sound like you are doing well. We can't expect perfection from ourselves so I think it is great that you could portion the popcorn. That's what we all have to learn to do. Last Easter (2001) was really the first time I ever did that. Took a little of everything that I loved. Sometimes I can't do it and need to have a LOT of everything.

I was not suggesting that you take Merida and Xenical together...it was just a random thought. I hate drugs and the thought of those two together makes me nervous....unless it would make me thin very quickly.

Take care, froufy.........

I KNOW YOU'RE RIGHT......
 

..that candy dish has got to go....especially with the onset of PMS week ...lol:dizzy:

I do try to get stuff I don't like (which isn't much) and also lower fat stuff (trying to stay away from the chocolate and caramel goodies). My boss is a super sugar junkie and everytime he goes by my desk he pops a "couple" of whatever is there...and there are random visits throughout the day from others craving a little sugar.

The way my desk is set up I can't really move it farther away as this means everyone will literally be "invading" my space/cubicle and that won't work....my only compromise might be to move it to where my printer is....kind of behind me and to the side....at least out of sight, a bit awkward for others to reach...but doable???

I will see what I can do about it...and the strawberries are yummy...pink sugar sprinkled strawberry shaped marshmallows...need I say more?:devil:

Still hanging in...went to Pizza Hut for dinner...only one slice of garlic bread and the lowest fat menu choice (veggie edge pizza) with Diet pepsi....not too bad!

I know with PMS week looming the scale may not "register" the weight loss so I'm trying not to obsess about it for at least another week or so......

And I too would take the Meridia and Xenical and anything else for that matter if I could be skinny! oh well...I'll just keep trying for now!

What about replacing my candy dish with a celery and carrots dish? :lol: Wonder how that wiould go over?

Frouf:cool:

visit to the doctors!
 

Hi everyone!
I had my first visit at the doctors in a month. I have been taking the Meridia for about 5-6 weeks. I have now lost 10lbs.
The doctor was quite pleased, and so was I....
I don't have to go back to him for a while now, but he has given me a goal of 22lbs by August. I am not sure if that's achievable, but I am going to try my darndest!.
All I have to do is start exercising..this is the hardest thing!
:cool:

hope everyone else is going well!