Fighting For My Life

Hello,

My name is Star and I am in the fight of my life.

I am 37 y/o and 311.8 pounds.

 A couple of weeks ago, while my fiance was out of town, I had horrible chest pain. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack, I might have, I chewed an aspirin and thought that if I really was having a heart attack nobody would ever get to me in time to administer CPR. I live too far from town. That made me think that I had better get a grip on my weight and health.

I don't have medical insurance so the only way I will be able to see a doctor is in an emergency room. That leaves my health in my own hands!

On top of the chest pain I have been getting dizzy. I know something is wrong.

 I changed my eating completely and started working out on my elliptical for 10 minutes a day. I will gradually move up but that is all I can do right now. I am not going to push myself and have a heart attack!

My family is the worst support a person could have, I need support from other people.

My goal is 160. I should be there in a couple of years. When I first started on this journey to health I weighed 315.2 pounds. I know that when you start a life style change you generally lose water weight first. I am not going to bank on losing a pound a day forever but I am happy to see the weight going. Most of all I know I have made simple changes to my eating every day. I have created a google site to keep my thoughts about my progress. I figure that if I am always thinking about posting something about my weight I will keep on track. If you are interested in keeping track with let me know. I will need to get to know you more before I let you in my private world.

I wish everybody health and happiness!

I am here to support anybody that needs it!

Star

Star,

So nice to meet you.  Most of us here have come here because of an AHA moment.  I wish you all the best in your weight loss program.  We are all here to help you.  Have you started using the helps here?  Here are my suggestions I thought I'd give you (they are the same I give almost everyone)  Sounds like you are starting slowly on increasing your movement and that sounds good.  If you need anything give a holler.  Stay around here with us and chime in to let us know you are around.

1.  Go to Tools and set up a calorie target.

2.  Weigh yourself and enter it into the weight log.

3.  Log in every bite you eat faithfully into the food log.  Don't be afraid.  No one will see it but you.  And DON'T CHEAT.  You are cheating no one but yourself.

4. Start moving a little more. 

5. Do your best to meet or beat your calorie target.

6.  Start eating more healthy food and less processed (and salty) food.

7.  Drink more water.

8.  Set mini goals and celebrate when you reach them.

9.  If you have a bad meal or a splurge, as soon as you come to yourself start again right then.  Do not beat yourself up, do not feel guilty, just start again.  Everyone has small setbacks, it is part of life and reality.

10.  Plan ahead.  If you are going to a party, plan for it.  If you are going out to eat, know before you go what you are going to eat.

11.  Come back in here and talk to people.  We are all where you are and might be able to help.  If not, we can at least commiserate with you.

What ever you do. Do not ignore chest pains like that again. At least if you go to the ER they will be able to see what is going on with your heart. I've had 2 open heart surgeries. Once in 1989 when I was only 43, then again in 2002 at 56. Neither time was I over weight. I thought it was anxiety. they gave me an angiogram and I had 90% blockages in all 5 coronary arteries.  They admitted me , and gave me the surgery the next day.

You are doing the right thing now, but you may still have some underlying cardiac issues. I would definitely have it checked out if it happens again. Don't worry about the $ The ER will treat you as if you are able to pay regardless. I (after my first surgery) became a volunteer paramedic for about 6 yrs. I saw what happens if you wait.

I don't mean to scare you, but I want you to be informed. Your life may depend on it. I am assuming by your name that you are female. 311lbs. puts quite a strain on your cardio-vascular system.

Good luck.

I wish you the best;

G

Thank you texmom52 and genowg!

I have done everything on your list texmom52  I do not plan on cheating myself or anyone for that matter. My 2nd day posting what I eat; I consumed a whopping 4600 calories. Wow, I had no Idea how many calories I was eating. Yesterday I ate 1160 and today I am at 1457. I always hated counting calories but this site makes it so easy. I can actually pre-plan to see what I can eat and what I should not eat. I have went to all veggies and lean meat. I have cut out white flour, sugar, white rice; virtually anything processed and white. Thank you for the support!

genowg, I need to be scared to keep on track  Thanks for caring! If I do have the chest pain again I will go to the emergency room! I turely do not want to die!

Star,

Sounds good.  Keep on track.