| Hi all. My name is Denise and I am 37 years old. I started this weight loss journey on January 27, 2005. I am from Missouri and have a wonderful husband and 3 awsome children. I have been trying to make a website for quite some time, but don't have much time or experience to put in to it, so please bear with me! When I started Weight Watchers I weighed 299.5 pounds, with a BMI of 48.3. I spent many years in total denial and when I looked in the mirror I knew I was heavy, but when the Aha moment came when I seen myself in a picture from Christmas 2004. I could not believe what I seen! It took me a couple weeks to get myself back in the thinking I could lose the weight and this time it was for good. Some friends and I decided to start our own weight loss support group by meeting once a week and weighing in. It lasted about a week when I decided I needed more, so I went back to Weight Watchers with my head hung. I was welcomed with open arms and no one ever made me feel ashamed of having gained all my weight back. I wanted to share my journey with all of you in hopes to inspire or humor someone out there. I have lost and gained hundreds of pounds in my lifetime and have even tried taking diet pills to get the weight off. I have been heavy most of my life. When I was in the 8th grade I started my first diet and lost around 60 pounds. When I was in High School, I thought I was large when I weighed 150 pounds. Oh to be there again! Then I got married and had my first son. I was around 200 when he was born. During this time, my marriage failed and I was a single parent. I did not have time to fuss with my weight and it went up again. 5 years later I met my now DH. I was over 200, but he did not seem to mind. He loved me for who I was. He never judged me for being overweight. During the honeymoon phase I cooked ALOT! I managed to pack on lots of pounds those first five years! In 1997 I had to have my galbladder removed. My doctor put me on Phen Phen afterward and I lost quite a bit of weight, I made it down to 175 pounds. Then I was in a car accident, which made me sedintary for a few months. In the meantime I put back on all the weight I lost, plus more. Then I had female stuff going on. The very same doctor told me I was not able to have children any longer. In 2001, my Dad suffered a major heart attack. He had 2 actually, he didn't know he had suffered a heart attack. We almost lost him. During that time, I looked at myself and thought, that could be me in a few years if I don't get this weight off. So I joined Weight Watchers. I was so flabbergasted when I started going to meetings. Except for the first initial shock at the scales, it was a treat. It did not feel like I was on a diet. I kept losing weight faithfully. I was feeling sooo good, my energy was up the roof. I lost 80 pounds and to mine and hubbys surprise, I got pregnant! I did not think that would EVER happen again. Well it has been the most wonderful time of my life. My other children are grown and almost out the door and now we have another beautiful boy to raise. He brings joy to my life every day. When I came back to Weight Watchers, I had gained all the 80 I lost, plus more! Ouch!! BUT, this time I have decided this is for life, because I can't afford being obese any more. I have to be healthy to take care of my family and set a good example for them. I am an emotional eater, so that has been my biggest struggle thus far. I am learning ways to deal with it, but some days stress gets the better of me! I have good days and I have bad days. I am trying to deal with stress in a better way and not turn to food at each difficult time in my life. This time around I've decided that I'm not going to let a bad day get in the way of my dreams. I gave up many other times before. This time it's for life. It hasn't always been easy, but anything in life worth having is never easy. It also takes some hard work and sweat on your part too. Stay positive and don't beat yourself up when you've had a bad day. It's not about what you've done in the past, it's what you're doing now that's important. Get back up and dust yourself off and keep on "Pushin' it" Hope you enjoy the website! |
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