Liz'sReady4change

[color=#800000][size=5][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif]Here is my story...

I had gotten pregnant of my first child at 140lbs in the year 2000. I gained 96 lbs during pregnancy and after, I gave birth at 236, then I lost all but 10 pounds. Then I stopped working out, thinking I was going to stay there. Little did I know, all my bad habits I learned during my pregnancy came back and I gained all the weight again.

Over the last 11 years I have fluctuated between 215 and 286. I was not a happy camper. I tried every diet and successfully lost up to 30 pounds but would always get bored on it and gain it back and sometimes more. It was time for a life changing event.

I ran my first 5k in 2011. I loved it, I love the feeling of succeeding in an area that I hadn't succeeded in a very long time. Unfortunately, In 2012 my mom passed away and during the time she was ill and in and out of hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, I gained 30 pounds. My mom was obese. I asked every doctor why she became terminally ill so young at age 63, my answer, "it most likely had to do with obesity.[/font][/size][/color][color=#800000][size=5][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif]"

With this I knew it was time for me to make a change. I have 2 beautiful children I want to LIVE with and for. I don't want to miss out on what could be a better life with my children. This year I picked up some good habits! I now go "Road biking", Kayaking, and Hiking!! I love doing these things! i do not have a lot of time, but when I can, I enjoy them. Also, with my children, I choose places like Sky High (which is extreme exercise for all of us=several huge jolly jumper type things), or the beach where we can run and play (I live 10 minutes from the beach), or I get out my jogger stroller and my daughter and I jog while I push my son or my daughter will ride her bike.

I used to think exercise was only going to the gym, but I don't think of this as exercise, but more like some good, fun, and exciting habits I picked up.

I made this decision weighing about 255, lost some weight to 242 then took a Kaiser Options class for 12 weeks and lost about 22 pounds and then went in for surgery at 221lbs. on December 7th, 2012.

It has been the best decision yet!!

Thank you for visiting my page! Feel free to write or ask any questions! I wish you all the best on your journeys as well!!![/font][/size][/color]