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Post by allenuk on Nov 5, 2010 3:28:00 GMT -7
I know a lot of you are interested in losing weight, so I'm passing this on for what it's worth.
Since May, I have lost about 8kg (16lbs), by doing a lot of cycling (on my electric bike, see the Sports section), not walking at all (thanks to a constantly painful stump/socket), and also by taking (on prescription) a drug called Orlistat.
You may well have come across the drug under that or other names in the States. It restricts your body's ability to digest fat, which in turn leads to a lowering of total calories. Doesn't have any affect on carbohydrates, unfortunately, but all the fat in your diet (butter, oils, cheeses, fatty meat if you eat meat, and so on) is affected, and only a smaller amount will pass into your body as fat.
The rest of the fat has to go somewhere, of course, and if you take TOO much of the drug, or eat too much fat, it can cause problems with excessive bowel movements, but once you find the right dose for your system, it settles back to normal.
Orlistat is absurdly expensive over the counter in the UK (depending on how many you take, it can cost up to $80 per month), but if you are classed as badly overweight, you can get it here on prescription, which means it's either free or cheaper. Not sure of the position in the US, but I guess it's not cheap there either.
Anyway, it might help.
Allen, London.
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Post by barclay on Nov 6, 2010 22:36:39 GMT -7
Congrats on the weight loss Allen!
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Post by cherylm on Nov 6, 2010 22:53:10 GMT -7
Allen, it sounds like you're approaching this from a lot of different angles, which is a good thing! The more involved you can get in your weight-loss, the more likely it is to "take." I've had my own adventure with losing weight recently...it's been very slow, but steady, and I've lost nearly 40 pounds in about a year...and, so far, I'm still slowly going down.
For both of us, losing weight can bring about some genuine health benefits...I've had NO eye problems for the longest time now (knock wood)!
Congratulations on your shrinkage...may it increase!!
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Post by allenuk on Nov 7, 2010 2:18:42 GMT -7
Thanks Barclay, Cherlym.
Yes, I was getting a bit desperate as I hadn't been able to walk, at least not in an exercising sense, for more than a year, so the bike riding has been a boon. I think it must be an innate human desire to be mobile and active, and I feel much better for being able to get around and sometimes to be out of breath for good reasons!
Allen.
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ann58
Female Member 
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Post by ann58 on Nov 7, 2010 6:45:45 GMT -7
That is great you guys.....but just what is orlistat. If you have any other problems such as being a diabetic, heart disease , etc. most doctors wouldn't want you to take it would they. Cheryl, are you just watching your carbs mostly? Anyway I think that is great for both of you. Keep it up.  |
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Post by barclay on Nov 7, 2010 10:38:06 GMT -7
I hear you about exercise Allen - when I don't exercise I get all grumpy and out of sorts and then it becomes a devil's circle cause I get lethargic as well.
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Post by cherylm on Nov 7, 2010 15:05:22 GMT -7
Ann, the only thing I'm watching is my portions...I try to keep everything "in moderation," but I've continued to eat carbs, including the occasional sweets. I've cut back on the amount of meat I eat, more than anything else, but I'm still an enthusiastic carnivore. I've been cooking more at home, instead of grabbing something take-out on my way home in the evening...that's a good change!
The biggest change for me has been my activity level...since I got my high-activity foot, I've been able to be so much more active for so much longer, and that's made a real difference. So I have to credit a significant part of my weight loss to my leg guys!
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Post by ann- on Nov 17, 2010 8:28:35 GMT -7
Thanks Barclay, Cherlym. Yes, I was getting a bit desperate as I hadn't been able to walk, at least not in an exercising sense, for more than a year, so the bike riding has been a boon. I think it must be an innate human desire to be mobile and active, and I feel much better for being able to get around and sometimes to be out of breath for good reasons! Allen. I agree Allen, I feel so much better when I exercise, though my routine has been somewhat reduced the last few months due to the legs not fitting, shoulder, arm and now back problems. LOL. |
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Post by ann- on Nov 17, 2010 8:31:45 GMT -7
Ann, the only thing I'm watching is my portions...I try to keep everything "in moderation," but I've continued to eat carbs, including the occasional sweets. I've cut back on the amount of meat I eat, more than anything else, but I'm still an enthusiastic carnivore. I've been cooking more at home, instead of grabbing something take-out on my way home in the evening...that's a good change! The biggest change for me has been my activity level...since I got my high-activity foot, I've been able to be so much more active for so much longer, and that's made a real difference. So I have to credit a significant part of my weight loss to my leg guys! I am doing the same as you Cheryl, trying to cut back on portions. Weight is fairly stable at the moment but would like to lose a few more pounds. All this year have had socket fit problems, so my activity levels have been reduced... glad the new foot is working for you though Cheryl. |
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Post by ann- on Nov 17, 2010 8:35:58 GMT -7
I know a lot of you are interested in losing weight, so I'm passing this on for what it's worth. Since May, I have lost about 8kg (16lbs), by doing a lot of cycling (on my electric bike, see the Sports section), not walking at all (thanks to a constantly painful stump/socket), and also by taking (on prescription) a drug called Orlistat. You may well have come across the drug under that or other names in the States. It restricts your body's ability to digest fat, which in turn leads to a lowering of total calories. Doesn't have any affect on carbohydrates, unfortunately, but all the fat in your diet (butter, oils, cheeses, fatty meat if you eat meat, and so on) is affected, and only a smaller amount will pass into your body as fat. The rest of the fat has to go somewhere, of course, and if you take TOO much of the drug, or eat too much fat, it can cause problems with excessive bowel movements, but once you find the right dose for your system, it settles back to normal. Orlistat is absurdly expensive over the counter in the UK (depending on how many you take, it can cost up to $80 per month), but if you are classed as badly overweight, you can get it here on prescription, which means it's either free or cheaper. Not sure of the position in the US, but I guess it's not cheap there either. Anyway, it might help. Allen, London. Hi Allen, Good to hear you have lost the weight, but do you think that might have caused your socket problems, thats what usually happens to me, and I think did initially at the end of last year .... I had become much more active and I think the stump finally shrunk down after the revision but then the socket became very loose ... and since then had problems getting a new one made.. trouble is if your not careful it becomes a vicious circle and if you become inactive again can quite easily put the weight back on. LOL. |
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Post by allenuk on Nov 18, 2010 5:33:46 GMT -7
Ann: yes, definitely a link between weight loss and socket problems.
Hopefully, the method we're trying this time should help - it's a distal cup (fairly substantial silicone cup which goes over the stump), then the ordinary Alpha pin liner, then the socket proper. Should protect the boney bits on the stump from getting bashed.
2nd fitting Monday, so fingers crossed!
Allen.
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ann58
Female Member
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Post by ann58 on Nov 18, 2010 10:27:43 GMT -7
Good luck!
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Post by ann- on Nov 18, 2010 12:13:38 GMT -7
Ann: yes, definitely a link between weight loss and socket problems. Hopefully, the method we're trying this time should help - it's a distal cup (fairly substantial silicone cup which goes over the stump), then the ordinary Alpha pin liner, then the socket proper. Should protect the boney bits on the stump from getting bashed. 2nd fitting Monday, so fingers crossed! Allen. Best of luck with the fitting on Monday. I am a great fan of the Alpha Liner, works really on my skin graft, though I have the soft ended one (not the pin). Remember trying a distal cup before my revision amp., but it didn't really help .. prob a lot to do with the condition of my stump at the time. |
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