I was thinking what could be good first blog and I thought I should start out to tell you (if anyone really out .there reading this...LOL) little bit about my self and who I become 'inner gym rat'. This been 7 years in the working..
It all started at age of 26, which I call my 'fat girl stage' I was was roughly 199-205lbs at my very heaviest. I was always pretty skinny/lean most of my life. I guess you could say I started packing on the pounds after I transfer to Hood College in the fall of 2002. I hate the dining hall food so I always would go out eat. I would go all the places you could think of like: McDonald's, Checkers, Burger King, TGI Fridays, you name it I would be eating it. By my senior year of college I was around 175lbs. I got hired on has an full time employee from my internship so right after graduating I started working disability advocacy full time and it was pretty stressful at times. Since I was living on my own now and I had kitchen I though I could eat better b/c I would be cooking not some dining hall manager like in college. But of course I got lazy and did take out and ate very poorly. I did how ever join the YMCA but I failed I only went to the YMCA few times if that b/c I promised my mother I would try to go a few times a week since she was paying for it. After working at my job for couple months I decided to get a dog I though it would help me get out and move around more but after 2 weeks of getting my dog Bridgette I tripped over her leash and fractured my foot in 6 different places which meant no more gym and had keep my foot elevated for 4-6weeks. I was out work for about 2 ½ weeks b/c my foot was so swollen from the fracture. I was in denial that I actual broke it and walk around on it for 2 ½ days (real dumb!!) by Monday morning my foot was HUGH and my toes looked like mini sausages. Monday morning I called in work saying I wasn’t going be in and I was going to the doctor. He told me had keep off it for at least 2 ½ weeks. That when the weigh started packing on again because I had be off my feet. By the time I got the OK go back to work but not the gym quite yet I was looking at185lbs I didn’t think I was over weigh or anything just 'little heavy'.
Two or so months after coming back work from breaking my foot my boss and I had different opinion on some of my clients and how we should handle their cases. I got to point where I was really anxious it made it hard go work so I would stuff my face with comfort food. I was going to physiatrist to help with my anxiety and he would give some medication to help calm the anxiety which made me blow up some more. After about 3months of 'verbal abuse' from my boss and us not agreeing on anything I decided to quit and no idea what I was doing! (looking back on it now) I was thinking Ill be able find something relatively quick and there be no problems finding a new job. I was WRONG!! DEAD WRONG!! I had a terrible time finding a job. I found couple here and there jobs but nothing to really pay the bills. So my parents were helping me BIG TIME. And with that more pounds came on packing on! along with a deep hole of depression and lots of anxiety. I would always be sleeping or very tired and wouldn’t want do anything at all! I was still seeing my psychiatrist for my anxiety and depression and they would give me more drugs. With the drugs and lack of interests I was weighing 195-205lbs. My health insurance was cobra at time and it was really getting out of hand I was paying like $500 a month and I couldn't afford it so I just decided to drop it! By than my mom was really worried about me because I was really over weight and I wasn't really working and I wasn't doing much of anything. In the mean while I got another health insurance by the name of Golden Rule where I had lie about my pre- conditions to get health insurance. I wasn’t really 'moving around', over weight and not motivated to anything except to sleep. My mom suggested I go see my primary care Dr. Warren to see what was going on with me b/c this wasn’t normal for 27 year old.
I made appointment to see Dr. Warren and I weigh in at whopping 205.5 pounds! That was heaviest I ever been in my whole life! Looking back on it horrifies me to know that I was once that big! Size 18 and with double chin. On the that visit with Dr. Warren she order bunch of test to see what was going on but when the test came back they all came out to be normal. She did suggest I meet with an OB/GYN because I wasn’t getting my period regularly and I was having stomach cramps. I made appointment to see a OB/GYN, and the doctor order a bunch of tests they all came back normal also but one test confirmed that I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. But couldnt figure out the cramping issue and suggested I go to Urologist for the cramping. So I made appointment to see an Urologist and he order some more tests and told me I had perfectly normal bladder and kidneys and my cramping not related to my kidneys or bladder and suggested I see an Gascroinologist. See pattern here 3 doctors all run test but nothing comes up abnormal and refers me some place else. So you could see at this point I was little frustrated. Once again I made appointment to see and doctor to find out what going on and he too order more test! And he suggested I get colonoscopy and endoscopy. He was a lot more helpful than the last 3 doctors he said the stomach pains/cramps were due having irritable bowel syndrome but said something that none of the doctors said he noticed my blood pressure was quite high and my glucose levels were dangerously high for someone my age so he recommends yet again another doctor. No surprise here! He said suggested I see an Endocrinologist. So once again made appointment and hoping that this doctor had answers I was looking for. FINALLY after all my testing and blood work from all 4 doctors Dr. Hakim said yea I could tell you easily what you have your pre-diabetic! I was like what?!?! What does that mean? She said Caroline this isn’t a laughing matter! This is a very serious and silent killer for women. We are very luck we caught now b/c if you came any later you could be diagnosed with type two diabetic! she also mention I need take this very seriously and suggest I start losing 45lbs and start eating healthier ASAP.
My mother made another deal with me she said Ill pay for another gym membership if you promise to get healthier and get into shape and loss that weight! And I keep my word and went at least 3 x weeks and I even hired a trainer to help me. Here I was at 28 years old pre-diabetic and poly cystic ovary syndrome and was told I may not be ever be able carry/have children and top it off I was weighing 200lbs! so I was pretty much devastated. My trainer that I hired was kicking my ass making do workouts I never done before and making sweat like I have never before! Just when I was getting my rhythm down and I was starting see results it came crashing halt after 3 months of blood sweat and tears my trainer tells me he quitting his job and going work for another gym. I quickly assigned to a new trainer, and he got my heart pumping and having lifting weights and all sort of crazy stuff and my weigh is slowing coming off! I was getting my rhythm down and feeling great until my new trainer told me that he moving to Australia because his wife got great job offer and there moving at end of month! After 6months joining gym with 2 failed trainers I tired going back but I just wasn't motivated anymore so I stop going. During my bi yearly check up with Dr. Hakim said to me 'Caroline you are my youngest patient you are WAY to young for this disease you have already lost some weight and keep up the good work I know you can do it because if you don't it get a lot worst! And please don’t let me tell you how it can get worse! Here I am 28 years and weighing 185lbs frustrated because my weigh not coming off, two failed trainers and I’m no longer member at gym b/c membership expired. But I’m eating better but not like I should my health insurance is starting get crazy expensive and once again I decided drop it. I can only find part time work and losing all my motivation. I do the extreme I told my therapist I can’t afford my drugs anymore and canceling my insurance because it’s too much money. He was shock and told me I should keep my insurance said I’m already paying out of pocket to come here and my meds aren’t working! He understood and said I could have withdraws symptoms and if I need too call him and he’ll give me samples. Luckily I never had any negative symptoms.
By now its 2008, and I found a pretty cool job I was walking dogs for a franchise company but the only draw back was that I was traveling about 15 to 20miles away from my home but at this point I didn't care I love the job! And I just recently heard on the radio about health insurance for people who are low income or have pre existing conditions. Which I had (anxiety and pre diabetes). I applied for Maryland Health Insurance got accepted! I was sake and for first time my health insurance was affordable! By now I was working with franchise dog walking company for about 6months. I had go into my bi yearly check up Dr. Hakim. Every time I went to go see her I have step on the scale which I hated but when I step on it this time I weigh 185lbs which meant I lost 20lbs in since I been diagnosed with pre diabetes! Dr. Hakim was so proud of me! She said ‘I don't know what you’re doing but it working keep up the good work!’ I was on food stamps at the time so the cross between all my walking and my food stamps I was getting best food my food stamps could get me. After working with the franchise company for 6months I was getting tired of driving 15-20miles out my way to walk a client’s dog and only get half what client is paying the company. So I looked into building my own dog walking business and I sow how easy it was so I started my own company and build a website (www.spoiledpawzofmontco.net) and watch my business grow. For while I would still walking the franchise company dog clients and but I also had my own clients and slowly it transferred everything into my own cliental and didn’t work for franchise anymore. I was walking everyday and eating right now. Another 6months had past and had to see Dr. Hakim and had step on that dread scale. I weigh in at 165 which meant I lost 20lb since last check up! Which meant I had I lost 40lbs since my heaviest at 205! Dr. Hakim was so proud of me and she said I love that your dog walker! You have come so far and you know are no longer Pre- Diabetic! Keep up the good work and keep working at it. All before age 30 I was diagnosed with poly cystic ovary syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and pre-diabetes and was grossly over weight. And I changed that by stop taking my anti-anxiety meds, (***DISCLAIMER**** I don't recommend doing this unless you positive if could help. I did it b/c I wasn't seeing it help me anymore), exercising and eating a lot healthier by only eating 1600 calorie diet.
I was trilled with how much I lost on my own with but I wasn't happy with my muscle development. Once again my mother suggested joining a gym and I said I have gym at complex where I live Ill just used that. Yea that never happen I used that gym maybe handful of times. In the summer of 2011, I started seeing social worker to help with my self imaging difficulties I was having. She suggest me going to gym and having me pay for it instead of my mother b/c it would mostly like keep me motivated me more and that no 31 years old should have their mother pay for their bills. (LOL) which she was right about. So August 2011, I joined the gym for the third time and I was little worried that I wouldn’t be able to be able commit to it with my track record and all. I sign up for the gym and with a trainer once again. When I first time I meet with TJ (the trainer I was assigned too) I told him my story about how I haven’t step foot in gym for 3 years and I lost 45lbs all my own with walking dogs and diet. And told him how my last 2 trainers they bailed out on me. I said I will commit coming 3x week but its going be tough for me since been so long. He laugh and said 'well first congrats on the weigh loss that quite impressive but I bet I can make you come at least 4, try making one those days a class or something.' I laugh back at him and said ‘Ill try as long you don’t quit on me!' And of course he said he wouldn't! I really hate when people can't keep their promises because after 3 months working with TJ he told me he wasn’t happy with his job and was quitting. You would think that would make stop going to gym right? WRONG I still went! I figure with all my knowledge from all my trainers I have gotten over years I got enough that I still workout and figure stuff out on my own. Plus after New Years a guy friend of mine Tre joined the gym and we started working out together. Which I really liked because it motivated me to go more often knowing someone there waiting for me. Tre working nights so he was able work out with me during the day. Tre used workout at Cross Fit and was in the military so he knew a lot about exercise and could show me somethings or too. He knew how to do lot things like polymeric and other things I never head of.
Tre had go back working days so I would go to the gym by myself and I didn’t mind b/c by than I had lot knowledge and I could think of some routines and workout by myself. While I working out one day this trainer would come over to me and I wasn’t sure if was us flirting or just making convocation but he would always comment how I had some good workouts. It would made me blush and thank him. While Tre and I were working out on his days off this same trainer came over and say 'wow looking good keep up the good work!' A lot of the time when I was working out by myself I would watch the trainers and but there would be one particular trainer I would study and watch the workouts he would do with his clients because from what I sow he had one of best workouts for his clients out of all the trainer that working at the gym at the time and that really impressed me. I told Tre about him how he had some really good workouts and maybe we should hire him show us something’s for just one or two sessions. Tre was like no it’s OK I don’t need a trainer, and I was like Oh OK never mind. So weeks went by and with that same trainer that I admire his workout would come over and talk to me and comment on my workouts. I remember one day he said to me that I was distracted him from one his client’s b/c of my workouts. To this day I have no clue what he meant by it or was just flirting but I did notice him checking me out the whole time but also made me think wow I guess I’m doing something right. LOL He mention I was looking good. I blushed and thank him and asked him if I wanted hire him help me with some workouts how much would that cost, etc. He said here my number and call me when your ready and we can go from there. I said 'Cool but I don’t know even know your name and he smiled and chuckled a little while pointing to his name tag 'oh it’s Antoine and you are?' I said Caroline, and thank him again and smiled and walked off. So after thinking about it for few hours I decided give Antoine a call and see what he had offer me. We spoke about a time we could meet and talk my goals and what I hope to accomplish with or without a trainer. And let’s just say that how my inner gym rat was born! Now I’m at gym 5x a week and working with Antoine between 2 to 4 days!
FAILURE IS NO LONGER AN OPTION!
