One Year and 88 Pounds

angelgayla · March 2013

One year ago today I weighed 326.8 pounds. That was my starting number when I joined the HMR program at one of our local hospitals. As high as that number was, I was at my lowest point. I have PCOS and I take medication for it, but at that time I was also taking two medications for diabetes and one for high blood pressure. My doctor had basically given up on me, suggesting that I consider surgical options for weight reduction because the next step for me would be insulin injections. I was also diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and was told that I would never be able to lose weight if it was left untreated.

I was “in the box” for 12 weeks with the HMR program and I lost 27 pounds. It was just enough to get me under 300 again and to get me started on my journey. I struggled every day with the severely restricted food choices and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay on that track. At the program, they insisted that I wouldn’t be able to succeed on my own. According to my husband, the best way to get me to do something is to tell me that I can’t. So this time, instead of giving up completely and gaining the weight back as I had always done in the past, I decided to go it on my own by counting calories. I also try to practice the various things that I’ve learned about diet and nutrition from HMR, Weight Watchers and any other resource I can find. I knew I needed a way of tracking and that’s when I found my way to myfitnesspal.com via their phone app.

One year later, I have lost 88 pounds! More than just a lower number on the scale, I feel great! Better than a smaller dress size, my attitude and confidence have improved! I no longer have to take the medications for diabetes and high blood pressure. I still have a ways to go on my journey and I still struggle to do what I know is best for me, but this time it really is different. The results and the changes are so worth the effort. Instead of using the excuses for why I should fail, I am going to let myself succeed. :happy: