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The day I started Buddy Slim, I had been looking at pictures taken at my oldest son’s wedding. I really saw myself as other people saw me! I knew I was overweight and had about given up on losing weight! I was never very successful at it! I have been heavy most of my life. When I was 17 years old I decided to lose weight. I did it, but not healthfully, I cut my calories to about 500 to 700 a day! My goal then was to lose weight, with no concern for health or teaching myself how I was going to keep it off. I was married at 18 and pregnant with my first child by the time I was 19. During my first pregnancy I ballooned up to around 270 lbs. I never really took off any weight in-between the next two pregnancies either. I tried so many diets that I couldn’t count them. I took off weight and put it back on plus. The day I joined Buddy Slim I had no idea how much I weighed, my scales didn’t go over 300 lbs. I used my mother’s scales and found out I weighed 310 lbs. ! Oh, my God, how did I let this happen? I now know, I used food to comfort me when I was stressed, food was my friend when I was lonely, sad or happy! Food was a friend I could always count on! When I had a fight with my husband food was there, when I had a stressful day at work, food was there, when I had a bad day dealing with the kids food was there.

The day I joined Buddy Slim, I found it by accident! I Googled weight loss and support. I knew I would never do it without support. I am so glad I found Buddy Slim! I have met so many wonderful people who have given me support, encouragement and inspiration! I would never have come this far without it! There have been days that I have wanted to just give up and quit, but then I hear from my wonderful buddies, like Mary and Erika, who give me a kick in the butt and I know I can’t give up! I have learned I can’t let stress rule my life, I have to accept that I can’t change everything, but what I choose to eat or not eat is something I can choose. I can choose to give up and not lose the weight and stay unhealthy or I can choose what I am going to eat and become healthier.

I have made some wonderful new buddies too, when I joined the Fearce Grizzlies Weight Loss team! Everyone there is just wonderful Nicole is a wonderful team leader and Zina has become a wonderful chearleader for me! I just don’t know where I would be at without all of the wonderful people here at Buddy Slim!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day, I know I will because of all of you!