shrinking Susan in FLA

[Guest guest]

On Feb 19, 2006, at 12:49 PM, wrote:

 

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I let my weight get up to 334. I

have REALLY made some major changes, & have now lost down to 295 and

still losing. Losing 39 lbs is nice but I have a long ways to go. But

to be honest this " change of eating habits " has really not been hard at

all. I LOVE the fruits & veggies. I actually PREFER the whole

grains! The other night I fixed macaroni & cheese for the hubby &

kids,. I tasted it. Aaacckk!! It was GROSS!

 

 

Susan, please please give yourself a huge pat on the back. As a very

substantial person myself, I know that for us, 39 pounds is a drop in

the bucket and not even noticeable outwardly. I started at 325 a couple

of years ago, and I am just now down to 274. That's 50 pounds, woohoo,

but guess what? It's been so slow and gradual, AND I'm so big still, no

one, and I mean NO ONE notices. My clothes are now very baggy, which

just makes me look even larger. Grand, ain't it? So I am right there

with you. Wooohoooooooooo for Susan!!!!!!!

 

I am also amazed at how easy this transition was. I became vegan just

three weeks ago. No looking back, no cravings, no problems. Easy peasy.

I've lost my taste and smell for animal products already, and when I

have to fix dinner, it's very hard to know if what I am cooking for my

partner is any good because to me it stinks and looks gross. Even

though it is free range organic beef.

 

But the important part is taking care of oneself, one step at a time,

one day at a time. Whether anyone else notices the changes or not.

 

I actually do have an external gauge to let me know how well I am

doing, and I don't just mean the weight scale, although that's coming

down at a good clip now as well. Also, my measurements. I have lost 3

inches from my waist and 3 inches from my gut and 1 inch from my neck

just since last August 31st. But the biggest measure for me is my blood

pressure. Four weeks ago my blood pressure was incredibly high. For

months and months it has been outrageously high. I have been on 7

medications and various combinations thereof, and not one has made a

dent. Not even a tiny dent. My blood pressure has remained very high,

around 180 to 200 over 90 to 110. And that's WITH medication. My doctor

told me there was nothing else she could do for me to bring down my

blood pressure. Now that's scary. I am a walking stroke. I am scared. I

am desperate.

 

About a month ago my b.p. was 200/110 in the doc's office, and they had

to immediately give me a very fast working antihypertensive just to get

it down to 180/95 so that the doc felt comfortable enough to let me

leave the office. She almost sent me to the E.R., and probably would

have if I had insurance. And remember, that's WITH two medications for

hypertension.

 

That was 4 weeks ago. 3 weeks ago I went vegan. The first week, I went

off all blood pressure medications, because they weren't making a dent

anyway. My blood pressure came down to 170 to 180 over 90 to 100. Not

much of an improvement, but an improvement nonetheless. More of an

improvement than the medication gave me. The second week, my blood

pressure was in at 140 to 160 over 85 to 95, AND THAT'S WITHOUT

MEDICATION. Last week, the third week, my blood pressure was down to

130 to 150 over 74 to 84!!!!!! Again, with NO medication! And the only

thing different is that I am eating a diet that contains no animal

products. Every week it is improving and the ONLY thing I have changed

is that I eat NO animal products. None. The blood pressure wasn't even

coming down when I was losing weight at a fast clip, so it can't be my

weight loss, especially since I hit a 6 week stall, and it's been

during that stall that I became vegan and my blood pressure began

dropping like a rock.

 

Well, I'm way off topic. Sorry to be so rambly. But I am so proud of

your hard work, and I want to encourage you to keep it up, even when

you hit those long stalls. They are a PITA, but eventually you come out

to the other side and the scales start moving downward again. And even

if the scale isn't moving, you are doing so many other good things for

your body that aren't being measured by that scale. Keep that in mind,

and just keep doing all those good things for your body, whether they

can be measured on the scale or noticed by others or not.

 

I am applauding you, Susan!!! I hope you can hear my screams and

hollers, because I think you are magnificent for all the hard work you

are doing!! You are an incredible shrinking Susan!!!!! Woooohooooo!!!

We're all in this together!

 

WhimsyT