Conference rocks::weight_control

    I saw "Life in the Fat Lane" advertised, and I really wanted to see it.
    Can anyone summarize it for those of us that missed it?
    
    G

    
    
    I saw the show...it was interesting...and I thought, somewhat depressing.
    
    The basic message of the program was that the only way to lose weight
    is to eat less and exercise more and do it for the rest of your
    life.  They said that if you use 1/2 the amount of catsup (10 calories)
    you use now, you will lose 1 lb in a year.
    
    The depressing part was...once a fat cell is born it's there forever.
    It's either in its inflated or deflated stage but it's still there.
    Your setpoint will eventually get you back up there again...the
    yo-yo syndrome.  Also, explained a little about how your body will
    do anything to reserve its fat.  
    
    They also discussed fat genes and how parents pass them on to their
    kids.  They did an experiment with rats.  Fed all the rats the exact
    same amount of food for their lives, but the rats with the obese
    parents became obese and the others didn't.          
    
    My dad at this point said, "Hell, if I'm going to be fat anyways
    I might as well have some ice cream."  Kind of cracked me up.
    
    Gimmicks don't work...they had Oprah Winfrey on it and she said
    that with all the gimmick diets she's been on, she's gained 70
    lbs...when she originally only had to lose 10.  Which is true of
    all gimmicks...they will make you gain weight.
    
    They talked about the bubble and liposuction.  I won't go into those
    though.  
    
    One thing I thought was fascinating, is they had these "nutritional
    scientists" on.  It is a husband and wife (I can't remember their
    names) that wrote the book "Fit for Life".  Well it seems the only
    schooling they had to become "Nutritional Scientist" was through
    the mail.  It was only a certificate that they paid $50 for.  One
    guy even had his cat named a "Nutritional Scientist".
    
    Also talked about descrimination against fat people at work.  How
    it is more difficult for them to get a job, etc.     
    
    That's all I can remember.  Too bad people missed it.
                                                                 
    Kristen

    The part on the liposuction really got to me - lately it seems I've
    been hearing things like "If the diet doesn't work, there's always
    liposuction"  but now I don't know.  It seemed really rough, like
    the doctor was reaming out a clogged sewer line or something!  It
    was hard to watch - I wonder how much soreness is involved afterwards?
    Has anyone in this file had it?

    I knew someone who did; met her in a belly dance class, and she
    wanted to become a performer.  She combined liposuction with a 
    tummy tuck.  She was, incidentally, an "ideal" candidate in that 
    she had _already_ lost all the weight she wanted to, _and_ had been 
    engaging in vigorous dancing (4-5 days a week) for a year.  Everything
    in her body was now toned and taut--except for her belly.  Fat still 
    stuck there, no matter how slim the rest of her had become, and 4
    children had left her with abdominal skin that hung down over her 
    thighs (not something that happens to everyone, but it happened
    to her).  All of us who knew her totally supported her choice of 
    surgery; after all, she wanted to perform publically and who wouldn't
    want his/her whole body to reflect the level of fitness?  I think
    in her case surgery was definitely a better alternative than despairing
    that since she'd never look good thin, she might as well get fat 
    again.
    
    Having the tummy tuck along with liposuction was definitely more
    extensive than just liposuction alone.  So I don't know how long
    it would have taken her if she'd just had liposuction.  It was a
    good 2 months before she was able to ease back into exercising and
    dancing again.  This sounds long, but is much shorter than if one
    has major abdominal surgery (I had an appendectomy) and my doctor
    advised me not to begin any heavy exercise that strained the abs 
    for 6 months after the surgery.  She was surprised that it took 
    so long for her to recuperate, but any medical procedure surprises 
    most of us in that regard.  She was not in a lot of pain after a 
    week or so, but she was extremely "colorful" (some bruising) and 
    stiff.  It was waiting for this post-op stiffness to subside, (I 
    guess it was caused in part from her body adjusting to her new 
    contours) that took the longest time.  When I had a benign breast
    lump removed it was a good two months before I could stretch well
    and pick up a pair of dumbells again.  The whole area of the chest
    beneath the breast felt stiff, and there was this sensation of internal
    "tugging" whenever I tried movements that were too extreme.
    
    If you're really interested in surgery and go to consult with a
    doctor, I recommend that you get some names of his/her patients
    to talk to; they'll give you a better idea of what to expect regarding
    pain and recovery than the doctor (after all, "discomfort" is the 
    medical euphemism for the pain of everything from a hangnail to 
    an amputation).
    
    But if you walk into the surgeon's office wanting liposuction and
    you're still fat all over, most likely you'll be told to come back
    when you've lost the excess weight and maintained a stable weight
    for at least 6 months.
    
    Marcia

    Marcia -  Do you still dance???  Middle-Eastern dance was how I
    accomplished my major weight loss; a lot of people don't realize
    what a workout it really is!  Did you perform in public?  I did,
    and was in a troupe for years till the asthma flared up, then dropped
    out.  But, I have recently gotten my medication adjusted to where
    it is finally effective, started vitamins, installed a high-tech
    air cleaner and just last night started wondering how far away I've
    packed my Egyptian albums!  I figure your note must be a sign that
    I should start in again!  Thanks!

    Yes, I do still dance, even though it's only for special occasion
    parties.  Until the fall of 84, when me and husband bought a house
    in Westford, I danced at clubs in Cambridge (Middle East Restaurant,
    Averof) and taught la danse du ventre at Odalisque Studios (I was
    co-founder and part owner).
    
    This was how I got myself in shape over the years, too.  It also
    did me a _tremendous_ service by providing a realm of activity where
    my body was considered beautiful, even when I was packing more pounds
    than I do now.  This lovely dance taught me to like my body (unlike
    ballet, which always made me hate my body because I could never,
    even at my lowest weight, look like a ballerina).  And you're right
    about the exercise value!  All women out there looking for an aerobic
    exercise that's easy on the joints (no hopping and jumping) is
    aesthetically delightful (I love to feel beautiful, & just don't
    doing "fire hydrants" & other calesthenics) _and_ helps shape your
    figure, (_all_ my cellulite disappeared during my dancing years,
    and has not returned) maybe you should check out the belly dance.  
    It is also a dance that makes a large woman look grand and beautiful.
    What more could I ask of a workout?   :-)
    
    Marcia

    Not to mention the input to the sensual side - the gorgeous fabrics,
    and the beautiful music!  I also liked the sense of control it gave
    me over my muscles and movement - I started feeling more poised,
    too.  The stage presence also carried over into work - when doing
    presentations or training, etc.  My teacher goes to Egypt for several
    months a year to dance - she had to audition before the king's
    committee and is now one of the three four-star dancers there, so
    she can dance at the Nile Hilton instead of the seedy places.  Have
    you ever been to Egypt? Would I have seen you in Habibi?  
    
    For anyone who thinks they could never dance in front of people-
    Once you get the makeup on, the costume on, you hear the music in
    the background, it's no longer you, but your alter-ego out there!
    By day, she's a mild-mannered computer programmer, but at night,
    she's Amina Ma'Shar!