Where I am, What I Need

runningmommycrosland

My weight has gone up and down pretty much my whole life. I was a very skinny child. When I was in high school, I was over-weight (not obese, just over-weight). I ate horrible (drank 44oz Dr.P every day with doritos). I felt horrible. I have had mental health issues (anxiety and some depression) since my teenage years, and the way I ate didn't help. In college, I lost about 25 pounds and felt better, though I wouldn't necessarily say that I was healthier.

I got married, gained a few pounds (like 5-10), then had 3 babies. Right before I had my third child, my brother committed suicide, then I went through postpartum depression afterwards. It was at this time that I got to my heaviest (178 at 5'6"). About 6 months-1 year after my third child, I lost about 25 pounds because of just being more active (got a full time job teaching and was on my feet/walking up and down stairs all day).

I am currently just about 5 pounds more than I was before my first child (I'm 157; I was 152 right before I got pregnant with my 6 year old daughter), but I would like to lose a bit. I have started running and will start training for a half-marathon in August.

I believe wholeheartedly in eating whole foods... I am not the type of person that likes fad diets (I have seen people lose significantly, then gain more than they lost with fad diets), so instead of focus on calories, etc, I focus on what it is that I am putting in my mouth. How is it made? What's in it? I desire to eat/feed my family foods that are as real as possible (very little processing). When everything is "normal" and routine in our lives, I make my bread and bread products from scratch and grind my own flour, I try to eat/feed my family lots of fresh fruits and veggies, we eat meat maybe only once-twice a week, we drink raw milk from a local farm, etc. I typically drink a smoothie for breakfast, and make sure that I have several servings of fruits AND veggies in it because this is a great way to start the day!

I am, though, an emotional/stress eater. Life has been stressful lately, and I automatically run to junk food and eating out. It makes me feel emotionally crappy, and I feel more tired/have less energy... but it's so much easier to just run to Sonic or Chickfila (we're in the middle of moving, and lots of other things going on... all good changes, but stressful during transition, with three little ones... ages 2, 4, and 6).

So... this is where I am.

I have been so against focusing on counting calories... pretty much always... so it's hard to get into that frame of mind. When I'm not so stressed, I tend to focus/care more about what I put in my mouth.... it's just really hard right now.

I leave Friday to be an adult sponsor for junior high camp (with our church), in Estes Park, CO (I live just north of Dallas), and I'm hoping to come back and get into a good routine of running/cross-training 5-6 days a week and just putting more thought/effort into what I eat/feed my family.

My husband and I went to the mountains of New Mexico and ended up hiking 22 miles in the mountain, in one day (long story)... half of it up the mountain and the other half in snow/sleet/freezing rain, so I know that I have the ability to be strong! I just want to learn how to be more balanced!

My husband and I decided a few weeks ago to no longer drink sodas (my weakness) or eat deep fried foods... but I failed yesterday for the first time, and it's so easy to just not care anymore! I went 2 1/2 weeks without either, and in two days, I have had way too much!

I need accountability! (someone that's not my husband!)

Any ideas on what I can add to my exercise routine that won't take hours? Or that will be easy to do at home? It's so hard with my three kiddos!

Excellentia

Oh wow! What a story... Allow me to welcome you to the family! :flowerforyou: Feel free to add me for support and motivation! You'll fit right in with my the rest of us!

michspor

Hey girl! Thank you for writing your story! I know your pain when it comes to taking care of little ones and dealing with depression. You know you are strong, you know what it takes to get healthier, you know how to eat right. The hard part is juggling all of this with the stresses of daily life. In the back of your mind remember where you want to be and keep the focus. Its hard and long but you will get there. I think you have the right mindset. We can motivate each other! I am right there with you!

achampionsheart

Hi, i will share some of my story with you here

last year in march i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol....i was put into a drug study for my diabetes and i have since lost 40 lbs (in a year's time)....i went from 232 to 190...(i tend to fluctuate between 190 and 193, and cant seem to get out of the 190s but im not giving up)....i have reversed my diabetes and have my cholesterol under control, somewhat....

i have always been one to eat for no reason, stress, special occasion, etc....i now look at food as something that gives me energy not the source of my happiness....i immediately starting drinking water and within 2 wks i had lost my first ten lbs....i did not start exercising right away, as too much change at once would send me into a spiral if i didnt see results....slowly but surely i started noticing that my body was changing.....you have to believe in yourself and know that every healthy choice will lead to another and then another....it's a cycle...just like when you made unhealthy choices, it only led to another unhealthy choice.....

so you had too much soda today? begin again.....tomorrow is a new day, and as long as you have breath, you can always begin again

pupcamper

I hear you!! You just have to do what you can when you can without putting too much pressure on yourself!

How about adding some push ups and sit ups - easy to do at home and don't take up too much time! There are a couple of websites with 3 times a week program to help you out! Check out:- http://hundredpushups.com/index.html and http://www.twohundredsitups.com/index.html They might make a good start to a program for you and you can always add in some other excercises as you go!

Good luck with your journey!