100 Pounds Lost-Judgement is Such A Dangerous Thing

In March of 2012, I adjusted my weights in MFP to the highest weight I had ever weighed. I thought I was ready to finally reclaim my life back after recovering from my 6th surgery post motorcycle accident in 2007. Yet I was still struggling with a lot of pain issues in my foot and back and shoulders. I started counting calories, lost 7 pounds and I made an appointment with my doctors office to find out what else I could do. When I got to the doctors office I found that I was seeing her new Physicians Assistant. Honestly, it was the worst medical experience I have ever had and I've had lots and lots. She had not taken the time to find out anything about my history and knew nothing about me or my past car accident with closed head injury or my more recent motorcycle accident and subsequent surgeries or the surgeries that I had and continue to put off but that result in some limitations. She was condescending, she was what I'm sure she thought was "tough love"ing by refusing to listen to my concerns and telling me I needed to quit making excuses and that I had pain because I was fat not because I had broken bones and torn ligaments and damaged muscles and nerve damage. There was no middle ground for her, it was all absolutely 100% that all my problems were because I was fat. I left there in tears, angrier then I've ever been and although I had lost 7 pounds I refused to do anything more. Basically I allowed someone else to control my actions.

It wasn't until December 27, 2012 when I saw my regular doctor (the PA was no longer there, thank goodness) that I was encouraged in a kinder, more realistic, knowledgeable of my circumstances manner to start doing some things to become fit that I got back on track. Almost 8 months lost because of words. Because someone chose to make a judgement without knowing anything about what they were judging. I'm not a big excuse person. In fact one of my motto's is "No excuses", but there is a difference between realistic limitations and excuses. Those who suffer from long term, chronic injuries know, deep down inside of themselves, when they are being realistic and when they are making excuses. My doctor understood that I needed to address physical issues of having multiple, severe and traumatic injuries and incorporate common sense into a fitness plan. She also knew that there were psychological issues that I needed to address. And for me there were definately spiritual issues I needed to confront. It's been a process.

I went from a car accident in 1997 that left me with a closed head injury, torn muscles and nerve damge along with 1 year of occupational and physical therapy to a motorcycle accident in 2007 that left me with a broken wrist in 4 places, shattered foot, fused ankle, seperated shoulder and destroyed other shoulder joint along with a lower back injury and ruptured colon and 19 more months of physical therapy 3 days a week. I finally got tired of being a medical, pain racked mess and I just pretty much gave up to wallow in the place I was for another couple of years. Then I when I finally get myself to the point where I feel like I might be able to make a change I meet a PA who thinks she can base everything on what she thinks she knows without really knowing anything and she thinks that by basing her expecations on her 30 year old, never been injured lifestyle capabilities. I know she *thought* she was helping but she became a huge stumbling block in my already battered mind.

But eventually I overcame that obstacle and learned two important lessons in the process: 1) Do not judge people on what you think you know, learn the whole story before you think your qualified to offer advice or opinions. 2) I can not let other people and their opinions manipulate my reaction and actions.

So as of yesterday, March 20th, 2014 almost 2 years to the date of when I first started and then stumbled and had to restart my journey, I have lost 100 pounds.