h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well done to you.

I have been to a consultant about my Arthur Ritis and he says my knees are so bad that I need new ones although I am still too young as they tend to wear out again after 15 years or so.

He has given me six months to lose enough weight to have the operation done safely. He is sending me to a doctor who helps people lose weight for health reasons.

Good luck with that, Cate

Dunno whether I've actually lost any weight - don't have scales - but I've stuck to my resolution not to eat salty, fatty snacks like crisps. If I crave them, I make air-popped popcorn with a pinch of salt and paprika and garlic.

If you don't have scales, get a tape measure. There are some out there that are made of stuff that doesn't stretch (old tape measures used to stretch as they got older and more used). Measure bust/chest, waist, hips, thighs. As you lose weight, the measurements should go down. The snag with measuring is that the effects aren't as obvious as with weighing. I've lost 5lb, but I don't think my measurements have changed noticeably.

Exercise is going to have to wait for a while. One of the women hubby works with has given him a stinking cold, which he has passed on to me. At least I can't say he never gives me anything. Every book I've read on exercise says you shouldn't do it if you feel unwell. Hubby and I will flip a coin for who walks the dog this evening.

Yes, that's probably a good idea, with the tape measure. My trousers have gotten looser but I've actually *gained* weight last time I checked at my mum's, probably because I'm developing more muscles...

Good luck on the coin toss

Thanks for the good luck Mal, I will need it, Ha joke geddit need it? Ah well. Popcorn is good, I have managed to make myself get through the evening without eating anything else after dinner. I think the amount I eat is the key. I talk about eating healthy food but I end up eating too much of it.

I usually have dinner around eight, and almost always end up eating something afterward - but since my usualy bedtime is three or four am, I think it's ok...

The cold I have right now is a good diet aid. I'm on the sore throat phase, so swallowing hurts. Certain foods are out of the question, everything from crunchy stuff like biscuits, toast, etc. (too rough) to spicy foods like curry, chili, some Chinese meals (spicy stuff hurts going down). I had some sandwiches for lunch. I'd had a throat sweet just before eating and my throat didn't feel too bad. Then I had lunch and all the good work was undone. I think I'll have porridge for dinner - just oats and milk, nothing on top. It's about all I can cope with right now.

Currently on an all-inclusive holiday, so not helping the diet - although the salad bar is wonerdful. And the 'foreigners tummy' I have is kinda balancing things a bit...back to reality tomorrow.

Got through another evening of not eating anything after dinner. Get really hungry for breakfast, even feel a bit hungry now but oh so good and oh so brave.

My cold turned into bronchitis, so I didn't get any exercise for about 3 weeks. I've just started again, walking the dog once a day and walking from hubby's office to our second house. Despite all that, I still managed to lose another pound. Now that I'm (slowly) getting over the bronchitis, I'm hoping to get back on track. I still hope to lose 12lb over the next 3 months.

Husband just returned from his doctors appointment to check his diabetes out. Since December 27th he has lost 25lbs. The hard work is working. I haven't weighed myself yet but I don't think the results will be that amazing.

Hi

Have been terrible recently. So much stress at home that I have turned to food for comfort.

My 17 year old son is seriously ill, been coughing up blood and now being investigated by the local hospital. To add to it he suffers panic attacks from anything medical so this last week has been an ordeal for him in many ways.

He has been sufferring severe stomach pains and also breathing difficulty and lower rib pains. My father has terminal bowel cancer and when they started to do the same tests on my son I panicked (although I didnt show it to my son) He has to return for a camera down the throat and further tests when he is feeling a bit better.

He dosnt smoke and although has drunk alcohol, with the exception of one episode he dosnt binge drink or indeed drink hardly at all anymore. I was wondering if he may have an ulcer, but he also had a high tempreature. They took a chest xray and he had blood tests, urine tests, rectal examination and an ECG

It showed in his blood that he is fighting a very bad infection but they were unclear where the blood he was coughing up was coming from.

This isnt the appropriate thread for this as its the diet thread... my apologys for hijacking it but I am feeling a little depressed and anxious about this.

Jennyx

Bless you Jenny,
I for one quite understand how you are feeling.
We all think the worst possible senario when a child is ill.
I made the mistake of looking up a list of symptoms on the internet and convinced myself I have cancer that is how a little knowledge can up set you.

The doctors will find out what is wrong. If you are not happy with their progress ask for a second opinion. Ask questions Jen, if he has an infection then they will treat it with antibiotics wherever it is.

Most importantly look after yourself, afterall you are not going to be either use nor ornament (my mum's phraseology) if you don't look after yourself and the men in your life sound like they need you to be strong.

If you need a friend click on my name cookiecate and we can have a chat and you won't need to worry about hijacking. Meanwhile keep your chin up. I won't say don't worry because you will anyway but there is loads of support out here and there if you ask for it.

Thank you very much cookiekate

I do appreciate it.

jxx

OK, I know I said I'd weigh myself on the first Saturday of the month, but Saturday was 31st March so I reckon that's close enough. I've lost another 3lb. That puts me half-way to my final target. (Just for the record, my start weight was 188lb or 13stone 6lb. I now weigh 11stone 9lb.) I now have 9lb to lose to reach my June 24th target, and I have 10 weeks to do it. I also plan not to put on weight while on the cruise. That will be a first!

Here's something I read a while ago: People who weigh themselves every day are more likely to keep weight off than people who weigh themselves less often. The article didn't suggest reasons. Personally, I think it's because weight fluctuates and seeing an apparent gain makes you more aware of what you're eating and/or how much exercise you're getting.

Have been to see a weight management doctor who was suggesting the Cambridge Diet. Talked about losing 7stones. I wasn't tempted as I am older and wiser and know that the diet is unhealthy. I would have to go for 36 weeks without eating anything only three shakes each day. Chicken, Strawberry, Chocolate or Vanilla. After 36 weeks you are allowed real food goodness only knows what food. Don't think I could stick no food for 36 weeks although the weight loss is supposed to be amazing and the shakes contain all the nutrients and minerals for good health.

He even said that diabetics could stop taking their medication and go on it. He also so said the Atkins diet was one of the best ways of eating and only food manufacturers try to put people off of eating food even the five a day thing was thought up by the American Farmers Union.

I have my doubts about the ethics of this kind of advise to very vulnerable people.

Sounds like it's time to change doctors!

I agree with Mal on that one! The Atkins Diet is frowned on by doctors, not by food manufacturers. And '5-a-day' comes from nutritionists.

I checked out the Cambridge Diet website. It calculated my BMI (28) and gave the following options:

* Shed weight quickly using Cambridge Diet as your sole source of nutrition.
* Lose weight more slowly using a programme from 'Maintain with Cambridge' at 800kcal or 1000kcal per day using Cambridge Diet with food.
* Lose weight gradually by eating healthy low fat, low sugar foods with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat, fish and alternatives, cereals and high fibre foods.
* Increase activity levels

They split BMIs into groups - 25-30 = overweight, 30-35 = obese, 35+ = super obese. The website gave the same options (the ones above) for every BMI group above 25. So the Cambridge Diet people aren't pushing people into an unhealthy weight loss regime. It's the weight management 'doctors' who are doing it.

One of the things that *is* unhealthy about the Cambridge Diet is the 'Sole Source' programme. That puts you on 400-550 calories a day, about half the minimum recommended (by nutritionists and real doctors) calorie intake. Granted, they say you should do 'Sole Source' for no more than four weeks and then 'Add a Meal' if you haven't reached your target weight. But even 'Add a Meal' and the 'Step 2' programme are only 790 calories, which is still too low. They gradually build the number of calories you have while dieting, but your body will have gone into starvation mode right from the start.

Back in February I said I wasn't sure if my weight loss had affected my measurements. Well, I definitely need new bras - down from 40 to 38, not sure about cup size. I tried on a skirt I haven't been able to wear for a couple of years and it fits!

Good luck to all of you with your diets.

Right, I need to kick start mine again.

It fell by the wayside there while we were moving house (and Dominos pizza is so convenient when you've got a kitchen buried under cardboard boxes)

But I weighed this morning and was just a touch over 11st, so haven't put too much back on. Now that we're settled in, my task this week is to explore the local leisure centre and start doing some exercise.

I agree this informations is scary. The only thing I can say is that the Doctor is well established at the Hope Hospital in Salford and this is the web site that I should have visited before I wasted my time going to see him,. http://www.srht.nhs.uk/patient--visitor-information/services-support/weight-management/physiology-of-weight-loss/