I have *not* always struggled with my weight... although as a young adult I always seemed to think I was fat.  Looking back on photos of me back then... what was I thinking!?!?    I was skinny!  As a child I remember my mom always struggling with her weight and always trying the newest fad diet.  I seem to have inherited my mom's pear shape.  Thanks ma! 

After 5 children my BMI was up to 29.1, which is only 3 pounds away from obese for my height.  What a shocker.  Even more shocking was looking at photos from a camping trip we went on... was that round faced person really me?!  That same camping trip was ruined by the very bad acid reflux I experienced on the very first night... throwing a wrench in everything.  Well, viewing the photos I decided I didn't like what I saw and decided to do something about it!

That was right around the time Slim Fast was being quite heavily advertised on TV and I decided to give it a try.  It seemed to work and I lost 2 pounds a week quite steadily.  It didn't take long for me to get bored of the SF shakes, and I was using SF's website to count calories and started substituting real food for the shakes.  I had also started a pretty good exercise routine by then, using Denise Austin workout DVD's.

I got down to a BMI of 23.4 and had lost 30 pounds(!)... those last 10 pounds just wouldn't budge, and after a loooong plateu I finally threw in the towel.  I wasn't unhappy with my weight, I looked pretty good and was getting compliments left, right and center.  I finally decided that as a mama to 5 kiddos I may not be able to lose those last 10, and I was okay with that.  By that time my GERD had completely disappeared, much to my relief!

That was back in 2005.

Well.. although I told myself to watch my weight I slowly allowed it to creep up again, so I have gained back 11 pounds and my BMI sits at 25.5 and I am determined not to gain back the other 19!  So I'm back to counting calories and getting back into my exercise routine.

CC's food log is very similar to what SF offers, but CC has a WONDERFUL community and I love that.  Great for support and motivation.