[bblessed]

This week's Member in the Spotlight (MITS) is...

Lori (3kiddosforme)!!

We look forward to hearing all about your week!

This post has been edited by bblessed: 29 May 2006 - 08:27 AM

[3kiddosforme]

First of all let me apologize for not posting yesterday. We have MAJOR plumbing problems at my house. It started as a water line leak and ended up requiring almost all the existing pipes to be replaced. I spent the weekend getting things in order to stay with my mom for 10 days.

So a little about me...I'm 34 and have 3 children, Ryan is almost 9, Nathan is 5, and Hannah is almost 2. I'm a teacher and have taught for 11 years 1 year in 1st grade, 2 years in PPCD (a program for 3-6 year olds with disabilities) and the last 8 in Elementary General Music. My DH worked in social work for 8 years, but has gone back to school full time to get his degree in Education and teach hopefully MS or HS History.

My problem with weight has been a lifelong struggle. When I was 9 my doctor put me on steroids to boost my immune system. It did help my immune system, but it also caused me to gain 70lbs in 8 months. I went from being a normal weight kid to being very overweight. In HS I was always on the heavy side - probably 40-50lbs overweight at around 180. In College I began running with a friend and dropped down to 165, but I wasn't eating healthy and I couldn't get below 165. I quit having periods and my doctors said it was due to not eating enough everyday. So, I began eating more and instantly gained. My senior year was very rough for me emotionally. I was raped that year and broke up with my boyfriend/fiancé of 4 years. I became VERY depressed and ate like there was no tomorrow. I gained a huge amount of weight in a short amount of time and saw the scales climb to 230. That depressed me even further and the scales climbed to 250. A year later I met my husband and we got married very quickly - he's a wonderful man who loved me and didn't care what I looked like. That was a wonderful feeling because I'd been told by numerous guys that they just weren't attracted to me. Because of this I wasn't worried about my weight at all.

Soon after our marriage I got pregnant. This wasn't planned, but we were excited. Surprisingly I struggled to gain while pregnant and ended the pregnancy at 236. With the encouragement of my doctor I began Depo Shots for BC, and also found I had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The combination of the two caused the scales to once again climb and I was soon up to 276. Once again depressed about my weight my eating habits got worse and I didn't gain, but I didn't loose. With my second pregnancy I found I lost weight again but also found that the struggle with my thyroid after the baby was worse and I gained up to 286. At that time a doctor told me to get used to being overweight because with my particular thyroid issues I was never going to be able to lose weight. For awhile I let that be my excuse to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I remember the day that I stepped on the scale and the nurse moved the marker to the 300 mark. I decided I was going to try to lose then, but I didn't believe it would happen and it didn't. By the time I got pregnant with #3 I was up to 316 and stayed at that the entire pregnancy. Again I found my thyroid battle was awful, but I did manage to not gain and eventually lose some weight. I lost 24lbs on my own by just trying to cut back portions. In August 2004 I joined WW with my mom and aunt. It was frustrating to go week after week and see very little if any loss, but I kept going because at least I wasn't gaining and my thyroid levels were awful. Finally in December of this year I began seeing real progress again. I've lost 41lbs. I consider that to be a huge victory because in the 2 years after I had the boys I gained around 34lbs each time.

I started Pilates in February. After lurking here and reading Melissa, and Michelle's (from the WW board) testimonies I ordered it as my birthday present. While I am still loosing very very slowly because of the thyroid issues I am loosing. I also look thinner and I accredit it to Pilates.

My goal according to WW is to get down to 146 which would be a loss of 171lbs overall. I however am focusing on MUCH smaller goals. I want to get that first 50 off and I'm 9 lbs away! I'm in close contact with my doctor and I hope somewhere along the line we find the weight that is right for me whether it be 146 or something else. Regardless I feel so much better and I'm happier. I know that I can control what I eat and the doctors where wrong - I can lose weight!

Thanks for letting me be the MITS - With the end of the year I've gotten off track with excercise so I hope this will be the kick in the pants I need to get back on track!

[momski98]

Thanks for sharing your story, Lori! I loved reading it! Looking forward to your week!

[mngsskinnymomma]

Hey girl!!!! I look forward to hearing about your week!!!! You are doing an AWESOME JOB!!!!

Michelle

[3kiddosforme]

Today's workouts

Walked to work 2.1 miles - took me 40 minutes.
WP Ab workout - O*U*C*H!!!!! I'd not done this one before I'm definately weak in this area so I'm trying to do it 2x a week.

Food Journal

Breakfast
1/2 c. grapes
1/2 c. cheerios
1/2 c. 1% milk

Lunch
Turkey Sandwhich on light bread with FF honey mustard
Baby carrots
1 tbsp ranch dressing
WW yogurt

Snack
Apple
String Cheese

Dinner
3oz Ham Steak
1/2c mashed potatoes
1/2c green beans
1/2c squash marinated in FF Italian Dressing
Angel food cake topped with FF Cool Whip and 1/4c strawberries.

momski98, on May 30 2006, 12:09 PM, said:

Thanks for sharing your story, Lori! I loved reading it! Looking forward to your week!

Thank you. Sharing my story is new for me, but it's been good. Once it's out there it's not a secret to hide behind anymore and I find most people are supportive with my goal!

mngsskinnymomma, on May 30 2006, 03:51 PM, said:

Hey girl!!!! I look forward to hearing about your week!!!! You are doing an AWESOME JOB!!!!

Michelle

Thanks Michelle. It's been so slow for me, but when I see things like I'm only 9lbs from 50lbs gone I get inspired!

[shmode]

What a story! You know what I found so cool, is your weight ticker. Yeah, I know, stupid, but I LOVE that it has smaller goal increments rather than looking at 171 lbs to lose you look at 20 lbs at a time (or whatever number). You are amazing, keep up the fantastic work!

jody

[3kiddosforme]

shmode, on May 30 2006, 07:04 PM, said:

What a story! You know what I found so cool, is your weight ticker. Yeah, I know, stupid, but I LOVE that it has smaller goal increments rather than looking at 171 lbs to lose you look at 20 lbs at a time (or whatever number). You are amazing, keep up the fantastic work!

jody

The smaller goal thing actually hit me while I was tutoring kids for our state test. They were having some major anxiety because if they don't pass they don't go on. My college band director always said learning a new piece of music was like eating an elephant. No one can do it in one bite, but anyone can do it one bite at a time. I was relating that to my kids and that they had to take each question one at a time instead of looking at all 52! And it just hit me - duh - part of mystruggle is I don't think I can lose 171lbs, but I can lose 15 or 20. So I changed my outlook and it really has helped!

[Gin]

Great story Lori. I enjoyed reading it. WTG on your weight loss so far. Keep up the good work!!

[Jess_jugs]

I love your attitude!! You're doing great w/ the weight loss. How tough w/ the thyroid & having to work twice as hard as the *average* person!!

And just wanted to say as a fellow musical person that it's great that you teach elem. music!! I had originally started college as a music education major & switched to performance (and no, I didn't finish my degree!). What instrument do you play?? I play flute/ piccolo.

You're getting so close to that 50 lb loss- that's great!! Keep up the great work & I look forward to learning more about you!

Hugs,
Jess

[3kiddosforme]

Jess_jugs, on May 31 2006, 10:41 AM, said:

I love your attitude!! You're doing great w/ the weight loss. How tough w/ the thyroid & having to work twice as hard as the *average* person!!

And just wanted to say as a fellow musical person that it's great that you teach elem. music!! I had originally started college as a music education major & switched to performance (and no, I didn't finish my degree!). What instrument do you play?? I play flute/ piccolo.

You're getting so close to that 50 lb loss- that's great!! Keep up the great work & I look forward to learning more about you!

Hugs,
Jess

I play the clarinet and I didn't finish my music degree either - I stink at solo recitals and the thought of a senior recital was too much My degree is in Elementary Education with a music specialization and I'm also special ed certified. My principal instrument is clarinet and I sorta of can play trombone and violin, but I certainly don't play them well.

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

Gin, on May 31 2006, 08:51 AM, said:

Great story Lori. I enjoyed reading it. WTG on your weight loss so far. Keep up the good work!!

Thank you! The encouragement keeps me going.

[bblessed]

Thank you Lori for sharing your story. With your positive attitude, you WILL reach your goals!!!

Congrats for losing 41 lbs so far!!!! That is something to be very proud of!!! You're doing great so far with your eating and exercising and I'm sure you will reach your goals before you know it!

Keep up the great job!!

I look forward to reading about the rest of your week.

((Hugs)),

[Siuan]

Lori, your story is motivating as well. Congrats on the 41lb loss. Your attitude is amazing. I'm stuck right now at 274lb and pregnant, so I can't really lose any until after the baby but will try to keep a handle on exercise and eating and reading your post made me think that it's possible, i don't know why but it is inspiring. I'm having some issues with my thyroid but nothing definate and we are keeping an eye on it. I think it's great that you can do this even thought the doctor said you wouldn't.

I look forward to following the rest of your MITS week. Thank you for sharing your story.

[ali&gabesmommy]

Lori, I enjoyed reading your story too. WOW, how far you have come! That is awesome. I too have thyroid issues, but mines just barely hypo. (under control with synthroid). Its amazing how much it can affect your whole body.

I look forward to hearing about the rest of your week!

[3kiddosforme]

Wednesday Workouts

WATP 1mile walk
WP B&T


Breakfast
3/4c Kashi
1/2c 1% milk
1banana

Lunch
Chicken salad sandwhich
Baked Chips
yogurt

Dinner
Parmesian Chicken Pasta (from Kraft food site - yummy!)
garlic bread
baby spiniach salad
1.5 tbsp dressing

Snacks
1c grapes
1 sf cookie
1 sf pudding cup

bblessed, on May 31 2006, 12:32 PM, said:

Thank you Lori for sharing your story. With your positive attitude, you WILL reach your goals!!!

Congrats for losing 41 lbs so far!!!! That is something to be very proud of!!! You're doing great so far with your eating and exercising and I'm sure you will reach your goals before you know it!

Keep up the great job!!

I look forward to reading about the rest of your week.

((Hugs)),

Thanks Winnie, I know it will take time, but that's okay. I may be back asking for you guys to pick me up when I'm getting discouraged.

Siuan, on May 31 2006, 12:46 PM, said:

Lori, your story is motivating as well. Congrats on the 41lb loss. Your attitude is amazing. I'm stuck right now at 274lb and pregnant, so I can't really lose any until after the baby but will try to keep a handle on exercise and eating and reading your post made me think that it's possible, i don't know why but it is inspiring. I'm having some issues with my thyroid but nothing definate and we are keeping an eye on it. I think it's great that you can do this even thought the doctor said you wouldn't.

I look forward to following the rest of your MITS week. Thank you for sharing your story.

Donna, CONGRATS on the baby. I'd love another, but I'm stopping at 3 beautiful angels! It was so encouraging this last time to not have more weight to take off - so hang in there. Keep a close eye on that thyroid and how you feel. Thyroid problems can make you feel so bad. ....And I'm blushing at being motivating - I don't think I've ever been motivating before.

ali&gabesmommy, on May 31 2006, 01:55 PM, said:

Lori, I enjoyed reading your story too. WOW, how far you have come! That is awesome. I too have thyroid issues, but mines just barely hypo. (under control with synthroid). Its amazing how much it can affect your whole body.

I look forward to hearing about the rest of your week!

Thank you. Thyroid issues stink. Glad yours is under control! My levels flucuate all the time so I have to monitor it very very closely.

[okatybug]

Hello Lori! Congrats on your loss of 41 lbs.

I joined WW on March 1st. It has been a struggle but also very inspiring. I love when I lose and so far haven't given up when I show a gain.

Can't wait to hear more from you this week!!!

[3kiddosforme]

okatybug, on May 31 2006, 09:27 PM, said:

Hello Lori! Congrats on your loss of 41 lbs.

I joined WW on March 1st. It has been a struggle but also very inspiring. I love when I lose and so far haven't given up when I show a gain.

Can't wait to hear more from you this week!!!

WW works I have 2 aunts, my brother and SIL, and my mom that all are on WW and together as a family we've lost 250 this year!!!! BTW you should get Michelle or Melissa to give you the link to our WW board. I'd do it, but I don't have it here at my mom's.

[3kiddosforme]

Thursday Workout
WP Circle workout
2.5 mile walk

Breakfast
3/4c Yogurtburst Cheerios
1/2c 1% milk

Lunch
Baby Spinach Salad
3 ounces chicken breast
2 tbsp. LF Dressing

Dinner
Jr. Burger
Side Salad

Snacks
grapes
banana