|
|
 Posted 11/9/2006 10:59:04 PM |
|
|
Writer
 
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
In it together
 My dog, Eddie, is plump, and I’m a contributing factor. Eddie loves to eat, and he’s found a number of ways to get treats from me.
When he was a puppy, he would chew his way through sheets, shoes, paper towels, and drapes. If he found something on the floor, he’d flip it in the air, catch it in his mouth, and chew it until it was an unrecognizable lump. He was dangerous and in danger. I learned to trade him his “chew toy” for a treat, and he learned to play me like a piano.
When Eddie grows hungry or bored, he finds something, puts it in his mouth, and prances around with it, hoping that I care enough about the item to trade it for a cookie. Sometimes I call his bluff. I tell him, “Good choice, Eddie. I don’t want that.” He’ll drop it and go search for a better treasure.
Eddie is clever, cute, and on the fast track to fat. So am I. It’s time to make a change.
So, Eddie and I are beginning a boot-paw camp. We’re going to be more than diet buddies; we’re going to be lifestyle change agents for each other.
We’re going to seek the advice of nutritionists, set reasonable weight-loss goals, keep track of our daily exercise, and monitor our progress weekly. We’ll watch each other’s back as we try to lose weight and get toned. We’re a team. Soon we’ll be lean, mean, healthy machines.
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 11/9/2006 11:00:39 PM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
Eddie, my terrier/maybe-beagle mix, and I are both overweight, and it’s time for us to do something about it. At least I think so; Eddie seems to be dragging his paws.
The first thing I did to find a solution to our weight problem centered on Eddie. Lots of things in my house center on Eddie, and to be honest, it’s easier to focus on his weight than my own. So, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Sarah Abood, DVM, Ph.D., of Michigan State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Abood specializes in nutrition.
To give you a little background on our problem, I got Eddie from the Humane Society about 18 months ago, and one of the main reasons why I selected Eddie was because he seemed to love my older dog Alex immediately. Alex, I thought, needed a playmate to keep him young. And Eddie more than fit the bill. Eddie loved to play, and he gave Alex a new lease on life. When I brought Eddie home, he weighed about 30 pounds.
Today, he weighs about 40 pounds. He still adores Alex, but Alex is slowing down, and they play less. Eddie still wants to be with Alex, and so he has staked out a place on the couch, right beside Alex. While Alex has never been motivated by food, Eddie has become quite a beggar. He loves everything about food. He doesn’t eat just when he’s hungry; he seems to see food as a sign of affection and an alternative to boredom. It’s the answer to everything. Unfortunately, that means he’s been getting less exercise and more treats.
He has also has morphed into the focus of our home. He’s funny, affectionate, clever, and demanding. And he’s quick, especially when he takes food from Alex’s bowl.
At the same time Eddie was bulking up, so was I. Part of the reason is that I’ve been spending less time walking my dogs and more time eating.
I didn’t notice the weight – at least not mine – until I tried to wear last year’s clothes. They didn’t fit, at least not if I want them zipped. Even when I buy new clothes that do fit, I look a little lumpy.
I noticed Eddie’s weight when I needed to pick him up and put him in the tub for a bath.
All of a sudden, I was worried. It’s more than vanity. I’m worried about the effect that the extra weight Eddie and I are carrying will have on our health. I want a long and healthy life together for us, and I think that together we can get ourselves out of this weight problem – with a little help from professionals.
At our first meeting, Dr. Abood and I talked about Eddie’s lifestyle: his eating and exercise habits, and we talked about my reasons for wanting to get help with Eddie’s weight.
Eddie loves people. That might be because he thinks of them as new sources of treats, but even without a treat, he liked Dr. Abood immediately. And when she told us what a handsome boy Eddie is, Eddie responded to the attention.
 After she weighed Eddie, felt for his ribs, pinched an inch, and took some photographs of him, Dr. Abood told me that Eddie is indeed overweight. If you looked at the “Body Condition System” chart that’s usually in a veterinarian’s office, Eddie would be in the “too heavy” section. In fact, he’s a seven on the scale of nine. One represents “too thin” and nine is a dog with “massive fat deposits.” Eddie fits the seven description perfectly. “Ribs are palpable with difficulty. Heavy fat cover. Noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent or barely visible. Abdominal tuck may be present.” (As I read this description, I cringe. So much of it reminds me of me. )
Dr. Abood and I talked about how we might reach an optimal weight for Eddie.
One thing she suggested was replacing some of Eddie’s dog treats with people food. A medium baby carrot, for example, is only four calories. A small dog biscuit might be 20.
For Eddie to maintain his current weight, he need only consume 615 calories a day. His regular food, plus the treats I’d been giving him, added up to much more than that. I need to commit to making some major changes in his diet and to couple that with a regular exercise program.
With that information, we went home with an assignment – to keep a food and an exercise diary for Eddie.
Today, Dr. Abood and I met without Eddie to discuss those diaries and a diet and exercise plan. The best way to regulate his weight is to keep his food intake within a certain calorie range and to increase his activity.
For Eddie to lose weight, he should keep to a 500-calorie-a-day diet. This includes his main meals and any treats. With that in mind, I need to decide what will constitute his 500 calories each day and because – like me – he likes to graze, I need to consider spreading these calories over four feedings. When he’s consumed his 500 calories, he’s finished eating for the day, no matter how much he begs or how cute he can be.
Since I know Eddie likes some fruits and vegetables, I’m going to try to work those into his daily diet, not only to increase the variety of his food options, but also to give him the sense that his portions haven’t been cut back.
Interestingly, the second phase of my weight loss plan – an appointment for me with a nutritionist, Marge Pestka, MS, RD, of Sparrow Hospital’s Food and Nutrition Services – required the same kind of food and exercise diaries as we compiled for Eddie.
Not only that, the results were similar – I need to cut back and I need to refocus on fruits and vegetables and fiber.
Marge Pestka recommended that I continue to keep track of my food and exercise using one of the tools available on the web. One of the calculators she mentioned () helps you to keep track of your goals, the food you consume, and your exercise. When you do, you can see how many of your calories come from fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. You can also keep track of the calories you’ve burned. After just a few days of this kind of recordkeeping, I’ve noticed that my calories may be in a good range, but I don’t necessarily make prudent choices. Another tool to monitor the kind and quantity of food you eat is available at . Both calculators seem to be a great way to keep track and stay focused.
For me, finding ways to stay focused and on track in a weight-loss program has always been the challenge. Having Eddie as a weight-loss buddy makes all the difference. I focus on him. If he gets lots of exercise, and he has in the last week, so do I. And if my mind is on his not overeating, I’ll eat sensibly, too.
Or that’s my plan. My primary goal is that we’ll both eat better and get more exercise and develop healthy habits. As for weight loss, my goals are that within 20 weeks-or-so, Eddie will lose the 10 pounds he’s gained, and I’ll lose 15. We may have our ups-and-downs, but that’s okay. If we develop a habit, in the end, we’ll be a four or a five on that chart – ideal – and we’ll be happy, healthy, and looking good.
If you’d like to join us in our weight loss efforts, please do. It’s good to have buddies – the more, the merrier. |
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 11/14/2006 11:58:22 AM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
| A long walk and a bubble bath Eddie’s been doing great, although sometimes he gets a look that screams, “Cookie, now!” He’s been eating less. His current menu is a cup of Science Diet Dental spread over the day – four servings preferably. On Friday, it was 2/3 cup of his dog food, plus 1/4 cup of apple and on Saturday, it was 2/3 cup of dog food and 1/4 cup of broccoli. One-half cup of apple has 33 calories, and 1/2 cup of raw broccoli has only 12 calories. I think I may have underfed him on the broccoli day, but this new diet has changed his attitude. He used to evaluate his treats. He’d eat them all, but if I offered him a carrot, he’d eat it and come right back, whining for a cookie. Now he seems grateful for fruits and vegetables. And he’s walking more than ever before. Tonight we took a long walk on a new route, and he found a smell that he just couldn’t leave behind. Before I knew what he was up to, he was sliding in a scent you just don’t want in your house. Luckily he likes baths; he loves to be fussed over more than he loves food. As for me, I’ve been writing down what I’ve been eating. Sometimes I amaze myself. I’m not proud of my choices today, but tomorrow’s another day.
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 11/17/2006 11:00:52 AM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
| Hooray for Eddie Eddie lost two pounds! He weighed in last night, and he’s down to 38 pounds. I was pretty excited about Eddie’s success, so when we got home from our walk, I gave him a quarter of a cup of broccoli to celebrate. He liked broccoli when he tried it on the weekend, so I expected he’d eat it right up. Maybe he saw it as a way to celebrate, too, because he turned it right into fun food. He’d pick up a floret, toss it in the air, catch it, and toss it again. In no time, the bowl of broccoli was empty; the rug of broccoli was a festive mess It was the same story with the apple I tried today. He’d liked it on the weekend, and when I gave him a quarter of a cup, he’d take the piece, go off with it in his mouth and come back for another. In no time at all, I had an apple-covered rug. Fool me once, shame on Eddie; fool me twice, how stupid can I be? I just tried a new taste sensation and a new approach. French-cut string beans handed out in tiny portions, each requiring a trick. He loves them! Or maybe he loves the attention that he gets when I give him one or two as a reward for being such a smart boy.
Green beans, raw or canned, are only 20 calories for a half cup.
Are you wondering why I bought the French-cut kind? They were on sale. I have more. Maybe I’ll try them again in a day or two. I’ll try a new trick, too.
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 11/27/2006 11:40:23 AM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
| Home Alone on Thanksgiving Maybe in your family it’s different. In my situation, everyone is gathering at Grandma’s this year. She’s cooking the turkey and everyone else is bringing a dish to pass. What we’re not bringing are our pets. This makes sense when you count them all. One family has four birds, two dogs, and a cat. Another has an elderly cat, and we have two dogs. That’s just too much for Grandma’s house. Mostly, it’s just too much for Grandma. So, Eddie and my other dog, Alex, are staying home together. I think their plan is to nap on the couch and bark at the squirrels. The silver lining in leaving them home is that Eddie is a mooch. He’s always where the food is, looking cute, and catching what food falls or is offered. If that doesn’t work, he begs. Thanksgiving at Grandma’s would be “an occasion of sin” for Eddie. It would be just too much food in too small a place. Some of it – a lot of it, I fear – would go into his mouth.
I’m thankful Eddie hasn’t been invited. To make up for this missed opportunity, I’m going to take him for an extra walk and make sure to give him some more green beans, which he absolutely loves.
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 12/4/2006 2:29:06 PM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
The Sock Exchange
 Just as I began writing this, Eddie came by my desk with one of my socks in his mouth. You could ask the obvious questions, “How did he find one of your socks? Don’t you put things away?” I’d tell you how gifted Eddie is in finding the socks that are lost in the washer, but you wouldn’t believe me. So I’d rather tell you about our sock trade. When Eddie and I started this weight-loss program, Eddie could be a pest when it came to food. He was always hungry and always begging for a treat. I’d give him one; he’d run off to the living room to eat it, and in a few seconds he’d be back begging for another. I’d tell him, “No,” in a firm voice, and he’d go off in search of something I valued and plan for a trade. Socks and underwear were perfect trading items. If any of my dresser drawers were opened a crack, he’d nudge the drawer until he could open it and grab something. He’d carry the item toward me, not quite close enough for me to take it from him, and he’d prance around. If I took the bait, he’d get another treat. If I told him he could keep his new treasure, he’d go off in search a better treasure. Old habits die hard. He still baits me with socks and underwear, but now the trade is for a carrot. And one carrot seems to make him very happy. Yesterday he weighed in for the third time, and I’m pleased to tell you that he lost another pound and a half. Eddie weighs 36.5 pounds, and his goal weight is 30.
Dr. Abood, his nutritionist at Michigan State University, praised him for his success. She said the kind of success that Eddie is experiencing isn’t the norm. She thinks that we have several things going for us. The first is that I initiated this weight-loss program and am committed to it. Because of that, I’ve been pretty strict in adhering to her diet suggestions. I’m the only one who feeds Eddie. I don’t give him any more of his dog food than the amount she recommends, which is less than the amount needed for Eddie to maintain his weight. When I give Eddie something extra, it’s low in fat and calories. Eddie has tried baby carrots, string beans, broccoli, mushrooms and apple. He likes some of these a lot, and some he only tolerates. Since I have a second dog, Alex, it could have been a challenge for Eddie to lose weight if I hadn’t found a way to separate my boys at meal times. Eddie doesn’t get access to Al’s food. We’ve also been increasing Eddie’s regular exercise. Our walks get longer each week, and Eddie likes to walk almost as much as he likes to eat. We’ve been fortunate to have unseasonably warm weather, but tonight we’re expecting sleet and freezing rain. No matter, we’ll still have to walk.
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 12/6/2006 11:52:26 AM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
| So, How You Doing? When I started this weight loss program, my goal was for Eddie to lose 10 pounds and for me to lose 15. I have to be honest, Eddie is doing much better than I am. I’ve been maintaining. If you’re a glass-half-full kind of person, you might say, “Well, at least you haven’t gained any weight.” And that’s a good thing, but as long as I’m reporting this, I have to be honest. I haven’t been as committed to my diet as I have been to Eddie’s. It was easy to fall out of the habit of the food diary for me, although I keep Eddie’s diary. Maybe I’ve been able to maintain because I don’t send Eddie out on his long walks without me. I’m at least a part of the exercise portion of this program. So, here it is a month later, and I’m going to recommit to getting myself on track. Eddie weighs in a little over a week. During that time, I’m going to keep a diary for both of us, and pay as much attention to what I put in my mouth as I do to what Eddie puts in his.
Janice
|
|
|
|
| Posted 12/7/2006 8:57:47 AM |
|
|
Writer
Group: Peer Moderator
Last Login: 12/29/2007 11:08:35 AM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 125
|
|
| Mud Flaps, Snow Shoes, and Miner’s Lamps  I was lulled into a false sense of how pleasant Eddie’s and my long walks would be this winter. After an early frost, Michigan weather took a u-turn and stayed unseasonably warm until December 1. That’s when the local weath
| | | |