Maintaining Weight Loss After Illness [Forum]

Hi there,

I have an unusual question. I used to be very overweight, with a BMI of 28. Earlier this year, I began losing weight very rapidly and by April was diagnosed with cancer.

By late May, my weight had plummeted to what is perfect for my height and has stayed there. Now that I am in remission, I want to maintain this new weight. However, I know that most people gain weight back after huge weight loss and, in any case, I didn't 'earn' my weight loss.

I am very motivated to stay at this new weight, partly because I never want to be so sick again in my life, and being overweight is a risk factor for cancer. Also because when I was very ill, I kept my spirits up by looking at fashion websites, at all the clothes I could wear once I got better. I am keeping a food journal and am eating the right amount of calories for my age (42), level of activity and height. I have also started walking for an hour a day and, when I am in better health, intend to join a gym and take classes.

I've also got rid of my old clothes and taken pleasure in buying new clothes that fit perfectly. It was hugely expensive, so if I gain weight again, I will be up for big clothes bills.

But already I am coming up against problems. Mostly other people - somebody always seems to be offering cake or alcohol and they seem offended if I refuse. A few people have even said I need 'feeding up' even though my weight is clinically perfect for my height and body. I think they're shocked at how much weight I've lost and think that if I went back to looking like I did before, somehow it would mean I was back to normal. Then there are people who seem to actively want me to be fat again. One friend, who is more than obese herself, hovers over me practically chanting that weight lost always comes back. My partner, who is overweight himself, loves his food and is always bringing chocolate and other snacks into the house. We've even had fights about it - he says he understands, but then brings me home some chocolates.

Also, I've lost a huge amount of muscle mass because of my illness. Should I expect to put on some weight as I do more exercise, as muscle returns, or is all weight gain likely to be fat?

Has anybody got any advice for me? I feel like the only good thing about enduring that horrible illness was the weight loss and I want to keep it. I couldn't stand it if I got fat again, on top of everything else - but how do I cope with friends and family who want to push food on me? And do I need to know anything about altered metabolism etc etc?

Thanks for all advice,

Alexie

View the original article here

Small Tips For Losing Weight? [Forum]

I know that it's through exercise and diet, but I don't know where to start. I'm 5'1 and 140 lbs. Please help me.

I love sweets, junk food and soda. I know it's a lethal combination. Please give me small tips that I can work on. I'm not in a rush to lose weight I think I'd be happy if I lose my first 5 pounds.

View the original article here

Mothers Underestimate Influence On Their Kids' Weight

A survey of 1,037 women has uncovered a knowledge gap when it comes to certain weight issues - including their influence on their children's weight.

Here are some of the findings of the survey - conducted by HealthyWomen.

Not surprisingly, most respondents know that obesity leads to an increased risk for health problems, such as high blood pressure (93%), type 2 diabetes (89%), and heart disease (88%).Less than one-third of the women, however, know that obesity is associated with increased risk of colon cancer (26%), gallstones (30%), and breast cancer (23%).While 87% of women believe a parent's obesity affects a child's risk of becoming obese, only 28% assign that responsibility to themselves.Only 11% of respondents know that a child's risk of becoming obese more than doubles if the mother is obese during her first trimester of pregnancy.

Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, Executive Director of HealthyWomen says this:

From an early age, children tend to eat the same foods as their parents, especially mothers, so exposure to nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables is not only setting a good example, but also positioning your child on a lifelong course of good health. Source

Education is central to change, but knowledge is only power if you choose to use it. To be sure, prevention of childhood obesity and healthy children begins at home - with BOTH parents (if there are 2 parents involved).

It goes without saying that mom and dad need to change their ways to become the healthy role-models for children.

While growing healthy habits in children starts at home, it would be folly to put 100% of the responsibility on parents. I firmly believe in the idea that it takes a village to raise a child, and in this case to raise a healthy, active child. The culture and environment children are exposed to nowadays may be one that sets them up for failure. Change needs to take place in communities, schools and various levels of government, especially for higher risk children.

Battaglino Cahill sums it up nicely when she says;

Empowering and educating women is the best way we know to break the cycle of obesity and promote healthy habits for the life of any woman and her loved ones.

Image credit: mikebaird

View the original article here

Not Losing Weight: What Can I Do? [Forum]

hi,
I am 35yrs old,mother of two,weighing 83kgs,height-5'6",my problem is that ,i've been jogging for 30mins & doing yoga for 45mins & eating less calories,drinking at least 16 glasses of warm water since one month,though there is visible loss in inches but my weight loss is only 1kg,which is very disappointing,what should I do to lose weight?I have to lose at least 15kgs to reach to my ideal weight.I have hypothyroidism.Please help.

kash..

View the original article here

College Girls With Heavy Roommates Gain Less Weight

College is a place of learning. Learning how to fill the swim meet with fizzies, deliver the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner, fill the trees with underwear, and explode the toilets every spring.

Err, I mean, college, is a place of higher education, like physics, calculus, math, and science - all that "good" stuff.

College is also the home of the dreaded "freshman fifteen," referring to the weight many students gain away from home, during their first year of school.

But if you're a girl, a new study says you're less likely to gain weight during your freshman year if your roommate is heavy.

Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Health Economists, researchers discovered college women with roommates who have above average weight, gain less weight during their freshman year, than female students with slimmer roommates.

However, the difference was only slight, half a pound versus 2.5 pounds. Yeah, that doesn't put a big dent in the freshman fifteen.

But the reason for the difference makes sense, even though it's not so obvious. The researchers say heavier roommates are more likely to diet, exercise, and limit access to food, and these behaviors can be "contagious."

They also say that most of the time people pick friends and acquaintances who are similar to themselves. So, with randomly assigned roommates, you might be paired with a person you wouldn't normally make friends with, like an overweight person. And this person's unique habits may rub off on you.

This makes a lot of sense to me. My roommate in college didn't exercise before I met him, but he later started going to the gym with me.

Image credit: jasoba fett

View the original article here

Doctors Communication Style Matters for Weight Loss

A study from Duke University showed that the manner in which Doctors communicated with patients, regarding their weight loss, impacted their success -- it is better to be Dr. Mark Green than Dr. Greg House, when broaching the subject of weight.

The study is published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Researchers recorded the conversations between 40 primary care physicians, and 461 of their overweight or obese patients, over an 18-month period. Investigators were tracking how much time was spent and, specifically, how doctors talked with their patients about diet, exercise and weight loss. (The doctors were not told what the researchers were looking for).

Doctors discussed weight with patients in 69% of cases. Doctors spent an average of 3.5 minutes discussing diet and weight issues -- about 15% of the visit.There was little difference between patients who were counselled vs. those who were not, in terms of weight loss.When researchers accounted for the doctor's communication style, however, they found a statistically significant difference between communication styles.Patients whose doctors talked about diet and weight loss in a more motivational fashion, using predominantly reflective or empathic statements, were much more likely to lose weight, compared to those whose physicians used a more judgmental or confrontational style of communication.Patients whose physicians communicated well lost about 3.5 pounds three months after the visit.Excellent study: first of its kind to examine specifically Physicians' communication style, and its affect on patients' weight loss.Possible study flaws: communication styles aren't always directly definable and hence there is room for interpretation. Another potential flaw is that Doctors were recorded. While they didn't know why, it may cause them to be more vigilant in addressing issues thoroughly.Physicians are an important cog in the wheel of overall health. They are the front-line practitioners and as such, they can have enormous influence on the success of patients' efforts to lose weight and improve health.Counselling training would certainly help physicians communicate effectively and "get through" to their patients. At the same time, doctors tend not to have much in the way of formal education in nutrition, exercise science and specifics of how to lose fat. You have to know the right information before you learn how to deliver it.

In the end, I think the patient is best served by a physician who is both empathetic, but also honest and to the point. I also think that in addition to counsellor training and more extensive education in nutrition, MD's should work closely with other health professionals, who specialize in fat loss and nutrition.

Image Credit #1: Playtime Magazine
Image Credit #2: Actuzap

View the original article here