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!

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Liane

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I did it the old fashioned way, kicked out all the food that tastes good and worked my ass off, it works really well, and really fast, i was taking 2-3 pounds off a week, sometimes more.

I dont really believe in supplements, but if they help you and that's all you can do, more power to you!

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On ban until further notice

I know that what I really need to do is excercise, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I am a strong believer in supplements, although I don't like the idea of it. I would love to just be able to eat less (and better) on my own, but if I don't take something to control my appetite, I just can't do it on my own. I'm so freakin' hungry and I just have no will power when I'm hungry. Right now I'm on adderall for my add, but it controls my appetite too.....BONUS!! I did low-carb for a while and it worked really well, but then I got back to eating like crap again and have put some weight back on. I keep telling myself that if I just work out, I could be a little more lenient about what I eat, but I'm just not convincing myself!! I need a personal trainer, or a friend that works out every day, to come to my house and make me get up off my lazy azz.

Congrats on your weight loss. I hope you continue to keep it off!! Oh what I would give to be 127 again!!!!

I have considered seeing a doc & getting on this but I go to the school health clinic and they would probably tell me i am overreacting and just need to exercise more. My insurance is also through the school and I dont know what would be covered. I have read that those pills are for obese people and technically I wouldn't have the BMI to qualify, though if your doc prescribed them to you I'm sure I could find a doc to prescribe them to me. My problem is my hunger pains all the frickin time. I found it almost impossible to stay within my points target for WW. I'm convinced the drug store weight loss pills dont work - I've even tried hoodia, which seemed to work but I didn't lose from it. I used to not get the hunger pains like I do now & I weighed 115-120. Only since I started dating my bf and he took me out to eat all the time and my stomach got bigger and I get hungry more often. All I know is that I've been 150+ for the past 2 yrs and all i want is to fit into a size 6 again.

I've tried Hoodia in the past too and none of the drugstore pills help. I also had hunger pangs all the time. If you go to a weight loss clinic - chances are it is not covered by insurance - mine wasn't. I paid about $200 a month to go but it was so worth it to me. And if you are 20-30 lbs. overweight, usually you will qualify. My BMI was "technically" on the high end of a healthy range but my weight was too high and the doc agreed with me on that.

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Liane

My Ebay Store

well, i have lost around 17 lbs on my own over the past several months. i am still the same size, but the muffin has definately decreased and i am eating less than i used to. its easy for the weight to creep up on you, a few pounds here and there. i was finally grossed out enough by the pictures i saw of me at my highest weight that i knew something had to be done. i am about half way to my goal - my biggest issue is getting rid of the tummy fat. i have always had an issue with that, even when i weighed 130 i would still look preggers in some dresses b/c of my otherwise small frame. maybe someday i will get over my fear and get the extra belly sucked out.

This sounds like something I just wrote!!! Are you in my head?
I gained weight since the summer though I was off WW and being an idiot.
Now Im paying for it

Yeah this is the hardest time of year. Over Christmas I was at my Italian in-laws and they forced me to eat ravolis, cookies, homemade bread and other naughty things and I thought I'd be up 5 lbs. when I got home. To my surprise I had lost a pound. WTF? I guess maybe because I tried to exercise portion control & walked the dog a lot...

We are going on a week long cruise next week, we'll see what happens after that! OMG, cruises are all food all the time! YIKES!!!

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Liane

My Ebay Store

This is true. I don't eat that much during Exam Month (stress; declaring, "I'm not moving from this desk until I get this many pages done," and so forth), and for a while after, it really doesn't take that much food to fill me up.

you're lucky - i'm a stress eater, so its always the worst around finals time. i go for easy 'comfort' foods that can be delivered, namely pizza and cheesesticks
I tried the Juice detox thing and I got until 8 pm until I broke down - I just get way too nausious/grumpy without eating. Now I think I will stick with the juice for breakfast and lunch (and maybe a small bowl of cereal or somthing like that), dinner, and then 100 calorie popcorn for snack. I have also started my new years resolution early and switched to Pepsi One made with Splenda instead of regular Pepsi. It tastes a lot better than diet Pepsi imo (which i can't drink anyway b/c aspertame gives me a headache.