My Story



262#

 

   My Dad once told me, "When you do something good there is no need to talk about it, other people will." I think my Dad would be alright with this blog. Although I get credited for 'getting healthy,' and hear all these great comments about how I look or even if I've been sick, (which I take as a compliment) as you will see, "My Story" is really not about me at all.

July 2011



   In 2007 I found myself, "Fat Man, Smoking." I decided it was time to do something about this. My plan was to quit smoking first, (I knew I  would gain more weight )then get myself into a healthy weight. Simple plan, right? HA!

   For the next 4 years I failed miserably at quitting smoking. I tried The Patch, The Gum, acupuncture, toothpicks, hard candy, vapor cigarettes, etc. Nothing worked, or should I say, "I failed." Then in February 2011 God sent me an angel. Lucia Raffa, this little 5' nothing, absolutely wonderful person who calls herself a nurse, but I know better, she is truly an angel.

Lucia Raffa

   So from February thru November I was enrolled in a smoke study. It was a blind test thing with instructions on how to change your habits and you didn't know if you were getting a "quit smoking" drug or a placebo. I would meet with Lucia, at least once a month, sometimes more, did all kinds of blood tests and psych evaluations and weigh-ins. (which kept going up ) At the end of it, I failed again.


December 2012 I hate this pic!


   Lucia looked at me, waived her index finger, like my Dad use to when he was stressing a point and said, "I'm not giving up on you. We have another study starting next month and you WILL enroll in it." Being the smart person that I am, I simply said, "Yes M'am."

   On February 13, 2012, 9:00pm, as was my habit, I went out on my balcony, had my last cigarette of the day before heading for bed. To this day, it was the last cigarette I have smoked.

   Fast forward now to January 2013, almost a year from my last smoke and, at least, 20 pounds heavier. Figuring I've the smoking thing beat, it was time to execute the 2nd part of my 2007 plan, lose weight. Coincidentally, at this time, I met up with a customer I hadn't seen in 6 months. He was much thinner than I had last seen him. To be exact, he was 50 pounds lighter. I told him I was looking for something to help me lose weight and he said, "Medifast, google it."

April 2013 I wore a lime green T-shirt to distract from the shirt being too big.  

 Now I'm not sure what it is about the month of February, what I did in the past to warrant God's next move with me,  and what it is about these 5' nothing wonderful women that God seems to hire for his army, but he sent me another one. Hope Bassett, who calls herself a Health Coach, but I know better, she is truly an angel. 

Hope Bassett

    February 8, 2013, at 262#, I started Taking Shape For Life with Hope at the steering wheel. When I tell you she was steering this boat, I am understating this tremendously, You see, I love to read, books. I hate reading instructions. I have all the written material Hope told me to get, I have all the written material Hope has sent me, I have signed up for everything Hope has told me to sign up for. I have not read any of it. ( I probably shouldn't be saying this ) Every question I've had or have, I call or text Hope and she has answers for me or finds the answers if she is not for sure. She has told me what to  do every step of the way. I did nothing on my own. I only do or did what I was or am told. I only kept and keep losing weight and getting healthy.

June 2013 My favorite "skinny" pic to date.




New Favorite "skinny" pic.

 

    To Hope, I say the same thing I said to Lucia, and these are the only 2 people ( angels ) I have ever said this to in my life, "Thank you for saving my life."



Day 1 262#                         Week 4 235#                      Week 8 217#                   Week 12 199#                  Week 16 182#  



 





178#

I'm Healthy, I'm Happy, I don't smoke, I'm no longer the heaviest person in the room, I've recently climb Mt Monadnock... Do it or keep doing it folks, it's really pretty cool.