We are a friendly group of ladies who have one thing in common. We are all working together toward our goal of being healthier in our daily lifestyles and to lose weight. There are all different ages and backgrounds here and we all have different ways of losing our weight. We all love to have fun and laugh, but we also give a lot of support, encouragement and motivation for one another, not just in weight loss, but in all of our daily joys and struggles.
Everyone has their ups and downs and we’ll be here with you thru both! Please feel free to post with us - just jump right in and believe me, you will be welcomed with open arms. The more the merrier!
So please join us and let's work together towards a healthier us!!
Please feel free to check out our website and learn more about us at: The Thin Group
Hope I did that right. I have never started a new thread! He He Ha Ha!!!!
Anyway, I just popped in to say hi, and also wanted to ask a question?
Sharon--How far away from Lousiville are you? I would love to stop and see you one day on my way to my Dad's house in Tennessee, and reading some of the previous threads, I remember you saying something about not being far from Lousiville. I am going there over Memorial day weekend, but unfortunatly don't have a lot of time to do anything. Might make the trip (just me as Chad will have Hannah) again over July 4. Anyway, would love to at least meet you and say hi. Drop me an email (it's in the bios) if you want.
And in case I don't post until after the weekend, hope everyone has a happy, and SAFE weekend.
Hey good job Kim on starting the new website. Now you know what is coming don't you?
YES YOU DO!!!
OK HERE GOES!
YOU ARE A BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT for starting the new website. Well at least you beat CJ to it didn't you? Well I guess since she is on her way to Florida she didn't stand a chance did she? Yes I don't believe we have ever BRATTED you for starting the new forum.
Anyways I will email you, cause we will be home all weekend. Hubby, Ken is having more surgery on his hand tomorror morning to get rid of some of the scar tissue in his palm. Don't know if you know or not, Kim and you others, but he cut 3 sensory nerves, 2 tendons and an artery a few months ago when he fell off a chair at our daughters house, while putting up her curtains and fell in a box of glass sconces, she was moving. Her cut his hand really badly and had to have surgery. But there is only so much they can do with his physical therapy, and now he has quite a bit of scar tissue and he isn't able to move his right middle finger at all. So we are staying put and I will email you after I get done with this out.
But in answer to your question, we are about 1 1/2 hour away from Louisville, that would be great if we could finally meet. I had been thinking that we arn't too far away from each other and should really meet, since we go WAY back many years ago and have never met. I mean I met CJ in Michigan and here we are both in Indiana and have never met before.
It sounds like your trip to the zoo went well and you actually made it, bad foot and all. Hey if things don't work out to see each other, how far away are you from Fort Wayne? I think I am a couple of hours away, maybe we could even meet halfway sometimes. I think we are maybe more than a couple of hours, we live in Columbus, Indiana, about an hour from Indy. HOW far are you from Indy?
Where is everyone? Hey Cj, though you were going to take your laptop to talk to us. Are you still on the road.
Teahoney-Hey Tracey, you are doing good with your 6.5 lbs down. Keep up the great work.
Anyways, hope things are going good for everyone. Come on and post with us. Hey were is everyone? Sylvia???? Come on back and talk to me. How you doing? Take care, Love you, Sharon
I am about an hour south of Ft. Wayne, and an hour North of Indy. I sent you an email. Hopefully you'll get that.
I will try and give you a call tomorrow sometime.
It is a shame we live in the same state, have known each other for years, but have never gotten together!
we will fix that one day!! Hopefully sometime tomorrow! If I can get all the stuff done I need to do, I will pull Hannah out of school early, and get on the road. Last day of school, and not alot for her to do. She just wanted to go, and I don't like changing her routine if I can keep from it.
Gonna run. Got to go to the store. One thing on my list I will take care of tonight.
I'll keep you and you hubby in my prayers about his hand. Chad ended up hurting his hand several years back, so I understand the frustration and stuff your going through.
Oh, and yes that is the first time I have been BRATTED!! Loved it, though. lol
Hi everyone! We just got back about an hour ago from our Florida trip. Sorry I didn’t post while gone – I did bring my laptop with me but never could find a wireless connection to use – the few that I did find were secured so you had to have a passcode to get one … We had a great time tho .. went with friends in their motor home – we went to DisneyWorld – were there for 3 days! And wow, what a 3 days they were – we opened the park in the morning and went all day long and closed the parks late at nite! We were all so tired every day that we just dropped into bed to rest our weary feet! I didn’t eat too much junk – but what I did have I surely walked it off! Haven’t weighed myself yet – I will in the morning. I even treated myself to a pedicure and manicure while in Florida – I have never had that done before. The pedicure was awesome and now I’m hooked for more!
Kim:
You earned this – so here goes:
BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT BRAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good job on starting the new thread – like Sharon said, you did a good job beating me to it but then I didn’t have a chance as I could not get a connection with my laptop! Glad to hear your foot is healing. It will be nice to get back to work and to be able to start your “lifestyle change” – good luck!
Janice (BrownEyed):
WELCOME to the group! I hope you will continue to post with us so we can get to know you and visa versa! We’re a little small (the group) right now but we come and go – someone is always here. Now that I am back from my trip, I can get more serious with my low carbing – I know it’s hard but it has to be done. Good luck to you – I know you can do ti! We’ll all help each other. Again, Welcome to our group!
Sharon:
It’s been sooooooo long since we have talked! I really miss it! (The buttershots are still waiting) ... Wow, you are really going strong on your childhood study training. Sounds great! When you go on the road tho still stay connected with us – we would miss you if you didn’t! Sorry for not posting while in Floriday but could not get a wireless connection while traveling there and there just wasn’t time while at disneyWorld to make it worth while to pay for it. We were busy at the park for the whole time! How is Ken doing after the surgery on his hand? Please tell him hi from Dick and I and hope all went well. We were’nt visiting anyone in Floriday – went down there with some friends of ours in their motor home. It was quite a trip – had a lot of fun! Have fun with Kim in case you get to meet her!
OK … hi to everyone else and post soon! I have to run now – going to Home Depot – dinner and “ahem” – the Casino!
Wanted to post and give my updates. Today is the day I started to watch what I ate, and to drink my water (YUCK!!). Oh, and of course, give up most of my pop, and even throw in not smoking much.
Believe it or not, I haven't done that bad. I did sneak in a candy bar, but it is my time of the month, and I wanted chocolate soooo bad, I gave in. I got at least about 60 oz. of water in. I really hate drinking water. And the flavored waters, or even some lemon in mine just doesn't do it for me. Finally, on the third bottle of water I found the electrolyte concentrate stuff they usually keep at all the water coolers here at work during the hot months (of course, the one in our dept. doesn't have one yet), so I was able to add alot of it to my water for taste. I know I add more than is supposed to be in it, but the amount that is supposed to be added just makes it taste like very, very weak kool-aid.
I also tried to write down everything I ate. Didn't do bad till I got home. And then I had another pop (only one 12 oz. bottle instead of my normal "keep refilling my glass" thing-that's a total of 24 oz. of pop for the whole day!!!!!), and a glass of orange juice. No water yet, but will try before the night is over.
Unfortunatly, I want to eat real bad right now. Chad asked me tonight if I still want him to leave and I said yes. He asked when and I told him this weekend. I feel like such a heel right now. I know he doesn't want to move, and he still thinks there is hope to saving this marriage, but I'm tired. I'm tired of the arguing, the constant stress, the in-laws up our a** all the time. He wanted to know how long I want him gone. I said I couldn't give a date. Not something I'm writing in my date book or scheduling in my life. That's something I can't set a specific time to.
Well, I think I'm done trying to depress everyone now.
Sharon- It was great to finally meet you. I have a feeling we could sit and talk for hours. How the time flew. I did end up staying longer than I origanally planned, and I hated to leave. Can't wait till the next time we can get together. And Hannah loved your waterbed. Wants to know when I'm getting one. All she could talk about for the first hour or so was the bed and the cats. Thanks for a great time!!
CJ-It is now official. I have been "bratatized." LOL. Sounds like you enjoyed yourselves in Florida. My father wants to take Hannah and me to Disney World next year. Not sure if we will. She has her heart set on a "field trip" to the Australia Zoo in about 3 or 4 years (kinda a long story), and puts all her money away for that right now. I would hate to take any money I would put towards that and spend it at Disney World. But then this may be our only chance to go, so maybe we can figure out how to do Disney and still put money back for her "field trip." Anyway, glad you had fun.
And hi to all the others I havne't mentioned. Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Hi I'm Tami. I have been lurking around for a few weeks now and don't really have much to say except I'm from Indiana and tired of being "chubby", LOL Here's to many pounds lost and happiness for all!
Hi everyone,
How is everyone doing tonight? I hope all is well. It is pretty late, going on 1 AM, but I wanted to post first before I go to bed. So here we go:
CJ-Hey girlfriend, glad you are back with us and had a great time with your motorhome friends in Florida. That sounds like so much fun. Yes Disneyworld is so exhausting as I found out when Ken and myself met daughter, Tracy and hubby Brett there, they walked my little legls off. LOL Sorry you couldn't get a connection or post, but look at this way, Kim was able to finally start the new thread and get bratted for the first time, as she told me yesterday when she came over that she has NEVER EVER started a new thread. So something good did come of this after all. How did you do at the casino tonigh? I hope you won lots and lots of money to cover your Florida trip at least. Oh yes, we will talk soon, I was trying to give you a call tonight, but as usual something came up. My sister in law, from Michigan called and by the time we got off the phone it was going on 10 PM and I didn't want to call that late, cause I think you go night night early don't you? We will talk and soon I promise.
Kim-It was so great to be able to finally meet you at long last. When we talked yesterday I forgot just how long you had been in this forem, to think you were there even before me just blows my mind so much. I really enjoyed the visit so much, especially Hannah, she is so cute and I loved being around her. With no grandkids yet I forgot how much fun kids can be. She is so darn cute, I am happy she liked the waterbed, now you will have to et her one someday. I am so glad you got a chance to stop in. I was bummed when you had to leave, but understood you had to get back home after your vacation as I am sure you two were both so tired when you got home. My dor is always open to you and anyone else in our Thin Wannabee group too. I love meeting people, I mean CJ and I had met many years ago and have remained friends to this day. So we will be friends for a long time to come as well. Yes, we will have to set up a time this summer we can meet halfway in Indianpolis sometime. We will see what trouble we can get into at Circle City maybe. LOL
TamiL-Hello and a big welcome to our wonderful group. I am sure you will love it here. We will be able to jump start you on your way to a new you. I read in your Bio that you live in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hey another Indiana person besides Kim and myself. I am in Columbus, Indiana not too far away from you, but I am sure Kim is much closer to you than I am. Post again and let us know more about yourself, we would love to get to know you and hope you come back and post lots with us.
Now on my husband, Ken's hand surgery. They went in an found lots and lots of scar tissue and ended up having to recut the tendons & reconnect them. He woke up thinking he was just going to have a bandaid over his palm area where they had to fix the 6 strands & his hand was all wrapped again. The surgeon is a great one, but when he found all the scar tissue and his tendons were even connected together by what is called a suto tendon, I think it was kinda held together by scar tissue. But he was really depressed these last few days and thinks he is back at square one, but I told him he needed this surgery to help so he could use his right hand and especially his middle finger too, cause now it has been pretty useless. But he wants to go to his car shows with his yellow 66 Charger and is kind of bummed cause he can't use his right hand and he will have to clean it for the shows. But I told him to cheer up and it won't be forever he has to wear that. Today they did some therapy him and moved his cooped up fingers for the first time. He will do well and hopefully this will be the last surgery he will have to go through.
Well I forgot to tell you guys when I posted the other day how I have been doing on my Weight Watchers. This othe girl in my WW meeting and myself decided that we would try for one week to stay on program entirely, do all the things we were soppose to, drink the water, exercise and write every bite we put in our mouths. I had been doing great and down 43 pounds before the cruise and the training in Washington D.C and than was up like 5 1/2 pounds and guess what? When I went in last Wednesday I lost 5 1/2 pounds, so now I am happy to say I am right back to where I was before the cruise. I tell you, what a difference it makes when you do what you are soppose to do. I will find out tomorrow how I do when I go again to my class. But this time I did fairly good, but my daughter, Kelly in Indy had a 30th birthday party and there was just toooooooo much food at her house. I tried to leave things alone, even brought a veggie tray and some nice steamed shrimp, things I could have. But I did have a blender drink, an Orange Creamsicle I think it was. Don't know how many points were in that one. But they did have chicken and a few other things I could eat, but I don't think I even counted what I ate. Just wrote it all down on my WW booklet and put at the bottom TOO MANY POINTS! So today I did much better, only hope that I don't gain, a stay the same would be great, but I don't know I was really hanging around that food table and you know a nibble here and a nibble there, here a nibble, there a nibble, everywhere a nibble nibble. OLD MC DONALD HAD A FARM E I E I OOOOOOOOOO! Now where the heck did that come from? HA HA Man I think I am so tired I am getting slap happy! SO OFF TO BEDDY BYE I GO!
I don't know where to start because I tend to ramble but here goes. My name is Tami. I am a 41 year old stay at home mom from Fort Wayne Indiana. I have 4 children, 2 by a failed first marriage.......never, ever, get married at 18 because you think its love!!!! That marriage lasted 13 years, but it was really never a happy situation. My first husband didn't beat me or anything like that. He just never grew up and to this day continues to drink heavily and do drugs. He always told me that I was fat and no one would ever want a fat woman with 2 kids. He was wrong and now he is alone.
I met my current husband while working for the USPS as a letter carrier. He is 8 years older than I and we have been married 9 years now. We haven't had a fight in all this time. His name is Brad and he's my soulmate.
My oldest daughter Angela will be 23 this summer, she and her boyfriend of a few years have just announced wedding plans for July of next year. Now mom has a reason to get thin!! Atleast I have a year to do this. My second oldest is 13, her name is Autumn and she's into those terrible teen years right now with a vengence. It doesn't help that shes already 5'4" with boobs. The boys are calling already. I think a vist to the gynocologist may be in order very soon to prevent real problems. Holly is next, she is 7 and tomorrow is her last day of first grade. She plays soccer but she's not into it. She wants to be an artist not a sports enthusiast. My only son is now 5, his name is Nicholas and he is so ready for Kindergarden to start in August (so am I!!!).
Now onto the diet, cough, cough. I have lost weight several times in my years. In high school I weighed maybe 125 pounds and was 5'3". I always thought I was fat but I've never suffered any fat jokes from anyone other than my super thin younger sister (life caught up with her BTW). I've been down to about 115 when I met hubby number 2, but with each child after that I've managed to flirt with 200. I'll diet and lose a few pounds (40 or so) and then decide I'm sick of dieting and my weight will once again go back up to around 200. About 5 weeks ago I decided enough is enough! I refused to get on a scale but knew from the lack of jeans I could get into, I was definitely above the 200 mark. Yesterday I got brave enough to get on the damn scale and it said 185. This morning was down to 182. So I know I am making progress. Slow but sure, its working so far.
I don't go to Weight Watchers, too expensive for a one income family right now. I just count calories and try to stay under 1200 and walk every day. I bought a pedometer and found out how darn lazy I really was, LOL
I am hoping in the next year to be able to finally look for a job. I can't do this until I have the confidence in myself back. My confidence has always been linked directly to my weight. Sad but true.
Sassy-I hope your husband is doing well. My husband has been off over 7 weeks so far this year with neck, shoulder problems and then pneumonia. I know what a pain this can be.
Well gotta run for now, nice to meet all of you. This seems like a great little group. Talk to ya later.
Hi there Tami,
Wow great post you did. It is great that you have shared some of your life with us.
We are with you all the way on your goal to get down to where you want to be. There is nothing like a wedding to give you that much needed kick in the pants I always say. I know from experience because both of my daughters got married within a couple of years and I was Mother Of The Bride twice already. I have 2 daughters, Kelly-a teacher in Indy and Tracy-in the Air Forc and living at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, near St Louis. I have 2 sons too, one at home, Dan and the youngest one, Alan is in the Air Force too, currently stationed in Lompac, California, but will be going to Korea in August. It does sound like you have had a pretty rough life, with all you went through, before you found Brad. He sounds like a great guy and I am so happy that you two found each other. I really can't understand why someone-mainly your ex, would put someone down about their weight. But hey what goes around comes around and he has to be very lonely and the jokes on him too, cause look what you got and look what that loser has-NOTHING and look who is happy now. Your kids all sound great and I know the younge ones must wear you out sometimes as I remember with my kids. Thanks for the wellwishes with my husband and I hope that Brad gets straighted around soon. Poor guy, that must be tough for him as well as you seeing him like that too.
Anyways Tami, I am here to tell you that you CAN DO THIS!!!!!! I just know you can and you don't have to go to Weight Watchers or spend money on any other program either. You are doing the right thing and that is counting calories and exercise. You are really doing great and it sounds like you are really getting down, isn't it a great feeling to step on the scale and see it go down way below where you used to be? If you just take it one day at a time, you will get there. Don't worry about tomorrow, just do he best you can do today.
Well anyways, better get going. Hope we get lots and lots of posts this week, we miss everyone who haven't posted in a while.
Hey Sherry?????? Where are you girlfriend? I know you were moving, and I hope you are all moved in and will post soon with us again and let us know how you are doing. And Peggy/Sweetooth??? Where are you and how are things going for you? I hope things are going better, I knew you Mom had passed away and I am so sorry to hear about that. Please come on back again and post with us, we miss you much. And hey where the heck is Jello? Or should I say what is it Daring2dream? I think that is your new name, but not sure. Where have you been keeping yourself? And everyone else who should be here too. This includes, among others, allensmom, Brandy, Alison, Stacie and Dee and anyone else I have not mentioned. And of course AnnieFannie, teahoney and Sylvia where are you? I know you posted in the last forum, and you guys are not MIA, but what are you up to? Let us know.
Thanks Sassy for the warm welcome. My mothers name is also Sharon. She's sassy as well, LOL
Sounds like your kids are pretty well grown up and doing very well. I am very busy with my little ones still at home. But they are so funny and I think it makes my life just a bit more interesting.
Now if I could just remove myself from this darn computer for a bit and get something done. LOL LOL, I spend most of my time on it. I like to make 3D models for the Poser community. That involves lots of computer time but its alot of fun.
Oh, I think I will succeed at my weight loss this time. I finally have some motivation. It doesn't help that my husband likes to eat and of course isn't fat, although he could stand to lose a few pounds!
TamiL,
That is great that your Mom's name is Sharon too. Great name for a great person I think, your Mom and me too. LOL Is your name Tami and your last name is L? I was just wondering how you came up with TamiL.
I know the feeling about the computer, I to limit my time on it, but it seems like the time just goes by and the next thing I know it is usually too late to do what I want to do so I don't get it done for the moment.
Yes, I also have a husband that is not overweight at all and while he isn't skinny, he isn't overweight either so it makes it hard when he can eat what he wants and than if he gains a few pounds just stops eating his Little Debbies or ice cream at night and his few pounds comes off. My gosh if all I had to give up is Little Debbies and ice cream-which I don't eat the Little Debbies and the ice cream hardly ever, but that would be great, I would be at my right weight if that is all I had to do. HA HA
Well take care and talk to you later, Sassy Sharon
yes my name is Tami and the L is for my last name (that one has changed a few times, LOL LOL )
Little Debbies, yummy!!! Unfortunately I cannot have them in the house anymore, I will eat the entire box of Zebra Cakes in one day.. Ice cream isn't a biggie for me. My weakness is those darned Chicken Selects at McDonalds. Not good for me, but I like em!
Oops, time to take the kids out swimming. Talk to ya later
Good morning everyone!!! I guess I have some catching up to do here ... sorry to have been gone so long but we have just been super busy here since getting back from Floorida! Had to finish getting my garden in (it's done now - just need to wait for the fruits) - got the rest of the summer furniture out - etc etc etc - and are now ready to enjoy the summer and friends. We had to also go downstate for a couple days for graduations - have to go down one more time the end of June for one more.
First of all - WELCOME TAMI to our group! I hope you will continue to post with us - Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us - You have a really nice family. I'm sure you will do well with your weight plan - like Sharon said, just take one day at a time. That is what I do - I don't stress over my weight anymore - if I don't do well one day, I start over the next day! I too am in a second marriage. My hubby Dick and I have been married 23 years - together we have nine children (oldest is 43 and youngest is 35) - I am 64 yrs young! We have nine grandchildren (oldest is 26 and youngest is 11) and 1 great grandson who was 2 yrs old in January. Of course, all of our kids are married or not living at home and they are scattered all over the US from California to Michigan, and one son is in Italy. I have a goal similar to yours as my 23 yr old granddaughter in Kansas was suppose to get married last year but they postponed it for a while so it will either be this year in the fall or next so I want to be able to lose some weight for the wedding - I want to be "one sexy grandmother" for the wedding! LOL ..
Sharon:
I will be calling you in just a little while here ... sorry I missed your call last nite. As I mentioned we had to go downstate for graduations. Sounds like you had a wonderful visit with Kim - I'm jealous! LOL - not really, just kidding. It's just that we haven't seen each other in so long - too long! We'll have to do something about that, eh? I'm glad you had a great visit with Kim. Hey, the hot tub and buttershots are here waiting for you .....
Sherry: WHERE ARE YOU???? WE MISS YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH! I hope you are all settled in your new home. Did you hear me yelling HELLO SHERRY when we drove thru Kentucky on our way to Florida?? LOL ... We were in a motor home with friends and driving on I-75. Hope to hear from you soon!
Kim:
So nice that you got to meet Sharon at last ... sounds like you had a really nice visit. That is great that Hannah is saving for the Austrailia Zoo trip - but hopefully you'll be able to do Disney World with your father too - I may never go back again but I'm glad that I got to see it cuz it was really amazing to see. We had a lot of fun. If we do go again I definately will want to stay longer than 3 days there.
Slyvia:
How you doing girlfriend? Still dropping those lbs??? Don't stay away too long now - we miss you when you are not here.
Teahoney - wannabe - Annie Frannie - Missy - BeckyJo - Pink Whispers - Jamie - any anyone I missed ... please come back and post.
Well .. off to get myself dressed and outside! It's a beautiful day!
Well, my first week at work was horrible. This week not as bad. I got called into the supervisor's office and got a 'talking too' about my job performance the last week and half, which stinks. I will admit that. My foot was really hurting last week, and I'm still not up to par. She really made me feel like everyone in my dept. was complaining about me. If I didn't need the job so badly, I could of easily quit today.
Chad moved out Sunday. I didn't think it would really bother me much, as he always seemed to be in the bedroom, watching t.v. or sleeping. Never in the rest of the house with us. Well, honestly, it is bothering me more than I thought. I still think this is the right thing to do, but I feel extremely guilty. I know he doesn't want to see our marriage end, and didn't want to move out. I keep reminding myself how miserable and unhappy I am, and the person I am when I'm around him (which hasn't been very nice). Like everyone keeps telling me, it will take time.
Sunday, right after Chad left, I learned a good friend of ours was in a very bad car wreck. Our friend will make it, but is going to be in the hospital for a week or two, then in a rehab facility for a few weeks after that. Altogether, he will be out of commission and unable to come home for 4-5 weeks.
needless to say, that was the final thing for me that day. I broke down and cried for awhile. Must of been what I needed, as I was fine the rest of the evening.
I have been feeling down since then, questioning my decision in my marriage. But I'm finding myself more relaxed at home, and less tense. If I could only get over the guilt...
Sorry to be such a bummer tonight. Just kind of needed to get some of this off my chest, I guess.
I will post again in a few days when my mood is a little lighter.
~~Thin Wannabees Chit-Chat #17~~
Oh yes, we will talk soon, I was trying to give you a call tonight, but as usual something came up. My sister in law, from Michigan called and by the time we got off the phone it was going on 10 PM and I didn't want to call that late, cause I think you go night night early don't you? We will talk and soon I promise. 
I am sure you will love it here. We will be able to jump start you on your way to a new you. 
I read in your Bio that you live in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hey another Indiana person besides Kim and myself. I am in Columbus, Indiana not too far away from you, but I am sure Kim is much closer to you than I am. Post again and let us know more about yourself, we would love to get to know you and hope you come back and post lots with us. 
So today I did much better, only hope that I don't gain, a stay the same would be great, but I don't know I was really hanging around that food table and you know a nibble here and a nibble there, here a nibble, there a nibble, everywhere a nibble nibble. OLD MC DONALD HAD A FARM E I E I OOOOOOOOOO! Now where the heck did that come from? HA HA Man I think I am so tired I am getting slap happy! SO OFF TO BEDDY BYE I GO! 
It does sound like you have had a pretty rough life, with all you went through, before you found Brad. He sounds like a great guy and I am so happy that you two found each other. I really can't understand why someone-mainly your ex, would put someone down about their weight. But hey what goes around comes around and he has to be very lonely and the jokes on him too, cause look what you got and look what that loser has-NOTHING and look who is happy now. Your kids all sound great and I know the younge ones must wear you out sometimes as I remember with my kids. Thanks for the wellwishes with my husband and I hope that Brad gets straighted around soon. Poor guy, that must be tough for him as well as you seeing him like that too. 
I just know you can and you don't have to go to Weight Watchers or spend money on any other program either. You are doing the right thing and that is counting calories and exercise. You are really doing great and it sounds like you are really getting down, isn't it a great feeling to step on the scale and see it go down way below where you used to be? If you just take it one day at a time, you will get there. Don't worry about tomorrow, just do he best you can do today. 
Sharon
