How I did it: I say 31 years because this has been a lifetime battle for me. I have always been incredibly skinny. But, I can't take all the credit for the weight I have gained....

I tend to do what a lot of people do. I worry about taking care of everyone, doing the best I can at work, sacrificing myself for my kids... but I tend to forget about taking care of me.

I stepped out of my single life and am now in a relationship. The stress I had diminished significantly. Someone was there to help me who wanted to help me and take care of me. I found myself having the time to eat all three meals.

People used to tell me that it was easy to gain weight... just eat. That sounds easy enough, but when you're busy and you don't feel hungry, or when you do feel hungry there just isn't time to stop it really isn't as easy as it sounds. When life is like that you tend to eat sparatically. I used to go a couple days with coffee and maybe a small snack and then some days eat all day. I didn't think I was hurting myself or defeating my goal, but my body was in survival mode.

After one month of eating three meals a day every day I put on 10 pounds. I wasn't as active, but I wasn't lazy either. I worked and played, but I took more down time than I usually did. The stress level dropping helped my appetite. I don't remember ever getting hungry more than once a day in the past. After traingin my body for that time to eat three times a day I found myself hungry at the same times every day. I've actually reached 115 pounds... I've never reached that weight unless I was pregnant or just had the kids.

It's still something I watch... I can't seem to help it. I still fluctuate, but it's between 110 and 115, not 92 and  98. I am 5'2" and I was 94 pounds wearing a size 1... even a 0... now I am in a size 4 and no one asks me if I lost weight... no one tells me how skinny I am... Strangers used to say those things. Now everyone tells me how good and healthy I look. It's a great feeling... because I feel healthier and I'm definitely happier with the way I look.

Lessons & tips: Don't give up... Don't let it sadden you to the point that you are hurting yourself and losing more weight. I know how hard it is when you have seemed to try everything and nothing works and you feel like there is no where to turn. Train your body... make a conscious effort to eat balanced meals and don't miss even one a day... try to eat each meal at the same time every day until your body is telling you when to eat. If you are really active... slow it down a bit, but not too much... Find a way to reduce your stress... It can happen....

May 28, 05:46AM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer