Kendra, I imagine you are a very busy mother. The word 'tired' probably doesn't even come close to how you feel some days. And there's never enough time in the day to take care of everything, much less yourself! It does take time to get into shape, but it can be done. Be very patient with yourself and practice some self-compassion. We didn't get into our current state overnight, but now we're ready to let go of it all and move forward in health.
I have similar issues with my Achilles tendon as well as plantar fasciitis in both feet. I have to take things really slow, because if I push myself, I reinjure and lose progress. Have a look at this site to see what you can do to help yourself.
http://www.intelligent-triathlon-tra...endinitis.html Don't skip it because it is from the viewpoint of athletes with injuries. Tendonitis is what it is, whether you're an athlete or not!
I agree that you need to see a doctor to explore all possible factors. You also need to track every bite you're eating. It's a good reality check. Success with weight loss is about 80% diet and 20% exercise.
Personally, it's not just how much I eat but also what I eat that affects my progress. I'm a type 2 diabetic and have PCOS to contend with as well. When I eat carbs in the form of fruit, whole grains and legumes, even though they're considered healthy food choices, they are NOT healthy for me. I had to restructure my diet so that I'm eating a lot of non-starchy vegetables (at least eight 1/2-cup servings a day), enough protein to support muscle building (I do a lot of weight training, so I eat 16-24 oz. a day, depending on my workouts), and I eat plenty of healthy fats to fill in calories for fuel (I average 1860 calories a day).
I also exercise six hours a week. But I don't do anything that causes more problems with my feet and tendons...most of the time. I do Pilates three hours a week, and cardio and weight training three hours a week. My cardio is not at a quick pace at all, and I am very careful to not push myself. Sometimes I make stupid choices, like going for a very long walk without good supportive shoes (like I did last weekend) and I have to take some time to recover.
I'm not perfect in my efforts, but when I am, there is progress. I seem to sabotage my energy levels with inconsistent and grossly inadequate sleep. But when I get enough sleep, I can move mountains! I've gotten very strong over the last three to four years, and my endurance has improved. My focus is now more about the choices I make on a daily basis to support a healthy life rather than kicking myself because I still weigh over 300 lbs. and feeling sorry for myself. There are days when I feel so good in general that I completely forget how much I weigh. And that really helps me to be patient with my progress.
Good luck with finding your way! And please keep coming back because everyone on this board is so helpful and encouraging!