I have an amazing doctor. I must start off with that statement.
He has continually motivated me and been a cheerleader and supportive in my goal to loose weight and enjoy decreased PCOS symptoms. Since working with him, I met my 75 pound weight loss goal in September 2013. I think it was around then, but I honestly would need to troll my facebook page to confirm it was then. Who cares! I was down 75 pounds!!!!
Then life happened:
- Poppop died and my world was changed forever
- 3 months later, Aunt Nina lost her battle with cancer and the pain continued
- 5 months later, my ankle rolled on a small step. I shrugged it off because that is the story of my life. Then at 2AM I learned it was broken and I would need surgery to fix it.
- I was forced to move home to my mom in PA (from NYC and 6 floor walkup) for 2 months
- I worked remotely...enough said....
- Work became even more stressful
- I had issues recovering fully and had residual pain in the rest of my body from not walking/standing correctly
....And the downward spiral continued.....and I gained 20 +/- pounds back
In December 2014, I started a new job. It was a monumental change for the positive. But I continued to struggle with keeping the momementum and I headed to my appointment with the doctor anxious because I still wasn't down all the weight. I actually rescheduled twice because I was afraid to see him. I remembered an important lesson today.
Who has heard the story of the blind men describing an elephant? I was focusing on one thing and not understanding it all. I was forgetting:
- I joined a gym and then moved to another one when it no longer worked
- I invested in fitness tracker bands even when I kept hitting hiccups of malfunctions and breaking them as well as loosing them.
- I started taking Plexus products, specifically probiotics, to try and help with my digestion issues
- I set up a treatment/maintenance plan with another doctor and physical therapist so that I would regularly check in and catch any issues relating to residual ankle break before I got stuck in a place full of pain
- I increased my water intake exponentially
- After 8 years of weak hair, it is now growing strong below my shoulders
- I am happier and seem more at peace, according to those around me
I could keep going, but you get the picture. I was like the blind men: I was focusing on a small piece in a big picture.
What did my doctor see?
- I am down 10 pounds from last year.
- I was more alive about life and specifically as I showed him my new tattoos (basic summary: been dreaming about 3 tattoos for almost 15 years, 2 others for 3 years BUT only got 1 done fully and another halfway 6 yeras ago and finally got all in last year).
- my bloodwork looked GREAT even though was taken without fasting.
- I acknowledged, on my own, that I am at a crossroad and need to make a decision.
I see him in 3 months and this is the goal:
- be exercising 3 times a week
- be consistently sticking with a nutrition plan
- be down to 220 pounds
I walked away wondering, "Why have I been avoiding him?" I walked away with a lighter heart as well. Thanks Doc!