I am seeting a goal for Hallowe’en:
My current weight is 313.
My Hallowe’en Goal weight is 293 lbs.
I will follow low glycemic diet.
I will get myself a manicure and pedicure if I reach my goal.

Please post your current weight and goals for Hallowe’en and join me!

Hi- Day 6 taking the weight loss drug, Meridia.

I would LOVE to hear from others and their experience taking it. Some of the Reading I have done has been discouraging- some sites say 10% loss of body fat per year and others say about 5-6 lbs a year. Both numbers are discouraging. The cost is high–150.00 a month and some side effects. Possible side effects include higher blood pressure and increased heart rate . I will be checked in 2 weeks and the again at 4 weeks for that…

I have noticed quite nasty heartburn that has woken me up a couple of times. Also maybe bit of dry mouth- but nothing that horrible and raciness is bit better,. I have been waking up feeling great and feeling like I could do anything. Today I painted some built-ins in family that I have put off for 2 months now and feel like I have more energy in general- a definite plus!
Maybe its just co-incidence- but i do seem shorter tempered- I normally have a lot of patience but i have been feeling agitated. Could other things tho and not drug..

One of the boggest conceren fo people who have alot of weight to lose is excess skin and will they need plastic surgery, This is one of the MANY easons I haev for holding off on gastric bypass surgery or and WLS( weight loss surgery).
Interesting article here on The Myth of Loose : http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm
When I look at my body- expeciall the “apron” of fat and skin I really dont know what will happen to it or where it will go.
The article implies that increasing mucsle mass with ger rid of the excess skin- but I am dubious.

Forom the site”
Non-Surgical Removal of “Loose Skin”
To eliminate the droopy appearance of the remnants of excess body fat following weight loss, without resorting to surgical procedures, you must change your body composition, not just lose bodyweight. That means paying particular attention to the ratio of your body fat to lean body mass. Gaining muscle to replace some of those lost pounds of body fat and preventing loss of lean body mass while dieting will dramatically improve your appearance.

It is possible to be at the ideal bodyweight according to Body Mass Index charts (BMI), but still have too much body fat and not enough lean body mass. For example, a young woman in her twenties with “loose skin” recently appeared on a popular radio talk show. She had lost over two-hundred pounds in one year, and her bodyweight at 5′ 8″ was now in the 120’s. Yet, her abdomen was covered with flabby skin that hung off of her. I would guess there is at least another 20 pounds of excess body fat stored in those folds of skin. However, if she lost another 20 pounds of bodyweight, she would obviously look like an emaciated stick! But, that’s not because she is too low in body fat…it’s because she lacks sufficient lean body mass!

Today is Day 4 taking weight loss drug Meridia.

I have noticed a couple of side effects. I stopped drinking caffeine of ANY kind about 3 years ago because it made me feel so racy – even a small amount. I notice with the Meridia I feel that way for the first few hours after taking it. VERY speedy and almost euphoric- I know the Meridia works in a similar way to anti-depressants so this must be whats going on. This morning I threw open my closet in and effort to “dress-up” and put make-up on for the first time in months.
This might be because I am feeling good and having “hope” again but could also be the drug.

I have been feeling very lethargic the last few months and trouble getting up in the morning and just want to watch TV for the first part of the day and force myself to do things.
Yesterday I woke up and was scrubbing bathroom floors and misting curtains with lavender water before I had my first cup of tea.
I would say I definitely have more energy.

On the down side- I am noticing a problem with sleeping. I know some people have problem with insomnia on the drug. I am having trouble getting to sleep- I feel wide awake at nigh although I do fall asleep. I wake up 2 or 3 times in night and wake up early. I am also have weird dreams and don’t feel quite asleep. I am hoping that goes away.

I am sure I have lost weight- I had been sick last couple of weeks so that;s contributed to it but I also feel like have taken off some weight. I am at doctors next week and will weigh myself them I think I will have lost at least lbs in the week.

I have been eating normally and being conscious of glycemic index foods. We had whole wheat pasta with meat balls and whole grain baguette bread last night for dinner, for example.

I do noticed less of an appetite and easier to say no to problem foods. I don’t feel like am dieting at all.
I am having problems with understanding the GI ( Glycemic Index) diet and got another book, The GI Diet Revolution yesterday and will read this afternoon.