60 Pounds...

Most people don't know that I have been working at losing weight since June.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease in May of 2009, which basically means my body attacks my thyroid.  I knew something was wrong from the time I was pregnant with Hannah in 2003 when I kept gaining large amounts of weight each month even though I was eating healthy and keeping a food journal.  Everyone blew me off and just assumed I was lying about the food I was eating, even though I had maintained a healthy weight for years before the pregnancy.  From the time Hannah was born in December of 2003 until May of 2009 I tried on and off to lose weight.  No matter what I did, I could not lose weight.  I did tell my doctor about it a few times and she just told me to go to a dietitian or nutritionist and never took my complaints seriously.  Over those 5 years I gained 85 unexplained pounds. 

Then, in April of 2009 I went on Slim Fast and followed it to a tee for three weeks.  The whole family was supportive with eating a healthy meal each night for my one meal of the day and Abigale was my "coach" for exercising.  I didn't weigh the whole three weeks and when I finally did weigh I had the whole family around me for the big moment.  I gained 3 pounds.  Devastated doesn't even begin to explain how I felt.  Embarrassed, angry, confused, and defeated also topped the list of my emotions in that moment.  I made an appointment with my doctor and went to see her the next day.  I absolutely insisted that she run tests to find out what was wrong with me.  I was emotional and angry and she told me that she was very sorry she hadn't listened to me earlier and that she could see now that there really was an underlying problem.

A few days later we had the answer, Hashimoto's Disease.  This meant that I had NO metabolism and that in order to maintain my weight I would need to be on a vigorous diet plan and exercise a minimum of an hour, 4 days a week, and losing weight was basically impossible.  The good news was that although there is no cure, there is effective treatment and that now that we knew the problem, I would one day be able to lose weight.  The bad news was that they had to start me out on a very low dosage of the medicine and check my blood every three months.  If my blood work showed that my thyroid was still off then they would increase the dosage and retest in another 3 months.  This process went on for 22 months and during that time period I gained another 60 pounds. Until March of 2011 when I stepped on the scale and had actually lost 3 pounds.  We were sure that the medication was finally at the right levels and the blood test results confirmed it.  From the time I had suspected a problem and the diagnosis I had gained 145 pounds.

It took me a few months (we moved to Houston and I began the launch of my new magazine) but I finally started dieting and exercising in June of 2011.  Atkins is my diet of choice just because it is easy and allows me to eat until I am full.  During the summer months I swam laps every day at our neighborhood pool and then when the pool closed in the fall I began working out on the Wii.  At first I thought it would be lame, but I was so wrong.  It tracks my progress, gives me an awesome work-out and I have lost 60 pounds as a result.  I still have a long way to go and haven't even told most folks that I am dieting, but if you read this blog then now you know.  Someday I will post pictures, but I have a little more to lose before that happens.  Stay tuned!