Looking back...

snowsflake

Just looking back at how I used to live my life and how I live it today...

As a person who was morbidly obese, I felt so unhealthy, because I WAS unhealthy. I lived on fast food, alcohol and cigarettes. My food consumption was beyond ridiculous, and it didn't help that I was a constant binge eater and drinker. I was so overweight that I found out that I had obstructive sleep apnea, which is why I was tired all of the time. I had acid reflux SO BAD that it would literally make me puke!

There are a lot of things that happen to you when you are overweight - my feet, joints and back hurt so bad from how heavy I was. It became harder to find clothes to wear, and I could barely walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I was going to die! I would get on a health kick, only to have it slip out of my hands and I would gain back any weight that I lost PLUS some. Plus my self-esteem was at an all time low, and I just felt hopeless.

Finally I made a decision to change my entire life. I stopped eating fast food, drinking and smoking and have lost over a 100 pounds. I no longer suffer from sleep apena and hurting joints and feet. And I can buy clothes in a regular store! I also know that my risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes have decreased. Losing weight and being thin does not elimate those things that can happen, they just reduce your risk significantly!

Losing weight has changed my life in so many ways. I'm healthier now that I was when I was in my 20s. I still have weight to lose because I can always get healthier than where I'm at now. A lot of people, including myself in the past, allow the obsession to be thin overshadow the desire to be healthy. That is why it was hard for me to keep off the weight, I didn't do the ground work that I needed to make a FULL lifestyle change, not a HALF lifestyle change, a FULL lifestyle change. I had to decide for myself that my over all well being was WAY more important than eating what I want to eat. Because in the end it REALLY affected me spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. And not only that, it affected everyone around me.

I've realized that my bad habits didn't happen overnight and my good habits have taken time to change, but there are now more good one than bad ones. Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy. I have to work at it daily and some days are better than others, but as long as I don't give up I've got another chance at reaching my next goal.

tamalea

wow you are so inspirational.... great job

knittygirl52

Wow. Thanks for sharing! Can you share the steps you took to make this happen? Like, what have you changed in your eating, what exercise do you do? Did you have to start with baby steps, or did you jump in with both feet and go "cold turkey" on the junk food.

When I finish this journey, I will have lost almost as much as you plan to lose, but I am nearer the beginning of the process! You are an inspiration!

RedneckWmn

Than you for shareing this with us! I love hearing the success stories! You are a strong and very inspirational person!

AMOMONAJOURNEYTOCHANGEHERLIFE

Congrats to you! Those are huge accomplishments! I can relate to the reflux and throwing up. That was one of the reasons I started down this journey and in doing so I realized it was less the reflux for me making me throw up and more about the fact I over ate that much. Keep up the awesome work!

girlruns

Excellent story. Congratulations on your progress and thank you for sharing!!

hill242

Thanks for sharing your story. You've accomplished so much!

snowsflake

Wow. Thanks for sharing! Can you share the steps you took to make this happen? Like, what have you changed in your eating, what exercise do you do? Did you have to start with baby steps, or did you jump in with both feet and go "cold turkey" on the junk food.

When I finish this journey, I will have lost almost as much as you plan to lose, but I am nearer the beginning of the process! You are an inspiration!

It took time for me to change my habits. I would go in "cold turkey" and then lose all steam and go back to old habits. Only this time was different because I didn't give up. And over time my habits started to change. It is a process.

I do spin classes, walking, strength training and will be starting P90X soon.

You will totally get there, just don't give up!

tsalter2004

You are doing great! Keep up the good work!

gr8loser

Wow! You are amazing! You must have finally reached the place where you realized your own worth! Great! I am about forty pounds overweight. I have struggled with these issues all my life. I just think I never as you said... made the lifestyle changes. I would always go back to old habits. One thing I HAVE done is to completely stop drinking soft drinks! Maybe this site will help on other things! What an inspiration you are! It must feel great to fee l like you can really help others with your story. Congrats!

Allibaba

I love the way you said this, it is so true! Congrats on your health!!!

snowsflake

Wow! You are amazing! You must have finally reached the place where you realized your own worth! Great! I am about forty pounds overweight. I have struggled with these issues all my life. I just think I never as you said... made the lifestyle changes. I would always go back to old habits. One thing I HAVE done is to completely stop drinking soft drinks! Maybe this site will help on other things! What an inspiration you are! It must feel great to fee l like you can really help others with your story. Congrats!

Little steps add up to bigger things. I'm sure not drinking soda was hard to do, but you're doing it. It's the same with everything else. You'll get there and totally do it!

dmcpage

You are incredibly awesome, and your perseverance, attitude, and story are contagious and truly inspirational. I'm glad I found you on here cuz you're super nifty. I hope everyone can make positive changes to themselves as you have!!! :happy:

snowsflake

You are incredibly awesome, and your perseverance, attitude, and story are contagious and truly inspirational. I'm glad I found you on here cuz you're super nifty. I hope everyone can make positive changes to themselves as you have!!! :happy:

So are you! I'm so happy that we found each other up in HER'...it's so nice to not have to be so serious about weight loss all of the time...PIMP! You know what you are...BAD *kitten*!!!:glasses: