Thanks for creating this, library_fiend! Should we introduce ourselves? I'm Jen_in_Jeopardy over on MWOP.

Hi guys.. It is me Mom7 !! Add me as a friend. I am currently struggling with losing weight and trying to figure out how to make this work.

I'm Piemonade. I need to get back on the wagon.

Thanks for starting the group. My name's the same.

I do occasionally ramble on the blog things here so I'll share my disclaimer:

The writings I do on my MFP blog are not intended to suggest that I'm an actual "writer". It's for my process through all this and mine along. If you choose to read, do so at your own literary risk. If you get something out of my ramblings, great. If not, oh well, since it's for me anyway :-) I find journaling helpful, and should do more of it.

I updated my profile about a month ago. Like many, I was a normal weight until I went to college. Over the course of about 18 months, I gained nearly 100 pounds. Since then, I've struggled to lose, using weight watchers 3 different times. I've gone as far as therapy, trying to figure out if I had an eating disorder or not.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't have an eating disorder, but I did struggle with disordered thinking as a result of deprivation while dieting. I started to think I was weak, and became obsessed with food and I now realize that a huge part of that was due to the fact that I was on a very, very low fat and very, very low calorie diet. My "failure" and ED was my body screaming in protest.

So I battle a few demons, and get rather stabby when I hear about people talking about quick fixes and miracles. My only true goal in all of this is DO NOT QUIT.

For the month of December, I set to maintenance. I needed a break and December is a tough month food wise at work--January everyone will be on a diet. Last January, about 1/2 of my co-workers began different quick fix diets, from Isogenics to HCG. I'm the only one who has sustained a loss over the long haul. The sad thing is that most of them just needed a tweak in their eating and exercise habits, not a drastic diet.

Enough from me for a while.

Hello, lovelies. I'm Nichole, but I post as redwineandambien on MWOP, and I know I am (or have been) friends with some of you in here. I'm WAY OFF TRACK in my weight struggle. I've managed to gain back everything i lost and then some, and it's depressing the hell out of me. So here I am, picking the worst time of the year to start back in, but this emotional eating just has to stop. I've had two c-sections, so it's been a real struggle for me to not be constantly overwhelmed by my stomach and my inability to tighten up the area. Add to that my love for food and beer, and it's a recipe for a hot mess. I'm hoping this will get me back to where I was and even further!

Mom7, I blame you in advance for the 40 lbs. I'm about to gain from the news that the McRib is back!

Nichole ~ I just wanted to tell you I totally understand that depression caused by a post-c-section stomach. I have had 3 c-sections and have a huge separation of my abdominal muscles. My doctor has said only a tummy tuck will repair the separation, but I don't have the $$ or time right now to do it. As such, I am trying to just accept that I will never have a flat stomach again, but it's hard to come to grips with that reality. I read your words and wanted to offer you a big (((hug))).

Hey Kp, I know who you are and keep track of your family. And now that I said that, it sounds stalkerish. LOL Anyway, with all you have going on, just joining her and giving it a go is a fantastic start for you. Hang in there.

Thanks, Michelle. You don't sound stalkerish. Thanks for caring about what's going on with Joshua & Bethany. That's really nice of you.

I had to start exercising ~ I need the stress relief. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands; they just don't! (a line from "Legally Blonde")