What has your weight loss done for you/your overall health?

JG762

As I’m sitting here at my desk trying not to go to sleep due to sheer boredom because I'm tired of typing reports I decided to check my pulse. I tend to keep track of it just out of curiosity, before I started losing weight my resting pulse was around 65-70bpm +/-. That was in a situation where I wasn’t doing anything strenuous or agitating, now that I’ve gotten rid of the weight and worked cardio like a crazy person my resting rate is around 52bpm, when I wake up in the morning and check it before I get up it’s in the 48bpm range.
So a near 25% reduction of my heart rate due to weight loss and better health, I call that a win.

What has losing the weight done for you outside of looking or feeling better?

Calliope610

This doesn't really fall into the "health" category, but I find that I am much more confident, capable and assertive than I was before. I have proof positive that once I make up my mind to so something, I don't have to let anything or anyone get in my way.

ewhip17

Sleep apnea nearly gone (this has made a huge difference), blood pressure considerably lower and a drastic reduction in headache frequency. I need to have my cholesterol checked because a couple of years ago it was already high. Interested to see how that's changed.

Kitship

TMI, but I don't think I had a period for over two years (at 300 pounds). Now, I'm "regular". It's like clockwork.

_runnerbean_

This doesn't really fall into the "health" category, but I find that I am much more confident, capable and assertive than I was before. I have proof positive that once I make up my mind to so something, I don't have to let anything or anyone get in my way.

I think this is "health"- it's an improvement in your mental health, which is just as important as your physical health. Well done:)

purplemurfy

Last visit to the doc (about 3 wks ago) my blood pressure was down. I've been in the hypertension range for many years refusing to take meds. Now I'm in the prehypertension range (and the lower end of that) and he was so pleased he didn't even mention meds. Aside from my low thyroid - all my bloodwork came back great, including my cholesterol and triglycerides so he stopped that medication. Yay!

He also did a double take when he saw me in the waiting room and was extremely complimentary of my progress with a huge smile on his face. Double yay!

Another thing that is partly BECAUSE I've lost weight and partly HOW I've lost weight is: I've increased my walks from 1 mile 2-3 times a week to 3 miles 4-6 times a week.

CipherZero

Allowed me to survive a heart tumor and recover from one heart surgery four months earlier than any of the cardiology team thought possible.

seltzermint555

I honestly don't know. I haven't been to a doctor since losing about 90-100 lb and at that time everything looked fantastic on my blood work and my vitals were normal. Somehow I was lucky enough not to have a lot of typical weight related health issues. I assume that I'm in better health now, I'd hope so anyway. I know I am stronger and can do a lot more without feeling winded.

jmcdonald2011

My knee and pelvis problems are almost non existent and because I started eating healthier and reading ingredients I discovered that my "arthritis" was actually a gluten sensitivity thing. I have cut gluten out by more than 80% and feel way more healthy which is leading me to be more physically active which is leading to weight loss

dawnmcneil10

I no longer snore! I hadn't really thought much about my snoring until one day my hubby said I wasn't doing it anymore.

My bad knee isn't really "bad" anymore but more instead has become more reliable.

LucreciaSkellenger

Definitely Health, I gained 70 pounds with my pregnancy and I am still 40 pounds overweight, I am diabetic (insulin dependant), so the extra weight definitely don't help me.

farfromthetree

Off blood pressure meds and my resting heartrate went from around 80 bpm to about 60. I also used to get frequent heart palpitations...they are pretty much gone:)

skidd93

Made me have more confidence in myself than ever.

glennoxyoung

Off blood pressure pills, recurrent pain in shoulder gone, headaches gone, inability to twist round due to shooting pain - gone!!! Need I go on?

georgiaTRIs

Besides not carrying around a 50 pound bag of whatever, I feel better and have more confidence in myself. I know I am doing the right thing and am very happy with my results. I love going for my checkup and they check the resting pulse and say -- that's right you are a runner.

sistrsprkl

No back pain, no knee pain, and more strength and energy than I even had in high school. Not to mention the mental health of feeling and looking better.

JG762

This doesn't really fall into the "health" category, but I find that I am much more confident, capable and assertive than I was before. I have proof positive that once I make up my mind to so something, I don't have to let anything or anyone get in my way.

No problem, I'll allow it. :-)

JeralynSh

I was diagnosed with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) in February 2012 (up to that point, no one knew what the hell was wrong with me. They just knew that something was terribly wrong.) Then, with my physiatrists' and occupation & physical therapists okay, I was allowed to exercise. They all agreed that it couldn't hurt. Well, it didn't just not hurt; it helped. I've been going into remission over the last 6 months or so, and am expected to be in full remission by November/December. Hooray!

Meerataila

My blood pressure was high when I was morbidly obese. Now it's normal or even a bit on the low side. My heart-rate is lower, too. Not quite where I want it, but not 90+ anymore, either.

I have less backaches but I do still have to be careful, I inherited a bad spine and there's not much I can do about that.

My mental health is better. Except constantly having to obsess over food in order to not eat too much of it does get on my nerves.

I don't gasp for air going up and down stairs and my balance is much better, too, so I don't clutch the railing for fear of falling.

Chevy_Quest

@all - I love reading these stories

I have only lost 14 lbs but already

I had my cholesterol checked recently and it was totally normal.
I sleep through the night more often than not.
I will run up two flights of stairs and not think about it.
I was able to run 4.0 miles straight without stopping yesterday.
I am feeling more confident.
My closet has "doubled" because I have old clothes I can fit back into!

acpgee

I'm no longer diabetic. Was diagnosed in 2012 with T2 and a hba1c of 10+. Have sinced stopped medication, and my hba1c after 4 months without medication is 5.0 which is smack in the middle of the normal range.

JeralynSh

@all - I love reading these stories

I have only lost 14 lbs but already

My closet has "doubled" because I have old clothes I can fit back into!

Hey, 14 is nothing to sneer at! Good for you! And it's always wonderful to fit into those old clothes, isn't it? It's like having new clothes all over again.

JG762

Oops.... Misfire...

bennettinfinity

I'm off blood pressure meds, my resting heart rate is high-40s to mid-50s, and I generally sleep better.

Definitely worth it!

kenphelan

Great topic!

Inspirational stories in this thread!

I've had a few success's including:

moving from the ranks of obese to overweight
moving from living with type 2 diabetes to being post diabetic
moving from a resting HR of high 70's - low 80's to low 60's - high 50's
the 'recovery HR' from exercising is much more rapid

Those are a few of the concrete verifiable results. There really is so much more.

secwife47

Its improved my smile. I actually stop and look in the mirror. I have a lot to go yet. But for the first time in my life I think I got this! And my blood pressure has gone down. Looking forward to getting off the pills.

zyxst

My heart rate has dropped. I checked it now and came back with 52. Other than that, I'm still a fat woman with HBP and high cholesterol.

mmd575

Went from having my sugar fall into a borderline diabetic range to now a normal range. Blood pressure is getting better and I had fatty liver but that is gone too. Asthma has improved as well. I also recovered faster from a back surgery I had this January, I went from not being able to walk at all to walking almost 3 miles a day in less than 6 months. I am sleeping so much better!

shaynepoole

I went from being an insulin dependent diabetic to being totally free of all meds for diabetes. I can walk around without getting back pain. I no longer have sleep apnea. Losing the weight is the best decision i have made in a long time. Everything is better for me

jeansuza

I have much more energy throughout the day.
I am off BP medication.
No more hemorrhoids nagging me.
I do not snore anymore.
I can bike, no belly in the way.
I walk way faster and for longer periods of time.
I can jog, if I want, without fear of ridicule.
So far, no more knee or back soreness.

But I can't float as well... Isn't it sad?

melissaw78

More comfortable in my clothes
Everything just feels like...less work