Slow and Steady

Having worked nights in healthcare for over 18 years, I put on weight. In 2016, I was diagnosed as prediabetic and weighed more than I care to admit. I had been a petite girl growing up and became comfortable with myself and the weight. I continued to work nights and go without sleep to run my kids around during the day. I went back to school for my master's degree so I could find new ways to advocate for patients. In 2018, I finally went to day shift and thought maybe this is my chance to get back to my old self. Sure, I tried off and on over the years to lose the weight, but it would reappear as soon as I stopped dieting. One kid had flown the coop and the second was close to leaving. By 2019, I was no longer pre anything and started the journey to control my blood sugars. Then covid came and who had time to think about themselves. We were all just out here trying to keep up with the daily changes. I wasn't ready to change my eating habits; I enjoy carbs WAY too much. Then came the GLP1 meds. After failing several oral options, I was placed on Ozempic in 2022. Yuck, bring on the sulfur burps and upset stomach. The only thing Ozempic did for me was make me weak and anorexic. I could not eat if I wanted to. We kept increasing the dose when it wasn't working. Finally in 2023, I convinced my provider to try something else, I wasn't losing weight, my sugars still were not controlled and no I had not changed my eating habits. I stopped taking Ozempic and started taking Mounjaro. I didn't notice any changes, but I wasn't feeling as yucky as I did on the Ozempic. By 2024, I had decided I was ready to make some changes. I had been on the Mounjaro for a year and I stopped drinking Pepsi, my drink of choice for years. I replaced the Pepsi with protein teas and water. I still did not have much of an appetite, so I focused on foods that had better nutrition for me. I didn't go on any fad diet; I didn't calorie count. I kept track of my macros, protein, carbs, and fats. I didn't have any specific goals. I went slow and when I got close to 200 pounds that was my goal. Then when I got close to losing 50 pounds that was my goal, then 150 pounds, 145, 140, 135. On April 4, 2026, more than 2 years had gone by, and I had lost 100 pounds. Throughout this health journey I kept telling myself it isn't about the number on the scale; it is about how do I feel. I still to this day eat pretzels and M&Ms daily, just not as much as I used to. So now I am onto kicking another bad habit (cigarettes) and trying to maintain the weight loss. How am I doing today, I have gained 17 pounds back. Quitting smoking will do that to you. I finally have an appetite again so still focusing on those macros and controlling my appetite and not letting my appetite control me. I didn't become unhealthy overnight, and I can't expect to become healthy overnight either.