The Journey Ahead

This year has had many changes and challenges, and I never anticipated the journey ahead.

I had my second baby, and along with that came extra weight. I was lucky enough not to go through postpartum depression again, but with the ever-changing daily life and adjustment to having two small children, I wasn’t eating well and used food for stress relief, because, well…. being a stay-at-home parent, my options for stress relief are limited.

Over the last 12 years or so, I’ve slowly gained weight each year. It started in college when I had more freedom and choices. I ate tons of greasy carbs, and during my last year of school, would go out to the bar a couple of times a week.

It wasn’t until after my second baby that it started to get to me. It was something I thought about from time to time, but it wasn’t devastating until something else happened.

Sometime during the summer I started gaining weight and went up a pant size.

I’d been in the size previous to this for a few years, so it made me upset. I didn’t know what to do. 

My husband started the ketogenic diet, and I tried with him, but a lack of planning and a lack of gallbladder made it difficult to stick with. Then, during a weekend visiting my family, a total stranger made a very intrusive comment, which I will not repeat because it was very hurtful.

I honestly lost it.

I spent maybe three of four hours crying about what she said, wallowed in self-pity, and felt a little self-hate (we’re our own worst critic). 

For a short time before that, I’d been looking into some diet changes that would be more sustainable for me and less limiting than keto. A friend of mine had a lot of success doing Weight Watchers, so I asked her for information about it.

Within a week of what this lady said to me, I started Weight Watchers. I won’t say it was her words that made me do it, but it gave me a push to get started.

So far, I’ve lost at least 11 pounds (I didn’t have a scale for the first two weeks, so I don’t know what my starting weight actually was). I have a ways to go, but I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. There are times when I get tired of it. I’m hoping to be down at least 15 pounds total by the time the new year starts. I then hope to continue losing until I feel comfortable with both my weight and my appearance.

I know life can be stressful, but I encourage any of you thinking about trying to get healthy to do it! Weight Watchers is fairly easy for me, and I’m not even going to meetings. I use the app they have with membership. I’ve been able to see a difference in my food choices since I began. I used to spend my days eating a lot of sugar and that’s one of the reasons I got to the place I was in. 

I’m pushing myself to stick with it because I want something more for myself. I don’t want to be the “fat” mom. 

My hope for next year is to be a better me. I want to be a better mom and a happier person. Weighing less will help in many ways, but I think it’ll be one less thing to bring me down in the New Year. Please wish me luck! 

And if any of you reading this are struggling with your weight, you aren’t alone! I think it happens to many of us, and we need to learn to love ourselves more. Cut yourself some slack! We all make mistakes and the biggest one would be to give up on yourself. 

What are ways you have improved yourself this year? Do you have any resolutions for the new year? Sound off in the comments below!