Here I go!

Hi all! I am hoping to get to know some of you through this site, and that we can each push one another to reach our goals.

I have been struggling with my weight for a while now. When I was younger, it wan't too bad. But then I grew up, I got a sedentary and time consuming job and didn't fully understand what I needed to do to keep my weight down. Then, to top it off, I married the WRONG man. Depression led to more eating and soon I was in a downward spiral. Luckily, I got out of that marriage, but my weight was still more than I would have liked. My weight was a yo-yo from 145-175. Usually on the higher side. Oh, and I'm only 5'4". Then...I got pregnant with my first child. When I gave birth to him I weighed 216 pounds. After I gave birth to him, I lost only 15 pounds. I hated my body. But I was able to lose the weight. How you ask? I wanted another child. That motivated me to lose over 60 pounds only to get pregnant....and gain it all right back!

My daughter is now 15 months old, and I have lost only 22 pounds. My weight when I gave birth to my daughter was 208 pounds. I now weigh 186 pounds....can't believe I am admitting that! I am tired, depressed about how I look, and want to stop avoiding having my picture taken. I relized that my children will look back at the youngest years of there lives and rarely see me in a picture with them, because I avoid having my picture taken.

Well, I say...NO MORE!!!! I will now proudly have my picture taken, and if I do not like how big I am, then I will not be depressed by it...NO, I will be empowered by it! I will lose 60 pounds and I will reach a point where I look at those pictures and not even know who the woman in them was! But I will keep those pictures even so, to remind me of where I have been and what I do not want to return to.

Will power, I will get you back! Sweets, I will not be your slave. Fast food, you are not my only choice! For I am in charge of my own destiny and I can do this!