MeBLady's Success Story
 

Well, I am only five pounds away from goal and pretty darn happy with the way I look now, so I guess it is time to write my success story.

I was a skinny, scrawny, sickly child that grew up in a family struggling with obesity. My family made it well known to me that they resented me for eating fattening junk and not gain an ounce, and I definitely flaunted and taunted them in return for being able to do so.

As I entered young adulthood and "bloomed", my "hollow leg" began to fill in --I got a job at a Jack in the Box which allowed me to fully indulge myself, away from my Mother's creative cooking who managed to get in some healthy foods into my picky eating habits. I began to gain a few pounds. No sweat! I would starve for a few days, and the pounds would come off.

At age 20, I became pregnant with my son, and used that as an excuse to really pig out. I gained 50 pounds by the time I gave birth, lost 30 within the birthing, took off the other 20 by limiting myself to one large meal (fast food) a day.

At 22, I got pregnant with my dd. Same story. Lost 45 pounds in three months after her birth through Slim Fast and heavy areobics, putting me at a very slim 122 pounds, a weight I hadn't seen since the age of 16.

I continued controlling my weight using my unhealthy tactics -- I ate what I wanted, and on a 5 lb. increase, starve it right back off.

At age 30, things changed. Suddenly, my old tactics didn't work anymore. I would gain 5 pounds and would manage to take it off, but as soon as I went back to eating, I would gain 10 pounds back. My family laughed at me, saying my eating finally caught up with me and I was going to get as fat as they were. I panicked and tried everything. Not having to "diet" for very long at any stage of my life tho, I became easily frustrated and eventually just gave up. I stopped weighing myself, begrudgingly purchased bigger clothes as my weight climbed and tried to accept that I was now a "hippo".

I avoided being in front of a camera, as I hated the way I looked. My Mother never failed to snap as many pictures of me as she could sneak on holidays, and display them everywhere, sending them to relatives with a comment of, "Look how fat Lori has gotten!".

My first enlightenment was Thankgiving Day, 2003. My Mother snapped a picture of me from behind. I was wearing a pair of knee high leggings, with a large amount of cellulite clearly visable around my knees. I knew I had a big tummy and butt, but my knees too??? I was flat out appalled! I stepped on the scale to see just how big I really was....and I weighed a whopping 216 pounds.

I started watching out for the latest diet trends, but by this time, I wasn't feeling very good physically, and scared an unhealthy diet would put me in worse physical shape or even end my life. I had heard about Atkins thinking it was a "meat/cheese" diet, and thought that was a WOE that would fit me well.....but mistakenly thought it was not only unhealthy, but simply too good to be true.

My second enlightment came in March of 2004. I got a frantic phone call from my Mother, telling me that my father had collaspsed at home, transported to the ER via ambulance, that it looked serious, and I'd better get down there. I packed Tom and Amy, my two teens, in the car, and raced 60 miles to meet my Mom, sisters, neices and nephews at my hometown hospital.

The hospital was overloaded, so they put my Father on a gourney in the ER corridor to await treatment. He was only allowed one visitor at a time, and called each of us in one by one. Nobody would reveal what he said to them when they came out. My Mother was first, my oldest and the firstborn grandchild, Tom, second. I was asked in third.

When I went in, my Father began telling me that he had lived a good life, and to not mourn him if he didn't make it. He said he was very proud of me, told me I had raised two wonderful children, told me certain possessions he wanted me, my husband, and my children to have. He asked one thing only of me -- that I do something about my health and weight so I didn't end up like him.

I fought the urge to cry, as I knew he was saying goodbye to me...but he was conscience and alert, how could he be dying??? I told him this, and then I noticed he was breathing really hard, and he wasn't looking directly at me -- he was blind!

CAT scans showed later that while my father laid on that gourney for five hours, he had a series of major strokes brought on by undiagnosed diabetes due to poor nutrician and obesity. Prognosis was complete blindness, loss of motor function, unability to walk without assistance, severe thought process impairment. That was considered "lucky" by the docs.

They put him on a LC diet. He dropped over 100 pounds in nine months, completely defied his prognosis. He got 90% of his sight back, can get around better than he did before the strokes with the weight gone, sharp as a tack, and completely medication free. Throughout his recovery, he continued to remind me of his deathbed wish -- that I change my health and weight for the better.

On Jan. 12, 2005, my own life changed. I was sitting in a Carrow's restaurant enjoying a hearty breakfast, when I heard a voice behind me raving about the LC WOL. I couldn't help it, I turned around to see a 45ish, very attractive, fit man, and asked, "How the heck do you DO LC????". He told me that all I had to do to learn how was to "buy a book".

I left the restaurant with my breakfast half eaten, and drove straight to our county library, where I checked out every single LC book they had. I stayed up all night and read, read, read.

The 30-Day LC Diet Solution was the easiest to follow, fit my needs to best, and the book that enabled me to get started NOW.

I started my LC WOL on Jan. 13, 2005. Within a week, ALL of my health issues greatly diminished. I suddenly had energy, and my heartburn, sleep apnea, bowel problems, gas, chest pains, heavy breathing, back pains, dizziness ALL disappeared within the first few days. My blood pressure gradually went down over the course of a couple of months. When I started, it was 170/90, now it is a healthy 122/80.

I have lost 71 pounds in 6.5 months. My stamnia, energy level, and general health is better than it has ever been in my entire life. I am a 38 year old smoker, and feel better now than I did when I was an 18 yo. non smoker.

How did I do it?

Well, the biggest factor in my success was doing research on the various LC plans, chosing one that fit my preferences, and reading the book for that plan.

I also stuck to whole foods, avoided processed foods and "frankenfoods". I prepared my meals in advance to make LC foods handy and easy to fix and avoid the urge to "cheat" on something more available. I used my newfound energy to exercise.

Lastly, good old fashioned determination got me through. My Father almost lost his life on the same path I was on -- and I didn't want to die, I didn't want to end up diabetic and/or end up disabled through a heart attack or stroke, and I wanted desperately to feel better and look better.

I look at pics of myself, taken in the last few days, and I cannot beleive that it is actually me, the way I look RIGHT NOW. I look at my before photos and reminded of how bad I looked and felt, and can't beleive that it was just six months ago.

My husband is chasing me all over my house. When we go out, he strolls behind me to "check me out". My son's friends, who are teenagers, come over and tell me I am "hot". My family makes me music CDs for my exercise routines, and walk up with glasses of water and wipe the sweat off of my forehead for me while I am on my treadmill. I have the energy and self confidence to go more places, enjoy doing activities with them that I couldn't do before. My son, daughter and husband has said of my newfound weight and health, "Welcome Back".

I believe that the good Lord above put that man in the restaurant that day in Jan. to show me the way....and I took it, with every ounce of motivation and strength I could muster, and ran as hard and fast as I could with it.

I can't say that anything in my life has ever been more worth it.

For those of you at the beginning of your LC journey.....DON'T GIVE UP! This WOL really does work, and the benefits go way beyond weight loss. Never forget that YOU are worth it :-)

MeBLady aka Lori

Thank you so much for your story Lori! I am very much inspired. The last few days I have been waffling between wanting a low fat diet instead or sticking with this. I still haven't decided but I just want to say that your story gives me a sense of determination anyhow :)

Hi Lori,

I am grateful for your story - thank you for taking the time to write it down and share it. It is also so lovely to hear that you still have your father around! Yippee!! That really moved me.

Continue to enjoy your family, energy and health. You look like a million dollars!

Stacy

Lori- Thanks for taking the time to share your story! For those of us who are striving to reach our goals, you are a great inspiration!

Wow- your story was really great and exactly what I needed to read tonight. Thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us!

What a terrific story. And the photo's are mind boggling! You are living proof that this WOL really works.

thanks so much for sharing!


Lynne

Awesome story Lori!! :thup:

Congrats on your success!! :clap: Keep up ther great work...you are a true inspiration ......... :agree:


and you look great too!! :D

Wow. What a story.

I know that I have some of the same fears as you did. Also, even though I am now doing LC, I saw my reflection in a glass door today and I literally had to look away. I could not stand the sight of myself.

My fears are that I "might" fail, and I still find it hard to belive --- in fact I really do not believe in my head --- that all my medical numbers will fall in line on this WOE if I keep to it.

Thanks for sharing!

I have chills reading you story. Amen sister and a job well done!!!

Thank you for your wonderful story, I had just decided to try WW, but your story gave me the encouragement I need to stay LC.

Well said!! Your dad's recovery is amazing!! It's wonderful that he got you started thinking about your health.

Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration!!

congrats, you look great! What a story. Susan

Your story is awesome and so is your fathers!! You look SUPER!!! Congratyulations. I have been reading success stories for motivation. Glad to read yours!!!

Wow, LOri, what a great story. Thank you so much for sharing your successful journey with us.

Wow. To be honest with you, that just brought tears to my eyes. I am very proud of you! How lucky you are to have such good family support, not to mention support from above. Well done!

Good for you, that is a great success story ! I too have been successful with LC but have creeped on 10 lbs in the last year. I am looking to these boards for motivation again. I still eat LC 99% of the time, but my one big downfall is social drinking (beer) and eating too late at night.

Thanks for the inspiration !

Lori,
What a great story. Thank you so much for sharing! I am just starting out and really need the motivation!

Oh my goodness... i SOOOO need to pin you up on my fridge! hehe to remind me of what I could look like! look at your legs... in SHORTS of all things! Something I've refused to wear for far too many years!

congrat's on your new found 'you' !
:cheer:

Hi Lori, what a wonderful "heartfelt" success story!!!

you started doing this just a month before I did. I have only lost 10 lbs......

you should be so proud of yourself! :agree:

have a wonderful day, Gina

Awesome truly awesome!!!!!
 

That is all there is to say. I am just starting on this journey with great skepticism.Great job, unfortunaely at the cost of almost losing a loved one, but yet waking up someone else. I hope to someday have a success stry to hare as well. God Bless you and your family. Kep up the Great job. Sincerely sue

Wow, Lori! What an amazing story. I had no idea that severe complications of diabetes like your father had could be reversable. What a miracle that both of you had angels on earth that got you started down a path that made such a difference in your lives. :rheart:

Lori,
Thank you so much for sharing your story..your truely my inspiration..congradulations on your weight loss! And I hope you are enjoying the attention from your husband! Good luck with all you do!

Thanks to all of you for reading my story and commenting....I wrote my story when I was 6 pounds away from a "liveable" goal weight back in July, and have since lost another 15 pounds and reached my ideal weight and size.

I was crying when I wrote my success story, and still have a hard time not getting teary eyed when I read it.

As an update, my father has regained 20 pounds in maintenance, but still doing very well and still medication free. He has meds for high BP on hand in cases of stress, but controls his diabetes completely by diet. He was recently cleared to drive again, which was the hardest part of his disabilities, and he was depressed for awhile thinking he would never have that independance again.

When he first came home from the hospital, he had some paralysis on his left side, his face had the look of someone "melting"...thankfully, that was the first thing to disappear. His vision was completely blurred, to a point that he could only recognize family members by our height and posture, could not identify even the color of our clothes or the number of fingers we would hold in front of him.

Over time, his vision improved to reading a newspaper with high powered glasses. He is now back to using his old reading glasses. Still has some problems with perifual <sp> vision, but it has now improved enough for him to drive again. He claims that his thought process IS impaired.....he's sharp, but has to think an extra second of two before his thoughts will "click".

Motor functions are completely intact. He walks and swims for exercise without any problems, but had to work up to building some endurance.

I saw him for the first time since I started my own LC WOL just last week. He told me I looked 16 again....and I happily gave him a huge hug and let him know how happy I was that he was still here....and thanked him repeatedly for being my own inspiration :-)

Lori aka MeBLady

Oh my god.....your story brought tears to my eyes and hope in my heart!!! I want all the little pains and high blood pressure and blood sugar to all go away!! You made me feel like
I CAN DO THIS!! Thank you

your story is so inspiring, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Thank you. You give me courage to keep going " to run with it" .

thank you for your moving story
 

I loved your story. Some of it was funny "I had to accept that I was now a hippo". Some of it was scary - your dad's near death experience. All of it inspirational and filled with love.

thank you

Lori, what can I say . . . . you look absolutely incredible. I love the way you write: so alive and friendly. You're so positive. Thank you for having the courage to ask that man about his WOE and then for grabbing the brass ring. I'm so thankful for your success and that you shared here. Peace.

I can't believe how little you are now = wow, you look wonderful. THanks for sharing your story

WOW thank you for this story it has changed my mind to give up.I was givin in and was done with this LC but after reading what you had to say im staying right here where I belong you could have saved my life. See what a story will do thank you

Wow I am sooooo impressed!!! You look like a totally different person. Thanks for sharing your story. It has inspired me.