11/12/08

New Course of Action

So, a lot of time has past since I have spoken of what I am doing lately. This is because for a while there I was doing about as well as a dog chasing its own tail.

I got down to 338, painfully slowly. Even though I was doing all the “right” things, such as eating only lower glycemic things, exercising 30 mins every morning, staying under 1600 calories a day, and taking my new meds. According to the numbers I should have easily been losing 2 pounds a week, but aside from the first couple weeks, I lost about .25 or .5 pounds a week. It was very frustrating. When we got back from vacation, despite trying eat as healthy as possible and walking a ton, I gained 3 pounds and was back to 341. DEPRESSING!

I got into a bad mind set and felt like I would never win the weight loss game, so I screwed up and started eating what I wanted for a few weeks. That got me back up to 345. My mom insisted on taking me to a holistic endocrinologist who had studied PCOS. Begrudgingly, I went at the end of October. I didn’t know what else to do. He shared with me that he thinks along with PCOS, many people suffer from Metabolic Resistance. He also said although I am doing the all the right things, I needed to be even stricter with myself because it was going to be tough to reverse some of the issues keeping me fat. He did say weight loss will come but the first couple of months were going to be rough.

It left me wishing for plain old vanilla obesity and not this extra fun version tied to my hormones with a dollop of metabolic resistance on top. A lot of what he told me makes sense, and what have I got to lose? Nothing else was working so I am giving his suggestions a go. Here are the specifics:


1) Eat Organic as much as possible. ($$)
2) Avoid all artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and chemicals. (No more diet soda! Crap!)
3) Avoid Sugar at all costs!! (Do you know how much secret sugar is in everything?!?!?)
4) The only fruit I can eat is berries. (Yum, thank God for this!)
5) I can eat all the vegetables I want, expect starchy ones. (I like veggies, this is cool.)
6) Use organic chicken, organic beef, and wild caught fish as main protein source. (Yum.)
7) Eat Organic Cheese and Diary 2-3 times a week, make sure it is full fat version. (He said full fat diary is more of a whole food.)
8) Increase healthy oils, organic butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, ect. (I already use these, not I must buy the organic versions)
9) Eat 1800- 2000 calories a day. (Done, no problem.)
10) Absolutely no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, or corn. (I am trying to adapt recipes to make things interesting without having these yummy things.)
11) Exercise 60 – 90 minutes a day. (WOW, this has really changed my schedule. I am going to 60 mins now, 30 in the morning and 30 at night.)

So yes, this has been HARD! I started on Monday October 20th. I lost 7 pounds the first week, and I was back down to 338. I was thrilled. The second week I lost 8 pounds and was in complete heaven. Here is where all the trouble happens. On the Monday of the third week I weighed 330. Today, 10 days later and half way through the 4th week I still weigh 330. I talked to the Doctor about it and he said to keep pushing on through, so that is what I am doing.

13 comments:

  1. Congratulations on what you have accomplished so far! Don't worry you'll get through the plateau.

    Good vibes from Chile :)

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  2. Thank you! However, do you really think I could have hit a normal plateau after only a couple weeks? Doesn't that take months to happen. I think my body is just wacko!

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  3. It really is hard. Every body is different. It *could* be a plateau, but the important thing is just to never give up.

    Just found your blog and wishing you well with the weight loss struggle.

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  4. Your body has trillions of moving parts and every one of us is different. I wouldn't worry about a plateau. Like Mr. Miagi told Daniel-san, "You stay focus! You best karate still inside!"

    When you get discouraged over not making any progress just think one thing: will going off the plan get me to my goal? Probably not. I know it's discouraging to do everything right and not see any results. It's even more discouraging to give up completely.

    Hang in there.

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  5. PCOS issues make me want to ram my head into a wall much too often! I know how you feel about doing the right things and not seeing the results or hitting a plateau quickly. Thanks for sharing the tips the holistic doc gave and keep trying!

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  6. You're doing great! I lost my first 50 lbs just on changing to whole and organic... yeah, and all my commenters criticized that. But guess what? IT WORKS!

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  7. You very well could be at a plateau ...even this soon!! I suffer from the same thing as you do and your doctor is right in all the things he has told you so hang in there and keep on keeping on ...the weight will start falling off!!

    At my highest weight of 450 lbs. I thought it was HOPELESS in losing because I was trying so hard to lose and nothing was taking it off until I went to a very good holistic doctor who told me what I was suffering from and I thought what in the hell is metabolic resistance?

    Any ways here I am 100 lbs. lighter and still going strong :) You will have to work through alot of obstacles but the weight will drop ...keep on doing what your doctor suggested and you will be glad you did :)

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  8. It sounds like you're really focused... and you have already lost a lot of weight. So just keep on keeping on! We'll be here to cheer you on all along the way. :)

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  9. Hey! I'm so happy to hear that your new approach is working well. I totally understand the frustration with the plateau. I've hit it myself many times. It very well may be that your body is adjusting, so give it a little time. It will get back with the program.

    In either case, good for you! I am on the no sugar, no artificial sweetener plan myself, but I'm not as strict as I was in May when I started. I go see my naturopath in a couple of weeks and we'll look at bloodwork again. I'm certain that it doesn't look at good as it did in June, so I'm going back to the stricter plan.

    Hang in there!

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  10. Wow - you have a tough row to hoe. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Keep at it and persevere!

    Someone told me that oftentimes after a big loss the next week is much much smaller. After losing a total of 15 lbs the first 2 weeks your body might just be adjusting. Take heart!

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  11. Hey! In response to your question, I hit a plateau with weight loss after 4 weeks of rapid weight loss so I think it can definitely happen. I guess everyone's bodies are different so who knows, but if it makes you feel any better I was plateaued for three weeks (not stalled completely, but losing like a half a pound a week whereas, before that I was losing 3-4 pounds a week) and then I started losing normally again.

    And also, 15 pounds in two weeks is HUGE! Pat yourself on the back for the big accomplishment and then keep at it! Eventually you'll pick up speed again, especially if you are on such a healthy diet like this doctor has you on.

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  12. It sounds like your doctor is giving you great advice, you body is just rebelling. I think of it like a child having a temper throwing, themselves on the floor, and refusing to go anywhere. But just like we have to discipline and be firm with the child, we have to do the same with our bodies.

    I know how you feel. I started at 320 and plateaus are not fun and can be embarrassing after having a great loss. But you are doing a great job. Don't get frustrated but keep on truckin' and you'll start to see the scale moving.

    Sandy

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  13. Hi - I was glad to read this post. I also have PCOS and I lost about 15 lbs really fast and hit a wall, and I got so frustrated I have kind of given up (even though I said I wouldn't), because I feel like I can't get anywhere.

    So, I'm glad I found you. Are you taking an herb or vitamin...or is the medicine you mentioned Metformin? We should compare notes.

    I needed to read this...thank you.

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