Hi, I'm Ruth from Ohio

RuthRW

Hello Everyone,

First off, I'm glad I found this website while surfing the web for reviews on some exercise DVDs!

So a little about me - I have battled my weight since high school and at 5'11 I weighed 190 when I graduated.
I used to smoke and drink quite a lot and decided after gaining more weight my freshman year at college that bulimia was a good solution to my problems. So I alternately starved and binged, worked out like crazy while chain smoking cigarettes on the walk to the gym and back from the gym. I lost weight and was miserable, never feeling good about myself even at my thinnest.
3 years later after some therapy and realizing this was no way to live I stopped being bulimic and starving myself.

I worked a job that required a lot of physical activity and when I got married weighed 165 and felt really good about myself, though I was still smoking a pack a day. I moved to a different, much more sedentary job and quit smoking. Can you guess that the weight came back?
When I got pregnant with my oldest daughter I weighed 195 and gained a LOT of weight with the pregnancy, my eating was out of control and I was working in an office, completely sedentary. I gave birth at 260lbs! Not cool but I dieted and got back down to 215. Then I got pregnant with my other daughter and was determined that THIS time I wouldn't be so crazy and would watch what I ate. I gave birth the second time weighing 230lbs, definitely an improvement.

Since then my weight has fluctuated back and forth from 215 to 230 over the past 3+ years.
My youngest was diagnosed with autism last year, which was hard though we knew there were a lot of signs and developmental delays. I felt really out of control and started eating more to comfort myself.
After talking and wishing and fantasizing for years about what I wanted to look like and how I wanted to feel, it all came to a head this spring.
I HAD TO MAKE A CHANGE!
Life is too short to spend it wishing it was different, I needed to MAKE it different so that I could run after my kids without feeling weak and breathless. I want to fit into the "inspirational" jeans that I bought for myself.
So I started eating better and two weeks ago I started using Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home dvds after not working out in over 10 years! I also need the stress relief that exercise brings - not only do I feel better after sweating though my workout, it is time that I have to myself, for myself and that is important for my mental health as well. This morning when I signed up on the website I weighed in at 218.
I am really excited about this journey and finding a community of people who are also dealing with similar body issues is very encouraging.

Thanks and good luck to everyone!
My mfp name is RuthRW

MelissaL582

Hi Ruth and Welcome to the site! It's a great place. I'm a stay at home mom of 3 boys and I too live in Ohio. Add me if you like.

erisfreenici

Welcome to MFP! You will find a lot of support, help, and resources. I *love* Leslie Sansone's DVDs. Another popular DVD here is Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. Good luck!

RuthRW

Thanks for the welcome, its great to meet other people who are struggling with losing weight. I've got baby weight, quit smoking weight, emotional eating weight - whatever, it's coming off!

whiskey9890

hi ruth, i'm ruth too but i'm in cheshire, uk. i hope you meet all your goals this is a great site, full of support and advice feel free to add me

KaizokuNoMaiku

Best of luck !