NSV at the doctor, plus some pics

Congratulations! You look wonderful and happy! Can you tell us a little about how you did it? How long did it take?

Thanks! I started in earnest July 1, 2011. I was diagnosed as insulin resistant and heading straight into diabetes, and as such had a very hard time losing weight. I finally corralled a doctor and a nutritionist and they set me up with a very very low carb eating plan, very small portions, and monitored my vitamins to make sure I had everything. There were milkshakes. Blah! But that's untenable, you can't live like that. It helped me shake enough weight to be able to start exercising though. I completely changed how I ate. I try to avoid processed foods completely, although I'm not perfect. I try to only eat real, whole foods. I cook almost everything I eat myself, so I know what's in it. I am very much still into food, but I am far pickier. I used to eat a whole large pizza, plus wings, plus breadsticks. I would eat and entire chinese entree, plus an appetizer, plus soup. No problemo.

Anyways, I tried to relearn portion sizes. I started weighing everything, which I still do but mostly with meat and cheese because they get away from me so fast. The biggest difference is the amount of carbs I eat. When I was insulin resistant I would eat heaps of rice, 3/4 a pound of white pasta at a time, tons of bread. I just simply cannot do that anymore. I treat refined carbs almost like liquor now.. maybe on a special occasion, very rarely, and with the knowledge that I will fully regret it in the morning. :P

I started exercising as much as I could, but at 330-340 I would hurt myself whenever I tried, it would demotivate me, I'd get depressed and quit. Over and over and over. I couldn't keep up with anyone. I tried to "run" a 5k, made it 30 feet, started walking, and then got passed by the cop car that follows the runners at the end. I started doing water aerobics, yoga, and the recumbent bike. I kept like that for maybe 4 months, then I hired a trainer who worked with me doing intervals of cardio and strength. The weight continued to come off, and I got stronger. As I got stronger, he challenged me more. Last July, one year later from my "start" and about 70 pounds down, I did a 5K obstacle course mud run thing. I fell in love with it, and have set a goal that this year I will complete a 12 mile Tough Mudder. I have absolutely fallen in love with exercising, just because I can DO stuff now. I weight less now than I did in 7th grade, my entire life I was "the fat girl" and always, always, at the back of the pack. Now I can physically do so much I couldn't before that it continues to amaze me.

As far as food goes, I don't strive for perfection anymore. I am not perfect. But I don't beat myself up over it anymore. I used to be so sad, all the time. I hated myself, was so disappointed in myself and my life, and now I aim to not be my own enemy. I keep moving, I think of my food as something that either helps me towards my goal or it doesn't, but I will continue to enjoy fine dining and some snacks, just in small quantities. I grew up in the 80s, when everything was about "dieting", and I proved to myself countless times, since the age of 8, that diets don't work. It has to be simply "the way it is." A lifestyle