How to Enhance Weight Loss
Hi! I am new to this group; I just started using Byetta about 3 weeks
ago, and I anticipate starting the 10 mcg dose twice per day, in about
another week. I wonder if anyone has found a way to enhance weight
loss, such as eating your largest meal at a certain time, or drinking
1 or 2 glasses of water before meals, or eating right away after the
injection or waiting almost a full hour. I find that I am hungriest
in the evening, and if I eat a small meal then wait for an hour or so
I finally feel satisfied; but I could easily overeat at the time I eat
dinner if I don’t watch it. My appetite is lowest in the morning,
when my stomach is empty. But as soon as I put something into my
mouth, my appetite is back. Also, some of my old favorites like
fresca seem to have a weird aftertaste now, and the biggest problem is
constipation! I am interested in other peoples’ experiences, and the
habits of those who are losing weight compared to those who aren’t
losing weight.
Thanks, Kim
May 10th, 2004 at 5:31 am
Most of us have found waiting closer to the 60 minutes after injection point to
eat gives better appetite suppression. I generally try for 30-45 minutes before
I eat. But there is no real magic with the Byetta. You have to eat controlled
amounts and exercise more. I stick to 1100-1200 calories per day and try to get
in 30-45 minutes of aerobic activity per day. I frequently wear a pedometer and
try to make sure I get 8000-10000 steps per day. I get great bg control and
lower blood pressure that way as well. I started Byetta i12/19/05 and have now
lost 43 pounds. There are times I’m hungry and when I really feel the need to
eat, I try for things that are low carb/low fat, a little peanut butter on half
a wild/brown rice cake. Pat in ID
May 10th, 2004 at 2:40 pm
Hi Kim,
I am a night eater. I’m never hungry in the morning. You may find that the 10
mcg finally controlls the hunger. If not, you can try hoodia, which is what I
use for break-through hunger that is unrelated to my actual physical needs. I
believe John also uses hoodia.
I drink at least 64 ounces to 80 ounces of water a day plus whatever else
I am a
strikes me - like green tea and a cup of coffee every other day so so plus some
diet soda. I don’t drink before I eat, I just drink all the time.
sipper, not a glugger, so that means I literally am drinking much of my waking
day.
The bariatric physician I met told me that the key to weight loss is calorie
control. It is a bit harder to do on a very low carb diet (Atkins/Bernstein
style) without doing portion control.
Today I had three pieces of slab bacon and 1 egg for breakfast. I’ve drunk
about 20 ounces of water since then. I probably won’t eat much of anything
until dinner because I am just not hungry right now. Ideally, I eat about 10
a.m. and about 6 p.m.
My biggest problem has been boredom eating or night grazing. Hoodia helped me a
I am a busy bee and sometimes I simply get too bored by reading the
lot with that, however, since starting the 10 mcg byetta I have depended upon
hoodia less. The boredom eating is still as issue, though, as I am very aware
that my desire to eat is fueled by a restless desire to do something - besides
study.
same information over and over. Yesterday, during an "I must eat or go mad"
period I got out my acrylic paints and did some painting - rather unrequiting,
as they were lumpy and the florals were less than spectacular, but it got my
mind off "lets go eat something!" Item on shopping list: basic colors acrylic
paint
Anyway, my caloric intake runs around 800-1000 calories a day and I lose weight
there. If I get up to 1500 calories I gain weight. Around 1200 calories I am
at a stasis point, so someday that will be my set point to neither lose nor
gain. Seems sorta skimpy, but it is what it is. Then again, someday I will not
have my butt tied to a chair studying - I hope.
I don’t see any difference between waiting after an injection or eating right
after an injection. The effect hits me virtually immediately. I don’t get sick
or nauseated so that is not an issue for me - unless I eat too much and then I
WISH I could vomit rather than spending 8 hours with a bad stomach ache.
The other thing to consider is exercise. If I exercise in the morning I tend to
I
have lower BG’s all day and I believe the lower BG’s contribute the the ability
to lose weight better. However, I have a hard time getting motivated enough to
be up at 4 a.m. to exercise. Hence, I tend to exercise in the afternoon or
evening. The more exercise the better, as far as I know. Bernstein recommends
very strenuous exercise, which I can’t manage due to physical ailments.
work with small hand weights, a pilates magic circle, isometrics, and a walk
aerobics tape by Leslie Sansone. Others have other things they use. Then we
have Annie who has lost so much weight and done it without exercise. The
bariatric doctors tell me that calorie deficit is far more important than
exercise, but exercise helps.
However, I am in the early days and I have not lost that much yet. I started by
downward trend about 6 months ago, before even knowing of byetta and since that
time I have now lost exactly 25 pounds. About half of that has been since
starting byetta on March 22nd of this year.
I am not a fast loser, probably because I am pretty sedentary due to my school
focus.
Constipation => need more fiber. You can find low-carb fiber pills or liquids
to take. You can make sure you have at least a couple of salads a day for
fiber. Drink at least 64 ounces of water (minimum) and remember that walking is
not called "constitutional" for nothing. If the constipation is bad then (gag)
a teaspoon of mineral oil taken by mouth will help over about the next day. I
have a granddaughter with a colon problem that causes constipation and she has
consumed a lot of mineral oil in her life. It is not absorbed, just goes on
through and sort of lubricates the stool.
Welcome!
Cheers!
Marsha
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May 11th, 2004 at 2:19 am
Thanks Marsha and others for the input. The info on Hoodia is
interesting, and although I am a health care provider, I have never
heard of this! Where do you buy it, and what is it made from? Also, I
am a vegetarian and eat tons of fiber, but still have problems with
constipation. I seem to have almost total lack of peristalsis for
about 4 days then I guess the mass in my colon revolts. Sorry about
the detail. I have been pretty inactive since foot surgery about a
month ago, but that is soon to be resolved as my foot improves. I
started 3 weeks ago and have lost 5 pounds. I need to lose about 45
more!! I think I will begin the 10 mcg dose even though I still have
a week with the 5 mcg pen. I hope I can pick up my new pen without too
much trouble from the pharmacy/insurance company.
Kim
On Apr 30, 2006, at 10:21 AM, Marsha Graham wrote:
May 11th, 2004 at 12:10 pm
I get my hoodia at www.globalnutritions.com simply because it is the cheapest
place I found.
It is a S. African cactus used by the native inhabitants during times of famine
to assuage hunger.
I found out about it through Dr. Bernstein.
Good fortune to you!
Cheers!
Marsha
May 11th, 2004 at 3:12 pm
Do you buy the spray or the pills? And how often are the pills taken?
Thanks, Kim
On Apr 30, 2006, at 10:59 AM, Marsha Graham wrote:
May 17th, 2004 at 9:40 pm
No, hadn’t even thought of it. I don’t have cramping, gas or bloating.
Kim
On May 1, 2006, at 1:28 PM, Andrew Rotramel wrote: