Better Late Than Never

It was March 2012, at the age of 50 when I sat in my doctor’s office and heard her say my lab results weren’t great. Nothing too serious…yet. But I was definitely headed in the wrong direction. I was at my highest weight ever, 178, which at 5’1 put me in the obese category. My weight had been up and down my whole life, even as a young teen I was put on a diet by my gymnastics coach. I remembered my sister lost weight by counting calories, so I decided that was how I would lose weight too. Just a few days later I heard about MFP from my cousin. Funny side story – I realized I already had an account that I created when I got a new phone months before! At that time I didn’t even bother to look into what MFP was.

So in April 2012 I began using the app. My weight slowly went down, and I sat in my doctor’s office once again later that year in December. With tears in her eyes she hugged me, and told me how proud she was that I took her seriously and was losing weight. However, the bad news that followed was that a recent bone scan showed more thinning than was normal for my age. She said I needed to incorporate resistance training to reduce my risk of osteoporosis.

Over the next couple of months I tried various programs, from bodyweight routines to lifting with dumbbells and a barbell. Knee and shoulder pain kept me from making any progress, so I began a 5 month detour in physical therapy. In July 2013 I was able to begin a new program, All Pro’s Simple Beginners Routine. Progress was slow, but still progress, as I went from not being able to perform even one bodyweight squat, to doing squats with weights. I did All Pro’s for 9 months, then took a couple of months off to do some more physical therapy, then back to weight lifting with a combination of dumbbells, barbell, and bodyweight exercises.

One year into losing weight, I came across the Eat, Train, Progress group here on MFP. Sidesteel and Sarauk2sf, co-owners of the group, are knowledgeable, generous, caring people. Much of my success is thanks to them. What started as simply reading the information they have posted, led to me asking and receiving advice from them with my training and diet. Eventually, I hired Sidesteel as an online personal trainer. My expectation of the support I would receive is exceeded each time we meet. He was instrumental in my success taking off the last 10 pounds, convincing me I was able to do more than I believed I could in regards to diet and exercise.

These last 2 ½ years I have learned many things. I learned moderation and what an appropriate serving size is. I learned there are no good or bad foods. I learned I feel better when I focus on getting adequate protein and fat. I learned to eat food that I love, and leave food alone that I am not crazy about. I learned that the scale cannot tell me if I am a good or bad person. I learned I feel good when I exercise. I learned to see myself as the thinner person that I am.

My sincere thanks and appreciation to Swampdaisy and OzzyWoman for the initial inspiration, and for all their encouragement, support and understanding. They were always there for me as I struggled with various aspects of losing weight. Also to Sidesteel and Sarauk2sf from the ETP group for putting out quality information and advice. To Sidesteel, who more than once he has talked me off the ledge, as I learn to trust in my ability to lift more weight, and trust in my ability to eat a nutrient rich diet, maintain my weight, while no longer logging calories. And to all on my friends list who inspire me everyday.