@astrophe:

Oh my O_O. You really go at it. Are you a motivational speaker by any chance? If not, you should give it a try. You pinpoint even the smallest details and make into something huge. And you're a great pick me up. I didn't expect this for my second day here. I printed out a good and even looking meal sheet template for the rest of this month up until feb 7th. I also looked up vegan meals. I've tried some before but I'd like to be a pro at making them. Its not just to lose wight either, it's because I sometimes find vegan food to be far more delicious then regular food.

I was going to give Apostrophe a big hand too. Your post is so helpful and positive. Good Luck SineX. I agree with the baby steps approach at least for a while, see what you can handle.

SINE ~ the biggest mistake is to eat too little; yes, that's what I said. And yes, Astrophe is a wonderful motivator and supporter here, for sure ...

I wouldn't start under 2000 calories for now (I started at 2100); that way you will be eating enuff to lose weight, but not feel like you are starving to death and wanting to gnaw your arm off. Btw, what amount did your nutritionist put you at? EDIT TO ADD: 1500 is too low.

I agree with baby steps or small changes to start. Nix the pop (replace that with low fat milk, water, tea, coffee, diet beverages, etc); nix the junkies and foods fried in fat. Just eat 3 regular meals + 2-3 three healthy snacks. Do that for 3 months and see what happens. No second helpings. Now that's only three changes.

Here's a sample of what I mean:

BREAKFAST ~ wg cereal + fruit + one toast
LUNCH ~ wg sandwich with lettuce & tomato + soup + fruit, i/d
DINNER ~ lean meat + 2 veggies &/ salad + complex carb (1/2-1 cup)
SNX ~ fruit or yogurt or sf pudding, protein bar, cheeze, celery boats, hard-boiled eggs, etc. (about 50-150/200 calories each)
DESSERTS ~ only 1-2 times a week and must be fruit based

small steps ...

I've felt exactly as you did, much of my life - and I also thought weight loss for me was PSYCHOLOGICAL. I even got a bachelor's and master's degree in psychology primarily to figure my own self out.

It took me over 30 years to discover that my "addiction" wasn't psychological, it was PHYSICAL. I probably would have realized it sooner if I had ever even once considered the possibility. I didn't find the physical components because I never looked for any of them, at least not seriously.

The books that were amazingly helpful

The End of Overeating, Refuse to Regain, and various low-carb and paleo diet books (the first two really were the most helpful).

They helped me understand that addiction to simple and quickly digested carbs is a physical addiction, and that many people (even many thin people) suffer from it, and have terrible illness in their lives because of it.

I realize that I am not a "food addict" I am a "carb addict." I do not have "rabid hunger", if I keep simple and simpler carbohydrates low (not all complex carbs are all that complex. Some digest very quickly into sugar). Fiber is a carbohydrate that doesn't "count" because humans can't digest it.

I call carb-hunger, "rabid hunger" because that's how it makes me feel - like a starved, rabid dog; an angry, tense, anxiety-ridden, empty, yearning, ball of hunger. It feels like I disappear and all that's left of me is hunger.

My crazy wasn't causing my obesity, my food choices were causing my crazy.

I'm not saying that all of your food issues are carb-related. In fact, none of them may be, but consider giving carb-conscious dieting a try. It will take a lot of experimenting with different carb levels to discover if you're affected and how you're effected by carbs (and what types of carbs).

If I eat "too low" in carbs, I don't feel hungry, but I do feel weak, and ill (but I also have diabetes and am on diabetic medication).

A lot of people find hunger manageable on "good carb diets" like South Beach. Personally even South Beach is a little too high for me.

I ended up choosing a low-carb exchange plan (because I've been dieting too long. I can't recognize "real" hunger, so I tend to overeat on any plan that doesn't incorporate portion control), but I use paleo principles to choose my foods (you don't have to make it that complicated, just avoiding processed foods and high sugar or starch foods might work very well for you).

For me, another important component was birth control. I avoided it for years, because of the link between bc and weight gain. I didn't want to risk it, but I had such severe rabid hunger during PMS/TOM week that it took me the rest of the month to get that weight off. If I hadn't been strictly dieting most of my life, I probably would have exceeded 1,000 lbs instead of just nearly reaching 400 lbs.

When I finally did go on birth control, dieting because SO much easier, because it deflated the "rabid" hunger and drastically reduced the pmdd that inspired hubby to call me werewolf.

Obviously the pmdd (which is essentially "killer pms") isn't something everyone deals with, and the sugar addiction too isn't something that everyone has (or has to the same degree), but at least consider the possibility that there are physical causes to your issues that you can address. The difference for me has been absolutely dramatic. It doesn't make the problem go away, but it does shrink the problem to manageable size. My insurance stopped covering the bc that was working best for me, so some of the hunger is back, but interestingly I find that when I eat even lower-carb than I usually do, for the week before my period is due, it also severely reduces the hunger and my other pms/pmdd symptoms.

Consider trying low-carb, because it made a huge difference in the crazy hunger for me. The hardest part is the "carb-withdrawal" phase that can last two weeks or more. But remember that low-carb doesn't have to be no-carb, but you may find some foods more likely to trigger carb-hunger than others. For example, I can eat fruit as long as I don't eat it alone. If I eat fruit alone, I'm very hungry within an hour or less.

Good luck, and hang in there.

Then he sounds like a jerk - obviously you have issues/reasons for getting as unhealthy as you currently are, and those problem are not just going to go away b/c he says so - I'm sorry but maybe you should get a second opinion?

I also seriously agree with a previous poster about Overeaters Annonymous - not only can you find a great deal of support, but also a lot of different methods/ideas of how to deal with your addiction. They also have meetings online and via phone so maybe you can start with that and then ease into a meeting. I would def. consider thinking about finding a nutritionist who will work with you rather than talk over you...is that a possibility?

I know everyone is different, but why cut the bad foods out completely as you seem to try to do? I think it's about balance - I had a chicken queso burrito for lunch today from qdoba - it's my fav. freaking thing in the world despite being about 800 cals and I love it - I allow myself to have it once a month - if I cut it out completely, I would probably freak my sh*t to be honest. I used to eat it 3 times a week. Now, days I eat it, I try to lighten up on the other meals and I'll add time at the gym or a longer walk w/ my dogs to compensate.

Every diet can be tailored to fit your lifestyle. It's not about giving things up and being miserable...otherwise who the heck would succeed?

The oatmeal is great and any other whole grain cereal too. Do you like fruit? I find apples, pears, bananas, strawberries, peaches, and melons fill me up (sometimes, I have half serving x 2 over the day so I can have fruit more often). You might have to watch IF blood sugar problems are there, but if not -- you can have at least 3 full servings a day.

I have leftovers for lunch a few times a week too; today I did for instance. And, if your mom makes good meals; just have that, but only one plate. That sounds good. Add in a couple small snacks if you need/want them. Going to bed earlier will help you not eat late at night.

Re: exercise ~ swimming might be good for you with your foot injury, or easy things like pilates, tai chi, or lite yoga. Toning & stretching kind of things; dancing is easy and you could start out for only a few minutes. Any movement that doesn't aggravate injuries is good.

@Kasplog

This is a very interesting matter. I never stopped to think it could be a psychical matter. I'll have to advice my mother to take a look into this as well. I'm still wrapping my head around it.

@lm3898

I would give him up if he wasn't so...well in a way he's A LOT better the the previous fool I had. Her attitude made it unbarable to stay in the same room with her. She made me feel as if I wan't being heard either. And so also doesn't understand that not everybody in the world has a damn Ph.d. So i can't afford most of the food she tells me to glut down. I'm not poor but personally I am if i wasn't living with mom. But jobs are hard to come by now. i'm just a humble college student man >.>
The man, he's more outgoing and has that can-do attitude that makes me like him a lot. He's just too fast and doesn't like slowing down.

@Ijustwant2Bhealthy:

I go swimming sometimes when I have the time. Like yesterday. Almost drowned a couple times as usual, no biggie. I love fruit! I don't have it with oatmeal but I do eat it in between meals. Mainly oranges and medium apples. Mom complains that it's too much sugar, but I was instructed to say: "Doctors Orders" as a rebuttal -_-
As the doctor says: "I'd rather you get diabetes from eating fruit then from anything else". Of course I was shocked when she said so.

Kaplods and I are similar in our cases sometimes. Hi, K!

No, not a motivational speaker.

Just a chick whose rolled with the same punches you face now plus a few extra flavors. I totally get the frustration of not having medicos LISTEN to you, the struggle with blood sugar wiggies, etc. I've been a chronic patient for 20 years now. This is my anniv month. Go me!

It IS a physical matter. Prediabetes = insulin resistance = learn to manage blood sugar so you don't fight hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia wigginz.

I got a partial dx at 16 yrs old with irregular periods, then took another 10 years for the full PCOS/IR/hypothyroid picture at 26 yrs, and here I am at 36 now.

Nobody ever gave ME the name of "hypoglycemia" to tell me what it was that I was experiencing in high school and college. I'd faint and mom would tell me to stop fad dieting and I never dieted in my life! The shakes, the fatigue. Just on and on.

I'm sad to report my full dx took 10 yrs -- I started to wonder if I was crazy or hypochondriac or what. Got depressed.

For a long time I tested low normal on things but felt horrible and nobody listened. So I had to wait it out til I tested bad enough to be "lab bad," even though I felt bad all along!

It was much later that I came across cartoon guy. Now he seems to be in every doc office somewhere. But he wasn't around then. If they had I would have screamed "SEE HIM! I AM HIM! I feel jittery and anxious and strange -- hypoglycemic. And you are pissing me off. Don't make me be him in the last square and get all ANNNNNGGGRRRY Mr Cranky Pants at ya!" (Irritable and Hungry are my favs. They crack me up because I know them sooo well. )






You will get there. Take it one thing at a time. And keep a sense of humor. Where Kaplods took 30+ yrs, and I took 10 yrs, dude -- you have your dx now! That's awesome knowledge! I find that very hopeful and encouraging for those yet to come.

Putzing around in Limboland with no answers is the pits.

This weight loss thing? I've beat it before. Lost 80 lbs so I know how to lose. You will learn it too.

I do not know how to maintain yet. So I'll keep on truckin' through loss again and I'll take another shot at maintaining land. Maybe when we are both there some other person further up on the path will slide us the secret handshake? Hahaha

If you are prediabetic, your journey is just starting and weight loss is only one chapter of your management. Learn to pace yourself and learn to celebrate EVERYTHING you do to give that condition the smackdown. No matter how tiny.

You are a chronic patient now, and warding off Type II is lifelong. Doesn't have to be horrible or color your life badly. I've been fending it off 10 yrs now! Go me!

But it is with you daily... There's only good management or poor management and if you are after improved Quality of Life?

The name of the game in Chronic Patient Land becomes "Alright! What did I do for myself TODAY to support my good management of my condition? I did that? I sooo rock! "

So... take it one thing at a time. Explore the forums, participate in all the ones you want. Get the lay of the land for yourself, ID your areas, organize yourself after you ID it all into piles. SOME you may be able to execute fast. Just know not ALL of your things fall in that pile. Sort it out.

This I can do now, ASAP CHOP CHOP SNAPPY! Woot!

This I can do, but more middle range ish... Okeydokey then. Middley it is.

This I could do, but it has to be longer range. Alright... Gotta pace myself here. Break it down to bite size chunks.

Apart from checking in with your medicos and learning how to be more assertive about getting some real answers... is prediabetes the only thing on your plate then? Anything else?

Read up online more about prediabetes. Learn the lingo. That you can do as fast as you can Google! Or hit your library. I'd put that as an ASAP goal. The Dummies books are pretty good.

Lots of people around here are more than happy to give input and help or share experiences of prediabetes, diabetes, chronic patient land, losing a lot, losing in the 20's... and more. There may not be another one EXACTLY like you here, but there's plenty similar. You are NOT alone.

Just remember to cheerleader your own self along because while you may have prediabetes, it doesn't have to have YOU!

A.

If you weigh over three hundred pounds, cutting your calories to 1500 is akin to a starvation diet. It's a recipe for failure and it has nothing to do with willpower and everything to do with being genuinely, physiologically hungry!

Baby steps are excellent advice. Begin getting used to measuring and calculating what you eat. Do that for a week with no restrictions, just what you'd normally consume. That is going to help you get a calorie baseline.

Once you've established that, cut a bit. Not a ton, just a bit. Maybe 500-750 calories a day. I would not drop below about 2500 at your current weight. Just try that for three months and stick to that ONE THING religiously. The weight WILL begin to come off unless you have serious metabolic problems like Cushing's. Cutting out sugar is an excellent idea, but it might be too much for you to stick to right now. Just try making smart swaps, like iced tea for soda (not sugared, please!) or a piece of fruit cut up with heavy cream for dessert instead of icecream. Again, keep your calories fairly high and these simple swaps will help you out immensely. Once you can stick to a calorie budget, THEN you can play around with the nutrients and food types. But if you're overeating consistently you're going to be shooting yourself in the foot.

Posting here is a big step and we welcome you! Many of us have dealt with what you're struggling with to varying degrees and there is hope, but it isn't fast or easy. Slow changes that are permanent are the best route and the specifics depend on your own body and habits, but no journey starts without individual steps. Take it one step at a time and stick to it, your body WILL respond. There is no need to despair, just use that emotional energy to propel you on this journey in a positive way instead of turning it inward to self loathing and eating.

SineX if you don't mind, I'll give you a tip that I gave my sister when she was dealing a well-meaning doctor who was not slowing down and listening to her.

She is diabetic (type 1) and was having a lot of troubles with her sugars in a patterned way, which maybe the chemist in me want to know more about her dosages and what her doctor thought about the pattern. Turns out that when she went to her appointments, she never really got to explain the pattern fully because he would interrupt, throwing her off track or flustering her. And unfortunately, doctors sometimes trust what is coming from a flustered person less than what comes from someone who seems self-assured, even when they are then ones that caused it.

So what I told her to do was to write down a list of her concerns, symptoms, and questions before she went to her next appointment and I think it could help you too with your nutritionist. Be straightforward, honest and thorough. A list will help you feel more confident, since everything is already prepared for you. It should also help slow him down, since he will have to go point by point. It would hopefully put you into control of your appointment (which is how it should be) and it may also give him extra information that he might need to help you in a more effective way.

Hi, A! :wave back:

I had the same experience in high school with fainting from hypoglycemia but not knowing it was hypoglycemia. I was on prescription diet pills at the time (from the ages of about 13 to 16), and my doctor told me to try spreading my calories out in smaller, more frequent meals (and if that didn't work, he'd have me raise my calorie level).

In hindsight, I realize he did know that the fainting was from hypoglycemia (low-blood sugar), but he never passed that information on to me, perhaps thinking I was too young to understand the concept of low-blood sugar. Orr perhaps just because the doctor was from a generation of physicialns who didn't give patients diagnoses (assuming patients didn't need to know the specifics, or wouldn't understand them anyway).

It would have been helpful to know that the symptoms I was experiencing was normal and not me "going crazy."

The hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia chart would have been so helpful to me.

On low-carb dieting, I don't get hungry as I used to know hunger (feeling it in my stomach or in my desires and thoughts about food). I don't get cravings or stomach hunger, instead hypoglycemia is now my hunger signal (if not clinical hypoglycemia at least a sudden drop in blood sugar levels even if it's from high normal to low-normal).

As a result, I don't usually realize I'm hungry, my husband does. I'll start to get slightly irritable, then more irritable (this is usually the point at which hubby will ask, "when was the last time you ate something, and what did you eat?"

If he's not around during the moderately irritable state, or if we're say driving and can't stop immediately, the moderate irritability becomes RAGE. If I still don't eat, then I'll get light headed, feel like I'm going to vomit, and then get the "about to pass out" feeling.

Because my husband and I now know the steps leading up to the passing out, we don't let it get that far. In fact, we're usually able to prevent even the rage stage. But without my husband's input, I usually don't notice it. To me, it just seems that my husband and everyone around me have suddenly all become jerks and @#$ holes.

Controlling blood sugar really is vital to controling hunger for me. If I had only known this two or three decades ago.

I just would like to mention that you may want to look into Overeaters Anonymous. I found it extremely difficult to motivate myself to lose weight but OA helped me quite a bit.