getnfit@38
Cathlete
I didn't want to post this under the other thread for fear it may get lost in the shuffle, and I really wanted everyone to hear my "thank you!"
Sometimes the support from this forum is overwhelming for me. Growing up "the fat kid," I was mostly a loner, never had a best friend, never joined any clubs or organizations, etc., so "friends" and "friendship" are still very new concepts to me, and there are times reading your posts to me or about me, that I just swell up with tears and cannot even respond immediately as I'm not sure what to say or how to say it.
It is also hard sometimes to accept the praise for my weight loss, when I am still very upset with myself for allowing myself to get so out of control. Working so hard to lose it is something I'll never take for granted, however, I did a horrific thing to myself. I will never have an excuse for literally stuffing myself almost to death. I had 2 children and a husband, what was I thinking? My dangerous eating habits have shaped and effected my daughter's lives. Both are overweight, not to my severe degree, but still, each is approximately 25-30lbs overweight, and because I led a sedentary lifestyle, so did they. I never took them to run and play in the park, I never introduced activity into their lives growing up. We bonded by watching movies, tv and eating new and interesting fattening taste treats! I taught them nothing about good nutrition, exercise, being and living healthfully, and my punishment for that is to now watch them gain weight before my eyes and know that it is my fault. I did this to them as I did it to myself.
You guys have made my journey so easy for me. There was no way I could have given up and "faced" you guys. You have always been there with kind words of encouragement, advice on eating, exercise, and life in general. You've been the therapy I needed all my life, and so many of you without knowing it, were the reason I put down the cheeseburger and reached for an apple instead, just from something I may have read on a given day. So it is impossible for me to take full credit for my weight loss. Not when Bobbi, Annette, Honeybunch, Deb, Marlene, Susan, Hasalina, and so many, many, many more of you on a regular basis were there throughout the most difficult times during 2001 when I got started. And now my newest friends who've just joined the forum and become "regulars" in my life and without all of you, I could NEVER have achieved as much as I have. You've been like "life cheerleaders" for 208lbs, so "I" may have lost the fat, but "we" put in the effort and determination. And I just really want to express to you all how greatful I am for you and your generous words and acts of kindness. You guys have made such a difference in my life, and I'll never be able to adequately express just how greatful I am for being a part of this, and how much your friendships, support and love mean to me.
Thank you just doesn't seem sufficient, but I thank each and every one of you who have "entered" my life and helped me achieve something I thought only a dream! Thank you guys!
Love, Donna
p.s. One of our forum friends, Connie, has generously offered to put my pics on a website, so I'm going to snail mail her some "before and during" pics (cause I'm not done yet!), so I'll let you know when you can view me.
Be prepared though, the "before" ain't a pretty site! I still cannot believe everyone I knew, including myself, let me get so huge. As you will see, I was so large my hubby couldn't get his arms all the way around me (and he's 6' with long arms!)
Sometimes the support from this forum is overwhelming for me. Growing up "the fat kid," I was mostly a loner, never had a best friend, never joined any clubs or organizations, etc., so "friends" and "friendship" are still very new concepts to me, and there are times reading your posts to me or about me, that I just swell up with tears and cannot even respond immediately as I'm not sure what to say or how to say it.
It is also hard sometimes to accept the praise for my weight loss, when I am still very upset with myself for allowing myself to get so out of control. Working so hard to lose it is something I'll never take for granted, however, I did a horrific thing to myself. I will never have an excuse for literally stuffing myself almost to death. I had 2 children and a husband, what was I thinking? My dangerous eating habits have shaped and effected my daughter's lives. Both are overweight, not to my severe degree, but still, each is approximately 25-30lbs overweight, and because I led a sedentary lifestyle, so did they. I never took them to run and play in the park, I never introduced activity into their lives growing up. We bonded by watching movies, tv and eating new and interesting fattening taste treats! I taught them nothing about good nutrition, exercise, being and living healthfully, and my punishment for that is to now watch them gain weight before my eyes and know that it is my fault. I did this to them as I did it to myself.
You guys have made my journey so easy for me. There was no way I could have given up and "faced" you guys. You have always been there with kind words of encouragement, advice on eating, exercise, and life in general. You've been the therapy I needed all my life, and so many of you without knowing it, were the reason I put down the cheeseburger and reached for an apple instead, just from something I may have read on a given day. So it is impossible for me to take full credit for my weight loss. Not when Bobbi, Annette, Honeybunch, Deb, Marlene, Susan, Hasalina, and so many, many, many more of you on a regular basis were there throughout the most difficult times during 2001 when I got started. And now my newest friends who've just joined the forum and become "regulars" in my life and without all of you, I could NEVER have achieved as much as I have. You've been like "life cheerleaders" for 208lbs, so "I" may have lost the fat, but "we" put in the effort and determination. And I just really want to express to you all how greatful I am for you and your generous words and acts of kindness. You guys have made such a difference in my life, and I'll never be able to adequately express just how greatful I am for being a part of this, and how much your friendships, support and love mean to me.
Thank you just doesn't seem sufficient, but I thank each and every one of you who have "entered" my life and helped me achieve something I thought only a dream! Thank you guys!
Love, Donna
p.s. One of our forum friends, Connie, has generously offered to put my pics on a website, so I'm going to snail mail her some "before and during" pics (cause I'm not done yet!
), so I'll let you know when you can view me. Be prepared though, the "before" ain't a pretty site! I still cannot believe everyone I knew, including myself, let me get so huge. As you will see, I was so large my hubby couldn't get his arms all the way around me (and he's 6' with long arms!)
