Week 3 Check-in: Weight Related Illnesses

I had a few challenges to my weight loss this week that's why my weight stayed the same at an 11 lb loss. But the good news is that I've consistently lost inches, now totaling 2-¾.

Pain in my right foot the last few months has hampered my progress, so I finally decided to go to a doctor. He said I have plantar fascitiis (pronounced fash-ee-EYE-tus), which is an inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the feet that connects your heel to your toes. In laymen's terms, it's a pain in your heel.

So to heal my heel, I've now been put on a regime of medication, physical therapy, and an ugly black booth like a Frankenstein leg (see image) that I wear at night to keep the foot in a bent position.

Some common causes are high arches or flat feet, wearing shoes that don't fit well, standing or walking on hard surfaces, and oh wait … being overweight. What a surprise.

Actually, I'm making a joke of it because I've heard a laundry list of ailments caused by being overweight for years. I used to poohoo it saying in an invincible tone "that won't happen to me." But, guess what … it is happening to me. Over the last few years, my list of weight-related ailments has increased from zero to sleep apnea, Barretts disease, and now plantar fascitiis. If it keeps going like this, I'm going to be adding diabetes soon.

My challenge now is to hold steady on my healthy course, and keep exercising. The stair climbing may be put on hold because the doctor said no high impact workouts, so I'll increase the water aerobics, do lots of stretching with my physical therapist, and begin strength building.

It's times like this, when the going gets tough that I usually cave-in to binge eating—going back to old bad eating habits. But, this time, I'm not buying into that kind of emotional impulsive behavior. What's that saying? "When things are tough, the tough get going." I'm taking the tough route!

WHAT KIND OF WEIGHT-RELATED ILLNESSES DO YOU HAVE?