Weight Loss Success Story – Chris D.
Chris’s Weight Loss Journey
Tell Us A Little Bit About Your Weight Struggle
Hi! I was waiting to be able to officially say I’ve lost “half my size”, but I am still 4 pounds above my actual half size. It is probably too late to submit info for this year, but I thought I should send my story now anyway, just in case you’re interested.
Three years ago, on 1/1/20, my husband said he found an eating plan that would help with autoimmune diseases so began making changes that day. My health was at a new low. I was dealing with two autoimmune diseases and subsequently had cut out everything in my daily life other than my full-time job.
Mind you, I was completely not useful for half the day on the job due to foggy brain and memory loss. 🙂 It ended up that my husband was living a life of a single guy since I did nothing else but sit in our lazyboy with no energy and went to be by 7:30 pm each night.
With no energy, foggy brain, frustration, hopelessness, constant inflammation and pain, I had given up hope of ever being well again. My weight had crept up to 268.
The eating plan we began in 2020 worked somewhat for the first 8-9 months, but then I plateaued for around 15 months. I was feeling somewhat better and knew I needed to find a plan that would work to take off the rest of the weight I so desperately wanted gone. I wanted to replenish my body with good, healthy foods instead of processed sugars and carbs that were my mainstay for years.
I also wanted to be able to weigh less so even if/when my diseases decided to “flare their ugly heads” again, my body would be able to fight against them and their effects.
What Was Your Wake-Up Call Or “A-Ha Moment” That Caused You To Really Commit Yourself To Succeeding?
I had side effects from my first autoimmune disease (NMO/Devic’s Disease) that affected my leg strength and endurance on my feet. But, the biggest issue was the side effects of my second autoimmune disease, ITP.
Basically, my platelets continually dropped into the low numbers, requiring all day infusions every other week (sometimes weekly). No other medications/treatments would work. Even removing my spleen didn’t work, although having no spleen then caused other potential issues.
What Has Been The Biggest Change/Payoff For You So Far?
After beginning Optavia in October 2021, I have now lost a total of 130 pounds and am feeling amazingly better. I still have weakness in my upper legs, which is a side effect of a flare up of NMO, but other than that I’m a changed person. I can do extra curricular things with my hubby. I regularly stay up late.
There is no more pain in my legs/body and no need for constant Advil and Tylenol 24/7. I do not have any more inflammation in my body. I am off of high blood pressure medication and no longer need bi-weekly infusions for low platelets; my platelets have actually stayed steady in a good range for over 1 ½ years now.
I have fortitude and a clear brain to work all day; I’m even building a second business in my spare time. I also have a hope for the future, which had completely left me after years of constant pain and frustration.
I reached my initial goal of two pounds below my wedding weight by losing 110 pounds this past summer. I have since lost an additional 20 pounds and plan to continue to reach my ultimate goal of 134 pounds released—half of my body size.
After reaching that goal, I plan to work on strengthening my legs and body, build up my stamina even more, and continue to live the best life possible.
How Much Weight Have You Lost? How Long Did It Take You To Lose It?
January 16th Update:
Marbles… no, I haven’t lost them in my head, just pounds off my body!
It’s been 3 years and 15 days since I began to take back my health. That’s 1,110 days of my life. That’s really NOT that long when I figure that I spent the previous 19,852 days living and eating unhealthy.. now, that’s a lot of days!
Today I have reached my “half my size” goal! Yep, you heard that right. I’m half the size I was when I began. The marbles in the cup represent the total amount of weight I’ve lost since January 1, 2020!
Now on to more healthy habits as I learn to live a healthy lifestyle for the remaining days the Lord gives me on this earth! The journey may seem long and at times impossible, but if you take it one step at at time it is totally doable!
Some Advice and/or Words of Wisdom I’d Like To Share
At 57 years old, I am feeling better than I did my entire married life. I am so blessed to be able to have a second chance at this life and am sharing my health journey with anyone I can in hopes to encourage them to take back their health too. How we feel is so much more important than how any food tastes!
More Weight Loss Success Stories on Simple Nourished Living:
The post Weight Loss Success Story – Chris D. appeared first on Simple Nourished Living.
You might also like
