I am a middle-aged woman juggling two part time jobs and college. I used to have a 25" waist and 32" hips despite being 5'6" and big boned... I was strong, slim and a bit tom-boyish in appearance. Now my waist is bigger than my hips used to be. How did it happen? I'm not really sure. I never eat junk food. There is no defining moment that I can blame - although in 2006, after my father died, I did gain some weight.

I could just blame being middle aged, but the reality is probably that multiple small changes increased my girth over the last few years. I used to have a career that kept me on my feet; losing that probably cost me several hundred calories a day. One of my part time jobs is semi-active; the other is 100% sedentary. I traded a huge garden for an itty bitty one due to lack of time. The result of that is less home grown veggies to eat and less hard work producing them. I spend another 20 hours or so a week sitting due to school work.

The result is that when my husband puts photos of me in his own office, I was embarrassed of them because I look 4-5 months pregnant and I have the red, blotchy cheeks of someone who can't breathe well after climbing a flight of stairs. I don't look healthy anymore. I can't post a photo of myself here if I won't let him have a picture. How ridiculous is that? It's time for a change.