Long intro

Hello Everyone! This is going to be long. Thank you in advance if you take the time to read it. I have no one else to talk to, so I'm coming here.

I am a busy homeschooling mom raising kids in a law enforcement/military family. Pretty standard background... I was never a skinny child, grew up in poverty in the freezing north and ate like it. Lots of low cost filling rice and pasta dishes, lots of dairy, cheap boxed food. Got married young to a husband who was never taught to eat a well balanced meal but never really had to work hard to stay reasonably fit either. Affording healthy food, or any food sometimes, has been an issue a number of times. We have changed our eating habits a lot over the years and try our best to promote good habits for our kids.

I lost significantly with each pregnancy due to being sick, but of course, after a few months gained it all back. I've held fairly steady at 200 (other then the three times I've had children) for the last 10 years or so. Within the last year, it's begun to climb and it hit 210. It makes me cry just to say that out loud. I have spent the last several years depressed and just generally unhappy with myself.

After I had my second, I developed high blood pressure, though my weight hadn't changed. At the same time I became lactose intolerant. My third I was on HBP meds and still take them daily.

After being (unintentionally) insulted by my friend, I told myself I'd had enough - this was May 6th. I didn't have any faith that I would stick with the goals I laid out. I had tried and failed dozens of times before. But this time I feel like something is different. I can't live like this. I don't want to end up like my family members with all their health problems. I don't want to be on medication my whole life. I don't want my insurance sending me letters insinuating I have diabetes (I don't). And several more I don'ts.

My intention isn't to diet. Been there done that, not going to happen. I also don't want to "diet" in front of my kids. That's not a lesson I want to pass on. My kids are always front in my mind when making choices and what I say. I don't want them to take away anything other then, mom is making healthy choices.

My goals are:
- Water 100% of the time, which was easy since dairy is out and I don't drink anything else. I did add in one cup of tea a couple times a week.
- Most obvious carbs. I could eat them all day. I will pick a bread over sugar any day.
- Sugar. I am not a sweet tooth anyway, so that hasn't been difficult. I don't make a huge deal about it either though. If we have something yummy as a treat, I will take a small serving.
- Portions. I use my kid's baby bowls/plates.
- Cut Dairy. Milk was simple as I can't drink it, but cheese was the tough one. Give me a carb with cheese and I will be your best friend, I overdo it. I've limited my cheese intake to one string cheese a day or a little sprinkle of shredded cheese on a meal.
- Up the veggies when we can afford it.
- Work out in some fashion every day/night for at least 30 mins. My workouts usually take place late at night after everyone else is asleep. I use videos on Amazon, apps on my phone, the gym, or walking with my walking buddy.
- Cut out the night time snacking. We eat dinner as a family around 9 hours before I go to bed. My, "I'll just have a banana," turns into, "Look at all this bread and mayo!" Not good.

I think that's about it.

I I'd like to get down to 150 at least. That's where I was at my smallest and while at 5'0 it's still not considered an ideal weight, it's a comfortable goal for me right now that can be easily adjusted should I make it that far. Right now, exactly a month after I began, I am at 195 (+/- day and time), -15 lbs. I didn't think to do inches, but of the three jean sizes I own, I am in the smallest with room to move. The capris I made earlier this spring no longer fit, as they are far too baggy. The only real downside of this whole change is that we can't afford to buy clothes, so I'll have to figure something out.

My goal for May was 15 lbs and I met that one. My goal for June is to get to 190.

I am new to this site, so I'm trying to figure out all the settings. Apparently when I entered my starting weight, I should have entered what I was a month ago, not what I am now if I wanted it to show my results thus far. Hopefully, I can get that worked out in the next day or so.