Getting healthy

Thought I'd share a bit of my story as it always helps me to talk about it.

I've always been heavy. When I was younger, at least I was active enough to keep it from getting out of control. But as I got older, that activity decreased and I ballooned up. In December, I got myself a Fitbit and was determined to increase my activity level. Started walking all over at work, trying to get my 10k steps in per day.

One Monday in the middle of March, I'm going into work. Walk up the stairs and down the aisle toward my desk, and I can't catch my breath and my heart is pounding. Rest at my desk a little while, and then head down to the doctor. She sends me to the ER. Cat scan reveals "extensive" pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in my lungs. I am admitted to the ICU immediately and spend a week in the hospital.

I am put on blood thinners to reduce the existing clots and prevent any further ones from forming. Upon release, I meet with my primary care physician to setup weight management sessions. She is the one who suggested this app, and she's the one who gives me my food goals every couple weeks.

On January 1st, I weighed 332 pounds. Last Monday, I was 295. My pants are falling off of me (try not to visualize that, especially if you recently ate!), and multiple people have remarked about how good I look. Of course, that makes me feel great. It's the first time I've been under 300 pounds in at least 10 years.

Don't really have a weight goal long-term. Looking to tick off increments of 10 slowly and steadily. One nice goal that I do have for myself is to be able to buy shirts at a regular store rather than a big and tall store. That would really make me feel good!