need advice on dieting

[Rod the Quad]

what is the most effective diet for someone with sci to lose weight ?
before my accident I was very active, at work I spent 90% of my day on my feet, and I averaged between 210 lb and 230 lb. when I came home from the hospital on 01/31/06 I was 220 lb, I have now reached 280 lb, I have tried atkins diet of which I had great success prior to my sci, but post sci it caused alot of stomach and bowel problems, then I tried weightwatchers program (which also was seccussful prior to sci) and lost a few pounds but I feel that without the ability to do normal exercize ie; walking, running etc. it's just not working. are their any recommendations out there I can consider?

[Mike C]

Rod, I believe CSpanos just had a successful experience with dieting. His pictures were quite graphic as to before and after. Check it out here.

[Bonita]

Originally Posted by Rod the Quad

what is the most effective diet for someone with sci to lose weight ?
before my accident I was very active, at work I spent 90% of my day on my feet, and I averaged between 210 lb and 230 lb. when I came home from the hospital on 01/31/06 I was 220 lb, I have now reached 280 lb, I have tried atkins diet of which I had great success prior to my sci, but post sci it caused alot of stomach and bowel problems, then I tried weightwatchers program (which also was seccussful prior to sci) and lost a few pounds but I feel that without the ability to do normal exercize ie; walking, running etc. it's just not working. are their any recommendations out there I can consider?

I am definitely in the same situation as you. I have joined Weight Watchers myself...and I'm continuing with them. I like that I can weigh in once a week. I find it frustrating at how much my weight can fluctuate...whats even more frustrating is how the two tools that made all the difference before are now useless.

I agree with you though, a diet alone isn't going to cut it. I joined a gym only to find out they don't know what an arm ergometer is. I have since bought a vitaglide. I'm moving this weekend to a larger apartment where I can finally set it up.

Maybe it would be worth the investment...depending on your injury level I guess. I probably should have paid more attention to that before posting. An arm ergometer/cycle...whichever you prefer to call it can vary greatly in price. I think ultimately it is worth the price. I spent just over $900 for the Vitaglide, but I also had some money left over from a fundraiser to help. Wheeling around the mall before I went to lift weights was not enough to get my heartrate up where it needs to be.

Another thought is to take a look at your meds. Since going off of neurontin I lost weight without even trying(unfortunately even that came to an end).

I could use a support partner myself in this journey to lose weight. If you think that would be helpful to you too...please feel free to pm me. A lot of people battle with their weight...but not everybody faces the same challenges that we may face.

I wish you the best in your weight loss journey.

Jennifer

[LaMemChose]

Check out the thread "The Biggest Quad Loser" under this same forum. Cspanos rocked it when it came to losing weight.

[darkeyed_daisy]

Me too. I eat when I get depressed and last year was a depressing year...LOL My humana insurance has started covering the monthly fee for our local fitness center. I procrastinated Nov and Dec but I am going to start on Monday. I did weight watchers in high school but didnt stick with it. I have always struggled with my weight even before my injury...

[Bonita]

I thought I'd suggest one more thing. You said you've been successful on the Atkins in the past, but it messed up your bowels. I tried it pre injury and had success, but ultimately got tired of nothing but protein. Have you ever tried the South Beach Diet. Its along the same lines, but it ultimately takes on a healthier approach, including "good carbs" like whole grains and fruits and nuts. It starts out the same way as Atkins, 2 weeks of nothing but protein, but you are also allowed nuts I think...but you can skip the first two weeks if you want, I think it just sort of helps jumpstart the weight loss. I think this wouldn't mess up one's bowels so much.

Just thought I'd suggest it...they have a really good website too.

Jennifer

[mr_coffee]

not recommending to become balemic but... when I would go into the fridge all I enjoyed in life was eating after sci when I got depressed, so I would over eat hard core I would sit in the fridge for an hour and just eat everything in sight and my quad gut would get insanely massive and I hated life even more.

So to stop eating because I was depressed or bored, I would eat the most fattening food, i'm talking ice cream with brownies, cookies, any kind of sweet stuff I could find crush it up, then I would chew it up and spit it out. I made sure my tounge raped the food before spiting it out so I didn't feel like I'm cheating myself by not swallowing.

I found it very satisifying and it kept me from actually eating it. Then i would eat good healthy food, low fat, high in protien and eat a normal portion of it, so it wasn't like I was getting malnutritioned I just wouldn't shove in my stomach the unhealthy foods but still get the enjoyment out of it.

Gross I know but it helped me cope and I could still enjoy the sweets without actually putting them into my body. This stopped me from over eating, because I was never satisified once I ate my normal food. I probably now have an eating dissorder though hah goodluck.

[Rod the Quad]

Originally Posted by Bonita

I thought I'd suggest one more thing. You said you've been successful on the Atkins in the past, but it messed up your bowels. I tried it pre injury and had success, but ultimately got tired of nothing but protein. Have you ever tried the South Beach Diet. Its along the same lines, but it ultimately takes on a healthier approach, including "good carbs" like whole grains and fruits and nuts. It starts out the same way as Atkins, 2 weeks of nothing but protein, but you are also allowed nuts I think...but you can skip the first two weeks if you want, I think it just sort of helps jumpstart the weight loss. I think this wouldn't mess up one's bowels so much.

Just thought I'd suggest it...they have a really good website too.

Jennifer

thanks for the tip, I have considered "south beach" in the past although I have not tried it as of yet. I'm not sure what I'm going to do just yet but I know I have to do something, let me know how things go with you and hopefully I will have good news to relay back.