50 and Counting

It's horrifying how one mistake can nearly cost you your life. Through that hot mess, I used food as a form of therapy. I knew it wasn't a good situation but I couldn't stop it. Food was my escape; it always satisfied me. There aren't too many drugs one can consume that abound and can be safely purchased. For a diabetic, this behavior proved to be lethal. I became very sick. This and the stress of that situation led me to the local emergency room.

I was having heart palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath for nearly a week before my best friend rushed me to the emergency room. (Would someone please remove this elephant off my chest?) I felt like I was going to die. Lying in the hospital bed, I was in state of complete disbelief. I was going to die in a land that wasn't mine. My father would have to bury his second (first female) child. I know that would have brought him over the edge. Through my bouts of tears, I promised myself that I would end that situation and I would no longer misuse food.

When I became sick, I lost approximately twenty pounds in the first week - without me doing anything. I would go on to lose sixty pounds. However, through a lifestyle adjustment, I have lost fifty pounds total. (My recruits love me a little too much by feeding me. I know they mean well though and it's tamale season.) I squeeze in as much walking, jogging, cycling that I can throughout my day. My only impediments are my busted right knee and the growing cold, wet Mississippi weather. Recently, I came across some old clothes and found a lot of mediums (my ideal and normal size). They remind of a very different time in my life. (Please, don't show me those 'cheeky' pictures anymore. JK!) I hope to fit in them within a year's time - which is doable! I feel like I'm on top of the world!

I'd like to tell you what my original weight was but I'll surprise you (and myself) as my lifestyle change progresses. In the meantime, let's get some fire under the Milers Club - get your charts ready and track your miles. Maybe we can get some tee-shirts made to commemorate our success. I have been tempted to buy new clothes as the current items just sag on me but I'm going to hold off until my ideal is reached.

For those that struggle with food issues, have faith that you can change. What you seek to control is destroying you. It may take more than you are willing to give or be asking yourself of but you deserve to live the best life that you can while you are part of this world. It took nearly dying for me to get this message.