Why am I committed to losing weight?

Friday, July 08, 2011

In response to CERIUSLY's assignment, I am focusing on why I need to lose weight.

I recently gained back almost all the weight I'd lost over the last three years. I won't explain it, and I'm not going to apologize for it. It happened. Let's move on.

I am dangerously overweight. Last month, my BMI was 50! Even now, it's in the high 40s. My waist is over four feet around and more than double what it should be. I am at a high risk for a stroke or heart attack. My joints are deteriorating, and my arthritis is getting worse. My autoimmune symptoms are flaring because my body is so inflamed.

My belly is so big that I almost cannot measure it with a regular tape measure. When I was in the hospital recently, and they asked me to curl up to insert the needle in my spine ... I couldn't. There was no place for me to go!

Of course, I would like to look prettier, but it's all about health right now. I'm 100 lbs. away from worrying about looks, and from experience, it's going to be a long road. Still, I either lose the weight -- or lose my life.

It's that simple.

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Fat, Salt, and Sugar Alter Brain Chemistry

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Ever wonder why you couldn't seem to put down the fork? This is one more reason I really limit processed food in my diet - those sneaky buggers!

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conten
t/article/2009/04/26/AR2009042602711_3
.html

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My reasons to lose weight - #1

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Sometimes I feel all fired up about what I'm doing, and other times, I lose the plot a bit. I get distracted by obstacles, life events, or feel that I "deserve" a break and sabotage myself. What I "deserve" is to be healthy and happy, and morbid obesity isn't going to get me there.

I've decided to catalog all the reasonsI need to stay the course and compile them to remind myself when I get down and discouraged.

So --- *drum roll*

Reason Number One:

I investigated life insurance yesterday. Were I at my goal weight, I' d pay $31 a month. At my present weight? $121! That's almost $1100 more a year!

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Accountability - July

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Hi, again!

In June, I acknowledged how much I've backslid during a stressful and chaotic time in my life. My June stats were pretty grim:

June weight: 287 lbs.
waist: 54 inches
% lard: 52
BMI: 50

I had knee surgery a few days ago and gained 11 lbs. of water and inflammation, which I am still losing. Still, I've made some progress:

current weight: 283.8
waist: 53 inches
% lard: 50.6
BMI: 48.7

So down a few pounds, down an inch on the waistline, down a bit on the % lard, and some progress on the BMI. At 50, I was classified as "super obese". Now, at 48.7, I'm considered "morbidly obese". Yay? Yeah. I've a ways to go, but at least I'm moving in the right direction.

I am on crutches and not able to really do much yet. I don't know how long I'll be laid up, so in July, I'm going to focus on excellent eating choices.

July goals: 15 lbs. (the rest of the surgery weight plus a bit more)
waist: 50
% lard: under 50
BMI: 46

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Surgery

Thursday, June 30, 2011

I had my knee "done" yesterday. It was a long day, because the surgeon had an emergency. I hated waiting, and as the hours dragged on, I got thirstier and thirstier, but I was happier to be the person waiting than the person having the emergency, so it was ok. My brother kindly took off work to travel, collect me, get me to the hospital, and wait with me. He has an open jeep, which I didn't think about beforehand. I left the house looking decent and arrived looking like Amy Winehouse after a serious bender! I made my (cue ball bald) brother go to the gift shop and buy me a brush to try to set things to rights! LOL He stayed with me in the waiting bay as the hours dragged on. The poor guy was falling asleep in his chair. I felt so bad that I told him to go home and enjoy the nice weather.

I eventually got to the OR. Everyone from intake to the operating room was lovely. Because I had a spinal, they asked if I wanted to be awake and watch. I said no way! I think the anesthetist was disappointed with my wimpiness. Well, I don't make her watch me work, do I, so fair's fair.

The surgery went smoothly and faster than expected. I had a meniscal tear as well as some cartilage just hanging out. The ACL had a cyst on it that was removed and sent for testing. I had a torn ACL, but not badly enough to be reconstructed. HUGE BONUS!

I had been told I'd be in overnight, but they said I could go home early. I didn't have anyone to come get me, so my poor brother volunteered to turn around and drive all the way back to come get me. So from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m, he was pretty much driving me around or waiting for me. The releasing nurse and I had quite a time of it arranging me into my brother's jeep, but we eventually managed. Getting me back out proved equally entertaining. Thank goodness the drugs were still in my system!

I'm in pain and hobbling on crutches. It's tricky, but I will manage. I'm housesitting, so no one's here with me, but a lovely friend drove out from the city after work last night and looked after me. The sweet woman is returning tonight, even though it's a huge commute for her.

The best news? Instead of a 9-12 moth recovery timetable, we're looking at something more along the line of 9 - 12 WEEKS! How awesome is that? I asked the surgeon if I could possibly be racing again by autumn. His response?

"Definitely"

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