I'm Joy. I'm here to restart my weight loss journey. I've worked to lose weight in the past, and succeeded (I was a size 16 on my wedding day -- smallest of my adult life, -45# at that point!)
That was five years ago. Due to moving, marriage, stress of school I've gained some 80# back. Not to say I haven't had some ups and downs in between, but... this is where I am, and it's my reality.
My husband and I have two furbabies. They are our life outside of our education pursuits (and each other of course!)
My husband and I are as of this year, both graduate students. He's pursuing a teaching career, for now, via English (ultimately he wants to get a PhD in Philosophy but as we all know, the future can be rather uncertain).
I, myself am in my second year of a Master's of Architecture program. I also have a B.A. in architecture. I've gone straight through school... (and yes I got married young!
) Architecture school is notoriously high stress, little time, little sleep. It's taken a toll on my body, to say the least. We also both work ... adding to that! I graduate in May. Then I get to find my first "big kid" job. Architecture is a predominately male profession, making it hard for a woman to find a job. Not to mention an over weight woman! I think my weight holds me back and has kept me from the level of success I think I can achieve. Most people are very health conscious in architecture; runners, cyclists, etc with primal/clean eating tendencies. I stick out.
This couples with me having PCOS. It makes it a bit more difficult for me to lose weight. I also don't think we will be able to have kids with out a lot of complications (considering we've had no active birth control for the past 2 years and nothing has happened, I'd call that a good indication I'm right).
In the next two-ish years, I will be working to start my career and my family. It is paramount I begin this weight loss journey. Now. I need to lose weight, and feel like this is my last chance...!
I look forward to this journey and the love and support I know I will find here.
<3 Joy
Great goals! I wish there weren't job discrimination against gender or weight, but from what I've read and heard in the news, it does exist, so I understand how you are concerned about wanting to lose weight for your chosen profession. Good luck in your journey! Love your pics!