Wow! What a stressful year 2013 was. We had just begun the process of becoming foster parents with adoption as our goal and everything was sailing along. Then we hit some snags, and those snags had me reaching for bags...of chips that is. As the year progressed and the stress and worry about the process lingered, I simply shoved my feelings down with pretty much anything with butter on it and all kinds of cheese (not to mention Skittle, Hershey products, ice cream, cupcakes etcetera, etcetera). I ballooned from an already large 240 to 297.4 lbs.

Well, things are thankfully back on track and we are set to have some sons introduced into our family in the near future and I had this awakening. I DID NOT WANT TO BE A COUCH POTATO DAD! So, I enlisted the help of a medical weight loss program and am undergoing a lifestyle and nutritional re-vamp and it's working! In the last four weeks, I have lost 23.4 lbs. I can get my own socks on by myself again, tie my own shoes and have gone down one waist size...I am out of Big and Tall! Anyway, this is a journey that I hope will lead me to a sustained weight of 190 lbs.

I look forward to being a part of such a diverse and large community of people all working towards health and happiness. I hope to make friends and be active in the forums and visit them frequently to read all the great stuff you and everyone else is posting!

Have a GREAT day,

Proud2BPapa

Honking Congratulations on your pending fatherhood.

It's always great to have another man on 3FC. Glad you've joined us.

Thanks Bill!

Thanks coffeeshopgirl. Nice to meet you!

congrats on the impending SONS!!!!! such a great motivation - and just think, you'll get to play baseball football soccer lacrosse and all those other sports that'll make you realize you're not a kid any more!!! but you'll have a great time - and more important, a loving family.

you're doing a great job...

THANKS SOOOO MUCH, jiffypop! We are really looking forward to FINALLY starting our family. At 48, I am already going to be walking up hill just to keep in step with the tykes, so shedding the weight is a must. I can't wait for Karate and gymnastics too plus seeing how well I can translate my healthy meals into kid's meals without having to drown all the veggies in Velveta! Any tips?

Have a great day

biggest tip: don't start them on veggies with velveeta! seriously, though, how old are these boys?

and there's a thread in one of the forums around here on veggie-haters, or something like that.

i'll go find it... BRB

Here ya go - the VEGGIE CHALLENGED forum
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/veggie-challenged-176/

There's also the VEGETARIAN chicks forum - LOTS of really healthy, balanced ideas in there - the ones that don't rely on pasta and rice. in fact, they've given me the courage to make an Indian vegetarian chickpea and eggplant stew this weekend! i'll let you know how it goes..

Wow, jifdypop, thanks for doing that research for me! The boys, brothers, are 6 and 8. They are coming from an environment of extreme neglect, so we can pretty much assume veggies weren't a big part of their diet. It will be trial and error but with the link you provided I, at least have a sound resource!

Your Indian dish sounds exciting. I love Indian chutney as an alternative condiment. Please let me know how it turns out!

Take care