Ter's Updated Best Life Stats
Starting date/weight January 2007 at 280 pounds
Pounds lost 61
Goal weight 145 (74 pounds to go)
Best Life Status Phase 3/Activity Level 4
How have you been doing since we last checked in on you in May 2007?
When my Success Story was featured on the site, I had lost 40 pounds, but I struggled for the next few months. Due to an earlier injury, my knee was still in constant pain. The orthotic inserts I was prescribed to help with my knee overcorrected the problem and caused a stress fracture in my right foot. I spent the next 16 weeks in a cast, restricted to little or no movement.
In mid-October, I was given the go-ahead to slowly ease back into exercise. My foot was still swollen and most of my shoes didn't fit, so getting back into activity was a challenge. To manage the pain and help with the swelling, I was taking ibuprofen. Unfortunately, this caused bleeding ulcers and put me in the hospital. I spent the holidays recovering and getting my energy back. If that wasn't bad enough, two weeks before Christmas, I was laid off from my job.
Luckily, the New Year brought about some welcome changes. I got a job and got back to working out--slowly so I didn't reinjure my foot or knee. I have been going to an acupuncturist to help with knee and foot pain, and I am having amazing results. I've lost the eight pounds I put on while I was in the hospital, and an additional eight pounds to bring my total loss to 61 pounds! In fact, just last night, I was able to complete 60 minutes of walking at a pretty good pace, with lots of adjustment in grade to make it tougher!
How have you stayed motivated?
I have realized just how important getting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to the quality of my life. Not being able to do basic functions really scared me! My weight is definitely a contributing factor in all of these health issues. Getting back to a healthy body and mind is my motivation.
I have fooled myself for many years, thinking that because I didn't have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or any other health-related issues from my obesity, that being overweight was OK. But, I wasn't happy nor was I doing the things I wanted to do in life. I'd spent my entire life avoiding living my "best life."
I have even sacrificed my career and what I truly wanted to do in life because of my weight. I graduated from college with a degree in Physical Education and a minor in Clinical Nutrition, but how could I teach people about health and fitness when I couldn't even control my own life or habits? Sadly, I've never worked a single day in my chosen career. But I now know my life's purpose and passion: Taking my struggles and experiences, and relating to others just like me. I've taken a huge step in reaching out to others on the message boards. The first year I was on the website, I never reached out to anyone, thinking this struggle was mine and mine alone. I have come to learn that by sharing my struggle and chatting with other people, it has amazingly caused change in my life. Not to mention, I have some absolutely wonderful new friends whom I wouldn't have if I didn't take the steps to reach out!
Have you overcome some of your initial difficulties?
I have made some huge strides in discovering the reasons why I use food as my "drug of choice" and the purpose my weight serves in my life, as well as why I keep losing a massive amount of weight and then gaining it back. How I think and the things I focus on have made a huge shift in every area of my life. I almost feel like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I look back at the past and see that I definitely had a "victim" mentality, meaning that everything just happened to me and I had no control over what the outcome would be. That led to hopelessness and feeling powerless over my life. That's where food came in; it was my self-medication. I would just stuff the feelings down with food and forget about them.
Also, since my earlier knee surgery, I had looked at exercise as a challenge, focusing on the things I could no longer do. But I've flipped my way of thinking, and I have found many new things to do that are supporting my weight-loss efforts and helping me get my strength and health back. For example, I have grown to love riding a bike just for the sake of riding a bike. Colorado is filled with beautiful places to ride, and it almost doesn't seem like exercise when I am out pedaling along a river. I have also discovered this awesome circuit-training class. It is a tough hour and 15 minutes, but man, I can see the results! Not only in weight loss but also in my body fat percentage, which went from 44 percent when I started to 28 percent.
How are you feeling as you get closer to your goal weight?
I can't lie, I am scared to death. But I'm also excited that for the first time in many years, I really feel good! I can look in the mirror and see true change. I still have a ways to go, both in pounds and in addressing all the things that have begun to surface this past year. But I am taking things one day at a time, one step at a time.
Do you have any words of wisdom for those just starting out on the Best Life journey?
Your journey here on the Best Life Diet is just that--a journey! It's about discovering who you are and how you can be your very best! This plan isn't about being perfect, it's about learning and incorporating all the knowledge and tools Bob offers into your life, and making it work for you. There will be good days and there will be absolutely rotten days, but know in your heart that you are the one in control! You are the one who makes things happen in your life--things just don't happen overnight. I know many of us want to lose weight as fast as possible, but lasting change doesn't work that way. It's about learning new habits and continually repeating those habits over and over in your life.
www.thebestlife.com
Starting date/weight January 2007 at 280 pounds
Pounds lost 61
Goal weight 145 (74 pounds to go)
Best Life Status Phase 3/Activity Level 4
How have you been doing since we last checked in on you in May 2007?
When my Success Story was featured on the site, I had lost 40 pounds, but I struggled for the next few months. Due to an earlier injury, my knee was still in constant pain. The orthotic inserts I was prescribed to help with my knee overcorrected the problem and caused a stress fracture in my right foot. I spent the next 16 weeks in a cast, restricted to little or no movement.
In mid-October, I was given the go-ahead to slowly ease back into exercise. My foot was still swollen and most of my shoes didn't fit, so getting back into activity was a challenge. To manage the pain and help with the swelling, I was taking ibuprofen. Unfortunately, this caused bleeding ulcers and put me in the hospital. I spent the holidays recovering and getting my energy back. If that wasn't bad enough, two weeks before Christmas, I was laid off from my job.
Luckily, the New Year brought about some welcome changes. I got a job and got back to working out--slowly so I didn't reinjure my foot or knee. I have been going to an acupuncturist to help with knee and foot pain, and I am having amazing results. I've lost the eight pounds I put on while I was in the hospital, and an additional eight pounds to bring my total loss to 61 pounds! In fact, just last night, I was able to complete 60 minutes of walking at a pretty good pace, with lots of adjustment in grade to make it tougher!
How have you stayed motivated?
I have realized just how important getting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to the quality of my life. Not being able to do basic functions really scared me! My weight is definitely a contributing factor in all of these health issues. Getting back to a healthy body and mind is my motivation.
I have fooled myself for many years, thinking that because I didn't have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or any other health-related issues from my obesity, that being overweight was OK. But, I wasn't happy nor was I doing the things I wanted to do in life. I'd spent my entire life avoiding living my "best life."
I have even sacrificed my career and what I truly wanted to do in life because of my weight. I graduated from college with a degree in Physical Education and a minor in Clinical Nutrition, but how could I teach people about health and fitness when I couldn't even control my own life or habits? Sadly, I've never worked a single day in my chosen career. But I now know my life's purpose and passion: Taking my struggles and experiences, and relating to others just like me. I've taken a huge step in reaching out to others on the message boards. The first year I was on the website, I never reached out to anyone, thinking this struggle was mine and mine alone. I have come to learn that by sharing my struggle and chatting with other people, it has amazingly caused change in my life. Not to mention, I have some absolutely wonderful new friends whom I wouldn't have if I didn't take the steps to reach out!
Have you overcome some of your initial difficulties?
I have made some huge strides in discovering the reasons why I use food as my "drug of choice" and the purpose my weight serves in my life, as well as why I keep losing a massive amount of weight and then gaining it back. How I think and the things I focus on have made a huge shift in every area of my life. I almost feel like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders. I look back at the past and see that I definitely had a "victim" mentality, meaning that everything just happened to me and I had no control over what the outcome would be. That led to hopelessness and feeling powerless over my life. That's where food came in; it was my self-medication. I would just stuff the feelings down with food and forget about them.
Also, since my earlier knee surgery, I had looked at exercise as a challenge, focusing on the things I could no longer do. But I've flipped my way of thinking, and I have found many new things to do that are supporting my weight-loss efforts and helping me get my strength and health back. For example, I have grown to love riding a bike just for the sake of riding a bike. Colorado is filled with beautiful places to ride, and it almost doesn't seem like exercise when I am out pedaling along a river. I have also discovered this awesome circuit-training class. It is a tough hour and 15 minutes, but man, I can see the results! Not only in weight loss but also in my body fat percentage, which went from 44 percent when I started to 28 percent.
How are you feeling as you get closer to your goal weight?
I can't lie, I am scared to death. But I'm also excited that for the first time in many years, I really feel good! I can look in the mirror and see true change. I still have a ways to go, both in pounds and in addressing all the things that have begun to surface this past year. But I am taking things one day at a time, one step at a time.
Do you have any words of wisdom for those just starting out on the Best Life journey?
Your journey here on the Best Life Diet is just that--a journey! It's about discovering who you are and how you can be your very best! This plan isn't about being perfect, it's about learning and incorporating all the knowledge and tools Bob offers into your life, and making it work for you. There will be good days and there will be absolutely rotten days, but know in your heart that you are the one in control! You are the one who makes things happen in your life--things just don't happen overnight. I know many of us want to lose weight as fast as possible, but lasting change doesn't work that way. It's about learning new habits and continually repeating those habits over and over in your life.
www.thebestlife.com