Weight loss... I have for most of my life been overweight. There was a time in my early 20's that I lost quite a bit of weight and became cute. But then I started to work in a restaurant. Not that the restaurant is to blame. I just have little self control when it comes to food. Food makes me feel happy, gives me something to do. I have always liked cooking and baking. During pregnancy, oh so long ago at 13 days, I felt that I could eat what I wanted, after all, I am sure there was someone out there who had eaten worse than me, so I shouldn't feel bad. I was pregnant and entitled to eat what I wanted. I lived on processed food. Macaroni and cheese and Ramen noodles were a staple in my pantry. Oreo's, Cheetos, and peanut buttercups. French fries and ice cream.

My weight went up to 235lbs. big surprise right. I had gained over 60 pounds. And especially since I was overweight to begin with, (I was 168 at my first prenatal appointment) that number should have been quite lower. Last week a couple of days after my delivery, I was down to 218 having a 10 pound baby guaranteed I lost at least that much... The next day I had gone up to 222. Now tell me how that happens? I had been stuck at the hospital eating their food, following their guidelines for water intake and activity. I was stuck in bed except for going to the nursery to nurse Brandon and going to the bathroom. But I still gained 4 pounds. My legs and feet were so swollen. My hands and face seemed to go down and I didn't look so puffy. People who came to visit would tell me I looked better. I don't understand.
I was then put on blood pressure medication Thursday and it started to stabilize things and I eventually started to have some progress. I checked my b.p. on Monday at one of those machines you find in pharmacies and I can't quite remember but the numbers fit in the high normal range.

But 10 days later after delivery I am happy to say that I currently weigh 200.5 lbs. I can see the the bones in my feet and ankles again! I still have a long way to go. My goal is to be 100lbs lighter than my pre-delivery weight to about 135. I'm giving myself 9 months to a year to get it off. The saying goes, "It took 9 months to gain the weight, expect it to take just as long to take it off."
When I lost weight before it didn't take nearly that long. But I wasn't as heavy as I am now. I looked really heavy, I weighed 180 at my highest. I have a picture of me the summer before I took off all the weight from Aaron and Tami's wedding in 1998. Don't you find it strange to look at photos of yourself and not remembering being that big. It wasn't until I took off all the weight that I could see that I was so overweight. Now that I'm 20 pounds heavier than I was at my heaviest point and I don't feel like I look that heavy. Well, wish me luck. I will try to keep everyone posted on Brandon health and achievements and my weight loss.