1 year, only 23 lbs, but means the world to me.

misskerouac

In 365 days, I've lost 23 lbs.

My loss may not be as drastic as most, and I'm still not finished, but lessons I've learned here through the amazing and helpful people on the forums and on my Friends List are invaluable.


November 2011 - Joined the gym (I go 4x a week and try to do something active on the days off) and joined MFP. Eating 1200 calories & exercise cals

December 2011 - Wake up covered in hives. After a few weeks they still haven't gone away. Go to the doctor and get told I need to see a specialist.....next available appointment is Oct 2012

January 2012 - Start seeing a naturopath to look for relief from the hives and constant fatigue I've now acquired. Upped cals to make sure I was getting enough to fuel my body.

March 2012 - Get taken off about 15 different foods from the naturopath to help control the hives (yes, at this point I still have them every day)

Summer 2012 - Hives are only present every few days. Up my cals to 1600 plus exercise cals

October 2012 - See Specialist, tells me I have Chronic Autoimmune Urticaria and Dermographism and there is nothing I can do but wait it out as it usually only sticks around for a few years. Sends me for a bunch of blood tests as there are other Autoimmune diseases that cause hives. I go back in January to discuss the results with him. Yes, at this point I'm still getting hives a few times a week.

Novemeber 2012 - Been at a plateau for just over 2 months, up my calories to 1800 and stop worrying about what I'm burning at the gym (kinda relaxing actually)


Now, what do hives have to do with weight loss? If you've never had the JOY of having hives, they are not dangerous, but they affect your quality of life. I can't tell you how many nights I didn't sleep because I was on the couch with cold towels on my legs and stomach. Or how many times I woke up in the night scratching so hard that my skin was bleeding. And of course, the more you scratch, the more they spread, and the itchier they get. You'll be at work and your legs/back/stomach/arms will be so overwhelmingly itchy that you just want to cry.

So going to the gym sometimes was put on hold for a day or two so I could catch up on sleep. Protein became a small issue since I could no longer have eggs, dairy, or soy ( i'm also not allowed beef but I don't eat it anyways) and I wasn't a big meat eater (I've had to start eating more chicken and fish).
*I have been drinking Soy lattes lately since my hives are bad right now anyways, ha ha

So for me to get through this year and still come out of it 23lbs down is amazing for me. For other people I know 23lbs isn't much. But for me, it meant the world.



Started at 185ish (I say this because I was probably more but hated the scale)


Around 170


165


Last week at 162.5 (And honestly, i look better than I did 5 years ago at my lowest of 155. I you strength training)



So thank you to everyone who has given your time to give me a little piece of advice, or left a message for me on my wall on a not-so-awesome day. Diet and exercise are the most import part of getting healthier, but without support that information means nothing.

ubermensch13

And this is what I'm talking about when I say "no excuses!". Fantastic job!

heatherloveslifting

You look amazing and should be very proud. I've only lost 26 lbs this year, but it took a lot of hard work and persistence!

AmyP619

Do not discount your progress and success just because it might be a "small" amount. The smaller you are the harder it is to lose weight, so I'm sure it was just as difficult for you to lose those 23 lbs as it is a 250 lb person to lose 75. Good for you!!! congrats on your success and good luck with the rest of your journey!!! That is very exciting, and you look great!!

lauren3101

There is no 'only' when it comes to weight loss. Every lb lost is an achievement. Especially for someone in your position. Congratulations, you should be proud.

Martucha123

23 lbs is huuuge deal, not everybody has 200 lbs to lose
and you look fantastic.
congrats on your success and big pros for sticking with it despite the hives.

stacy_1971

I think you look fabulous. I admire your transformation and positive attitude.

ChristyRunStarr

Fantastic job! I love your attitude-you never gave up :flowerforyou:

sam308lbs

i love your attitude..way to go!!!

andreanicole686

You look awesome!! I adore strength training too! woot!

maddieprice87

Wow- how tall are you? You look amazing! How inspiring! I had hives for a week this month, I can't imagine what it's like to have them for such a long time, I was at my wits end with it.

misskerouac

Wow- how tall are you? You look amazing! How inspiring! I had hives for a week this month, I can't imagine what it's like to have them for such a long time, I was at my wits end with it.

I'm 5'7"

Yes, it's been almost a year with the hives. At times it's reduced me to tears just from pure frustration.

littlebuddy84

You look fantastic! Well done

Caniacgirl59

23 lbs is a lot of weight loss! You look fantastic! How are your hives? I too have been suffering from hives for about the last five months. My doctor put me on prednisone twice. They went away after the first round then came back worse, so we did a second round. They went away for about 2 months but have returned. It was a couple times a week but now it's back to everyday, so I completely understand your pain and frustration with this! My doc is a bit confused as to what is causing them as nothing in my diet or environment has changed. I'm wondering at this point if it may be stress. I hope that your situation is getting better and that you are able to find some relief and sleep Congrats again on your weight loss!

misskerouac

Thank you everyone, I'm very proud to have gotten to a point where exercising and generally choosing healthier options has just become habit. It truly is a lifestyle for me now, which has always been the biggest hurdle.

Faintgreeneyes

You are amazing ashley!

collingmommy

That may be ONLY 23 lbs, but,, it's still weight loss.. A freind of mine is a personal trainer, she told me " some ppl bust their *kitten* to lose 10 lbs, so be happy and grateful for what you do lose" so congrats.

misskerouac

23 lbs is a lot of weight loss! You look fantastic! How are your hives? I too have been suffering from hives for about the last five months. My doctor put me on prednisone twice. They went away after the first round then came back worse, so we did a second round. They went away for about 2 months but have returned. It was a couple times a week but now it's back to everyday, so I completely understand your pain and frustration with this! My doc is a bit confused as to what is causing them as nothing in my diet or environment has changed. I'm wondering at this point if it may be stress. I hope that your situation is getting better and that you are able to find some relief and sleep Congrats again on your weight loss!

My hives are still present a few times a week. I have not been put on medication for them other than anti-histamines (which don't help much). The specialist hates naturopaths so he says I should eat whatever I want, but when i follow the food restrictions the naturopath gave me my hives are so much better (maybe once or twice a week) so I feel a little stuck in the middle. I did get blood tests done and my ANA test came back positive which could mean another Autoimmune disease is causing it, but I won't know until I see him at the beginning of January.

NZhellkat

Congrats on your success despite the odds. You have a wonderful attitude and I wish you well with the hives problem.

misskerouac

You are amazing ashley!

So are you Sarah

TimeFourMe

There is no 'only' when it comes to weight loss. Every lb lost is an achievement. Especially for someone in your position. Congratulations, you should be proud.

TOTALLY agree! We all work hard for every ounce gone. Congrats to you! Congrats to all of us!!!

Fortitude100

Amazing! Great job! Your story about hives connects with me. I too had hives chronic ones with the same issues as you. We discovered it was dairy (at least as the main source) then I had to treat the allergy aggressively with multiple allergy meds at the same time for about 6 months. It prevented the hives from coming as often but I still take 1-2 allergy meds daily now and more when needed since I haven't allowed myself to stay away from dairy completely.

mhairi81

You look amazing, don't belittle your results...after all you've gone through this year to come out not only losing, but also looking strong is a great result!

fine_frenzy

Don't say *only* 23 pounds! You've accomplished a lot and look fantastic.

I have to say though that your post is freakin me out! I've had *unexplained* hives since June. I have been on prednisone 3 times, non-stop benadryl. The itching is TORTURE. I've screamed, I've cried, I've thrown stuff. I wake up with dried blood under my fingernails and all over my arms and legs. The prednisone has helped but the itching gradually comes back after I stop it. My body is scarred from scratching! I've cut my fingernails down so low that it hurts in an effort to help prevent me from scratching in my sleep!

I'm going to a specialist and I hope they figure out wth it is, because I can't take much more!

ParkerH47

Thats so amazing, congratulations, it truly looks like a big difference!!! Also, not that its a miracle sure or anything, you may want to look into using bee pollen. If you do some research on it, its supposed to help with allergies, and while auto immune disorders aren't really the same as allergies they are related. I've never tried it, but I've heard about it a lot and may provide some relief?

Good luck, and I hope one day soon your health and quality of life improve!!!

Congratulations on every pound!

BeingAwesome247

Hey you lost weight and made some life changes - that's outstanding and WAY better than 1 year and GAINED 23lbs lol

maddieprice87

Wow- how tall are you? You look amazing! How inspiring! I had hives for a week this month, I can't imagine what it's like to have them for such a long time, I was at my wits end with it.

I'm 5'7"

Yes, it's been almost a year with the hives. At times it's reduced me to tears just from pure frustration.

I was put on steroids after a bad bout of them... It was so upsetting, not only was I blotchy still but my face puffed up! You are looking SERIOUSLY stunning, makes me want to up the strength training- what routine do you do? xx

misskerouac

Wow- how tall are you? You look amazing! How inspiring! I had hives for a week this month, I can't imagine what it's like to have them for such a long time, I was at my wits end with it.

I'm 5'7"

Yes, it's been almost a year with the hives. At times it's reduced me to tears just from pure frustration.

I was put on steroids after a bad bout of them... It was so upsetting, not only was I blotchy still but my face puffed up! You are looking SERIOUSLY stunning, makes me want to up the strength training- what routine do you do? xx

Thank you!

I see a trainer every 6 weeks and she gives me a new routine. Right now it's squats with a kettle bell shoulder press, assisted pull ups, push ups, reverse lunges, delt flys, Swiss ball hamstring curl, rotator cuff external rotations, plank, and dead bug. Plus any cardio.

SunnyBellaB

Don't say ONLY 23 pounds! Own it girl, you look great, especially learning what you have gone through!

Elissalove

Hey,

I have chronic hives too! It freaking SUCKS! I just take Zyrtec every so oftern...otherwise I'd be taking too much Prednisone (taking a lot of it is bad for your liver.)

fishgutzy

As soon as I saw 10 months to see a specialist I assume you were in Canada or the UK without even looking at your profile.

Congrats on your accomplishments despite battling an illness and an unbearable uncaring healthcare bureaucracy, (This is what people just voted down here)
You would have been in to see a specialist within about a week, two tops, in most areas in the US.