Hi all! I'm Kristi from South Carolina. I am 30 years old, have been married for six years and am a mommy to a 4 year old girl and a 4 month old boy. I teach 2nd grade and I am also a self-employed children's portrait photographer.
Over the past 10 years I have put on quite a bit of weight and have gotten to the point where I am putting my foot down and have decided enough is enough. I've come to the realization that I've spent all of my 20s overweight and I refuse to do the same for my 30s. I haven't always been overweight. I started college with not just the freshman 15, but freshman 30 and by graduation I had tacked on a total of 55 pounds. After I got married, I gained 15 pounds within the first few months. Six months into our marriage my husband and I suffered a devestating miscarriage and had trouble conceiving after. Depression from these events led me to gain another 20. During the course of my pregnancy with my daughter I gained 25 pounds, which put me at 250 pounds, and I kept it all until we decided to get pregnant again. I again was having trouble conceiving so I decided to try to lose weight. I lost about 15 pounds before I got pregnant with my son. During that pregnancy I watched what I ate because I refused to gain a single pound. I ended up gaining 4 pounds during the 9 months and after he was born I lost 22 pounds. Since then I have gained 10 pounds back. So basically, I am 105 pounds heavier now than I was 10 years ago.
Eventually I want to get to my goal weight of 135 - 140 pounds, but for now I just need to break 200.
I'm not sure where to start. I know I will not stick to any diet, so for now I'm thinking cut down on sweets (that's going to kill me), cut out all sugary drinks and start exercising more. I've also been toying with the idea of Weight Watchers. I've only tried the online version, but it wasn't successful because it's WAY too easy for me to lie and I also did it alone so I didn't have anybody holding me accountable.
Fortunately, I do not have any health problems. I could sell my blood pressure and cholestrol, it's so good. But my self esteem is so low. I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I am constantly surprised and shocked when I see pictures of myself. I LOVE clothes, yet I'm forced to wear frumpy old lady clothes because I just can't find cute clothes in my size. I've got to do this for myself.
I've said so many times I'm going to lose weight. Honestly, I wake up every morning thinking this very thing (literally every morning) and then 30 minutes into the day I'm eating a chocolate chip cookie and pizza for breakfast. This time I mean it. I've got to do it.
If you've read all of this, God bless you! I know that was a lot. I would love to have a buddy with me during this journey. Someone who understands my need to get this weight off and somebody that I can cheer along as well.
Welcome to the fourm, you'll get lots of help here.
I would suggest by taking baby steps first, cutting out all soda, fast food, junk food, etc. Exercising 3 - 4 times a week, and counting calories.
I would also suggest signing up on myfitnesspal.com OR if you have an ipod or iphone downloading the app. It helps you count your daily calories, etc.
Good luck I know you can do it! I'll add you to my contacts.
Your the first post I've read since joining. I too have decided enough is enough. Good luck to you. I feel really good about 2013 and look forward to losing my extra kilograms.
Take care
Helen
Last edited by Smilingin2013; 01-06-2013 at 10:47 PM.
Hello Kristi! I am also new to 3fatchicks, but ~ unfortunately ~ not new to dieting! I am 46 years old now, and I was "normal" size until my childbearing years. My first pregnancy (twins) ended in bedrest and they were born at 28 weeks (way too early). One only lived 14 hours and the other is a healthy 16 year old today, thank God! Losing one of our twin sons literally broke my heart and tested our marriage, but we survived one day at a time. I had an early miscarriage for my 2nd pregnancy. Then, during my third pregnancy ~ the one I thought was going to finally be "normal," we learned that our daughter had Spina Bifida at 17 weeks. Long story, but I had her myelomenigocele lesion closed in-utero (at 24 weeks) and delivered her at 31 weeks. The 2nd stay in the NICU about did me in, and our marriage again took a blow because we handled both heartbreaks so differently. (He had to "put it away" to cope and go back to work and I was at home with our two kids and needed to talk about it.) During this third pregnancy, which was also traumatic, some serious old family issues arose which I had to deal with and which further tested our marriage.
To make a long story a bit shorter, after years of conflict and trial and much prayer, our marriage has not only survived but begun to thrive, and our handicapped daughter is now 13 years old and doing very well, by the grace of God. About 4 years back, I joined Jenny Craig and lost about 35 pounds, only to gain it back (and more) after going off the plan when I hit a year-long plateau. I have been on some medications that have weight gain as a side effect (which also contributed to my 60 pound weight gain since my pre-pregnancy weight), but since I lost the weight on JC, I know it is possible to do it again. I can't stomach JC again or Nutrisystem (which I tried before JC, with about a 10 pound weight loss), and I also very briefly tried online WW without success. So I am trying to "go it alone" now ~ with the help of online support groups ~ and focus on eating healthier and smaller portions and consistent exercise. It is a constant challenge for me and one that I have to keep my focus on every day, because I seem to gain weight these days if I even look at a "bad" food. I feel extremely fortunate that I have not had any serious health issues due to my weight yet, and I want to get the weight off before any issues arise. I also just want to reclaim my life and my self-esteem. In 2013, I am determined to lose 60 pounds, or at least be well on my way by the end of the year! I have been "fat" way too long and I am not getting any younger! I want to be much healthier and feel younger, more attractive, and more confident by this time next year! I would love to support each other on our journeys and cheer each other on to victory! We can do this ~ one day, one meal, and one workout at a time! Best of luck to you!
Breaking the habits can be hard but once you begin to get the sugar and "junk" out of your system... after about three months, at least in my case... it does begin to go away.
Breaking the habits can be hard but once you begin to get the sugar and "junk" out of your system... after about three months, at least in my case... it does begin to go away.
Hi! New girl!
-- and yes, I read it all. 
on getting started... you can do this.
