Tag: obesity

🌟 3 Years, 94 Pounds, and a Whole New Me 🌟

Three years ago, I stood on the scale and saw 209 lbs staring back at me. That number was more than just a reflection of my weight. It was a reflection of how much I’d been struggling in silence. My body wasn’t just unhappy. It was literally screaming for help, and I was doing my absolute best to ignore it.

Let me set the stage for you. My blood pressure was completely out of control. Honestly, it was at stroke level dangerous. As a nurse who started out on a neurosurgical unit in the “stroke capital of the world,” I knew exactly what those numbers meant. To be frank, it freaked me the eff out. My cholesterol levels weren’t much better, and then I was hit with a sleep apnea diagnosis that I tried to pretend wasn’t a thing. Spoiler alert: denial doesn’t magically make the snoring stop. Who knew? 😅

On top of all that, my energy was gone, my confidence was shattered, and I felt like I was stuck in a never-ending loop of “lose 5lbs, gain 10 back.”

When the “Math Didn’t Math”

Fast forward to about 2.5 years ago. My doctor and I finally said, “enough is enough.” I had managed to lose 30lbs on my own, but with the tiniest change of adding just one regular soda back to my diet once a month, I quickly gained 20lbs back. My doctor agreed with me that my math just didn’t math. My calories in were not equaling my calories out, which is something so many women with PCOS struggle with!

At 192 lbs, I began my GLP-1 weight loss journey. Let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my longevity. Thanks to my incredible telehealth team at EllieMD, I finally had the tools, guidance, and accountability to turn things around. They monitored my progress and kept my wellness plan on point. The community was there to cheer me on, even when I was tempted to drown my frustrations in chips. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes the snacks really do call your name! 🍟🙈

I remember standing there on October 3, 2023, taking a side-profile photo at 192.6 lbs. I was terrified, but I knew I needed that ‘before’ because this time, I was actually going to change my life with GLP-1

There’s a specific milestone around 150 lbs where the ‘paper towel effect’ kicked in. Suddenly, the clothes I was wearing, like this bright blue dress I finally felt confident in, started fitting differently, and for the first time, I didn’t want to hide from the camera.

Pushing Past 135 lbs

I really thought 135 lbs was my absolute “ceiling” because, for my entire adult life, my body had drawn a line in the sand right there.

To understand why that number felt like a dead end, we have to go back to when I was 19. I was 115 lbs and decided to go on the Depo-Provera shot. Little did I know, I had undiagnosed PCOS, and that medication threw my hormones into a literal tailspin. I gained 15 lbs in just 72 hours. Let that sink in! Over the next few months, while that medication was still in my system, I gained another 15 lbs.

For the longest time, 150 lbs became my frustrating “baseline.” I had managed to drop down near that initial 15 lb gain once before, but I could never, ever break below it. Every other time I tried to lose weight, I hit a wall at that second 15 lb mark and stayed stuck.

But I have to be real with you: the times in my past when I did get down to 150, or even when I was 115 at nineteen, I did NOT get there the healthy way. I was struggling, my habits weren’t sustainable, and my body wasn’t actually thriving.

This is the first time in my life that I have been at a healthy weight and actually done it the healthy way. Reaching a normal BMI and pushing past that 135 lb hurdle with EllieMD wasn’t just a weight loss win. It was a metabolic breakthrough. For the first time since I was a teenager, my hormones aren’t running the show in a negative way. I finally have the medical support to keep my PCOS in check and the tools to maintain this 94 lb loss for the long haul.

The Results: 94 Pounds Down

Here I am today, 94 pounds lighter, rocking a normal BMI for the first time since I was 19 years old.

What has changed since reaching 115 lbs?

• Sleep Apnea: Completely gone.
• Blood Pressure: Controlled and healthy.
• Cholesterol: Finally playing nice.
• Confidence: Through the roof!

But let me be real for a second. This journey has not been all rainbows and glitter. 🌈✨ There were tough days, tears, and moments when I questioned if I could actually do it. There were times when progress felt slow, and I had to remind myself that every small victory added up to something bigger. This transformation didn’t happen overnight, and it certainly didn’t happen without effort. But oh, was it worth it.

Learning to Live Again

I’ve learned so much over these three years. I’ve learned to celebrate the little wins, like fitting into a smaller size and having more energy to play with my bulldog Rossi. She was very happy about this, by the way 🐶. And oh yeah… I ran a freakin 5K!

Most importantly, I’ve learned that taking care of myself isn’t selfish. It is necessary. This journey wasn’t just about weight loss results. It was about saving my life. It was about proving to myself that I am resilient and worth the effort.

Let me tell you, you are worth it!

Ready to Start Your Own Journey with EllieMD?

If you’re sitting there feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like it’s just too hard, I want you to know something. You can do this. One step, one choice, and one day at a time. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.

What You Get When You Start Your Journey

Starting your transformation with EllieMD means you are never just a number on a scale. You are getting a comprehensive, medically-backed wellness plan designed to help the “math finally math” for your body!

• Medical Provider Consults: You’ll work with a telehealth team that actually listens to your history, including things like PCOS or perimenopause struggles.
• GLP-1 Medication Support: Access to the tools that helped me break through my 135 lb plateau and reach a normal BMI.
• Monthly Wellness Plans: No more guessing games. You get a clear roadmap for your nutrition and health goals.
• Ongoing Lab Monitoring: We keep it safe and clinical by keeping a close eye on your bloodwork and progress.

✨ THE BESTIE BONUS ✨

Exclusive Nurse Coaching with me

When you join through my link, you aren’t just getting a website. You are getting me in your corner! As a Registered Nurse with over a decade of healthcare experience (and 94 lbs lost myself), I’m here to help you navigate the real-life side of this journey.

Whether you are a night shift worker trying to figure out your injection schedule or you just need a hype-girl who understands the struggle, I’ve got you. No gatekeeping, just real support from someone who has been exactly where you are!

Maintenance is a beast of its own, and of course, I am sharing that whole process with y’all too. Whether you are a fellow nurse working the night shift or someone just looking to feel like themselves again, you are worth it! I am so grateful for the team at Ellie MD for helping me get my life back.

_{Professional Disclosure: I provide BS-free metabolic education as a registered nurse and health coach for women navigating PCOS, perimenopause, and stubborn weight loss. While I share evidence-based research and nurse-informed support, please remember that I am not your nurse. The content shared here is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Nothing on this site is a substitute for care from a licensed provider who knows your full health history. All opinions and content shared on this platform are my own and do not reflect the views or endorsements of my employer or the hospital where I am employed.}

_{Scope of Practice and FDA: Per professional coaching guidelines, I may recommend over the counter (OTC) medications or supplements to support your wellness goals. However, I do not prescribe or recommend specific prescription medications. For prescription options, including GLP-1 tools, my role is to help you understand the available science so you can have an informed discussion with your licensed healthcare provider. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and medical treatments require professional oversight.}

_{Trust and Transparency: I only recommend products I trust. Most are items I use personally, while others are shared based on my professional trust in the clinical standards of partners like Ellie MD. Some links are affiliate links or part of brand partnerships, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.}