Newbie looking for renewed hope, encouragement and support!!

SugarBabyShay

This is my story, I apologize in advance if its a little long. I am 22 years old, a police officer, a wife and a mother to one beautiful 9 month old baby girl. I would say my weight journey began in 2009. All my life I was the skinny girl, too skinny in my mind. I was called things like chicken legs etc. My friends who were bigger always asked what I was doing and why I was so small but truth is I didn't have to do anything. I was about a size 5. I was never a weight watcher and never knew how much I weighed until 2009 when I finally went to the doctor to talk about my options to cope with terrible menstrual cycles (I hope this isn't TMI) but horrible cramping, sweating, fainting, having to take days off from school, vomiting and then sometimes it wouldn't come for months!

I went to the doctor for a physical and found out I weighed 135lbs, I'm 5'6 and I was a size 5 like I said which is ideal for me. This was in April 2009. The doctor prescribed Yazmin to regulate my hormones and that is where it all started. In about 4-6 months I gained 30+ lbs! By the turn of the year, when I went out for New Year's and saw pictures of myself I truly saw the change. I didn't change my diet at all or become any less active, the only thing that changed in my lifestyle was the addition of birth control pills. In what seems like no time at all I went from 135 lbs and a size 5 to 174 ad a size 11! It was crazy, my boobs grew tremendously, and there were rumours going around my church that I was pregnant! It was a terrible experience. People were going to my boyfriend's (now husband) father who is a Bishop, and asking if I was pregnant and doing the same to his mother. My parents started to wonder the same thing because the change was so rapid! When I realized where I was I stopped the pills and started a diet regimen and lost about 10-12lbs bringing me to the low 160's. My goal was 145-150lbs. I maintained the 160's through 2010.

In January 2011, I was called by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and on February 21st, 2011 I was recruited. I was elated at the career opportunity as well as the intense physical training that I was sure would take me down to my goal weight. Well, instead, I graduated in September 2011, coming out at 180 lbs! I have no idea why! We did intense training 5 days a week for at least an hour and ate only 3 meals which were provided. When I came out I continued to work out at the gym. By February 2012 I thought I have to do something. I got back down to 165lbs in time for my wedding which was on June 16, 2012 by doing zumba and eating smaller meals throughout the day. Once again, I was 15-20lbs from my goal weight and making excellent progress. I was honestly enjoying the journey and having steady weight loss. Well, six days before my wedding, I found out I was about 8 weeks pregnant. I was absolutely crushed. I hadn't planned to have children until maybe 27 and wasn't sure I ever wanted any. Of course I love my daughter now and I'm grateful but I'm still struggling with the fact that I just wasn't ready. I went from 163lbs to 220lbs in my pregnancy! I watched my diet, I was never sick, never had cravings so it was easy to control my diet. I was a bit of a freak because I was so conscious of my goals so I wanted to gain as little as possible but still gained almost 60 lbs! I was depressed! I also had a c-section. I lost about 11lbs right after the delivery, I breastfed for 5 months until my milk dried up because I had to go back to work. I went back up to 220lbs! In short I had two surgeries on my toe which stopped me from being able to be consistent with my exercise program.

In July 2013 I did a Master Cleanse for 17 days, I lost maybe 5 lbs, in the days after I lost a few more taking me down to 197lbs. Since then I have been eating clean, drinking green smoothies, monitoring my calorie intake and for the last 4 weeks I have been finally able to be consistent with an exercise program. I weigh myself once per week every Monday morning first thing. I weighed myself this week Monday and I'm at 195.8. Less that a 2lb loss in about 3 months. Its amazing how fast time flies but I can still remember like it was yesterday when I was 135lbs and not at all worried about my size. Just living life with a tiny tummy but I see none of that when I look in the mirror. I see a c-section scar and stretch marks and just a fat lady who can't fit in her work uniform that I used to wear with such pride. I feel so hopeless and depressed and discouraged yet I refuse to give up until my scale reads 150 lbs! But I can't carry on like this, I am not making any significant progress. I have lost about two or three inches in the waist, bust and thighs. I need some help and some emotional support. My husband is great and always tells me how beautiful I am but he doesn't keep me accountable and tells me I don't need to lose weight and doesn't help me stay on track with my eating. What am I not doing? It has never been this difficult for me to lose weight. I simply exercise, change my diet and progress is made. Please help, maybe I'm missing something?

rezn8

Time to get started. I waited until I was 48 and now I have changed my life. Now the kids in youth group want me on their teams when they do games and I have no problem keeping up with the 15-18 year olds. I'm looking forward to 50 and spending many more years with my wonderful wife and family. Any advice I can give is certainly yours.