delilah
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2004
- Messages
- 2,423
I've actually been reading this board for some time. I enjoy reading other people's experiences, and have thought about posting here, but, hesitated because I hadn't really introduced myself properly, in the context of this board.
I am a family physician, and I have been in practice for 16 years. I have a 9 yo son, and at the time he was born, I gained an embarrassingly large amount of weight. To begin with, I was not overweight, but about 10 lbs heavier than I would consider ideal. By the time he was three, I had gained 60 lbs. In the intervening years, I would try from time to time to lose, but, just couldn't get my act together. I would lose 5-10 lbs, get distracted or discouraged, then, lose interest. Losing 70 lbs is a big project. Finally, this spring, I became determined to do something about it. There were alot of little things that helped me get determined. This past winter, for example, I couldn't wear my coat to drive the car. My belly would rub on the steering wheel if I did. Actually, there was the additional observation that I actually couldn't zip my winter coat all the way. I had to leave the bottom zipper pull open to sit down. None of my shirts fit, and, very embarrassingly, I broke several of my bras--the plastic rings on the straps would break. I popped the buttons off my lab coats when I say down if they were buttoned. But what really motivated me was going to a medical meeting in Chicago, and realizing that I was absolutely terrified that I might meet somebody that I used to know, who knew me before I gained weight. I saw somebody I thought I recognized, and I went into a cold sweat and went out of my way to avoid them. I realized then that this is crazy, and I would have to do something about my weight.
I don't actually know what my heaviest weight was. I started on a weight loss program, and it took me several weeks to gain the courage to actually step on the scale. I am quite petite, 5'2". I started nervously at 300 lbs, then 250, then worked my way down to 200. A big sigh of relief. My beginning weight was less than 200 lbs, but not by much. It was 197. It is very reassuring to note that in 2001, my weight was 191, so, I had somehow managed to "only" gain another 6 lbs in about 5 1/2 years.
I have worked very hard the past few months. My weight yesterday was 162 lbs.
It has tickled me the past few months as people have noticed that I have been losing weight. The first person to notice and comment to me was my hair dresser. At the time, I had lost about 10 lbs. I wear a long white coat to cover my clothing at work, and so, it was probably hard to see that I was losing weight. My office receptionist was the first to comment to me at work, although she may not have been the first to notice. I had continued to wear the size XL lab coat up until 1 week ago. Last week, I change to a new size M coat, and now people can really see that I've lost weight.
One patient yesterday said I looked so beautiful that she couldn't believe I am the same person. One of the staff in a different physicians office said she thought I'd lost "150 lbs", which I said was a slight exaggeration. One comment was a little less helpful. One drug rep in particular said I looked so good now, and asked if I were planning to lose more weight. I told her that my plan is to get to a healthy, normal weight (and, not stated, but implied, is that 162 lbs on a 5'2' frame is not healthy or normal, but is still extremely overweight).
Now, the down side, which is actually helping to fuel my motivation. I've always had borderline high cholesterol, but, I had developed hypertension and prediabetes. I am taking cholesterol medication, blood pressure medication and something for glucose intolerance. Of course, with the prediabetes, my borderline high cholesterol was actually very abnormal--I need to keep my LDL less than 100, and my blood pressure less than 120/80. I am happy to report that I am doing better with the cholesterol and blood pressure. (My total cholesterol was 124, and my LDL was 49 on medication last month). My BS still fluctuates, but, my HbA1c was only 6 when I started, which technically was in the normal range, and reflects my diet before I started to lose weight.
So, I think I'm doing pretty well. I still have about 40-45 lbs to lose. I am hoping my blood sugar problem gets better as I get closer to my goal weight.
I am hoping to offer encouragement to others on this board in the future.
I am a family physician, and I have been in practice for 16 years. I have a 9 yo son, and at the time he was born, I gained an embarrassingly large amount of weight. To begin with, I was not overweight, but about 10 lbs heavier than I would consider ideal. By the time he was three, I had gained 60 lbs. In the intervening years, I would try from time to time to lose, but, just couldn't get my act together. I would lose 5-10 lbs, get distracted or discouraged, then, lose interest. Losing 70 lbs is a big project. Finally, this spring, I became determined to do something about it. There were alot of little things that helped me get determined. This past winter, for example, I couldn't wear my coat to drive the car. My belly would rub on the steering wheel if I did. Actually, there was the additional observation that I actually couldn't zip my winter coat all the way. I had to leave the bottom zipper pull open to sit down. None of my shirts fit, and, very embarrassingly, I broke several of my bras--the plastic rings on the straps would break. I popped the buttons off my lab coats when I say down if they were buttoned. But what really motivated me was going to a medical meeting in Chicago, and realizing that I was absolutely terrified that I might meet somebody that I used to know, who knew me before I gained weight. I saw somebody I thought I recognized, and I went into a cold sweat and went out of my way to avoid them. I realized then that this is crazy, and I would have to do something about my weight.
I don't actually know what my heaviest weight was. I started on a weight loss program, and it took me several weeks to gain the courage to actually step on the scale. I am quite petite, 5'2". I started nervously at 300 lbs, then 250, then worked my way down to 200. A big sigh of relief. My beginning weight was less than 200 lbs, but not by much. It was 197. It is very reassuring to note that in 2001, my weight was 191, so, I had somehow managed to "only" gain another 6 lbs in about 5 1/2 years.
I have worked very hard the past few months. My weight yesterday was 162 lbs.
It has tickled me the past few months as people have noticed that I have been losing weight. The first person to notice and comment to me was my hair dresser. At the time, I had lost about 10 lbs. I wear a long white coat to cover my clothing at work, and so, it was probably hard to see that I was losing weight. My office receptionist was the first to comment to me at work, although she may not have been the first to notice. I had continued to wear the size XL lab coat up until 1 week ago. Last week, I change to a new size M coat, and now people can really see that I've lost weight.
One patient yesterday said I looked so beautiful that she couldn't believe I am the same person. One of the staff in a different physicians office said she thought I'd lost "150 lbs", which I said was a slight exaggeration. One comment was a little less helpful. One drug rep in particular said I looked so good now, and asked if I were planning to lose more weight. I told her that my plan is to get to a healthy, normal weight (and, not stated, but implied, is that 162 lbs on a 5'2' frame is not healthy or normal, but is still extremely overweight).
Now, the down side, which is actually helping to fuel my motivation. I've always had borderline high cholesterol, but, I had developed hypertension and prediabetes. I am taking cholesterol medication, blood pressure medication and something for glucose intolerance. Of course, with the prediabetes, my borderline high cholesterol was actually very abnormal--I need to keep my LDL less than 100, and my blood pressure less than 120/80. I am happy to report that I am doing better with the cholesterol and blood pressure. (My total cholesterol was 124, and my LDL was 49 on medication last month). My BS still fluctuates, but, my HbA1c was only 6 when I started, which technically was in the normal range, and reflects my diet before I started to lose weight.
So, I think I'm doing pretty well. I still have about 40-45 lbs to lose. I am hoping my blood sugar problem gets better as I get closer to my goal weight.
I am hoping to offer encouragement to others on this board in the future.
to you, so glad you have decided to join us. It sounds like you have made some great changes in your life and you are now reaping the rewards of your hard work. Congratulations on your success to date, enjoy the "new" you.
