I've hit my target! [View all]

In late August last year I was told I had to get below 230 pounds before the surgeon could perform the spinal fusion of the L5 vertebrae I need. At that point I weighed 273. I had been up to 287 before my aortic valve replacement and kidney removal and had gotten down to 260 during my cardio rehab. After my back started acting up and I had to stop exercising I gained back 13 pounds.

So I began using My Fitness Pal, recommended by someone on DU, to keep a food diary. I kept my calories between 1000 and 1200 a day and tried to keep my sugar under their recommended daily amount. By January I was at 245 but couldn't seem to drop more weight so I read up on low carb diets and started a modified low carb diet. I'm using Adkins shakes to make it easier, but also reducing carbs while eating regular foods. Unlike the Adkins diet, I am still watching my calories and keeping my fats low.

My Fitness Pal recommends 150 carbs a day and I try to stay under 60. The free version will not let you change your target nutrient levels so I can't reset that without paying them money.

It's worked great - when I went to my orthopedic surgeon's office last week I was under 230. This morning I weighed 222.2! I've now lowered my target weight to 175 and have real hopes of getting there - though we're leaving on a long trip in July and that may make it more difficult to keep to my diet.

One complaint I have - doctor's office's only allow 2 pounds for your clothes and shoes. I've weighed myself naked then dressed and my clothes and shoes add 5 pounds. So every time they enter my weight, it is 3 pounds OVER my actual weight. That may not seem like much but when you are fighting to lose every single pound that is an insult.

The day I went into my surgeon's office, I weighed 228 at home but they almost wouldn't allow for my surgery since according to their calculations I was ONE FUCKING POUND OVER their target. Maybe if I wore a light weight cotton dress and sandals my clothes would only add 2 pounds - but I wear jeans with a belt, tee shirt, and shoes with good support, all of which add weight.