Not typical - but true

[Gina in NY]

This is a little difficult to start, but I guess that is just the way it is!

Some of you know this story - I've been heavy since I was 8, dealt with the teasing, didn't get leads in musicals despite my voice, etc. But in the end, got my masters at 22, a great job and I spend a lot of time on stage in front of hundreds to thousands of people. Never felt uncomfortable - even at my heaviest.

I have told myself hundreds of times that I'm a "healthy" obese person. After all, got preggers with my son when I weighed 240, (I'm 5' 3") had perfect natural birth (no pain meds) and never get sick. However, when I turned 35 and was pregnant with my daughter, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I weighed 280 at this point. The day of her birth I was around 325. This is not good. After her birth my blood pressure went up and I also started having terrible foot pain. Well - I'm not that stupid. My delusions of heathy obesity were disolving.

Then over a Thanksgiving visit to my parents, I found my dad in a diabetic shock. Damn near lost him - and he is my rock! After they brought him around and took off for the hospital I said to myself, "I NEVER want my kids to find me like that" My dad is kind of like Tony Soprano (only i don't think he's ever killed anyone) so to see him like that was traumatic.

So there I was 37 and about 288 pounds. All the lies I'd been telling myself sort of fell away at once. My dad was diagnosed with diabetes at 41 and I was much heavier than he had been. The clock was ticking. I'd done so many diets - they all worked...for a while. Then a dear friend told me he was having a Gastric Bypass - something I'd though only crazy people did. I did my research, found the best surgeon and had the surgery 6/20/06. It would take ten more pages to tell you how much I learned and how I got through this mentally. It is one heck of a decision to make, I'll tell you that much.

My surgeon required me to lose 10% of my weight before surgery - took me 7 months but it did keep me in the gym. Then I went back to the gym on Post-op day 5 and have been there every day since. (well, maybe I've missed a few days here and there) As of today, I've lost 120 pounds and am in the best shape of my life. My feet are totally healed, my blood pressure and everything else is perfect. I'll be on supplements for the rest of my life, but that life is going to be MUCH longer than it would have been.

Now I'm at a transition point. I just hit the weight that makes me "overweight" and not obese anymore. I am in amazing shape but I think I've destroyed my metabolism. It became so easy to eat very little, I just brought my calorie intake lower and lower and now - I can feel absolutely fine on 1000-1200 calories a day - but I don't think I can lose any more weight doing this. My body is going to shut down.

So I am here to try to find some information to restart my metabolism and some support as I take this last step toward being a "normal" weight. Only 28 pounds! I know it is all about increasing my food and intensity of workouts, but boy is it scary to eat more! I live in terror of regaining anything!

So there it is. Not the typical story on this site, but it is what it is. Thanks for reading this long!

 

[still.hurting]

...

wow, welcome to WLF!

Your story is really amazing and Im sure you'll be able to find a couple people to relate to! I know exactly what it's like to weigh that much. I was at my heaviest at only 16 years old and 5'3- almost 300lbs. Currently I am a few weeks short of being 19 and I am lighter, but it's not enough. When I joined this site my starting weight was 273lbs (at 5'4") and I lost 16 lbs in less than a month but recently went on vacation and completely lost control. Ive gained some back but its hard to tell exactly how much because Im really bloated and retaining water. Your story has inspired me, as well as others I read yesterday. I decided yesterday that Im going to start fresh, and your story was perfect inspiration this morning to stick to that plan!

I dont think Id ever be able to get surgery, even though Ive always wished I could. I wouldnt be able to afford it, and health insurance wouldnt cover it unless my weight was life-threatening and I have good blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Despite not being able to have surgery, I am going to change this! I want my weight to be down to where yours is. I dream of that day, therefore I congratulate you! You are doing amazing, and dont worry about a plateau. You will be able to lose more weight. First you just have to figure out what works for you. Eating small amounts often seems to REALLY help because your body knows it's getting a constant supply of food so is less likely to hold onto every calorie you eat.

I know it can be a scary thing, eating more to lose weight, but it works if it's done properly and reasonably.

I'll be reading your diary as you're on your journey! Keep going, you can do it!


xo

 

[Gina in NY]

wow, welcome to WLF!

I decided yesterday that Im going to start fresh, and your story was perfect inspiration this morning to stick to that plan! xo

You will totally do it. You already know that even though you're healthy now (that is a really good thing) your body won't be able to take it indefinately. I had myself convinced for YEARS that somehow, I was different. Somehow my body was going to live to be 100, even though I weighed enough for two people. Well - it doesn't work that way, obviously.

I must say that I love my new life! I love being able to run with my kids. I love being the adult other people's kids think is "fun" because I have the energy and strength to pick them up, run around etc.

There is not one aspect of my daily life that is not changed by this weight loss. I always had confidence and self-esteem, but to feel so healthy - it is a miracle! I most likely wouldn't have made it much past 50 with my family history if I hadn't lost this weight!

So you are truly brilliant to be starting so young! Just know you can do it! Belive me, this surgery is no magic bullet. I could gain my weight back in 6 months if I put my mind to it. It is the changes that I've made to my life that keep my weight under control.

Go you!!

 

[Boam46]

Hey Gina,

Welcome to WLF. I too had a breaking point when I said I have to do this and I have to do it now. No more excuses, no more half an effort, an overall life change now. For me it was realizing I'm graduating from college (aug. 30) going to law school in a year... and I feel the same lack of confidence and self-esteem I felt going into college. I don't want this. I want to start a family after law school and I want to be healthy.

For information on nutrition and exercise I would read the stickied threads in the nutrition and exercise through weight loss sections. There is tons of useful information in there. I know many people use or or many other free sites to keep track of their nutrition and exercise.

The sucess you've seen thus far is quite inspiration and I thank you for sharing your story with us. I look forward to seeing you reach your goals on this journey. Have fun while you're here there are tons of helpful, supportive, fun and friendly people. Don't be afraid to share anything or ask any questions.

Good Luck on reachings your goals
~Jenna

 

[Gina in NY]

Not having too much trouble keeping track of calories - sort of have a groove there after 18 months of this.

It is the new routine at the gym that has me excited. I'm recovering from another surgery now, so I have to wait a couple of weeks, but that gives me time to research more. I think I have a plan though...we'll see if it works!

thanks for your encouragement. It is mostly just hard to sit here and not go to they gym everyday like I have been for 14 months. But just a little while longer!

You're doing well on your journey as well! It seems slow while you're on it, but when you look back - you won't know where the time went. At least that is how it feels to me.