kind of sad...

[ms_blueliner]

I just got back from the doctor and found out some kind of sad news. According to MY scale, I started Atkins @ 383 pounds. I have lost 55 pounds, making me 328 pounds. However... according to the doctor's scale (which happens to be the hospital's as well) I weigh 350 pounds. I wanted to cry when I saw that. I have kept myself going by telling myself, "only 45 more pounds". Now I feel like I'm not even halfway there... I still have like 70 pounds to go. It just seems really daunting suddenly. So, now I can't figure out if I have really lost 55 and started at 405, or if I have only lost 33. In addition to that... my doctor put me on blood pressure medication. I have NEVER been on any sort of blood pressure medication before in my life. What the heck??? The day has not gone well so far at all...

[Ryan.Stoeppel]

Re: kind of sad...

Hi Ms_Blueliner. I'm sorry you didn't have a good visit to the doctor today. Two things I will say though.

First off, don't compare scales! That is one of the worst things you can do! We have two scales in my house, plus when I go to the doctor every three months there is that scale as well. Each one reads differently. The only number I concentrate on is the one I get from my own personal scale in my bathroom. Sure, it is a bit sad that your scale and the doc's scale don't jive, but that scale also takes a daily punishment from any number of people. Does that mean the doc's scale is wrong? Maybe, maybe not. You can't be sure, that one isn't under your control. The one that is under your control, the one in your house, you can be sure of. The number on there is the number you started with and the only number you should truly be concerned with. There are so many factors that could go into why the number on the doc's scale is different...from the clothes you are wearing, the fact that you are most likely wearing shoes, maybe the doc's office is on the 5th floor and you scale at home is on the 1st floor...in the scientific community all those things would be called variables. Your control group is your own personal scale...go by that! It is more scientific!

Second, either way, whether you started at 405 and are at 350 now or you started at 383 and are at 328 right now you have made a drastic impact on your quality of life! No matter what the scale might read, it can't take that accomplisment, whatever it might be, away from you! Stay strong and keep it up! Sure, being put on medication for BP isn't what you wanted, but if you stick with it you won't need that medication any longer! When I started Atkins in February my BP was 183/79, but by the time I went back to the doctor in May, just three short months later, my BP was down to 150/78! I went from critical Stage 3 Hypertension to mild Stage 1 Hypertension. I believe in you, you can do it. You already have! Keep with it

[niko772]

Re: kind of sad...

What Ryan said...

[tuttifrutti]

Re: kind of sad...

Well hun, if your scale says you lost 55 lbs, you lost 55 lbs Regardless of what your DR's scale shows! You are doing a fantastic job and don't let the difference in the scales bring you down. I know it can seem frustrating to realize you have to lose more then you had expected...but just think of all the good you are doing for your body! Yes, it may take a little bit more extra time now to achieve your goal BUT we will be here for you ALL THE WAY! Hold your head up high and be proud of those 55 lbs cuz we sure are proud of you!!!

[SEHostetler]

Re: kind of sad...

Ryan said it best! But I know how stressful the scales can be, and somedays they make you feel good and other days they make you feel pretty bad. On the other hand, you've lost 55 lbs! That is amazing! That is something to feel very proud of and to be excited about! I know that when you look at how far you have to go to reach your goal that it seems like a lifetime away, but look at how far you've come already. The best thing you can do is just create mini goals for yourself rather than looking at the big picture all the time. That's something I've learned from fellow CCers. Anyway, keep your head up and remember that you've already done so well for yourself, so try not to get discouraged. Good luck!

[Avery]

Re: kind of sad...

I'm definitely in agreement with everyone else. I just wanted to add my congratulations to you on having such remarkable success. We're here for you. You are doing this, you have made such incredible progress.

We're proud of you. You be proud of you too.

Hugs,
Avery

[Maggiemuggs]

Re: kind of sad...

I would definately go by your scale. I used to work in a clinic, and because of the high staff turnover, the scales were never calibrated on a yearly basis until I started, and they were off by 10pds. Go by how you feel, how your clothes fit and not by the number.

[Elizellen]

Re: kind of sad...

I understand how you feel
I had a similar shock when I discovered that my doctor's scale weighed me as being 10 pounds higher than my home scales

But as the others have said, you have still lost the same number of pounds, even though you may have started at a higher number than you originally thought.

Congratulations on those 55 pounds discarded!!
Keep up the good work!

[sham]

Re: kind of sad...

Hi i want to congractulate you on the weight you have lost already just focus on losing the weight for your health and keep losing forget the scales for a while weigh in once a month or every 2 weeks to keep on track and to get your mind away from the scales.You are doing good the fact that you are losing weight shows the diet working for you take it a step at a time.

[SEHostetler]

Re: kind of sad...

Just checking in to see how you're doing and see if all your positive reinforcement has helped ease the anxiety and stress a little bit. I really hope that you're able to realize how far you've come and that that is the most important thing of all! You're doing great, keep up the good work, and remember to update us all on how you're doing!

[ms_blueliner]

Re: kind of sad...

Sorry it took me so long to reply to everyone!!!

Thank you all SO SO SO much for all the kind words of encouragement and advice. I know I should not have let the scale bother me, but for some reason it just really upset me. I think probably because I told myself that I would never see 350 again. But oh well... I just have to push myself even harder now. I took my scale to work and had my best friend weigh on it and it weighed her somewhere around 20 pounds high. So I am pretty sure something is wrong with my scale. I plan on buying a new one this weekend.

I just really need to focus on the fact that I DID lose 55 pounds, even if I started 20 pounds heavier than I thought.

Again... thank y'all so much. Reading your replies really turned by mood around and helped me not to be so gloomy.

[JohnSantos]

Re: kind of sad...

I just really need to focus on the fact that I DID lose 55 pounds

The brain does tend to focus on the negative. But there is no negative... you lost 55 lbs!

That's a HUGE accomplishment.

BP meds are nothing, as you shed more you won't even need them. They are just temporary as you cross the journey towards a better and healthier you.

[goin2befit]

Re: kind of sad...

I just wanted to add, that it doesn't matter how far you have to go, it is the will to be the best you that you can be! From my highest weight I was 417, my goal is like 160... so if I only focused on how big of a number that is **257 pounds** then I would never make it and go jump off a cliff!!! Literally! But I don't I try to think about how much my life is changing and how much better I feel. And how I'm learning something new about myself day after day... of course it hasn't been a bed of roses, but life isn't either... KWIM?

My concern is the BLOOD PRESSURE!!!! With that being said I was put on it before and I was taken off of it.. What changed, I controlled how much Pork I was eating and started walking 20 mins a day. After 2 months I was off of it and that was not while on Atkins or anything... So you may want to examine your menu and see if there is excessive amount of pork or pork chips (I'm not sure what they are called) or to much sodium enriched foods... BTW~ How high was your blood pressure? Has it been high before? How many times did the DR check it? I'm sorry to say but some Dr's make the wrong decision without checking properly... .Another BIG Question.... Did he/she take your blood pressure using a small cuff or a big cuff???? All of these things DO MATTER!!!!

[ms_blueliner]

Re: kind of sad...

I just wanted to add, that it doesn't matter how far you have to go, it is the will to be the best you that you can be! From my highest weight I was 417, my goal is like 160... so if I only focused on how big of a number that is **257 pounds** then I would never make it and go jump off a cliff!!! Literally! But I don't I try to think about how much my life is changing and how much better I feel. And how I'm learning something new about myself day after day... of course it hasn't been a bed of roses, but life isn't either... KWIM?

My concern is the BLOOD PRESSURE!!!! With that being said I was put on it before and I was taken off of it.. What changed, I controlled how much Pork I was eating and started walking 20 mins a day. After 2 months I was off of it and that was not while on Atkins or anything... So you may want to examine your menu and see if there is excessive amount of pork or pork chips (I'm not sure what they are called) or to much sodium enriched foods... BTW~ How high was your blood pressure? Has it been high before? How many times did the DR check it? I'm sorry to say but some Dr's make the wrong decision without checking properly... .Another BIG Question.... Did he/she take your blood pressure using a small cuff or a big cuff???? All of these things DO MATTER!!!!

I don't eat any pork products at all. I am allergic to it. As for the sodium, whatever it is I happen to be eating is made by me. I don't buy anything premade really. That really helps me control what is in my food. If I have too much sodium... I swell up like a balloon! lol.

My DR never personally checked my BP, it was his nurse and she only checked once. I still feel like it was high because I was upset about seeing that weight, but I could be wrong. As far as cuff size... I didn't really think to check.

[goin2befit]

Re: kind of sad...

Wow.. that is what I am trying to say to you... If you want to go on the BP meds that is kinda your choice, but I would defiantly go back again before starting the meds.

With my last pregnancy, similar thing happened. One time I went to the DR office and she had taken my temp with a small cuff, she started telling me I'm high risk, ect, ect... she sent me to L & D to be monitored and have it checked... (they have a large cuff) after 2 times (mind you each time I have to pay $75 co-pay!!) and it being normal I stopped and I told her that if my blood pressure is fine 2 times then obviously there is no need for me to keep checking... It was checked at my regular appointments and no problems.. .I never had a blood pressure problem, only her using the wrong cuff...

Also, anytime we are upset our blood pressure rises.. .and you are so right, if the scale was up and I'm for sure you were shocked and so many emotions and thoughts running through your head, it is a wonder you didn't pass out... just joking, but I think you see my point.

For me I know I'm over weight and I know my risk, I also know I'm not a doctor, but I don't do everything a doctor says b/c after all he is just practicing medicine!!! And isn't there so many Drs who thinks Dr Atkins is wrong...

Best of Luck...
~Amanda

P.s..
We should keep in touch.. we are about the same height and was about the same start weight... As for goal weights once I get down to 250 then we are going to try for more kiddo!!! Isn't it great to be tall b/c we can wear smaller sizes and still have a little extra weight... I'm 370.6 as of this am and wear a size 30 from Catherines... I see you are a size 28, so hopefully for my by around 340-350 I'll be too... yeah...