jcl1082
New member
I was recently checked out at my doctors office and was faced with a very real and very scary prognosis. After having stomach pains and getting a normal x-ray to see if it was an ulcer, it turned out my stomach was perfectly fine however my to my doctor's trained eye, my heart looked enlarged. After comparing it to an x-ray of about 3 to 4 years prior, the change was definately noticeable. After a round of ecocariograms and cholesterol tests, it was determined that post 9/11, (barely two weeks into my first year of college mind you,) I began binge drinking every night to every other night. Granted it took almost four years before my body finally started to give up and my weight skyrocketed from 174 to 241 lbs. I ate an entire years' supply on my cafeteria card in less than one semester. Anyway, back to my heart, as it turns out, the doctor found that the drinking had started an early warning system towards alcoholic cardio myopothy enlargement. HOWEVER, thank GOD, he said that since I was so young to find this out, it is 100% reversible by stopping drinking (only allowed one too two glasses of wine on special occasions) and the heart muscle will go back to normal size. My cholesterol is a pathetic 225 LDL, 40 HDL and my trigylcerides were over 500. I've made the decision to take back some semblance of control in my life and get myself back to the place where I could tie my shoes without straining, and women looked at me with lust not disgust. My beginning weight a couple weeks ago was 241 (maxed out) and i'm currently starting a 6 wk abs workout regime as well as significant dietary changes to get to my goal of 185 lbs or less. My waist is a 38-40 and I want it back to a 32-34 TOPS. (obviously not all this in six weeks, but you get the point.) I would love nothing more than to meet some people on here that can help to be a guiding light and mentors to me in this time where I realize that if I don't step it up, to quote my doctor, "you'll need a new heart in less than 15 years..." well to my doctor I say this, : I LIKE MINE JUST FINE, TIME TO STEP UP.
