What A Wonderful Feeling!
 

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Congratulations Meg! That must be such a great feeling of accomplishment - yet another NSV showing you all the good you have done. :carrot:

And you're a wonderful example for those of us just making our way. I thank you.

Meg,

I just couldn't be happier for you, :yes: that had to be just a wonderful feeling, a well earned one.

:cheer: Congratulations.
Evangeline

That's fantastic. Congratulations. I can't wait to reach maintenance and have the feeling that I've pulled it all together. You must be very proud.

Congratulations! :balloons:

I had a similar experience when I had to switch doctors last fall. When my new (very young, beautiful and intimidatingly tall female) internist took my medical history, she didn't believe me when I told her that I'd maintained an almost 60 pound weightloss for 4 years. I actually showed her one of my "Fat Mel" pics to prove it. :)

Yay Meg!

Mel

YAY Meg!! What great news! YOU are my hero!!

Meg and Mel, YAY for you both! :cp:

That's fantastic, and something I can now only dream of!

Tho, last week I had a dr.'s appt and my 80 pound weight loss came up. She (young, prett, thin) asked what I was doing... when she heard basically "eat less move more!" She said: "It really DOES work!" I felt pleased, even though I am far from a healthy weight!

Heather! You have a name!! :lol:

It's funny how some doctors are shocked that 'eat less, move more' actually works! It seems like they're trained to believe that there's a medical/surgical solution for every problem, so if you're obese - write an RX for a pill or rearrange your insides. But, as we know, sometimes what's needed isn't medical or surgical - it's a lifestyle change: changes in habits, choices, thought patterns ... certainly not what's taught in medical school.

Believe it or not, I actually had a doctor get angry at me for losing weight without surgery. He said that it was 'impossible' and called me a 'freak'. Obviously my weight loss brought up some personal issues of his own, as he was obese and considering WLS for himself, but it still stung. Other doctors just seem baffled and shake their heads when they hear what I've done. They seem to think that it's beyond the realm of the possible for most people, which is nonsense. But unfortunately, too often that seems to be the message the medical system is putting out.

I wish that our medical system today provided more support for people trying to lose weight without surgery or drugs. Or how about support for people post-weight loss, who are trying to maintain? I've mentioned before that the University of Pittsburgh here has a program called 'Life After Weight Loss' that provides nutritional, psychological, and reconstructive surgery support for people who have lost weight .... Cool, huh? Sorry, it's only for people who had WLS. Nada for those of us who did it by 'eating less and moving more'.

No point to this ... just rambling about doctors and weight loss. :D

Hi all,

Meg -congratulations!!
Mel -same !

You ladies really are a role model for me. And as for the doctors attitude: they probabely are totally trained to solve everything with medication. As some of you may have noticed I am currently struggling with some mind-issues, and basically my approach is if I get stress-issues from my life than I should change my life. So I'm into a major life-style change for me...doing exercise, taking rest, allowing for failing to do all the things on my list, and enjoying what I can do rather than focussing on at what is impossible. Long story short..most doctors (and most people) find this strange..as it is "impossible to do" as well. however, I find that this works much better for me because it keeps ME in charge, and not some pill or doctor!

The mind is a very strong tool. And the good thing is that we all have one.

have a great day all,
rabbit

Meg - congratulations!

Rabbit, what a great post... It's amazing what the mind can do. I'll have to remember that next time I see the tray of danish pastries in the kitchen! ;)

Yay Meg! Good for you... that's fantastic!!!

I am sure not there yet... but my doctor DID tell me she was proud of me last time I was there as she can tell I am losing weight and my blood pressure was down a lot.

I am so proud of you for your huge accomplishment!!

One of our Doc's gave me a little hug around the shoulders and told me I'd done well after I told him I counted calories and exercised. Several of them have commented and a couple were happy I'd done something 'sensibly'.

Congratulations Meg, Mel and Heather

Rabbit I love your attitude.

My doctor has been one of my best encouragers to lose weight so now he brags to his patients how much weight I lost. It gets a bit embarassing at times when he announces it in the waiting room. But it is also a good feeling. Most of my numbers are good too which makes me happy. All except my diabetic one which has got worse and I was hoping it would get a bit better with losing weight and eating properly. Oh well other than my diabetes gettin worse it is a good feeling to go to the doctor and not have to be embarrassed with my results.

Yay for Meg!!! And Mel and Heather!!! I don't understand why the doctors should be so incredulous. Is it so rare for people to have will and determination that the doctors would consider it an impossibility?!? Ridiculous! Guess healthy under control people don't go to the doctor as often so they get misled into thinking its not happening. Maybe every doctor should be given a copy of Thin for Life.

Susan

Congrats to everyone for the great reports!!! :woo:

I went to my regular doc the other day and was pleased to report I'd lost like 40 pounds since my last visit! She asked some questions like how often I was exercising and how I was eating -- when I said counting calories and eating 1800-1900/cals day she said something like "Wow, so you're eating quite a bit!". Seemed pleased, and so was I.

But do you know what I NEVER noticed before? She is no skinny chick herself!! Hard to see under the lab coat, but she is definitely overweight, and not by a little... maybe even a lot! I wonder if she was picking up tips from me!!

LOL Heather... I am laughing because my doctor ADVISED me very strongly not to eat fewer than 1800 calories a day and that I would lose just as fast as on a low calorie diet. She was right tee hee. My doctor is such an encourager... I am fortunate because she is little and cute as can be... NOT your typical doctor image; and so funny!

My regular physician has not been too encouraging. The first time I saw him after starting my new woe he accused me of using diet pills. (which I haven't touched). The second visit he told me "you've certainly lost enough weight" and I still weighed 188 at that time. My last visit a couple weeks ago he didn't mention my weight at all and I was down to 158. He's a little on the heavy side himself and with all my health problems these last few years, he never once mentioned that I should lose some weight. Quite the opposite, he said "it's just not possible to lose weight while on Prednisone". Thankfully for me, my specialist gave me a kick in the butt and told me I had to lose weight. I cried, and got over it, and then started seriously trying to take this weight off. I am so much healthier now in all aspects of my life. Some doctors just don't get it and then some try to help save your life by having you take off those unneeded lbs. that are disastrously affecting your life.

Wow Lilybelle... it must be hard for your doctor not to be more understanding and supportive!!!!

I reckon many of you maintainers are probably healthier than your doctors. You certainly do more exercise than anyone I know bar the odd university 1st team rower!