SubscribeWomen Loses 500+ Lbs
A quarter ton… Think about that for a second. That is what Grand Rapids, MI native Nancy Makin lost over the course of 3 years. In 2001, Makin weighed over 700 pounds - largely the result of emotional eating brought on by divorce and loneliness. She spent 12 years in seclusion - only leaving her house about 10 times in that period. So how did she lose it... Surgery? Strict diet? Vigorous exercise?
A computer...
A gift from family, Nancy began to explore chat rooms and developed on-line friendships. Says Makin of the support:
Faceless strangers helped save my life because the anonymity of the internet allowed me to connect to people who wouldn't out of hand reject me because of my appearance…It was beautiful, it was anonymous. I didn't have that barrier there. They saw my wit and they saw my intelligence and I was not in that shell.
Weight aside, it is always heartwarming to hear about someone who transforms from a place of desolation and hopelessness to a place of happiness and fulfillment. Makin has kept her weight off now for over 3 years.
This goes to show how monumental the emotional side of weight loss is. Repairing the damaging emotions through positive outlets can be the catalyst for physical changes.
Way to go Nancy!
Nancy appeared on Oprah’s November 28th show. Check out the preview here.
Hmmmm...I do have a couple of comments, just not sure how clearly I can state them.
First, I have to give props to Nancy for losing all that weight - great job!
Every pound I sweat away at the gym is emotional baggage I'm getting rid of. I had to be ready to face my emotional past straight on because if I didn't change my perceptions, I would have never stuck to yet another "diet" and weight loss program. My biggest revelation has been that I am not who I used to be and I am not currently who I am going to be in two or three years. I grow (mentally, emotionally, spiritually) with every pound I lose.
I feel online relationships are extremely different than real-life relationships because of the anonymity. I have found that many (not all) people act differently online than they do in person. This is even true with me. I tend to be a bit bolder online than I am in person, although my boldness in person has grown tremendously this year, something I've been working on. Are people truly themselves while being online, but afraid to be exactly who they are in person because they fear acceptance, or better yet, because they fear rejection? Personally, I've come to the conclusion that there are going to be some people that are never going to like me because of A, B, or C, and in the end, I'm probably better off not knowing them.
ReplyIt takes someone special to make that goal. She will inspire people around the world to take charge of their lives and make changes. It wasn't just the computer that helped make the change, it was people. People helping people is what it is all about.
ReplyHaving people around you that make you feel good about yourself is essential to achieving and maintaining weight loss.
Nancy Makin's amazing story just goes to show how very important self-worth and self-confidence really are.
I saw her on Oprah and she also quit smoking.
If you want to lose weight, get rid of all the negative people in your life and find positive replacements. Even if you have to go online to find them.
ReplyShe's an inspiration. It also shows one of the beauties of the internet, the anonymity allowed her to reach out.
ReplyGreat story... This is one of the most dramatic success stories... Also, the fact that she is keeping it off for a period of 3 years is very positive too since "keeping it off" is the REAL challenge here !
ReplyI think it's totally awesome that she did all this with the help of on-line friends and not gastric bypass. Hearing about someone that looses this much weight the "old fashion" way is really motivating.
ReplyWhat a wonderful inspiration Nancy is. I am so proud of her. Great Job!
Replyone word: wow. good stuff, off to read how the heck she did it.
ReplyIncredible weight loss!!! I'm so happy to hear stories like that. I've found wonderful friends on the internet. I found my 2nd husband in a chat room. He changed my life. The whole issue of not "seeing the other person" but getting to know the "real person inside" means so much.
ReplyThat's amazing. I think a lot of her success had to do with not only changing her diet and exercise habits, but also changing her entire outlook on life.
ReplyNancy, chat me off this ledge! I feel like jumping, but can't crawl my big body over.
ReplyMy life is dismal, I need to live for my kids. I am killing myself daily. Everyday I go overweight, I feel 2 days closer to death.
Can't take the pills that has been out there for so long, heart can't stand it. I am trying to walk a little more each day, and get into the world again. I feel alone in my battle and feel it is my fault. It is my fault, so many bad things happen that make you want to crawl in hole, and the longer your in that hole, the harder it is to come out again.
I need my pride back, my self asteem.
I comletely agree with the idea that the Internet can make all the difference regarding weight loss - the online support one can find is thoroughly amazing and humbling at times. I've been online now since 1988, and it only gets better and better.
Barbara
ReplyI take exception to you using this forum for advertising a product. It may well work, but that is not the point.
ReplyThe support from other people who doesn't reject her for her appearance is the most important thing. That is why there are so many groups and sites that offer friendly environment to big people, such as largeplace.com. Big people feels acceptable there. The emotional part play a good role in the weight loss.
ReplyNancy, Awesome girlfriend. I, and so many, are so proud of you. I would have loved you at 700 pounds, but the difference is that you love yourself and see your value, and see the lesson of self value and the importance of people that "see" us for our deeper truth. We are starving as a species for validation and value, and that starvation plays out in physical ways--we all have our ways we fill externally what we crave internally. Please contact me if you feel safe, I would like your story to be apart of my work next year in helping midlife and the aging population know their value and worth. www.memoryproductions@ihtw.com
ReplyBeautiful job, Nancy. You are fantastic. I would have loved you at 700lbs had I the fortune to meet you, yet what is important her is you see your value now because others could see you in a way that was safe for you.
We all have ways we externally try to create what we internally crave. What a story you have, and what amazing children and internet cheerleaders you have too.
I'd like to talk with you and share your story with folks I work with that are trying to embrace the aging journey to see and share their value in community. If you feel safe, please email me at memoryproductions@ihtw.com.
Beautiful Nancy. Namaste.
ReplyThis is a great story that reminds us not only that weight loss is possible, but that community is important. It's so hard to lose weight (or do anything else) if you feel that you won't be loved or accepted until you finish.
If anyone is looking for a great online community, sparkpeople.com has a lot of the same great features as the commercial diet sites, but it's free. I don't mean "free to sign up" or "free trial" or "free introduction" - I mean FREE.
ReplyI absolutely refuse to watch Oprah, so I'm just gonna have to comment on what I know from this article. WTG, Nancy! That must've taken a lot of determination and hard work. What a great success story. :o)
Replyso did she just like....not eat?
Replywhile Nancy story is amazing...and I'm very happy for her...I seem to get annoyed at these types of stories because they never tell you exactly how the weight was lost...what did she do, what did she eat, did she excerise if so how...that type of information would truly be an additional inspiration to many, many obese men and women. While it's tough for me to say this...just saying you did it...is not enough for some men and women to change...their still at a lost to how.
just my thoughts...hope I did not offend any one..and surely I hope I did not offend you Ms. Makin.
ReplyI think that is such a great story. It is true that the internet offers that nonjudgmental advice. Good for her!
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