I hopefully entered the name "weight winners" in the forum name bar. [It did not take.]

My wife,  Sima, and I are contemplating weight loss programs . I would like to have input from you. 

Any program would need to be realistic and achievable . I realize that I am looking for a "life training " program. 

I have little respect for those programs that promise the moon if only you buy their packaged food. 

I have heard about Weight Watchers and am wondering if you have experience with them.

Help, please.

I know a few people that have joined weight watchers.  They now have a new program.  They like this one better than the old program. One of my nurses is on a different program you join, this included going to the gym/exercise class.  Better eating and fitness.  I will get the info. Friday for you 'Z' (she has lost much weight rather fast but healthy diet) 

Personally, buying "their" food programs don't sit well with me.  Maybe because some of them or cant mentally proceed in this matter in the grocery store.  Never mind, I don't know what is in it, and your religion that you say is strict in this area.   Your smart 'Z' I don't think you need this process. 

I know that your trying hard, and it is hard to find what is right for you and Sima.  But common séance is best now until you get started. Nothing happens over night except for some of us the surprise of our stomas. :-( -So snacking on fresh fruits, staying away from sugar or than the naturals, may be the best start for you.  Shrinking the stomach for it's hunger in this manner may be the best start. Being an Ostomate is another thing to think of with such programs that send you their foods also.. Remember we are different now. 

My ever Best to you! Marcie.. you will/can do it!!!!!!!  "Time" again is that awful word comes into light when we are desperate to achieve....... 

Even with my new Gattex bit, I wont see results maybe 6 months down the line, And I have all these side affects to get through-but I am giving it my last shot for my health (as I my life's expendancy is short- my I.V. is just a band aid) 

As your above, this is NOT A RACE with any of us!!!!!! Small achivements add up!  Some loose their weight fast then go into a stand still-others may not loose as fast but we all get there at the end.  Be proud of yourself as  an ostomate, be proud or your achievement of a few pounds and hold and loose more and hold. Time my dear!! Give it a good try and lets see what happens in a few months. Stay away from those FAD DIETS. Good luck!!!!! 

When I mentioned the "shrinking of the stomach" This is a diet within its self. Got to fill it up. That is the hard first step to any diet. So eating less starts the very full stomach of needing to be filled. As some women I know have had that surgery to cut their stomach in almost in half of use.  They think that they eat anything.. (like my sons girlfriend long time ago-just ate those fat cheese curles and bags of so many of these types of foods) Well, All of them are fatter than when they started.  Never mind the many surgeries after wards of their stupid choices. They DID NOT follow Dr. directions.  So the word of "shrinking" should be a natural process. This organ stretches.  Keep it stretched all day long with calories of bad of foods is not the same as healthy foods. Slow process...  (but I will tell you those that had the surgery's that I know of, sure messed them selves up royal) Takes time to adjust to such a surgery and they didn't.. Just as it takes time for ur body to adjust of a different style of eating for out stomachs and other organs. It is the small itestines that absorb the calories, fluids, and suck up all good or bad that we out into our stomachs. (they just couldn't menatly handle the detox of their eating habits..  And that is what a diet is all about.. Detox.. Like me trying to quit smoking. The detox is horrible.. !!!!!!!!! But spring and summer is coming, and fresh fruits and vegs. are out- steam the vegs real good-don't cook them in water!!  IF needed more break down for the fresh veg. microwave them in their bowl that u will be eating from. You will get 90% more of their value-thank just putting them in water and drain. .  And add a few dashes of parm. cheese on top of your veg's if needed to make a different taste and break up the bla issues.  Strict diet is not the best way to go - talk about DETOX !!!!!!! Keep your smile and relax.. Remember your an Ostomate, so shocking your system with different and more of these foods, to fill up with, may hinder this issue we all now have.  Enjoying your walks?  That is proberly the only type of exercise we can do at our age anyways.. And it is fun to see new things that we passed by the first time.. right? You can do it..  Keep your thoughts wile you walk..  M. 

I guess that the name change didn't take.

Eric and Marcie, you cannot measure the gratefulness that I have for you and the rest of you guys. In my social community,  Men don't diet. MEN DON'T TALK ABOUT POOPING.  Here i am doing both. Till I met you all, I was isolated in a crowd . With you, I can freely open my mind and heart . 

OSTOMATES ROCK!

'Z' That is just it..  We are not only rocks, but rocks of shelf worth and love and understanding to each others needs. Just because we are ostomates, and this is an ostomate blog, We Rocking Ostomates have deeper feelings when we receive another partner in life "the stoma" Then comes out our other fears, feeling, ladders to climb as an ostomate that make it harder for us--like a diet.. loosing weight, gaining weight, other surgeries. Other so called normal people don't understand, they will just say oh, do this and that.. I do.....  We cant.. Our lives are a formation of challenged efforts. So, yes, we are stronger than when we were once were.. Or the operation/operations brought it out of us.. So I hope all here on this blog respects themselves of our/their achivements.  Never mind the ones that may come upon us.. So we ask for support, why? because we care for each other.  We respect each other. We can let out feeling hang out-because we have some inners hanging out.. I have never felt so bewildered in my life when I came home in total shock and seeing shock on Toms and friends faces. The pitty looks- I knew that I wouldn't get any where with them-because they felt sorry and stunned too. After 3 years, I found you all.. What an improvement for me!! So if I can speak for myself Z, I will try to help or I WILL help you make your goal and goals in life.. Because I care, And I understand the fears of being an ostomate.. We have to second guess everything.. Heck, I haven't even take a shower with pouch on and go off for the day of fun infusion.. So I am still in that faze--scared it would leak, scared I would get a rash-again hate them!!  

So Z, I have your back/or right behind you.. And if I see you have lost a  poop?  I will let u know right away..  how's that?? :-) 

Posted by: Zvitusk

My wife,  Sima, and I are contemplating weight loss programs . I would like to have input from you. 

Any program would need to be realistic and achievable . I realize that I am looking for a "life training " program. 

I have little respect for those programs that promise the moon if only you buy their packaged food. 

I have heard about Weight Watchers and am wondering if you have experience with them.

My personal views on diets (especially ones for weight loss) are these:

• It has to be sustainable long-term. If it's a diet meant only for a few months, it's not worth doing.
• It has to be based on sound nutrition science. For example, while I know people have lost weight by eating only potatoes for a month, it's not realistic nor recommended. 
• It has to rely on real food. That means no special shakes, "special food", crazy supplements, etc. 

This year, I've been focusing on eating more low-calorie, but high volume foods so I'm feeling full but not eating so many extra calories like I used to. Some people do this strategically, like having a large salad before their main course (you can't overeat if you're already full of the good stuff!). 

Best of luck to you and your wife! 

Hi All, I had gained 14lbs more than I was comfortable with a few years ago. Some times we fall into bad habits, for me cutting out biscuits was a big factor. also snacking on crisps and sweets while watching TV. I started to chop a bowl of veg, carrots, celery etc. Plus its easy to not realise how many calories products such as olive oil and some salad dressings. A good healthy breakfast is very important it kick starts our body to start burning calories and keep us fuller longer.

Posted by: john68

 for me cutting out biscuits was a big factor. also snacking on crisps and sweets while watching TV. 

Translation for those outside of the UK:

Biscuits = cookies

Crisps = potato chips

Glad you were able to remove some of these high-calorie foods, John. Sometimes, removing those excess or hidden calories is all it takes to drop some stubborn weight.

Prior to surgery, I weighed in at 116, down from 128 after joining Weight Watchers. I wanted to lose more (I'm 4' 8"), but my doctor didn't approve anything below 116. After surgery, I went down to 101 lbs. While in the hospital, I was told to eat chips, desserts; i.e., cheesecake and apple pie. The rehab facility where I was for almost 2-1/2 months was giving me pills to increase my appetite. Their food was really bad. Once I got home, I went up to 106 and was really happy with that weight, and I was eating just about anything I wanted. This went on for about three months, then I started to gain and now I am back up to 128 and even Weight Watchers isn't helping this time. I decided to give NutraSystem a try - they had a special over the Presidential holiday of half price for the first month's food,  with free shipping. I got all my frozen food (shipped in a styrofoam container with dry ice) this past Thursday, and my other food Friday. I'm starting the diet this coming Thursday since I have a supply of food on hand that I want to finish. I am hoping this works and I get back down to the 106, or even 110. The first week I eat only what I received in my TurboTakeoff box plus four non-starchy vegetables each day. I did call one of their nutritionists to let them know I've had ostomy surgery and asked if there would be any problems with what I received for food. She said there shouldn't be, but to keep checking in with them to make sure everything is going okay. I've had absolutely no issues with anything I've been eating (I am careful to make sure it's nothing that will irritate my colon); i.e., no blockages or drastic stool changes, and in looking over the food I received, there didn't look as though there would be any problems. I'm going to stay with it for two months (it is expensive since the second month I'm paying the regular price), then go back to Weight Watchers once my weight is down to where I want it and go with them for maintenance since they do have etools to keep track of what you eat and there is good support at the weekly meetings. If I'm down to 116 or within two pounds of it, I become a "Lifetime" member and don't have to pay anything. Right now, it's $14.89 a week  for membership (I give them a check at each weekly meeting I attend) and $15.00 a month for the etools.  I will keep you all posted on my progress, or lack thereof!