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-   -   Finally Hit GOAL - 110 pounds in 17 months (http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=473612)

ReneeH20 Tue, May-24-16 19:06

Finally Hit GOAL - 110 pounds in 17 months
 
I did it! I finally hit goal. This is a super sweet moment as the last 10 pounds have taken 4 months. Overall, it has taken 17 months for me to reach goal.

I have not always been obese. I tended to be on the 5-10 pounds overweight growing up and in my young 20's. I gained about 20 pounds with my kids and then some more as I was a young working mom who had kids 16 months apart. In 2001, I joined Weight Watchers and lost 35 pounds. I maintained that for 5 years. Nine years ago, in my late 30's something changed. I even remember going to my doctor to complain about feeling tired all the time, etc. She just told me I was getting to be a certain age. Yeah, thanks for that.

That's when I started gaining weight. I would try diets off and on and just end up gaining more weight. I worked out with a trainer, but didn't see much results. I started running...didn't really enjoy it, but lost 15 pounds only to gain it all back. I pretty much kept up the exercise consistently and followed the low fat dietary guidelines and I kept gaining. 115 pounds!

In 2014, I decided it was my year to get healthy. I was getting to the point where I was not healing from injuries (too much inflammation in my body), I could hardly do normal tasks like carrying the laundry basket up to the second level of my house and even worse I was having difficulty ice skating (which I love). I couldn't sleep. I had headaches all the time. I knew I had to do something to feel better. I tried an exercise program, worked it hard, lost 10 pounds that month. Gained it all back in two weeks. I knew exercise alone wasn't going to do it. Tried some carb cycling diets. I did okay for the first 21 days, but the second 21 days made me binge uncontrollable.

If anything, I was getting worse and by November of 2014, I was a whopping 280 pounds. That's when I heard an ad on the radio for my doctor - Dr. L. I went to hear her speak. She was an OB/GYN that was once overweight herself. She was frustrated in not being able to be a good example for her patients. She lost 80 pounds herself. She explained that the Standard American Diet (SAD) with all it's sugar and grains was making us fat. Worse yet, we had been lied to and told that low fat diets would make us lose weight.

I signed up to start seeing Dr. L and she put me on Dr. Eric Westman's Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet aka Page 4. Dr. L had me commit to 90 days - no cheating. She wanted me to change my palette from sweet to spicy/savory. I had to keep a food journal in My Fitness Pal and review with her every two weeks. This helped to set me up for success.

Dr. L also did a number of medical tests. I was pre-diabetic, was deficient in vitamin D, anemic, had tons of inflammation in my body, and had insomnia. I also snored. I had headaches every morning and often suffered from foggy brain. All of that cleared up within 4 months of starting this way of eating.

After 90 days, I lost over 10% of my body weight and stopped seeing Dr L every other week and went to monthly visits. I got worried that I would fall off the wagon as I needed more support than Dr. L could give. That's when I found these forums and started a journal. I used my journal to work out all the mental stuff involved with weight loss and making dietary changes. I do believe that weight loss is 85% mental. I continued to log all my food and see Dr. L monthly.

A couple months later I joined the Daily Weigh-in thread. It kept me accountable and gave me support. I read a lot of threads and journals here. I adapted the mindset of the most successful individuals here - NO CHEATS. I did really well with that except for one ice cream cheat 16 months in. So not perfect. I feel so great on this way of eating (WOE) that I plan to eat this way for the rest of my life. I also will continue to stay active doing yoga, skating, and very light weight lifting.



First photo is of me in August 2014. I weighed close to 280. Second photo is of me at the half was mark in June 2015. I had lost 55 pounds and weighed 225. The last is May 2016 at goal - 170 pounds.

In Jan 2016, I had lost 100 pounds. The last 10 took 4 months to come off. Patience and persistence pays off.

I started at a size 20 pant with 2XL shirt. My goal was to be a 12 and not have an X in my shirt size. I now wear a 10 pant and medium shirt.



These are the two Dexascans my doctor took. One at 280 pounds and one at about a 100 pounds lighter. The yellow is fat and the pink is muscle. Blue is bone. Dr. L said that it is not unusual to lost 25% of muscle during weight loss, because the body does not need to carry around as much weight. I only lost 13% of my muscle because I was consistently exercising. While exercise was not a necessity for the weight loss, Dr. L did stress that it is necessary for good health especially as we get older.

So there you go. Special thanks to all those who have been a support and to those who have been a good example.

thud123 Tue, May-24-16 19:46

Excellent write up Renee. We love you and Thanks!!!

Meme#1 Tue, May-24-16 21:53

Oh, you look so cute Renee.

Your new picture makes me think about that old saying, "This is the first day of the rest of your life"

I am so happy for you!!

You definitely earned every bit of your reward!

Liz53 Tue, May-24-16 22:03

Congratulations to you - you look great! How wonderful to have the support of a knowledgeable doctor.

Love the dexa scans too - a picture is worth a 100 words.

Bintang Wed, May-25-16 00:40

Renee. Well done.
I really enjoy reading about such great success, which every time discredits the 'conventional wisdom' of the so-called 'experts'.
The Dexascans are amazing.

JEY100 Wed, May-25-16 06:37

Renee, Your success story is a wonderful testimony to finding the right diet for your body. Your doctor chose well, one that works for both diabetes, obesity and your other heath issues. What great results you have had with the diet and your dedication to it and meeting this goal. Those Dexascans are so interesting...and your new photo is pretty darn cute too. Many congratulations :clap: :clap: :clap:

khrussva Wed, May-25-16 08:06

Congratulations Renee. Just look at you now! You are a walking, talking, billboard for this WOE. You did this thing and never looked back. That is the way to it and you definitely did it. What an inspiration! :clap:

jessdamess Wed, May-25-16 10:06

Congrats! Amazing!!! :cheer:

ReneeH20 Thu, May-26-16 09:10

Thanks for all your kind comments. :rheart:

slwloser Fri, May-27-16 21:06

Great lifestory
 
Thanks for the inspiring story.

MickiSue Sat, May-28-16 11:56

Renee, not only do you look amazing, but you look about 10 years younger than you did at the start of this journey.

I love your commitment to your goal, and willingness to do whatever it took to get and stay healthy.

ReneeH20 Wed, Jun-01-16 19:22

Thanks slwloser and MickiSue!

Kickin Thu, Jun-02-16 05:23

Renee, you look amazing and are such an inspiration! Well done to you! Yay !!!!!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Just Jo Thu, Jun-02-16 06:43

Renee, HUGE CONGRATS on making your goal! Woot! :cheer: Woot! :cheer:

What an inspiration you are!!!

Keep Fighting the Good HARD Fight b/c You are so Worth IT! :agree:

GreekRibs Thu, Jun-02-16 21:50

Hi Renee. I got in late last night so tonight was the first time I had time to sit down and read your success story. I had to read it twice. It's so darn awesome!! I love that you met Dr. L who gave such good guidance and started you on a sustainable woe. Have you gone to see her to show her your svelte new figure? She would be immensely gratified. Your picture at goal weight is stunning. You are a hot tamale, woman! :agree:

It's so true this woe is 85% mental. You have every right to be proud of your fortitude, especially those last four months for the last 10 pounds. Way to go!

A true testament to this excellent woe is your conditions of being pre-diabetic, deficient in vitamin D, anemic, inflammation, insomnia, snoring, headaches and foggy brain all cleared up within four months. I also agree exercise is important all through our lives, especially as we age. You are the whole package.

Congratulations on this immense success and on each and every day going forward in this woe. Well done, you!! And thanks for sharing this journey with us because it makes us all stronger. :wave:


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