Weight Loss and CPAP - A Supportive Thread

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:42 pm

OK, here's what worked for me. Take your plate and divide it so that 4/5ths of it is filled with veggies and fruits. The other 5th is high quality protein, like broiled chicken, legumes, fish, or grass fed buffalo meat. Don't eat much grain, only quinoa and millet, maybe once or twice a day. Only dairy should be yogurt or kefir. No bread or baked goods. Eat as many fruits and veggies for snacks as you want. You can eat sweet potatoes, but no white potatoes. No sugar, honey, molasses, syrup, No artificial sweetners. No commercial dressings, sauces, etc. You can make your own salad dressing from EVOO and vinegar or lemon with fresh herbs.

You can eat bananas, pineapples, avocados, carrots, all that stuff that's not allowed on Atkins. You can eat as many of the fruits and veggies as you want, all day, every day.

No commercial juices, but if you want to buy a juicer you can also make juice out of any and all fruits and veggies.

I started this diet to deal with a health condition and I was amazed as the pounds just peeled off. It wasnt' a weight loss diet for me. But, I'd had about 20 lbs that I wanted to lose for years and it just melted away. I had to change it at the end because I was getting too thin!

At the beginning I felt kind of spacey, but I was never once hungry. I think my metabolism was adjusting. When I felt hungry or spacey I'd eat some fruit or veggies. Atkins type diets made me feel really, really sick. But this diet made me feel full of energy after the first week. And this was well before cpap.

The key is planning and preparation. You have to get rid of all the bad stuff in your cupboards. Just donate it or get rid of it somehow. Then only buy the foods that are on the diet. Don't eat out at all. But buy plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Not processed stuff. Make it all from scratch. If this is not your lifestyle, you may have to change it. Our economy in the U.S. is designed to addict you to commodified foods. Make it a priority to change that and get a routine. I didn't try to exercise at all when I first started this diet. I just focused on learning the skills to make it work.

Once you've lost all the weight you want, you can add more whole grains. But not too much.

I think my metabolism changed at the beginning of the diet. Once you are adjusted to the diet, you can begin to exercise. Although I no longer do this diet exactly (I eat white potatos and other non gluten grains, I use honey for sweetners) I still eat a zillion veggies and fruits every day.

Also, no caffeine. Caffeine makes you hungry. That may be difficult for some of you, particularly because sleep disorders go with OD'ing on caffeine, but it really does make you hungry.

I may decide to go back on this diet to control my cholesterol and triglycerdies.

_________________

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Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:55 pm

Hey Captain, I've not read those books, but I've heard that 40-30-30 formula touted by alot of very healthy eaters I know. I do know alot of healthy eaters. Like my Mom. She's in fantastic shape. I tell people my weight gain is a direct result of my mom's health addiction. I moved out at 18 and bought my first loaf of Wonder Bread, began eating powdered sugar donuts and drinking Pepsi's for breakfast, and never looked back. A childhood spent eating whole grain breads and homemade granola had traumatized me. I spent the next 20 year swinging the pendulum in the other direction.

I'm 42 now. Time to find a happy medium.

I think I'll go put the Zone on my reading list this winter. Thanks for bringing it up!

BTW, I didn't mean any offense about Atkins. I AM glad it works for you, and others. Whatever works is a good thing. Don't feel you have to defend that choice because I knocked it. I am flippant about alot of things. I just meant it didn't work for me. I never got over craving carbs, and after about two months I couldn't take it anymore.

I also agree with several posters - there is no ONE magic formula. It takes multiple tweaks to get there. Lots of good ideas form a routine that works. In my case, I think a mixture of several diet ideas and exercise ideas will work better than just one.

Cheers,
B.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:12 pm

ZZZzzz said:

One of my biggest regrets in life is how I equate lbs = self worth.
Do I want my daughter to do this? Heavens no.
Do I want my son expecting that all girls should be slender with big hooters?
Heck no!
I've weighed from 99 lbs to 168 lbs and I've never truly been happy with myself.
I reckon most of us have harder work to do beyond our diet of choice.

ok zzzzz, you're killin me, it's like you wrote your poetry for me...
i spent all of my life being too thin...people--perfect strangers sometimes--would ask me if i felt ok, if i was ill...when i was 18 and finally old enough to give blood, the nurse patted me on the hand and told me to keep it, that i needed it more than they did...i didn't weigh even close to the 100lb minimum they required; many people thought i was anorexic or bulemic...nope, just tiny...but i think i ended up in that place where i was never 'just right'...even for the 10 or 15 years that i was normal weight, even a little on the thin side, even through quitting smoking and having two babies in two years, i still felt 'wrong' because i was no longer tiny, like i had failed by putting on weight, and i could only identify with being super thin...3 years ago when i started gaining 2lbs a week, even with healthy diet and lots of exercise, i became increasingly negative about myself, and spent way too much time beating myself up about something i had no control over...even today, knowing that i haven't caused this change, the abusive self talk still goes on

in an effort to heal the emotional wounds i have inflicted on myself, i think, with your permission, i'll print out your words and tape them to my bathroom mirror...because no, i don't want my daughter to do this, and no, i don't want my son to have a warped sense of what a woman 'should' be...
thank you so much for sharing more of your incredible wisdom
sharon1965

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:24 pm

WOWZER! Hey Sharon, you're quite welcome!

Dang I love throwing parties when cool people show up and change people's lives!!!!!

THANKS ALL YOU COOL PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Rosemary, I like your diet! I was shocked you listed carrots, since all the low carb diets make you give up carrots, but I could totally see that working, since that's basically how my mom eats. Except she eats white potatoes and white rice. Her standard dinner consists of a meat entree, a veggie, and then rice or potato, maybe 1/3 of the plate for each. Then, once that one plateful is eaten, you go to the kitchen and fill your entire plate with a green salad. Every dinner. A full plate of salad.

And eating it AFTER DINNER is some sort of good food combining/enzyme thing. I don't know WHY she started doing it that way - I think because no one wants their entree and their salad bleeding together. But it's just stuck with her. I understand that's how the French eat their dinner - salad after, vs. the US style of salad first - and we all know French women don't get fat. Yes, Mom bought the book...

BTW, Mom is also an Endorphin Addict and spends hours at the gym. She's not a rail. She still has the infamous "Lyman Girls" pot belly - it's just hers is a cute and "pot belly like" whereas mine is "2 months overdue pregnant like". (This is humour - it's okay) She is a pleasingly NORMAL size 10. Not a rail, not an endomorph, just a nice fit 66 year old woman who can still climb mountains.

We should all aspire to be my mom. And I should get over my competitive issues with her and aspire to be more like my mom.

Anyway, thanks all for coming here and sharing your inspiration!!!!!!!! I should post a pic of my Mom - I guess she'd be great inspiration!!!

Huggers,
B.

goose · Post by **goose** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:46 pm

All great info!!! I wrote another post, but then went back and completed reading the thread -- re-wrote it!!

As many of you know already, my motivation for weight loss, besides better health, is diabetes. What's really sad is that if I wasn't so stubborn (stupid??) I could have prevented or postponed its onset!!! I just ate myself right into it!!!
I'm down 30 and have 30+ more to go. I'm looking to get where Captain Midnight is already!! 195 would be sweet!!!!
I'm going to have to check out one of the Zone books (I don't go for books for the most part -- they all say the same thing for the most part. I've got enough diet books to start a library for dieters!!! ).

DS and Kajun -- Great stuff!!!! Nailed it. Just about everyone can fit into those parameters in some way. All of that information tailored to each individuals needs is the true ticket!!!!

I think the most important point that has been made in this entire thread is that the whole deal is a change in lifestyle. It's the only way to be totally successful!!!!

I've lost 1000 lbs over the years only to gain it back -- because I only did the diet part. Within a year or so it was all back plus 10!!!!
Sound familiar??

Because of the diabetes I've had to do the lifestyle change (well. I didn't have to, but it's my choice). I still have a ways to go, but I'm workin' on it!!!

Right on Elle!!!!! You've also brought up an excellent point -- Weight will vary from day to day, hour to hour -- don't obsess on the scale!!!! I look at the scale once or twice a month!!! Also, once in a while you have to rest and treat yourself. It doesn't mean you've lost sight of the goal, but we all need "treat's" once in a while....After becoming 115lbs. lighter (I like that description Kajun!!!), I think some time off is in order

Really like the poetry Beverly!!!

Ya'll keep posting the recipes -- I'm going to try that pumpkin pie myself!!! I have a habit of compiling recipes so if they're posted here, I'll probably copy them off - at some point I may be persuaded to post them all somewhere (with proper credit given of course).....

And for Babs -- thanks for starting the thread!!! This one may get longer than your "Natural clean" thread!!!!

Good luck all
cheers
goose

DreamDiver · Post by **DreamDiver** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 1:19 pm

This has been an awesome thread.
I'm copying and printing the DreamStalker's tips, along with several others and posting them on the refrigerator door handle.

Things that put on pounds for me:

Anxiety - cortisol reaction?
Zyrtec - stopped taking*
Advair - stopped taking*
Sugar - especially high-fructose corn syrup

* I haven't really needed these since I started using mucinex and stopped eating sugar.

I want to lose 20 pounds by November.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 1:34 pm

Oh yeah? Mucinex is the key to getting off Advair? I've just gone cold turkey since I'm in the limbo-land between when my new year of scrip coverage begins. Technically Oct 1 was the magic date. I COULD refill my scrip, but..... Great tip! I think I have some Mucinex around here...

I'm not going to stop eating sugar. That's just not going to happen. I can limit my intake, but I really don't see my NOT eating it.

I have a friend who claims he doesn't eat sugar. I don't have the heart to tell him that all his dining out food probably has sugar where he least expects it. (He eats out at least once a day) Sugar is listed in the recipe for my chili verde, for goodness sake... And Spaghetti Sauce. Not to mention that most restaurants used processed foods to create their recipes, which contain sugar and high fructose corn syrup...

I know I can't get away from sugar entirely, unless I'm willing to eat whole foods that are only processed by my hand. Thus, I don't beat myself up over it too much. I don't consume as much sugar as I often crave.

But I will admit to eating pumpkin pie for breakfast today. Hey, it was a NORMAL serving size slice, not my usual hurking slice. I figured it was probably as good/bad for me as the greasy diner breakfast I ate yesterday... I'll go back to my virtuous organic breakfast bars tomorrow.

LOL,
B.

ZZZzzz · Post by **ZZZzzz** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:16 pm

One other thing that helped me so much and greatly reduced my acid reflux and heartburn problem was I try not to eat too late.
I feel my best when I don't eat after 5 or 6 P.M.
I realized that most of the nutritional annihilation I do happens in the evening.
You know the kind: Binging, mindless eating, that looks good eating.
Eating 'cause you're sad. Eating 'cause you're happy.

I don't know what it is with me and sugar. The more I eat - the more I gotta have.
I'm like a crazed drug addict. It's ridiculous.

I haven't followed Atkins to the letter one whole day in my life.
(Or any other "diet" book. Gee, maybe that's why I'm not at my elusive goal weight.)
If I want to eat carrots; by golly I eat carrots.
It sure beats a box of donuts.
Like so many issues, if I read and study and listen - I usually end up with a potpourri of information tailor made for me.

That's why these threads are so nice.
It's like a potluck where everyone brings their best dish. # : )

-Bev

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:23 pm

Bev, I dub you the Queen of the Great One Liners!

What you said is so true. If I want to eat carrots, by gum it's better than a box of donuts!

LOL,
B.

DreamDiver · Post by **DreamDiver** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:24 pm

Babette,

For me advair just perpetuates the need to take advair. I can feel the little crystals of whatever it is in my lungs. While it does work to begin with, I don't know if I should take it for prolonged periods because of the weight gain thing.

As for mucinex, I use the 12-hour one in the Blue box (without the Dextromethorphan.) It makes you cough up a lot of gunk to begin with, but after a while it becomes less. Since using the cpap, my lungs are much clearer. I wonder if I'm allergic to something in the bed. Probably dust-mites. Yay, cpap! (ymmv.)

Okay, I still eat a little sugar, I know, but I used to eat a lot of candy and drink a lot of sugary soft-drinks. I drink black coffee or tea now. I don't eat cereals - which are just sugar in a box - and we mostly make our own food. Once a week, I might splurge on a frozen coffee concoction at Panerra's.

j.a.taylor · Post by **j.a.taylor** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:25 pm

ZZZzzz wrote:That's why these threads are so nice.
It's like a potluck where everyone brings their best dish. # : )

-Bev

And hopefully, we leave our junkfood at home

Well, actually, it would probably help us a lot if we got it out of our homes.

Wait, that doesn't work for me either. If only I'd stop going out for those "lunch-time" meetings . . .

Yep! We've all got a challenge ahead of us. Good thing we can come to this forum to support one another . . .

And feed each other healthy virtual meals.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:29 pm

Diver, thanks for that. You ARE sensitive!!! I never felt the crystals, even going down I didn't feel them.

I really need to see an ENT. I'm fighting with my pulmonologist about this right now. I want to see the new woman in his practice, and he refuses to let me see her without coming and forking over a boat payment to him first. I was so pissed off I yelled at the receptionist and hung up the phone. After a couple of weeks of wheezing, I'm feeling less proud of that response...

I suppose I shouldn't whine. It's the insurance's money, not mine, right?

John, I vow to only offer good food to all my cyber friends. Much easier than trying to do that live and in person...

My weakness right now is pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes. In two months it will be peppermint lattes. I don't have them every day, at least.

LOL,
B.

DreamDiver · Post by **DreamDiver** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:13 am

Babette,

I've read that if sugar were discovered today, it would have been classified as a drug.
http://www.lurj.org/article.php/vol1n1/sugar.xml
Unfortunately, sugar is one thing we know that causes respiratory problems in a lot of people. I notice I start wheezing again just hours after having one of those frozen coffee concoctions. If I stop eating sugar and sugary foods, my breathing improves greatly.

High Fructose Corn Syrup is one sugar that does not alert the body that it has had enough. Other sugars such as sucrose (cane sugar) do. Drinking soft-drinks that contain it actually make you crave more. You may imagine why our soft-drink makers switched to HFCS. They sell more. Unfortunately, it's also causing a diabetes pandemic in our children.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dy ... ge=printer
It gets worse.

Children in the US today are all overweight because nutrition does not take precedence in our education system or at home. For the first time in the history of the US, we know that Generation Next will have a worse quality of health and shorter lifespan than their parents because of their free access to over-processed hi-carb foods and sugary soft drinks at school, at home and on the go. We have learned to value convenience over flavor and the enjoyment of cooking and passing time with friends and family.

Oranges used to be something you got once a year during Christmas when they were in season. It was a treat. In general, sweets should be considered an occasional treat, but I know from experience how hard it is to get off this ride. Truly -- sugar is a drug. Consider -- sugar is just un-fermented alcohol.

It's like we're on this commercially-induced merry-go-round where convenience and 'getting' to the next activity is more important than what we're actually doing right now. We wolf down what we're eating so we can be ready to participate, not taking the time to question what we're ingesting. So when we actually have the time, we still opt for convenience and comfort food. As you said earlier in the thread, even things you don't expect to have sugar in them do if they are prepackaged.

Wow... Sorry for venting, but sometimes I just get so frustrated at where the merry-go-round is going. Nowhere. I'm not off the ride yet, and it's soooo easy to get back on.

Babbette, I'll stop eating sweets because I have too.
I hope you will too.
You'll feel better.
I promise.

And pumpkin is good for you! You might just find that pumpkin steamed with a little butter is not bad.

goose · Post by **goose** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:03 pm

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but it really comes down to choices.
I could have kept up my eating habits but chose to change the portion sizes I eat. Now I have to choose to change what I eat to go along with the portion sizes.
I still eat the same crap, just not as much of it.......

I have a young friend (she's now 27 - I think) who had an interesting bet with mom when I met her (11 at the time -- she was into radio so I volunteered to make sure she made it to all the club meetings. Also gave mom and dad some time off to themselves once a month on a Friday night -- she also now has a EE from Cal Poly!!!!). Mom had told her that if she went without sugar for 2 years she'd get $200......After about 6 months, I think mom regretted the offer as Hannah would read every label on everything that came into the house.
Now, mom was a health nut sort, but never guessed that daughter would obsess over it like she did......She did get the $200, but for mom and dad it was a severe struggle!! No sugar in the household. Zero processed foods!!!!

With my diabetes, I have become a habitual label reader -- it's next to impossible to get anything at the store without sugar in it (if it's processed).
That said, a diabetic does not have to avoid sugar at all costs -- it becomes a matter of choices.
I get so many carbs per meal to keep my blood glucose in check. If I want to have a snickers bar for lunch, I can have it -- well from a calorie/carb count I can have about 3/4 of a standard bar -- BUT, that's all I can have for that meal. Believe me, I'd much rather have that salad with EVOO and vinegar dressing than a snickers bar......Choices.

Trying to lose weight sucks!!! But for me, I gotta do it or die!!!! Hell-of-a choice ain't it???

cheers
goose

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:32 pm

Oh Goose.... It's bad enough you're a CPAP-er and a Diabetic... now I find out your a HAM-ster too?????

Oh you poor man... Oh your poor wife...

I think there's a support group for that... HAMsters Anonymous?

My ex-boyfriend (life long HAMster - KC7TDG) gave me a book on how to get your HAM license as a gift when we were courting... I should have known... I should have run then...

Just kidding.... It's not your fault. I FIRMLY BELIEVE that HAMsters are BORN, not MADE.

I'm forming the Parents and Friends of HAMsters Group very soon....

LOL,
Babs

Weight Loss and CPAP - A Supportive Thread

Diet: What worked for me!

Forgot to add...

Mucinex and Sugar

Re: Forgot to add...

Sugar