Well , geeze how far back should I go?
I can always remember being as thin as a rail until I turned 10. Then I ballooned up to who knows what. I specifically remember Junior High School, I was fat! At only 5'2', I was quite the lil bowling ball. But back then, we certainly didn't have the knowledge that we do today. I remember the first two years of high school, I bounced up and down, but I don't ever remember dieting until I was planning a vacation when I was 17. I was going to the Cayman Islands on a SCUBA dive trip. I remember NOT EATING for days to try to lose weight. I don't think that worked, but I do remember being 122 lbs at that time.
After that point, I honestly remember not worrying about my weight. I think I always *felt* fat, but I think I was a size 9. But in high school, all the girls were like size 3. Anyways, when I was 19 I met my husband to be, and he always told me that he liked me just the way I was when we met. <shrugs> Still a size 9 then.
I know I dropped to an 8 to fit into my wedding dress, but 2 days later, it didn't fit, go figure. OH yes, also when I was 18 I joined a health club and tried to work out daily. I tried to keep that up until I got pregnant for the first time.
There I was, 20, pregnant and no knowledge of nutrition. I ate what ever I wanted, and it showed. I think I was about 130 and I was gaining 9 lbs per month, by the time my son was born, 7 months later, I was 183 pounds. Good golly, was I obese!! The following year I joined one of those quick weight loss places, it was basically low everything!! All I remember was starving. But it was low carb, and I did lose weight, about 25 pounds in 5 months, and I got back into my size 9 jeans.(135 I think) But then over the next 3 years, I was back up to 150. Soon after, I was pregnant again. I did much better this time, only gaining 27 lbs. And the weight came off a lot faster this time, within 6 months I was back to my pre-pregnancy state, which was 153.
In November of `90 I started exercising and keeping track of my measurements. (Alex was 3.5 months old) at that point I was 171 lbs. On January 19 of `91 I had gotten down to 165 just my riding my bike. Then I decided to start the program that Richard Simmons had out. (I was keeping a journal then too, so I have my notes) I started at 165 and got down to 147!! I looked and felt good.
In the fall of 1991 I started to work out again. I found an aerobics instructor that I really liked. I started at twice a week and worked up to 6 days a week, and did that for years. My weight still bounced around a bit and I never really felt in control. I had my body fat % down to 26%, which was good considering where I came from. According to my journal, I stayed around 147 for a while. Slowly creeping back up again to the 180 range. November 1996, I tipped the scale at 183 and I was disgusted again. I started eating only salads for 2 weeks, then I added chicken to my diet, and by mid-January I got down to a size 12. I think I was about 162. As I had been working out regularly, I had added much bulk, I was quite toned, so I didn't *look* as fat. Certainly not 160+ pounds.
I guess we have to wonder what the heck we did to get where we are now, or were. (meaning our highest weight) I'd say that my downfall, aside from the Oreos, was stopping to work out. In the fall of 1997, I started back in college and just didn't have the time anymore. I love being back in school, but I have to love myself too, and get back into shape again.
So....this is where is sit, no pun intended, and I do spend a lot of time in this chair.....anyways, This is where I sit, at 5'3" and 190+ LBS. Working my way to a svelte .....Um, anything lower than 150 for starters. I would be happy with 150, but heck,,, if all goes well, why not shoot for 130!!
We will see........thanks for reading
Always,
Terese