Or should that be the do-over blocks I wonder? It’s not exactly the first time I’ve tried to lose this unsightly weight, or the second, or third. You get the picture? This time however there’s a very clear bigger picture to look at. Losing weight to become healthier would be great. Shifting pounds to have more energy would actually be awesome. Shrinking to be able wear smaller sized clothes would be kinder on my finances. But my main reason for losing weight is to get my medical team to look past the excess fat and start treating me like they would a person of normal weight.
I have a number of health issues. I’ll be the first to admit that some of them are not helped by the fact that I’m overweight. Ok, obese. Morbidly obese even. But as I eventually had my neurologist admit, there’s more going on with my health that can be cured by achieving a sylph like figure. Problem is that they have a problem accepting that. Despite the fact that slim people have health issues, their attitude is that I would be healthy – my time gaps, memory loss, falling over, co-ordination problems etc. would disappear – if I wasn’t overweight. I’m not a doctor. I didn’t go to medical school. But you know what? I don’t think so! So that’s my main motivation: to get the doctors to see me as a person instead of a large lump of lard and start to fix me so that I can have my life back.
If you’re reading this, maybe you’d like a little bit more information than the fact I’m an overweight woman! Ok, so my name is Katie-Anne, I’m 42 years old, English, living in Sweden and married to my Swedish soulmate whom I met online and married almost 9 years ago. Together we have 2 adorable little boys, Jake (6) and Connor (3). Jake is an ex-preemie with a few health issues of his own, including the fact that he’s recently been diagnosed as having Aspergers. He’s a complicated little guy who’s smart, funny and very intense about things. His little brother on the other hand is happy and loud, 95% sunshine. Between the two of them and their father, I feel I am an incredibly lucky person. Add to that my work as a freelance writer, a job I adore, and my life blessings are too numerous to count.
My health, as I said, isn’t good. I’m diabetic, epileptic (jury’s still out on whether that one is the right diagnosis or not!), and have deep vein thrombosis. I also have the symptoms mentioned above plus severe headaches that have had me in the hospital but no diagnosis there yet either. My life is also ruled by chronic fatigue (with all the symptoms associated with CFIDS but no diagnosis). Actually when you think about it, the main diagnosis I’ve had to date is overweight! You see the problem?
So that’s me. I’m Katie-Anne, and as of today, I’m a momma on a diet!
New Ways Hospitals are Helping Overweight Patients
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fitness