Hi, my name is Elle (or Ellie, either way) and I am a 40 year old wife/mom from Arizona. I've been overweight most of my life and struggle mainly with binge eating. While pregnant with my boys my weight exploded like I never imagined and I've been struggling ever since then to get down to a healthy weight... or at least a weight where I'm not considered morbidly obese.

I've been lurking for a couple of days, but figured it was time to come out and introduce myself. I feel like part of what I'm missing in my life is friendship and support (my husband works a job where he is away for weeks at a time, I work from home, my sons are both autistic, I don't really find much time to get out and be with other people). So I'm looking forward to getting to know you all, develop some friendships and become a regular around here.

I just want to say that the second I saw your picture I thought "wow shes beautiful" and welcome, good luck in the time to come in reaching your goals

Thank you! That's very kind of you.

Hi Ellie, it's great to meet you! I'm relatively new as well, and I think we have the same hopes for this community If you ever feel that you need extra support feel free to message me!

Best of luck with your goals and dreams!

Welcome, Elle! I'm sure the forum will be great support for you. It's sometimes hard to have support from friends and family so I understand completely.
Good luck with everything and I hope you'll have a great time during your weight loss journey!

Welcome! I am an old member who is coming back new after 2-3 years. This site is SUPER helpful at helping people to obtain their goal. Im sad that I left those years and packed on 20lbs that I had lost but im back, and thats all that matters!

Hi Elle,

I am also new but just wanted to say what a super star you are for taking care of your two boys on your own most of the time. I used to support young people with autism and know how fun yet exhausting and challenging it can be.

Good luck with starting off your journey and feel free to private message me if you want support!

Kitkat

Thank you for the warm welcome! I am excited to get to know you all.

Thanks for your comment on my post. My son has a chromosomal abnormality and some neurological problems, and while we haven't pursued an ASD dx, I'm pretty sure he'll get one once he enters the school system. It's really hard because, as I'm sure you can relate, we don't really belong in the twins club. My twins are 2.5 (baby is almost 5 months!). It is incredibly isolating. So glad we've both found this forum.

Welcome, Elle! I love that name! If my son had been a girl, he'd have been named Elle.

Hi Elle and everyone else. I am a newbie as of tonight this is my first post. wish you all much success. I was laying in bed feeling like I couldn't breathe from the weight of my chest and thought I gotta do something so here I am.

Welcome to the forum (waves from SW Tucson) Best wishes on your WOE.

Thanks for the welcomes, everyone!

DreamingSmall - I know the feeling, we don't belong in the twins club, either. lol My sons are 8 (in September), but they weren't dx with ASD until they were about 5. It was a long road, we changed pediatricians so many times trying to find one that would take us seriously. We finally did, but it helped that once they started school the schools did their own testing and dx them with ASD and put them in special ed. Once we had an IEP to show the pediatrician it made it easier to get a referral to a developmental ped for an official dx. Such a pain! I hope the road is smoother for you and your family.

TheSatinPumpkin - How about these thunderstorms?! Have you guys been getting the same kind of weather down in Tucson? I'm in Mesa, btw!

Ellie, I'm also new in this forum, and I want to tell you that I really think you're very pretty WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Hello Jscottsgigi! I'm a newbie too and I know the feeling of laying in bed trying to sleep and feeling like you can't breathe, and I also get heartburn We will definitely do something about this!