Hello Tod, Sounds like you doing everything right. I have the same problem it's very tough to exercise when you can't walk or run. One thought on your diet though. I'm not sure of how much diet Mountain Dew you have each day. But one thing I found out is most diet drinks contain ( Phosphoric Acid ) this has been proven to delete bone mass. I'm sure a little bit would not hurt normal people that are active and walking. . I was drinking diet products for years until last year I found out that my bone density was very bad and I had osteoporosis. I'm not sure of the reason it couldn't just be from being inactive. But now I'm on vitamin D treatments and in a Stander three times a week to counteract the effects. Best regards, Rocky . C5/5 years post
"Tod E. Santee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Dear Q Friends, Has anybody found any reasonably successful regimen for weight-loss -- particularly for the hip, waist and Q-gut area? Since entering the hospital in August (2007) I've been on a relatively high-protein diet that was recommended for better wound healing with regard to deep muscle tissue. Most of the fats are good fats like those in nuts, fish, etc. (But I also know a fat is a fat! So it's 9 cal/gram, where carbs and proteins are 4 cal/gram.) The reason I'm asking is I just tried wearing jeans for the first time since August. I went into the hospital waiting 147 lbs. and I'd say I'm currently 160 lbs. The same jeans that fit well then, a 35" waist, are now so tight at the hip and waist that I can only button them lying flat on my back. And then I can sit because, as most of you know, the ole Q-gut gets bigger when we do that. I know I'm going to have to start working out more. That much is a no-brainer. I don't do much "structured" exercise now but I know I do burn a fair bit just trying to function from day to day in bed. Since the beginning, I don't "just lay there." I'm always working on things, moving and lifting things like heavy notebooks while I also work on lifting and balancing myself in a low air loss bed. But FINALLY this week I'm just beginning to get out of bed for long enough to start going to a gym where I can use weights. I just got two new pairs of pants today. A 37" waist now... I haven't tried them all and yet but I'm sure they will still be tight, but at least manageable until I lose some of this excess. So, if anybody has any ideas on diets and/or work out regimens that have worked for losing weight in the gut, butt and hips, I'd love to hear your stories. My diet is pretty consistent. Breakfast: 8 oz. low-fat yogurt, a protein bar (22g protein), prunes, and dry Grape Nuts cereal Lunch: Lean ham sandwich with low-fat cheese and whole grain bread. Occasionally, instead of the sandwich its the lowest fat "Lean Pocket" I can find. Dinner: Skinless boneless chicken (steamed) with plenty of "quality" vegetables like legumes (black or pinto beans and peas), and home grown romaine lettuce, spinach, broccoli or Swiss chard. My drinks are a combination of a total 32 oz. mixtures of: A. low-carb cranberry juice with Diet Mountain Dew or B. cranberry with Minute Maid Light juice (5 cal., 0 fat). (Usually one 16 oz. cup of each.) I also drink 2 cups of weak coffee with no-fat creamer in the morning and 2 cups of weak tea with 1/2 tsp. sugar in the evening. And finally, approximately 16-24 oz. plain old water. So, with breakfast, lunch and all my drinks I have 1100 calories and 115% RDA proteins (based on a 2000 cal diet -- my nutrition doc thought I still needed more protein but I just couldn't pack it in.). But now that my wounds are almost completely healed I can probably cut back on the high-protein "extras." That should be enough to cut my calorie intake down below 2000 per day. Finally, on a slightly separate note... I'm wondering does anybody here ever watch NBC's "The Biggest Loser" ?? I'm not a big fan, in fact I only watch it 1-2 times per season. I wonder how those trainers would work with some of us? Would they be as successful? How much should we teach them versus them teaching us? Just things I was thinking about as I wrote this. Looking forward to any suggestions! Best regards, All, --Tod
