patsfan
New member
Okay, so I'm starting a journal. I didn't think I needed one, but I do think I'll become annoying pretty quickly if all I do is post questions on forums or make observations that have only to do with me (I do post other stuff, though!!) so here I am. Hopefully some of the folks on the board will have time to read my trials and tribulations and have something to say about it, good or bad.
Here's my health situation, from the beginning.
I'm 34, 5'4", and currently weigh 227 lbs. The first diet and exercise program I ever did I began two years ago this month (March 2005), and was prompted to do so by my weight (274 lbs), my high blood pressure (which my doctor just wanted to put me on meds for, no serious talking or encouragement to make lifestyle changes- my mother's been on BP meds for my whole life, I do not want maintenance drugs when there are other options!!), and of course, self-esteem.
So I went to a registered dietician 3 times (what my health insurance would cover), who analyzed blood tests and my medical history. She suspected I was insulin-resistant, (having polycystic ovaries was a big clue), and developed a very loose eating plan for me that focused on reducing carbohydrate intake, total caloric intake, and introducing exercise. I joined a gym, and followed her plan, which was basically this: Eat between 1400-1600 calories a day, keep my carb intake to 2-3 servings @ breakfast (1 serving=15g carbs), 2-3 servings @ lunch, and 3-4 servings @ dinner. Keep my fat intake to less than 50 g per day, and incorporate fiber (ideally 25 g per day) and more protein.
It was foreign, difficult, and I had a hard time losing anything at first, but then I met with a personal trainer who helped explain what exercise to do, how to strength train a little, and above all, not to look at the scale too much because I was getting discouraged.
After getting into the swing of things with my schedule, diet and exercise, I was losing an average of 2 pounds/week. This was right before my husband and best friend of twelve years (married for almost 3) left me. I was so incredibly devastated. I had 3 months of progress under my belt, and the upheaval at home certainly changed things a bit.
I still went to the gym on days when I had it together enough to eat properly and find the will underneath the crushing sadness I felt, but on other days, I was like a zombie and would forget to eat. I was lucky to not have kids to take care of. I could be as selfishly sad as I wanted to. Needless to say, the weight came off even faster because I wasn't eating well at all.
by the end of June I'd lost 30 pounds and forced myself to attend my very close friend's wedding in L.A. I love Los Angeles, so different from Maine, and many people who are very special to me would be there. I thought it would be a good boost for me to show up 30 pounds lighter (the compliments alone were worth the trip!), and to get some much-needed hugs and support from these women who'd known me and my husband so well that they could hardly believe I was getting divorced as well.
It was a great trip- a turning point to my plummeting self-esteem. I even exercised on one of the days out there- which was pretty good since it was 4 days of partying......and when I got home I got back to eating better and going to the gym regularly. I felt great about the changes I was making and I thought I looked great, too!
later that summer I was developing a crush on an old friend, which turned into much more in September of 2005. We've been together ever since and things are so great.
the only downside of starting the new relationship was I had found something new that made me happy, that I wanted to spend all of my spare time around, that I threw my diet and exercise plan out the window. After all, I had other things going on...I was falling in love!
My lowest weight reached on that diet/exercise plan was 214.
Nearly 2 years later I knew I had gained weight- I'm sure in part because of the poor way I'd lost some of that 60 pounds (the depression and not eating), and also because I was eating out and having fun with my new man, and who wants to say no to that?
So at the beginning of this year I joined a new gym- cheaper, brand new, clean, and I literally drive past the door on my way home. I needed a change of scenery- I tried going back to my old gym but it reminded me a lot of the very difficult time I went through, and I thought a change of venue would help with motivation.
I went into the new gym at the end of January and weighed in at 242 pounds.
But not to be discouraged, it could have been worse, right?
to be continued.......
Here's my health situation, from the beginning.
I'm 34, 5'4", and currently weigh 227 lbs. The first diet and exercise program I ever did I began two years ago this month (March 2005), and was prompted to do so by my weight (274 lbs), my high blood pressure (which my doctor just wanted to put me on meds for, no serious talking or encouragement to make lifestyle changes- my mother's been on BP meds for my whole life, I do not want maintenance drugs when there are other options!!), and of course, self-esteem.
So I went to a registered dietician 3 times (what my health insurance would cover), who analyzed blood tests and my medical history. She suspected I was insulin-resistant, (having polycystic ovaries was a big clue), and developed a very loose eating plan for me that focused on reducing carbohydrate intake, total caloric intake, and introducing exercise. I joined a gym, and followed her plan, which was basically this: Eat between 1400-1600 calories a day, keep my carb intake to 2-3 servings @ breakfast (1 serving=15g carbs), 2-3 servings @ lunch, and 3-4 servings @ dinner. Keep my fat intake to less than 50 g per day, and incorporate fiber (ideally 25 g per day) and more protein.
It was foreign, difficult, and I had a hard time losing anything at first, but then I met with a personal trainer who helped explain what exercise to do, how to strength train a little, and above all, not to look at the scale too much because I was getting discouraged.
After getting into the swing of things with my schedule, diet and exercise, I was losing an average of 2 pounds/week. This was right before my husband and best friend of twelve years (married for almost 3) left me. I was so incredibly devastated. I had 3 months of progress under my belt, and the upheaval at home certainly changed things a bit.
I still went to the gym on days when I had it together enough to eat properly and find the will underneath the crushing sadness I felt, but on other days, I was like a zombie and would forget to eat. I was lucky to not have kids to take care of. I could be as selfishly sad as I wanted to. Needless to say, the weight came off even faster because I wasn't eating well at all.
by the end of June I'd lost 30 pounds and forced myself to attend my very close friend's wedding in L.A. I love Los Angeles, so different from Maine, and many people who are very special to me would be there. I thought it would be a good boost for me to show up 30 pounds lighter (the compliments alone were worth the trip!), and to get some much-needed hugs and support from these women who'd known me and my husband so well that they could hardly believe I was getting divorced as well.
It was a great trip- a turning point to my plummeting self-esteem. I even exercised on one of the days out there- which was pretty good since it was 4 days of partying......and when I got home I got back to eating better and going to the gym regularly. I felt great about the changes I was making and I thought I looked great, too!
later that summer I was developing a crush on an old friend, which turned into much more in September of 2005. We've been together ever since and things are so great.
the only downside of starting the new relationship was I had found something new that made me happy, that I wanted to spend all of my spare time around, that I threw my diet and exercise plan out the window. After all, I had other things going on...I was falling in love!
My lowest weight reached on that diet/exercise plan was 214.
Nearly 2 years later I knew I had gained weight- I'm sure in part because of the poor way I'd lost some of that 60 pounds (the depression and not eating), and also because I was eating out and having fun with my new man, and who wants to say no to that?
So at the beginning of this year I joined a new gym- cheaper, brand new, clean, and I literally drive past the door on my way home. I needed a change of scenery- I tried going back to my old gym but it reminded me a lot of the very difficult time I went through, and I thought a change of venue would help with motivation.
I went into the new gym at the end of January and weighed in at 242 pounds.
But not to be discouraged, it could have been worse, right?
to be continued.......
Last edited:
but you're doig great... 
