What 435 Pounds Looks Like :)

I still have a long way to go and everything but I have reached the 50 pounds lost mark. This post is my celebrating this fact.

A little about me...

I'm a former athlete that, due to debilitating injuries, was forced to retire, which generated a host of problems for me. Suffering from anorexia, binge eating, and major depression, I gained over 150 pounds my first year off the bench. Over the course of the next several years, my difficulties with eating and depression caused a clinical starvation mode. While I was ill with this condition, I continued to gain due to several contributing factors, and struggled more with Refeeding Syndrome. You can read more about that in my blog if you care to learn.

Anyway, after all was said and done, after hormone therapy and a couple more serious spinal injuries, I found myself seeking surgical repair for my spine. When at the surgeon's office, I was measured for height and weight. I clocked in at 6'0.5" and 485 pounds. Not only had my injuries made me shrink 2 inches, but I had gotten precariously close to the half-a-ton mark.

I felt utterly devastated and disgusted in myself. The doctor told me that he wouldn't consider a repair until I had lost at least 200 pounds. It seemed an impossible goal.

Now, I have been working at this for over a year, and with several ups and downs due to illness and surgery. I have lost and regained the same 20ish pounds several times. This time, however, it's sticking. I'm still going down, and it's honestly the first real proof of success I've had in this battle since... well, my whole life.

So I know people usually only want to see sexy before and afters, or when people have met their overall goals, but I thought it was time to embrace the fact that any goal is a good goal. I'm happy to say I have met my first one.

Feel free to add me and root me on in the journey, more friends are always welcome.