Saturday 12 May 2007

Living in a Box

Over the last few weeks, I've seen various aspects of my life transform with each stone lost. While my driving force for weight loss, if I'm honest, was to be able to feel comfortable in my own skin and to feel attractive. However, my health and becoming aware of my own mortality played an important role too.

My mother has been overweight since having children. With each of her 3 pregnancies, her weight climbed until it got to 300lbs. The medical implications of her weight spiral were life-threatening - diabetes type II, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, glaucoma, heart murmur requiring a pacemaker, gallbladder issues...the poor woman's spent much of the past few years in hospital. She's on the mend and her weight's down to 200lbs but it's going to take time....and time is something you haven't much of once so many health problems happen.

So, selfish as it sounds, I promised I'd never put myself or my loved ones through this possible future. I came across an article on Ocala which was inspiring but summed up my thoughts for my life if I remained in my weight gain spiral.

When 437-pound Rosie Murrell had congestive heart failure and diabetes, a doctor told her she would die if she didn't lose weight. "I almost ended up in a box," she said. "And at that size, I didn't know how I would fit."

Less than two years later and 167 pounds lighter, her congestive heart failure is no longer an issue, her diabetes is under control, and she's likely to become a spokesperson for a program sponsored by French drug manufacturer sanofi-aventis.

Reading stories like Rosie's are not only uplifting and inspiring but they put weight-loss into perspective. While I sit wondering about how I will lose my last 50+ pounds, I am reminded that it can and has been done - and it must be done if I want to stick around on this Earth for a few years longer to get all the things on my very long 'to do' list done. It's a selfish thought but one that can't be ignored. As Rosie says: ""For the first time in my life, I've been motivated to take care of me." Sometimes being selfish is a good thing indeed!

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