I wasn’t always a fitness enthusiast. I didn’t always eat a well-balanced diet. In fact, I was a heavytarian. This is what you call a vegetarian who mostly lives on complete crap. THAT WAS ME!! French fries? YES PLEASE! Biggie size em! Grilled cheese made in butter with 3 types of cheeses? EVERY day.
I was also depressed. Clinically depressed. I had no idea at the time that my ADHD coupled with my PCOS and PMDD made my life hell. It wasn’t until I got my diagnosis that my mom took me and had me put my happy behind on birth control that my life changed.
My life changed, but the habits I had developed over many years, hadn’t. On top of that, I had recently moved from Ohio to NYC and was attending college. Being in a city where I had few friends, and going to school at the same time meant my weight ticked up to an all time high of 310 lbs. You read that right, 310 lbs.
That’s me and my mom. Apart from my size, notice the eyebrows, HELLO, 2004!! When I got these pictures back, I realized something had to give. I felt huge. I looked huge. I felt ill all the time. I weighed more than linebackers! Something had to change. On top of all that, my weight put me squarely OUT of the arena of stage/screen actor and into the “voiceover actor only” arena. It was more than disheartening, the one thing I had always dreamed of doing, I was preventing myself from achieving. No one wanted to meet with me, no one wanted another “fat-girl friend” actress on their roster/on their show/in their commercial. I would look in the mirror every morning and hate what was looking back at me. I couldn’t take it anymore.
The next week I made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon specializing in gastric bypass. This was my biggest mistake and the beginning of 2 years of hell and many more of complications.
In March of 05 I had my surgery. It wasn’t two days later that I wondered if it was a mistake. I couldn’t keep anything down and was switched to IV nutrients only for 7 days. I still could barely keep anything down. This lasted 6 months. Also, a good amount of my duodenum was damaged and so I could no longer produce and store sufficient amount of B-12, and without that, your body doesn’t get enough iron, without iron, you pass out-a lot.
Around 1 year after my surgery, I really started to work out and eat well. I went into the surgery thinking all of this weight was just going to fall right off and I wasn’t going to need to work at it, I was wrong. I did need to work, and I did need to exercise, and I had to quit making excuses. Eventually I went down to 138lbs-this I found to be too thin for my near 6′ frame. I now vacillate between 143-147.
Then, I discovered running. I discovered that I could challenge myself every time I tied my laces. I knew that I could make it that it would never get easy. There was always another mile, another hill, another turn. I could do it anywhere. I didn’t need an expensive gym membership or a ton of equipment. I just needed feet. Luckily, I had a pair. Even if it was a very large (sz 11) pair. I also discovered that eating healthy didn’t have to taste like crap. It could be delicious. Foods, as they are, from the earth, can taste great. What a concept. I also discovered I had a passion to share my love of food and running and fitness with the world, so maybe one more overweight person can realize what’s possible.
After running and eating and fitness came babies. Once again, my life changed. I found myself taking bites of my son’s food, and sitting at home more instead of walking. I found my time crunched and my butt getting bigger. My regimen needed to change. I needed to learn that being good to my kids also meant being good to me. It’s been hard, and I’m still figuring it out.
What I do know is that eating right and moving my body makes me a happier person and therefore, a better mom. I know that I feel awesome in my own strength, and I want others to feel the same. It’s easy to go around not changing anything, and change is scary, but damn, is it ever worth it.
Nice Blog with Excellent information
wow, your story is so inspiring!
Thank You!!
I relate to you in many ways. I struggled with depression as a teenager, I am tall (5’11) moved to Brooklyn because of my husband, not knowing a soul… Anyway running has been a great outlet for me, and maintains my sanity as a busy Mom with two boys. I enjoy your blog thank you for sharing your journey!
Thank you. It’s not always easy as you know, but it’s always worth it!!!
I had no idea that we have so very much in common, Cat. I’m tall with big feet and a big weight problem. As of last week, I weight 349 pounds. I’m more glad than ever that we met.
Aww, thanks Tara. I feel the same! I am learning so much from bloghopcon!
Beautiful write up! I am so happy I found your blog
Thanks for sharing <3
Thank you so much!
Great story – I’m glad I found your blog! Tall and from Ohio? We’re meant to be blog friends
Lol!!! Awesome!!!
wow what a story! Thanks for sharing! Becoming healthy is certainly a journey. Isn’t it great once you realize eating healthy can be delicious! Your kids are adorable:)
yes, it is great! And it feeeeels great! Thank you!
You’ve got such an inspiring story and adorable family!
P.S. You’ve just acquired another tall reader
Thank you! Hooray for amazons!!
Found your blog through Matt’s and glad I did because YOU are a true inspiration. I love how you didn’t just accept your situation and took life into your own hands. Can’t wait to read more!
Thank you. Btw, you’re gorgeous.
Hey Cat, we probably haven’t seen each other since I was MAYBE 10 or 11 but I’m Julies little sister! I just wanted to say thank you for keeping me occupied for the 8 boring hours I’m at work. I’m probably almost halfway done with your entire blog!!! hah!
I remember you, Jenna D. Thanks for reading!
You; my dear, are an inspiration. I hit 277 and that was it for me. Barely making it into the largest size pants available at Lane Bryant was the kicker. I had enough. I started my journey in January 2012 and now in mid-March 2012 I am down 16 pounds and counting. I have a long way to go but I can’t wait to reach my goal weight.
Thanks for sharing your amazing story!
Just remember, it’s a journey, not a race!!
I love your honesty and your story!
thank you, Chelsea!
You are amazing, and I envy you so much. I love that you are a normal person, not a skinny stick complaining about “food bellies” and “fat days”. You are a true inspiration and I love how you write! Reading your blog actually brought me to tears, I was laughing so hard!!
I’m interested in how you got into the routine of exercising, lacking iron and all. I, too, am iron deficient and regularly pass out, especially while working out. How did you get past that barrier? Please share your knowledge!
Thank you!!!
for me it was all about finding what worked to keep my levels in check. I do it with a combination of diet, an iron supplement, and b-12 injections to aid in their absorption. My advice would be to get a referral to a really good hematologist, it can be life changing.
Good to know, thank you!
Amazingly inspirational story. Bariatric surgery was indeed not the answer!
Wow. I’m a pretty new reader to your blog and didn’t know about any of this. What an amazing journey!
Just found your blog-looking forward to “getting to know you”.
Thank you for the motivation. People who fall down and stand up again are the greatest motivation ! It’s important for us who are down to have courage and strength to move up! To know that we are empowered to change our lives for the better and feel happy again!
Wishing you all the best.
Wow – love your story! Very honest and inspiring. I’ve seen a lot of posts that glorify their surgery experiences but I know my friend’s experience was the opposite; thank you for being so honest.
You’re also hilarious – I’m reading your posts from the beginning and they’re awesome!
thank you!! That is so kind!!
WOW! Great story! I used to be a horrible eater. Anything that smelled or looked good would go straight to my mouth and then to my hips! I learned that I had to balance the bad with the good (more good is best). So, I started eating a lot of organic foods. Without all the toxins, I started feeling 100% better!
I love your story. Just curious, I also have PCOS and you mentioned that you got put on birth control and it changed your life. What kind of birth control did you take that helped your conditions?
At first it was the Nuva Ring, and then I switched to the patch!
Cat! I can totally relate to the once “heavytarian”… even though I ate meat. Once, I shamefully ate an entire pack of oreos in one day — back in college. I was mentally and physically ill. Grave’s Disease had plagued me and along with impaired judgement, it sent my body through a whirlwind of ups and downs. Unfortunately, I had reverse effects of the typical Grave’s Disease (most people lose a lot of weight– I gained a lot of weight) and it seems now, like it took forever for my diagnosis to actually happen. Everyone just told me… “it’s the freshman 15, get over it”…. little did they know I’d be having surgery to remove most of both thyroid glands a few months later.. Anyway, I’m happy and healthy now, so I guess we’re in the same boat again
Awesome to have read your story. Keep truckin’, girl 
you too!!!
Heh, you’re funny! And a bit salty! Salt makes everything, better.
I can relate somewhat to your story, but of course it differs. I tipped the scales once at 220+ pounds and for a while, still couldn’t get things right. I was a bright student, doing mediocre schoolwork college as I packed on pounds. It’s ten years later, and I’m now feeling like I’m who I should be. Looking forward to reading more of you stuff!
I am so impressed with your story. Thanks for sharing. I just started blogging about my own weight losing journey. I’ve been overweight all my life and was raised in an obese household. I am just now trying to gain control over my eating. It’s so hard but worth it. I’m looking forward to reading more about your blog and trying your recipes. YUM!
I’ve just begun my journey to a healthier me and in my googling for encouraging blogs that I can keep up with I came across yours! Thank-you in advance for giving me a place to come when I’m in need of inspiration, encouragement, advice, etc. Please feel free to check out my blog- it’s new, so there isn’t much on it now, but I started it to help keep me accountable in this new adventure!
You are awesome!
Wow! First I was bowled over by all the recipes, then the humor, now the background and story. I’m short and from Cali, but feel connected, too. Thanks for letting us in on your story.
thank you so much for the kind words!