I was 280 pounds. I wore a size 2 or 3X (about a 24). I looked awful. I felt awful. My mom had died two years earlier after a slow agonzing 10 year slide. The slightest exercise had me gasping for breath. I often had trouble breathing after eating a meal ~ there was too much "me" in my torso and too little room for it. I was staring at 40 years old soon and my dad had died at 42. I was pre-diabetic. Pre-hypertensive. And slowly killing myself.
I got scared. Thankfully, God was still loving me and looking out for me because I sure wasn't doing anything to help myself.
I'm a well-educated, well-read women. I learned about many different schools of thought on nutrition. 2004 was still heavy into the Atkins craze and I agreed with the evils of refined carbs but not the high protein low carb diet itself. I bought a rowing machine and started exercising. I started doing my own version of a no refined carb diet and started making changes. I didn't even weigh for two months because I was afraid of failure. I stepped on the scale at two months and I was down 25 pounds.
I purchased the SB book and read it cover to cover twice. I liked the logic of the plan and emphasis on healthy foods. I chose to start on Ph 2 because I had already been doing something close to Ph 1 for several months. Along the way, I learned the modifications that I needed to suit my body's needs. By my birthday in Sept of that year (9 months into my lifestyle change) I was down to 180 pounds and a size 14. 100 pounds gone. My resting heart rate used to be a scary 120. Now it's 65. My b/p went from 135/90 to 100/60. My cholesterol went from 250 to 170. I feel younger than when I was 25.
I got the courage to join a gym and I'm there every weekday at 5AM. I run. I do the elliptical. Bike. Stairs. Weight training. Men started to notice me again. I finally dumped a 13 year old relationship that died years earlier. I met my now DH at the gym in Jan 2006 and we were married in Sept 2006. He's also a gym rat and former powerlifter and once weighed 300 pounds. He understands my struggles and pain and loves me unconditionally. We go swing dancing, hike, got out on the motorcycle together (I would never have fit on a bike in my fat days). I'm comfortable wearing sexy clothes and playing the "biker chic" role.
I put on weight adjusting to eating with a man around who isn't a strict SB-er but I'm teaching him to eat better for his diabetes and our long life together. I've gotten myself back on track and I'm down 12 pounds since April to 192. I still semi-count calories adn keep a journal because I feel more comfortable and in control. I like to set goals in 10 pound increments. I'd love to be back to 180 by our anniversary on Sept 22, one day after my 43rd birthday.
I have a new life. God is good.
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It was a model sold by Suzanne Somers. It was a great machine and I loved it ~ rowing is a great workout. I think it really helped to keep sagging to a minimum as I lost weight. I don't think she sells that machine anymore but rowing is a great total body workout.
