115 pounds byeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[cleochatra]

It's time for a sister to testify.

To date I have lost 115 pounds. Granted, I have more to go, but so far my journey--I think-- has been a bit of a success.

Starting out at 325 pounds was SO not easy, especially when at one time I had to think, "wow! I have 200 pounds to go!" But I just had to start taking it one day at a time.

My doctor had just finished yelling at me when I came in with severe pre-hypertension issues. My blood pressure was extreme. I had acid reflux. I was taking depression medications because my blood sugar was so horribly unstable.

Then I talked to a man in Cub Scouts who'd just lost 120 pounds over the last year. Standing there in my own size 4X shirt, I pressed him for information about what he had been doing. He'd been following Atkins. I had been on and off (mostly off *lol*) Atkins since the early 80's, but I knew this way of eating worked. I jumped on the wagon on Friday, August 20, 2004.

I even remember the day.

It's pretty funny how these things reverberate in the back of my head. Then again, there's not much going on up there, so there's definite rattle room.

I lost 55 pounds the first 3 months, and by month 7, I had already hit 100 pounds lost.

It wasn't so easy in the beginning either. I was eating too many calories (yes you can get fat on even Atkins if you don't watch what you're bringing in) and thought that low-carb ice cream bars were cool beans. I had to make adjustments. I also had to cut mushrooms, macadamias, and a few of my mainstays due to food intolerances. I had to do things in a new way to get new results.

Granted, I've slipped up. Old habits creep in. Old thought patterns are allowed to evolve back to where they comfortably were for so many years.

Still, the journey to honest change requires occasionally making a mistake for me. It requires me learning from the mistake and taking precautions to not relive the error of my ways due to the negative self-programming. Again, it means doing things in a new way to get new results.

I will say what has changed in 115 pounds! My doctor didn't see me again for MONTHS because I just wasn't sick or dizzy anymore. With the weight loss came so many health changes as well: a year after the doctor had hit me with prescriptions and a death sentence if I didn't lose weight, his jaw dropped when I walked in for a checkup. He ran tests, took my blood pressure and then officially declared me medication-free! He was amazed that a patient had actually lost weight as he asked them to. And he was open with the amount of happyhappies he felt at seeing me doing so well! He wasn't so excited about the Atkins (what doctors are, as a general rule) but I think I was able to show him and explain to him how this regimen literally has saved my life.

I always say it's the big triangle: Atkins for weight loss, Dr Phil for state of mind, a support group for the day to day. And it does make a difference!

So, with 85 pounds left to shed, I'm in for the long haul, baby!

Some days I still think I've got such a long way to go. Other days I think, "I'll never make it". It's easy for the negative nellies to sneak into my room and shortsheet the beds of success. I have to look back and say, "I remember what it was like to not be able to tie my shoes because I was too fat to reach my feet without losing feeling in my bodyparts." I have to remember the acid reflux, the anxiety attacks, the dizzy spells. I have to remember being obsessed with food, even when I wasn't eating.

It's so easy to forget where I came from and become a whinybehinder regarding how much better it is where I am, even now, than where I was. I see the goal being 125, and I want to be there... yesterday. But at the same time there are other things to consider.

How far I've come from in those pounds I've lost already make me hopeful for the future. There's nothing I can't do, and I'm savoring the journey, not for the destination, but for the journey itself.

I mean, once I'm at goal, life doesn't automatically become a world where rainbows burst forth from the clouds and butterflies fart flowers. There are no more exciting, "I lost weight again this week!" posts for me. I think I'm hanging onto the anticipation of working towards goal, while enjoying the journey a lot. I'm truly enjoying the joys of the losses here and there, the being able to hit new weight-loss lows, and the changes I'm seeing as I continue to lose weight. Yeah, 85 more pounds is a long way to go... still, it's me, getting slimmer and growing better!

I look forward to the "I'm at goal" post someday, but I'm just not in a rush to get there. I'm savoring the new me every 10 pounds too much. The trying on something and finding it getting looser each time. Finding that even my shoes are getting larger. Finding even MORE energy when I thought I'd already had a bunch. Discovering my cheekbones.

I really appreciate all the people who have given me so much support during this journey. You've listened to me cry, whine, moan, laugh and monologue, and you've always done it with a big grin and a warm hug. I think this makes me not only appreciate the successes more, but it makes me appreciate even the setbacks. I have friends to be there with me every step of the way.

And that's pretty wonderful.

[Jellybean1984]

Cleo WOOWOO!!!!! Good job hun, I was close to you when I started and shedding the pounds, you have been a huge insperation to myself and many others and I am glad to hear your full story You look wonderful and give me hope
Congrads on your loss you deserve it your a truely wonderful person

[Virgil]

My Dear Cleo,

I call you "My Dear Cleo" because you are very dear to me. We have never met and yet I have gained so much from "watching" you for the last year. You with your kindness and your enthusiasm, your "intestinal fortitude" as you hang in there and work your butt off ....literally... and most of all, your absolutely endearing delicious sense of humour.

You are truly a gift from the Gods.....and I thank them.

[sadie@136]

My dearest sweetest coolest Jami
(u know i am a fan of yours)
i am so happy ad so proud of u..u have actually lost more than my total weight today.u have done a marvelous job!!!
but as i have said before i will say again..your face looks very small now (means u look like a goalie to me) and i dont know if u should loose more weight or not, can u send me a full body shot to convince me that u need to loose me(seriously u look P.E.R.F.E.C.T)
u are a great inspiration to all of us..and u are always very supportive..i too am doing low carb/low calorie after seeing your success so far(i know some ppl dont want to hear that..but please dont bombart me with critisism,i cant take it )
thank You cleo for posting your success story

[RationalBeing]

What a great mod. I think you should rush to lose the last 85lbs myself!

[wannabethintoo]

What? There won't be any butterfiles farting flowers when we reach goal?

But seriously....you're one of the greatest success stories here at ADBB....and one of the funniest people. I have also learnt a lot from you and continue to use the advice I've received. You are wise, kind, considerate, beautiful, funny and intelligent. Thank you for everything you do for us. You're the greatest!

Jami that is wonderful!!! Congratulations!!! One of my dear friends just lost 200lbs and is working on the last bit now ...so after being with her during that time I am sooo happy for where you have come because it an amazing visual as well as spiritual morph... you know! .you just said it all above!..she is having her "coming out party" in June ....have you thought about something like that?

I won't diss the calorie talk(blech) here even though we completly disagree on how that subject goes...btw ...because this is time for glory not dispute! whatever on that point that noticably was slipped in there!

your success is your own no matter how you do it ...congratulations!

[wannabethintoo]

Originally Posted by Heidi3

I won't diss the calorie talk(blech) here even though we disagree btw ...because this is time for glory not dispute! whatever on that point that noticably was slipped in there!

That's right! This is Cleo's glory thread! You go girl!

Originally Posted by wannabethintoo

That's right! This is Cleo's glory thread! You go girl!

sincere

[H2Ohhh]

Another great post, Cleo -- you're an inspiration! And I think you really hit on the key to long-term success with this WOE: hanging in there and enjoying the journey, even when the scale doesn't move as fast as it did before. You WILL make it!