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Posted 7/8/2011 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hope this isn't too long as I can't read long posts myself.  Of those of you that have Fibro & Arthritis in your spine, & have been able to lose weight,  how much did it help you?  I have a good friend that had success losing weight by using those drops, I think they are called HCT or something like that, by Dr. Simeone, I think(sorry Fibro fog).  She's trying to get me to try it, but my daughter doesn't think it's a good idea.  She thinks I am too old, 66, to be doing radical diets & that my weight is just fine.  I'm 5'4"& 66 yrs. old & weigh 172 wearing a 14-16.  I've tried so many diets, it's depressing & scary to think of trying that route again. The stress of dieting is the worst part. Please let me know if it helped you with back pain especially & by how much.  Thank you for your time & opinion.  Love Ya,  You are all My support.  Azgram
Posted 7/8/2011 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in your age group and height, agree that losing weight has helped my back and other pains, but also agree that radical diets are not healthy. I was 185, now 137.

I lost a quick 20 lbs on South Beach - aka zero carbs, but that's only good for a few (3-4) weeks. Then the trick is to keep it off and stay healthy. The diet throws you into an unhealthy state, not good if you are a diabetic. My next weight loss, which worked, was Weight Watchers, but I didn't "count points." I just ate the foods I tolerated and basically cut out the bread and potatoes. I've never been a soda drinker, so that wasn't a problem. Don't try for even a pound a week. I spent 5 years getting here, although the first 35 lb I worked harder.

My big secret: NEVER BUY SNACKS! The companies make big bucks from them, but our grandparents never ate them and stayed slim.

NEXT: One meal a day is a salad with nuts and berries or any fruit, meat or other protein, and a nice drizzle of salad dressing. I make a nice big one so I feel it's a meal and I'm not hungry half an hour later. The thing about it is to get vitamin K, which you need for bones and such and is not in anything but leafy greens in a large enough amount to do any good. Alternate the variety of lettuces and spinach for flavors and crunch. Sliced almonds and cranberries help make it attractive. It should be in the middle of the day, and then a lighter meal for supper, but maybe more protein a good vegetable and a small yogurt.

Don't think of dieting as stress. It can be looked on as a treat for your body - good foods that you will like and will make you feel better - and really, you will!
Posted 7/8/2011 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I'm agreeing with Alcie on this one. Losing any amount of weight will take stress off your joints and spine, but doing it unsafely isn't a good idea. I don't know what diet you are referring to but if it is too difficult to do long term it wont stick and you'll just end up feeling worse.

Since I've started having health problems my appetite has spiraled out of control and I am always hungry. Not just hungry, STARVING. My antidepressants have helped with that a bit but I am having to take steps to make sure I'm not gorging. I eat half the amount of food that I think I want, and wait a little while before deciding if I am going to eat more. I carefully pack just enough food to get me through the day at work so I can't snack and nibble too much, but I also have to eat small amounts regularly. I have started drinking a lot of green tea and other herbal teas (hot or cold) so I feel like I am getting something more substantial than just water.
Posted 7/8/2011 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Alcie & Moonsinger.  I have been on W. Watchers about 4 times, even at one time being a leader.  The last time I was only able to lose about 1/4 lb. a month.  I was on low carb for a year & lost 18 lbs., but last summer I started having some GI issues which mimic IBS, but they said I was too old for that& I never got a diagnosis after all the tests other than IBS.  I've helped that with 2 Nexium a day, but have never been able to get back to normal eating.  I eat 1/2 what I used to, sometimes less, & can't eat the things I used to, so it's really traumatic to think of dieting again when so many things suddenly make me sick.  I know I can't let my stomach get empty for long, & I have to take it easy on raw veggies, plus when the fibro acts up with barometric changes, I get terrible bloating & pain.  Think I just answered my own question, but I sure appreciate your answers. Azgram :-)
Posted 7/9/2011 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
your food restrictions will sure make things harder for you, that sucks! My BIL can hardly eat any raw fruit or veggies and has to eat lots of high fat, high calorie foods so he absorbs some nutrition from them. If I ate like him... ooooof.
Posted 7/9/2011 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
This is kind of an out of the box solution, but I have been a vegetarian for 10 years. Initially it helped me lose 20 pounds and I have kept the weight off since. It forced me to stop eating fast food, but I'm not sure if that is an issue for you. Trying to eat vegetarian for even a few days a week might help.

Just a random suggestion!
Posted 7/10/2011 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Azgram, I know the diet you're talking about, the HCG diet. My mom, her husband, two aunts and a third cousin have lost massive amounts of weight doing it several times (one aunt's up to 70+ pounds herself in almost a year). I'm hesitant about trying it myself because of my fibro. You wouldn't do well on it because the bulk of your caloric intake each day would be raw veggies and fruit, and from a very limited selection at that if you stick to the strict Simeon protocol. I do believe that losing weight can help fibro, and if not the fibro then your overall health in general. There are simple things you can do to lose weight, some of which others have all ready mentioned. Otherwise drink lots of water, cut out fake sugars and preservatives, and eat whole foods as close to nature as possible. I did these things (including kicking a horrid Diet Coke habit), lost 10 pounds in two weeks, then steadily lost a pound or two a week for a while after that. I found it easy except when trying to find a quick meal on the go, but even that's not too bad if you think about it ahead of time.
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