Second Time Around - and Terrified!

BethDMayo

When I was 24 years old I recognized that I was finally tired of being so incredibly overweight my entire life. I had spent the whole 5 years of my marriage actively trying to get pregnant to no avail. I'd been overweight from *birth*. I never tried to really lose weight before, but my Mother-in-law wanted to do Atkins, and asked me to do it with her as an accountability buddy. She was buying all the very expensive meats, so I figured, why not?!

Over the first 3 months I lost over 50 pounds, and wound up pregnant! (which was a huge surprise - I didn't realize it until I was at least 18 weeks). Throughout the pregnancy I managed to lose another 10-15 pounds, and giving birth was amazing - 30 pounds gone! While breastfeeding I lost another 10 pounds, for over 110 pounds lost! I was just over 200 pounds (one day I remember the scale said 198). I stayed that weight for another 4-5 years.

I learned a lot about my body. About PCOS, about carb intake, about blood pressure and cholesterol. Even at 200 pounds my PCOS wreaked havoc on my body, and ever so slowly, the weight came back. You gotta watch - it seems to happen in an instant!

My current age (35), along with the PCOS, thyroid issues, immune system difficulties, and everything else that often comes with being overweight have just totally overwhelmed me. And this time losing weight has NOT been an easy road. In fact, the small amount I have been able to lose has been a total of 10 pounds over the course of a good 6-10 months. It's so discouraging!

My physicians tell me that my age is going to play a huge factor in my ability to lose weight. So will my body's reaction to all of the cysts PCOS has so graciously bestowed upon me. And that baby we have now been actively trying for over the past 5 years? It's looking less and less likely. I'm so upset about that!

So, I'm going to do my best to make use of myfitnesspal and do whatever I can to improve things for lots of different reasons - not the least of which being someday looking in the mirror and not being disgusted. This journey is proving to be so much more terrifying than it was the first time I tried to lose weight!

MostlyWater

You need a profile picture to be taken seriously here.

mamanewland

Welcome! I'm down 37 lbs so far and a busy mom of 4. If I can do it, anyone can! Add me as a friend.

BethDMayo

I am working on my profile now, MostlyWater. Thank you!

mdickinson304

MostlyWater, that is not a helpful comment for Beth!

Beth, I'm 34 and have had Type 1 diabetes for 25 years, which makes losing weight difficult. I feel your pain. You can do it though!

I would not recommend the Atkins diet for a couple of reasons. First, you lose weight because your body is in a continual state of ketosis from lack of carbs. This isn't a huge problem for 100% healthy people, but for anyone with preexisting conditions it can agravate them. Second, not all protiens are created equal and diets high in red meats are going to increase your cholesterol and other things. Third, when you reintroduce cards your body stores them as fat because you have actually been starving for so long. Instead, I would recommend a balanced and healthy diet that avoids processed foods in favor of whole foods (i.e. fruit instead of candy, granola from your co-op rather than prepackaged granola bars, etc.). The stuff I've read seems to make a case for making sure you are getting enough fiber (this helps keep you full longer and does a bunch of other good things for you) and low-fat protein (again, full longer). And make sure you are drinking plenty of water. I've read in a couple places that our bodies often tell us they are hungry when we actually need water.

I recently read out the South Beach diet which is based on healthy eating principles and allows for foods from all food groups. I am still trying to talk my partner into it, but do hope to start it soon.

Good luck to you. I hope it goes well!