Adjustment to the Phentermine

I'm on Week #2 of the Phentermine and so far so good!  I am still taking only a 1/2 of tablet a day.  I want to see how long I can drag that out till it wears off and I have to take the whole tablet.  The only thing that I have really noticed when taking this pill is that I don't really want to eat.  I have cravings for stuff, but they are not so terrible that I can't resist them.  The past two days I have had a horrible sweet tooth.  But, I have been good and only ate a square of a Hersey's bar.  Lately, I have felt sort of bloated and not like I felt last week.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't feel like I am really losing weight nor have I lost any. 

Even though I feel as if the Phentermine is working wonders for me, I have become a little worried because I have read that one of the side effects is sort of a anorexic thinking mentality. Obviously, I'm eating, but I'm to the point where I'm not eating all my food.  Not all because I'm scared to gain the weight, but because I don't feel like I'm hungry enough.  There is a little bit of a hunger pain, but it doesn't feel like I need to eat.  So I'm getting confused. (To eat or not to eat?)  Usually I would eat no matter what.  If I was hunger, starving, craving, whatever!  Now, it is just so weird for me b/c I had such awful food habits before, As seen here! I'm not used to feeling this way. 

Oh Sigh! I would have never thought that this would ever concern me nor would it be so hard to adjust (mentally) to taking this drug.  I'm sure I will figure it out since it is only the second week.  Everything takes time!  Thanks for listening to my ramblings! (haha)

Goodnight and sweet dreams
xoxo
Emily

Week #1 Weigh In

I don't know what else to say other than Yahoooo!  Today was my first initial weigh in at Dr. Sparks office.  Well, I jumped on the scale and to my surprise I had lost 10 pounds!  At first I just stood there because it didn't register with me because their scales are so high tech.  I was trying to figure out how much I lost, when Lisa said "WOW"!  You lost 10 pounds, I couldn't believe it.

So, with that being said.  I have hit goal for this month.  Yippie!  Week #2 is beginning and I am going to keep up the momentum.  It always helps to have some healthy competition, mine being my mom!  Go team Emily...Rah-Rah!

Whew!

I can't believe it will be one week tomorrow since I have started taking the Phentermine.  So far ...... I have had no problems with it nor any of the supplements I am taking.  So, I am pretty pumped about that.  I thought for sure I would have some sort of side effects. (headaches)

The first couple days I was dieting I was super tired and had no energy.  At that time I was kind of disappointed because the Phentermine was supposed to give you a boost.  But, now I think it is due to my body adjusting to the new foods and diet.  It wasn't used to all those fruits and veggies, it went into freak out mode and didn't know what to do!  The last couple of days I haven't been as sluggish  but, I'm still waiting for that energy surge.  On the other hand, I have felt a lot better overall.  I am not bloated and my feet haven't swelled like balloons lately.

With tomorrow being Thursday it will be my first weigh in day.  I have mixed feelings.  I have so badly been wanting to weigh myself, but I told myself  "No".  I will be so upset if I only lose a minimal amount.  I am not sure what I am hoping to see tomorrow, but I want some sort of big difference on the scale to keep me motivated and moving along.  I'll see tomorrow! 

First Day

My official first day on this diet was Friday November 9, 2012.  It wasn't too hard to adjust to the eating, I just found it hard to take all my pills.  As mentioned before, I feel like I am eating more pills than I am food.  I also feel like the Phentermine is really helping me cope and make better food choices.  It is really hard to explain how it is helping me see food differently.  It is very weird.  As before it was almost to the point where I had to have food.  Junk food, snack food, candy, fast food.....just anything. (like a druggie)  But, now I do not feel that real hunger as I did before.  It takes the edge off that craving.  As an example, Friday I was thinking about food and how I love pizza and it was almost like my brain erased the taste of it immediately.  I felt like I could kick the thought aside and move on, instead of dwelling on it and then just give in and eat pizza.  So, I don't really have that craving nor does my mouth water for food like it has before.  It is just so strange.  Is this how a normal person feels?  As before, my life would revolve around food, now it is almost like I could take or leave the food.

I also think knowing that I am going to be held accountable for my weight loss each week and that I am paying for this makes me just a little bit more motivated than before.  It is sort of a game now.  I need to prove to Dr. Sparks and Lisa that I am losing weight and I am serious about this.  I just hope this is going to stick and the newness doesn't wear off.

What I ate:

Friday November 9, 2012

Weight and Inches Shake blended with 1/2 banana & a strawberry flavor packet.
Tuna salad w/ carrots and cooked cabbage
Hamburger patty, roll w/ honey butter, cooked cabbage, and ketchup
8 oz. apple juice

Saturday November 10, 2012

Weight and Inches Shake - Vanilla
1 banana
Salad w/ 2 oz turkey lunch-meat, pinch of shredded cheese, few croutons, and salad dressing.
Chili w/ crackers and a hunk of cheese.
Metamucil & O.J. (ewwww......but my friend Devin chugged it down with me....That is true friendship!)
* I had to have cheese.  I couldn't stay away!

Sunday November 11, 2012

1 banana
Salad w/ 2 oz. turkey lunch-meat, pinch of shredded cheese, few croutons, and salad dressing.
Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich (dry - only lettuce) and green beans.
8 oz. O.J.
* But, the night isn't over ...... so I still am able to have 2 shakes yet. 

Thursday November 8, 2012 - Began!

I went back to Dr. Sparks office for my appointment.  It was very informational.  He talked with me about weight loss and the effects of being obese has on your body.  As I mentioned earlier I wasn't sure what kind of diet I was going to be following.  He gave me a 1200 calorie diet (yikes!) to follow.  Go here to see a similar version.  My menu consists of 2 weight and inches shakes and 2 meals.  It is an exchange menu and there is no dairy on this diet.  (OMG! I love cheese......what am I going to do?)

Dr. Steven B. Sparks, D.O.

I also found out that you are on the Phentermine 3 months then 6 months off.  Which is sort of strange.  But, I was told you could take 1/2 a tablet each day and spread that 3 months out over 6 months, then that way you would only be off of it for 3 months.  I am not sure what I am going to do yet.  I have been on the pill for about 3 days.

Along, with the diet he also told me that I had to take the following:

Phentermine - 1/2 tab for the first week
Carnitine - 6 capsules daily
Fish Oils - 4 capsules daily
Magnesium - 1 daily
Vitamin D - 1 weekly
Calcium - 3 capsules daily
Metamucil 1-2 daily

So far I feel  like I have ate more supplements than I have food.  I have yet to try the the Metamucil.  Gross!

 

My Last Fix

Yes, I had to get one last fix before I started on this adventure.  Might as well do it up right!

November 6, 2012

This was the day that I was supposed to see the Bariatric Dr.  So we arrive at the office and the receptionist says I tried to call you, but Dr. Sparks had to cancel his appointments because he had an emergency.  She was really nice, so I wasn't mad, but I was disappointed at the time.  I had geared myself up for starting on my diet this Tuesday.  But, Oh well, such is life.  So, she weighed and measured me and did all the good stuff so when I rescheduled all I would have to do is walk in and see the doctor, which worked out very well!  My  rescheduled appointment would now be Thursday November 8, 2012. 

Whew! Hang on......Here's an Update.

I apologize, I have been MIA for days now.  It seems like these past couple days have been a roller coaster ride (wwweeeee!) So, now that I am caught up on everything, finally, I can get back to my norm.  Nothing bad or good has happened to disrupt life, it was just one of those things.  So, to clear my mind and get myself back on track and bring everyone up to speed I am going to go post by post.  So...get ready and hang on because here comes a whole lot of useless information!  (HA, just kiddings!) 

So Many Choices.........

With my big doctor's appointment approaching I am eating everything in sight and not holding back on ANY urges!  (Drive-Thru at 11:00 at night - No Problem!)  Although I am very excited about my appointment for the Phentermine, I am also very nervous.  I am worried that I am going to be on a very strict diet that I won't be able to stick to.  I am not sure if the doctor will give me a plan to follow or he will let me pick my own.  I have been thinking about following the ABs Diet ~ 6 Week Challenge.  The reason I like this is you use all sorts of fresh, healthy, raw foods in this diet.  I really want to get away from processed foods.

Since you can only be on the Phentermine pill for 3 consecutive months, I need to change my lifestyle....I know...yadda yadda.......that is beat into our heads like a stranded human on a zombie island! Ha!  (Which is another worry of mine.....no, not zombies! ok, well, maybe a little)  I am just so scared that the Phentermine isn't going to work for me that I am stressing before I even go!  It reminds of that old oatmeal commercial where it shows the people walking around with scales chained to their feet.  Well, that is what the stress makes me feel like, but it doesn't motivate me.  I just kick it out of the way and pretend I'm skinny. 

Another Chance ~ Phentermine Journey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phentermine

On November 6, 2012 I have an appointment with a weight loss doctor who has agreed to see me without insurance.  Back in July I was talking with a friend and she said that she was prescribed a weight loss drug called Adipex (Phentermine) and that she had lost around 40 pounds with hardly any side effects.  Well, of course I was like.....where do I sign......but, I didn't have insurance and prescriptions/doctors are very expensive.  So, my mom asked her doctor she has been seeing for 3 years about the drug, and it turns out that  he not only prescribes it, but says that it is a very good aide in losing weight.  So, thanks to my mom, she is going to be helping with the costs associated with Phentermine.

I have been reading mixed reviews on this drug and I am pretty nervous as if it will work for me or how do you keep the weight off.  Will you become dependent on the drug..... so on and so on.

I guess on November 6 I will get all my answers....I am excited, but yet not holding my breath.  My problem is I need to stop looking for a miracle. 


Informational Sites: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phentermine
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/phentermine/AN01715  _
http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/phentermine
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100507202856AAqtqkO - Yahoo Q&A