Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Do I need a reason?

KCsSister
  • By KCsSister
  • Posted July 28, 2008 at 6:27 pm · 9 replies
  • Shared with the public
0 Recommendations

When I quit smoking on Feb 12, 2007 I weighed 208 lbs. I am 5' 2". Now, one and half years later, I am 43 pounds heavier - at 251.6 I am going on a vacation of a lifetime and my knees cannot even support my body anymore. I lost 80 lbs with phen-fen in the 90's but I now way beyond where I was when I STARTED phen-fen.

I want to live. I would really like another magic pill. At the same time that I quit smoking, my house was broken into and my husband was diagnosed with skin cancer - do I need a reason for putting on 43 pounds - I've got a million of them!

Hope to hear of others successes!!

Teri in Texas

Posted in:

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Exercise Cancer Burns Meditation Phentermine Seizures Skin cancer Beta blockers Topamax Imitrex

9 replies

amw327

Hi Terri,

Some might frown on this suggestion, but what about trying Topamax for possible weight loss? More and more doctors are prescribing it to help with weight loss. It is normally prescribed for people who have seizures and migraines. I have been taking it for nearly 2 years for migraines. When I first went on it I weighed 165 lb at 5'2 and within 6 months I was down to 125 lb. The doctors don't really know why it helps so many with weight loss but it does in most, but not all and I beleive from an article that I read that,this is why they could never market it as a weight loss drug, however some doctors do and it doesn't hurt to ask. All the Best,Angela

KCsSister

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the raging waters of life, even though I know God is dealing with me as tenderly as He/She can. I try to walk in the Light every day, and some days God takes me aside and brings an Angela into my life!

There probably is no way for you to know how much your suggestion means to me. I just took an imitrex injection for a migraine at 5:15 pm so I'm like feeling good now at 8:30 pm and then I get on line and here you are with MORE good news!

Thank you Angela, there is definitely "Angel" in your name! I'm calling my NP first thing in the morning to schedule an appt!

Teri in Texas

amw327

Teri,

What a sweetheart you are, I was feeling quite down today and you def- cheered me up, I really appreciate your kind compliments. I also take Maxalt for when my migraines are out of control but I have to say since I started taking Topamax my migraines have diminished a ton and I am thankful that it works for me. I will say when I started taking the Topamax what happened to me was I just didn't care so much about food anymore, I didn't need it- it was kind of like a switch in my brain had been turned off and I didn't look at food the same way- I could just walk by the fridge and keep walking,before the Topamax I stopped everytime. I do hope that it works for you and it keeps your migraines at bay too . Peace to you Teri,

Angela

143yorhealth

Hi Terri,

Congratulations in quitting smoking! It will play a extremely significant role in accomplishing your weight loss and improving your health.

In response to both your submissions,

Unfortunately, there's no magic pill and best to refuse any offerings for one. The safest and most effective way to lose weight is to take in fewer calories and burn off more calories through physical activity.

Yes there are pills out there that can help you lose a significant amount of weight in an extremely short period of time, yet the most safest way for your health and body to lose weight and keep it off is to gradually lose 1 to 2 lbs a week.

An average person whom consumes a total 2000 calories a day and burns 500 calories from physical activity from that total each day can lose 1lb a week.

At the age of 43 you have yet to reach the prime of your life! You are still young! Old is when you reach 100 lol

I am sure you have already told yourself that you deserve to be happy, you deserve to be fit, when you quit smoking no doubt it was in thought to live a healthier life.

I wish to share with you that you are not alone in your experience of overwhelming moments, your experience may be unique from mine own yet keep in mind we as human beings feel the same feelings. And believe that we appreciate happiness even more after overcoming a difficult experience we though would never end. For every down there is an up! Be ready for that happiness!

How has your NP responded to the suggestion of Topamax?

If you are open to another suggestion, there are healthier ways to relieve physical distress with the help of our health care products and here are some success stories you may find empowering for you as well.

http://www.yor.com/health/testimonials.aspx

Appreciate your life now and continue to live with a positive attitude for the future you desire, you deserve it!

Here to help,
Hermelynda

KCsSister

thank you SO much for your reply - it was really uplifting. my appointment with my NP is not until October so I haven't asked her about the Topamax; however, my niece is an NP and she was not happy with me asking her about it for weight loss. I've been pretty good about riding my stationary bike 30 minutes a day which is WAY better than when I first joined this support group. My husband is trim and consistent in his work outs - I hate that for him! (haha)

Every single part of my body feels better the WHOLE day after I ride that bike. I even sleep better. Why is there something in our brain trying to tell us NOT to do what feels so good and healthy?? aaaaarrrggghhh!!

Any suggestions for those horrible 3pm-10pm eating frenzies??? I'm the worst. We have a really healthy meal at 7pm - my husband works long hours, but the snacking on my part is not stop during that time!

deebelle

nite snacking is the wose and was my biggest problem and still is my problem but I choose not to snack at nite except maybe a fruit or a small granola bar. You have to find what is the trigger. Is it the t.v., or being bored or lonely? Find a way then to fill up some of those hours with other things. Get out of the house, take a class, go to the library etc. I find reading self help literature helps. The 12 step program for overeaters is a great group. It is based on AA. They have some super meditation books that you can read when you feel like you want to eat. You can find meetings if you go on line. Check a meeting out if its in your area. They are people just like you and me who are addicted to food. Great group!!
Hope this helps a bit
Blessings;
Dee

deebelle

I might mention also that when I was 55 I lost 70 pounds.....yeah!!!
again;
Dee

143yorhealth

Wow, Congratulations Dee! That is an inspiration! My mother is soon to turn 54 and is in need to become more fit as well. It's encouraging to know that you have lost 70 lbs. =)

Hi Terri, isn't that fascinatingly funny! lol "Why is there something in our brain trying to tell us NOT to do what feels so good and healthy??" Everyone of us have been victims to procrastination or bittersweet temptation.

Great job in putting the effort of at least 30 minutes a day to exercise and I agree that my whole body feels great after a great exercise as well =) especially accomplishing the fact that I would huff and puff on the treadmill wishing that 5 minutes would end and it has turned to loving the feeling of running consistently to great music for up to 2 hours on the treadmill! Our bodies were meant to MOVE and that's the main reason for that great feeling we experience.

Dee had such a great suggestion of having a meditation book for the moments when you do have cravings late at night and yes what does influence your eating frenzies especially starting at 3pm?

3pm seems too early in the day to start a eating frenzy. Is it missing breakfast in the morning or the types of food we eat that isn't filling? Let's make sure we eat a well balanced breakfast to start our day right mentally and physically and that will control our extreme cravings in the afternoon.

I also struggled with late night cravings...many reasons could be having a light dinner or even if you had a dinner the fills you up, you may still have the taste of your meal or drink in your mouth which will influence you to want to munch on something a few hours later and/or maybe its the fact that something interesting caught your attention on tv and is keeping you up later then usual....which could always influence that feeling of having popcorn nearby lol

Whichever the reason is, it has been a great suggestion to brush your teeth and/or mouthwash after your meal or during the time you have another craving and the taste of the toothpaste and mouthwash will prolong your craving longer and more importantly it's a mental game...we got to discipline our thoughts from influencing us for that "one last time" moment.

For the late night projects I work on I treat myself to a meal replacement shake that is tasty and low in calories is also a great option to chose from rather then a solid snack that might leave you wanting more.

Share it with your doctor also
https://www.yor.com/health/product.aspx?id=1

Your off to a great start!
Hermelynda

KCsSister

thanks Hermelynda and Dee! Here is the latest update. I went to my Family Med doc and my thyroid is out of whack. So last week I started on thryoxine(?) I literally begged for a drug and she put me on phentermine but she will only allow me to be on a month, then off a month, then on a month, etc. She said the receptors in our brain shut off after a while and this every ohter month thing seems to help. She told me that 30 minutes of aerobic exerise per day is enough to maintain a certain weight but that I must have 60 minutes to lose weight. Believe it or not, since October 31st, I have only missed 3 days! And it's already November 21st. I go back to see her Monday, Nov 24th. She wants to take me off of my beta blockers that I've been taking for migraine prevention for 25 years - THAT scares me but she said it too can contribute to weight gain.

She helped me stop smoking so I KNOW I can change my life in this way too!

Thank you for your comments of encouragement!

Much love
Teri in Texas

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

You