BLOCK BREAKDOWN

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Weight, lumps, and hormones...

With that title I'm sure you realize this post is not quilting related (NQR).

Let me start a little over three years ago.  I was a smoker, a very heavy smoker, so was my husband.  On March 26, 2009 we woke up and became non-smokers.  It was rough, very rough, we rediscovered our taste buds -- wow, we were missing some really good foods over the past twenty-some years.  All that food was great, but... yep, with every bite I was putting on weight.  I know, I was told to expect 10 or 15 pounds, I was prepared -- it had to be better than smoking, right?  Well, if you don't already know, I am an over-achiever... I didn't stop at 10, 15, or even 20... over the past three years I have put on over 60 pounds, 68 to be exact!  That's a lot of weight!   It was progressive continual weight gain of about 1-3 pounds per month, way beyond any quitting smoking poundage.  I'd do weight watchers, walk on the treadmill, run on the elliptical and maybe lose a pound over the course of a month.  Something was NOT right.  In the meantime I developed this strange lump in my throat/neck.  It made me cough every so often, then it started making me choke every so often, then... all the time, coughing, gagging, choking, sleep was almost not existent.

So last week I went to the doctor.

He ordered a plethora of blood work, as I am also peri-menopausal, depressed, have lower self-confidence than normal, etc. and also ordered an ultrasound of my neck as we are pretty sure it is a thyroid issue.  Great news, we can fix all of this!  The doctor explained to me that he can balance all my hormones to their proper levels and correct the thyroid issue and I may drop 5-10 pounds, BUT (damn that dreaded but), the rest of the weight is all mine until I lose it.  Lose, what a word, I lose my keys, I lose my grocery list, weight - I know exactly where it is!  In other words, I must get rid of it.

So... here comes Monday.  I started (as suggested by my doctor) a NO carb NO sugar LEAN protein diet.  Hello, my name is Karen, I am a carb/sugar addict.  Do you know how hard it is to find NO carb recipes... very hard, you need to look in Mother Nature's recipe book, because they are called vegetables!   Now this diet isn't permanent, the doctor is trying to shock my system because right now it is storing everything I eat.  But, it is also a serious change for me... I love bread.  I love whole milk.  No breads, okay, got it, I'll adjust.  My milk choices are skim (ewwwwww) or unsweetened Almond Milk (okay not too bad).  None of this matters -- I MUST LOSE WEIGHT!

Here's a picture of me a few days after I quit smoking.  My Mom, so proud of my accomplishment, treated me to highlights and a new haircut.  I was at a good weight -- not high school skinny, but normal, no double (triple) chin, healthy cheeks, normal upper arms, no inner tube belly, not even a muffin top (you can't see, but I know)...

Here is me now (ugh, in all my unedited glory).  But hey, that's what I really look like, well, what 68 extra pounds looks like.

So, here begins my journey of weight loss, hormone balancing, and thyroid corrections.  Have fun sharing it with me, along with all my ups and downs, mishaps, goofies, and crankies!  Oh, and by the way, I wasn't supposed to weight myself til Monday (1 full week), but this morning I peeked -- three pounds in less than 3 days.  I am keeping totally optimistic knowing I have no other choice!

25 comments:

  1. You can do it! I would love to join you! Please let me know how you're doing!

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    1. Thanks, Elvira. I will definitely keep you informed!

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  2. Bless your heart Karen! You can do this. Every day on your journey is one more day to a healthier you! Thank you for sharing this most personal story with us. I know your physical challenges will be a thing of the past quickly!

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  3. Good for you Karen.... keep up the good work! Loads of people are cheering you on; me too! Janet-Lee

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  4. You go girl!!!! I admire the fact that you are a non-smoker, I'm not...yet. Being a chronic smoke-stoppers for years I know how those pounds sneaks up on you;)So this time I am doing it the opposite way. Loosing those pesky pounds first, then stop smoking on May 22nd. I am like you doing the no-carb diet. The first week was not good, but during week two you will start to really feel the change in your body! So stay strong:)Loosing 25 pounds in 9 weeks does not feel bad at all (my underwear is gotten to big even:)) I am so looking forward to hear updates on your progress!! No-carb hugs from me:)) Hanne-Grete

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  5. Good going! Two extremely hard things to do, diet and quit smoking. I applaude you!

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  6. Find a good health food store, preferably one that has a cafe. Two of my daughters work in amazing health food stores and they cook/bake/makemuch better and healthier than I ever did.

    Nan Moore

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  7. I lost 30+lbs with the low carb diet. Those first two weeks are critical. Once you get over the sugar addiction, it's so easy. You just won't crave sweets. Wished that lack of craving would last forever.... it comes back when you eat sugar again! Bummer! I was recently diagnosed with lumps on my thyroid. So far not bad enough to treat, but where you are at now was explained to me to be my future. Good luck!

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    1. I'm hoping to get to "low carb", depending on weight loss I should be on "no carb" for at minimum of three weeks. Then we can slowly start adding things back... slowly.

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  8. Karen, you and I are in the same boat, so you have my complete support. I know you will do it!

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  9. I am so excited for you! You are in my weight lose prayers! Yes, those prayers are really intense since I have much to lose myself. :) :)

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    1. Yay, please keep the prayers and excitement coming!

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  10. Oh Karen. I know it'll be hard adjustments to make but at least they are temporary and they can fix what is wrong. You deserve a major pat on the back for first of all quitting smoking and second making changes to get yourself better. For what it's worth I think you're beautiful just the way you are! But this is about you, your comfort, your confidence. I'm one of your cheerleaders!

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    1. Aww... LOVE. Thanks for being a great friend! We will met one day and I'm sure they won't be able to shut us up! I am beautiful, this I know, I just need to change the wrapping paper! xoxo!!

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  11. Way to go Karen. I'm with you all the way on this one. An ex-smoker too and the weight gain after quitting was indeed surprising. Sounds like you have a good medical team behind you. Hopefully we'll meet at some quilting event and share a yummy salad and skinny latte.

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  12. You sure can do it Karen!!! Sometimes it takes something drastic for us DO something drastic. When I walked back to my house, almost five years ago, from the mailbox, with sweat pouring and breathing hard, I knew that if I didn't DO something drastic, that I would die. So, here I am today, almost five years later, eating healthy, feeling much better and have lost 130 pounds. Still have a little more to go, but it works, and you can do it too!!! It's so worth it!!! I'll be thiinking about you.

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    1. Wow! That is fantastic. I know I can do this too, just need a little time and some major adjustments! Thanks for your support.

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  13. I have so much confidence in you, Karen! If you put your mind up to it, you can do anything! I'm proud of you quitting smoking and you will conquer the weight issue as well. You are going to feel so much better health wise and your confidence will come back to you and then watch out!!!!! They'll be no stopping the things you can accomplish! Look at all of your accomplishments now and with a healthier you, you'll be even more fantastic! :)

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