My Struggle - Health & Food

CyndiCB

I have always been a larger person even when I was at my healthiest. Over the past 10 years, I have had two back surgeries and have had more issues with keeping myself healthy. My back goes out quite frequently. I will start to exercise by doing yoga or walking to try and get more movement in and then it goes out again. My doctors have given me stretches and exercises to help, but it just seems to be a chronic problem.

I had my second back surgery in February of 2012 and took 6 months to be able to more active, but my back went out again in October 2012 to lead me to gain more weight. This has led me to be my heaviest during December 2012 when I weighed 286.

I have been working with my doctors constantly to figure out ways to keep myself healthy from injuries besides my back and how to lose weight. I've tried about every diet/life style change out there. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach, Counting Calories, etc... None seemed to be working. It was until I tried a low-carb & low-sugar diet suggested by my cardiologist that I finally started to see some success with my weight loss. I have issues with processing certain carbs and breaking down unnatural sugars. Plus, I love food! So my husband and I have learned a new way to eat & cook, and are happy with the change. We are not there yet! But the path is being laid out. Health issues are still a problem, but I'm making progress with my food.

I have currently loss 28.1 lbs so far since December 2012. It doesn't sound like a lot, but for me, it is really amazing. I'm continuing to have health problems with my back to the point I had to see my surgeon to discuss fusion of my back because this would be my 3rd surgery. I have been working with a Chiropractor to help with the pain this go-around and my surgeon is happy with the results. I think that I'm finally finding an alternative to surgery for at least the next several years.

I think the hardest thing for me is to stay motivated when I am healthy because I'm fearful of re-injuring myself or my back going out. It is a constant fear for me and my husband. Luckily, when my husband said I do for better or worse, he actually meant it. Because in the time we have been married (almost 10 years), I have only had my back healthy for 2 solid years pain free. He is my support system and rock.

I'm really trying to figure out the best way to stay motivated during this process. How do you stay motivated with your health issues, food issues, or just demons in general?

Dallas, TX