Let’s talk about weight loss

By Irene Conlan -

This is a very personal story – my story. I have struggled with weight most of my life and in the younger years was able to keep the weight off with a bit of effort and determination. I was a regular at the gym for years and used several diet plans successfully over that time period. (The picture, by the way, is not me. I will post a picture soon).

Then I had a bout with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Before I totally crashed and had  to go to bed, I started gaining two pounds a week regardless of what I ate or how much I exercised. No diets worked. Eating 800 calories  and walking 2 – 5 miles daily did nothing. The result? I gave up. My attitude was if I’m going to be fat,  I might as well enjoy the food I eat! I didn’t go crazy with it but I stopped dieting.  My friends who know me well think I wasn’t eating enough but I continued to gain slowly over the years.

Now and then I would try again so along the way I tried several diets – The South Beach diet, Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc. They had been successful before but this time around – nothing.  They didn’t work and I didn’t stick with them. I hated the way I felt, the way I looked and my limited activities because of the weight. Several years ago I asked my doctor if there was anything I could do about it and he replied, “Forget it. At your age it is impossible to lose weight.” (Not too encouraging was it? )When anyone brought up the subject of my weight I would avow, “If anyone can show me how to lose weight, I will do it.”

When I encountered a small health problem, I chanaged doctors. This time I chose a woman internist for my primary care physician and, in the first visit, she told me I needed to lose weight. I gave her my weight history and she gave me the name of a doctor she guaranteed could help. “Yeah, right!”  I thought.

But I dutifully went to the meeting the weight loss doctor holds once a week.  Hmm. There might be something to this.  She absolutely guaranteed that if I followed the program precisely, I would lose 1/2 pound a day. Guaranteed it! Wow! I had promised myself and everyone else  that if anyone could help me I would do it,  so I made an appointment. I could at least give it my best shot.

It is a very carefully monitored program, with lab work and one-on-one visits with the doctor every two weeks.

It works!

I have lost 30 pounds in 60 days!

I look better. I certainly feel better.  And I’m absolutely delighted. I  still have a lot of pounds to shed but I WILL get there.

Dr. C. You were wrong! I CAN lose weight at my age.

And to all of you who feel helpless and hopeless because of your weight, YOU CAN DO IT,  TOO! Email me if you want to know more. theselfimprovementblog@gmail.com

About: ireneconlan: Irene Conlan has a master's degree in nursing, with a major in nursing administration and a minor in psychiatric nursing. She taught nursing at Arizona State University, served as Director of Nursing Administration at St. Luke's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and served as Assistant Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Division of Health Care Facilities and Emergency Medical Services. She is also a certified hypnotherapist with a practice in Scottsdale, AZ. She is an avid blogger and manages http://www.theselfimprovementblog.com http://www.theselfesteemblog.com http://www.thepositivepsychologyblog Irene lives in Scottsdale AZ and has two sons and three grandsons. Website: http://theselfimprovementblog.com