A little about me.

I am a (almost) 38 year old mom of 2, wife, and part time photographer. I was born with a rare heart murmur and doctors didn't think I would live more than a couple hours. Then told my mother I wouldn't live through the night, then it wasn't to see my first birthday, then it was my 3rd, 5th, etc. (you get the idea). I became a young mom at age 18, lost all my baby weight and then some. I was always on the thinner side until late 1997. I miss carried in August, and became very depressed. I did however quit smoking, and about the time I started to get over some of the depression, I became very ill with pneumonia, and bronchitis. I was put on a number of antibiotics but just couldn't get better. My doctor sent me back to my cardiologist. She scheduled me to have the little video probe thing done, going down the throat. Within an hour after having this test done she sent me straight over to my surgeon and he scheduled me for heart surgery a few days later. Freaked out and scared I went home and planned for my surgery. Surgery went great was home in a week and mobile. Then 4 months later I was pregnant.

So in 6 short months, I miscarried, quit smoking, had heart surgery, and was pregnant. Needles to say I gained almost 75lbs in this 6 months. But only gained 9 more during my pregnancy. BUT after the baby came and I was home ALL day I slowly started putting on more and more weight. Then in 2003 I starting loosing the use of my hands, and nearly every joint in my body was swollen. After 6 months of doctors trying to figure out what was wrong with me (ALL my blood work was perfect) I insisted on seeing a rheumatologist. I did my own research and found a woman who's story was so mine that I just knew this is what was wrong with me as it can take MANY years for RA to show up in your blood work. I met my Rheumatologist and she knew the minute she tried to shake my hand I had RA. She started me on meds that day along with weekly shots and my RA has been pretty good since. I also have Fibromyalgia. It took over 6 years for the RA to show in my blood work.

About 3 years ago I decided to change my life and lose weight. I did GREAT went from 271lbs to 176 in like 10 months. Then a about 8months later I started getting tired, and in constant pain, no energy etc. and started gaining weight back. For months I just couldn't do much of anything. Went to the doctor over and over and finally was diagnosed with the Fibro this last Jan. I am still achey but doing much better.

So here I am with 16 years of weight gain (about 150lbs gained) and I am ready to get my body, health, and life back.

It's just after midnight here so as of morning I am on a 1200 to 1400 calorie diet, and exercising at least 1 hour a day 5 days a week.

Anyway there is my story...

Starting weight was 271.6
Current weight is 238.8
Goal weight is 130

Hugs,
AdorkablePG (the PG stands for Photo Girl )

That's quite a story - I hope you find the support here to help you in your aims. I am hoping for that too.

Thank you!

I actually did very well on my 1st and only "diet" ever. I think I am more angry with myself now than I was at 271lbs. At 271lbs I thought that I would just be fat forever. When I lost nearly a 100lbs I was happy and proud. Now that I have gained half of it back I am angry because I KNOW I CAN DO IT. It is so hard to get back in that mind set again but I am motivated for the first time in over a year and ready to do this (again).

Here are my before and after only 8 months. Unfortunately I am right in the middle of these 2 pics.

Wow! What a story! It just shows that you are a fighter and you are going to SUCCEED!

-Melinda

That is an incredible story!
I know that feeling of knowing you can do it and getting so frustrated when you can't seem to get the motivation going to do it again. Seven years ago I was a part of a weight loss/Bible study group and I had gotten down to 170 something. I got married and started gaining it back. After a few babies I was up to 260 and knew I needed to do something but what I had done before wasn't working. I actually joined some weight loss blog challenge groups and lost 40 pounds, getting down to 220. Then I got pregnant again and I am now struggling to get it off. I know I can do it, just finding out how has been tricky.
I know you have more concerns than I do, but here is what I am doing, if it can be of any encouragement (and our weights are very similar, I started at 262.6 and am down to 242.5 since Feb). I am exercising with the WiiFit Plus for about 58 minutes a day, I have found that adding a cup of green tea to my diet is a great help. I eat 2 egg whites scrambled up with veggies for breakfast with some fruit (my new one is half a grapefruit,also has great benefits). For lunch I try to eat a big salad, sometimes in a wrap. I include romaine, baby spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion and some other veggies I may have around. Then I juice for dinner (though quite a bit of the time I can't help myself and eat the dinner too). I try to drink 8-9 glasses of water a day.
Hope that was of some help.

Hi kewkew, thank you! I will be counting calories, and going to the gym, I also LOVE to hike but haven't been in almost a year, and I just bought the beach body rockin body. I did Insanity when I was down to 180 and had built up muscle. I was crazy hard and something you need to be somewhat fit for. I would like to get back to the point where I could do it again.

Welcome and good luck on your journey!!

Thank you for the welcome!

I really hope you find the support you need here. You've been through a lot! I should really get some blood work done to make sure I'm healthy; heart disease and diabetes runs strong in my family.
I am also doing a calorie counter and started on 1400 cal, but then I switched to LoseIt and it gives me 1867 cal, I feel a lot better having those extra calories and working out every other day. I'm still feeling really drained from the 1800 cal intake but hopefully as it goes along my body will adjust!
Welcome to 3FC!

I can't believe all the stuff you've gone through. Get it, girl! You can do it.

Thank you, I'm a tough girlie! This is a wonderful place for support. Definitely don't feel like I am doing this alone.

Welcome to 3fc! You have quite a story behind you! DON'T be mad at yourself for re-gaining. We're not perfect, things happen and sometimes life gets a little heavy to worry about our own heaviness. Be PROUD that you have done it before, and you're gonna do it again! You got this