Welcome! Please Introduce Yourself.
Welcome to our community! We’d love to learn a little about what has brought you here.
Hi I'm Kimberly I've been overweight sense the age of 10. I went through puberty early 8 and 9 and I been gaining weight every sense. I'll lose a little then gain back a lot. I've have tried it all nothing seems to work. I now have lots of heath issues and that has hindered my weight loss as well. Back injuries, knee issues due to injuries, diabetes and now lung diease due to chronic arthritis. I've been told my immune system is shot and the root cause of my health issues after many years of being told I just wasn't doing the work to lose the weight. Now I'm on all these meds that really hurt my weight lost journey. I get depress and my anxiety gets the best of me from time to time. But I'll keep pushing till I can't any more.
Welcome to the community, Kimberly! (
) I am so glad you found us. You certainly look beautiful in your photo. Thanks for sharing it. It is always helpful when we can put a face to a name. Given that you have struggled since such a young age, did any of your doctors ever run hormone tests or do anything else to investigate the cause of your obesity? Has the doctor who manages your diabetes ever suggested medications that help with both blood sugar management and weight loss? It is maddening when doctors blame health issues on obesity rather than considering that other health conditions might have CAUSED obesity. My heart goes out to you. You deserve more respect and empathy, and you deserve treatment for your obesity as well as your other health conditions. It is super hard to lose weight when you are always in pain and when medications mess with your metabolism and emotions. Please so keep pushing and know we are here for you whenever you need us. Gentle hugs. - Lori (Team Member)
Hi, 👋🏼 I’m Laurel & have been obese since 2017, just before getting my diagnosis for fibromyalgia. My life began being more sedentary after having an inner ear tumor removed in March 2009. My kids were 4 & 5. Suddenly, Mom couldn’t run around and play with them. I’ve had unsteadiness/vertigo for 15 years, severely curtailing any movement. (I’m now more mobile, using my stand up walker when outside the house) I’m eating well, but exercise is extremely difficult. 😞 I’ve been less & less able to exercise because of my head & unsteadiness.
I was always active, never athletic, and in the middle of the BMI chart. Now, I’m in the severely obese range. I’m sad about that & am really worried about my future.Thankfully I have a terrific therapist. We talked about my weight for the first time yesterday. I had lost 60 pounds from April 2021- February 2023. I was doing so well with my glucose and A1c numbers, my endocrinologist took me off my diabetes meds. 😳 From April-October I gained the 40 pounds. On November 1, I called her & asked to be back on Trulicity. I’m on the lowest dose. My weight is holding steady & my sugars have been fine. Even off the meds, my blood sugar was fine.
My nephrologist suggested low thyroid. I have to wait till April 1 to check that. She wanted me to wait a month after my appointment. 🤷🏻♀️ Yes, I can do weight lifting here at home (absolutely zero money available for a gym membership! Our 2 kids are special needs young adults—developmental delays, mental health problems, permanent brain damage from birth mom’s drinking alcohol before the children were born…2 different birth moms, adopted at the same time in 2004. From Kaliningrad, Russia I got C-PTSD from raising them, but they are a JOY. ❤️❤️ I wouldn’t change it for anything.) The nephrologist also mentioned menopause. I’ve been in that since 2011–uterine ablation. 🤷🏻♀️ My body has always been an enemy to me.I am glad you found a good therapist,
, and I hope that relationship helps. It must have been awfully discouraging to regain 40 pounds of that weight, but I am glad you have managed to keep the other 20 off and that your A1C is still holding steady. That is something to be proud of, for sure. I hope you get some answers from the thyroid tests. A whacky thryroid can reek havoc on your body and on your emotional state. If you do have thyroid issues, you will feel so much better when they are addressed.
As much as you adore them, I can see how the stress that comes with the continued responsiblity of your children makes it even more difficult to put your own needs first. I am an older mom with (Surprise!) teen twins still at home. My husband and I are still working while many of our friends and family have retired. So many of those retirees have lost weight and gotten fit thanks to empty nests and a lack of job responsibilities. I often have to remind myself that my circumstances are different and try not to compare myself to them.
It is really hard sometimes though. I wouldn't change anything for the world either. Our twins are so different from our older kids and have introduced us to a whole new world. We love them like crazy. I also enjoy working and will probably continue to do so long after I no longer need to. But it's easy to feel like I am failing somehow because I am as healthy as they are.
I suspect you will find many others like you (and me) as this community grows and becomes more active. I am glad you found us! - Lori (Team Member)
Hi everyone! My name is Emily Dhurandhar. I’ve been doing obesity and nutrition research since 2006 and personally struggle with obesity.
Hi
. Thanks for introducing yourself. I am thrilled we have you as part of this team and I look forward to reading more of your articles. As someone who has been struggling with obesity myself this past decade, I found your article about exercise and obsesity insightful and inspiring. Warm wishes! - Lori (Team Member)
