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

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.