When you're born obese...
Posted 09-28-2009 at 12:40 PM by BaronessKate
My battle with being overweight started at birth. I was born 11 lbs 3 oz. I suspect my mother had gestational diabetes but that wasn't something they were aware of in the 1950's.
I was the smart, fat and unpopular girl throughout my school days, a story I'm sure a lot of us can relate to.
But like a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly, college was a revelation, I was beautiful and it only took the Right Guy to convince me.
Mr. Right Guy and I married about 30 years, three kids and about 100 lbs ago.
To his credit, Mr. Right Guy loves and cherishes me no matter my size. In fact it's a little disconcerting now that my weight loss doesn't impress him positively or negatively.
I've lost that 100 lbs, and his reaction? "I fell in love with you for your brain, you've alway been my beautiful girl".
But in August of 2007 the arthritis in my left hip became so bad I had to have a hip replacement, I was only 51. The weight I continued to carry almost guaranteed that I'd lose the other hip as well. Losing one hip was more than enough. Once more I went on a strict diet and lost 30 lbs in 3 months---and regained it within another 6.
My mom developed Type II diabetes in her late 40's and then my eldest daughter was diagnosed with it in her mid 30's. How I escaped it I don't know, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to avoid it forever.
So a year later, I finally came to the realization that dieting was not going to ever be successful for me and that I needed radical help. I jumped thru all the hoops and qualified for an RNY in January 2009.
The RNY took care of the diet/calories in and I got a dog last Christmas to encourage the exercise/calories out. He's my "personal trainer". We walk everyday, and most mornings it's only because he insists (and I just can't turn down those big brown eyes)
Over the past 9 months I have gone from 286 lbs to (currently) 175 lbs, from a size 26 to a size 12 (10 if they're sized right). My arthritis is so much more manageable, and my blood sugars are always within normal limits. I feel healthy.
I want to lose another 30 lbs before the end of the year---at 5'7", 145 will give me a normal BMI, something I've never enjoyed.
The weight is coming off slower now 1-2 lbs/week but the scale is still moving in the right direction.
I can get there from here
I was the smart, fat and unpopular girl throughout my school days, a story I'm sure a lot of us can relate to.
But like a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly, college was a revelation, I was beautiful and it only took the Right Guy to convince me.
Mr. Right Guy and I married about 30 years, three kids and about 100 lbs ago.
To his credit, Mr. Right Guy loves and cherishes me no matter my size. In fact it's a little disconcerting now that my weight loss doesn't impress him positively or negatively.
I've lost that 100 lbs, and his reaction? "I fell in love with you for your brain, you've alway been my beautiful girl".
But in August of 2007 the arthritis in my left hip became so bad I had to have a hip replacement, I was only 51. The weight I continued to carry almost guaranteed that I'd lose the other hip as well. Losing one hip was more than enough. Once more I went on a strict diet and lost 30 lbs in 3 months---and regained it within another 6.
My mom developed Type II diabetes in her late 40's and then my eldest daughter was diagnosed with it in her mid 30's. How I escaped it I don't know, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to avoid it forever.
So a year later, I finally came to the realization that dieting was not going to ever be successful for me and that I needed radical help. I jumped thru all the hoops and qualified for an RNY in January 2009.
The RNY took care of the diet/calories in and I got a dog last Christmas to encourage the exercise/calories out. He's my "personal trainer". We walk everyday, and most mornings it's only because he insists (and I just can't turn down those big brown eyes)
Over the past 9 months I have gone from 286 lbs to (currently) 175 lbs, from a size 26 to a size 12 (10 if they're sized right). My arthritis is so much more manageable, and my blood sugars are always within normal limits. I feel healthy.
I want to lose another 30 lbs before the end of the year---at 5'7", 145 will give me a normal BMI, something I've never enjoyed.
The weight is coming off slower now 1-2 lbs/week but the scale is still moving in the right direction.
I can get there from here
Total Comments 5
Comments
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wow you story was very uplifting.. congrats!!Posted 09-28-2009 at 09:54 PM by LaCreida 
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Yes! Congratulations - such a moving story. I like the concept of your Mr. Right saying, "I fell in love with you for your brain, you've alway been my beautiful girl." That is soooo romantic and just beautiful.
But wow = 11pounds /3ounces. I didn't think that was even possible LOL = Learn something new everyday - and yes - interesting that obesity could begin at birth.
Jacquii.Posted 09-29-2009 at 05:47 AM by MsJacquiiC
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Believe it or not my brother was 12 lbs even. My poor mom---and we weren't cesarians!
We know now that high birth weight babies are usually born to moms with gestational diabetes. The mothers blood is saturated with glucose and the infant is getting fat off the glucose within the womb.
Luckily my brother and I didn't have any birth complications.Posted 09-29-2009 at 01:06 PM by BaronessKate
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Wow 12 POUNDS - and natural births?!? I do not envy that at all LOL - But yes - Glad there was no complications as well.
Jacquii.Posted 09-30-2009 at 12:08 AM by MsJacquiiC
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Way to go,sounds like you have alot of the same health concerns I did,and close to my age. Keep up the good work!Posted 10-05-2009 at 03:20 PM by Slimgranny
