Lagniappe
New member
For the past 4 years, I've labored under some delusion that somehow this extra weight would just go away. Spontaneously. I didn't change anything about the way I ate, at least not for more than a couple of days at a time. I didn't exercise consistently. I didn't take any ownership for the state I'd gotten myself into. I just avoided mirrors and cameras, as if denial would make a difference. But I'm ready to change all that, before it's too late.
My weight problems really began with my 2nd child, 15 years ago. I gained about 50 lbs and still carried about 20 after he was born. Over the next 10 years, I put on about 25 lbs more. Then following a divorce and very liberating changes, I lost a good bit through healthier eating (lots of Lean Cuisine) and moderate exercise and got down to 140. I felt great, and I looked good even though I was still about 20 lbs overweight.
But then, while I was still a svelte and pretty hot-looking 140, I met a great guy -- who happened to be a great cook. I married him, and my Lean Cuisine diet plan flew out the door. He spent the next 2 years fattening me up, stuffing me nearly every night with amazing cajun and creole food, as good as you would find in any of the best restaurants in New Orleans. It's no wonder I gained weight. By the time I became pregnant with my 3rd child, I was around 160. My pregnancy weight gain set records, I'm sure. After the baby was born, I was a whopping 190, and I've carried that around since early 2004. I started smoking again thinking (duh) that it might help me slim down, but of course it didn't. And when I quit smoking in January 2007, I immediately gained weight, packing on another 16 lbs.
All this weight gain has had a profound impact on my psyche. I have no energy or zeal. I get winded playing ball with my 3 year old. I dread going anywhere that I have to "dress nice" because of how I look. And there are physical issues that go along with carrying all this weight around on a 5 ft frame... I just don't feel that great a lot of the time.
While my husband is affectionate and acts like it doesn't matter... I know it does. It has to. Our intimate life has suffered, of course. I can't imagine that he could NOT be grossed out -- or at least chagrined -- by what I've become. I look nothing like the woman he married. On top of all that, he's a college professor, surrounded by nubile 20-something women... and he's a good-looking guy. I can't help but worry that all that temptation... well, you know. He's married, not dead.
I've spent months (really, months) researching diets of different types and weight loss strategies, and just generally psyching myself up for this. I've settled on a kind of sugarbusters/low-carb plan, not following any strict plan per se, but I have virtually eliminated pasta, rice, bread and refined sugars. I've started eating veggies, lean meats, eggs, cheese, whole grains, but really limiting myself where possible to low GI carbs. I'm not following a strict carb limit but trying to keep it between 50 to 75 per day. Drinking LOTS of water and a couple of cups of green tea each day. I'm keeping a food journal religiously calculating my intake of carbs, and that has been a huge help. I've started walking, just about 1/2 mile for now but will extend that as I can. I've also gotten an exercise video (Body Electric) that I'm working with for 30 minutes every day. Maybe some day I can actually touch my toes again (although at this point, I'll settle for just SEEING my toes).
The one thing that I know I need is a support network. So that is why I signed up at this forum. I will be here for you... and will appreciate your being here for me.
As of 9/26, I weighed 199.6, which is down from 206 last week. My initial goal is 140 (and if that works, I'll shoot for 120). I figure that it will take about 8 to 12 months to reach 140 if I don't screw it up!
Thanks for reading, and I will be HUGELY appreciative of your support over the coming months.
My weight problems really began with my 2nd child, 15 years ago. I gained about 50 lbs and still carried about 20 after he was born. Over the next 10 years, I put on about 25 lbs more. Then following a divorce and very liberating changes, I lost a good bit through healthier eating (lots of Lean Cuisine) and moderate exercise and got down to 140. I felt great, and I looked good even though I was still about 20 lbs overweight.
But then, while I was still a svelte and pretty hot-looking 140, I met a great guy -- who happened to be a great cook. I married him, and my Lean Cuisine diet plan flew out the door. He spent the next 2 years fattening me up, stuffing me nearly every night with amazing cajun and creole food, as good as you would find in any of the best restaurants in New Orleans. It's no wonder I gained weight. By the time I became pregnant with my 3rd child, I was around 160. My pregnancy weight gain set records, I'm sure. After the baby was born, I was a whopping 190, and I've carried that around since early 2004. I started smoking again thinking (duh) that it might help me slim down, but of course it didn't. And when I quit smoking in January 2007, I immediately gained weight, packing on another 16 lbs.
All this weight gain has had a profound impact on my psyche. I have no energy or zeal. I get winded playing ball with my 3 year old. I dread going anywhere that I have to "dress nice" because of how I look. And there are physical issues that go along with carrying all this weight around on a 5 ft frame... I just don't feel that great a lot of the time.
While my husband is affectionate and acts like it doesn't matter... I know it does. It has to. Our intimate life has suffered, of course. I can't imagine that he could NOT be grossed out -- or at least chagrined -- by what I've become. I look nothing like the woman he married. On top of all that, he's a college professor, surrounded by nubile 20-something women... and he's a good-looking guy. I can't help but worry that all that temptation... well, you know. He's married, not dead.
I've spent months (really, months) researching diets of different types and weight loss strategies, and just generally psyching myself up for this. I've settled on a kind of sugarbusters/low-carb plan, not following any strict plan per se, but I have virtually eliminated pasta, rice, bread and refined sugars. I've started eating veggies, lean meats, eggs, cheese, whole grains, but really limiting myself where possible to low GI carbs. I'm not following a strict carb limit but trying to keep it between 50 to 75 per day. Drinking LOTS of water and a couple of cups of green tea each day. I'm keeping a food journal religiously calculating my intake of carbs, and that has been a huge help. I've started walking, just about 1/2 mile for now but will extend that as I can. I've also gotten an exercise video (Body Electric) that I'm working with for 30 minutes every day. Maybe some day I can actually touch my toes again (although at this point, I'll settle for just SEEING my toes).
The one thing that I know I need is a support network. So that is why I signed up at this forum. I will be here for you... and will appreciate your being here for me.
As of 9/26, I weighed 199.6, which is down from 206 last week. My initial goal is 140 (and if that works, I'll shoot for 120). I figure that it will take about 8 to 12 months to reach 140 if I don't screw it up!
Thanks for reading, and I will be HUGELY appreciative of your support over the coming months.
Lagniappe, wishing you and the family a great weekend, girl. 
Enjoy your Sunday, girl.