The Weigh Station Forums

COOK BOOKS

Chuck — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:46:12 GMT

Many of you have asked about cookbooks, the new cookbooks are in. There are additional recipes added for volume 2 of the cookbook. These are here just in time for the holidays. All of us at the Weigh Station wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Also we would like for those of you who wish to start your weight loss journey now is the time to sign up for your physical exam as there is a reduction in cost, up until December 31. If you get your physical exam and prior to December 31 you'll save an additional $50 dollars. We at the Weigh Station are looking forward to 2010 is a banner year for our patients that have developed healthy lifestyles and weight loss goal.

Merry Christmas

Chuck Shaffer M.D.

Web site

Chuck — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:01:52 GMT

Please start posting again we now have the ability to clear you statements faster...Adam has been working to make this easier...we need to hear from you our weigh station family....we want to help you in this journey.

Chuck

Exciting update!!

Anette — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:39:02 GMT

So my goal weight was 115 lbs. However I went into maintainace in June at 119 because I wanted to start training for a half maration that would take place on November 1. Currently, I weigh 113 pounds and am able to run about 10 miles...I still haven't attempted the whole 13.2 yet! Thank you Weigh Station....and thanks to God for keeping me healthy enough to be able to attempt this!!!! :)

Anette

Stick with it! Results will come!

Anon123 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:14:34 GMT

Hi everyone. "First time, long time" here. I noticed that there hasn't been much discussion on the board so I wanted to pop in and say hi. So...hi!

I wanted to pass along a message to those of you who may be struggling in this journey to a better you. Stick with it!

I have been big for all of my ***, teenage, and adult years and finally I got tired of it earlier this year and decided to do something about it. So, after seeing friends who had shrunk, I decided to join the Weigh Station!

Being big affected my social life and it's hard to not look back to think of "what could have been" if I was at a normal weight. I still have a hard time thinking about that and carrying it over to the new "me". And I guess for some weird reason, that has tied into my self-esteem not picking up as much as I have wanted to.

I have dropped 31% of my body weight this calendar year by doing the Weigh Station. I feel great and people have noticed. Some folks don't even notice me and have to do a double-take when they see me. That's a pretty neat feeling but I guess it hasn't sunk in yet.

The most mind boggling thing that helps serve as motivation is that my clothes continue to shrink and fall off. It's a crazy feeling when you buy something new and then one week later, that something starts to loosen up. Weighing in at appointments, seeing the numbers on the scale decrease every week, watching your clothes shrink, and looking yourself in the mirror are things that drive me to get this done and to be successful.

I still have a little ways to go but I think after the next few weeks, I can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't wait.

That's a little bit of what I personally have experienced. Physically, I feel fantastic. Mentally though, I could use some work and I hope that as time goes by, God will help me along that path.

Now, since I got that out of the way, I wanted to pass along some words of motivation which will help you get through your journey. Unfortunately, we live in a society where people like to make excuses as to why they can't accomplish something. I guess I've been pretty hardcore in my determination to get smaller and if I do screw up, I put the blame on my shoulders. I personally don't recommend this program for whiners and those who look for excuses as to why they can't do something. That's a pretty strong stance, I know.

For me, it's all about routine and I'm a very busy person. I wake up every morning around the same time and I work out everyday as well. I take my supplements when I need to and I drink all my water (which I know for many is a tough chore in getting used to).

Portion control is always a key for me as well. I have worked out my meals so I always know how much room I have left when it comes to dinner time. I know exactly how many ounces I down at breakfast and in the mid-afternoon as far as my protein goes. Now, if I have a four ounce chicken *** for dinner when I only have three ounces left to reach my max, I'm not going to beat myself up for going over by an ounce. I try to hit the max though pretty much right on each and everyday. It's like a game to me and I have enjoyed playing it.

I mentioned working out. This has been absolutely imperative in getting my weight off as quickly as I have. I do the max each day...just 30 minutes. And I do it on a treadmill. Not running, not huffing and puffing, but just a walk at a nice pace. I find it almost comical and sad at the same time that people on nearby workout devices that are busting their rears are trying so hard and not losing much. The comical part is the fact that I'm melting doing less "work" in the gym. It's very erie in a sense.

Trust yourself to get it done and don't let outside factors prevent you from accomplishing your goal. Again, it's the whole excuse thing that I hear...whether it be people having kids or people's work and travel hours or family gatherings. That's why I throw a disclaimer out when people ask me what I've done to get smaller. They generally say, "well, I'm going to start that then". I say something to the effect that "if you're going to complain or look for excuses as to why it's not working for you, then I suggest you don't start it at all". This may not be the most softest of people skills that I'm demonstrating when saying this but this is a committment to a lifestyle change...end of story. You are doing this as a change to get away from something most of us have tried before...that being yo-yo dieting. And if you aren't going to be committed and are looking for an out, then good luck finding another way to lose weight.

Have faith in God. I ask him to help me along the way and to guide and direct me. He's really helped me out and he's the voice in my head telling me, "You can do this!" I pray for direction and assistance and I don't have cravings and unhealthy food desires because he keeps me focused on my goal.

Any loss is good on your weigh-in days. I've dropped weight in the ranges of over 10 pounds to just 0.2 since I've been going to the Weigh Station. And again, I'm busy. But I find a way to get it done.

Keep track of your journey. The nurses have always been nice to me in offering to make copies of my charts. However, I keep my own on my refrigerator. I have every weigh-in day along with the weight on that day and how much I lost from the previous visit. I also have a "pounds remaining" column which lets me know how much is left to go until I reach my goal!

I have also recently done a mini-goal chart that I kind of call "Goals Within the Main Goal". Now we all have a target weight and we should be focused on getting to that weight in a healthy fashion. And whether that weight takes six months, a year, two years, etc. to achieve, that's completely an individual thing.

But sometimes, there are dates and events that come up and you want to look good for a particular occasion. That's why I started a mini-goal chart. Right now, I have six events (with me wanting to hit my goal weight right before the sixth one) that I want to look good for and weigh a certain amount by.

Now, I've relegated myself to the fact that I will miss my first mini-goal weight by around four pounds. I'm not going to let that discourage me though. The main thing for me is to reach my goal weight by a specified time and that I remained focus on the big picture (or shall I say "little picture" since we're all much smaller when we're done with the plan than we were when we started it).

Plus, the mini-goal thing serves as a game for me. It drives me and again, it's another motivational factor. If I come up short on my first five mini-goals but hit my final one, then I will be amazingly happy as that will also be my final goal weight to achieve. If it happens, then I'm sure that going 1-for-6 will never feel so good! Attempting something like this might be good for you. It might not. I was conservative in some of my mini-goal wish list numbers but I was audcaious on a couple of other goal dates. So try it!

That's all I have for now. If I have anything else, then I'll definitely pass it along. Those are some tips that I have to help people become successful on this program. Again, don't get discouraged. Stick with the program and you will eventually become accomplished.

help please...

Julie Wade — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:59:24 GMT

I have been attending the WS since December 2008, I weighed in at 289, and at the end of June I was at 222. My sister, uncle 2 aunts, and mother have started the WS too. They all tell me I am the reason they started, and a couple of them are almost at their goal.

The problem is...I went on vacation the following week after my last weigh in in June, and have done horrible since then. I went up to 246, and am back down to 238. I am still struggling a great deal, I keep trying to get into Ketosis, but it seems I have no will power or anything!! And to make it all even better, I have hurt my shoulder and can not exercise at all, I cannot even walk without having the pain, and am getting ready to have surgery.

Please can somebody help me get out of this funk!! I DO NOT want to get back up close to 300,and am far away from my goal.

Thanks!

My Story read if you are needing a little encouragement

James — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:45:10 GMT

I would just like to say a few words to encourage people who are struggling with the program or the mental aspect of this program I am here to say that the program does work stick with it In Jan 2009 I weighed in at a petite 466 pounds I realized then I must do something about this if I was going to enjoy the rest of my life I realized at that point if I did not do anything I would not be around much longer to enjoy life I have two children and wish to see them well into their future In March 2009 I visited the Weigh Station there I weighed in at 444 pounds I had lost a few pounds on my own before coming. After listening to the doctors at the weigh station I decided to jump into the program feet first At first I was like how in the world am I going to survive on just 10 ounces of protein all day. But after two days I was in (Ketosis) I was so excited never thought that having a cup of vegetables would excite me so much but it did. The first two weeks I was totally dependent on the little magic pill called appetite suppressant I thought man if I miss this thing first small animal that came by was getting BBQed Then something magical happened my lack of memory came back to haunt me and I forgot to take the magic pill that saved societies animals from the BBQ. I did not realize it until the next day when I went to take the pill I seen that I had an extra pill in the box I thought then if I made it one day why not try two. Day two came and went and no one was missing pets so then it became a conscience decision to get away from the dependence on the magical pill it was then that I realized what a powerful thing both great and bad your mind could be. I realized that I did not need the pill to get through this that I can do it on my own. So as the weeks passed I lost weight and the more weight I lost the more motivated I became my friends started noticing and it felt great to have people tell me "You are looking great" I believed I was always destined to be a big man I was 6'1" and 315 pounds as a senior in high school now as the weeks have turned into months I have realized that the little man in me could never get out because the big man was hiding him under all the folds and lumps of my mind and body. To date I am still not a little man by no means I have lost over 150 pounds and now weigh as of writing this 295 pounds I have went from a size 58 waist to a barely holding onto 42 waist but I have achieved and am not far from finally being the man who doesn’t have to watch his kids ride rides at amusement parks, the dad who doesn’t have to sit on the porch and watch his kids ride bikes, I dont have to walk down the beach and wonder if all those people are staring at me, I am finally the dad I have always wanted to be but was too big to be. In closing I was sold on this diet when my oldest child said dad I can wrap my arms all the way around you it was both a mental rush for me and a sense of pride knowing it could be done. So here is to all who struggle keep up the work it will pay off I promise

Our New Website - Coming Soon

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:43:23 GMT

The Weigh Station is building a new website! We will be enhancing these forums and introducing many new features for the Weigh Station family!

Stay tuned for more updates!

-Adam

fruit

Kimmie — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:56:43 GMT

sorry haven't written in awhile-hard to get to a computer:)- i wanted to let those out there know that if you are doing everything you are suppose to be doing as far as eating and still not seeing results- try cutting back on your fruit?-I did i usually was eating grapes,cherries and apples and a few blueberries, but b/c i could not get past the same weight for 2 weigh ins i cut out all but the apple 1/2 in am and other 1/2 in pm and when i weighed in i lost the 5lbs that i couldnt before-even before starting the program fruit was not really my friend and i am finding out that it still is not(glucose-not good for me-well only if i want to keep my current wieght of 185lbs-yes i am still stuck there:( but I really am trying to get past that number-my body has not been this low since 1988,but i have gone down to a size 12 where i was a 14-so the pounds aren't coming along as id like but the inches are, I am very thankful that i am NOT gaining:)the end of this month will be a year and still need 40lbs to reach my goal-I WILL REACH MY GOAL-just have to have faith-and put a little more dance in my step:)- so for those of you who are still haveing trouble try maybe cutting back on the fruits? good luck and GOD BLESS ALL OF YA:) kimmie

post thought-and if you are tired of plain water-try adding a few blueberries, or strawberries to your bottled water or even a slice of cucumber. enjoy

food not on list alternitive

Kimmie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:14:02 GMT

I was thinking the other day-the foods we are not able to eat at this time-not only try simmering the peels, or candles.....you could also get the chapsticks(wet/wild brand)flavors they come in so many and even soda flavors this might work for some? just a thought:), I eat "natural" anyways and i am use to not eating alot of things-mostly b/c of MSG(so my family doesnt have in the home-we don't buy anything w/it or it's sisters,so reading labels for me is second nature-so 90% of our meals are from scratch-thank GOD my grandmother taught me to cook-grew up on 400 acres and we grew everything just about and rarely had to go to store for supplies. To this day I still grow a garden,can, hunt-put up deer,rabbit,turkey,-fish,. Another thought for not to much $ you can get scented lotions(grapefruit-my favorite along w/orange or citrus)from a department store-even dollar stores, or you can go to Bed,Bath and Beyond and get some really good sales and smells:), To me I would rather put the "lotion" on rather than "put" the "pounds" on you do the math:)-

Truth to told-I just can't seem to get down past 185lbs I have been doing this 11 months-I should be done by now-but I am not-which really depresses me.my body wants to hold onto the last lbs I need to get rid of and I just cant get it I know a lb a week is 52lbs a year-but I feel not like I am letting myself down but everyone who cares about me:( its not about the money-my mom helps me w/the visits-says its cheaper than a hospital bill, and that really upsets me b./c i feel like i am letting her down the most, trust me I am not just wasting my moms money the PROGRAM REALLY DOES WORK my body just doesnt want to-I know if i got more exercise that would really help(i am a nurse and iam gone from 430am-7pm m-f and so i dont get hardly any exercise-tried doing it after got home but id be so energized it would be sometimes 11/12p before i could fall asleep-so quit that-i do push mow 2 acres every weekend:) but ...so anyone have any suggestions?. sorry i dont get to post much-guess this is why so long:), I pray for all who are changeing their life-SO PROUD OF ALL OF YA:)----KIMMIE LPN

Posting to the website

Kimmie — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:55:58 GMT

hi :), i tried to send a post but wont let me get on? says not a member, maybe my password, are ya able to send copy of password?-will try again later:), have a great and blessed day-kimmie:)

Watermelon?

mommyof2 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:39:44 GMT

Does anyone know why we can't have watermelon? Does if affect the Calcium Pyruvate? I have been craving watermelon all summer and I would love to have some before summer is over but I don't want to mess up my progress either.

New Member Online

Amy — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:29:38 GMT

I got my approval today to post online. I agree with the last poster, I would love to see this be used more. I have been on other websites that have forums and there is alot of action on them. This is a really good tool for support and information! Tomorrow will be my 6th weigh in and I will post tomorrow with my total lost pounds and inches. My husband and I joined together and are feeling great about the positive change we've made in our lives. I hope to see lots more posts soon!

not many new posts!

mommyof2 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:27:33 GMT

I love coming to this website and reading the forums and have been a little disappointed people just aren't posting much anymore!

I hope everyone is having a successful journey with the Weigh Station. I know I am and I absolutely love coming into work and seeing the people that have joined since they have noticed me losing so much weight and how well they are all doing. I am the first to admit that it isn't always easy. I have had my times of cheating and yes I feel absolutely miserable afterwards, but I love what I am seeing when I look in the mirror and how good it feels to shop in the normal sections in stores. My goodness the clothes are so much cuter and not everything has the ridiculously large flowers on them! I will say that I am a positive person and even at my largest weight, I still loved myself and I wasn't depressed, but I knew that I could feel better. Now that I am losing the weight, I look back at pictures and I honestly didn't realize how big I really was then. I guess that is a good thing because maybe just maybe that would have made me feel depressed, huh?!?! I just know that is a place that I never want to go back to and the Weigh Station has made me realize that I can do it as long as I put my mind to it.

Egg white protein shake

Sherry — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:28:47 GMT

The egg white protien shake is made from "Jay Robb Egg White Protein Powder" its found in the organic section (behind the produce section) at Kroger. It's protein powder that you mix 1 scoop with 8 oz. of water. They have it in vanilla and chocolate. I have tried the vanilla mixed with a few strawberries and ice in the blender, but I like the chocolate mixed with ice in the blender. It's doesn't taste like a milkshake, but it doesn't taste like eggs either. I hope that this answers your question.

Stomach Reduction Surgery

Not giving up — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:10:30 GMT

This does not apply to me, but I know someone who had the surgery. They are often ill, and have not lost the weight.

I know that there are those here who have similar profiles. The person I describe lives too far away to come to the center.

Is there anything that anyone who fits this profile --or anything anyone-- can offer that might help?

Well...the time has come..

Crystie — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:55:06 GMT

Well, as some of you know, I joined the weigh station in 2008 and had great success until September 2008 when I had to have my gallbladder taken out. After that I had a hard time with the recovery and it took me until December to get back on my feet all the way. I joined back at the weigh station the beginning of 2009 and stopped going after a month because I got sick again with a bad infection and had to have emergency surgery to have my tonsils taken out. They cut so much on the back of my throat that my recovery took almost a month. I was blessed to have Kristina there to take care of me and the rest of my family. With two kids at home it was a hard road.

Now..I am weighing in at more then what I weighed when I started in 2008. This morning I weighed 189lbs. when I started in 2008 I only weighed 180lbs. I called and made an appointment to come back to the weigh station because I am healthy again and ready to do this. In Sep I had started running and was feeling really good when I got sick.

I have quit my job of ten years, service manager at a local car dealership, and have started back in school to get my LPN. I have been in school since May 6th. I had a death in the family of my grandfather who was my rock and my support system on April 28th to a blood clot that shot straight to his brain and killed him instantly. He was not a very healthy person, overweight, smoked and had COPD, was on Coumadin and was constanly bleeding internally. I was very lucky to have him a part of my life for 27 years and a great grandfather to my two young children.

I guess I am writing because I want everyone to know that I am serious about this. I want Chuck to know that I am ready to do this, I want to be a positive role model for my children. I want to be healthy because those in my family are very overweight and have health problems and I do not want to be like that. I want to help my family become healthy and be a positive shine on their life.

So...I am coming back (if I still can walk after Chuck chew's my butt off when I go back) and I am bringing a very dear friend of mine with me. We have sat down and decided that we are going to do this together for our children. WE CAN DO THIS AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS...!!!

Thank you for letting me have a place to write and a place to find support! We are looking forward to coming back and we would love to be a part of your Tuesday night testimonals.

Thank you!

Crystie Currie

Protein shake

Sherry — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:53:01 GMT

I have been having trouble finding enough time to eat breakfast, so I have been just having a egg white protein shake, but I am worried that I'm not consuming enough first thing of the morning. Does anyone know if it's allowed to make it with soy milk instead of water?

Scales

Chuck — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:54:34 GMT

All the scales have been certified..they are exact.....We will redo then every month..

Thanks to all you wonderful folks who make the weigh station work for so many..

Chuck Shaffer MD

Scales

Chuck — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:25:27 GMT

Some of the scales were wrong last week......some were off as much as 3lbs....we are working on the problem to have the scales reviewed each month...If you need to see me just ask....about this issuse.Sorry for any discrepancy

Chuck Shaffer MD

Over Time Progress Shows

Not giving up — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:49:07 GMT

I am not one of the biggest losers, but I'm determined to stick with it. I took some time to put the information from my chart into a bar graph and loved what I saw. I'm losing just about 2.25 lbs per week, not as fast as some, but it's working over time.

I started in December. My knees hurt so I could barely walk. With every pound I lose, my knees work better.

Look what I found!

tiger — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:36:38 GMT

Thought we should start a thread regarding things we can eat in Stage 2 that show up at grocery stores or on sale. Like the Zevia cola at Annie Kaye's. I thougth of this today when I saw the SoBe Lifewaters at Target . There are three flavors (located in the dollar spot area) that use Purvia sweetners. I have found these at one other convenience store.

Please read if you're considering joining the Weigh Station!

Anette — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:37:44 GMT

You know that thing people say to you, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it!"? Well, how many of us have heard that when it comes to someone we know having lost a bunch of weight? And yet, we're thinking, "Yeah, ok, whatever. It's just too hard." That was me. I was always thinking great job Weight Watchers people! Good for you Jenny Craig members! I'll just stay over here and be fat because I'm sorry, I just can't give up my El Rodeo and Starbucks. Then my friend walked into church one night and I was like, wow! Look at her!! I asked what she was doing and she told me about the Weigh Station. And in my heart, I knew that this was my solution. It seemed hard, tedious, and a little insane. (I mean, really, NO sugar???) But I did not want one more summer to go by where I was stuck in 3/4 length sleeve shirts because I hated my arms so much I wouldn't wear t shirts or tank tops. So I began February 17, 2009. It's been 3.5 months. I began at 158.6. I'm now at 122.4. That's 36.2 pounds ladies and gentlemen. I've lost tons of inches as well. Has this been difficult? At times, yes. I had a caffeine headache for about 2.5 days the first week. I sometimes want my El Rodeo or just a piece of cake! But you know what? I decided it wasn't worth it. And 36 pounds later- trust me, it wasn't. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philipians 4:13. That verse is right above the window where you check in at the Weigh Station. And my first day there, I realized the yes, I can do ALL things through Christ. That includes getting healthy and not beating myself up when I look in the mirror. God is good. He is faithful and I tell you what: if you are being tempted and craving something: pray! You will be strengthened in Christ!!! What better strength to have on your side than His!?!?

One of my best friends is getting married Saturday and my goal has been, well, to just look gorgeous at his wedding; I wanted to display the new me. I went dress shopping yesterday and I found this dress....and I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe that was my body in it. It felt like a dream. I tried on some pants last night I was wearing before I began this program...it looked like I should be on a commercial! It was hilarious!! I couldn't believe I used to take up that much space! I've gone from sizes 12 and 14 to 6. Yes, that's right: SIX. I wasn't sure of the size of the dress I bought yesterday so I carefully went searching down the seam inside for the tag. It had one, discreet letter in it that made me smile: S.

If you're reading this and thinking, wow I wish that could be me, get on the phone and make an appointment. Let your life be changed. You can do it!

Love,

Anette

Cravings

Crysti — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:34:48 GMT

I am having such a problem with cravings. Having no will power I have given in and knocked myself out of ketosis. Last timed I weighed I had gained 1 lb. Help any suggestions would be great.

I love the Weigh Station!

mommyof2 — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:22:45 GMT

I just have to say that I love the Weigh Station! Could I have lost weight on my own? No, and I will tell you why...I didn't have the will power to ever do it before but knowing that I have to go and weigh in every week makes me feel like someone is holding me accountable and I don't want to let them down or myself. I know this may sound funny but as a mother of two, my life revolves around them and my husband and I really don't do a lot for myself so going to the Weigh Station (in my crazy mind) is going and losing weight so I don't let them down! Or maybe I just don't want to get fussed at for gaining! I haven't gained any so I don't know if they fuss or not but I tell myself that they will! When I first went I set my goal at losing 100 pounds and I am halfway there. I love getting up in the mornings and getting ready. I love putting clothes on that fit and feel comfortable. I love the fact that I can eat my approved food and not feel like I have to unbutton my pants to be able to breathe. I love the fact that I can shop in the normal sections of stores and find more in my size on sale! (hahaha I love a good sale!) I love the feeling of getting rid of my bigger clothes. I love looking in the mirror and seeing my progress. I love the fact that exercising no longer seems like a chore but something I want to do. I love walking out on these beautiful days and feeling the sun shining on my smaller self! I love all the compliments at work! Ok, so I guess everyone gets the point! I know that right now I have encouraged so many other people to lose weight and when I see their progress, it makes me feel even better than my own progress.

Good luck to you all and I better go get on that treadmill and work towards my last 50!

Inspirational Evening Success Stories

Not giving up — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:06:02 GMT

I was not able to attend this and wonder if someone might share some common threads of those who have been successful.