Over 100 Pounds to Go

Re: Surprise for my doctor

Goldabraun — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:00:47 GMT

Thanks for sharing your struggle, I think a lot of us have been in the same boat.

I read an article some time ago that shed some light for me - the main point was that shame is cruicial to weight GAIN for people like me. Since you say you gain AFTER getting a chat from the Doc, I think it might be a player for you too.

I tend to be an emotional eater, which can border on addcitve behavior. This article went into the ritual addictive people go into. Basically we use shame to hurt ourselves more, in order to feel greater relief from giving into the temptation. To say again, indulging the addiction is made more MORE sweet by first beating yourself up.

I thought WHOA... I totally do this. So I decided to try a week of watching my negative feelings towards food/ eating/ and weight. I realized EVERYTIME I eat I was bashing myself. That's not normal, it is normal to get hungry and eat, but I was ashamed of even normal hunger and eating. I don't know how I got to that place, but I'm glad I realized it so I could work out of it.

Basically I decided if shame could make me thin, it would have worked already... Shame has never been in short supply with me... So try watching your mindset and see how often you are negative withyourself. Then, no matter how you eat - make a decision to take shame out of the cycle. Without shame, the ritual of bad behaviro loses its power. Then you are more free to make rational decisions without letting anyone (Doctors included) effect your health negatively.

Good Luck, God Bless!

Re: Surprise for my doctor

SharonLPN — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:35:53 GMT

When I went to my check up last month I hadn't seen my DR. since june. She was so shocked when she saw my weight. The highest I had ever been at her office was 273 and I weighed 235. she asked me why after all these years of trying to get me to lose weight why is it working for me now? I told her it just clicked with me that this was the time. She hugged me and said I can't wait to see how much you weigh when you come in dec.

Re: Surprise for my doctor

NancyNY73 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:51:51 GMT

Hilary I ALWAYS gained weight after a doctor scolded me, because the first thing I'd do was run out and stuff my face. I'll never forget the worst time, it a few years ago when I was having problems with my knee. The orthopaedist was very nasty and bascially told me "well what do you expect" and offered me no help at all, didn't even tell me what I could do for my knee. Then as I was leaving I heard him tell his receptionist in an aggravated tone "...another fat person" and I knew he had to be talking about me. Across the street was a diner, where I went and gorged on pancakes, bacon, toast, etc., crying the whole time.

Re: Surprise for my doctor

moochpookie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:44:48 GMT

I am standing here cheering for a weight loosing you and a prize winning doctor. I too loved the picture of the weight just dropping off the chart! Good work!

Re: Surprise for my doctor

sayeater — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:36:42 GMT

Saw your update here. So glad it worked out with her. It is so hard to find a doctor with people skills anymore, it's like they screen out compassionate people in med school or something. I have a doctor that I like better than any other I've had. He likes to sit and talk to you, but will be frank when necessary. I remember one time I was in there like you, giving him the wah, wah routine about how I eat healthy foods and don't feel like I eat too big of portions and how I don't exercise regularly but I am always moving and on the go, and oh I just don't understand WHY I am so fat.... and he looked at me and said something like "Well, you don't get to be that weight without doing something." I was speechless for a second but he was absolutely right and I love him for saying it. Looking back it is amazing he was able to keep a straight face through my litany of lame excuses. But in the end it's not the doc telling us to lose weight that gets us to do it, it's our own resolve. Heaven helps those who help themselves, right? I haven't seen my doc since I was pushing 310 so I will be interested to see his reaction next time I happen to see him. I would love a hug, but I'm not getting my hopes up:)

Re: Surprise for my doctor

SisterC — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:13:30 GMT

Ya-hooo Hilary!! That is fantastic news.....you are lucky to find a good doctor that really understands and cares...so many just write 'problem patients' off without regard to their well being....You are very lucky indeed and you deserve a pat on the back....what a great day!! Keep it up! Hugs, SisterC

Re: Surprise for my doctor

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:51:42 GMT

oh happy endings, I love them! Ha ha ha, fat jumped off a cliff, luv that too, funny funny. I'm so glad that you found a good Doctor out there.. nothing like receiving care from someone who actually cares. And just wait till next time you see her ;P

Re: Surprise for my doctor

hjsmith — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:53:13 GMT

Ok...it's official...I LOVE my new doctor. This was only the second time I had met with her, so we don't know each other very well. When she first came in the examining room, she kept looking at me funny. She said that I look different and asked if I am wearing my hair different...I cracked a little smile at that comment, of course...after the recent posts about people not noticing our weightloss, but asking about our hair or clothes. :)

Anyway, then she looked at my chart and I saw her eyes get big. She started messing around on the computer as she mentioned that I have lost weight. I told her yes, and told her what I'm doing. She pulled up a chart on the computer that showed how my weight had changed. She said "Look at that...that is a HUGE difference...you just improved your health by a lot." The red line went halfway across the screen and then took a big dive...looked like my fat just jumped off a cliff. AWESOME!

She was really proud of me, and even gave me a HUG before she left the room...which has never happened to me before...seriously...a HUG from a doctor?! That really was a big boost to my morale. Thanks to all of you for your comments yesterday. I love my SlimFast family and made sure to give you plenty of credit to my doctor! God Bless -- Hilary

Re: Surprise for my doctor

moochpookie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:42 GMT

I went to the doctor for an ear infection and he was way more interested in trying to talk me into thyroid tests than treating me ear and I thought the thyroid tests would ahve made them more money than my ear. I ended up in the hospital for my ear where I had a great doctor! And I went to the hospital with my Dad, who needed by-pass surgery. The lady immediately assumed I was the patient, because me Dad was lean. Now I am more likely to tell them what I think!

Re: Surprise for my doctor

msSkinny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:15:55 GMT

hi Hilary... yeah the same thing happened to me. The only thing that irritates me is that people see a big person and automatically assume they are diabetic, or have thyroid issues and high blood pressure etc, etc, . I have thin people in my family and friends that are diabetic, my husband thin and sculpted high blood pressure. Me? nothing. I am overweight but other than that I am healthy. Praise God. just don't like the assumptions. I think I get anxiety from the pressure of losing weight or I feel like they are judging me so it causes me to rebel and eat more. Although the only person i was hurting was myself.

Re: Surprise for my doctor

mom2teens — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:41:18 GMT

What a great feeling to have...looking forward to the scale at the doctors! Now who says that? Good for you. Let us know how it goes.

I didn't go to the doctors for 10 years because I didn't want an official recording of my weight. I tried talking to my doctor about my weight and felt very judged and dismissed. My husband would get really upset with me for not going and he finally talked me into seeing a new doctor he found when we moved. She is wonderful. I told her right off the reason I had not been to a doctor and she said, "Well, then we should start with that first." (My weight) I immediately started crying. She told me that she wouldn't put me on a diet because she knew that wasn't what was going to help me. She said the bigger thing was to figure out why I eat too much and solve it from there. She gave me some suggestions and has never been judgemental rather willing to help me find solutions. By the way, I have no health proplems (yet) due to my weight, but I will never hesitate to go because of the scale.

Coni has wise advice to find someone you trust. Physicians are all different and have different outlooks, philosophies, and bedside manners.

Re: Surprise for my doctor

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:36:45 GMT

Hilary, your doctor will be so impressed with your new self. If after today your still not happy.. have you thought about looking for a new one? My doctor I found took a while. Our first visit was just an hour of us talking about my past. Then, after 60 min, he listens to my heart. He is an amazing doctor. There are family physicians out there who really care.. will look beyond the "weight" issue and treat what is going on and still with a kind hand talk to you about your weight.. go through what options could work for you and what ones may not. They are out there! This is your body and you are in control. I do hope all news is good news today.. and if your doctor doesn’t say it.. I’m proud of you Hilary. (FYI I have a thyroid issue that is still out of control.. went years and refused to take my meds.. finally back on them since starting SF. Will be a few months before they in balance.. it is an awful thing, be happy you do not have!)

Re: Surprise for my doctor

moochpookie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:40:30 GMT

Your Doctor will be surprised. You broke the spell and are doing things right. I am sure your doctor is not expecting anything like what you've accomplished! You show them!!! I would think that doctors would know a lot more about how to help overweight people better tha they do, but... In the end we have to do it ourselves and we are. Good for all of us!

Re: Surprise for my doctor

JodieHut — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:39:18 GMT

Hillary... you are just too cute! I love your "Wah Wah Wah".... I've sang that same song many times. You are so right about doctors just chastising us on our weight, but not offering any help or guidance. And when you are an overweight person, the doctors want to blame every ailment on that... "Just lose the weight and you'll be fine." Good luck at your appt today! I'm sure your doctor will be very impressed with your weight loss, as we all are!

Surprise for my doctor

hjsmith — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:16:17 GMT

Hi all. Just thought I'd post this and see if any of you agree. It seems like almost every time I have gone to the doctor in the last few years I get the same type of response. "You need to lose weight. You are setting yourself up for diabetes. I want you to lose 15 pounds by your next appointment in 3 months." This was basically my conversation with my male doctor last December. I was 226 pounds then. By the time I went back to see him in February...I weighed 234. I could tell he was disgusted. Same conversation, only this time, he decided to test me for thyroid issues....the test was negative.

Fast forward to my next appointment this past August. I weighed in at 241.5. Thankfully, I have a new doctor...a female...yea! Anyway, she and I had the "same" conversation. "You need to lose weight. Diabetes. Exercise. Try to cut down on carb rich snacks...blah, blah..." My pitiful side of the conversation went something like this..."I'm so busy. Wah! I have 3 children under the age of 6. Wah! I'm in constant pain. It hurts to walk. Wah! I don't know WHY I'm gaining so much weight. Wah, wah, wah."

Now, it's November. I've lost 29 pounds since my August appt. Surprise, doctor!! I'm sure it won't mean as much to her as it does to me, but I can't wait to step on the scale today.

Are any of you like me? It seems like everytime a doctor has told me to lose weight, I have ALWAYS gained...immediately. It irritates me so bad that they just look at an overweight person and say "lose weight." But, they rarely ever give any suggestions as to HOW to lose the weight. I mean, SERIOUSLY! Shouldn't they be able to look at a woman who is 5'2" and 240 pounds and KNOW that she needs guidance??! Anyway, thankfully, I took charge of my own health and now I have the results to show for it. Wish me well at my appointment today. God Bless you all -- Hilary