My Weight Loss Story

Hey guys!

I know this is a bit too long to read, but if you need some help with motivation for your weight loss, please read through...

I believe a lot of you have faced many of the usual problems diet starters or weight watchers face, nevermind the individual ones every single one of us have to face daily. But, to tell you the truth, for the past 3 months I have been entirely sick and tired of everything, so I decided to try what I have learned over the years.

The shortest version of my story is, I have been overweight since the age of 7. It started off by being a few pounds over, and it got ridiculous after I was put in a clinic for one week for a crash diet at the age of 9 (my father's decision while my mum was on a business trip.)

I remember it like it was yesterday - the most horrible experience in my life. This was not a weight loss clinic, it was a clinic where the rest of the kids were diabetics. It was insane! 1 litre of skimmed milk a day, 800grams of apples a day, 1kg of low fat non salted white cheese a day - those were all different days! Last day was something like 1litre of mineral water. Needless to say my mum came back a week early (on my 6th day there and pulled me out of it). I was weak, I felt scared, tired, sick even, and I was some 5-6 kilos overweight, hardly even chubby before that. After that, the weight just kept piling up. By the time I was 15, I was exactly 115 kilos (250lbs roughly) at a height of 1.64m (5' 4.5").

That was my highest weight ever. I felt terrible, always have, but never really did anything about it. Gradually, after I turned 17, I started losing weight. I have tried every diet out there that I was able to find - crash diets, long term diet plans, counting calories. None of it worked long term, because I never did exercise properly (or hardly ever - shame on me). Each time I lost some weight, I put it back on after the diet was done. The rest of my family are not overweight (actually sister is as fit as it gets, and my dad virtually eats whatever he likes, he seems to have the fastest metabolism ever!). I was miserable to be honest, wrapped myself up in imaginery worlds, even "bought" friendships whenever possible, as I thought everyone was laughing behind my back (well honestly a lot of people have, but hardly an issue). I had serious self confidence problems, and hated the way I looked, but on top of it all I never lacked the wish to do something about it. Just lacked the determination.

Until 7 weeks ago, I was going up and down between 82-86 kilos (180-190lbs) for months. I decided to put an end to it. I started a diet plan, which included a lot of vegetables each day, and adding very little salt and olive oil to it, chicken or turkey breast, fish, a lot of interesting spices added to each meal etc. I included almonds (non roasted or salted) each day, egg whites, fruit, and above all a lot of water and herbal tea during the day. I cut down from candy, tons of chocolate, chips, coke, fried food, pizza and everything else generally bad for you.

I had to shock my organism. Not something I advise people to do. I did it because I got very sick of being the fat or chubby girl. And, mostly because I got really really stubborn. I also started working out very hard each day for one and a half hours. Minimum was 30 minutes of cardio, and then a core workout, and some weights. I had to start toning muscles.

I have had a lot of experience with workouts (even though for very short periods before), and had done 7 years of yoga when I was younger. It also helps that I have a very well educated mum to help out with that kind of stuff. I didn't give up for one moment. It was hard, I was in pain, but decided to make a habit out of it. First week of that was exceptionally hard! By the time week 2 was done, I started getting into the routine. I started to enjoy it so much I couldnt believe it. It started getting so easy, didn't skip one day of it. Loved the sweat, loved the meals, never felt hungry and never craved for the food I previously enjoyed, because I was starting to feel so much better. That was one thing I never thought I would be able to do.

Shortly after my confidence started boosting up. I opened up a lot, I wasn't a complete introvert before that, but very insecure and shy. I felt those two characteristics were lower in intensity and they started to disappear. I got the courage to go through each day with my head held high.

Now here I am, 7 weeks later and 10 kilos (22lbs) less. I started off at 84 kilos (185lbs), now I'm 74 kilos (163lbs). I know it's not good to drop that much in such a short time, and hardly healthy, the only reason I did it is because I have a very healthy body and organism (despite the fact that it's been carying so much fat for so long). I still felt very dizzy on getting up at first. So, I had blood and urine checkups every 3 weeks (last week's results looked perfect), and I have consulted with my doctor on which symptoms to focus if I get them.

By some strange luck, my body has taken this very well, never-mind I had some additional stress while doing all that. I decided I had to do it. The reason I started writing is at the beginning of all this I turned to the internet to see if anyone has had success (long term) with something like this. I found nothing, and it wrecked me the first week. I felt helpless, thought all of this is going to be pointless. It would be if I was about to go back to old habits. I do not plan to any time soon or ever in my life.

I am going to stick to this until I drop another 10 kilos. Although, I'm going to do it slower than what I just finished doing. And take it very very slow after that, and then just maintain it. I do not have a target weight in case you were wondering. I'm 1.68m tall now, but I have a tiny frame. So, at 74 kilos I look as if I am aorund 65kilos (compared to my sister who's 56kilos, but one very heavy frame, so she looks very skinny). Makes me wonder how much I'm torturing my frame with all the fat - my poor body!

Bottom line guys - don't think you can't do it, because trust me I thought I never could. And yet I'm very pleased I'm here now. And will keep doing this, because even though I've lost a lot of weight (and managed to avoid loose skin again) I still look the same to myself when I look in the mirror - that deceitful image :) It's definitely a huge difference when I put my old clothes on though, I cannot wear them anymore, but that image distortion will pass.

If any of you guys need help with keeping up I'd love to help. I was so frustrated, I had to figure everything out on my own as I was too embarrased to ask for professional help. Just bare in mind that every body and every metabolism is very different, and each diet plan or exercise routine varies a lot from person to person. But, you should never feel the lack of motivation, you just need to find the patience to pull through the first month or so.

I wish you guys all the best,
Ann