Too Fat Too Live :(

[PeteNYNJ]

Ugh...I am feeling so fat latley.  I am starting WW again tomorrow.  I want to lose about 30. 

I thought HIV was supposed to make you thin (kidding)

[Peter6836]

WW is a great program I wish you good!!! I too have been putting weight back on that I do not want,, argggh. We should be happy that we have the weight to take off. Good eating habits and exercise always help not only with our physical health but with our mental health as well.
Happy eating,
Peter

[fondeveau]

Ugh...I am feeling so fat latley.  I am starting WW again tomorrow.  I want to lose about 30. 

I thought HIV was supposed to make you thin (kidding)

Ha, it is supposed to make you thin!  I was so happy in the months prior to diagnosis.  For the first time in years, it seemed that I could effortlessly lose weight.  LOL.  So, diagnosis in September 06, started Atripla in October 06.  Once on meds, I found I had an incredible appetite.  What a bad combination with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  Then, I quit smoking 1/8/2007.  By this time, I was up to 230 lbs on the doctor's scales.  So, I started Healthy Solutions - shakes and entrees and exercise and have been averaging 3 to 4 lbs per week.  I'm at 200 now and aiming for 175.

[fondeveau]

Of course, throughout this time period, I would go and visit the ID specialist.  The assistant would take my vitals and have me step on the scale and get this look of concern on her face as she kept pushing the little metal weight farther and farther over (I carry weight well).  I was a bit concerned too and mentioned that I was getting fat and ID Specialist replied, "Good!"  I think he likes that robust return to health following initiation of treatment.   

[camille07]

Kudos to you Fondeveau for losing weight and quitting the smokes.  I know how hard it is and both are a big accomplishment.

[milker]

Of course, throughout this time period, I would go and visit the ID specialist.  The assistant would take my vitals and have me step on the scale and get this look of concern on her face as she kept pushing the little metal weight farther and farther over (I carry weight well).  I was a bit concerned too and mentioned that I was getting fat and ID Specialist replied, "Good!"  I think he likes that robust return to health following initiation of treatment.   

So it's not fondeveau, but rather fondevache!

confused, it's when YOU decide that YOU are not feeling comfortable in your body that you will get the best results. So now is the best time to start WW/Gym/whatever works best for you. Keep us posted!

Milker.

[Basquo]

Folks, I'm here to tell you that you can lose weight--if you're willing to make sacrifices.  

I'm not on antiretrovirals, but I did develop IBS about three years ago and it made me seriously look at what I was eating and drinking.  I started considering the amount of fast food I was eating as a single parent of cats.  Without a partner to cook for, and the cats not giving a flip, I lost interest in cooking and had begun doing takeout more and more. That's the first thing I cut out.  Then I started eating more fresh vegetables, especially raw spinach--I even put it on my breakfast tacos! I moved towards a Mediterranean diet, which really helped with the diarrhea.  When I joined Aidsmeds.com, I was about 225. Trish asked me to post a shirtless avatar, and I said maybe when I lost some weight and got my tan back.  In May of 2006, I finally did so when I got down to 215.  By the time I learned I would be attending AMG '06, I was down to 210...but I plateaued there.  In October, I made the realization that I like to munch between breakfast and lunch. I asked my doctor if there was some sort of appetite suppressant that I could take sporadically, not part of a regular program. He prescribed Tenuate (which I guess is a substitute for the Ten tamales You Ate.)  I quickly discovered I could only take a half a tablet without tweaking, but it curbed the munching.  

So I'm still taking IBS meds TID, and Tenuate 3-4 times weekly, and I'm now down to 196.  I  work out 1-3 times a week.  I frequently leave my office and walk a block or so.  I have fast food maybe twice a month.  I don't eat fried food for weeks at a time.  And I have a very muscular boyfriend who doesn't think I'm too cuddly!

I think I'm going to quit smoking in November--my hospital is going smoke-free. I'm in a position where it would be a good PR thing for me to quit.  I'm worried about gaining the weight back, but at the same time, I'll have to quit drinking; others here can verify that drinking and smoking go hand-in-hand if you're a smoker.

Think about the little things you can do to improve your diet, whether it be adding whole grains or Benefiber or fresh spinach, or maybe getting that side salad instead of French fries.  Maybe you don't eat or drink any packaged foods that have sugar, fructose or corn syrup in the first three ingredients.  Maybe you drink skim milk, which has less fat, but you go for a walk everyday to burn off the extra carbs.  And my latest thing, read the nutrition label and put it back if it has trans fats (this doesn't count when you go out to eat, but consider avoiding deep-fried stuff at fast-food restaurants.)

I hope my ramblings inspire someone.  And I can't stress enough...NUTS! by the sackfull.

[Bucko]

I thought HIV was supposed to make you thin (kidding)

Not to stress, dear. If you are ever unlucky to get an OI or get lipid readings comparable to a goose prepared for foie gras (by taking Kaletra, for instance), you'll drop down to a svelte, AIDSy look in no time.

Brent
(Who speaks from experience in these matters)

[Life]

If you are on ARV's are there "safe" hunger suppresants out there if one were interested???

Eric

[camille07]

There's a new diet pill that's just been FDA approved, Alli.  It's not a suppressant, but rather a fat blocker.  However, here's the kicker....the side effects.
If you eat a meal that contains too much fat after taking Alli, you will experience some very unpleasant side effects, including: loose stools, too-frequent stools, uncontrollable bowel movements, or gas with an oily discharge.

Ewwwww....oily discharge.

[Oceanbeach]

Hey Confused,

I lost about 30 lbs with AIDS and absolutely stuff myself with food to put some of it back on.  Doctor asked me once if I was anorexic and I said, no, I'm bullemic, whenever anyone tells me how to live my life, I just throw up.

I know this plastic surgeon in L.A., I bet he would pump some fat from you and put it in me...    You wouldn't have to do WW and I wouldn't have to pretend to have an eating disorder.  This could be the best of both worlds!  Have the best day
Michael

[northernguy]

...  Without a partner to cook for, and the cats not giving a flip, I lost interest in cooking and had begun doing takeout more and more....

I was going to invite you to come cook for me...until I read about your muscular boyfriend

I also enjoy eating nuts

[GSOgymrat]

I get frustrated when I hear people going on fad diets, not WW, but the "grapefruit" or whatever diet. I think the best ways to lose weight and keep it off is to eat reasonable amounts of healthy foods and exercise.

[J.R.E.]

There's a new diet pill that's just been FDA approved, Alli.  It's not a suppressant, but rather a fat blocker.  However, here's the kicker....the side effects.
If you eat a meal that contains too much fat after taking Alli, you will experience some very unpleasant side effects, including: loose stools, too-frequent stools, uncontrollable bowel movements, or gas with an oily discharge.

Ewwwww....oily discharge.

I believe their website states, that one should wear dark colored pants, when taking that product!! EEWWWWW !

I would be avoiding that product, looking for alternative ways, as Ford stated through "healthy foods and exercise.


Ray