[docere5]

Hello,

Im a first timer here and Im looking for support from others in attaining my weight and health goals. I also wish to support others in their success. Ive slowly gained 100 pounds over the past 25 years. I currently weigh 250 but have weighed up to 265. Im a compulsive overeater and occasional binge eater. Due to recent health problems that arose Ive finally decided to make my weight loss my number one priority. I was diagnosed with out of control high blood pressure 165/110 and a nonfunctioning thyroid about 6 months ago. This is embarrasing to admit but Ive avoided physicians for much of my life....and believe it or not Im a dentist, a healthcare professional. Im now on two medications to control my blood pressure, thryoid medication and a low-dose aspirin.

Im 48 years old and Im just fed up with feeling the way I do. And I dont want to end my life the way my parents did, both died of sudden cardiac arrest at age 67.

Ive tried dieting in the past with limited success. Yo-yoing up and down has been the norm. I want to make permanent lifestyle changes and I need the moral support of others. This board was recommended as a good place to seek that out and a place to be accountable.

Anyways, I hope Im in the right place and would love to hear from anyone out there that is going through some of the same struggles that I am having.

Thanks

[mandalinn82]

You are in EXACTLY the right place. You might want to look at the "Dieting with Obstacles" forum for support from some of our hypothyroid ladies.

Good for you for realizing that this has to be a permanent lifestyle change! That is a huge step! Keep posting and settle in...look forward to hearing more from you soon.

[Mel]

to 3FC! This really is a great site. I found it six years ago in the middle of my weightloss journey and everyone was warm and helpful. I think what has helped me the most is realizing that we are in this for life. Without the support of this site, I don't think I would have had the tools or understanding to maintain the weight loss.

Take some time to read through the forums and clubs- there are so many different people posting here, with different lifestyles, dietary approaches, medical or emotional needs, that I'm sure you'll find places that you fit in and feel comfortable.

Hopefully you're on thyroid meds by now. There are quite a few ladies here who've successfully lost significant amounts of weight with non-functioning or very impaired thyroids. Take a look at Meg's Story in the "success" forum for one.

Do you have a particular eating or exercising plan in mind?

Mel

[Cheryl14]

Hi docere!

Welcome!

You and I have a lot in common! I, too, gained 100 pounds over the last 25-30 years! My top weight was MORE than yours. I weighed in at 275. I used to eat TONS of food, and I am finding out that the portions I ate were astronomical! It's a wonder I didn't weigh much MORE than 275 eating the way that I did! I live in a family of men who are athletes or former athletes. THEY would chow down, and I would follow suit! How weird is THAT?!!! Of course they were out WRESTLING or playing four quarters of high school FOOTBALL or running a MARATHON. I was sitting watching TV! How on earth did I EVER rationalize eating as much as THEY were eating?!!!

I used to have a blood pressure of 150/90. Since I have lost the weight my recent blood pressure has been 118/60. I take no meds for it. The weight loss and exercise have taken care of it! Even my pulse is slower! My pulse used to be 80 as I was just sitting there. Now it registers 60-70.

I'm 55. I was talking to my son (track coach, Black Belt, former football player, shot putter and dicus thrower, marathon runner) just yesterday, and I told him that I am in the best shape of my life...at age 55! The change has been losing these 70+ pounds and exercising an hour or so a day. I can't believe I waited so long to get in shape, but I'm doing it, and you can, too!

Cheryl