October 29, 2014

I haven't posted in awhile.  Still trying to figure this out and have been pretty busy with work, home remodel/declutter, and now exercising.

I joined a gym Oct 7th and have been going 4-6 days a week. My confidence in going is getting a bit better each time I go. It is a 24 hour gym so I've been going later trying to avoid people.  I usually go 8:30 or p.m. and work out on the elliptical for 30-45 minutes.

Unofficially, I've lost 91 lbs, but my official weigh ins are Mondays (to keep me accountable on weekends).  So, this morning I was 345.6...remember my starting weight was 437.

A group I belong to encouraged me to post some pics. there isn't much difference in pics but in person, I've deflated a lot. pictures, I don't start seeing significant difference until after under 300 lbs.  But, I'll show those pictures here.

Belviq is still working fantastic for me!  I still haven't had candy since April 19th & I owe that to Belviq & God because goodness knows I've never been able to do that before in 38 years lol!

The mental changes I see using Belviq are fantastic.  I crave protein, I actually cook now.  I can delay the need for food until I cook it now.  I actually cooked bacon for the first time two weeks ago, same for sautéing onions.  I also find stress & work easier to deal with.

I've starting making contact with plastic surgeons in Portland (not having surgery in Wyoming).  My insurance says they'll cover a panniculectomy due to it being medically necessary and it's due to obesity not weight loss. The weight loss will make surgery safer.  Plus if I lose enough by next November, I'm hoping the surgeon would let me have a tummy tuck or lower body lift.

So here are the pics.

October 31, 2013

May 7, 2014

June 18, 2014 

October 7, 2014

I'm feeling inspired by Ellie Wenker's blog at belviqdaily.blogspot.com so I'm going to give this a try!

I've never done a blog before..read many of them.  Hopefully this will not be too painful.

It's going to take me awhile to figure this out, so bear with me.

I too have battled my weight my entire life.  Course I'm not think 38 is not as old as I once thought.

I think my biggest issues with weight are of course emotional, but also your typical family dysfunction, some chemical imbalances, and obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors.

I have lost weight several times through the years.  And of course I always gained it back plus some.  I've asked for medical help, and until recently I didn't have a team that would take me seriously and offer more than "just diet and exercise"...crickets..and no detail at all.

I found my new medical professional in April.  She is a Nurse Practioner in an Osteopath's office.  I went on my birthday mid April to visit her.  I weighed in at a whopping 436.8 lbs...yikes and WTH!  We had a very long discussion about all kinds of issues, and my past struggles.  I have a history of bulemia that started in college and I had gone from 275 to 161.  Since that time, it has reared it's ugly head every single time I've lost weight.

Now, switch to today, a few months later, and I weigh 365.4.  Still an awful number, but a significant change.  I no longer have obsessive thoughts about food for which I'm not even hungry.  I don't crave sweets anymore (praise the Lord), I actually crave some healthy food, and I've started actually cooking for the first time (I was a box food eater).

What changed?  My doctor allowed me to be her guinea pig for a drug that was approved last fall.  Belviq.  This drug has been quite the wonder pill for me.  It doesn't cause the fat and pounds to go away.  It does not burn fat.  It does put me in control.  It helps get rid of those unwanted obsessions and helps me not act on the compulsions.  I track my food diligently, I keep my calories in check, and I've started walking 3 times a week.

There is not a whole lot online about Belviq because it is newly FDA approved.  But it was being tested for quite some time, and had to go through a lot more hoops with the FDA because of past issues with drugs such as PhenPhen.

Belviq was actually created for weight loss.  It is not some drugs put together that happen to have a side effect of weight loss like Phentermine or Topamax, or Qsymia.  It is not a stimulant, and it has shown almost no risk for heart issues.

So, I'm going to try to blog about this journey.  I'll post pictures as well.  I'm not nearly as charismatic as the lovely Ellie, but I'm honest and frank.