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"This is the best thing I've ever done."
In September of 2007, I made the decision that something had to be done about my weight. I had tried many different weight loss programs and did not want surgery. I remembered hearing an advertisement for the Optifast program while on hold for the UAB Kirklin Clinic. I looked the program up on the internet and immediately said that was a program I could do. I called and scheduled my appointment for January. When I told my friends my decision, I joked about “evicting my evil twin-sister”.
I started the program on January 9, 2008 at the heaviest weight I had ever been. Many people could not believe that I only drank liquids every day. They tended to calm down when I explained the close medical monitoring by Dr Ard and his staff. I did not find the program hard to do. The choices were limited but doable. I only had to decide what shake or soup I wanted, as I had opted not to do the bars. The “evil-twin” started to fall off. Before long I was emptying half my closet because the clothes were too big! The biggest cheers went up in May when I was able to come off of high blood pressure medication.
I heard about the exercise program that the Eat Right group was starting. I have spent a lifetime worth of money on memberships to here and there; although I rarely went. With the mindset of this is an “appointment” that must be kept like any other, I started exercising 2 times a week for 30 minutes.
This has been the best thing I have ever done. In May of 2004, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Within months, I found myself having difficulty climbing stairs and inclines. My trainer, Alison, took that into consideration and has been great in helping me accomplish many milestones. The number one is being able to do one or two flights of stairs a day without thinking my legs are going to fall off.
At the end of July (2008), I opted to go back on the full liquid diet again. It is now October and the rest of the original clothes in my closet are on the guest bed waiting to be taken to a donation site or given to friends. This actually includes some of the clothes that I have bought since starting the program.
Participating in the EatRight Optifast and Exercise program has been the best thing I ever did for myself. Just this past Sunday, I was stopped by a member of my church who said “I know you don’t I?” I smiled and said “Yes.” I am currently 2/3 of the way through “evicting my evil-twin sister” and it FEELS GREAT!!
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