My name is Bethany. I am 33 years old, and I weigh 309 lbs. My ultimate goal weight is 145, but I know that's a long way away.
I was married in 1993. This July will make 13 years! Our son Jonathan (Bob) was born in 1994. He'll be 12 in August. He has a disorder called Tuberous Sclerosis. He's also autistic and non-verbal. He can be a real handful, but he can also be very lovable. Today he alternated showering me with kisses and biting the snot out of my arms. I know he is just frustrated, and has trouble expressing his needs & wants. That and he misses his father (Ruben, a.k.a. John), who is away on business this week. It's also the first week of summer vacation, and he's out of his routine. We decided on no summer school this year--he's basically been in school year-round since he was 4, so we (us & the school) decided to give him a break. It's a short summer anyway--school starts back Aug. 15!
I started really gaining weight after I got married. Then I got pregnant & gained 60 lbs. with Bob. After losing half of that, I slowly crept my way toward 300. I attribute much of that weight gain to medication I was taking at the time. But any way you gain it, it's still hard to get rid of! I have been up and down ever since. I made it to 240 one time, then went right back up. Then down to 270, then back up.
I have tried other diets, but low-carb seems to be the one that works best for me. I find after a couple of weeks I don't have the cravings as bad as I did on the others.
This morning for breakfast we had a blueberry one-minute muffin and chocolate milk (1/2 lc chocolate + 1/2 lc fat free milk). Lunch was fried chicken (I peeled the breaded skin off) & green beans w/ butter. For supper, I made asada de puerco tacos. For those of you who aren't familiar w/ Tex-Mex, that's cubed pork in a spicy sauce, wrapped in a lc tortilla. I like to add sour cream & avocado, too! I think I did pretty well today. I'm still trying to decide if I want to make some sf Jello or just have some Carb Freedom ice cream.
I'm also trying to get some sort of exercise in every day: walking, lifting my 5 lb. weights, leg lifts, cardioglide, --just a few minutes, or whatever I can. The past couple of days, I haven't felt like doing much, so I really need to get back into it. I have increased my water intake, too. I really notice when I don't get enough water now.
Well, Bob's asleep now, & I have housework to catch up on.

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Bethany:

Welcome!

I look forward to hearing about your journey!

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Tina

Yeah, well, I guess I'd better jump in here and say welcome. Ya know, they just let any old person into this forum, don't they?

You might want to join some of the challenges. The Couch Fauxtato challenge is a great one. You do what you can as far as exercise, even if it's just housework. Everyone cheers you on, because for some of us, just doing housework is a big accomplishment, due to health concerns.

There are no cheat challenges. Lose a certain amount by a certain time challenge. Pick the ones you like and jump in. If you don't like it, don't come back!

So when you post your avatar, make sure it's not as good as mine, OK? Don't want anyone thinking my kiddo is better looking than me.

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Nita

I joined the 250 or bust challenge. So maybe I WILL look as good as you by the end of the year!

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I'm sure you're both already BEAUTIFUL....if you get to 250 you'll just be thinner and beautiful...welcome again Bethany...it's so nice to see you here. One of my secret wishes is to log on here one day and see that my son has joined us...so your coming has given me hope for that

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Hi and Welcome Bethany .

Vickie is right both you and Nita are beautiful and ambitious! Nita has been a great source of info and inspiration for me and it is soo nice to see you here on these forums too. Best of luck! You can do this girl!! :great:

Bethany - Your avatar is so small, I can't see it. Can you enlarge it? If not, email it to me at aprilreinhardt2@yahoo.com and I'll enlarge it and repost it for you. Not trying to insult your IT expertise. Just trying to help.

Oh, and WELCOME!

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

I went to a resale shop this morning while doing errands, and I was able to pick up 3 books for under $10! Atkins for Life, The New Atkins Diet Revolution (2002), & a carb-counter book. I think I made out like a bandit!

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By the way, April, thanks! I've tried & tried to resize it, and I couldn't post it any bigger. Don't know if it's me or the program I use. Anywho, any help would be appreciated. I've emailed you already w/ a reply, too.

Thanks again!

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And I emailed you, as well. You need to attache the picture (or both) to your email to me.

THANKS!

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

When I found out that Nita's daughter is here I had to run right over and say ! I just love your mom and can't wait to get to know you too.

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Bethany - I did the best I could with your current profile pic to make it your avatar pic. It is soooo small, and enlarging it made it look kinda abstract. So, send me another pic -- a new one -- don't make any changes to the size, and I'll post that one. Or if you like the way the current avatar is, we can leave that one there.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

I like the new avatar - it looks retro (sp?) !

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hey bethany! nice to meet ya! i am SO happy to make your aquaintance..
i hope to see ya here alot! but i can understand that it may be hard to make time , with your responsibilities.
love the avatar! ya look great!
(no, i did NOT just say that to tick your ma off *L*)
anywho.. WELCOME and much success!

kim

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Ya did, too, Kim! Actually, that picture doesn't do her justice. Guess I'll have to find some good ones and post them. Hey, I have all her baby pictures! Now, which one will cause the most embarrassment...........

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Nita