My Story

As a South Caroline native, I grew up on many of the well-known Southern staples…

 Fried Chicken…

Homemade Mac ‘n’ Cheese…

Mashed Taters…

Grits…

Biscuits…

and SWEET TEA!

The normal SC native would probably include watermelon in this list…but I guess I’m not normal.  I just can’t bring myself to eat that stuff!  It feels like you’re eating a mouth full of sand.  However, I must admit that I have won many backyard watermelon seed-spitting contests.  My little boy is amazed at my seed-spitting ability; however, the PTA moms are typically disgusted with it!  (In my mind “disgusted” = jealous! :))

CONFESSION #1: I am a yo-yo dieter.

 For as long as I can remember I have been that way.  Growing up I always struggled with my weight.  My family would always refer to me as being “big-boned.”  (I guess that’s a nicer way to say ‘fat’, right?!?)  I remember being in elementary school and my mother having to buy me clothes from the misses department.  It was terrible…trust me, I KNOW!

During middle school I did miraculously lose a ton a weight, but I attribute that to growing two feet taller!  I was definitely slim…almost to the point of looking sick.  That’s ONE of the times in my life that I recall being ‘skinny’.  However, that didn’t last long because I started playing sports.  And you know what happens when you burn a TON of calories playing two sports at once??  YOU EAT!  By the time I graduated from high school I was a size 12 and by the time I graduated from college I was a size 14.  (I was always amazed at how I could lose no weight and be a collegiate athlete!)  Looking back, I definitely wouldn’t call myself ‘fat’ per se…just ‘hippy’.

 Let’s fast forward a few years…now I’m married.  By this point I have tried every diet under the sun!!  I have gained and lost the same 15 pounds many times until I decided to join Weight Watchers in 2001.  Although it took me a year, I lost 17 pounds and met my goal.  At 157, I was the thinnest I had ever been but that didn’t last long.  Over the next nine months I gained 32 pounds and on May 20, 2003 my little boy was born…all 9 lbs 7.5 oz.!

Since the birth of my son, I have become the WORLD GREATEST yo-yo dieter.  I have tried Weight Watchers, The Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, The Flat Belly Diet, and many different weight loss pills whose names I cannot recall right now!  I’m such a sucker for infomercials…and good ole’ Southern staples…

 CONFESSION #2:  I typically do not finish what I start…when it comes to personal goals.

Ok…I said it.  I’m a loser!  Just kidding.  But if you asked my husband what my worst trait is he would probably tell you the same thing.  I’m just like most folks…I want immediate results and when those results don’t happen within the time frame that I think they should happen – I quit.  I know I’m not alone…we’ve all done it at some point during our weight loss journeys.

 CONFESSION #3: I have a body image problem.

 If you’ve read to this point you would probably understand.  Who wouldn’t after the rollercoaster weight loss journey I’ve been on practically since birth?!  And if you asked my closest BFF’s they would tell you the same thing.

 Enough about my confessions…and back to this blog thing! I decided to start a blog about my journey to become an EX yo-yo dieter.  I’m hoping by making this public all of my friends and familiy will be able to keep up with my progress and be the cheerleaders I need.  And along the way I hope my story will inspire those around me to take that first step to make a positive change, too!