My Weight Loss Success Story

Before my weight loss success story, I struggled with my weight my entire life! I was always 100 plus pounds over weight. I never believed the weight itself was hurting me.

For the most part I lived what seemed to be a very normal life.

Obesity Discrimination

Around the age of 15, I began to realize that I looked quite a bit different than the rest of my friends. I remember starting to feel isolated and rejected because I was no longer invited to parties or sporting events. I had a terribly embarrassing moment when at age 16 my application was rejected for the “Who’s Who Among High School Students”.

Approximately 10 minutes before class as her students were coming in, the teacher proceeded to inform me that I was rejected based on my size! I thought I was being judged for my grade and she said that sometimes the size of a person will turn others off and that is what happened to me!

I was devastated!

Not only was I disappointed that I was held back from the organization which meant a lot to me, but I remember hearing the laughing of the students after her explanation and I felt terribly embarrassed. I ran out of her classroom crying!

Before and After Weight Loss

After that experience, something triggered in me to “look like everyone else” and I went on a diet of less than 1000 calories per day.

The negative effects of this diet were awful from my hair thinning, to extreme tiredness to very dry skin. I was not a weight loss success story!

Worried about me, my mother took me to our family doctor. My doctor said I was too thin and instructed my mother to take me to an ice cream shop on the way home and make me drink 2 milkshakes.

That was the beginning of the end. My binging returned and I ballooned up to over 240 pounds, with my highest weight of 325 pounds when I was pregnant with my second son.

Far from a weight loss success story, I carried this weight throughout my entire adult life until 2004. Each day, I vowed to start a new diet and each mid afternoon I went off the diet.

Other than a few temporary successes with well-known weight loss products and services, I continued to gain and carry excess weight.

How Obesity Affected Me

Even though I said I did not think my weight affected me much, I was terribly wrong! The negative effects that I endured from the weight were not even apparent to me. I think I had become used to feeling bad. The worst pain I felt was inferior to everyone else because of my weight. I really only felt comfortable with others that weighed as much or more than me.

Thinking back, I realized that the biggest area of my life that suffered was my relationship with me. The weight caused me not to trust myself and my decisions. It seemed as though I was always second guessing myself or asking others for their opinion of me or my ideas.

The truth of the matter is that my weight held me back in every area of my life, from my family life to my professional life to my finances and worst, my health.

My family suffered due to social isolation. Oftentimes, I felt depressed and ashamed of my weight and this made me avoid social events.

My career was less fulfilling. As a registered nurse, I often felt like a hypocrite giving dietary and weight loss advice to my patients when my own weight exceeded 100 pounds!

Probably the worst area of my life that suffered was my health. I developed atrial fibrillation which is a disease of the heart that can lead to blood clots, I had extremely painful varicose veins due to the pressure of the weight on my legs, my knees ached all the time, I developed Gastro Esophageal Reflex Disease (GERD), a hiatal hernia and severe shortness of breath. The shortness of breath became worst at night when I would lay down and I often felt like I was going to suffocate and die in my sleep!

I suffered from these negative effects my entire adult life. Because they came on gradually, I really was unaware of how serious the problem was. I knew I was overweight and I knew I wanted to do something about it, but, I never knew exactly what to do to keep the weight off permanently.

My Weight Loss Success
Story Begins!

At age 42, I decided enough was enough. I decided that I was no longer going to live in the fat body I had gotten used to. I made a decision to start an adventure that would change my life for the better! That is where my weight loss success story really began!

I weighed 280 pounds and I set out to lose 120 pounds. From my previous attempts, I knew that weight loss of 10 pounds per month was safe and I guessed that I would reach my goal weight of 160 pounds in one year. It took me 13 months (I hit a serious plateau in May of 2005)! Through the adjustment to the maintenance phase, I actually reduced to below 136 pounds and my current weight ranges from 133 to 135 pounds.

Now that I’ve kept the weight off for over three years (September 17, 2005 is my anniversary date), I’ve decided to help others reach their weight loss and health goals and tp create their own weight loss success story!

As a Registered Nurse I understand the importance of proper education, credentials and competence in order to provide current safe advice. Besides my 20 years of healthcare experience of which over 16 are in nursing, and being a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, I obtained certification as a Weight Management, Nutrition and Wellness Consultant from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA). I am a participant in the National Weight Control Registry and I am also pursuing a doctoral degree in education from Capella University to learn how to help other individuals reach their health goals.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you. My hope for you is that you reach your weight loss and health goals quickly, safely and permanently...and start your weight loss success story too.

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