I know I'm not in the loop anymore with the miniatures, but when I read this thread I wanted to post.. well..sort of brag I guess...but not in a mean conceited way.. more of an encouraging way.
In June of 2009 I weighed over 210 lbs. Being a recovering anorexic it was very upsetting that I had somehow gotten to that weight. I am 5'6" with a medium bone. It was just not pretty at all. I had quit smoking in Sept. 2001 and at the same time my doctor had put me on a huge assortment of medications because he believed I was bipolar. So, within 6 months I went from 114 to 165! It was horrible. But it got worse. I switched medications several times, but always hated the weight gain that came along with it, and the medications did not seem to change anything. I was still moody, depressed, and miserable.
In May/June of 2009 I got fed up with it. I did not believe I was bipolar no more than my tree in the back yard is! After a lot of study on bipolar disorder I concluded that it was not my issue. Of course I was depressed, being a recovering anorexic and fat threw me for many emotional loops. I was moody and restless because all of the extra weight and really bad for me foods (from depression eating) had thrown my body into a fit.
So, I walked outside, threw all the medications in the trash container, and came back in with a new mind-set. GRILLED chicken, salads, diet sodas, no late night snacks unless it was a banana or an orange. Stop going the easy route and grabbing take out and get up off my tail and actually cook something. I told myself I was going to change my routines and habits, which would surely change my weight and emotional issues.
Well, I'm proud to say that now I weigh in at a very acceptable 140 lbs !!!
I do not have depression, mood swings, anxiety, or any other "extreme" emotions. I want to also add that I reduced my caffeine intake by 90%. I found that the caffeine, while at first it numbed my tummy... ended up making the hungry feeling much more intense once the temporary numb wore off. I sleep better, I eat better. I feel better. I look better. I act better. I live better. Caffeine is key I believe... there are many many medical studies show to prove that caffeine induces not only sleep issues, anxiety issues, and others...but it also induces paranoia, (sp?), depression, schizophrenia (Sp?) and a myriad of other generally "mental" disorders.
I have no problems keeping the weight off now. I am not an extremely active person, and I don't exercise, (jogging, weights, gym memberships, etc.), and I even eat pretty much anything I want to. In fact, I actually have to work at keeping the weight where it's at because if I'm not careful I loose more weight. The caffeine is hard to stop at first, and you don't realize how many things have caffeine in it (like chocolate!), but I promise you, once you go a couple of weeks without it, you won't be able to stand it anymore. When I drink even one cup of coffee it makes me sick to my tummy, gives me a headache, and makes me moody and angry.
