I've hit my target!

[csziggy]

In late August last year I was told I had to get below 230 pounds before the surgeon could perform the spinal fusion of the L5 vertebrae I need. At that point I weighed 273. I had been up to 287 before my aortic valve replacement and kidney removal and had gotten down to 260 during my cardio rehab. After my back started acting up and I had to stop exercising I gained back 13 pounds.

So I began using My Fitness Pal, recommended by someone on DU, to keep a food diary. I kept my calories between 1000 and 1200 a day and tried to keep my sugar under their recommended daily amount. By January I was at 245 but couldn't seem to drop more weight so I read up on low carb diets and started a modified low carb diet. I'm using Adkins shakes to make it easier, but also reducing carbs while eating regular foods. Unlike the Adkins diet, I am still watching my calories and keeping my fats low.

My Fitness Pal recommends 150 carbs a day and I try to stay under 60. The free version will not let you change your target nutrient levels so I can't reset that without paying them money.

It's worked great - when I went to my orthopedic surgeon's office last week I was under 230. This morning I weighed 222.2! I've now lowered my target weight to 175 and have real hopes of getting there - though we're leaving on a long trip in July and that may make it more difficult to keep to my diet.

One complaint I have - doctor's office's only allow 2 pounds for your clothes and shoes. I've weighed myself naked then dressed and my clothes and shoes add 5 pounds. So every time they enter my weight, it is 3 pounds OVER my actual weight. That may not seem like much but when you are fighting to lose every single pound that is an insult.

The day I went into my surgeon's office, I weighed 228 at home but they almost wouldn't allow for my surgery since according to their calculations I was ONE FUCKING POUND OVER their target. Maybe if I wore a light weight cotton dress and sandals my clothes would only add 2 pounds - but I wear jeans with a belt, tee shirt, and shoes with good support, all of which add weight.

[WA-03 Democrat]

1. Congrats!

Not easy to do! Good luck with everything. I find traveling while dieting very hard to do.

[csziggy]

8. Well, about a month into the start of my diet we went on a cruise

Everybody said I'd gain weight - I lost a pound. But I was still eating desserts - low calorie, but still, desserts. That trip we did not pay for Wifi on the ship, but we will for the longer trips we're taking next.

Our trip later this year will be a cruise to the UK, travel around the UK for two and a half months, then a cruise home, so keeping to a diet will be tough.

BUT---this initial weight loss is so I can get my back fused. After I heal I should be able to get back to exercising which should help me keep it off and hopefully lose more. Once I can exercise, I can take in a few more calories a day, especially if I can get to my next goal of 175!

My Fitness Pal is great for keeping to a diet while traveling. I put the app on my phone (but find it easier to use through the browser on my tablet) and it tells me calories for foods at restaurants. Even if the food has not been put into their database, I can approximate by picking things that are similar. For instance, this week I ate a local restaurant and got liver & onions. That restaurant is not in the database but I found liver & onions on the list and used it.

I've had to take a number of trips since I started my diet. Mom died in September and I went to her funeral, plus have made several trips to help my sister sort out stuff at Mom's house. Every time I have managed to be good with my diet by keeping my food diary.

[Yonnie3]

2. Congrats on the weight loss

and good luck with the surgery.

I'm always weighed as three or four pounds heavier at the doctor's office in the winter as compared to the summer. It irks me.

[cilla4progress]

3. Wow -

good on ya!! 👍👍👍👍

[Faux pas]

4. Good for you

csziggy

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Congratulations.

[fleur-de-lisa]

6. Yay for you! Congratulations!

[Ohiogal]

7. Wow - congratulations !!

I know how hard it is, and how the medical profession humiliates us.

Keep up the good work!

[csziggy]

9. I protested that my SHOES weigh two pounds!

They actually weight just over one pound - I was underestimating how much my clothes weigh. This morning I weighed 3.8 pounds more with clothes and no shoes than I did naked. Put on my shoes and they added 1.2 pounds. So fully dressed I weigh FIVE POUNDS more than I do naked. And they allow only two pounds.

From now on, I will complain about this. I don't think BMI charts take into account those extra pounds for the clothing patients wear into the doctor's offices!

[phylny]

10. Winter or summer, go in with a bathing suit and flipflops and STRIP!

Congratulations on meeting your goal!

[csziggy]

12. My primary care doctor's office must have their scales calibrated to subtract two pounds tare weight

I weighted there and it was only three pounds over the weight I had at home. Then I went to my cardiologist and theirs was a full five pounds over my home weight - and two pounds over the primary care office weight. Both places I complained, though.

If I owned a bathing suit or flipflops, I would consider your suggestion. But I don't wear either so it's not possible. Maybe I should get a thin cotton mummu and wear that with the first pair of sandals I have owned in 50 years (that I bought last year after getting my ingrown toenail worked on).

[underpants]

11. Congrats!!

Way to go!

[csziggy]

13. Next problem - all new clothes

Everything I was wearing is far too big so I have to get all new clothes to wear to the UK. Such a hardship.

[No Vested Interest]

14. Congratulations! I always take my shoes off before weighing and would take off my watch

and rings if I thought that would help.
Seriously, wear light-weight clothing for medical weigh purposes.
Why use a belt when each once makes a difference.
Also, empty your bladder and try to not have a full bowel.
Good luck on your travels and cruises - now that is difficult.

[csziggy]

15. Problem is getting the shoes back on

With my back problem, bending over to put my shoes back on is difficult. I have to wear a belt to hold my pants up, I've lost so much weight. Right now, I have two pairs of pants that still kind of fit but they are getting baggy. I two the next size smaller, but I'm saving those for after my surgery - though I may have to stay in the larger pants since I'll have to wear a back brace for three months.

[applegrove]

16. Inspiring.