BabySteps, dear one, let's think this through. I figure you must want our feedback; why else would you have posted your plans? What you are proposing may seem like the answer, but in truth, you could be setting yourself up to fail worse than you've ever failed before.

I, too, tried a liquid fast one time. Others here know this story: I lost 55 pounds in 90 days. I gained back roughly 65 pounds in another 90 days. And my body has never been the same. To this day, I firmly believe that a number of digestive and health problems I have now stem directly from that attempt. And that was 20 years ago.

Of course, I can't say for sure that this is what will happen to you. But there's a darn good chance it will. A body that has been under-fed and under-nourished for any period of time will do whatever it can to regain the status quo.

And there's another issue to consider. While shakes are "easy," mixing them up will not teach you how to prepare nourishing meals after you've lost your weight. If there's one thing I can assure you, it's this: you will be just as busy whether you are fat or thin. You will be just as strapped for time. You will be just as eager to find quick solutions. And if you don't learn how to feed yourself in a healthy manner now, you won't know how to do it when you reach a goal. And it won't be long before you find yourself right back where you started.

You say you want to be in control. That's a good thing. So take control. Believe it. You can do it. You are sabatoging yourself when you say, "I desperately hope I can do this."

You can do this. But you must believe in yourself. And then you must take the steps to put your beliefs into action.

You've already shown that you are capable of follow through because you've been to the gym. And you keep coming back here. You're thinking about this. This are all great first steps.

Now, take the second steps.

I believe in you. Everyone -- repeat EVERYONE -- here has walked this walk, and we all believe in you.

If you were here I'd hug you, then slap you on the back and send you off to the market to buy chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, veggies, apples, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and brown rice.

Consider yourself hugged.

Affectionately,

Robin

Ilene- i've got that fat knee problem too! my knees are big for some reason to begin with plus they also seem to retain fat, i just can't seem to get rid of it, it's my worst problem area. I have said for years that if i can get back down to 150lbs (pre first pregnancy weight, and back then i didn't have nearly as much lean muscle as i do now) and that darn fat is still stick'n there, i am definitely looking into getting it sucked out! For now, i just avoid wearing shorts until it gets unbearably hot- capris and below the knee skirts are most flattering on me, always have been.

i don't know why i have been an eating machine the last couple days (yesterday and today) i am like a bottomless pit!! i haven't been eating bad stuff, just a real lot of good stuff which can still add up after a whole day of monging and end up sticking over night! . i stopped yesterday to assess whether i was truley hungry and not just boredom eating, but i was really frickin hungry! My mom told me i should just go with it, my body must know what it's doing. i figured i'd try to drink lots of water today, and after 2 bowls of cereal, cup o coffee, small container of leftover chicken soup from last night, and a (healthy version) PB&J so far today, plus about 35oz of water, i feel i'm good probably untill, say 4pm-ish. i had an awefull nightmare last night that i was pregnant!! i guess cause it crosses my mind once every couple months when i get on this eating kick-- and no, it's not PMS time, and yes i'm on "the patch" so i better not be pregnant!
-E

PS: Baby Steps-- I ditto what Robin said. we are all here to help each other get, and stay, on the RIGHT track you can do it.

BabySteps - You are getting some great advice from everyone...please follow it. The liquid diets don't work long term, no fad diets work long term. You have to be ready to make the life changes and not think of yourself as on a diet, because a diet is something you come off of and if you want to lose the weight for good...that's not the way to go.
Sabrina - No one annoys me more than Rachael Ray, I can't stand her and yet I can't stop watching her!!!! hmmm?...
Elasky - good job not letting the food cravings turn into a full out binge on unhealthy food. Yes, good food does add up if you eat a lot of it but not nearly as quick as chocolate
Uggh, better get back to work...

Melissa

Melissa: Rachael Ray annoys the **** out of me too. I don't know if it is the accent, her giggles, or what. But she does share a lot of good ideas on her show - I've made several of her recipes and they've all turned out great.

BabySteps: I would like to share with you a book that I found tremendously insightful and inspiring. It's called From Chunk to Hunk: Diary of a Fat Man and is written by a man who lost almost 200 pounds by exercising and feeding his body with real, nutritious food:

http://www.chunktohunk.com/bp.php?pa...ges/index.html

In this book you will not find specific calorie targets or magic formulas or anything like that. But I think you will find some nuggets of wisdom that will help you on your journey to better health.

S.

Okay...my two cents on the liquid diet thing.

Most of you know that I did a medically supervised Optifast study in 1990, and lost quite a bit of weight, and was one of the VERY FEW women of over 1,000 who participated in the study who actually kept the weight off after the completion of the 18-month study period (there was a 5% success rate).

Hon...even though I was successful, I DON'T go around recommending liquid fasts, not even for a very short period of time. Mostly for the reasons that have already been outlined by our Robin and others...the binge factor...not learning about how to eat 'the right way' (fortunately I was blessed with a TON of determination and a couple of great counselors whose advice I listed to avidly). Those EAS shakes are NOT formulated to be all you need, or even for most of the time (given that you said you were planning on 'eating a small meal at night' if I recall correctly).

Please note that I stressed that the plan I was on was MEDICALLY SUPERVISED. Each week all study participants had to come in for blood and urine analysis, general health checkup and an occasional EKG, just to make sure that everything was working correctly. We all were asked to take a prescription medication called Actigall as well - a common side effect of doing a very-low-calorie liquid diet is gall bladder misfunction, which would necessitate surgical removal of the gall bladder. Not to mention the hair loss, skin itchiness, being freezing cold all the time (in July/August!), etc.

Liquid fasts are a LAST RESORT and IMO, should always be medically supervised if they are attempted at all. And keep in mind the huge binge factor!

Babysteps: I can't comment on the liquid diet, as I have never tried it. But I do know I feel much more confident about keeping the weight I lost off because I'm doing it all on normal, ordinary grocery store food. I feel I've learned a great deal, as well, from the process of weighing, measuring, and recording everything I eat. I'm not sure I'd have developed these skills on a shake diet. After all, you have to go off the shakes eventually, what then? So why not learn good nutrition and good habits from the very beginning? In any case, please keep posting. I'm sure everyone here will be happy to help, whatever you decide.

Sabrina - I agree with you about Rachel Ray! Blech!

I had to squeeze in here about beer. I love it. So much I brew my own. Nothing taste better than your own beer!

I think I'm switching over to Ornish's plan. I know the protein does not compensate for weight lifting. Does anyone have any advice?

Didn't someone ask about steel-cut oats in the last 24 hours? I've looked through the posts, and I can't find the question. But where else would I have read it -- certainly not on Airedale-L

Steel-cut oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into only two or three pieces. They are golden in colour and resemble mini rice particles.

One web site says: "How are they different from Rolled Oats? Rolled oats are flake oats that have been steamed, rolled, re-steamed and toasted. Due to all of this additional processing they have lost some of their natural taste, goodness and texture. Steel-cut oats are inherently full of nutritional value and are high in B-Vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber while low in salt and unsaturated fat. One cup of steel-cut oatmeal contains more fiber than a bran muffin and twice as much fibre as Cream of Wheat."

I think they're totally yummy. When cooked, the texture is more similar to a pilaf than to a cooked cereal. I usually cook a full cup of dry, which makes nearly 4 cups of cooked oatmeal. It holds well in the frig, and you can reheat it in the microwave.

Beware: Steel-cut oats can cost the earth, especially if you buy the brand in the nifty metal canister that's imported from the UK. I just bought a bag of American-made steel-cut oats, at half the price. I haven't tasted 'em yet, but they sure look the same. How different can it be.

Happy cooking.

About Rachel Ray - I don't mind her on the $40/day show, but I can't stand to watch her cooking show - she never looks at the camera! Ok, she does, but not nearly as much as the other hosts do!

Hey, does anyone else find it ironic that we all watch so much Food TV?!?!? I love Alton too, but for his recipes, not his bod!

BabySteps - I agree with everyone about the liquid diet - behavior modification is what's needed, and is best done using "real world" scenarios.
Cindy

Jessica, isn't Ornish the low-fat guy? If so, I did that, lost beautifully, looked good in my swimsuits, tanks, etc. and then eventually gained it all back when I tried to eat normally. Let me know what it is and I'll tell you if it sounds like what I was doing.

Tiki

Hey everyone - thanks for your thoughts and prayers. DH and I spent most of last night making the house safer (wood in the windows etc) and getting ready for our weekend away. I also managed to organise a friend to stay at the house so I feel better about that.

JC

Hi Everyone!!

I will never ever complain about not being sore again. **groan**. I upped my Lower Body routine on Tuesday, but woke up on Wednesday with nothing. I had to teach a 12 hour shift that day (only 7.5 hours on my feet), but mid way through I started feeling it and today I am happy it's an upper body workout day!!

Eats were good on Monday and Wednesday, Tuesday, I kinda went off the deep end with the carbs. Live and learn. Today is going well.

I also HIGHLY recommend the book "Chunk to Hunk". It's unbelieveable and one of the main things that led me to weight lifting again.

Airegrrrl - It was I who asked about the steel cut oats. Thanks for the great answer. Now where does one finds these gems??

Ilene - thanks for the oil info. I don't eat much fish and I have been wondering about Omega 3

Topaz - Thanks for link to shanny cakes. Very interesting. I might have to try tyhose out!

Melissa - I too am beat red after a great cardio workout. Hubby was a bit worried about me on Monday after I finshed my step tape.

JC - YIKES!! I can't believe you caught him in the act!!! Glad you are safe!!

Babysteps - I can understand why you would want to trythe liquid thing. I have "looked into" in several times before myself. But I have to agree with the others. We need to learn how to live our lives in a healthy manner. It may take time, but in the end we will have a new lease on life. There are no quick fixes and the road isn't easy, but it sure is interesting. We are here for you no matter what you decide, but maybe you want to rethink that.

Gotta fly - pick up Jacob, Upper body workout planned and then into the pool for his swimming lesson!

Hi to anyone I missed!!

First let me say thanks ((hug)) I appreciate all the feedback and kind words.

I am just at a point, one I have never been at before. Its not just the fact I weigh 300 pounds, I have weighed that much for a long time. I have just grown sick of never seeing the scale go below two hundred ninety something. I will be thrilled to be 280. I just need to do this, I need the scale to MOVE and move now.

I know the liquid diet is controversial, this is part of why I want to still eat one meal a day. I was hoping by doing this I could avoid the bad things that could happen. I know that the way you all do it is no doubt the bast way....but, I am needing success now. It seems no matter what diet I go on, it wont budge the scale more than a few pounds. Maybe its the fact that I have PCOS and insulin resistance. When I read about those health problems the answer is always a form of low carb, BFL is definitely NOT low carb. The EAS shakes are low carb, so I was thinking if I do it this way it could be the answer for me all the way around.

BabySteps

Babysteps, I am insulin resistant too and it just means that you need to be more *careful* with carbs - not eliminate them. We all want to help here so why don't you write down the following and see if we can get things going a bit for you;

everything you eat and what time
what exercise you do, when you do and how many times per week
your job atmosphere (active or office or home etc)
how much water you drink and what other liquids you drink and in what quantity
what situations make you cheat on your diet
what are you goals

I am POSITIVE that we can help you out here but you need to give us more info to work with. From someone with insulin sesitivity I can safely say that BFL may not be the ideal for you. So let's find out what it!

JC