Dear...

Dear hubby,

I know we couldn't afford things for each other for Christmas, but you didn't have to go out three weeks later with our son and buy me things and stuff them in a stocking for me to find. I really was okay with it. I do appreciate that they were measuring cups and a kitchen scale though. Thank you for supporting me and my efforts to get healthy, even when it seems I have gone all OCD on you. I couldn't ask for a better husband. I you.

Dear son,

Thanks for going with daddy while he went shopping for me. You kept him from buying things he shouldn't have I also wanted to say thank you for asking daddy if you could get me flowers. They were the most awesomest present a mommy could ever get; perfect and beautiful and made mommy feel like a million bucks.

Signed,
The girl with two of the best men in the world

Dear Super Bowl Food Day @ Work -
Please stop calling my name. You hateful delicious spread of home made comfort food.

Love - the girl who just walked by you to heat up her chicken and veggies........

Dear Aunt who is a Fanatical Physical Trainer -

When you come to visit at the beginning of April, please see more of me than just the fat. I know you want the best for me, but the fact that you cannot see the person I am, only the person on the outside, makes me want to avoid you more. While well-intentioned, it's very hurtful and frustrating. You've never battled your weight... You are Korean with different body type and metabolism, you spent your entire day in the gym, have no children, apparently have no real budget so can afford to eat exclusively at Whole Foods... I work a full-time desk job, have 3 children, and come from BIG stock who raised me with bad eating habits, and am on a budget that would make most cry. I will do my best to lose the weight, for ME, not you, and your tough love makes me not want to be around you.

Feel free to celebrate my successes with me. No one feels, or fears, failure more than I.

Respectfully,

Your Niece

Dear boyfriend:

I am sad you are away, and I miss you. I understand that you are coming back with your father in tow and would like for the house to be tidy. That being said, you could have helped a little before you left. And as much as I love your homebrewing hobby, I do not love the huge cache of beer bottles that really need to find a more permanent storage place. The house will be spotless and organized when you get back, so let's work on keeping it that way, shall we?

Your loving girlfriend who is tired of being the only one who ever cleans(except the bathroom. I admit you always clean that)

This times 1000! My husband brews and his stuff is EVERYWHERE. Drives. me. insane.

Dear Anatomy Professor,

I was recently informed by another professor that you actually are quite foul at anatomy, and struggle with it 20 years into teaching it. So, I would like to point out that asking us to know everything in our dissection guide is somewhat hypocritical, unrealistic, and mean. I would deeply appreciate the possibility of getting through this course.

Sincerely,

Your student

Dear everybody:

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Dear co-worker,

Thanks for the compliment this week. I know I'm not "loosing" weight (gods it killed me to write that lol) for anyone but me, but it really made my week when you noticed!

Dearest fiance,

I GET JEALOUS WHEN YOU FLIRT WITH THAT NPC IN SWTOR! Get over it. And my sith character is MUCH hotter.

Oh, and thanks for moving from Indiana to Louisiana for me. I must admit, I'm pretty awesome and I am SO worth it, but I still feel sad that you moved away from your family. I know you tell me not to worry about it (because, you know, it's hard to feel sad when THIS AWESOMENESS is constantly around you), but I still feel guilty. We'll make the trip in a few months, ok?

Dear homebrew in the closet:

YOU WILL GROW UP TO BE A DELICIOUS VANILLA/CHOCOLATE PORTER YES YOU WILL. And you will give mommy lots of yummy calories!

Dear Friends and Family,

It's nice when you say that I don't need to lose any more weight, however I'm the one that needs to decide that and telling me not to lose more and to be careful of an eating disorder gets frustrating and condescending. I'm 5'5" and 138, I'm hardly a toothpick.

Sincerely,

Me!

Dear Jovi -
Just because you've been in a stable relationship a long time and you don't have that fluttering romance of falling in love and constant adventures of being single and stupid doesn't mean you need to panic. 24 isn't old. There's still time for plenty of adventures. Calm down. Stop acting like you need to impress the boy all the time, too. He's going to keep you, there's no need to remind him that you love him or that you think he's adorable alllll the time.
Love - JOVI!


Dear bf -
I can tell you're feeling something similar, you always want to DO something and don't know what it is. Out with it and say something. So it's been winter, I've been down with migraines and a lack of ideas, and we've been a little stale...doesn't mean you can't look at me and tell me that we've officially jumped off the everything is romanticised boat. I know that. We can still have tons of adventures, they just wont look as ridiculously romantic as the earliest ones did because we're not trying to impress each other and we're just being with each other. Is k.
- Your lady.

Dear Mom,
You have taught me to use weight as a way to protect myself, to keep myself safe. Being over weight may keep people away from me, but what I really needed this whole time was people at my side. Now that I have discovered my own path to good health, you do NOT have my permission to turn my journey into a competition with your own. It is not FAIR that you sabotage my efforts, tell me I'm not strong enough, and then gloat about your own successes. I am your DAUGHTER. You should just love me.

Sincerely,
Moving on with my life

Hey zara! (That's me):

I know things are tough right now but kick yourself up the *kitten* and get back on track! Your only hurting youself in the long run! This binging is stupid! You freaking idiot! Ha ha.

Zara,

Today IS a new start x

:flowerforyou: you can do this :drinker:

Dear Self,

Please don't be discouraged when you get on the scale this week and you haven't lost any weight, even though you've walked 20+ miles, worked out on the bowflex every other day, counted calories, ate healthy food and met all of your goals!

Why do you only get encouraged to do better only when you do lose? It's time to stop it and look at long term goals and not pay so much attention to the scale.

Be Strong!

I sooo needed this today! thank you

Dear Cancer
YOU SUCK. You tried to off my husband at 49, and again at 50 and again at 51 and again at 52. He's almost 53 now, and he is still here. He beat you down every single time, and he is tired, so just LEAVE. Make sure the door hits you in the *kitten* on the way out.

Wife and caregiver to Robert


World Cancer Day 2012 is Feb 4

Dear Cancer
YOU SUCK. You tried to off my husband at 49, and again at 50 and again at 51 and again at 52. He's almost 53 now, and he is still here. He beat you down every single time, and he is tired, so just LEAVE. Make sure the door hits you in the *kitten* on the way out.

Wife and caregiver to Robert


World Cancer Day 2012 is Feb 4

My prayers are with you and your husband! I hope he kicks cancer's *kitten*!!

Dear Aiden, (my boyfriends 7 year old son)

Thank you for telling me that you think I'm beautiful no matter how much weight I lose. You're an amazing kid and you don't even know it. You have such a kind and loving heart. You see the world as a big place full of adventure and fast cars, I envy you sometimes, but I enjoy seeing you so excited when you learn something new. You're polite, responsible, chivalrous, intelligent, and most of all, you're special to me. I know you want a brother or a sister out of your dad and I, but truthfully, I am perfectly happy to only have you. I may not be your biological mom, but I'll come as close as I can. I love you Aiden.

Rawr (means I love you in dinosaur),
Your Ashley

This is one of the sweetest things i have seen in a long time! Aiden is lucky to have you

Dear Co-Workers, and all people noticing my weight loss,

I do truly LOVE it when you notice and compliment me on my weight loss ! It means the world to me when you notice my saggy pants, or my thinner face. And for those wonderful words - THANK YOU !

What I cant stand is the constant : "what's your secret ? what are you doing?" questions, and the disappointed look on your face when I tell you that there is no "special, secret pill"

I count EVERY calorie I eat, stay under 1460 cals a day, and try to exercise whenever I can. That's the "secret", nothing more than logic and proven science.

So, please keep your "Oh no, I couldn't possibly do that, that's too hard for me (while you weigh 100 Lbs and have NO extra ounce of fat to lose)" comments for yourself, since these are the ones that I CANT stomach !

No one ever said it was EASY to get here !! I suffer every single day with wanting to eat that french fry, that piece of chocolate.

So PLEASE, I beg of you - just leave it at the : "GOODNESS, you look GREAT !" part. Period. Noting else needs to be said. I will take it, and still LOVE it and feel accomplished that my super hard work is paying off !

Best wishes,
Danielle