My Diet Nightmare
Jun 21 '00
Before talking about a diet plan I have found to be effective I would like to share my experiences with a plan that I have found to be at best ineffective.
I recently went through a dramatic weight loss. This would have at one time made me very happy. I am instead left depressed and hungry-all because of the medications I was given during my treatment.
I've had four pregnancies back to back within the last five years. My first pregnancy was a multiple and ended with the loss of my children in my 6th month of pregnancy. I rapidly become pregnant again and had a son. My daughter was born only 14 months later and my third child,another daughter, was born 16 months after that.
My body and emotions were a mess. My medical doctor has told me the chemicals in my body will not return to normal for about another year or so. What does this have to do with my diet experiences? Everything.
There is a weight loss clinic just down my street. Friends have gone there and lost mega weight. The weight of course did come back to them within 6 months of stopping the program. BUT.... I'm different. Once that weight came off it would stay off. I just needed the jumpstart. I'm also delusional.
I made my appointment. The cost would be 50 dollars including medications. I was to be there for 1 hour receiving instruction and group support. I would be examined by the doctor on staff. The nurse took my medical information over the phone.
Fast forward to that Thursday night. I am given a B-12 shot in the arm. A medication called Furosemide-this is a strong water pill to flush the system of excess water is also given to be taken once a day. Then I am given a potassium pill to counter the side effects of the water pill. I am then released to the group meeting.
I spent the greater portion of the next hour listening to a sales pitch for their new supplements. The kicker for me is the speaker was quite a bit overweight-more overweight than myself. I am beginning to lose confidence already.
We are called one by one to see the doctor after the meeting. I was sat down on the examine table while he checked my heart and handed me my appetite suppressant. I was then sent on my way.
I was given Ionamin. I was given a 10 day supply. In order to get more I would need to return once a week for a month and pay 30 dollars a visit for medications and an office visit.
I was also given a meal plan at the meeting. Woman were allowed 1200 calories a day. The meal plan was sensible. I could probably follow it without the pills. But I was determined to lose the weight as fast as possible for summer.
I woke up early the next morning with more energy than I have had in years. I felt great. I was in a calm and happy mood. I spent the morning cleaning and playing with my toddlers. I lifted them and we danced like never before. I had the patience to play chase. This was the Mommy the deserved not the tired,edgy lady I normally am.
I then took my appetite suppressant. I had no appetite. I was craving free. Anyone who feels their life is run by the thought of food can tell you this is the most liberating feeling in the world. I didn't think about dinner at lunch or lunch at breakfast. Food was a non issue.
I went to the bathroom all day. Everytime I went I visualized myself thinner and happier. I forced myself to eat a small lunch and a bigger dinner. I went to sleep that night successful.
A week passed and I lost 12 pounds. I went for my follow up visit for more medications.
Two days later, I had lost even more weight but something was different. I couldn't put my finger on it at the time. Minor problems would send me over the edge into a puddle of tears. A snickering look from a cashier at the supermarket sent me into a tirade to the manager. The laughter of my children gave me throbbing headaches. I was a thinner mess.
I kept going back for more medications. I would get out of bed just to get to their office. I told them I was feeling blue. They asked me if anything was going on in my life. Yes, of course things were going on. It could never be the pills that were helping me to lose weight. No, of course not.
My husband hid the pills. My mother called a local pharmacy to find out just what I had been taking. The pills should never have been taken by me. I have a family history of depression that I told the diet doctors staff.
I am still recovering from the depression the pills brought about. The chemicals in my body are now even more screwed up than before. My medical doctor explained the first burst of energy I felt was the B-12 shot. This is commonly given to increase metabolism and increase energy. I was lacking vitamins so my body responded quickly to this. The water pills are something he would never recommend. The appetite suppressants should never be given without a medical examination with a doctor-and that requires more than checking a persons heart.
So... I did learn a couple tricks from the weight loss doctor worth repeating.
Water,Water,Water.
Eat breakfast. You need to consume calories to lose calories. He likened it to throwing fuel into a fire.
Great idea for french fries- bake them in the oven. Peel a potato and slice it,sprinkle garlic powder,onion powder and maybe if you like a little curry powder on them-this makes the best fries I have ever tasted.
Exercise by starting out slow and gradually working your way up.
B-12 shots are not bad-see your doctor and ask if a boost might be what you need. If I had never taken the pills I would have had enough energy to exercise on my own. Caution-too many B-12 shots could deplete your other B vitamins. This is why my doctor will not give me any more.
Remove unhealthy snacks.
Give fat free foods a chance.
I wasted two hundred dollars to gain the information I provided to you above and ruined my physical and mental health in the process.
I am now determined to provide a good example for more young daughters. I want them to grow up to be happy with their bodies not constantly searching for some type of perfection only they can see through cloudy eyes. My advice is to stay away from any so called diet doctors. Go to your physician before starting any diet program. Take the diet information with you. Show him/her exactly how you will be living and what you will be living on.
I will never do this to myself again.
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Epinions.com ID:
sparklesky
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Member: Melissa
Reviews written: 75
Trusted by: 323 members
About Me:
"My heart does not know from logic."
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