My weight-loss story

There are many reasons I need to lose weight, but the biggest one for me is I need to avoid having surgery on my shoulders and pecs. The surgery I would need is for my thoracic outlet syndrome and pectoralis minor syndrome.
Each of these basically make my arms numb 80% of the time, and cause them to be weak.
I've seen several doctors, and I've been told by most of them that I should have the surgery, all but one who told me I may need a breast reduction, but first I should try to lose weight.

I was told this when I was 176 lbs, and being only 5'2", that is considered obese.
Since being told that, I have been dieting and exercising and have so far, in only a month lost 12 lbs. Those 12lbs gone has improved my problem by at least a few percentage points, so now I am in pain less. That is a glorious feeling.

I have never really had the motivation to exercise and I viewed food as a kind of release, and I coveted it. However, the motivation now is avoiding a 7 day hospital and almost 8 month recovery time surgery. This is the best motivation I can hope for. I eat less, but a lot healthier, and my new release is exercise.

I started and I could only do 10 squats, and could barely keep my breath to do any cardio exercises at all. Now I can do 50+ squats and I can do cardio exercises for 30 minutes. Drastic improvements to say the least.

I am by no means close to what I would like to be at shape wise, but I do see hope in that I won't need any kind of surgery at all. And that keeps me going.

I hope that if any of you reading this are having trouble finding motivation that you find hope in my story. You don't need a huge excuse like I did. Just do it. Even if you don't want to exercise or want that cookie, think of how great you will feel about yourself if you replace your cravings with exercise.

Being overweight and obese is hard on your body. For all I know that is what exacerbated my symptoms, that and pregnancy. But I know I feel so much better. I have a long way to go. But my sense of accomplishment grows with every pound lost.

You can do it :D