Super morbidly obese. Where do I start?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Begin by walking 30 minutes today. I don’t care if you do it in 2- 15 minute segments or in one segment. I don’t care if you have to do it this evening with a flashlight. Then, overtime we can increase your cardio activity and introduce light weights. For today, you should try to drink 8-8 ounce glasses of water. These changes can be immediate. We can work on your diet when you go to the grocery store next.

This person nailed it. Just two simple things. Move + water. Hungry? Drink water. Hungry again? Put on trainers and get out that front door. Maybe consider chewing gum if you feel the need to bite/chew. Hard candy is also low on calories in moderation.

This means no insurance hassles, no medication complications to worry about, no scheduling, no surgery. Try it for a couple of weeks and see how you feel?

Sorry but those kind of changes don’t take someone from morbidly obese to a normal weight.

[Anonymous]

VSG

https://www.endobariatric.com/gastric-sleeve/

Best doctor out there. It's the only thing he does.

And therapy at the same time.

You'll be a new person and have a tool that you can use to keep yourself in check for the rest of your life.

It's not the easy way out but you will get results while you are learning a new way to interact with food that is sustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gastric sleeve. Totally life changing but you need to really commit to the program. You need to address why you over eat first with a therapist.

PLEASE do not consider gastric sleeve until you’ve given yourself a true commitment and effort to do it the right way for at minimum a year.

Bariatric surgery isn’t as successful as the bariatric surgeons make out - because they only measure weight loss in the immediate years following surgery, they don’t advertise the very high rate of weight regain considering you’ve destroyed your guts and system for absorption of nutrients permanently, and they also don’t advertise the very high rates of transfer addictions to alcoholic, opiates, gambling, shopping to bankruptcy, divorce that are part of the post bariatric surgery reality. And also that a very significant percentage of bariatric patients suffer with depression after surgery because your body changes forever and it’s still incredibly hard to not stuff yourself back into morbid obesity.

The causes of obesity are multiple but critical in most cases is the mind-body link. Cutting most of your stomach out will reduce hunger hormone ghrelin and cause so many unpleasant side effects that you’ll lose a lot of weight fast by simply struggling to eat for several months. But eventually your body heals and the psychological reasons behind eating are still there. CBT is critical if you want to be successful long term on weight gain. Add more veggies and fruits and water. Start moving your body, and don’t give up if it hurts - get really good sneakers for walking I love my Sauconys and if walking is too uncomfortable at first, swimming is a good alternative as is water aerobics and there are plenty of heavy people there no need for shame.

It will take a long time to get where you want to be - 2 years minimum if you keep with it. It is best for the weight to come off slowly and steadily while you move your body - that’s the best chance to reduce the appearance of saggy skin. Also weight lifting and resistance bands can work on toning you as you lose and you can do both at home if you don’t care for the gym scene.

Good luck! I’m on a similar journey so we can travel parallel paths. I decided to reject the push for bariatric after I spend half a year reading and researching - reading a lot on the online support groups to see the struggles of people with all the bad effects they don’t advertise at the surgeon’s office. I figured I owed it to myself to do an honest year of taking care of me before permanently altering my insides. You probably do too, although get checked by the GP to see how bad your numbers are before you decide.

Gastric sleeve does not destroy your ability to absorb nutrients and only minimally affects your GI tract. It simply reduces the size of the stomach. However, it is true that without getting to the root of the overeating, regain is possible. And not addressing bad habits such as drinking calories in the form of soda or sugary drinks is also a pitfall for many.

[Anonymous]

Start with Losing 100 pounds with Corinne podcast. Listen to to her advice. And be kind to yourself! You got this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, OP here.

Wanted to say thanks so much for all of the tips and advice. A little update. Went to my first PCP appointment in years on July 1st. Got bloodwork done and as I expected, am Diabetic. Also have PCOS, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, and low iron. On meds for all and take a daily iron supplement. My weight was 338 on July 1st. Currently at 317. Honestly, haven't done any exercising so I'm sure the meds are a big factor, but have eased off overeating all the time and watch carbs, though I definitely have had days I've ended up eating "bad."

Have an appointment with a nutritionist in a couple weeks and hopefully that'll give me more direction in finding an eating plan that will be suitable for me. Thanks again!

Just saw this update from OP and wanted to congratulate you on going to the doctor and getting the diagnoses -- and also for 11 pound weight loss -- that's a big deal! Congratulations and good for you!

[Anonymous]

Hi all, OP here.

Hope everyone is doing well. Just wanted to update (I've been on DCUM for 10+ years and have wanted so many thread updates from OPs, ha.)

I have definitely had my ups and downs, with most days being a bit of a struggle as I think about food A LOT, + had a 4-5 month period in the Spring/Summer where I wasn't gaining weight but also not losing as I fell into old habits with binge eating, something I feel like I've done for so many years.

I'm currently at 263, so yep, VERY slow going. I approached my doctor about starting Vyvanse to help with BED at the beginning of June and she thought it might be better for me to try Ozempic first. The first couple months were disappointing as I felt almost no negative side effects, until I started the 2mg, which I've been on now for going on week 6 iirc. I definitely still crave "bad" foods but at least I'm not BE as much anymore but the medication hasn't helped as much as I'd hoped/read it helping for others weight wise. Numbers in bloodwork have definitely improved though, to the point doctor said I don't need Metformin for diabetes anymore but I'm still currently on it as it's also for PCOS.

As far as exercise, I aim to walk 4-6 miles a day since August, and that's been going well. Drink mostly water, diet soda here and there. Never drank coffee or alcohol so no issue there. I know I really need to try to eat fruit and veggie servings, as well as more protein.

Going to try the Ozempic for a bit more and if I feel like it's not helping me get to where I need, doctor said I can start Vyvanse and use both at the same time. BE has been something I've struggled with for many years and I know I need to probably also try CBT or another mental health therapy to help beyond just medication.

Tysm for the advice and words of encouragement on this thread again!

[Anonymous]

You can do it OP. Good update.

[Anonymous]

So happy for you, OP!

[Anonymous]

I don't recall reading the original post in real time, but I am glad for your update!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with therapy and semaglutide (ozempic if insurance doesn't cover wegovy). Also look into weight loss surgery or try to get on the clinical study for this one.

https://www.sciencealert.com/experimental-drug-breaks-record-for-weight-loss-in-latest-clinical-trial-results

Ozempic is going to paralyze your gut and you will have a bad end. Don't be stupid.

[Anonymous]

I have lost 40lbs since 2 years.
- I eat plant based Whole Foods (nothing processed), so I am vegan and do not eat processed food (junk).
- I do Intermittent fasting, eating my first meal at 12 noon and stop eating at 7 pm.
- I drink a glass of fresh green juice 2 times a day with meals - kale, spinach, celery, cilantro, beets, carrots, cucumber, apple, orange, ginger, lemon.
- I walk 10K steps a day. I started with around 2K steps a day. Walk immediately after eating a meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, OP here.

Hope everyone is doing well. Just wanted to update (I've been on DCUM for 10+ years and have wanted so many thread updates from OPs, ha.)

I have definitely had my ups and downs, with most days being a bit of a struggle as I think about food A LOT, + had a 4-5 month period in the Spring/Summer where I wasn't gaining weight but also not losing as I fell into old habits with binge eating, something I feel like I've done for so many years.

I'm currently at 263, so yep, VERY slow going. I approached my doctor about starting Vyvanse to help with BED at the beginning of June and she thought it might be better for me to try Ozempic first. The first couple months were disappointing as I felt almost no negative side effects, until I started the 2mg, which I've been on now for going on week 6 iirc. I definitely still crave "bad" foods but at least I'm not BE as much anymore but the medication hasn't helped as much as I'd hoped/read it helping for others weight wise. Numbers in bloodwork have definitely improved though, to the point doctor said I don't need Metformin for diabetes anymore but I'm still currently on it as it's also for PCOS.

As far as exercise, I aim to walk 4-6 miles a day since August, and that's been going well. Drink mostly water, diet soda here and there. Never drank coffee or alcohol so no issue there. I know I really need to try to eat fruit and veggie servings, as well as more protein.

Going to try the Ozempic for a bit more and if I feel like it's not helping me get to where I need, doctor said I can start Vyvanse and use both at the same time. BE has been something I've struggled with for many years and I know I need to probably also try CBT or another mental health therapy to help beyond just medication.

Tysm for the advice and words of encouragement on this thread again!

Thanks for the update, OP! You are doing great--hang in there!

[Anonymous]

You are awesome OP! Walk, as most everyone has stated, and clear the house of bad food. There's no other way. You can do this. You will do this.

[Anonymous]

As someone who got back to exercise after an extended sedentary period, it’s okay if the first walk is five minutes. Just make the next day’s walk six minutes. Work up to twenty minutes a day.

I would make your PCP appointment two weeks out. Commit to five minutes of walking tonight, six minutes tomorrow, etc. Then you can tell your PCP that you’ve started taking control of your life and you want support making more changes. I think it will help give you confidence.

[Anonymous]

OP you are doing amazing! You've lost 72 pounds!! You should be SO PROUD of yourself! Thank you so much for the update!!!