Not brand new- but beginning anew!

PhoenyxRising

Hi everyone- I first want to say that I love, love, love this site! The people are amazing, it holds you accountable, and you can find the answer to nearly ANY question you could possibly have. I was doing really well when I first joined about a year and a half ago, and I ended up losing nearly 30lbs. I was proud of myself and my progress and things were looking up. Then I hit a rough patch- my father passed away in February of last year, followed by a diagnosis of lung cancer in my mother which has progressed through surgery (in which I was her caretaker) into chemo (which she is undergoing currently). My husband's transplanted kidney failed and he is now spending 3 nights a week in a dialysis center for end stage renal disease. I have an 11 year old son with Asperger's and ADHD and a 14 year old girl who... well.. is a teenager- enough said. In slowly going from taking care of myself, to taking care of everyone else around me, I forgot my goals, my habits, and sort of drifted away from the things I was doing that made me feel so good about ME. Fast forward to a month ago and 25lbs regained. I realize now that if I am going to be around to take care of the people I love- that I need to take care of myself first and foremost. I need to re-commit myself to getting healthy and staying in shape. I have to stop thinking about "dieting" and looking good in my clothes and start thinking about a LIFESTYLE change and being around for the future. I want to do this- but in the time I've been gone, many of my former MFP friends have either drifted off or have met their goals because I don't have much support anymore. I would love to regain some new friends and/or former friends to help me on my journey. I've found that having support is one of my biggest motivators. I really want to do this. I am open for challenges, contests, people to push me even if it means telling me the kind of truths that hurt. What I have to offer is this- I promise to log on daily (unless an emergency or pre-planned event prevents it in which case I will be back as soon as possible). I promise to support you as much as you need, and I promise to be a good friend- someone you can talk to and count on to work with you. So in closing- I am accepting any and all friend requests, advice, ideas, words of encouragement, etc... thanks to all and good luck on your individual journeys!!!