MY STORY

PDLUCKY

I am 37 years old and have been heavy pretty much my entire life. I started tipping the scales at 285 and climbing and in January of 2011 I was playing basketball with my son and injured my left knee. I rehabed the knee on my own have gone through a meniscus surgery on that knee when I was 18 and figured it would heal up but after about 8 months I decided it was time to go to the doctor so it turns out I needed surgery again and the meniscus on the weight bearing side of the knee was removed and I was told I had severe arthritis in the knee and that I need a new one. Unfortunately for me I am way too young to get a replacement knee. The doctor told me I needed to get down to a more healthy weight and that is the only way I will be able to get through to be old enough for a new one.

So fast forward to today I have lost 73 pounds and counting. I have made a lifestyle change and it is doing great things for me. I quit drinking last December and since January 1 I made a deal with myself that I wouldn't eat any sweets and if I was hungery between meals then I would only have raw fruits and vegetables. I started swimming again as swimming and biking are my only options for exercise. I was told absolutely no running or basketball ever again. That was tough to take and everytime I hear my son outside shooting hoops I wish I could go out there and join him but I know that it will only take one time of the ball coming off the rim hard at me and I would cut on the knee and be out for good. So I used MFP religiously and found that counting my calories wasn't hard at all and for now I have stopped logging my calories and have just continued to eat healthy and swimming a mile every morning. I hit a plateau for 3 weeks and that is when I went from just swimming 30 minutes a day to swimming a mile and now the weight is dropping again.

Injuring my knee and being given this diagnosis has ultimately been the best thing for my health it has forced me into doing what I should have many years ago. So I hope all who reads this can use it as inspiration to help you reach your goals. I am looking to drop another 22 pounds to reach my goal and I WILL MAKE IT. I thank MFP for giving me the tools to make this goal a reality!


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CEHayes73

Good for you! I've got a bad knee, too (fractured it in a car wreck 5 years ago). I've got 72 to lose in total, and am just starting (down 12 lbs so far!) Thanks for the inspiration!!