[dionna4570]

Just dropping in to introduce myself. I am a 36<almost 37> year old mom of 3 beautful children, 10, 8 and 2. I have been "overweight" my whole life. My mom would say"This is my pretty one<my sister>, this is my chubby one<me>(I could vomit from thinking about it) and this is my baby boy<my little brother>". Seriously. it's not her fault I am fat but, ughhhhh. I was a size 11 in high school and when I met my husband I was 119 pounds. A far cry from my current 265. Why did I think my clothes were shrinking in the beginning? How did I not realize that my rear was getting bigger? I know there wasn't a full-length mirror in the apartment but come on! So 18 years later I am a size 26 and would love to see the 100's again. I'm not asking for 119 pounds. I just want 180. I was almost there. I was on a roll 3 years ago and had lost 52 pounds. I was down to 222 pounds and then BAM.....PREGNANT! I wouldn't trade him for the fat I lost but it sure was a kick in the tush. Gained it all back and then some. High blood pressure, arthritis, slipped discs, leg pain, foot pain, lower back pain. I want it all gone. I want to breathe like a person when I get up those two flights of stairs. I want to run with my kids and bike ride and play tennis without wanting to puke. I WANT TO BE HEALTHY AGAIN.

[Cheryl14]

Hi dionna!




As I read your post it felt like I had written it myself! I can TOTALLY relate to what you said! My guess about the gaining of the weight without seeming to realize it is that we get so busy with our families, our jobs, our husband, our children, our house etc. that we really do place ourselves on the back burner! We stop thinking about ourselves and do everything for everyone else. We work on becoming the best wife, the best mom, the best daughter, the best (fill in job title here), the best granddaughter...The list goes on and on. What we have forgotten is to put OURSELVES into the list!

I spent thirty years worrying about everything EXCEPT myself. At one point I was sleeping just three or four hours a night and working two jobs so that I could spend all my "extra" time helping everyone else to have a wonderful life. Their lives WERE wonderful, but I was ready to collapse! I really needed a life adjustment!

Seven years ago I decided that since my sons were getting older (high school and college age), that it was finally time for ME! I quit one of my jobs, started walking, started watching what I ate, and reclaimed ME! The crazy thing about it is that everyone seemed to do just fine without me doing all the extra stuff for them! Things went on just great! I began to realize how utterly STUPID I had been to try to be eyerything to everyone!

I am a changed person now. I stand up for myself, and people respect me for it. If I need something, I ASK for it instead of feeling sorry that my husband and sons don't just KNOW that I need it. It has taken me 55 years, but I think I finally have learned how to live in my world without being everything to everyone. It feels very freeing and very, very good!

Good luck on YOUR journey! Try not to fall into the same pit that I did! It is hard climbing out once you fall in!!!

Cheryl

[Lytricia]

Hi and welcome

I just want to encourage you to navigate around the site and know that everywhere you look you will find someone to talk to.

Starting from the moment my kids were born to this very moment I have always said "I want to be the last person on the dance floor at the end of their wedding reception!" I won't be able to keep up all night with my 120lb sister-in-laws if I don't do something about it now!!!

So here we are doing it for ourselves first...but of course for our kids as well. I don't want to be the mom who watches their lives, I want to be the one that is a part of their lives. I want to build in them great childhood memories and I can't do that if I'm not in good enough shape to participate. So like all of us with a bunch of kids I want to say to you...do your best for today and tomorrow and don't worry so much about what happened yesterday.

[dionna4570]

Thanks so much for responding, ladies.
I totally get what you mean by looking for today and tomorrow and not looking to yesterday. That gave me goosebumps because that's exactly what I've been doing! Thank you.
I also agree about spending so much time taking care of everyone else. I find myself still trying to care of my siblings even though they are old enough and wise enough to make their own choices. I keep trying to make everyone happy and comfortable when I am the least happy of the bunch.
I have been so blessed with the life I have that I want to live it along with them.
Thanks for the encouragement!