Hi! My name is Chris (short for Christina, but please don't call me that!), and I'm new to 3FC, but not to dieting! I am 30 years old and I teach children with autism and behavior difficulties.
I've always been overweight. I reached my current height of 5'8.5" when I was 12 years old and my weight ranged from 150 pounds of un-toned flab to 350 pounds of superobesitey. The 150 was right when I turned 12, and was actually a starting point to my weight gain, and the 350 was what I think my highest weight was around October 2009.
From 1993 (when I was 12) to July 2010, I made numerous half hearted attempts from Medical Weight Loss (shakes/bars), NutriSystem, calorie counting, Adkins, pills, extra water, you name it, it was likely tried. I looked up what it took to get WLS, and immediately decided that if I was going to have to stick to their diet, that I might as well lose it on my own when I was ready, not do something I wasn't sure I could commit to for life.
I started my lifestyle makeover December 31, 2010, but it was NOT a New Year's Resolution. My life just happen to work out that way.
December 31, 2010, I was sitting around with my 2 best friends hanging out, talking about addiction, drinking, food, life, you know, what boring people do when nobody drinks or parties anymore.
That night I decided that I was powerless over my addiction to food, and I have multiple food related issues that needed to be addressed, but it was all just too overwhelming. So I decided to do something that some people might find childish, impossible, or not addressing my issues, but it was a start and that is what I was looking for. I told my best friends Ricky and Stephanie, commonly called R&S), whom I was living with at the time, that I would do whatever they told me to do, diet, exercise, etc. I was at the point where if Ricky was telling me I was going to die, that was the truth, cuz he doesn't B.S. around.
I started with the Carbohydate Addict's Diet, which for me was 3 meals a day, 2 meals are low carb (a la Adkin's style), and your other meal (I selected dinner) is 60 minutes, starting with a salad, then a BALANCED meal of whatever you want. Obviously, there is more to it, but that is the basis. I had to drink 16 oz of water before leaving for work, and walk 1 mile per week. And I lost, but when you weigh almost 350, it works.
After about 1 month, I started to slow in weight loss, so I added more exercise and I counted calories in my head. No limit, no writing down, just being AWARE of what I was eating. For exercise I decided I had to do a minimum of 3 days on, 1 day off. If I did my Walk at Home DVD, I had to walk 2-3 miles. If I went to the gym, I had to burn 600 calories. I also had to drink 16 oz of water before work and then 16oz before the end of my work day. I did not add all 3 changes at once, I think about 1 per week or so. I also went gluten free during this time, as I am intolorant to it
After several more months, my weight almost stopped, as well as inches. My calorie counting and talking to a personal trainer let me know that I was just eating too much (I was told a rough starting point is 10x's your weight in calories will let you maintain). But I wasn't ready for anything big. So I started counting calories and dropped my calorie intake from about 3000 per day to about 2800 per day. I also started "running" once or twice a week at the gym on the treadmill as my exercise. I would walk at about a 3.0mph for 5 minutes, then "run" at a 4.1mph for about 10 seconds. Repeat. I also increased my water to 16 oz before work and 32 oz before I left work. I also went to eating once per day (NOT RECOMMENDED) to control my IR because everything else I tried didn't lower it at all or enough. 64 oz of water and for exercise, I decided I was going to run a 10K, so I printed off a training schedule and modified it to account for the extra weeks and my current fitness level.
This lasted through the summer and on September 22, 2011, I lost my first 100 pounds (238 pounds)! I was so excited! It had been so long since I had been "so skinny" and I was actually in shape (relitively speaking). My motivation that had got the first 100 off, dwindled away, but I maintained my weight between 225 - 240 until June 2012! I slowly found myself going back to old habits and having all the same problems I used to have. Except this time, I had time and new skills to help me through. I also aquired a boyfriend at the end of January who was in the middle of losing weight and getting into shape.
At the end of March 2012, I RAN my first 10K, and finished almost 20 minutes faster than I thought I would! I decided that weekend, I was going to run a 1/2 Marathon by the end of the year.
May 2012 I resigned back up for a gym membership with the boyfriend, and as a reward my parents agreed to pay for 1/2 of a personal training package! I struggled to find a trainer that worked for me (many reasons), but finally found Clint. He pushes me, but will not let me fail. He understands my goals and my need for sameness (sometimes work works its way into your personal life!), but pushes me to try new things so I don't plateau.
July 2012, the weight finally starts moving again, and after sharing my story with lots of people, and lots of talk and showing that I was ready to up my game, I struck a deal with the regional manger of my gym and my mom. If I can get 7 CONSECUTIVE days under 220 (219.8 or lower), they would help pay for a mini vacation to Six Flags (I haven't been able to fit on a roller coaster since 2004, so that was a big thing for me).
Today, Thursday, August 2, 2012 is day 7 and I weigh 219.6
How did I up my game? Switched up my workouts a little, gettting back to drinking my 64 oz (I've been slacking, even with the Texas heat), and eating 1300-1700 calories (depending on what workout and activities are planned for the day).
I just recently noticed that since I actually took the time to pause in the middle of my journey, and ENJOY learning to maintaining my weight, I now am not as nervous about continuing to lose and the "final" step of life-long maintance. I'm actually anxious to get there and prove to eveyone, but mostly myself, that I am capable and ready to be "eye candy" (someone at the gym actually told me I am the definition of eye candy yesterday!)
My next goal is to weigh less than my step-dad (under 210) and next is less than my mom (195). Once I get down between 170-190, I'll be looking for a plastic surgeon to help me take care of this extra skin so I can be bikni ready by the end of next summer!
Newbie on a mission, complete with my journey so far
