- By Healthi Coach, Mindy Matus
Let's be real, weight loss is a journey most people would rather not be on. I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. I've succeeded and I've failed. I've lost a ton of weight, and I've gained it all back. An endless loop of insanity. I've tried just about every program out there. I've bought pills, powders, shakes....I've read books, listened to CDs, and taken classes. Did they work? Sometimes, but it wasn't sustainable success. For one, I wasn't doing it for the right reasons. I had little, to no regard for my long term health. I just wanted to "look good." Boy... was I in for a surprise awakening.
Dec 2nd, 2019, I left work feeling short of breath. Having asthma, and recurring bouts with bronchitis and pneumonia, I decided to head on to the ER to get checked out. X-rays revealed the beginning stages of pneumonia, no surprise there, and the ER doctor advised intravenous antibiotics to nip it in the bud. I was all for it because with Christmas right around the corner, I couldn't afford to miss any work.
The nurse started the IV and I settled in, playing on my phone to pass time as the antibiotics slowly dripped into my veins. Within about 5 minutes I felt this weird burning sensation in the palms of my hands. I quickly began to realize something was very, very wrong. I waved to the nurses station as panic set in and my life from that point changed forever.
I was in full blown anaphylaxis.They administered an EpiPen that did little to nothing and I passed out shortly after. Hospital records revealed they gave me the second and final dose of epinephrine and just minutes after I was intubated and Care Flighted to a larger hospital downtown. I went into respiratory failure and was put on a ventilator. They kept me in a medically induced coma, waiting to see if I would breathe on my own. I never did.
After 13 days I was given a tracheotomy and a feeding tube was placed in my stomach. My family was told I may never breathe, walk, talk, or eat on my own again and was advised to find a nursing home so I could slowly begin a rehabilitation program.
I had other plans. After about the 15th day, I was conscious and fully aware of what was going on. My muscles had completely atrophied from being motionless for so long and even picking up my phone was hard, it was SO heavy. Physical therapy came in and got me to stand. I was only able to stand for a brief moment but I did it!! And I felt a wave of motivation and determination rise up in me I had never felt before. I was getting out of that hospital without a tube in my neck and on my own 2 feet, and I was going to go HOME. And much to my doctors and the hospital staff's surprise, that is exactly what I did.
It was a long road, but on December 27, just 2 days past Christmas and 25 days after being admitted, I went home, sans tube, walking (with a walker but still walking) and able to eat food.
Now how does all this pertain to weight loss you ask? Well, it absolutely changed my entire mindset about EVERYTHING. I do not take my health for granted anymore. I'm doing things the healthy way, even if it is the slower way. And you know what? I feel better than I have in a long time. I'm choosing healthy foods, I'm listening to my body, I'm taking care of myself mentally and spiritually, I'm getting enough sleep and I'm more forgiving of my mistakes. No crazy diets or pills or skipping meals. Low and behold, I'm losing weight.
Now, I'm focusing on my health and doing things for the RIGHT reasons.... so I can live longer and have a better quality of life. I've found it to be a lot less stressful and I'm way happier. Weight loss just happens to be a wonderful side effect to this change of attitude and lifestyle.