I remember when.....

[pcobb8]

I remember when I 1st got my fitbit and had no clue how bad my health was

I remember when I could only do 4000 steps a day and felt like a failure

I remember when every part of my body was in agony from my gout and I wanted to quit

I remember when I hit 10K steps for the 1st time and then couldn't walk for days

I remember battling daily with depression and thinking this was impossible

I remember getting to an average of 7500 steps and feeling better

I remember not making excuses for myself, even though I worked 50 hours in an office

I remember getting laid off, and slipping into bad habits

I remember the here and now where I have picked myself back up

I am now able to get my 10K steps and I feel much better.   My blood pressure is down and my gout attacks have lessened.   The pain that crippled my joints is starting to subside.   My weight is continuting to drop as i creep closer to moving out of the obese range.  

My road from Fat to Fit is still very long and winding.  I write to hopefully inspire those who struggle, for those in pain, for those who struggle with depression, for those who life has smacked them in the face.  Stick with it.  Get support from loved ones and these fantastic people here on these boards.   The journey is long and hard, but the rewards are vast.  

[divedragon]

Most of us have been there and you're doing well.  I remember when I moved out of the obese range and it was a great feeling.  Look into Intermittent fasting, it can help if you're prone to depression.  Keep up the good work, you'll get there.  It is a journey.

[JohnRi]

For so many of us, we've been there... 

It is amazing how bad extra weight is for you, how it makes you feel bad, and just impacts our lives...  The sad part for many of us, we don't know how bad it was until we get better.

Just 7 months ago I thought I was just getting OLD.  I was 48, so the fatigue, after a hard day of sitting at my desk at work all day, that was just old age....  Right...  Sure it was...

Now that I've dropped 40 lbs, I feel 15 years younger.  I was 281, today I hit 241.  I have 57 to go... just to get into the edge of being normal weight....

I'm on the same road....  with a long way to go...  But I can already see huge differences.  So keep at it!!! 

There is a dark side to losing weight. It is so easy to get sad, or depressed about it.  It seems so hard.  Everytime I see dark thoughts creep into my mind, I remind myself to keep with the program.  I walked 6 miles on Saturday, and 4 more on Sunday...  And gained 1/2 lbs...  Demoralizing...  Hell a loss of .1 of a lbs would have been a victory... 

You would think getting off my blood pressure meds in 4 months, losing 40 lbs, being able to walk 15000-20000 steps, power walking 6 miles, going down 2 pants sizes, about to go down a third pant size, going down a shirt size, losing an inch on my upper arm, seeing my face getting skinnier...  You would think all of that would boost my confidence...

But step on the scale and see a weight gain for a couple of days...  And all of that seems meaningless.

Keep with the program...

I'm on a med that messes with my digestion, so I can see my weight go up for 4 - 6 days, then drop 2+ lbs in a day...  I got the drop today...  So I can finally see the weight loss I was actually having...

I think keeping a positive attitude, staying with the program, and believing you can do it, those are keys to success... 

I'm still 21 lbs away from being just overweight and no longer obese...  40 lbs ago, that seems like a long way to get there...  Now it's just a few months away... 

Keep it up man, you can get there!!!  Stay strong, keep stepping!!!

[KimShea]

Your post made me go check my BMI and I realized that today for the first time since I got my Fitbit on my birthday 12/2, I've gone to just overweight instead of obese!  Cool!

[emili]

its good to remember- but its best to move on. So glad you are doing that now. Best of luck in your journey- I hope you have the support you need to turn this into a lifestyle change, not just a number. Rooting for you!!

[CMThurman]

I also hurt for days when reaching a higher goal.  And sometimes the gout pain is overwhelming, but the more I walk, the less the gout pain affects me.  I pray this also holds true for you!

Best Wishes!

Cindy

[pcobb8]

Thanks @CMThurman.   Yes, the more I move, the less it hurts.  Knock on wood, it has been a while since I have had a major flair.   But I do miss beer and lobster.   I am going to shoot my 1st 100K step week this week. 

[Jcamp]

Great job everyone! I think looking back is great motovation to keep moving forward. I saw some pictures of me from a year ago at my daughters high school graduation party. This time last year I was 63 pounds heavier. My heel spur and plantar facitis were so bad I could barely walk, but I could use the elliptical without much pain. At the end of last sept. my husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, so we BOTH needed to change things. 7 months later his blood sugar is down and he has lost 15 - 20 pounds. I've lost 63 pounds and gained some fabulous muscles (to me, anyway!). 

Last year I couldn't do ANYTHING. After lunch last saturday I cleared brush for 1 hour, push-mowed my lawn for 1 hour, tilled over my 1,000+ sq. ft. garden twice and planted 30 strawberry plants. You know what I was? HUNGRY! You know what I wasn't? EXAUSTED. In fact I ate and did more stuff. I kept waiting to poop-out, but never really did! I'm going to get so much done this summer. 

With My Fitness Pal and Fitbit, I will never go back. I expect a setback or two, I'm human. I never want to be where I was, so that keeps me moving forward!  

[USAF-Larry]

Great story, @Jcamp, great story!  It is amazing how a little improvement in fitness can make such a big improvement in attitude & lifestyle. 

[Mcore]

Love your post @pcobb8!  It's amazing when we look back and see what we have achieved even though at times we thought we were not going to make it or we were just going through a hard time. So, way to go! 

I wish everybody the best! 

[Elansc]

@Jcamp What a super story!!  And in only one year!!  I predict even more fabulous muscles after all the work you are doing in the garden!!!  Thanks so much for sharing!! 

[WendyB]

What a great story! Thanks so much for sharing!