I'm a 41 year-old stay-at-home, homeschooling mother of 2 children, married for 20 years, trying to change my unhealthy eating and exercise habits, to be a better me!

In 1987, just graduated high school, I was an underweight 105 lbs. My second year of college, I moved on campus, had an all-can-eat cafeteria plan, and put on a "sophomore 40". This put me in normal range, but of course I thought I was huge. Then I got married, and the lbs. just kept piling on. When I got pregnant ...

I'm a 41 year-old stay-at-home, homeschooling mother of 2 children, married for 20 years, trying to change my unhealthy eating and exercise habits, to be a better me!

In 1987, just graduated high school, I was an underweight 105 lbs. My second year of college, I moved on campus, had an all-can-eat cafeteria plan, and put on a "sophomore 40". This put me in normal range, but of course I thought I was huge. Then I got married, and the lbs. just kept piling on. When I got pregnant with my 1st child in 1998, I was 215 lbs. I gained only 16 lbs. with the pregnancy, not unusual for an obese woman. I was elated when I lost 30 lbs. after birth, putting me at 201 lbs. At last, I thought, I can kick-start my weight loss. It was not to be. I put the weight back on over the next few years. When I got pregnant with my 2nd child in 2003, I weighed in at 215 lbs. again. I gained only 15 lbs. with the pregnancy, but developed gestational diabetes, which I controlled through nutrition. I only lost that same 15 lbs. after birth, putting me back at 215 lbs. The diabetes was gone, but the threat of its return hangs over me. The weight crept up on me again over the next few years. For a while in 2006-2008, I was counting calories and whatnot, without much motivational support, and exercising sporadically.

prior to SparkPeople
5/06 - 233 lbs., BMI 38, 50.75" bust, 46.38" waist, 50.25" hips, 27.25" right thigh, 16.125" neck, 13.5" right arm, 16.75" right calf
6/07 - 215 lbs., BMI 34, 45" bust, 43.50" waist, 46.50" hips, 24.5" right thigh, 15.5" neck, 13" right arm, 16.75" right calf
1/08 - 212 lbs., BMI 34, 47" bust, 43" waist, 43" hips, 24" right thigh, 13" right arm
1/09 - 211 lbs., BMI 34, no other measurements

In 2009, I started to work out again for about 4 months, then got sick, and never got back into the exercise groove again. I started knitting at the Y while waiting for my kids to get out of their PE class, instead of exercising myself.

This year, I found SparkPeople. I'm changing my bad habits, one baby step at a time. I'm not knitting at the Y anymore, I'm getting on the elliptical machine. I'm using my Wii at home, enjoying Wii Fit and EA Sports Active. I'm trying to eat mindfully, instead of mindlessly.

I have been weighing myself when I remember to do so, but I'm changing that - I'm going to weigh myself on Sunday mornings, and work to complete my next set of goals each week.

Read More About SLBUNTYN (Updated December 21)

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