Shutting Up all the Haters! Cristabel's Fight for Fitness! (Comments Welcome!)

[disney-inspired]

Hello everyone out in the DISverse!

I'm Cristabel (in case you weren't sure ), I'm 24 years old and a resident of Southern California. Obviously I love Disney, that's a given.

I've been overweight the majority of my life and lemme tell you, it sucks. I have attempted and failed many times to lose weight.

Last year I reached my highest weight of 272lbs. My sister got married last Feb. and I can't bare to look at the photos because I was huge. I was in my final months of college and graduated in August 2012 I moved back home in July 2012 because sadly, my job did not support me living on my own. So with much disappointment, I moved from Orange County back to LA county.

Now, I purchased a scale last week because I became serious about losing weight. I'm tired of letting my weight bog me down and keep me from having a healthy social life. I'm a homebody because besides not having money (going on 5 months with no bites), I'm definitely not happy with my appearance.
Anywho, back to the scale. I hopped on last Saturday and I was 248.4lbs.

WHAT? I lost nearly 30lbs just by moving home and changing my eating?!

Now, here comes a scare. I was driving home a few days ago and I had this ring of fuzziness in my vision and a killer, one-sided migraine. I slept for hours and woke up, with a dull headache. I ate dinner then explained to my dad what had happened and out of curiosity he measured my blood sugar (he's borderline diabetic) and my blood sugar was 180! That is definitely not normal. Next day, we checked my fasting blood sugar it was 118, again not normal. So I made an appointment with my doctor and will be having my bloodwork done next week.

With all that being said, I'm now eating as if I were diabetic (being labeled pre-diabetic earlier by my MD) and trying to manage my blood sugar through diet and losing weight.

I'm aiming to lose 100lbs, so 172 is my current goal.
I'd love for any motivation and support you guys can lend me.

Another reason, besides for my health, I'm doing this is to shut up all the people who said I couldn't do it or made fun of me because of my weight. Looking good is the best revenge!

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

Welcome, I am glad that you found us. Good for your for recognizing the signs. I was diagnosed Pre-D/diabetic at a young age. Having gone through it, be prepared for a tough road because of your age. There are a lot of bad doctors out there who don't understand why catching it early is good. Heck, I just had an endo today tell me that up to 200 is fine, and mid 40's to 50's is not a problem. I now have to find a new endo.

I would ask for an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. That will tell you whether you are truly Pre-D or diabetic. Even if you are Pre-D, your doctor should recommend some nutrition classes, if they did not when first diagnosed- shame on them! Most insurances will cover it. You should also find out about Metformin. If your stomach can tolerate it, it can slow down the progression. Finally, I would ask about the Diabetes Prevention Plan study. It looked at people who were Pre-D or high risk, and participants were successful at preventing diabetes for a number of years.

Another great group is Diabetes Forums. (Google it, it should be the first result). Many are knowledgeable. Good luck with the weight loss! Do you have a plan for how you will be doing it?

 

[disney-inspired]

Do you have a plan for how you will be doing it?

First off, thank you for all the information. I will bring up these questions to my MD when I see her on Monday.

Right now I'm following my dad's basic diet. I'm also using myfitnesspal as well. My current daily calories are 1700 but I cut out almost every simple sugar. I keep my breakfast at 15-30 carbs, 30 carbs for lunch and 15 - 30 carbs for dinner. I try to keep my snacks as low carb as possible.

I've been replacing the carb calories with protein and healthy fats (almonds, avocado, peanut butter, etc).

I'm exercising 5 days a week, at least 30 minutes. I've been doing Jillian Michaels dvds and they are killer! It's nice to be done in 30 minutes or else I get bored.

 

[Terapin]

I'll be following along! Great start.

 

[dragitoff]

Your story is like so many of ours on this board. You finally reach a point where you know you MUST make a change. Whether your reasons were medical, to feel better about yourself, or whatever, it's all for a healthier you! We'll be following your progress. Feel free to read the progress of many others for inspiration. I know it always helps me when I've been having a tough couple of days or weeks.

 

[disney-inspired]

Your story is like so many of ours on this board. You finally reach a point where you know you MUST make a change. Whether your reasons were medical, to feel better about yourself, or whatever, it's all for a healthier you! We'll be following your progress. Feel free to read the progress of many others for inspiration. I know it always helps me when I've been having a tough couple of days or weeks.

Thanks!
This is for me and only me and I'm wondering maybe that's why I'm so dedicated this time around.

 

[disney-inspired]

Yesterday was pretty hard. I had the munchies, bad! I think it was because I missed the 3 hour mark for lunch (I'm eating every three hours to keep my blood sugar, and hunger, in check).

I ate healthy, drank 12 cups of water, exercised and ended the night well.
I hate having that 'constantly hungry' feeling; makes me feel less in control.

My workout yesterday, 30 Day Shred, really jacked up my knees yesterday; too much jumping around.

 

[disney-inspired]

I'm so close to -30lbs! I'm hoping for a big loss this week. I'm going to push myself a little harder, or longer, while exercising. I also need to find more low glycemic, high fiber foods to keep me full longer.

Hope you are all having a good week so far!

 

[disney-inspired]

So I'm up this week +1.6lbs. I just don't get it. I'm doing everything right but the scale is refusing to corroborate my story!

I did the deck of cards workout yesterday (from the Biggest Loser).

With the deck of cards, each suit is a different exercise (mine were: push ups, sit ups, squats and fire hydrants). The number is the number of reps. Face cards are ten and Aces are eleven.

It is great if you don't have a lot of time and are tired of doing videos or ordinary cardio.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm glad you are trying to ward off diabetes. My mom has is, developed later in life. I tell her all the time, I love you, but I don't want to be like you. That is the main reason why I'm trying to get my weight in check now.

Love your looking good is the best revenge.
Living a good life is too. Haters gonna hate, no matter what you look like. It just deflects their insecurities. It's not about you, it's about them.

Keep up the good work!!! Worry less about the scale, and more about how you feel mentally, physically, and spiritually. Focus on those non-scale victories (NSV).
When I gave up soda a little over a year ago, it took a while for the scale to show improvement but my NSV was the mental clarity I was getting.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yesterday was pretty hard. I had the munchies, bad! I think it was because I missed the 3 hour mark for lunch (I'm eating every three hours to keep my blood sugar, and hunger, in check).

I ate healthy, drank 12 cups of water, exercised and ended the night well.
I hate having that 'constantly hungry' feeling; makes me feel less in control.

My workout yesterday, 30 Day Shred, really jacked up my knees yesterday; too much jumping around.

Watch your water intake. You don't want to drink to much. You can actually get water poisoning by drinking to much water. My Dr and Chiropractor both recommended no more than 8 - 8oz glasses a day.

 

[dragitoff]

Watch your water intake. You don't want to drink to much. You can actually get water poisoning by drinking to much water. My Dr and Chiropractor both recommended no more than 8 - 8oz glasses a day.

My chiropractor actually told me you should drink 1/2 your body weight in water by oz. per day. I don't drink quite that much, but I do try to make that number my daily fluid intake (most of it being water).

 

[disney-inspired]

Watch your water intake. You don't want to drink to much. You can actually get water poisoning by drinking to much water. My Dr and Chiropractor both recommended no more than 8 - 8oz glasses a day.

I'm sure they have their reasons but that seems a bit silly to me. I don't drink anything besides water and soy milk.

I don't just chug water continuously though.

 

[disney-inspired]

My chiropractor actually told me you should drink 1/2 your body weight in water by oz. per day. I don't drink quite that much, but I do try to make that number my daily fluid intake (most of it being water).

That sounds more reasonable, so for me it would be around 120 oz.

 

[BikeFan]

That sounds more reasonable, so for me it would be around 120 oz.

Drink as much water as you want. More info on water intoxication from wikipedia:

Under normal circumstances, accidentally consuming too much water is exceptionally rare. Nearly all deaths related to water intoxication in normal individuals have resulted either from water drinking contests in which individuals attempt to consume large amounts of water, or long bouts of intensive exercise during which electrolytes are not properly replenished, yet huge amounts of fluid are still consumed.

Good luck on your quest for better health!

 

[pikaboo27]

Love reading about your journey! DH and I started doing the paleo/primal/low-carb lifestyle about 2 weeks ago since DH is also pre-diabetic and we both has an insulin resistance. I started at 288 lbs and now I'm down 10. We were both on metformin for a while but had to stop. If you don't have an iron stomach, it can be really hard on you. Talk to your MD but be sure you start on a really low dose and slowly increase it so your body can get used to it.

Snacks are by had the hardest thing with a low carb lifestyle. I hate processed stuff and try to buy as much organic stuff as possible, but it's hard. I find hard boiled eggs to be great as a snack, as well as things like organic cheese sticks (I don't forgo dairy, because I may be willing to give up bread/pasta, but you will have to pry cheese from my cold, dead fingers. lol) Also, look for organic beef jerky (or make your own.) For something sweet, try organic dark chocolate, as dark as you can get it. The darker it is, the less sugar is in it. It's been a lifesaver for me when cravings come.

You mention drinking soy milk. You might want to try almond milk. There has been some research lately about the body's hormones and soy, so we have cut out soy and just have organic milk.

Re: your gain, be sure to check your sodium intake on MyFitnessPal. I've had to really cut mine down. Also, do you have a body media fit yet? DH LOVES his because it helps him keep track of his sleep and his calories burned as well and it syncs with myfitnesspal.

Can't wait to read more of your story! And best of luck!

 

[disney-inspired]

So I don't think I updated with this very important information: I got my lab tests back and everything is normal. No diabetes!

Things are moving along, I'm losing inches fast than I'm losing pounds. I don't mind because it's a physical change that I can see!

Now that school has started, I am exercising anywhere between 4-5 days a week because I have a fitness lab twice a week (super circuit for 20 minutes, 20 minutes my choice).

Today is officially 30 days since I started eating better consciously and exercising regularly. When I get home I'm taking measurements and photos.

 

[disney-inspired]

Love reading about your journey! DH and I started doing the paleo/primal/low-carb lifestyle about 2 weeks ago since DH is also pre-diabetic and we both has an insulin resistance. I started at 288 lbs and now I'm down 10. We were both on metformin for a while but had to stop. If you don't have an iron stomach, it can be really hard on you. Talk to your MD but be sure you start on a really low dose and slowly increase it so your body can get used to it.

Snacks are by had the hardest thing with a low carb lifestyle. I hate processed stuff and try to buy as much organic stuff as possible, but it's hard. I find hard boiled eggs to be great as a snack, as well as things like organic cheese sticks (I don't forgo dairy, because I may be willing to give up bread/pasta, but you will have to pry cheese from my cold, dead fingers. lol) Also, look for organic beef jerky (or make your own.) For something sweet, try organic dark chocolate, as dark as you can get it. The darker it is, the less sugar is in it. It's been a lifesaver for me when cravings come.

You mention drinking soy milk. You might want to try almond milk. There has been some research lately about the body's hormones and soy, so we have cut out soy and just have organic milk.

Re: your gain, be sure to check your sodium intake on MyFitnessPal. I've had to really cut mine down. Also, do you have a body media fit yet? DH LOVES his because it helps him keep track of his sleep and his calories burned as well and it syncs with myfitnesspal.

Can't wait to read more of your story! And best of luck!

Thanks for reading!

I'm officially not diabetic so I'm pretty excited about that. I do still watch my carbs/sugars because I want to keep it that way.

We are a chocolate family so we always have some sort of chocolate. My family prefers dark but I enjoy milk chocolate.

I don't drink soy milk in large amounts, maybe 1 glass a day for my smoothie. Regular milk tends to upset my stomach so I avoid it.

 

[pikaboo27]

So I don't think I updated with this very important information: I got my lab tests back and everything is normal. No diabetes!

Things are moving along, I'm losing inches fast than I'm losing pounds. I don't mind because it's a physical change that I can see!

Now that school has started, I am exercising anywhere between 4-5 days a week because I have a fitness lab twice a week (super circuit for 20 minutes, 20 minutes my choice).

Today is officially 30 days since I started eating better consciously and exercising regularly. When I get home I'm taking measurements and photos.

Congrats on 30 days and your awesome lab results!

 

[disney-inspired]

It's been two weeks since I checked in here. Time flies!
Things are going great, the scale is being uncooperative and I'm not losing lbs as fast as I'd like. I'm about -30lbs and I'm focusing on chugging along. I've started running/walking this week.

So my workout schedule this week is:
MW: run/walk 4 miles (training for a future 1/2 marathon....in the waaaayy distant future) shaved off 6 minutes off Monday's time
TTH: Fitness lab: 20 minutes super circuit, 20 minutes free cardio
Although I'm going to try to stay on the circuit for 30 and do free cardio for 10-15 minutes.
F: rest or day 5 of exercise.

I do know that wed. will become my rest day because of my new job that starts on Monday

Eating is fine, I'm trying to find a happy balance between not counting calories and counting every. little. bite. It's too much work and I already have so much going on that I don't want it to be a chore.

We bought a juicer so I've started getting more vegetables in my daily diet. It's faster and less painful way of eating them

I need to sign up for a 5k to keep my motivation up!