My Weight Loss Journey with IBS

I only took what my car could hold when I decided to move. I knew I would need nice clothes for work, so I brought all I could and planned on making things work. While looking for work, I was home a lot and, because of my "normal" issues, never thought to try my clothes on to make sure they fit. My weight has stayed pretty close to the same for years. Never would I have thought I would have clothes not fit due to being too big.

The scale has never been a friend to me. I have always dreaded it for years because of the steady climb I have watched. No matter how many days I would go to the gym and work out or how well I ate and watched calories, it never went down. My whole life has been watching that scale, praying for the numbers to stop increasing.

Relocating with IBS

In April, my sister Amy and I had a plan in place. We had a date for our move. I knew things would improve for me, so I went with it. Finally, I needed to give in and accept the help she had graciously offered me for years. Having someone, I could talk to without fear of what she would think or say was what I guess my body needed as well.

We moved in June. I had already begun looking for work before we left. I had interviews lined up for the first couple of weeks of being here, but I FINALLY got an excellent job in a great place back home where I belong. From June until August, I just lived life. I didn’t think about all the things going on. I went with the flow. I let Amy help and tried to let go of my thoughts of not being good enough.

Weight loss and IBS

I started getting things together in August and was ready to start work. My sister got me a few more work outfits, so I was prepared. During the first half of the month, we got back in the swing of Z being back in school. We enjoyed the rest of the summer break then I got the call I had been waiting on. I was offered the job I desperately needed and wanted. The first week I noticed my clothes weren’t fitting quite so well. My pants seemed loose. Odd, I thought, until I reluctantly got on the scale. To my surprise, I had lost about 30 pounds since April. I was SHOCKED.

For the first time in over a decade, the scale is finally going down instead of up. I never thought I would see this again. After pondering it for a while, I am beginning to understand why. Accepting Amy’s help and finally not worrying as much is helping my gut. Not only with the IBS but is also slowing down the dumping syndrome. It’s funny what less stress in your life can do. Not that the stress is gone, but knowing I have someone to lean on who doesn’t judge me has made a massive difference in all aspects of my life. Thirty pounds doesn’t seem like much, but to me, it's huge.

My weight loss journey is just beginning, and I have a LONG way to go, but I know I will get there now. It may take some leaning on others for the things I can’t do alone and accepting the help that Didda graciously offered.

It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to accept the help that is offered. Sometimes it's just what we need to start the journey to a better life.