No problem!
I've posted my pics in my gallery off to the left - my story is now below:
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After giving in to obesity for approximately 2o years, I decided to change some things.
My heaviest weight was between 380 - 400+ pounds. I remember wearing a size 52 waist in High School.
About 5 years ago, I made a decision that has changed my life forever. This was a decision that had done more damage than good, even though the outcome was indeed what I was looking for.
After losing a job that I loved, I have time to spare, and weight to shed. I made the decision to go on (what I know now as) a VLCD - Very Low Calorie Diet. My caloric intake would range between 300-500 calories per day.
I also started a crash exercise plan that included 15 - 30 miles per day of intense road / mountain biking.
After doing this for about 9 months, I was able to bring my weight down from approximately 400LBS, to 198LBS. In the process of losing almost 200 pounds, I became under weight, lost most of my muscle, became fatigued and created more internal damage than I would have imagined.
I was able to keep pushing though my weight loss until my body finally gave up and could not go any further. I couldn’t even get out of bed without feeling dizzy and having breif "white-outs".
After seeing a medical doctor to get my back on my feet, I noticed the real damage that occurred. Mentally, I had caused a complete mix-up / reset that I am still recovering from today.
I've got a skewed self image and have a hard time with "fitting in", as I still feel as though I'm different. Socially, I feel as though I still don't belong with the "in" crowd, and when I do associate them I have nothing in common.
I have been diagnosed with symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder - a self image issue where you are never happy with your body, and you don't see what other people see. I work on this every day, and it's becoming easier.
On the up side, I make progress every day. I've learned to work around these issues until I get things to the point where I have overcome them. I work hard at this every day.
I also have found a new passion for helping people with the struggles of obesity, eating disorders and image issues. The psychology behind these disorders is fascinating to me as I've experienced all of them and for the first time in my life - able to view them from the out side, in.
I hope to turn this work into my future and do the best I can to assist in the fight!
