I've seen a lot of "I need to lose weight" posts on here. Just thought I would share what I did. I did low-carb and south beach on and off for years, and would be able to take off a few pounds here and there but always put it back on later. My starting weight was 158 and I am about 5'7". I wasn't what I'd call obese but I had a good 30 lbs. to lose. I was starting to bust the seams of my size 10 work pants and size 32 jeans were getting way too tight and had had enough.
A woman at work who I never thought was overly overweight started seeing a weightloss doctor and dropped to a size 4 really fast from probably a size 12. So of course I asked her about it and she referred me to her doctor. All I can say is it was the best thing ever for me. He put me on a low-carb/low-fat/low-cal diet and gave me an appetite supressant called Bontril, or Phendimetrazine. It's not for everyone - it does slightly raise blood pressure and is not good for people with heart issues. But the doc monitored my heart and blood pressure weekly and gave me B-6 and B-12 shots too for energy and a multi-vitamin. I lost about 6 lbs. the first week (which may have been a lot of water) and then steadily about 2-3 lbs. a week which is a healthy rate of loss.
The appetite supressant is what really helped me. I was always hungry before. But this stuff literally killed my appetite. I had to tell myself to eat. I learned portion control, and my stomach shrank. I lost 31 lbs. in just under 3 months. Now that I am off the pills too, my smaller stomach gets full on smaller meals. It's great. I am down to a size 5/6 and about a 28/29 in jeans. I am now 127 lbs. I also worked out during the program (and still do).
Also the maintenance plan I am on is very 'South Beach'. Everything in moderation. You can never go back to eating crap, that's just the way it is. That's why so many people put weight back on - they think they can diet and then just go back to the way they like to eat. It's a life-change. I generally eat lower-carb (whole grain carbs and veggies) and lower-fat now, with the occasional indulgence. I don't eat portions as big as hubby's anymore like I used to either!
I just thought I would put this out there even though I may get bashed for it - but if you are struggling - maybe see a weight loss doc who can prescribe Bontril to help with cravings. It really works. Plus he kept me accountable when I weighed in each week, I didn't want to cheat on my diet a) because I was paying the doc, and if I was going to pay I might as well do it, and b) because you don't want to dissapoint the doc and yourself!
Hope this helps someone!
