..... Sarah. What to put.... I am 46 (47 in June). I am 5ft 7ins, 13st 11lbs as at last Monday, and blonde (out of a bottle and I don't want to know whats underneath!!). I am married to Kevin and its the second time around for each of us. I have got a daughter, Vicki, age 23 who drives me nuts, but I love her dearly and I am very proud her. I divorced her father when she was one and brought her up on my own. I think of that time as a very positive and mostly enjoyable experience.
I was raised in London and have lived all my life in the south until these last few years when we moved to Yorkshire (big mistake). I stopped working in my mid 30s to pursue a dream which was to return to full time education and I managed to get a fairly decent degree in Law. I specialised in Criminal Law (specifically working with young offenders), but I don't work now and to be totally honest I don't miss it at all. I think it was the challenge of the degree that interested me most. Kevin and I are hoping to become foster carers soon and we have had our initial application approved - we will start training this month - our final appraisal will take place in June and (fingers crossed) we might get our first foster child in July.
I am not one of those people that wear their weight well - I look very definitely BIG. I am a yo yo dieter - and (I think) this is my ninth downward trip on my yo yo - and I am really hoping that it is the last because I have been told by my doctor that yo yo dieting is the worst thing I can do for my health, I would be better off staying large.
I had a hysterectomy in October 2000 which was a bit of a disaster and left me bed bound for about 3 months and housebound for a further 4 months. By the time I was finally fit enough to leave the house I found I had developed almost a phobia about being outdoors on my own and had trouble with that for quite a while until we bought a dog (George) and I had to walk him every day. The internet was my life line during that time and I made many good and supportive friends who I am still in touch with.
As a result of the hysterectomy and the subsquent illness I am left with high blood pressure and I have a family history of osteoporosis so I try and deal with them both by walking, walking, walking. I live on the edge of one of the Yorkshire Moors and, while I don't particularly like Yorkshire, I do like the actual location of where I live.
I have chosen to follow an American devised eating programme specifically designed to reduce blood pressure, except that I have also restricted the calories as well. The diet is VERY high in fruit and vegetables and complex carbs, but fairly low in animal proteins, fats and sugars. Basically I have 1,000 cals a day plus all the fruit and vegetables I can eat and this diet is working quite well for me at the moment.
I know what to expect from being at my goal weight - for me the challenge isn't so much getting there as staying there.
P.S. I noticed that other people have mentioned hobbies - mine are cooking, cooking, cooking and cooking - I also really enjoy reading and listening to music (currently totally in love with Robbie Williams' Swing When You're Winning CD) - I also do a bit of tapestry, DIY and, of course, I browse the Net a lot.