ME!

ME!
Holding my "before" favorite shirt after losing 125 pounds on my journey to better health.

My Story

 I sustained serious injury to my hands and arms in 1994 that spiraled my body into a downward spin that resulted in 17 years of little activity, stress eating, pain, depression, and Fibromyalgia.  In the spring of 2009 I was extremely overweight, depressed, sitting in a recliner, fighting to even get up and get dressed for the day. I took multiple medications for depression, fibromyalgia, pain, and asthma. I was on oxygen and told by my sleep specialist to never ever sleep even for a nap without my vpap that forced air into my lungs. He told me I would die without it. So….here I was at almost 56 with a bleak future. After much thought and frustration my family and I decided to take a drastic move and I went to a Wellness Center for 7 weeks to get off my medications and see if maybe they could be causing some of my problems.  I would like to tell you that going was the magic that I needed, I did feel somewhat better but my body was not happy with all the changes and my Thyroid was going to really complain. I thought I would feel so much better that fall but continued with a lot of problems. I visited with my Doctor’s and they all agreed that I needed to lose “some” weight but they all told me, that NO I would never get off the vpap, no the weight is not causing you problems with leaking urine, no you can’t  fix your high blood pressure, or your diabetes. I was so angry and frustrated but there was a little thought that would pop into my head……what if? What if I began to reclaim my life and health and just see for myself what my body could do. I knew as a nurse that the body is a marvelous miracle and can heal.  I never said to myself that I want to lose 10, 20, or even 115 pound. I just would think to myself, “let’s see where this can go.” It has taken me two years and a lot of hard work to travel my journey this far. I now feel a blog would help me to keep going and maintain my health at the level I enjoy today.

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking that first step, and now the second, or 1,382nd, or whatever it may be...of sharing your story.

    Looking forward to journeying with you. I'm sure I'm one of many, MANY who is inspired by you to take that same first step.

    Nice to meet you Laurel.

    I'm Gail :)

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  2. Wow. As a fellow nurse, I am flabbergasted that your doctor told you that your weight was NOT affecting your BP or DM. Undoubtedly, the added strain on your joints from that weight (I'm about 80 lbs over, myself) was not helping your arthritis and fibromyalgia. Maybe everything won't/hasn't gone away, but it should all be HELPED. Very excited for you -- I've struggled with my own weight for years, and I know it is not easy. Congratulations!!

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    1. I was pretty upset with my Doctor but if he had told me to lose weight I would not have done it. I had to get mad enough and just show them all. He is now one of my cheerleaders and has told me many times that I am one in a million.

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  3. Wow! Good for you!! So amazing. Thank you for sharing your story. I have much weight to lose and real life stories about real people doing realistic things is what helps me. Thank you!

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  4. this is inspiring...

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  5. Good for YOU! You still look great in blue! :)

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  6. Thank you for your story! I need to get back on the band wagon.. I had lost 50 with Weight Watchers and Curves... but I stopped going to WW and mostly Curves.... Stress has played a key factor..... I have now gained 25...... not a good thing! but I am determined to drop again! I love Eric and his Music!

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  7. You look marvelous!!! So inspiring, makes me think anyone we can all do what you did...

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  8. Self-healing - it works! We don't always have to believe the grim stories our health care providers tell us. We *do* have to always believe in ourselves. Yours is a wonderful story of inspiration and triumph. Thank you for sharing! -Tammy

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  9. You are awesome Laurel! Keep up the good work! I'm 40 lbs lighter that I was at my heaviest but I still have a long way to go. You are an inspiration to me so thank you for not giving up!

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  10. Laurel you look absouluty beautiful and 10 years younger you are doing so well and now its my turn to follow you in this journey.
    Thank you for sharing your story - Angie

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  11. What a wonderful story! I have subscribed and will send to my daughter as she has many of the same problems you did. I look forward to following this journey with you. Lillian

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  12. You look fabulous! I'm glad you're doing this blog. I can't even imagine how many people you're going to be able to reach out to help. I'm excited to read your future posts. You go girl! =)

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  13. Laurel - I subscribed to your blog because you are so real about your experience. Your motivation is my motivation. Thank you for sharing your difficult trek with the world. You are helping me an many others to grab on to that one loose thread that will unravel and reveal the way out of this crazy mess we've made of ourselves! Love you!

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  14. Laurel, I must say you are quite an inspiration and I know now that even though I have become sedentary and gained all my weight I had lost, with your inspiration I can now see myself more motivated. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to following your Blog. Thanks to your son for telling me about you and what a blessing him and you are to me.

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  15. I am just amazed at your beautiful pictures and the difference you have made not only in your health but also your appearance. You look like a different person. I would never have known you to be the same person. Isn't that wonderful? Congratulations! I would like to look JUST LIKE YOU!!!!

    I am very interested in knowing your actual food plan. Did you count calories, carbs, or what? Surely we all want to do JUST LIKE YOU!!!

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  16. Amazing :) You are a rock star... or a country star (whichever you like better)... nah, you're a shining star, and I want to thank you for sharing your heart and knowledge!

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  17. Wow, congratulations on your weight loss, Laurel. I've been up and down myself and currently at -86 pounds. I'm about to go into less explored territory, a weight I have not seen before getting pregnant with my eldest who is 18. Cut sugar and I exercise a lot and just eat less. I'm so happy for you.

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  18. CONGRATS TO YOU!!! I'm wanting to read your whole story :) I have been involved in a really great program that puts focus on BEING HEALTHY... First Place 4 Health.... ck into it for a great way to maintain and meet wonderful friends... Keep up the hard work but the end results are so worth it to be healthy again... yeah you !!!!

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