I started sprinkling. So far so good.

[DammitJanet]

Doesnt taste bad and the support board is very nice. It has a very nice place where you can work with a meal tracker to keep track of calories and sprinkling. They tell you to make sure you dont go under 1200 calories because you will go into starvation mode and not lose weight. They have advised me to eat between 1800 and 2200 calories a day because of my lifestyle and weight. They dont want me to get overwhelmed and quit just because I think Im denying myself. Makes perfect sense to me. The idea is that I learn when I am hungry and when I am full. Good idea...lol. Im gonna buy some normal sized plates instead of those incredibly large platters that stores have gotten us used to in the last twenty years. Anyone else noticed that we used to eat on a regular sized plate and now we eat on these huge platters that are the size of old records? No wonder I got fat! Im gonna go buy smaller plates and bowls and chuck these huge things out the door. Oops. They broke! Im a clutz now ya know...lol. No more sabotaging me!

I am dieting woman here me roar!

 

[klmno]

You go Girl! I have never heard of sprinkling but your plan and attitude sound great!

difficult child and I used to eat off those large plates, too- and yes, we both gained weight.

 

[buddy]

You are so funny. I hope this works. I have seen some of the info on it. We tend to use salad plates at our house. I guess I dont cook enough that we would need to fill a whole plate. but I usually put fruit and veggies in a separate container anyway, a small bowl or little plate. Maybe that is why. I think it does make a difference in how the food looks psychologically, seems to look like a lot of food that way.

Good luck. It is not easy for sure. Keep checking in, love to hear how it is going.

 

[cubsgirl]

Go Janet! I have heard that smaller plates help too. I have the same problem determining when I am hungry. I've been keeping a log of my daily caloric intake and I try not to go over 1800 calories each day. I have lost about 15 lbs so far.

I'm rooting for you - you can do it!

 

[InsaneCdn]

Corelle makes a divided dinner plate. Its about the size of a lunch plate, rather than dinner plate, and its divided in half, with one side divided in half again. Two small sections for protein and starch, big one for veggies... Its used for diabetics, specifically, but is also useful for weight control. Helps with portion sizes.

(I like 'em because it keeps foods from touching!)

 

[susiestar]

Sounds like a sensible plan and you are on the right track!! Check into sittercise - google the term. It will come up with exercises designed for people who cannot stand for long. You may be surprised at the workout you can get. I remember the classes from my gma's assisted living facility. I used to go and take part in any activity she wanted me to do (other than dating her best friend's son - I was 16 and he was 32! We were BOTH horrified by the idea, lol!!) including sittercise. It was fun because I liked many of her friends, and I remember being surprised at the workout I got.

Smaller plates are a very good tool. It is also excellent to work to figure out when you are and are not hungry. Consider keeping a diary and writing down when you eat - the time, what you are hungry for, and if you are eating from hunger or boredom or being upset or something else. NOT stopping eating, just keep the diary for a week or two of the times, what sounds good (carbs, sweet, salty, meat, fruit, whatever), and hungry or bored or whatever. Then after a week or two or three, you shoudl see at pattern. That pattern can be a HUGE help.

Also look up what a portion size really is and what it looks like. It is easy to say 3-4 oz of meat, but what does that look like? A serving the size of a deck of cards, THAT is soemthng you can see in your mind.

When you buy snacks, keep small plastic bags on hand and measure the entire bag out into portions. Around here husband and thank you would eat a 3 pound bag of almonds in a week or less. But when I measure out a serving size (about 1/4 cup or whatever is on the package) and seal them up in small ziploc baggies. Now they grab a bag and eat that instead of huge handfuls at a time. It works for chips, cookies, anything really. I even do veggies and fruit this way because they think 3 grapes is a serving of fruit and don't eat enough.

If you are in need of disposable dishes, consider getting some of those chubs, the paper baskets that are used at ball games for nachos, etc..... We get them at Sams and they are far cheaper than paper plates, plus they are smaller and the sides keep things from falling off.

 

[DammitJanet]

Right now they say not to measure or try to deprive myself or act like I am starting some extreme makeover show. I am to just eat as normally as possible but be aware of what I am eating. Not eat without thinking. Put the food on my plate, sprinkle, eat slowly and be aware of how I feel as far as when I get full. Stop when I feel full. I have to work on drinking water because I hate water.

I will definitely look into that sittecize. It sounds interesting. I have a doctor appointment on monday with my ortho. I am going to see if I can get him to order me some water therapy. I think he is going to want to order PT but I am not going to go for that but am willing to do water therapy. I know one of the local health clubs does a water therapy for arthritis patients. Just have to get a bathing suit to fit me but Im sure they should be on sale online at this time of year. I imagine insurance would pay for water therapy if the doctor ordered it. I would love it if they would buy me one of those little pool thingies...lmao.

Tony is so not gonna like me...I bought the lunch sized Corelle plates today!

 

[klmno]

Would it help yo get those flavor packets (tea, lemonade, etc) to put into your water?

 

[Star*]

YOU ARE not DIETING........
YOU ARE NOT dieting.........

iF THAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE.....YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED. (period)

you ARE ON THE FIRST WEEK OF A LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR THE REST OF YOUR SEXY LIFE.

nothing tastes as good as thin feels - repeat..........

 

[donna723]

Janet, you're right about the size of the plates! For years I've used the remains of two or three sets of dishes that all had regular size plates. I got a new set for Christmas last year and those plates are HUGE!!!

 

[1905]

Those little Crystal Light packets that you put into water taste so good. I actually buy the Target brand strawberry flavor.....yum! It doesn't taste like water, but it is! Does the sprinkle taste like anything? I'm happy for you.

 

[DammitJanet]

no the sprinkles dont taste like anything. I have read on the message board that month 4 does smell like sour milk which is probably good by then because 4 months in its getting hard to hang on.

 

[HaoZi]

They tell you to make sure you dont go under 1200 calories because you will go into starvation mode and not lose weight. They have advised me to eat between 1800 and 2200 calories a day because of my lifestyle and weight.

Ideally, that advice, plus using the smaller plates, drinking plenty of water, and eating slower and savoring your food should be sufficient. While I love your enthusiasm for this and will love to see you succeed (and get those new knees you really need), I'd also hate to see you wasting money on a magic feather, Know what I mean?? Sprinkling Fibersure or something similar on your food will also help you feel more full, and drinking a glass of lemon water 20-30 minutes before you eat can really help. I haven't looked at the product yet, so I don't know what's in it, and if it works for you, more power to you both. I know we've all seen a lot of miracle diet products.

 

[DammitJanet]

Haozi...this doctor who has put this product on the market has done years of research on it and there is some chemical in the stuff that is sprinkled on that effects the satiety portion of the brain. Now if that is a load of bull...maybe it is, maybe it isnt. I have seen the people on the message board that are losing weight. Not tons in a month like some of the diets claim. But there is one woman on there that I have seen so far that has already lost 124 lbs with another 73 to go. And yes she has been on this stuff for a long time.

Do I expect to lose a 100 pounds in 6 months? No. I would be a fool if I thought this would do that. They say the average is 30 pounds in 6 months. I will take that.

But please dont rain on my parade right now because anything that gives me a reason to give up...does just that, gives me a reason to throw down the towel and say it wont work, its a scam, I cant do it. Im doing everything in my power to NOT do that.

 

[HaoZi]

I'm wishing the best for you, hon. I've not looked at it at all, never even seen an ad for it. I'm intentionally not looking because if it appears promising then I'll want it and I can't afford it. I do look forward to hearing your progress, and there are certainly compounds out there that can help. If anyone knows that there's still lots to learn about how our brains work and the mind/body connection, it's certainly our group here.

Remember to not let plateaus discourage you, it's the body's way of adjusting to a "new normal" before you lose more.

 

[buddy]

Hey Janet, just checking in..... are you skinny yet????

Just kidding.... really wondering if it is going ok. No side effects or anything, right? Hope it goes well. Luv, Dee

 

[InsaneCdn]

Janet... It doesn't matter whether this stuff actually does what it says, or not. Many things - even with effective ingredients - ALSO have the placebo effect as a multiplier. (something Mom learned from RA specialists)

Just making the effort to sprinkle something on your food, is making YOU more conscious of what's on your plate. And even just THAT much change, has an impact on your brain. Any positive active step you can take on a consistent basis, is going to help you get to where you are wanting to go.

It also helps that your goals are realistic. That weight didn't show up over a one-year period. But every single pound you drop, is a benefit to your entire system. Most MDs around here recommend trying for an average of 1 to 2 lbs/month for consistent weight loss. You will plateau, though... body has to adjust all sorts of things as a result of weight loss, and THAT takes time (shrinking blood volume, for example).

Admire your grit to even tackle this... dust off your warrior mom suit to help yourself with the battle!

 

[susiestar]

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=9&....,cf.osb&fp=db0f1992df6ea5fe&biw=1600&bih=768

This link will take you to a google search for sittercise. You can pick what you want to explore from there - I wanted to be sure I was calling it the right thing because I haven't thought about it much until a month or so ago when I was sharing memories of my gma with Jessie. I am glad the timing is right to maybe help you too.

As for PT, here they do water therapy as part of PT. The doctor orders PT but specifies water therapy and massage therapy and they do it at the PT place. We also have a place wth a special pool for water therapy but it is a private co and is expensive and almost no insurance companies will pay for it. So maybe call the place with the warm water pool and see what tehy do to get ins to cover the costs. otherwise, the PT may have to do the water therapy if that is possible.

I admire your commitment to this. I am PROUD of you for taking the first steps and being so enthusiastic but also for knwong your pitfalls and trying to avoid them!!

 

[DammitJanet]

Well day 3...and still committed!

Just had my bagel with a smidge of my homemade pear jam. I am actually having to work hard to keep up to may caloric intake. This weekend I am going to buy some of those healthy choice microwave meals for lunch. I just dont do cooking all that well.

I also plan to overhaul my complete menu plans. We have been eating spaghetti, fried foods, hot dogs, pizza for most of the time. I am going to look into a whole new way of cooking. It has to be fairly easy because I cant stand up much but I want new flavors. Not spicy but different. I dont want tabasco or fried foods. I would like to have some baked but with some actual flavor...lol. Maybe some just veggie meals with brown rice. Never used it before. (Lord Tony is going to rebel!) I have access to plenty of fish and venison which is wonderful for this plan because nothing is better for you. I just have to hide the oil.

 

[Kjs]

What is sprinking? I want to know how you just don't eat. How do you tell yourself you are not hungry? I work nights, and find myself munching all night long. Like one big 12 hour meal. Then I feel lousy because I KNOW I wasn't hungry. What do you do to get your mind off of it? And do tell me what sprinkling is.