Angela Got Her Life Back

Lost 108 pounds
Age: 42
Start Weight: 282 pounds
Current Weight: 174 pounds
Treatment Duration: 7 – 12 months

“It’s hard to believe in yourself. It’s an awfully big adjustment when you’re on this journey. Stick around here and you’ll find lots of encouragement.”
-Angela

I knew I needed to change my lifestyle when I saw just how much my weight was holding me back. It is easy to say no when people ask you to go places or do things when you are embarrassed by your appearance.

I had to be very regimented with myself at first. I had to change everything I was doing from the way I cooked, to the way I grocery shopped. No more grazing or bingeing on junk foods. It took 150% of my focus the first few months.

But now I feel so much younger! I have so much more energy now. I play outside with my children all of the time. It made me cry the day I heard their friends come to the door and ask if I could play too. A year ago that was impossible for me.

My Many Steps to Success

I’ve tried many times to lose weight through the years. I’ve failed over and over again. Before I got pregnant I was pretty active and athletic. After giving birth I found I had gained 100 lbs.

Through the years at different points I would admit to myself that I needed to do something about it. I would start a diet and not see any results, so I would quit. I crash dieted several times and lost quite a bit, but always gained it back.

Two years ago, I had some things happen to me (healthwise) that affected many factors of my life. While the illness itself wasn’t weight-related, my recovery was hindered by my weight. I was very depressed and unable to work. I was also unable to drive so delivery, fast food, basically anything fast and unhealthy is what I ate.

My weight was pretty consistent at 230 to 240 pounds before that. I knew I was gaining but before I stepped on the scale I didn’t know quite how bad it got. I weighed in close to 290 pounds.

Once again, I ignored it and kept living my life the way that I was. But then things started happening to me that hadn’t happened before…

When I went on vacation I needed an extender for my seat belt. I went out to a restaurant and could barely fit in a booth. My children told me a few times that they had been teased at school about my weight. Obviously at this point denial wasn’t going to work anymore.

I heard about a local bariatric clinic that prescribes weight loss medication. I went to the clinic and was given diet tips and a prescription for phentermine.

I didn’t really take it very seriously at first. I figured this was just a miracle pill that would melt the weight off. Boy was I wrong!

The first several weeks on phentermine I didn’t lose much at all.

Frustrated, I started surfing the Internet and found this site. I was very intimidated to post at first. There are so many amazing people here that have done so well. I still didn’t really have much faith that I’d ever get there.

Slowly I started incorporating diet tips I read here into my day. I started to see movement on my scale which only motivated me further. Slowly but surely, I started believing in myself, and knowing I can do it.

I still have a little bit to go but I don’t have any doubts anymore that I’ll get there and maintain it.

I really have needed support and encouragement along the way. When I found it lacking in my life I came here. Just when I feel like giving up someone here posts something that gives me the fire and determination I need to continue.

I’ve learned to make healthy choices and watch everything I put in my mouth. At first, I counted calories religiously never going over 1200 per day. After a while I realized that I don’t need to watch so carefully since I’ve learned what I can and can’t eat.

I always reward myself once a week with that “free” or “cheat” meal. If I deprive myself I know that’s when I’m going to start bingeing on bad foods again.

At first, I wasn’t able to exercise much. Lower impact workouts like walking were all I could do. Now I’m an exercise enthusiast. I hit the gym with a smile because it makes me feel so good.

A lot of people say nothing tastes sweeter than success, and boy, are they telling the truth. I am more actively involved in my children’s lives now, and my weight no longer holds me back from anything.