Hectic mom of 2 finally ready...

I'm a 28 year old mom of 2 who has struggled with weight all my life. My mom is morbidly obese, and taught me how to have a horrible relationship with food, and to be completely sedentary. I crash dieted my way through my teens and early twenties. Then at 23 (and 5'6"/160#) I got pregnant with my oldest daughter. During that pregnancy I ate healthier than I ever had before. Unfortunately, it was a high-risk pregnancy, and I was put on bed rest. As a result, I gained 60lbs!! She was born and perfect! I slowly started walking around the neighborhood with her, in an attempt to lose some of the pregnancy weight. When she was 3 months old, we fell down a flight of stairs. She was unscathed, I broke my back. It was far less damaging than it could have been. I had surgery and got better, but the whole ordeal put a damper on my determination. I finished school and got a job working crazy hours at a doctors office. In the mean time, her dad and I went through a rough patch. Depression took over and I stopped working out all together. Baby #2 came, along with more pregnancy weight, in April of 2012. That brings us to where we are now. I have 2 girls who I don't want to grow up the way I did. We eat fairly healthy in my home, but aren't as active as we should be. That's the part I'm working on! What's different this time is that I'm not doing it to look hot in a bikini. I'm not doing it to get a man. I'm doing it for my girls. So they don't have the love/hate relationship I have with food, and my body. I joined a gym, and am actually going. Have been 4 out of the last 5 days. Mainly just walking/jogging on the treadmill, as I don't see much point in trying to tone anything that's covered in fat lol I'm also logging everything that crosses my lips on the food log on MFP. And I'm forcing myself to drink water (torture!). Last week I started out at 230#. I'm now at 223.8. My short term goal is to be under 200 by my daughter's first birthday at the end of April. I'd love to ultimately get to 180#. I don't aspire to be skinny. I'm not built that way, I'm thick by nature. I just want to be tone. Anyway, that's my story. I have no idea how this site works, so any helping hints are much appreciated!

Replies

  • cindywomack1
    cindywomack1 Posts: 33 Member
    Believe it or not, in time, water will be your preferred drink. I used to be a coca cola addict. Now I rarely drink it. I do, however, always have a glass or bottle of water within reach. I was shocked to see just how many empty calories I was consuming through sodas.

    Setting an example for your girls and making them your reason to be healthy is wonderful! You are taking the first steps to break the cycle of obesity and you and your girls will be SO MUCH BETTER for it!

    Make sure you log everything you eat. Even if it is just 1 M&M. Those calories sneak up on you, as do the snacking on the things as we are cooking as we cook (I am soooooo guilty of this)

    If you don't have long blocks of time to dedicate to walking, break it down into several 10 minute session through out the day. Get your girls to go on walks with you. Make it a fun adventure (try to find as many things as you can that start with the letters of the alphabet; make a list of colors and search for something that is every color on the list; etc - I don't know how old they are) You can make physical exercise fun for you and them.

    Feel free to add my on MFP. You can also find me on facebook Cindy Link Womack.