i first started gaining weight at the young age of 17. i was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor and was put on multiple medications to combat this...gaining 80 lbs. in just a few months. i was able to beat that...but through the years, i would find that the tumor was just one part of a much bigger medical issue. due to this medical problem, i would spend the next 16 years battling one medical challenge after another...each one with a new set of experimental meds to try...each set of meds with an inevitable weight gain. *sigh*
in between medical "episodes" when i could go off the meds, i would try to regain control of my weight. unfortunately, this strong desire to do so would manifest itself in some very unhealthy ways. extreme dieting, binge/purge episodes and even extreme exercising (friends today would be SHOCKED to know that "once upon a time", i used to get up at 4am every day to work out for 2-3 hours before going to work/class.) falling into such dangerous eating disorder behaviors was a misguided notion that i had that i could "control" things by being so regimented about what was going in and out of my body. later i would realize that i didn't control anything...rather the eating disorder controlled me. this rollercoaster of weight gain/lose & medical challenges would go on for years and years.
fast forward to....a few years ago. i gave up all the allopathic meds and decided to focus my attention solely on alternative medicine instead, most notably homeopathy. following a more natural treatment plan, i was able to slowly detox my system from years of drugs and finally heal a damaged liver. this whole process was life-changing for me as it inspired me to look at my life as a whole and desire a "cleansing" of sorts with everything. i vowed to take better care of my body & stop the damaging eating disorder behaviors. i actively researched dieting plans & tried many things, including low carb.
low carb turned out to be a lifesaver for me! in the fall of 2005, i dedicated myself to sticking to low carb AND promised myself that i was going to do what it took to get this weight off once and for all WITHOUT starving myself, bingeing/purging, etc. it was a daunting task, but one with which i took on with all my heart and soul!
it's been an interesting journey, no doubt...and through the last year and a half...i've done all kinds of low carb plans, changing/customizing things to find what works best "for me" and in the process, i've learned SO much about myself along the way!
i call this success story my "coup" because for me, it is truly a successful "takeover." a takeover of gaining my life back! to have overcome some serious medical challenges with natural treatments and to be healthy and have lost a significant amount of weight WITHOUT taking any 'easy way outs' with unhealthy eating disorder behaviors! for the first time ever...i feel so "in tune" with myself. i understand my body and how to take proper care of it. i know how to enjoy food in moderation as fuel for my body and not as an emotional band-aid in a miserable attempt to cure whatever's ailing me!
here's me "before" at 245, 3X tops & size 24 pants!
"after" at 135, medium tops & size 2 pants!
(please excuse the "just take the pic already!" grimace--the pic where i'm smiling had a big glare on it, so i had to use this one, lol)
also, here's one from this past summer...no "bikini body" but a big improvement over previous summers!
(and it's at the pool, so please overlook the pulled up hair and no make-up!
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[B]tips for others?
--exercise...i didn't and it shows...i'm really having to focus on toning now!
--find a good challenge group to connect with...support & accountability are so key!
--take pics all along the way...every sign of progress can be a big encouragement!
--take measurements, don't just rely on the scale to show you how you're doing!
--if you slip, it doesn't mean you're a failure, it just means you're human...forgive yourself and get right back on track!
--listen to your body, if at any time, you're not feeling well, something's wrong and needs to change...check with doctor for any major concerns!
--don't be afraid to change up your programs if something's not workin' for you...there are LOTS of ways to do low carb in a healthy and effective way! you need to do what's "best for YOU" and that may be different than what others around you are doing...and that's OK!
--don't fall into any of the "low cal" all the time/starvation traps! PLEASE DON'T!!
