Ami's Weight Loss Journey(Comments, advice welcome)

[Alex&Evan'sMom]

Hi, my name is Ami and I'm a 33 year old wife and mother of 2 very active boys. I work as an administrative assistant full time and absolutely love my job. I'm also active in our church and all of our boys' activities.

I'd like to preface my journal by saying this is more than a weight loss journey. I have put off my weight problem and any future health problems caused by the excess weight by telling myself that I had enough to worry about and I'd worry about it later. Well, it's later! Recently within the last year my Dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He also has several other severe illnesses to go along with it including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. He has been heavy most of his life and I know that's where some of his problems come from. One of the scariest things about his issues is that he is only 53! I'm only 20 years away and if it goes half as quickly as the first 33 it will be here sooner than I'd like. He has been having issues with his blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol since he was in his late 30's, early 40's so that's really soon. I decided that I really want to stick around for my family and especially my husband and kids. I know it won't be easy, but I have to make some changes to get myself optimally healthy.

I saw an ad in the newspaper back in July for a weight loss clinic. Not sure what it entailed I decided to make an appointment. Basically, I go in weekly for vitamins and getting weighed, measured and have my blood pressure checked. I decided against the appetite suppressant as this is something I have to be able to maintain forever and I didn't want to become dependent on any medication unnecessarily.

My first visit was the second week in August. I am 5'7" tall and started at 284 pounds. I don't remember my body composition when I started but I will post it at my 3 month reevaluation with the doctor. I am down to 255 and tomorrow will start week 11.

I've had my really good weeks and my really rotten weeks, like last week when I saw my first weight gain since I started(and even though it was supposedly a good thing since I gained muscle and lost fat I'm still not that thrilled about it). I had upped my calories at their urging and I'm really tempted to lower them again.

Some back history with the next post since this one is getting really long.(I'm a talker, in case you couldn't tell.

 

[Alex&Evan'sMom]

Okay some backstory, I was at my thinnest when I was back in high school(which I'm sure is the similar case for a lot of people). I weighed between 150 and 160 and was a size 9/10. I tend to naturally have more of a muscular build so I spent most of my high school years desperately trying to be skinny like my beanpole friends! I totally took for granted my body and had a very poor body image(what I wouldn't give for that body now!) I made some stupid decisions and tried to lose the weight in every wrong way possible, destroying whatever small amount of metabolism I had in the meantime.

I am a stubborn person and when I set out to accomplish something I will get it done. I also tend to go overboard at times to get things accomplished. I do get easily discouraged at times but I try to think of the long term goal. I am determined to do this the healthy way and follow the doctors orders to a t.

I'm supposed to consume between 1500-1700 calories a day, no more than 53 fat grams and lots of protein. I've had to adapt to eating breakfast(I've never been a big morning eater) and I started out not eating enough calories and when I started seeing the weight loss was reluctant to add the extra calories, but in the last 3 weeks I'm trying a lot harder.

I'm supposed to exercise at least 3 times a week and have been working out with Richard Simmons. I love it! It's a lot of fun.

Sweets are probably my biggest vice but I'm trying to resolve that by eating some low cal/low fat treats. I have cut out any soda(not that big of a deal) and tea(huge deal, this is the south and we love our sweet tea!)

I just really want to have some people I can talk to about things and would love anyone who would like to join in to go ahead. I don't really have a support group as I don't have anyone else I know that is on this same journey. Most of the people I have talked to about it have been supportive and a few of them told me that they needed to get started on theirs because they don't want me to weigh less than them(which kind of hurt my feelings). So, I thought being around like minded people would be better.

If you've made it through this novel I really appreciate it and I'd love any comments and suggestions. My usual weigh-in is on Monday so I'll definitely be by to post my progress.

 

[Alex&Evan'sMom]

Well, back from my weekly weight in. I lost 2 pounds and now weigh 254 pounds on the dot. My BMI is down, I lost fat, water and muscle. The nurse told me that they may up my calorie intake if I keep losing muscle. I hope they don't have to do that, it was hard enough to work myself up to my current calorie intake. I know that sounds strange especially since prior to this I had no idea how many calories I was consuming, but I guess I'd rather eat less calories than go over my calorie limit, if that makes any since. I have to see the doctor next week for my 3 month reevaluation. Hope it goes well. Wish me luck!