Hello!
I am 38 years old from Philadelphia, PA. I have been struggling with weight issues since my mother died when I was 8 years old- for nearly 30 years.
My first experience w/ "dieting" was when I was 14 years old. My father, very well meaning and always in my corner, sent me to a diet overnight camp in NY state. The energy there was very negative, they used exercise as a source of punishment and in my little 14 year old brain, I thought that a cookie, candy, piece of cake and so on would never pass through my lips ever again. That didn't last long.
I yo yo'd for years. I went on nutrasystem in college- lost 60 pounds in three months but didn't learn how to eat.
A bit over a year ago, in May of 2006, I woke up to severe abdominal pains- I had known my weight was very out of control- but I had felt depressed and sad due to a divorce and just honestly didn't care. I was working a job that I hated and was also part time in grad school. I was rushed to the hospital and found out that I was in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis- a dangerous state of diabetes that could have put me into kidney failure, diabetic shock, diabetic coma and so on.... I realized I had to make huge changes.
No one in my family, except for one distant cousin, had ever been diabetic. I was told at the hospital that I would probably always be on insulin. They weren't sure if I had type 1. At the hospital, they had me on an insulin pump, IV fluids (I was dehydrated), IV pain meds, they were checking my glucose levels every 2 hours.
While at the hospital, I was bored- not much to do there. So I watched TV and saw a Turbo Jam informecial. It looked like fun , the music seemed upbeat and I just loved Chalene Johnson's energy.When I left the hospital, I had a script for 95 units of insulin daily and the supplies, and a piece of paper that said turbo jam on it.
I ordered Turbo Jam and joined weight watchers. I had toyed with the idea of getting the lap band gastric surgery- but something told me that I needed to do it on my own.
My weight was going down and they had to keep re adjusting my insulin amounts- I was only on insulin for about 2 months- then I was on pills. Oh I also forgot to mention that my cholesterol was very bad- was 270-fasting sugar was over 300 and I was snoring like a freight train.
I was over 300 pounds when I started!
I started doing turbo jam and got so hooked. I went on line and met other turbo jam fans like myself- and went to a retreat camp that they offered last summer. At that point, by August of 06, I was down around 36 pounds. Chalene was so supportive of me- as were the many people who were there- I had never had so much support which was just so unconditional and sweet. Chalene asked me to email her every time I lost 5 pounds which I did. For a very busy lady, she was always there for me.
By October 2006, I was not only off of insulin, but off of oral meds too. When I went to the doctor in December 2006, I was off of all medications and was only checking my glucose levels a few times a week because they were very stable.
In February 2007, I was 80 pounds down- and got certified to teach the gym version of Turbo Jam which is called Turbo Kick. After that Chalene invited me to Chicago with her in April 2007, so that she could bring me on stage during her keynote speech at the IDEA fitness fusion conference. WOW What a HUGE HUGE honor!!! I was so excited. You see, Chalene had asked me not to send her pics because she wanted to be surprised when she saw me- so she hadn't seen me in about 67 pounds. In Chicago I was 94 pounds down total. I walked on stage and got to say a few words- my point of being there was to talk to all the fitness professionals about how to inspire other people to fitness- those who are in the back rows of classes and who feel they don't like fitness.
Now I am down 104 pounds- I am going back to the camp retreat in California again on August 1st and so excited. My doctor told me that I have a resting heart rate of an athlete and without medication- all my labs are completely stable.
I want to tell others that fitness and exercise and healthy living is not a bad thing- it's not torture- it's really a blessing.
I want to tell others that they do not have to stay in the all or nothing diet mentality. I do not call what I do a diet- it's just how I am living. I do not say I cheated if I eat unhealthy one day, nor do I say I was bad, nor do I beat myself up.
If anyone has myspace, feel free to add me- /blinkycat
I want to get rid of another 50 or so pounds - but I will continue to enjoy the journey, with both the good and the challenges! And I also no longer snore!
