Day 8 on Xenical (Orlistat)

Last Thursday I visited my doctor to tell him how unhappy I was about my weight. About how I have gained 4 stone in 4 years. I asked him whether it could be the contraceptive implant (which I've had for 6 years), the Duloxetine (which I've had for about a year), the Pregabalin (had for 4 months), or the steroidal inhaler (I've had about 6 months but rarely use). The short answer was no. He didn't believe (and people rarely do) how much I weigh, but when I got on the scales it was as I expected (thankfully. There's nothing worse than going along with a problem only for the problem to miraculously clear up for your 7 minute appointment with no trace until you leave the surgery!). I weighed in at 14 stone and a few lbs. The reason I do not remember the precise weight is because I had weighed myself that morning, in the usual way (before food or drink, after toilet, naked). I was 14 stone 1lb, 197lbs or 89.4kgs. It makes more sense to use my reading as then future readings will have the same tolerance.
The doctor agreed to prescribe me Xenical (my suggestion), and advised me not to stop my Duloxetine and Pregabalin in the hopes on losing weight as weight-gain didn't feature highly on the side-effects of either drug. He actually increased my Pregabalin to 300mg per day as I was on such a low dose. I need to stay on the Duloxetine as my weight has now taken over as the cause of my depression and anxiety.

I now hope to record what I eat here, so I can see what I am doing wrong.

Before this week, I would binge eat a family sized madeira cake, share sized packets of crisps, 1kg bars of milk chocolate. And then go back to buy more. My self-esteem, and my pockets have suffered (which may be a good thing as I can't even squeeze any coins in there!).

This week I have eaten much lower fat meals to normal, still allowing myself some usual foods as they are in the cupboards. I will not be replacing them when they run out. I had tried Alli diet pills before, and checked with the pharmacist that they are the same thing (in a 60mg dose). From trying those I was aware of the side-effect of eating chocolate at the rate I used to.

I have been snacking on apples, bananas, clementines (something I haven't eaten in about 15 years!), and mullerlights. I was remembering advice given at Slimming World, as that seemed to work for me all those years ago, but then I remember that those diets are strict, you can't just pick a little from SW and a little from WW.

Here is my first week of tracked weight-loss:
Day 1 - 197.5 lbs
Day 2 - 193.5 lbs  -4 lbs! I was sooooo happy!
Day 4 - 195.5 lbs  +2 lbs
Day 5 - 196 lbs     +0.5 lb
Day 8 - 198 lbs     +2 lbs

So 1 week on, I actually weigh MORE than I did to begin with :'(
New rule: No daily weigh-ins.

Another thing I should mention, to compare start to "finish" is measurements. Here were mine a week ago:

Waist   34"
Hips     43"
Chest   41"
Thighs  28.5"
Calves  17"
Biceps  13"

This whole ordeal of stopping myself gaining and slowly losing 4 stone is not going to be a fast process. I'm not kidding myself. 56lbs. 52 weeks in a year. I hope to be done for Christmas 2012, and if I am running with a bit off pace, at least in time for summer 2013 when I will be 29 years old  :)