I hope sharing my journey helps someone out there. I started at 120kg (about 270lbs) and now I hover over 65kg. A weightloss of 55kg (120lbs). I use the phrase ‘goal weight range’ as we all hover around a number and it’s easier to stay in a range than a specific number.
I started gaining weight in my early teens when my mother went back to work and felt guilty about it so would get us junk food to make us feel better about her not being there. Looking back, I’d consume around 3000 calories a day and thought nothing of it. When I reached University my weight began to spiral out of control even further. Alcohol and parties and food were consumed uncontrollably. I knew I was fat. But not as fat as I was in reality.
When I graduated and started working this pattern of self destruction continued. I was depressed and medicated for it. I knew the real reason for the depression but I was too ashamed to admit that I thought I was fat and needed help. I was always the strong one that everyone would look to for support. I didn’t want to let anyone know I wasn’t happy.
Whenever, the subject of my weight came up, I’d blame my hormones, endometriosis, slow metabolism. Pretty much everything to brush it aside.
Just after my 27th birthday, I flew home from living in London to take custody of my 6 day old niece. That next week, while at a doctor’s appointment for my kid, my blood pressure was taken and it was super high. The doctor pulled me aside and told me I had to change or if not make 35. This still didn’t motivate me to make the changes I needed.
It wasn’t until I needed to buy new business pants that my turning point happened. I was in the changing rooms of a plus size store and the pants split when I bent over. I was mortified.
From that day for the next year I counted calories (around 1800) and began walking. Between lamp posts at first and then around the block then further each week. I even started jogging.
By the end of the first year I was down to 65kg and began to train for my first half marathon. It took 18 months but I did it.
Then for the next 10 years or so I continued to count calories and run. I stayed at 65kg.
Then I had developed back pain. The discs in my lower back began to bulge and press on my spinal cord. Sending pain signals down my spine. I had to give up running.
This plus a hysterectomy for endometriosis meant that I had to watch what I ate more than ever. Unfortunately, I felt myself slip into bad habits. The old excuses came back.
I caught myself before I passed my goal weight range. And joined the local HIIT studio. Here I learned to build muscle and to lean on people for support.
Now I’m in the best shape of my life. There’s a little excess skin on my arms and legs. But I’m happy.
It’s possible to be that unicorn. Mindset, determination and a calorie deficit is needed.
Ask me anything!
Edit: middle aged and female.
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/comments/okkp50/today_is_the_16_year_anniversary_of_the_day_i/
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