300 lb losers...please share your story!!!!

[bonbon]

This post is for those who have reached the truly remarkable 300 pound benchmark in their weight loss journey. Stories here are bound to inspire.

This thread is for stories only. If you wish to post a congratulatory message please start a new thread in the forum to do so. This post is to stay here and inspire those yet to come.

To those who post here, thank you for sharing. And congratulations on a truly inspirational accomplishment

[blue_denim_and_lace]

I know that I haven't lost all of my weight with LCing, but I decided that I would post my story here anyway...

Where to start… I suppose I will start at my (recorded)(I was bigger at one time) highest weight… in 1995 I weighed 498 lbs. My husband passed away that year in Feb. and we buried him on Valentines Day… I lost around 100 lbs between then and Nov 1999. The weight was grieved off and from not taking care of myself… the really strange thing that even though I had lost weight I didn’t go down one size… I used to kid and say it was like taking a thimble of water out of the ocean… I had come to the point of wanting to lose weight in 97 and 98,and I tried every diet known to mankind… I even went the route of abuse; starving my self and purging when I ate because of guilt… it had become a point of control to me… things had happened in my life that I had no control over but this was something I could control… in Nov. of 1999 my blood pressure went up to 338/219 and I was totally out of it… my pastor made me go to the hospital and they kept me needless to say… I was also anemic at the time to the point of needing a blood transfusion… this I didn’t not want and I talked the Dr. into letting me try to fix it first… iron pills Yuck …at this time I was so weak because my body had burned all my muscle mass and all I had was fat left … the Dr told me to lose weight… but gave me no help… she just said do it … I started the day I got home watching what I ate and walking around the track in our little town…when I first started I could only go from bench to bench and go around the ½ mile one time… (When I moved I could make 10 laps and not even be winded). So through the holiday season and until March of 2000 I manage to loose about 10lbs … my pastors wife had talked to a missionary about a program she was doing from a book called Be A Looser… so we went out and she bought the book…I took it home and read it… and read it. And read it… it sounded so crazy… but one day I decided to see if I could figure out how to do it…and I loved how it made me feel…I practiced the breathing for a couple of days…. Then I measured (what a shock) and started doing all the moves I could… much to my surprised when I measure the next week I had lost 23 inches… I was shocked to say the leased I re-measured several times to be sure I was doing it right… but better than that I had several people notice it at church that Sunday… the day I started was March 16, 2000… and I was in a size 32 or a 5X if I could find them… at Easter I bought a size 22 dress and I just couldn’t believe it… over the past 3 years I have had several set backs, I broke both my ankles, pulled my shoulder out of place had a bout with bronchitis and moved across the country because of a broken heart… I have had numerous plateaus along the way, one lasting for almost a year… but I love my body flex and I just kept doing it mind you I have had my days that I just didn’t want to and have had my days that I just didn’t do it but I never just quite or gave up, about my diet… well after going the route of starving and abusing my self I don’t diet… what I do is eat healthy, I don’t worry about it much… I love fruit and salad and veggies… I don’t eat much meat but I do eat it sometimes… I don’t eat fat free stuff or diet stuff … I just make wise choices… like baked not fried and if I want something I eat it… like tonight I had some double brownie fudge chocolate ice cream… but I only had about 1 cup and that was enough…and I don’t do that often self-control in all things… especially food… I do have to work hard at making sure I eat enough in a day but I am getting really good at it… I also drink a gallon of water a day… I seldom miss on that … but if I have a day where I just couldn’t get my water in… I don’t worry about it… tomorrow is another day… I have some things that I love to eat… so I do… I don’t drink much pop or soda (depending where you from) but I do once in a while.. When I do its always something with out caffeine, I don’t drink coffee or tea… but I love cappuccino so that is something I have once in a great while just because I love it… I do my body flex every day but Sunday… and once in a while I do it on Sunday just for a pick-me-up… sometimes I do walk but I don’t get to do that every day I just like walking I miss my track there isn’t one here… but I don’t miss my body flex…I have now lost 159 ½ lbs and I am down to a loose 16, I think I will be in a 14 for Easter this year… I have lost almost 200 since I started body flex…I had lost more than that but my Thyroid is now giving me trouble and I gained around 20lb in like 3 days it was very strange I swelled up like a balloon but that is almost all gone now… I will By the Grace of God make my goal… I thank God for bringing this program into my and that’s what I feel He did… I hope by sharing my story again for some of you but the first time for others… will show you what sticking with something no matter what can do for you… sometime Life just happens and we have set backs… we all go through health problems… we all have family problems… we all go through “stuff”… but this is something only you can do for you… its your choice… I am always telling the kids that Your attitude determines your altitude... if you go into something thinking “this will never work for me” then you know what, It won’t … because you really don’t want it to… you have to change your mind set and tell your self I can do this and its going to work for me and I am going to do everything I can to make it happen… every day…not once in a while.. but every day… and slowly make other changes in your life such as eating the right things… don’t try to do everything in one day… this has become a passion for me… I love you all … I want you all to succeed at this… but its in your hands…. Also let me remind you... I have had astounding results and not every one will have the same that I have had but every inch lost is and inch lost; fast or slow as long as it’s coming off its good… Now just to up date… I am down to a size 14 on top and a 12 on the bottom… just waiting for things to catch up… I have also added a supplement from a wonderful company that has made such a difference in my skin… I love it… I no longer have dry white flaky skin and my spider veins are almost all gone… ask me about it if you would like to know more… blessings to you all…

Just a quick up date… I have now lost 175 ½ inches….

[Mrs.Ann]

YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND SHOULD BE PROUD.i HOPE I CAN HAVE THE SAME WILLPOWER YOU HAD.

[SnowWhite]

Oh I am so happy BonBon made this thread!

Sherry, I always look to you for encouragement! You are awesome! I have to lose 300 lbs...well...maybe a little less than that at this point.... *lol* Thank You for being my friend! You are a source of inspiration to me and so many others...if you don't mind...may I cipy this and share with my ladies in the 400+ group?


THANKS!
Melissa

[blue_denim_and_lace]

Mel I don't mind at all... and thank you very much

[akmd65]

thank you for sharing!

[jcclass69]

You are truly an inspiration for anyone wanting to change their lifestyle. I am so happy for you......I hope to reach my goal someday & realize after seeing all the before & after pics & reading the stories......I really can do it!

[RenoMom]

Sherry,

WOW I mean WOW you have done an amazing job.
What an inspiration you are to all....
I would be interested in that supplement. I live in a high alltitude very dry here, and boy does my skin show it.

RenoMom

[akmd65]

so many people have been asking me for my story, so here it goes: I will warn you, this aint pretty.

I was born into a drug addicted, abuse ridden family. My mom was hooked on any and every drug you can name. Her idea of fun was to beat and torture me. I don't use the term lightly, she tortured me. I have been burned, stabbed, and molested by the woman who gave birth to me. She never called me by my name. I was bit*h, or c**t. She would tell me every day how horribly fat I was and how much I disgusted her. I was only allowed to eat one meal per day and it was chosen by her. All this happened before I was 12 years old. When I turned 12 she let her drug suppliers "play" with me. My dad was useless. Although he never beat me, he sat by and let her. He sat and watched her smash my toe with a 5 pound hand weight because i had an ingrown toenail. I finally ran away just before my 13th birthday. I slept in opened cars and ate what I could find. I was arrested for sleeping in someones car and taken to a salvation army shelter where they shipped me off to job corps. i received my ged and learned how to weld. I got an apartment and started to build my life. I met my now ex husband when i was 16, and we were married soon after that. I was a healthy size 10. i lived off booze and bar food until i turned 23. i found out i was pregnant. i grew up, he didnt. we tried to make it work, had another baby....it didnt work. ok. so now im alone with two babies (13 months apart). he decides he doesnt want us in his life, has a new girlfriend.... i decided to eat away all my pain. and i ate. i put myself though college and continued to eat. no particular cravings. if i went to mcdonalds i would order 6 big mac value meals and eat all of it. if i went to a bakery i would buy and eat an entire box of eclairs, or donuts, or a whole sheet cake. i graduated college and became a teacher. and obese. it finally reached a point i couldnt step up onto the curb. i had to use the ramp intead. i did diet. all the time. i counted points. i figured if i ate up to my points by breakfast, lunch would be a freebie. ok, i had no real logic. i went to jenny craig. they had a 20 pound for 20 dollar special. i was actually told 20 pounds would do nothing for me. i left in tears and ate my 20 dollars in dunkin donuts. literally. i think it was 5 boxes i ate that night. i turned to slim fast. i had my shake for breakfast, shake for lunch and a reasonable dinner. ok, i added a 1/2 gallon of ice cream to each shake. and i had no idea what the hell reasonable dinner meant. so i ate. and i lost a few pounds. go figure. id gain twice as much back. i finally decided to do slim fast and dexitrim diet pills according to the directions. that lasted three days. i passed out in class and was taken to the er. i woke up in the hospital and had to listen to the drs fighting about who had to treat the fat one. when i went back to work one of my students stayed after class and put his dads copy of dandr on my desk. he said his dad lost 65 pounds and felt terrific. after he left i just cried. i read the entire book that night. then i reread it the next night. the next day was march 1, 2001. it is the day i began induction. at first my portion sizes were HUGE, but i was losing weight. i would eat 4-5 eggs and 1/2 a pack of bacon for breakfast. 6 double cheeseburgers no buns, no ketchup and a salad for lunch. and a pack of chicken and a salad for dinner. as the weight started comming off my hunger went away. i ate much smaller portions, but still large compared to a normal person. i di not cheat one time the entire time i stayed in induction. and that was almost three years. this past thanksgiving through christmas was the first time i cheated. i bought a lot of sf candy and ate, and ate. had me one heck of a stall too. lasted november to february. i finally got real with myself and had to stop the sf treats. i made goal today. it hasnt been easy, but i did discover i am worth all the effort this wol requires. my daughters tell everyone how proud of me they are. my 10 year old says she can now hug me all the way around.

i did warn you this was long and ugly. but this is my story as condensed as i could.

jeannie

[garth]

Sherry and Jeanie, your stories are incredible and are so inspirational. Thank you for being so honest and sharing your stories.

[blue_denim_and_lace]

Jeannie, Wow... Thank you for sharing your story...
And thank you Garth

[edna43]

Sherry,
You are such an inspiration!
I know you have worked so hard to get where you are!
I hope to be able to post a story like yours in my future!


Jeannie,
God bless you! Your story broke my heart.
But I am so happy for you to have overcome all of the obstacles in your life.
Anyone that has survived the abuses you have surely is a miraculous person!
I was abused as a child but not anything that compared to your experiences. I also ran away at 16yrs old and lived in the streets for a year. This is what messed my metabolismm up so bad. I was only able to eat about 1 every 2 weeks or so.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how very proud of you I am!
You are truly an inspiration!
God bless you for sharing your story!

[NKY_Lisa]

((Jeannie))

Your story really touched my heart. You are a true inspiration....God Bless You!

[PEANUTS200]

(((( Jeannie)))) God bless your heart. You are a true miracle!

[Glimmerella]

Two inspirational stories from two amazingly strong women!

[alabama sunshine]

Hi Everyone,I enjoyed your amazing posts. congrats on your sucess. I will be starting atkins on sunday May 9th.I would like to get some help and support.I need some tips on how to make this way of life a sucess.Thanks

winifred

[lyn_MA]

such amazing stories.... yes people.. i am sitting here crying... again....

the inspiration you all provide is overwhelming.. there is no way we cannot succeed if we listen!

warm hugs

lyn

[KellyGirl1973]

Wow... I am speechless... and feeling like a dope because I cry over needing to lose 125 pounds! You are awesome. Absolutely awesome.

Thank you so much for sharing your story.

[skwid]

Hi my name is Sandy:

I would like to get to know you'll better. I have done Atking before but got off of it last November. And guess what, it is over half a year later and I am just now starting back on it. I had to do something I can walk.

[onenessofgod]

It is very hard for me to be even at the computer composing this, because I am beginning to come to realization that I have a problem. This has been my breakthrough from the years of denial that I put myself through.

I am a 42 year old wife and mother of one 15 year old boy. I weigh in 377 and am tired of my appearance, the pains, the ridicules from the public and the lack of respect I receive from people. I was told once years ago that this weight loss issue of mine would only come when I finally realized that I got sick of the way I looked. I never really liked myself, always hid my body in baggy clothing, long skirts and dark colored clothing. I don't even look at myself in pictures, because I disgust myself. I avoid being in pictures or videos because I don't want to be the cause of ridicule. I think we all have gone through this one way or another. I calculated that for my body frame, I think I would look good at 170 lbs. that is 207lbs and then the panic strikes because it seems so far away. I start diets and can't get through a day without cheating. I have tried doing atkins on and off since June and always wind up cheating before the end of the day. Its like unconsciously I want to kill myself.

I had a time a few years ago that I had a disruption in my marriage and was very stressed out. That totally tore down any self esteem I had left. But we are a family once again, seeking God for total restoration, but my I still feel in my heart like a second class citizen. How can I not, when the media portrays beauty as a 14 year old model with not one ounce of fat or stretchmarks?---just needed to vent.

I guess i got the courage to write to place my emotions on paper and perhaps give myself the will power to begin in bettering my life. thank you for listening.
liz

[JanMarie3]

Liz

I really don't have much advise other than to ask if you could just give Atkins 14 days..........when I first started I thought....well I can at least try this for two weeks.. I really wanted to see if it worked! After two weeks and a fantastic weight loss that is what kept me plugging away. Please give it two weeks, you will be amazed and so motivated after that

for you

[crazychuck]

Liz you can do it. The motivation is there just push the button and ride the train. I had once thought I would do it for everyone else but I then realized that I have to do this for me not someone else. You deserve the best for you not for someone else. Keep on it and if you stall don't give up it happens to almost everyone. I have about 100 lbs more then you do to loose so I know how you feel with the public humiliation. I have actually gotten to where I laugh back because I have hidden the pain so well(so I think). Take care and do your best and good things will come.
back to Atkins!!!

[thinr4me]

Liz- I hope you are still reading all the inspirational stories on this board. I did not realize this post was here until our dear Sierra pointed it out on the main CC board. Come join us!

[Lady Di]

I just found out you posted here too. The CC board is one great place for support and comfort during your weight loss journey. Looking forward to more posts from you...

[DianeNYC]

<<<< Jeannie>>>>

Thank you for sharing your story with all of us. I admire how courageous you are and your ability to to take care of yourself.

Keep posting and sharing! You are in my thoughts and prayers!

Di

[Migi103]

This is so inspiring!

[GinaT1213]

Just wanted to saying Congratulations. I always read our posts with your story-----you are marvelous