Media

Found this article at http://www.stuff.co.nz/ - linking the junk food companies with being one of the causes of obesity and now taking partnership with weightloss companies to be the cure.

If any of you have been on optifast (product in NZ/Aust) - if you have looked at the back of the packet, you will notice that it is made by Nestle.

So not only do these companies contribute to rainforest destruction and global warming - they also have a part to play in obesity.  Are their weight loss products now a plan to redeem themselves for the latter? 

Article below: 16/1/11

Junk food companies are making customers fat, then selling them the cure, health experts claim. Deals between producers of junk foods and slimming groups and health charities are allowing the industry to cash in on both ends of the obesity epidemic, they argue.

Partnerships between Nestle and Jenny Craig, McDonald's and Weight Watchers, and Domino's Pizza and the weight-loss show The Biggest Loser have been criticised for trying to make brands famous for selling burgers, fries and lollies appear more healthy.

The companies reject the allegation, saying the associations are meant to offer more healthy choices and are a genuine attempt to be part of the obesity solution.

Jane Martin, of the Australia's Obesity Policy Coalition, called this ''weightwashing'' - a tactic to convince consumers the fast-food industry was responding to the obesity epidemic, in the same way ''greenwashing'' allowed polluting businesses to appear environmentally responsible.

''Junk food manufacturers are at the forefront of this strategy, which is similar to what we have already seen adopted by the tobacco and oil industries,'' Martin said.
''It gives them the veneer of corporate social responsibility.''

Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton said deals between the two kinds of companies toyed with the emotions of people who wanted to support a worthy cause.
''It's a very strange association when we know that certain types of breast cancer, particularly in post-menopausal women, are very strongly related to a high intake of fat, and obesity - both of which get a hefty contribution from fast foods,'' Dr Stanton said.

''These companies are not interested in health; they're interested in marketing and selling more product.''
Global food giant Nestle said it was ''cynical'' and ''a complete misrepresentation of our business'' to claim that its takeover of weight-loss firm Jenny Craig this month was an attempt to buy its way into health policy discussions.

Nestle had a long-term commitment to nutrition and health, corporate affairs manager Fran Hernon said.
Jenny Craig managing director Amy Smith also defended the deal.

''Nestle have made Lean Cuisine and low-fat yoghurts forever,'' Smith said.
''It's over simplifying it just to say there's a conspiracy going on.
''If you look at the reasons why people are gaining so much weight, it comes from a lot more than soft drink and chocolate.''

In March McDonald's New Zealand began selling three Weight Watchers-approved meals.



On another note, another blog I read Something, something fat chick (thanks :) ) - found this picture below:

This weight equates to 169.1 kilos - does anyone else see something wrong with that???  You could have a similar ad for alcoholics where people who drink more than 10 drinks a day drink free - imagine the uproar on that one.  Hmmmm

Second Date Announcement!!!!

Makes it sound like a rock concert - but not quite......

Finally after waiting for what seemed like forever (really only a week since I sent an email to the clinic), I got a date for my surgery, so the second attempt will go ahead on:

28th January 2011

That is the Friday before school goes back and is the date I had aimed for once I found out when my allergy testing was. Also now it is only 15 days away so 15 days left of the pre op diet.

I struggled today.  After my killer PT workout yesterday filled with weights, crosstraining, treadmill, lunges, squats and press ups and holds in multiple sets - I couldn't move much today. How good is a hot shower though - so good for the muscles.  Going to try and lose as much as I can before the op.  Today was hard though - got very hungry.  We opted for Chinese takeaway for dinner - I was somewhat careful eating only the vege and meat (with the sauces) was tempted by the wontons.  Could of had six - but had 4.  I actually think I needed something a bit extra today as I felt better afterwards with no effects.  Went dog walking with hubby afterwards in nicer cooler conditions.  Am back at the trainer tomorrow morning so will work off the extra food.  Have to keep focus (word of the year)

I have notice my denim 3/4 pants have become more like 7/8 pants - they are so much baggier and longer with now sitting on my hips.  Anthony could also fit his hand width in the gap at the waist.  Pretty good visual difference.  The 3/4 pants look dumb now, but yet I feel good wearing them as I know they used to be tight :)  Not quite falling off yet like this guy!

This also reminded me of this song:

Also in the plans is joining a walking group that the clinic runs.  Starts for the year next Monday for an hour.  Im quite excited.  Also hoping I will be better than some of the others.  I feel this could be a place where Im not last (unlike previous boot camps).  We shall see.  But fun, and get to meet fellow bandits!!!

Back on the pre op diet wagon! Week 12 pre op

First week of January 2011 - Week 12 of the pre-op diet.  Tomorrow it is 6 weeks since the first op attempt.  This also means my cells are fully recharged and ready to react and deal with allergy testing.  Another small milestone.

Been back on the pre-op diet wagon since the second.  In the last couple of days, I have noticed the energy waning.  It does help immensely not being at work.  Im still gyming it - hope to lose at least a total of 20kilos by op time.  Still waiting to hear when that will be, hoping I will find out next week sometime.

So no carbs or any of the crap I ate over the festive period.  Good time for detoxing!

Trying the lemon mousse opti fast as something different.  Its ok - kind of like a cheesecake flavouring.  Still prefer the coffee and strawberry shakes and the bars though.  Also to note - in future be more organised and buy them from the clinic.  There is serious inflation when buying it from the chemist!

Holidays are full of events and social time - it does make the eating thing a bit harder.  Coffee's are fine - a trim mocha is fine as long as I give away the marshmellows/chocolate fish.  Today I felt victorious at Maranui Cafe in Lyall Bay when after looking in the food cabinet and menu - there were no meals without carbs.  Even the cabinet salads were potato or pasta based.  However, I noticed a green salad, mushrooms and spinach on the side order menu.  So I combined them for my lunch - success!!!!

 Success!!  Green salad had sunflower seeds on it to - nice touch!

Trim mocha at Diamond Deli - Lyall Bay 

On the weight loss,  I have gained a little during Christmas.  I decided to delay weighing myself for at least a week so hopefully will see a good loss.  Hopefully, next week some energy will return :)

The Dietician, Counsellor and the Nurse

So instead of going back to school on the first day back after the holidays, I went back to centre to fulfil more requirements in order to have the surgery. In the end, a lot more pleasant than standing in front of teens again ;)

First stop - Dietician.

By this time I had made the decision 100% for the Lap band.  The purpose of this visit was to go over the pre-op diet which consisted of opti-fast shakes, soups and bars (high in protein) for two meals a day. 

Then for dinner, 120-150g of protein in the form of chicken, fish, red meat, or two eggs plus vegetables from the selected list below:

Eggplant
Tomato
Celery
Bean
Mushroom
Capsicum
Brussel Sprouts

Lettuce

Carrots (only in small supplies - apparently too much carrot = carbs - this was a new lesson for me!_

Brocoli
Cauliflower

Also to point out - I can have unlimited vegetables from the above list all day.

Foods to avoid:

Potatoes (or equivalent starch)
Pasta

Rice

Other:

No alcohol
No sugar
No fruit juice (although natural sugar - still too high in sugars)
Only trim milk
Coffee, tea okay with trim milk
Herbal tea, water also okay along with zero sugar soft drinks (in moderation of course)

Wow!  Quite a change!  However when you have a very set goal - you are going to do it - no matter what!

The other decision was to think about when I wanted to start the pre op diet.  At this stage, it was just over 7 weeks until the op.  The dietician pointed out it would be at least 2-3 weeks, but if I wanted to start earlier - all the better.

We also went through the first four weeks after the op.  Each week was building up to eating real food again.

To sum up (as will blog when the actual events occur):

Week 1:  Clear Liquids, and Protein based liquids (6 meals a day)
Week 2:  Pureed Foods - including protein with every meal (3 meals a day)
Week 3:  Soft Foods (low fibre, high protein, moist foods) (3 meals a day)
Week 4 and beyond:  Solid Foods - 3 small meals a day

Also constipation could be a factor - alpine tea, benefiber etc can be taken. 
Take a general multivitamin once a day.

To sum up - I have to learn to eat again.  Funnily enough in Week 2 - Baby food is on the list of allowed foods!  After being to a few baby showers and having to taste that - may not be on my list of choice!

The dietician was just lovely and freely available to email etc anytime (YAY!) - after a very full hour of a lot of information - it was onto the counsellor!!!

A long time since I had been to a counsellor....wondered what this would entail.

However, it was fine.  More like a big chin wag.  She was an ex science teacher so understood what teaching as a career was like.

The one thing I remember from the conversation was when she said - it is hell be overweight/obese.

People who are in this position have to think and pre-empt situations before they enter them to make the best out of them - eg -airplane/movie seats, where to shop, how to blend in.  Never thought of it like that, but she had a point!  I find myself analysing many situations before they actually happen. It does cause a lot of stress and often tears.

Through a short quiz - I also found out I have high stress and anxiety and a very high level of depression - no surprises there!  She said it was a snapshot, and something to look at later on after surgery to see changes.

Also looked at physical vs emotional eating and how to deal with the latter.

An hour flew by - was given more reading, and it was off to the nurse.

The nurse presented me with more reading - this time a book on the lap band process- before and after.  Something to read and then read again as I went through the steps of the journey. Easy to read and informative.

We decided to start the pre-op diet 6 weeks before surgery - maximum weight loss.  Apparently, if you don't lose enough weight - they will cancel the surgery.  NO WAY IS THAT HAPPENING TO ME!

Also discussed the actual procedure and shown the following clip - animated so not gross :)

From there, she asked me many questions, looked at my health now and exercise regime, and concluded I had made the right decision to have the lap band.  :)

Took my weight and height readings, and then I was off to get my first two weeks of optifast, and live my last few days before the pre-op diet began.