WHO I AM:

I'm a life-timer! I went on my first "diet" at 10 years old when my mom told me my grandmother thought I was too heavy. I had no idea what to do so I started skipping lunch. I wish that had never happened - it's how the yo yo began! A couple of years later I was counting calories and not eating over 1000 calories/day. My mom would give me a surprise if I lost at least 5 lb/week. I'm not blaming my mom, really. Looking back, she was obviously so ignorant as to how ...

WHO I AM:

I'm a life-timer! I went on my first "diet" at 10 years old when my mom told me my grandmother thought I was too heavy. I had no idea what to do so I started skipping lunch. I wish that had never happened - it's how the yo yo began! A couple of years later I was counting calories and not eating over 1000 calories/day. My mom would give me a surprise if I lost at least 5 lb/week. I'm not blaming my mom, really. Looking back, she was obviously so ignorant as to how to properly lose and maintain weight. I do think she thought she was helping me.... but it's a lesson to me as I raise my own daughter.
I've done Slim Fast (a few times), Weight Watchers (a few times), South Beach, Atkins (a couple of times) plus a couple of other variations similar to South Beach or Atkins. I've done the Grapefruit diet, the Cabbage Soup diet, the Heart Patient diet, the Six Week Body Makeover, Deal-A-Meal and the Special K diet. I've used Phenterimine and misc over the counter and all natural weight loss drugs and supplements. I lost a lot of weight with almost every one of these - lots! I'm a pretty good 'dieter.' The problem is keeping it off. That has never happened. I've always gained it all back and then some. Plus some of these diets have caused additional health conditions due to their various food type restrictions - the yo yo'ing has done this as well. In fact, I don't seem to have the typical fat people health issues. It's the weird stuff I get.
This is my second time with Spark People, but I really don't consider it a diet. It seems more like a way of life. And it seems to be sinking in more this time. I'm hopeful about who I'm becoming as I grow older and grow up.

I'm a super-busy woman! I work full time, I'm a mom full time and I'm a wife full time. ;o) I wear many hats. It's easy to put myself last, but I'm making huge strides forward in my nutrition and fitness. I can do things I never thought I could when I push myself.

I'm an addict! I'm definitely a sugar addict and have consciously used sugar as a drug when I've been upset and depressed (it converts to alcohol, you know).
I've overcome other bad habits and addictions. I used to smoke a pack a day. I use to drink daily and was at a bar most nights. Today I'm an obnoxious non-smoker and have maybe two drinks a year. Changing those habits and breaking those addictions 1) did not happen overnight and 2) did not happen the first time I tried. The key is to pick yourself up and try again. This is what I keep reminding myself.

My hope for myself is that all the information I've gathered over the years in my diet attempts - what works, WHAT DOESN'T (not just what works to drop weight, but what works to make me healthy) - can be used to make me the healthiest person I can be. I pray that this is it. I will reach my goal and change the remainder of my life.

Read More About JULINA4 (Updated March 25)

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