Day 560. 214 pounds lost.
I’ve talked about the condition on my right leg a few times; I have Blount’s disease. Its a growth disorder of the tibia (shin bone) that causes the lower leg to angle inward, resembling a bowleg. It started developing when I was about seven years old. I bring this up to discuss an important point today.
Its easier to show. This first image is an X-ray from about five years ago. The left side of the image showed a collapsed and tilted right knee.
This next image was today’s X-ray. The left side has now collapsed as well. Before you start thinking it was CrossFit, let me share something with you.
This wasn’t CrossFit. It was years and years of massive amounts of strain and pressure on my legs. I might not have been able to control the right side, but I could have controlled the left, and I failed on that. The poor left side was trying to compensate for so long that the soft tissue in the center of the knee just finally had enough.
I share this with you because of all the comments I have received asking about loose skin. Should this be your primary concern regarding weight loss? My plea to those of you reaching out to me is that you need to be concerned that you aren’t doing structural damage to your body because of the weight. The loose skin should be the least of your worries. I paid a dear price for carrying around hundreds of access weight for just too damn long.
What are you waiting for? I know it’s hard, but you need to GET ready. Our bodies are all we have and if we are careless (even if unintentional) there are consequences. This wasn’t physical activity or genetics…this was ME. Look at what I did!
Now get moving so you don’t have this problem. If you need help finding a local box or just support, let me know. I will be right here….. but don’t wait.
Is this going to stop me? Hell no. There will be movements that I will need to forever modify going forward but I’m not dead yet. You get out there and do what you can every. single. day.
Lovingly,
Bean
Thank you Athena for your courage and passion. You are what I love best about Crossfit!
Mike, thanks for the being the incredibly warm and supportive person that are. Makes doing all of this worth it and it keeps me going. Thank you…..
I’ve been struggling with weight loss. I’ve been doing crossfit almost 2 years and several times almost quit. Right now I’m scared I won’t be able to lose weight and I’m scared I will lose weight. Crazy. But my mantra right now is just keep going. I’m not going to quit. Reading your journey helps. Thank you
Kathy, Thank you for sharing this. Congrats on the several years of CrossFit, however, I understand the fears. Where do they come from? If you’re afraid of losing weight, then to keep going could be difficult because inadvertently that fear could stall progress. Have you identified where that’s coming from? Feel free to reach out on my contact form, it comes directly to my email. If you ever need a chat, Im right here.
I found you by reading the Crossfit newsletter then watching the video and finally listening to your podcast interview. Twice. I’m someone who is standing in the curtains on the side watching but still not daring to step out onto the stage. It’s a matter of lazy, mostly, and it’s years of letting myself down and not keeping promises to me that keeps biting. Thanks for being real and for being brave and determined. I’ve started a gratitude journal like you. My next step is to reach out for God’s hand Daily rather than just when I’m in a panic. I’ve been meaning to, but I find myself grabbing up the next book on how to fix me rather than turning to Him first. So there are points I’m learning from you. These are the first ones I’m choosing to work on. Thanks for this blog.
Ellen, Thank you for writing this and being brave enough to share it with me. For what its worth it took many years for me as well. It will take however long it takes, don’t kick yourself. Forgive yourself and most certainly… be kind to yourself. Surrender to GOD was a tough thing, we didn’t always have the best relationship because I thought he forgot about me. However, my life turned around when I turned to him. Gratitude as well is a powerful thing and it will be the best thing you ever did. Thank you for finding me, and thank you for this. 🙂
adapt and carry on. good info.
High five sister 🙂 Thank you…. 🙂