Hi all! My name is Marie and I've been at MFP for about a week now. I was on several years ago, lost a few, then life got in the way and time went by and I just didn't care any more. Well, I'm back on track and happy to be here.

I have been up and down (mostly up) on the weight loss ride most of my adult life. I'm a single mom whose nest will be emptying this summer and a cancer survivor twice over. I quit drinking (read: self-medicating my stress away) last summer and now it's time to tackle my weight. I really want to feel better about myself and lose these extra mid-life pounds that are hanging around my middle. I am disgusted with my body every time I look in the mirror.

Since last fall, I have been practicing yoga a couple of times a week, and the peace I find through it is amazing. I look forward to meeting more of you and hearing your stories. Together we can do this.

Congratulations on making some marvelous life changing decisions. You must be tough to beat cancer twice. So you can do this too. Welcome.

alphabetsoup2013 wrote: »

sebenza512 wrote: »

Recently, though, I saw a picture of myself in my early 20's and could not believe how great I looked -- even though my memory of myself then was as a fat girl.

I can totally relate to what you and Jen said about the warped pictures in our own heads.

I grew up believing that I was fat and hideous.

I recently saw a photo of myself in Grade 8 (someone I know posted it on Facebook). I was shocked to realize that I wasn't fat or ugly at all. I was pretty -- but sad and shy. In the photo, I am sitting at a picnic table with a group of kids with my arms covering up my stomach, like I'm trying to hide my weight....

I thought I was hideous in high school too because I was not cool and was the target of several b****s. All girl Catholic schools breed them. Anyway, I was showing my yearbook to my boyfriend and he looked at me like I was crazy. He said I was gorgeous and better looking than the Queen Poodle, which is what an overpermed bully actually looked like. I wasted my youth not thinking I was pretty and certainly not capitalizing on it. I actually like my face now. It's terrible what we let ourselves believe.

Oh, I remember those days, had to shop in the misses section b/c there wasn't anything in the junior section big enough, so embarrassing. An aunt kept telling me it was baby fat and I would outgrow it. I was 14! Welcome glassgal, good group here.

Nikon Pal...thanks for making me laugh..

It's so nice to communicate with people who "get" it!

I can so relate! My beloved grandpa used to bounce me on his knee and sing, "I don't want her, you can have her, she's too fat for me." I know he was just playing with me, but.... I also remember the taunts from schoolmates, "fatty, fatty, two by four, can't get through the kitchen door." Then there was the ultimate humiliation, shopping for school clothes. In my day the stupid tops had darts, but I didn't have boobs yet, so it was so embarrassing to be told to stick some socks in my bra. No wonder I felt like such an ugly cow. At 10 years old I was 5'2", 103lbs. Maybe a bit chubby, but a head taller than most my friends. I look back at my pictures and really can't understand why I was treated like that. I was 5'7", with big bones, muscular, with big legs and hips, big feet, and 150 lbs in high school. Felt so bad about myself. I would of been totally in now thanks to JLO. I look back at pictures and think, If only I could be that FAT now!

Brilliantly said Happy trails and Lin, I too was 5'2" and 103 pounds at 10. Actually when you think about it those stats are terrific, but not when you are the biggest girl in the class. And for me, ultimately 5'6' and 150, it didn't get any better.

I think it must be part and parcel of the human condition to seem to take on all the negative things people say for whatever reasons and claim them as true for us! LOL Lisa Williams (psychic medium) gives hers a name "Veronica"! And Veronica tells her all the negative stuff about not being good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, etc etc. Unfortunately, I think we all have a Veronica too, undermining so much of our confidence! And isn't it so sad that you are told to first love yourself in order to improve yourself, but at the same time society and Veronica are telling you you are NOT worthy of that love because you are overweight!Like the beautiful soul you have just isn't enough to overcome your outward appearance! NOT TRUE people! ALL of us deserve to be seen for the beauty that is US, not our skin, but who we are inside! Lin, I wonder if it just takes a certain amount of maturity to realize those lessons and overcome the insecurities we grow up with? Maybe just part of our life lessons growing up? Keep talking to your kids! I'm sure it helps at least a little, it can't shut out the negativity they get from their peers but at least your voice is there too. I know my mother loved me unconditionally, but she was so obsessed with her own weight, she passed that feeling of being "not good enough" if you had a weight problem to me as well as my kids. My daughter died for it and it's taken me a very long time to overcome most of it, I can't even say all, but I had to stop punishing myself for not being perfect before I was able to get a good handle on losing my own weight.

I think it is pretty common to try to be everything to everyone and ignore yourself. Now that I am slimmer, I have more energy, so it is a win for everybody.

thinmog wrote: »

Hi everyone! I'm 53, married with 2 boys (27 and 22, and a great daughter-in-law). My whole life has been about others. I'm actually learning from a younger generation how to put yourself first. I'm also involved in helping my elderly parents. If I'm not healthy and happy, I don't put my best foot forward in helping others. So maybe alittle late, I'm trying to get healthy so I can be better for myself and others.

Welcome thinmog,
You have definitely got the right idea. Put yourself & your health first & then u are in a better position to help others.
We look forward to watching your journey..