100 Pounds Lost
Jennifer Smith Changed How She Thought About Food And Lost 165 Pounds
Name: Jennifer Smith
Age: 37
Height: 5’9″
Before Weight: 350 pounds
How I Gained It: My first memory of being overweight was when I was five years old on my first day of kindergarten. I had been blissfully ignorant of the fact until that day, but since, have been reminded every day. My entire life I have battled with obesity, never understanding why I had such a strong desire to eat. Over the past year I have realized that I never allowed myself to “feel” anything, I was numbing all emotions with food.
In June 2012, I weighed 350 pounds. I was no longer able to work, as I could hardly take 10 steps without having to sit down and rest. The simplest, everyday things had become difficult for me. I had all the health problems that one would expect from someone my size: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes (just to name a few). I was on 17 different medications, and on 800 units of insulin per day. I always say I had a heartbeat, but I wasn’t alive.
Breaking Point: During a visit to see my endocrinologist, I said to him, “I am just so insulin resistant, I think I could take the whole bottle of insulin and it wouldn’t help!” That’s when the doctor said, “Jennifer, you are out-eating your insulin.”
His statement made me cry for two reasons. One, it was humiliating, and two, why would I do this to myself? I remember this day so profoundly because it’s the day my life was forever changed.
How I Lost It: It was there at the Greenville Free Medical Clinic that I met Nursing Director Mark C. Johnson, RN. Mark told me something I hadn’t heard in a very long time. He said, “I believe in you, and I know you can lose this weight.” Mark can never understand why this meant so much to me. Perhaps it’s because I had given up long ago and never expected to hear those words again. It sparked something in me that day and I believed him.
Mark asked me to write down everything I ate for one week and then bring it to him so we could go over it together. After I did that, I met with him and he made simple suggestions that were easy to do. For example, he said, “Instead of five pieces of bacon, have two.” What I heard was, “I can still have bacon.” He made everything seem possible.
For the first time I was forced to see what I was doing. When you are looking at such a large amount of weight to lose, it seems hopeless, but Mark gave me hope. He taught me that food is not my enemy, and that’s where I had gone wrong so many times before. Cutting out certain foods or food groups for a time only made me binge on them later. Instead, I have learned to nourish my body with all types of food. I am not on a diet, I have changed the way I think and feel about food. I now know what foods are going to make me feel good and which ones make me feel bad. I keep a food journal, and I’m careful to follow serving sizes on nutrition labels. Mark has taught me to be mindful of what, when and why I’m eating. I was able to meet with him every week for a year.
Exercise is also a critical part of my weight loss. Mark is an ultra-marathon runner, and he often used his running experiences as a way to relate to my weight-loss journey. I started to think maybe I could run, too. At the end of November 2012, at 300 pounds, I started to run. Not for long: I think it was about 30 seconds before I had to stop and rest. But every day I was back at it, trying again and again. I learned I’m not weak-willed or lazy, and I am very proud to say that in June 2013 I ran my first 8K. Running has tamed the “beast” of my food addiction. Now I run five or six days a week, and I’m training for a half marathon.
My life has changed so much since last year. I am working again at a job I love, and I am able to volunteer at the clinic two days a week leading a nutrition and weight loss class. I have gotten off most of my medications, and I am no longer diabetic. I can never thank the wonderful staff and volunteers at the clinic enough for all their exceptional care and continual encouragement. And, a special thank you to Mark, who saved my life.
Current Weight: 185 pounds. I have 25 more pounds to go to reach my goal.
Source: Huffington Post
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Connie McLerran Holcomb
February 21, 2015 at 2:23 pm
You
are a true inspiration!!!
Danielle Miriya Jones
February 21, 2015 at 2:44 am
Great story!
Donna Hall
February 20, 2015 at 11:36 pm
great job
Leasa Terrell
February 20, 2015 at 7:49 pm
congrats
Elaine Poirier
February 20, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Amazing story….
Cheryle Mcl
February 20, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Soo sweet.
Houri Shams
February 20, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Fantastic
Jane Hice Johnson
February 20, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Thank you for sharing! This is a great motivation.
Jackie Altuna
February 20, 2015 at 12:13 pm
How wonderful that this fit person did not look down his nose at Jennife!! Great job!
Erin Dentinger
February 20, 2015 at 11:31 am
Amazing job!!!
Tammy Moore Teague
February 20, 2015 at 10:53 am
What a wonderful story
Stacey Williams
February 20, 2015 at 10:36 am
So inspiring!
Chris Sanders
February 20, 2015 at 10:10 am
Amazing! You look great!
Tammy Nicholas
February 20, 2015 at 9:45 am
Jennifer looks fantastic!
LaShunda Winfrey
February 20, 2015 at 9:20 am
Thanks for sharing your story. It hit home.
Joseph Gillen
February 20, 2015 at 8:10 am
awesome job
Bobbie Nichols
February 20, 2015 at 7:24 am
you look amazing! congrats
Melissa Moreno
February 20, 2015 at 7:09 am
Congrats! That’s awesome. ..
Terry McManus
February 20, 2015 at 6:58 am
You look marvelous 🙂
Jackie Martin
February 20, 2015 at 6:35 am
You go girl !!!!! Congratulations
Mary Capasso-Newman
February 20, 2015 at 4:59 am
Wow !!!!! 🙂
Diana Bates KeepaHunuhunu
February 20, 2015 at 4:04 am
Amazing!!!! Wow
Fiona Mackenzie
February 20, 2015 at 2:55 am
WoW!
Latrell Mixon
February 20, 2015 at 2:11 am
Congrats
Wendy Swanepoel
February 20, 2015 at 1:47 am
fantastic well done
Milisa Mckee
February 20, 2015 at 1:22 am
Such an inspiring story! Congratulations on your success!
Mary Evans
February 20, 2015 at 1:20 am
I wish the pics were bigger on these stories.
Leah Piatt
February 20, 2015 at 12:49 am
you look AMAZING!
Jocey Khiy
September 7, 2014 at 5:23 am
Look great
JoAnne Dueffert Briscoe
August 30, 2014 at 10:54 pm
A wonderful story Jennifer! What a transformation!
Lynne Youdin
August 29, 2014 at 10:04 am
There are no words except: WOW.
Kelly Luviso Breheny
August 29, 2014 at 6:55 am
You look amazing
Courts Blair
August 28, 2014 at 9:00 pm
whata comeback! So proud for you.
Sherry Sutton Cooper
August 28, 2014 at 4:14 pm
Does she have her own page?
Sherry Sutton Cooper
August 28, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Amazing!!
Debbie Whitt Cardwell
August 28, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Great job!
Beverly Benedict Arvin
August 28, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Lovely, Jennifer!
Roberta Germain
August 28, 2014 at 2:08 pm
Your story was great…Made me think too I eat when I’m happy, sad, lonely, mad any excuse
Andria Wiggins
August 28, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Wish I could do at leat half this good!!
Stephanie Kruse
August 28, 2014 at 1:25 pm
such an inspiring story. keep up the good work!
Myrtle Prater
August 28, 2014 at 12:54 pm
congratulations and thank you for sharing your dstory!
Darma Smith
August 28, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Wonderful story. You definitely in courage us to get moving.
Denise Hank
August 28, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Amazing!
irene
August 28, 2014 at 11:59 am
Thanks for sharing your story. These are similar to steps I have taken in my life – even down to the doctor. We have been forced by our employer to have a health check. The doctor and medical student both said – they believe I can do it. The Lord used your article to let me know the same thing. Thanks for sharing – all the best on your marathon – I too will enter and complete one — in my life. Kudos!
Suzanne GetinFit Benner
August 28, 2014 at 11:49 am
Woo Hoo such AWESOMENESS !!
Julie
August 28, 2014 at 11:46 am
Thank you for sharing your story! Very inspiring!
Hydr-8 Water Bottles
August 28, 2014 at 11:35 am
Success stories are so inspiring!
Ellen Marie
August 28, 2014 at 11:23 am
Thank you for your post! I read your story and feel inspired!
Vicky Faulhaber
August 28, 2014 at 11:08 am
Good job you look great!!!!!
Cookie Torres
August 28, 2014 at 11:08 am
awesome!!! 🙂
Joyce Pryor
August 28, 2014 at 11:00 am
A real inspiration keep up the great work
Novya Gary
August 28, 2014 at 10:35 am
Congratulations.
Kirsten Tschida
August 28, 2014 at 10:17 am
I love starting my day reading about how someone restarted their life! I’m proud of you! Thanks for being an inspiration!
Wendy Bannister
August 28, 2014 at 10:06 am
Amazing story!
Dana Genett Stephens
August 28, 2014 at 10:00 am
Great job! You look amazing! 🙂
Joanne Lennon-Koronczyk
August 28, 2014 at 9:59 am
She looks great!!!
Amber Austin
August 28, 2014 at 9:58 am
Love this story! What an inspiration.
Tina Ekman
August 28, 2014 at 9:51 am
*
Freda Stevenson
August 28, 2014 at 9:49 am
Awesome job! Jennifer, you look good and happy.