Introduction...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
Introduction...
8
Tue, 08-15-2006 - 5:35am

Hello all,

Where shall I begin? I have been overweight my entire life. I come from a large family that enjoyed preparing rich, delicious, fatty foods, and enjoyed even more the ritual of stuffing ourselves full of it. When I was 19, a major illness took me out of commission for nearly a year. During that time, I ballooned from a heavy 220, to an outrageous 280. Somewhere during the next three years, I finally tipped the scales at a crippling 318 at the age of 23! I was unable to complete my job efficiently, finding myself sitting and panting from exhaustion more then being a valuable member of the team. I began to pull away from my husband, subconsciously fearing that if I was as revolted by my reflection, he had to be just as repulsed. The first of this year ushered in two blinding reminders of how finite life truly is. My favorite cousin, who I always felt was more of a sister, had a major heart attack and died in her car on the way to pick up her son from school...she was 30. Exactly 10 days later, I received news that my 42 year old aunt had passed away from a stroke. Both women were obese. Both deaths probably could have been avoided. The day I attended my young aunt’s funeral, I vowed that I would not end up like my beloved family. Since that day, I have dropped from 318 to 244. I am far from my ideal weight of 165lbs and I have started to slide. Above all, I refuse to gain any of those 74lbs back, and the thought of it terrifies me. My hubby is a perpetually slender man, and though he loves me regardless of my weight and supports my struggles, he cannot relate to the daunting task of losing this kind of weight. I am hoping that if I'm able to come here and share my ups and downs and receive encouragement and tips for staying “on the wagon” from people who face the same obstacles as I do, I will be more likely to hold myself accountable.

Here's to further weight loss and ultimately a healthier, longer, and more enjoyable life. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to sharing with all of you.

Take Care All,
Dianne

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-15-2006 - 7:27am
Hi Dianne,
Welcome to the board. I'm so sorry to hear about the losses in your family. Congratulations on your tremendous weight loss! I also have a normal weight husband who loves me no matter my size, but like yours can't really know what it's like to live heavy and to constantly be struggling to lose. (Then again, I can only imagine the subtle and not so subtle criticisms/comments he puts up with from friends and co-workers because he's "stuck" with a fat chick.) Hope to see you here a lot and we can get to the 100s together! All the best, Annie
A
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Tue, 08-15-2006 - 9:02am
I wish I could offer tips but as i am still struggling to do this so much and have yet to discover the secret to staying on the wagon myself alas I can't offer any tips. I can however give you a standing ovation for the 74 lbs you have already acheived. That is amazing and I applaud you. Now to get the rest off, I am sure you can get the support you need on both accounts here! Good I wish you the best of luck in losing the rest of the weight. I am sorry it took such a tragedy for you to find your motivation, but at least you used that tragedy to look forward! It is always sad to see someone so young lose their life! I do wish you the best of luck!

Angela


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My first Goal (10%)




My Final Weight Goal




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Angela

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2006
Tue, 08-15-2006 - 1:52pm

Dianne,

First of all, I am sorry for your loss. Family- and especially my cousins, are so important to me, and I cannot imagine what you went through. Secongdly, congrats on your terrific weight loss so far!! How encouraging! Stick with it- I have found this board to be very helpful- especially during times when I am sad, or falling off the wagon. Keep posting!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
Wed, 08-16-2006 - 4:59am

Thank you everyone for the warm introduction! ;-) I am sure that the support and understanding I will recieve on this board will help me through my struggles, and I hope that I will be able to help others the same way. On a very positive note, I just stepped off the scale and I am down to 243! That's one more pound gone, and I find that simply divine.

Thanks again,
Dianne

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2005
Wed, 08-16-2006 - 9:49am

Wow, Diane! You've done a great job!! That is an amazing weight loss! Have you been following a diet plan, or just cutting bad things out and exercising. You must share the details. I am so curious...

What is heart-wrenching though, is the family members lost in such a short period of time. Unfortunately, I know how that is, too. I've lost 5 family members in the last 11 months. It is difficult. You should check out the bereavement board. I have posted on there. I spent one day just crying and typing. But, I do feel better about it.

Christine

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
Thu, 08-17-2006 - 4:09pm

As far as my weight loss thus far, I have had the help of a dietician. I allow myself about 1700 calories a day. It has been a tough road. One day I added up the calories of my typical day before I started my life-style change (I do not refer to this as a diet, or I will doom myself to fail), and it boasted well over 3000! I also walk my dogs 3 miles a day and do 40 minutes of either Tae-Bo, Bellydancing, or Salsa workout DVD's. Two days a week I go to the local YMCA for a water aerobics class. On Sunday I take the day off and just walk the dogs. Surprise, surprise, but not only are my dogs getting just as fit and trim as I hope to be someday, they are better behaved. I always new that a tired dog is a good dog, I just never had the energy (or willpower, for that matter) to take them for daily walks. Now it's my Zen time, and the dogs and I are closer then ever. I have to forgo taking the dogs sometimes now that it's so hot. It gets well over 100 degrees with 90% or more humidity somedays, and I refuse to risk heat stroke with them, I however try to go in the early AM, before it reaches 90 and all I have to do is deal with the humidity. I have learned to enjoy my workouts...the Salsa and Bellydancing DVD's especially are extremely fun, and I doesn't feel like I'm working out, even though I'm a sweaty mess after I'm done. My biggest problem is the food. 100%! My willpower has been tested severly the last couple of months or so, and I haven't always been a good girl. Actually, I haven't been a good girl a lot. But I'm back on track now, and plan to stay that way. I just have to keep reminding myself that double cheesburgers are not worth the extra weight.

Dianne
318/243/165

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 1:22pm

Welcome, Dianne, and congratulations on your outstanding progress thus far.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2006
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 5:59am

Hello Dianne and welcome to the board. Oh my look at all that exercise you've been getting. With that much dedication no wonder you lost

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