Your Weight Matters Challenge

As someone on a diet through Medi Weight Loss Clinics, I often ask myself, "Why does eating have to be like quitting drinking?'

Why do some people have no problem skipping dessert while others dream about it?

I had lost 31 lbs since enrolling in the program in February but this week I gained two back. I cheated twice one day and it caught up with me. I felt like crying when the weight loss clinic staff told me I had gained two pounds.

I went to the doctor recently and found out I have a heel problem and was prescribed foot exercises and a painkiller. Was told it's not curable, but treatable and if the pain continues I'd have to get injections into my heels, an extraordinarily painful procedure.

This was really going to cramp my exercise routine. The doctor had told me to cut back from 45 minutes of exercise a day to 35 but even at 30 minutes my foot was killing me. So I walked 30 minutes one of those days and my foot hurt but not as bad. But then the next day I walked and my foot was throbbing before I even left the house.

Then the other night I had started a new medication and wound up sleepwalking and forgot to put the lunchmeat back in the fridge, plus I lost my glasses for 30 minutes. I don't know if I did any sleep eating or not but I hope not!

I prefaced this story with part of my on-going food journal to tell you about Your Weight Matters, a challenge to all sponsored by the Obesity Action Coalition, a national campaign.

The website, yourweightmatters.org, asks participants to talk to their doctor about their weight and health. The national, web-based awareness campaign has tools to measure your weight, a list of health risks associated with weight, health and wellness tips, a section dedicated just to kids, and more. The site also gives a list of sample questions to ask your doctor, questions your doctor may ask you, a food log journal, health and wellness quick tips, helpful resources, and a BMI chart for adults among other items.

For more information, see obesityaction.org.

Because of my recent two pound weight gain, the Medi Weight Loss Clinic has suggested I go back to Week 1 and eat only those allowed foods. This involves eating only protein, spreading out calories throughout the day to help control your appetite, not eating fruit, vegetables, salads, juice, candy, sugared breath mints, sugared gum, partaking of alcoholic beverages, biscuits, pasta, rice, beans, cereals, grits, macaroni, breads, dessert, French fries, or pizza. You also have to trim all fat and remove all skin before cooking meats.

The manual lists what condiments you can use during your first week. For instance, you can't have barbecue or cocktail sauce, or ketchup.

Fluids are a critical part of the weight loss program through Medi Weight as well.