My Story

I was never overweight as a child or as a teenager but that all changed when I got married, started a family and went back to school. With every pregnancy I gained weight. I packed on 65 pounds with my first pregnancy. With diet and exercise I was able to lose 30 pounds before getting pregnant with my second child. During that pregnancy I gained back the 30 I lost plus an additional 15 pounds.  During my annual exam I found out that I was pregnant with our third child. Just like before I gained weight. I had lost some weight in that year before and tried my hardest not to gain a ton of weight but I still gained. I gained 35 pounds. I knew I needed to do something to lose the weight but allowed excuses to hold me back from really losing all the weight. Between yo-yo dieting and different workout plans I would lose 15/20 pounds, but once I started going to college I gained every pound back. Recently I noticed that slowing a few pounds have dropped off and stayed off, but nothing that has made a difference to how I feel or look.  

November of 2011 I joined a Biggest Loser Challenge. I felt this was the perfect time to get serious about losing weight. I have stacks of diet books, programs, cook books, DVD’s, equipment. You name it I own it. This time was going to be different. I came across a blog by a woman who had lost half her body weight. She inspired me to lose on my terms, my way, for myself. I took a long look in the mirror at my lifestyle including diet and all the excuses that have held me back in the past. Things like too busy to workout. We don’t have enough money for a gym membership. We can’t afford to eat right. I don’t know if I have enough support from friends and family. I have too much to lose to bother trying. I noticed that all of these excuses were just that excuses. I can find time to workout at home with or without my family depending on my schedule. I can cut my portions and slowly make changes to my diet that are healthy and still stay within my grocery budget. I have also found that you need to ask for support or seek it elsewhere if you need it. Not only do I have the support of my family and friends but I also have my online support groups that allow me to vent about things I may not feel comfortable venting to close friends and family about. Everything together has allowed me to find myself and what works for me and how I need it to work. I am not dropping mass amounts of weight overnight. In January 2013 I had lost a total of 59 pounds in 2yrs and loved that I was doing it the healthy way through diet and exercise. In 2014 I asked for a divorce. It was a tough decision but one that I felt I needed to make for myself. Through depression, stress and life changes I gained some weight back.  It's time to stop feeling sorry for myself though. I am still down 29 pounds. I have 47 to drop and know how; so I am going to lace up my shoes and walk it off.