Serial Starters

Everyone here has been so inspiring and I appreciate you all.

May I tell you a story?

Let's start with TL:DR. Even well-meaning individuals can sabotage your goals and jeopardize your health if you listen to them.

My story:

About 5 years ago, on the advice of a REAMS test, I went gluten free. A year into the program, I felt better than I have in my entire life. No headaches, no brain fog, no joint pain, no tummy troubles, fewer skin problems, restful sleep in a shorter amount of time. I lost 80 lbs on gluten free, portion control, and yoga.

I remained steadfastly gluten free for nearly four years with only a bite or two slip up here and there. I always paid for those slips with immediate headaches. Flash forward to eight months ago, several people in my inner circle (meaning family members and others who claim to care about me) began to jump on the "It's a fad" bandwagon. Even my ersatz mother-in-law said to me, "I read an article that said unless you are actually diagnosed with that disease, you shouldn't do it."

I was doing Vinyasa/Warm Power Flow and hot yoga six hours a week. That coupled with an hour on the treadmill twice a week and a five mile walk on weekends were my chosen workouts. Not only weight but sizes dropped. Once I started exercising, I went from a size 22 to a size 6 in a year and I stayed under 200 lbs for a full year. This was the first time in my adult life I was able to maintain for more than a month. I was in the best shape of my life at 50 years old.

Despite the visual evidence to the contrary, multiple individuals mocked yoga as "not really exercise." I was so demoralized from the attacks on my chosen diet and routine, my mind said *kitten* it. I'll just eat whatever I want and to *kitten* with exercise.

In this six months, I have regained 60 of the 80 lbs. I can't get out of bed without popping Advil and BC powder and repeat every four hours until I can drag myself back to bed. I can't breathe because my sinus cavities are so swollen my eyes are bulging. My skin is erupting with painful, bloody lesions. My hair is falling out at an alarming rate. My legs and feet are so swollen that my blood vessels are bursting under the pressure. Pressure coupled with the anemia brought on by nutrient malabsorption have caused giant, visible, painful bruises. I currently cannot wear a shoe on my right foot without excruciating pain from the bruise on top of my foot.

Yesterday, I decided to eat as badly as possible. I had a fast food chicken and biscuit with tater tots for breakfast. Lunch was chicken strips, jalapeno poppers, and potato logs. Supper was a hot dog, a hamburger, popcorn, nachos, and ice cream at a ballgame. Actually, the only vegetable I have eaten in a while is raw carrots with my lunches last week.

Today is a new day. I plan to start slowly as I did the first time. No more gluten and restart portion control. Once I can comfortably wear shoes again, walking. I hope to work my way back up to loving an exercise routine again even though I will not be able to rejoin the previous yoga program due to finances. I will do what I can on my own and fight my way back.

If you made it this far, here is the moral: Don't listen to the voices whether they are internal or external. You have to do what you know is right for you.

Thank you for listening.

Tracy

Today's weight 218.2
Short term goal 195 by December
Long term goal 115