When I was in high school, I tried just about everything (except the most obvious thing, exercise) to lose weight. One of the worst things I did, all stemmed from a visit to a renowned (but totally weirdo) old-timey Trini doctor, who prescribed a drug to “treat my overweight condition.” (I will never forget that turn of phrase). It was called Isomeride. If you click on that link, it’ll take you to a Google Books excerpt from Dispensing with the Truth: The Victims, the Drug Companies, and the Dramatic Story Behind the Battle over Fen-Phen. That’s a book about the inadvertent deaths and long-term side effects women suffer from the very profitable diet drug industry. That excerpt is terrifying to me, because Isomeride was the French name for dexfenfluramine. Dexfenfluramine is the “fen” from “fen phen.” And we all remember Fen-phen.
People thought fen-phen was safe, because it was approved by the FDA. Women died, and others suffered heart damage because of those quick-weight-loss promises. Isomeride made my hands shake so bad I could hardly hold a glass, and I distinctly remember one day when I cold sweated through my school uniform shirt. Needless to say, I didn’t last long on Isomeride.
And that early teenage experience made me unable to trust any diet drug. It made me a skeptic about lots of prescription medicines, especially the ones that are heavily advertised on television. But I will admit, on my down days — for example, when I discovered that one of the brilliant commenters on AllHipHop.com (a website I read often and enjoy) felt like calling me a “fat bitch,” (scroll down, it’s there) — I feel that inner twinge of teenager self-doubt and depression. Sometimes, I’m tempted to succumb to the quick fixes.
So when I got a press release about Alli, I actually entertained the thought of writing back to get a review sample. It’s FDA approved, and could help me increase my weight loss by 50%. It would stop me from absorbing fat from the food I eat. Sounds great, right? But having had my Isomeride experience, I just HAD to look at the side effects. Excuse me, “treatment effects.”
I quote: “The treatment effects may include gas with oily spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that may be hard to control.”
Wow. No thank you.
The Alli book even includes this tidbit of healthy advice: “You may feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Until you have a sense of your treatment effects, it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work. ” Sweet.
But hey, look on the bright side! They also mention, “anecdotally, many users have told us that treatment effects served as a signal that helped them adopt healthier eating patterns.” USA Today featured an article where Alli users seemed to enjoy having a constant reminder to not go for that second slice of pizza. The drug company’s VP even admitted to having soiled himself because of it. While those side effects aren’t as terrifying as permanent heart damage, that’s a signal I would never, ever want to get. Call me a control freak, but I prefer my bowel movements to be predictable.
After all these years, I finally get it. There is no quick fix for me. My weight loss journey is going to be long and hard, but it’ll be worth it in the end for the discipline I’ll gain. So I’m just gonna stick to the healthy eating, drinking lots of water, and working out, and skip the Alli and any risk of “oily spotting.” But if any of you have tried it, let me know if it really works!
I was recently sent a sample of a wacky but totally innocuous and kind of fun weight loss product, Joey LipFIT Lip Balm.
It’s a clear, super slick gloss that contains “a proprietary blend of peppermint, grapefruit and spearmint fragrances. When applied to the lips, the fresh minty aroma has been proven to safely help inhibit appetite.” I must admit, I like this product. I can’t say that I’ve lost a single pound since I started using it. But it’s a really light, not gloppy, slippery lip gloss. In terms of texture, it’s like Blistex Lip Infusion Moisture Splash. In terms of scent and flavor, it’s like a milder, not-sweet version of CO Bigelow’s Mentha Lip Shine. I likee.
LipFit is part of Joey New York’s Urges collection of glosses and lipsticks, each of which puports to affect your mind through aromachology. I also tried the cinnaMEN Lip Gloss Duo, which uses the scents of cinnamon and vanilla to entrance those you are about to kiss.
The site exclaims: “It is a proven fact that men are attracted to the aromas of cinnamon and vanilla. These lipsticks, lip glosses, lip palettes and lip balms contain a blend of vanilla and cinnamon fragrances that when applied to the lips, the irresistible aroma will get his attention!” My husband doesn’t dig when I get lip gloss all over him, but I think he liked the scent and flavor.
I really liked the Cotton Candy/Cherry Pink combination — the cherry pink is surprisingly sexy, sheer and subtle, and cotton candy is a little too Proenza Pink on it’s own, but makes a great layering color for dark lipstains like my beloved Vincent Longo Baby Boo. The Cherry Pink is the cinnamon side, and it’s a little tingly. The vanilla is yummy, and the gloss isn’t too sticky or gloppy. Two thumbs up, but at $22, bellas on a budget might want to check out the CO Bigelow Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine instead. It’s a steal at $7.50.
What’s the silliest weight loss product you’ve ever tried?
that alli stuff reminds me of that olestra stuff from back in the day. remember those wavy lays that they made with it? people reported the same symptoms as the treatment indications of alli because olestra was formulated to not be absorbed by the body, thus passing through the system and giving people ibs and loose bowels. me personally, i think that the g.i. system is not to be effed with, lest you wind up totin’ around a colostomy bag, which is definitely not a good look! further more, i think that products like alli and fat burners are cheating because they don’t make people have to change their eating habits…it’s the easy way out. a diet is supposed to be a way of life, not something you drop in and out of when you fail to control your cravings and portion sizes and start to put on pounds. i am learning all of this the hard way myself. i recently embarked on a 100 day personal fitness challenge (inspired by celebrity fit club and weight loss of kimberly locke and da brat) because my son will turn two in september, and i am still not back to my pre-pregnancy size. instead of beating myself up about it, i just decided to do something about it and have been working out 5 days a week for the past 29 days. i keep a journal and i’m addicted to working out and caring for my body now. i realize that there are those out there who do need the assistance of drugs or procedures due to morbid obesity/family history, but i think that for most people it’s about really wanting to change and being dedicated and disciplined enough to do it AND keep at it. the craziest thing that i ever tried was hot rox and it took forever to finish the bottle because i was too scared to take the recommended doses because i didn’t want to end up like a fen-phen user. i coulda spent that $30 on a month at the gym and raised my heart rate naturally! but at least i didn’t die.
props to everyone out there who struggles with their weight and trying to live a healthy lifestyle in today’s hectic world. it can be done and your body loves you for it!
I don’t struggle with weight myself, but I have watched my mom battle for years, and because I love her so much, it’s like my struggle too, and I’m always reading about ways to help her lose weight without drugs or these diets that prey on people, especially women. I just want her to feel good about herself and be healthy and around as long as possible, other than that, to me she is beautiful, and to a lot of other people too!! Anyway, the crazies thing I have ever seen about weight loss is from the late 1890s. It was an ad, girl, for SANITIZED TAPEWORMS that came in a bottle. I kid you not. It said that you could take one of those little dudes and then you would be able to eat all you want. Wowser, okay? This whole weight thing has been around a long, long time.
Oh, it was from the early 1900s. If you type “sanitized tapeworms” in your search engine, it should bring up a diet blog, click on that, you can see the ad. It’s like the early version of nutrient malabsorption approach to weight loss.
Our bodies love us as much as… we love us. We may gain weight, but our bodies remember. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I agree, with disipline we can maintain healthy lifestyles, we desire. I purchased a Green Tea diet pill a few years back and oh did it make me feel awful. I feel a tad bit woosie just mentioning it, really! I saw the, what is it? ALLI, looking fresh on the shelf, all colorful and crisp! But I got the same feeling I have now, but worse, illl! naadii you sound so excited and Well! peace
In the past, whenever I had plans to return home to Los Angeles for a visit I would go on the ten day lemonade cleanse; the one that helped Beyonce lose weight for Dream Girls. I also used to go on a three day fruit and veggie juice diet, including two days of prep time in which I had to eat nothing but fruit in the morning and veggies at night (you should always eat fruit first because it digests much faster than other foods). After the three days of nothing but juice, I then gradually pulled myself off the regimen by eating veggie broth soup, etc. These were my quick fixes whenever I needed immediate results.
I read the Alli pamphlet @ the doctor’s recently-I thought of a product a friend took and she told me her bowel movements were greasy– i will never forget the word she used GREASY:) and as a teen she would take Dexatrim?? I believe it suppressed her appetite. Losing and/or maintaining your weight is hard work but your life is worth it…goes on to goggle SANITIZED TAPEWORMS.
I took Hydroxycut about ten years ago when it still had Ephedra on it. I’d take it before a workout and I could run five miles, spend a half hour on the stairmaster and lift weights for an hour, all without feeling tired. And then I’d twitch and have problems sleeping.
I stopped taking it when I got pregnant and then didn’t start back up. Not worth the health risk.
Afrobella don’t pay attention to that ignorant sista on All Hiphop because first off she can’t even spell. She sounds uneducated to me and she’s trying to stereotype you off of what you post on your website which I don’t think you are acting like you’re better than anyone else. What world is she living in? Don’t listen to negative people like that who have no clue. Plus she’s aiming a gun in her picture. She has issues that have nothing to do with you. I guess she thinks she’s some pro-militant sista, she needs to think again. Have a great one. Peace and blessings.
TAPEWORMS???????? Jeez. Back in the day “medicine” is no joke. They’d be busting out the creepy crawlies for everything. Jerseybred, I’ve tried Dexatrim. Six months ago I bought a bottle of Hoodia that sits practically untouched in my vitamin cupboard. Every now and then I do still fall for some hyped-up BS. But I try to keep my sense of smell sharp enough so I can figure out what really stinks.
Lioness, that statement on AllHipHop bothered me for about a half hour, then I picked myself up, brushed off my shoulders, and moved on with my life. The way I see it is, how many people called Oprah the same thing? Or Queen Latifah? Or Jill Scott? Not to compare myself to any of those phenomenal women, but there’s always a backbiter (or yup, that overused word, a hater) out there waiting to downcry you when you’re doing bigger things.
And still I rise, I rise, I rise.
You almost had me, Bella!
“After all these years, I finally get it. There is no quick fix for me. My weight loss journey is going to be long and hard, but it’ll be worth it in the end for the discipline I’ll gain. So I’m just gonna stick to the healthy eating, drinking lots of water, and working out, and skip the Alli and any risk of “oily spotting.†But if any of you have tried it, let me know if it really works!”
Bella, I was so happy that you “got it”, no quick fixes for you, etc. BUT then at the end you close out, after stating all the wackiness of this drug that may cause you physical harm, etc. you then say “BUT IF ANY OF YOU HAVE TRIED IT, LET ME KNOW IF IT REALLY WORKS!” Uh, huh? Why would you want to know if it “really works” if you have made an intelligent and wise decision to lose weight the healthy and sane way? So, um, if it works, you’d actually risk your health, intestines, etc. to finally lose the pounds that you need to lose? Are you serious?
Bella, I will be the first to say to you that I do not know your pain. I do not and have never had a weight problem. For those who are about to write something scathing about this, you can save it. Since I have never been overweight this does not mean that I cannot sympathize with you. Bella, your health is very precious, please do not be tempted by pills and other thrills to lose the weight that took you years to gain. You did not become overweight over night, so please do not look to these wacky drugs or “treatments” to solve your issue overnight. Please continue to exercise and eat right, that’s the healthy way and the intelligent way. Yes, it will take time, but guess what, you won’t run the risk of twitching like a d@#n fool while walking down the street, having “greasy” bowel movements, cardiac arrests, etc. just because some gullible person out there told you that a certain drug “works”. You’re way to smart for that baloney.
For my dear African-American women out there with weight issues don’t give up. Get up, stand up and go walk it out! Literally. Your body will thank you for it.
P.S. Drink water and leave the soda alone. It makes a world of difference. Trust.
I thought about alli for about a milli second…they had this huge week longdemonstration around Union Square. My friend tried the prescription version of alli, which is stronger, back in the day and she warned me about it. She said that she had an accident on herself too…nah…I’m good. I would rather be the fat girl than the fat girl that sh**s on herself.
I am trying to eat healthier and exercise…trying…
Hey TheBeautifulOne! Let me clarify what I said there. The fact that Alli WAS approved by the FDA makes me want to know if it’s actually been effective for some people. But that definitely doesn’t mean that I’d take Alli myself, even if it was 99% effective. Like I said, the side effects aren’t worth it to me. But that doesn’t stop me from being nosy, and I’m honestly curious about this, and many other weight loss methods. Just because I’ve chosen the slow and steady path doesn’t mean I don’t want to know what’s happening over there in the fast lane — even if I think the speeders are crazy for driving so fast. Does that make sense? I hope so, cause I gotta go to work now!
Yes, it makes sense now and thank you! Whew, just want you and everybody else to be healthy. After having a fibroid removed, I only focus on having perfect health and perfect health, you know?
Back to work you go!
Blessings!
To Cluizel:
Cluizel, when you wrote your response above, did you “try” to write a response or did you DO it? You are not trying to eat healthier and exercise, YOU ARE eating healthier and exercising. Got it? Now, rock on with your bad self!
Keep up the good work!
Goodnight!
Bella, let me tell you first that i absolutely LOVE your site! I drop by often and get so much inspiration from you. Thanks very much, fabulous one! 🙂
And now about the weight loss thing. Please, pleeease, everybody, do not take any of those lalaland-medications that do nothing but ruin your precious health (and fill the pockets of the pharmaceuticals industry). I’ve been struggling to like my body since childhood and most of my entire life i had an eating disorder, so i know the vicious circle of *eating, beating myself up, not eating or throwing up, beating myself up again for that, dieting, trying to eat healthy, sanding on the scales and collapsing, beating myself up yet again*. all this is so terrible.
the best thing to do is to start accepting yourself and to give yourself all the love and appreciation you can. treat yourselves like the queens, goddesses, lovelies and proud amazons you all really are! i found out that the more i love and accept my body, the more beautiful it gets. i’ve come to think that the law of attraction (thought is creative) really does work. i first came across the concept of weightloss by self love when i read sondra ray’s super great little book “the only diet there is”. i bought it, read it, re-read it. started to try the things she suggested, and they worked, they absolutely worked for me. they still do. all the best to you all, bellas! :-))
Hey Bella.
Love the info and as it relates to mahself and black women in particular we’ve got to understand that there arent’ ANY quick fixes to losing weight. As my idol Oprah Winfrey stated “If there were a quick fix or potion…I would have it.” And you know with Oprah’s purchasing power she can buy damn near anything.
It’s not about the weight. It’s about making the connection: aligning your emotional, spirtual, physical, and intellectual beings into the knowing that you deserve (are worthy) to be taken care of. There are so many ways that women; particualarly black women have been devalued. In fact it’s a part of our ancenstral memory, but it’s our job to do the work today in the now. No magic pill could ever cure our shattered selves.
Put the Mac and Cheese down ladies! Put yourself first and exercise (I do African Dance!) and make inner beauty your ultimate goal. Worrying about what you look like on the outside is only temporary; it doesn’t last and it doesn’t address the black hole that is your spirit. Forgiveness and self-Acceptance are key. When you get the spirit right miracles can and will happen.
Now I’m not preaching from some mountain high; this is my struggle as well and as Bella says its a life journey. Some books I recommend: Power of Now; Acts of Faith, Think and Grow Rich, Books by Author Dwayne Dyer, Lisa Nichols…..oh…and therapy is also an option……
M.
i haven’t tried them yet, but i feel silly for buying them (they’re backordered) – fitflops. apparently they’re all the rage overseas and they sell them on bath and body works and bliss spa’s websites. you wear ’em and they tone your legs and butt. trust me though, as silly as i feel, i’ll definitely be wearing ’em!
Hi Bella,
I am currently using Alli. I have lost 47 pounds and I have not had any issues at all. What the program teaches you to do is eat healthy and control your portion sizes. Its an aid to me to assist me with losing the weight. It is not going to walk one mile on the treadmill, or cook one healthy meal. What I have done is I have come to a point of no return where I am determined to lose this weight. I am being supervised by my doctor as well. What I can recommend about weightloss is that it is about changing your lifestyle. For me this meant eating healthier and becoming more active. Alli is not meant to solve your problems, only to act as an assistance to youon your journey of losing weight. I would never suggest anyone try this program without consulting their physician. I hope this helps to someone. Peace!
see? Thanks for sharing YOUR story, Ladybug! I’m too scared of the side effects, but CONGRATS on your weight loss and good for you for seeking medical supervision and changing your lifestyle as well. I’m glad this method is working so effectively for some people.
Maybe it’s because I’m a “big” girl too, but I think you are GORGEOUS! Get healthy for you, if you want, but I would not resort to the pills or other measures unless weight becomes a real health issue for you.
Because one day I might have gas (because I *never* do now. *cough*) and if I choose to let one go, I don’t want to have to worry about my drawers or clothing.
Now that gloss? That I might try, because that is hilarious.
I have been on a fitness kick and have shed 15 pounds in a little over a month. It all boils down to good, old-fashioned exersize and portion control. I am mos def the kind of person who needs to see some results so or I will just get discouraged, pick up a package of Oreos and let it so what it do! So I decided to be more organized in my approach this time. I started doing the Extreme Fat Smash diet (a more intense version of the diet used on “Celebrity Fit Club”) and I saw results within 2 days. I combined that with drinking more water and working out 5 days a week for an hour a day (half hour before work and half hour after, plus any other walking I happened to do during the day). I also started keeping a food journal–it will make you more mindful of what you eat. I have my lazy days and my “cheat” days, but I just work that much harder the next day. My goal is at least 30 more pounds and I feel like I’m on my way. I am much more fit, my BP is down, and my legs look amazing! The wackest diet scam I tried was this nasty tasting liquid that promised that if you had a spoonful before bed, you would lose weight.
Christine, I dig the gloss! I can’t even deny it. It’s just silly and fun and most importantly, a good gloss. Niki, you’re an inspiration! I try to fit in exercise and not use the “I’m too busy” excuse, but it’s an ongoing struggle.
Bella- please do not stress over that website. In fact I would take the link off your site so people won’t even go to see that foolishness. Everyday I read comments about your wide range of solutions to the needs of afrobellas everywhere. Keep on with the great posts, we love them. As far as the weight thing goes, you’re right there isn’t any easy solution. But I found that the portion control and scheduled eating helped me drop weight fairly quickly. Once I got into a groove, I started just walking around my neighborhood after work. My fiance goes with me now. Ask your husband to go for a walk sometime! As long as you get your heart rate up, your doing something great for your body.
I agree with ladydandridge that you should delte any links to crap websites..and as you knwo there will always be haters..just brush them off…
Try doing what ladydandridge suggested walking around your neighborhood with your husband. Also, there are some herbs that are said to help with weight loss like chickweed herb and also grapefruit juice as well. Here’s a suggestion if you don’t already know, how about trying to go to a naturopath or herbalist they might have some suggestions on how you can lose weight the healthy way without prescribed drugs that can potentially harm you. Me personally, I don’t trust the FDA because they aren’t necessarily for people’s best interest and health. But I hope that helps a little at least so you can do your own research on that.
Alli is actually not even a new drug. It is simply a half dose version of the prescription drug Xenical…a fact in which the Alli manufacturers conveniently downplay. I know people who took Xenical when it first came out and they related to me that you would literally have to wear Depends if you wanted to avoid accidents.
As a previous commenter mentioned…when you take this drug your body is not absorbing the fat thus the oily stools and subsequent weight loss! Who wants to lose weight from having a perpetually QUEASY stomach?!
I struggle with losing weight myself and a much as I hate to admit it there’s no way around adhering to sound nutrition and a good exercise regimen.
Bella, I feel your pain in the weight loss arena. I’ve been a chubby bella my whole life. I’ve never tried any of those aids, though. For some reason I’ve never believed any of it. Anyone I’ve ever seen who kept a significant weight loss off has done it with diet and exercise. Mentally they made a decision and stuck to it. Without exception. No excuses!
My best friend had gastric bypass surgery in February and has lost 74 pounds so far. She exclaims that she could never have dieted this long otherwise. She has absolutely no regrets. For whatever reason, I still feel like I can do it on my own. So like you I’m going to keep working at it.
Good luck to us all!
X
I just wanted to say that I think you are lovely. I think every woman in the US, no matter the size, has had a problem with her body. It’s sad, but it’s true. I just decided to stop dieting. I’ve been running every day and trying to eat all my fruits and veggies. I had a check-up and everything is fine, even though my jeans are ahem, tighter than I would like.
I hope that whatever you decide to do, you acknowledge your light. I have enjoyed your website and positivity tremendously.
Oh, and my favorite chapstick is Burt’s Bees with Pomegranate. I just wanted to share. 🙂
I was listening to Michael Baisden’s radio show yesterday (I’m not sure of the spelling) and the topic was obesity in the african american community. What was interesting was that the pharmaceutical companies and doctors don’t really want you to get better. If people are healthy, they aren’t making money.
My best friend had gastric bypass surgery, and she lost 80 lbs. She admitted she took the “easy way” out, and from all of the side effects she told me about, I’m not all that enthused about the surgery either. So I am just going to focus on eating smaller and healthier portions, and exercising. If I lose weight-great. If not, at least my insides will be healthy.
Hey Ladybug!
I agree with you too. No side effects here. Lost 10 lbs a week for 1st 2 weeks. This week, 7.
I am basically done and will pass the pills on to someone else. No exercise. I have a broken leg. Stay away from the greasy foods and you will not have an “explosion” of grease.
I first used this product as Xenical(stronger than Alli) thru my doctors prescription.
Anyway, a friend and I did it together and thought we could eat anything because the meds would rid us of the fat. WRONG! We did have problems. We worked in an office and each had our own private restrooms. They looked like someone took a greasy piece of pizza and twisted it until the grease filled up the toilet. YUCK! I stopped taking after a promotion took me away from the restroom.
I think it is good for those who need a quick fix for whatever reason, (sometimes, people feel they need something to jumpstart their weight loss) but unless you want to take a weight loss drug for the rest of your life, lifestyle changes have to be made.
Hey Monique,
Thank you for keeping it real! I totally agree on the amount of time you want to take anything to assist you with losing weight. My plan is to only take them for 3 months. I have changed my eating habits as well as completely re-vamped my level of activity because I know the real key to changing any bad habit is developing a level of consistency of the right habit. The pills were only a catalyst to assist me with getting to the next level. Bella, you are amazing! Keep up the good work! Have a blessed weekend all!
Designdiva and fellow bellas,
I’m glad weight loss surgery has been mentioned. Designdiva put in quotes “easy way out” because it really ISN’T an easy way out. Any weight loss surgery is not a quick fix. It’s a lifestyle change just as when you lose weight through diet and exercise. Having weight loss surgery is equal parts psychological and physical.
I’m struggling with this decision, because even though I don’t quite meet the 100 lb overweight requirement for the surgery my endocrinologist has suggested surgery to me. I am still overweight and developed diabetes in my twenties due to a condition that is caused by severe glucose intolerenace that I’ve dealt with since I was a teenager(I’m now 36).
Most doctors agree that surgery for the Type 2 diabetic will stabilize the condition to where you no longer need pills or insulin (which I take). I also have a good friend that had surgery last fall. She was on 12 meds and now doesn’t take any meds.
Having said all this, even with that prospect, I’m still hesitant to have surgery because I know that whatever I do diet and exercise is still the key to longterm success. I think this a great topic we’re discussing here!!!
I remember a doctor’s visit where the physician grabbed my stomach, shook it, and said “What’s this, a TUMOR?” I didn’t go back to the doctor for about 2 years. I was a size 14. I wasn’t that damn big. My mother has been pleading with me since I was a size 12 “to lose weight so I’ll be pretty”. She’s tacked on the “health” stuff now that it’s all in the news.
I don’t believe people when they say it’s all about health. Truth is, in our society, fat, especially female fat,has become a moral issue. And shaming people into losing it, for whatever reason, has become acceptable behavior. Whatever happened to minding one’s own business? If someone asks for help, that’s one thing. But commenting on another’s body? Rude and self-righteous.
It’s sad that we’ve come to a point where the possibility of uncontrollable defecation is seen as a reasonable alternative for being outside the “acceptable” weight guidelines in society.
MochaSiren, I’m glad that you mentioned that weight loss surgery, or gastric bypass or gastric banding, is not an easy way out. I work in the health field, and know that to be so. It does require a lifestyle change in order to be successful, and you have to change what and how you eat in order to get optimum nutrition with the reduced amount you are supposed to eat. You have to undergo extensive testing and also usually have to see someone in the psychiatric field so that your motives for this surgery and your expectations are clear. I agree that it is drastic, but it has literally saved some lives. If weight loss were easy, we’d all be thin, and that’s a fact. Also, if you do not commit to lifestyle changes, bariatric surgery (gastric bypass/banding), will definitely cause severe problems and also you will eventually end up, along with the complications, gaining back any weight lost. It is major, and it does have complications and risks, but so do all surgeries. I know personally three people who have had it, and are doing well and willing to live with the major lifestyle changes. I also know two people for whom the outcome was not so good. Reason carefully, make sure you see a dietician, a cardiologist, a psychiatrist/psychologist/counselor, and make your OWN decision. I wish you the best with whatever you decide.
Bebroma,
I REALLY apprciate your comment and very sound advice. Thanks for the support!
Mochasiren,
I think everyone should do what feels right to them, but when my best friend had the surgery, she couldn’t eat solid foods for the first 2 weeks–only ice chips and chicken broth. Then afterwards baby food and VERY small amounts of water and food. She can’t really eat vegetables because she claims she’s running straight to the bathroom. And if she eats too much, or the wrong food, she gets REALLY sick. Then there’s the gas issue…Tums and Mylanta are her closest friends right now. To top it off, she met a friend who had the surgery too, and she lost so much,that she now has EXTRA skin flaps on her body. So that’s more surgery.
My point is this: 1) it took my best friend a year to lose 100lbs-which would’ve been the SAME amount of time it would take without the surgery, and 2)the possibility of having all of that excess skin, and that’s more surgery which equals more money.
If any person is weighing 500+pounds then by all means get the procedure. I just don’t want to go under the knife if I don’t have to.
MochaSiren,
I wish you good luck with your decision and your health.
For “Ginang”
I am sorry that your doctor was so rude to you. That kind of behavoir is intolerable and unfortunate. However, if your doctor can “grab” your stomach and shake it, then there’s a problem. I do not comment on another person’s body but for some reason, large women feel the need to comment on mine or those that are thinner than me. I don’t play into it because I know what it’s all about: their insecurity. Just because I’m naturally thin and I exercise to keep myself looking and feeling good. I don’t exercise to make others feel bad or shame them into exercising. It is unfortunate that you seem to have people that provide this disservice to you. I agree with you, people should mind their own business. Heck, do you!
However you want to slice it being obese is not healthy nor attractive. I know that there are a large number of men who love big women but I have never heard a man say that he loves him an obese chick. I’m not saying that you’re obese, but if you’re a size 14 and stand under 5’5, you might want to speak with your physician about your weight issue before you develop diabetes, heart failure, etc. You wouldn’t be so upset about it if you were truly happy with your weight. If you’re not happy do something about it.
Don’t let your mother, etc. scold you about how you look. Take control of the situation, empower yourself.
I do not want to upset you or anyone else in this forum but I do know if I see one more woman on tv moaning and groaning about her weight I will unplug the set and give it to my neighbor down the street(I might do this anyway, sick of the telly) Have women in American society become so blind that we can’t see that being overweight is just the symptom of a much larger disease?
I’m naturally thin, too. But, if it were easy to be slim, then we all would be. We all struggle mightily with something, it’s just that some struggles are more visible to the eye, making it easier for others to judge us, and tell us how to manage our struggle.
You’re right Bebroma and I do agree with you up to a point.
I’m not telling anyone how to “manage” their struggle, just hopefully giving some good tips or insight to what the situation is. I’d rather have some insight as to how to manage an issue than be in the dark or worse, denial about it.
surprise! you know, if you ever want to go on a walk with me you can. i’m actually going on a 40-minute walk tonight, and it’s something i’m trying to do more of in general. i lost my bunny harness though (lol), so i won’t have any company. just let me know!
CHECK THIS OUT! I JUST READ THIS THIS MORNING: VERY INTERESTING: LOL
THE ARTICLE IS ENTITLED:STUDY: OBESITY IS SOCIALLY CONTAGIOUS
“What appears to be happening is that a person becoming obese most likely causes a change of norms about what counts as an appropriate body size,” Christakis said. “People come to think that it is OK to be bigger since those around them are bigger, and this sensibility spreads.”
Bulging waistlines
In the past 25 years, obesity among U.S. adults has shot from 15 to 32 percent. The new study reveals friends could be feeding the fat epidemic, along with our large-serving, high-calorie, fast-food lifestyles.
Run for the hills! LOL
What do you think? Going to read this article again….
Please don’t listen to those ignorant people from the IC. One just said that I associate more with White people, when it is farthest from the truth.
There’s a bunch of idiots in there.
Thanks for a great list of ideas. I’ve scribbled down a couple to try out. I particularly like the idea of having upcoming events featured there.
Been looking for this, thank you for a great post!
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