The History
I’ve been overweight for 18 years. I always thought I could just make the decision and change my
eating and activity habits with the snap of my fingers and that would be the
end of my unhealthy lifestyle. Every time I tried, something would happen and I
would get discouraged, gaining the little weight I had lost back, plus more. It
got to the point that I was almost 300 pounds
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| Spring 2007 |
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| Fall 2007 |
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| Summer 2010 |
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| Summer 2010 |
And Then
I moved to South Korea in the summer of 2010. After two
years, my weight had yo-yoed like nobody’s business from all the changes in my
lifestyle there. I had HAD it! I started looking for ways to PERMANENTLY change
my life. Enter Sunny Smart Shopping on Facebook. Sunny always posts the most
interesting and helpful things on her page and helps foreigners, like me, with
pretty much anything! One day in the fall of 2012, she posted an ad for an
oriental medical clinic that would offer a free 3-month weight loss program
(valued over 2 million won, or about $2,000) to a hand selected individual. I
sent my information in thinking, this probably won’t work (I mean, why was
modern medicine created if the ancient stuff works?), but what could it hurt?
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| Summer 2010 |
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| Winter 2011 |
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| Spring 2011 |
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| Summer 2011 |
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| Winter 2012 |
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| Summer 2012 |
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| Summer 2012 |
Dr. Kim, a kind and sincere doctor from DoDream Oriental Medical Clinic, greeted me when I got to the clinic. He asked me about my goals
and told me his expectations for me during the diet program he would tailor
specifically to my body and my health needs. He paid close attention to all of
my health issues while I was under his care. I have never had a doctor who
seemed so invested in my health and wellness as Dr. Kim has been. Between
weekly visits to the clinic, he would email me to check and make sure I was
doing well. What kind of doctor does that?! An awesome one, that’s what kind.
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| First meeting with Dr. Kim |
The Medicine
I took two types of medicines. One was a “juice” that I
drank with every meal. With dinner, I took herbal BB pellets. Dr. Kim made me
new medicine (both the juice and pellets) every two weeks, tailored to how my
body was changing and how I felt. To be honest, the first two weeks were the
hardest. I had to get used to the medicine, which my body took to quickly, but
my taste buds took a little longer to adjust. After that, I almost craved the
medicine, and felt that a meal wasn’t complete without it.
The Diet
What has had the greatest impact on me is the change in
diet. I was restricted to eating lean meat (basically chicken breast and steak with
little to no fat) and vegetables (except for potatoes). I couldn’t have any
grain-based food (rice, pasta, bread, etc.) or fruits (except tomatoes,
thankfully- they're my fave). I couldn’t drink any juices or alcohol. If I had tea, there could
be no sugar or honey in it. I could have dairy products, but the lightest of
the light and just a little bit,
preferably not at all.
I was so fed up with how I felt and looked that I didn’t
care about all the restrictions. I would do almost anything to become
healthier. And that’s what happened. I found different ways to make food I
loved but couldn’t have because they were on the “no-no” list. It wasn’t as
difficult as I thought it was going to be, probably because I had made the
decision, for myself, that something
had to work. I think I have enjoyed my food more now than I ever have. Do you
know that guilty and gross feeling you get after you eat a really delicious
meal? I have not experienced that since changing to a paleo diet.
The Side Effects?
There were a few side effects for the first one or two
weeks. I was dizzy, had insomnia, felt shaky, a perpetual stomach ache… it felt
like a hangover that wouldn’t go away. My muscles felt like there was a lot of
lactic acid build-up in the second week. The great thing is the side effects
went away after my body got used to the medicine and Dr. Kim made me feel so
much better with acupuncture in the meantime. It was more annoying than
disabling, if anything.
The Treatment
I am deathly afraid of needles. Only in the past year have I been able to go into a doctors office without shaking from fear of getting a
shot. Needless to say, the thought of MANY needles being jammed into my body,
LEAVING them there and then attaching electrodes
to those needles… I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. Dr. Kim calmly
told me he’s good at acupuncture as I exposed my belly and winced as he took
aim and… nothing. Acupuncture feels like a whole bunch of nothing as the needle
goes in and just sits there. When he attached and turned on the electrodes it
felt like a tingling jiggling feeling around where I had been pierced. I felt
like I had a bunch of tiny lightening rods in me and I was being transformed
through electric pulses. Yeah… that’s a fun way to explain it! At my last diet
appointment, I was told that would be my last electric acupuncture session, and
I was so sad! I love acupuncture. I have been relieved of muscle tension,
stomachaches, and even a twisted ankle with it. It seems almost like magic when I
get up and walk out of the office feeling as good as new after a session. Every
two weeks I would have my “InBody” measurements taken. Inbody measures your
height and body composition, calculates your weight and your BMI, and then
finally determines what changes you should make. At first, those clinic visits
were the ones I dreaded, and then they became days I looked forward to.
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| First acupuncture session~ |
The Weight
The first two weeks I didn’t feel like I had lost much
weight, but I dropped about 5kg (11lb.). I was so surprised and excited when I
found out the results. At that point I started to really “believe” that
oriental medicine really did work!
Week after week, I waved good-bye to kilogram after kilogram. The weeks turned
into months and the several kilograms turned into dozens of kilograms. People
started commenting on my appearance at work and on facebook. I stopped
breathing so heavily climbing to my 4th floor apartment. I could run
a descent distance without feeling like I was going to die. My clothes were
getting looser and looser. I thought, so this is what it feels like to succeed
in health. I’m hooked!
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| This shirt used to be so tight! |
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| One year apart... |
The Aftermath
By the doctor’s record, I’ve lost 25kg (55lb.). I have
officially gone down TWO sizes in every clothing aspect. Even my shoes are
looser! My official “fat(ter) girl” clothes literally fall off of me. My belt
is going to need more holes soon. My work clothes need some SERIOUS
alterations. If I don’t get them soon, I might get in trouble for indecent
exposure from them falling off because they’re too big! It’s kind of an awesome
problem to have.
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| I can't wear these jeans without a belt... they'll fall right off! |
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| Don't get too excited now... |
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| I couldn't button this shirt when I first got it. |
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| I guess I can't button it now either...hehehe |
The Maintenance
Because I’ve lost so much weight so quickly, I had to go on
a maintenance program per the doctor’s request. Now I take BB tablets with
every meal. I need to spend two months taking these tablets before my weight
can be considered “stable.” Dr. Kim said I could eat like I used to, but I don’t want
to! Obviously my body doesn’t need or like all that yucky stuff I was putting
in it, so I’ve continued to eat lean meats, vegetables, and I’ve added a fruit
or two in the mix.
The Future
I will go beyond “maintenance” and will progress! My future
is so bright and fit. I now have the jumpstart, knowledge and tools I need to
live a full, healthy and prosperous life. I want to share this knowledge with
everyone I know, especially those I care about. I can’t imagine my life going
back to the way it was. Now that I’ve “seen the light”… My candle has been lit
and I’m looking to light others’ while moving up my path of success.
Need a light?
