Don't You Understand?

Question #2:

Don't you understand what you are doing to your body?

To a point. Though sometimes I don't think I really cared. I just wanted to be accepted and loved by someone. I was sailing through life. I had no health complications. Sure, I couldn't walk very far or run, but aside from that, I had no problems. I had regular blood pressure (quite good, actually - surprisingly enough). No diabetes. No heart issues. Regular cholesterol. A minor thyroid issue, but nothing major. I thought things were not affecting me. Until one day. This is the start of the downward spiral that I was in. I didn't have any health issues...on the surface. But deep down, I had an infection that I did not know about. It caused extreme cellulitis on my left leg. Not just the front, but the back. I ended up in the hospital for 13 days, and home from work for another 6 weeks after I was discharged. During that stay, I had to have IV antibiotics twice a day and fluids consistently. That was the longest 2 months of my life.  Then, not four weeks after I was back at work, I had another outbreak of the infection - this time, on my right arm. This also required surgery and IV antibiotics. When they discharged me, I had to have a central line put in my neck so that I could administer the IV antibiotics myself. I had to wear that thing with pride. Ugh it was painful. I couldn't turn my neck. Do you think I learned my lesson? Nope. Remember when I told you that last fall (after losing 40 pounds) I got sick and fell off the wagon...or rather, abandoned ship? I was in the hospital yet again. This time, the infection was in my right leg. Thankfully, this one did not require surgery, but I was in the hospital and did have to have IV antibiotics.  Thankfully, since October/November, I have not had another incident with this infection. I'm hoping that with working hard and trying to get my health in order, that I can avoid anymore run-ins with cellulitis. It really is not pleasant.

I truly don't think that through it all I realized what I was doing to my body. I mean, I knew I was overweight. I knew I was morbidly obese. I knew all that. But what I didn't know or care about was the ramifications of what I was doing to my body. I'm going to be courageous here. Next week, I hit my 2 months of focusing on what I eat, and working out (every day except one rest day). At that "anniversary" I have to take measurements. I hated it the first time. In fact, I cried. But, it's like I told the trainer (a/k/a Danny), "It can only get better from here." So, here we go...I will post new stats next week after the weigh-in/measurement.

This picture was taken April 15, 2013 (two weeks after I started going to the gym seriously ... mainly because I wouldn't agree to the picture. Then, when I signed on with Danny, he was required to take the photo....so, I reluctantly agreed.) At this point, I had already lost 15 pounds.

April 15, 2013: 422.6 lbs

Measurements were taken on May 2, 2013 and will be retaken next week, on June 3, 2013. I will post the new ones in comparison to the old ones that night after my gym workout.

Neck: 16"
Chest: 52.5"
Waist: 56"
Hips: 75"
Left Thigh: 39.5"
Right Thigh: 36.5"
Left Calf: 26"
Right Calf: 28.5"
Left Bicep: 21.5"
Right Bicep: 20.5"
Shoulders: 56.5"

Bringing on the challenge! I can't wait for the final reveal! Thank you to ALL who support me and send me encouraging messages on Facebook, texting, etc. You don't know how much it is appreciated!