I went through a medical weight loss program 10-15 years ago through my health plan (Kaiser). It worked and I lost about 60-65 pounds. It was very much like the one Oprah used so many years ago. Bad news is that I gained it back. It all boiled down to portion control with exercise added in. The older I get, the more difficulty I have with exercise, as I have enteropathic arthritis that flares up and sidelines me. Also, feeling like I am depriving myself all the time was not great.

But, bottom line, it works because you are off real food for 3 months and you are so bored with the fake food, you are less interested. You have to increase your activity in order to keep your metabolism up. Reducing calories alone does not work because your body thinks it is famine days and lowers your metabolism to conserve fat for survival.

I wish I had the will to maintain it long term, but sadly I failed. Otherwise, the plan (similar to Optifast) was fine with my j-pouch. Plus, the program starts with a battery of blood tests and a physical exam to rule out any metabolic or organ disease that might worsen with severe calorie restriction. There were folks with diabetes and kidney disease enrolled and their diet was tailored to them.

Jan

Thank you Jan. I am seeing my Dr. next week to see what he thinks might work just has a blood test run of everything so he should be up to date on that. Looking at options and I always start here

Hi Nicholle,

Firstly, there is no magic bullet. Secondly, some of us seem to not be able to put on weight and others not able to keep it off.

I'm the 3rd group. I control. Because I have no self-control (!).

I trick myself with a lot of things.

Firstly, I have a very active lifestyle and that means lots of public transportation, subways, and walking (p.s. I've sort of killed my knees and hips so I walk slower and do a bit less).

But, even now, I use stairs or climb the escalator instead of using elevators or just standing on the escalator. I walk whenever and wherever I can. Add activity as often as possible.

Small bouncing movements and squats when I brush my teeth (electric toothbrush) and push-ups, planks, and squats against my tub before my morning shower. A resistance band for upper body 4xs/week.

Lots and lots of little things to get my exercise in every day.

For food, I need to know what I am eating before I walk in the door at night.

It takes food prep. Every Sunday, I make a huge pot of vegetable soup (zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs, (options include green beans, spinach, and any other green vegetable that I can find) all cooked with a cup or 2 of water until soft and then I blend the whole thing with an immersion blender.

It becomes thick and creamy and very satisfying...I add sea salt, fresh herbs and have a small bowl before every meal (at night when I am exhausted I just have a huge bowl and some cheese or yogurt).

I also make either pumpkin squash or butternut purée...I just bake for an hour and mash. Serve in a bowl with grated parmesan cheese and spices...that along with the soup makes for a great, low-cal lunch or dinner. They are all pouch-friendly.

This is not a diet but a lifestyle. Eat well, healthy and slowly...don't expect miracles just a very slow and steady weight loss.

I no longer buy flavored yogurts, just plain...even the sugar-free ones spike your insulin and make you more resistant...

It is all about intake and output. More output and less intake and you lose weight, more intake and less output and you gain.

You need sea salt to balance your mineral salts and magnesium. They help you to feel satisfied. Drink lots of fluids but avoid sweetened or the zero kind...Again, they cause insulin spikes.

When I want sugar or ice cream, I eat it...but not every day.

I always go back to my soups and purées after a big evening out or a bad day. I eat tons of good quality hard cheeses, and almost no breads except on rare occasions. I have a gluten sensitivity. GF pasta made out of chickpeas or peas is a great substitute. Sometimes mashed potatoes or gnocchi again only with butter and parmesan...Delicous.

I freeze ripe bananas and then blend them with unsweetened cocoa powder and a splash of maple syrup or date syrup...some ice and blend...makes a fabulous ice cream.

Ditto with overripe bananas blended with eggs, GF flour and some vanilla...I make pancakes and eat them with peanut butter...(1 banana, 1 egg & 1 tbls of gf flour)

None of this is exciting or exceptional...very simple. But it works well. Move more, eat smartly and if you fall off of the wagon, just start again the next day.

I've been doing this for years...I go up or down a few pounds according to my activity level...I'm thinner in the summer because I swim a lot but generally I stay around the same size...8-10. Far from skinny but not too over my goal either...enough to feel comfortable in my body and to be able to move comfortably.

That's my goal. To feel good and comfortable in my body.

Stay healthy

Sharon

Thank you Sharon.

I’ve had my pouch for 25+ years and have struggled with my weight the entire time. For me, the food that’s best for my pouch are the starchy type foods. The natural veggies, salads, etc tear me up.  So weight loss has been a big challenge.  I’ve done the restrictive diets (like optifast) just like Jan. Lost 90 lbs and gained 50 back. I’ve just started with the GLP-1 shots and am having good results so far. My pouch has not acted up - and in fact having a pouch is a benefit because I don’t have to worry about the meds causing constipation LOL.  But I’m just at the start of the journey so I don’t yet know how sustainable this will be. But, I’m doing good so far. 👍

My surgeries were all in 2003. I was doing well with diet and exercise and then menopause came along now nothing I do for the last 5+ years works. Mind you I consider myself pretty strict with consistent walking daily and weights daily’s and nothing is working. It is defeating and depressing I just want to lose 18 - 20 pounds and it has been a battle not even moving the scale .5 lbs . Just want some help to get over the hump and hopefully from there I can manage. We will see.
Thank you everyone who has shared it means a lot and is very helpful 😊❤️🙏

There is really only one thing to do, Nicholle, remove all sugar and carbs for a period of time, no cheat...and up the fats.

More fat, less to no carbs for a while and absolutely no sugar.

(granted it worked for me but sometimes is unsustainable over long periods)

During covid I would go for an energetic morning walk with hubby and bounce...up and down, side to side, slight jumping on the spot (not too much impact...Careful of the knees/hips).

I lowered to nothing the carbs, ate pea or chickpea pasta with loads of butter & parma, made pots of vegetable soup and mashed veggies, ate lots of fish, chicken and occasionally, meat...and lots of fruit...in other words, no processed foods, no wheat and almost no corn or rice...

The weight finally came off (after years!). I lost my 15lbs...

It wasn't much but it was everything...I felt great.

As months went by, I obviously let it slip back on, and now, 3yrs later, I am not quite but almost back up to before...still about 5lbs down.

I kept up the soup, pureed vegetables...always have some ready whenever I get home.

My pouch like them and my weight too.

Keep good quality yogurt around, do not use artificial sweeteners and use dried fruits for cravings.

That's all I've got...good luck

Sharon

I think the best bet is to follow a regimen similar to what Jan prescribed- very low carbs, portion control and exercise at least at a moderate level. I am someone whose weight has fluctuated my entire life. Back in 2013, I went on a diet that consisted of very low carbs, rigorous portion control, and moderate exercise involving 3-4 visits per week to the gym and 45 minutes cardio each visit. I went from 200 pounds to 170. Now I am 61 and weigh 220, and my weight significantly ballooned since the Covid pandemic. Because of the pandemic my physical activity declined very significantly and I paid a big price. I very recently was diagnosed with an enlarged ascending aorta which went from 3.7 cm to 4.4 cm between October 2017 and January 2024. I also had to go on high blood pressure pills- beta blocker and calcium channel blocker. I think all of this is attributable to the weight gain. I am a foodie by nature so prolonged diets are a real struggle for me. But at the same time, I know my current path is a sentence to have a heart attack or stroke maybe even before age 70. I watched my father die of complications of a heart attack earlier this year. He was 86 and weighed less than me but ate more carbs than I do. He also had a problem with his aorta and after the cardiac catheterization he developed an internal bleed and slowly bled to death, over the following 2 weeks. Despite probably 8 or more transfusions. Tough to watch. Blood pressure keeps dropping until it gets to like 90/45. At that point,  meds to keep BP up become ineffective and he died. I carry the vivid memories of it with me because I was in the hospital every day with him the last 15 days of his life. Anyway I would like to make it to 86 in the same kind of shape he was in, but I think it's unlikely to happen unless I make some changes.

I remember as a kid watching Redd Foxx, the comedian, stage his faux heart attacks on Sanford and Son and everyone thought it was funny. However when I feel tightness in my chest this doesn't seem so funny any more:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LEfyGsT6lHU

Ironically Redd Foxx did die of a heart attack in real life.

Thank you for your post. I think with hard work and determinaton we can all get past some if not most of our challenges. I definately gets more difficult with age but I see plenty of people my age and older that seem to be in shape and have unlimited energy. I will aim for that and be happy with where I land. Thank you for the Redd Foxx memeory too I loved that show and all the great characters Lamonte Aunt Ester.

I am taking a generic Monjourno and have lost 50 pounds since February of this year. I want to lose 10 more but seem to be at a standstill. Who knows what the future holds? These drugs are new and most people who go off them gain the weight back. Medicare does not cover them so they are not cheap - as in not sustainable long term. I do know of a doctor who now just does one dose a month to maintain. That is down from four doses a month. I went to this under the guidance of a diet specialist and after trying all other options first. There has been no effect to my pouch other than less frequency due to less food 😌

Thank you