[msgooch]

Hello everyone!

I'm fat and 50, but the dream is to be 50 and fabulous. I wasn't always fat, why did I think I was when I was younger and looked great?! It was really after I had my kids, my thyroid stopped, I started giving them my all, and forgot about myself.

Well, they're both in college now and it's time for me to be me. The sad thing is, I didn't start because of me. My husband came back from the doctor after thanksgiving and had officially tested into type 2 diabetes, some liver issues, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. His doc said lose 20 lbs pronto and most of these issues will go away. He's not a dieter, I know he wouldn't be able to do it without my support. So, the next day I dusted off my south beach diet book. I didn't even really feel like dieting, all the prep, all the cooking - and heck yeah, the holidays are the worst time to start. I didn't feel like it, I resented it, etc. But I love him more than I like eating unhealthy food.

The first week sucked. Plain and simple. We weren't in the rhythm of figuring out how to make the food taste good. But I sucked it up and went along. After 2 weeks we moved to phase 2 and life started getting better. I googled recipes and finally we were enjoying what we were eating, not just suffering through.

I have made some pretty darn good meals. I even started a notebook just for these sbd recipes - after we have a meal we decide - is it notebook worthy? The goal is to get a month of dinners that are healthy, easy and tasty.

No one knows this but me and God, and now you. I started at 226. I'm now at 215. I say I'll be happy at 175, but the reality is I want to be 150. It feels so far I can't even think about the end. I can only make small goals for myself. I'm going to a ball in a few weeks and I want to be down 15 lbs by then. Weigh in for the week is tomorrow, plus 2 weeks after that so I do think it's attainable. I also made an appointment at the cardiologist. My mom died last January after 30 years of heart issues and I've been too terrified to go. It is time for me to face the music. I dream of being able to walk into a regular store and buy something cute off the rack without worrying about it showing too much tummy poof.

I look forward to getting to know everyone and cheer everyone on in their journey to better health!