100 Reasons Why

Day 15 of 100 Reasons Why:

To learn to eat to live instead of living just to eat.

For years I lived my life from meal to meal, snack to snack, constantly looking forward to the next time I would eat. I love eating. It makes me happy, it calms me, it quiets all my stress and anxieties, it distracts me from difficult things, it is my drug of choice. I am an addict. Unlike a typical addict I can’t quit my addiction because my substance of choice is necessary to live. Instead I need to change my mentality. I need to seek peace and comfort elsewhere. I need to understand that food is meant to fuel my body not calm my anxiety or ease my stress. Avoiding trigger foods helps but every day is a struggle. But one day I will have the strength and the discipline to use for as it is meant to be used, as nourishment, and not to abuse food, or my body, in the way that I always have before.

Day 16 of 100 Reasons Why:

For my kids ❤️

I’ve always been a pretty active parent in my kids lives despite my weight. We would go to theme parks and apple picking and spend days at the beach, go on long bike rides, climb mountains (small ones), take nature walks, play mini golf and whiffle ball and basketball. At 300+ lbs these things were difficult and sometimes draining for me, but I always did it.

Now that they’re older they don’t want to spend as much time with dear old mom (Teenagers! Go figure!!) but I worry more about the future now...seeing them graduate, dropping my daughter off at college (3,000 miles away, if she has her choice!), dancing with my son at his wedding, playing with my grand babies somewhere down the line. I need to be there for all those things and more. That’s why I need to make my health a priority now. Because even though it doesn’t seem like it right now, my kids will always need their momma and I want to be there for them for as long as I possibly can ❤️

Day 18 of 100 Reasons Why:

For people to look at me and see ME.

When you’re obese people around you see you differently. They see your weight, they see a person who makes unhealthy choices, someone who must be me lazy, they look down on you, judge you & other times they see right through you, as if you’re not worthy enough to even exist. First impressions are everything. I want people to see that there is so much more to me than just this big, bulky, awkward body.

Day 20 of 100 Reasons Why:

For the compliments!

Day 21 of 100 Reasons Why:

With Spring in the air, I’d love to be able to paint my toes without getting winded, breaking a sweat and/or pulling a muscle in my back!

Day 23 of 100 Reasons Why:

To give hope and inspiration to others fighting similar battles 💪🏻❤️👏🏻

Day 24 of 100 Reasons Why:

To be able to travel more. At my weight just the idea of going on a plane makes my palms sweat. I’m not afraid of flying, in fact I’ve always loved plane rides. I’m afraid of fitting in the seat, having enough elbow room without imposing on my neighbor, and God forbid I fall asleep and snore like a hack saw IN PUBLIC! Someday I hope to be at a size where air travel is easy!

Day 25 of 100 Reasons Why:

So I can walk down the aisle.

I’m not engaged, if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m a school bus driver. And last year my town invested in 4 brand new buses and I got one! But, the seats are wider on my new bus making the aisle more narrow. Everyday I have to squeeze between the seats of my bus, turning sideways a bit to fit, bumping student’s backpacks or elbows all along the way.

One day I’ll be able to go to the back of the bus easily with room on either side to spare!!