Hey Wildcats,
This is our new forum to post our backgrounds, bios, etc so we can get to know each other better. Feel free to come in and post whenever, there is no time or space limit- tell us as little or as much about you as you want us to know, and know that this is a "safe" environment- no judgments, etc. I think we will all enjoy getting to hear where everybody came from, and we may even be surprised how much we're alike!! And yes, I will be posting mine shortly!! Can't wait to hear from everybody!

I'm Nicole, one of the team cheerleaders for now. I'm 35 and expecting my first child in November, which is why I'm a cheerleader for now. I'm married, this is the third one for me, first for my husband - who is British! I lived in the UK with him for 2 years, but I missed my family too much, and we were struggling financially, so with a little help from mom, we moved back to AZ. Well I say back because it's where I grew up. It was his first time ever on an airplane!

What brought me to BS? The day after Christmas 2007, my mom had a massive stroke. She's never been good about going to the dr, plus she had no medical ins (my stepdad is too cheap to put her on his ins thru work), so she would put off a dr visit as long as possible. Turns out this was actually considered a 2nd stroke, she apparently had a mini stroke about a month previously, but no one had noticed. My mom is still in very bad shape as she wasn't brought to the dr's right away when she had the stroke, she was brought in 2 days later!! I'm very lucky we didn't lose her!!! At the same time, I found out my dad, who lives in MA, had been having minor heart attacks. I am diabetic and between the heart disease in my family and the diabetes, I made a decision that I needed to change my lifestyle.

Where I work, we have a fitness center, and they also have a personal trainer and dietician who comes in every wednesday that you can set up private meetings with. She will help you set up a fitness routine that is suitable for each individual, and work with you on your eating plan. The great thing is this is free! So I took advantage of it! She set me up on an eating plan that is to help me completely reverse my diabetes and put me on strength training and cardio. She's the one who told me it's better to do your strength training before doing cardio, as it will help burn more fat and calories.

I started out gung ho! I lost 7lbs my first week and was completely stoked! She had me on 1800 calories and I thought I'd never be able to eat all that food. It took me a while, but I got into the swing of it, and the weight was just melting off. Then one day towards the beginning of March, I was trying to do my workout, when I got light headed and nauseaous.... I thought I'd better stop for the day. I spent that entire week nauseous and weak. My co-workers kept teasing me that I was pregnant, I said no way! I can't get pregnant.... well I bought a pregnancy test from the $1 store... that sucker turned pink faster than I've ever seen! I struggled big time with my morning sickness and continued to lose weight. I've lost in total from when I started in January at least 23lbs! One of my co-workers asked me yesterday if I was still losing weight, and I honestly don't know as my scale needs a new battery! lol...

So that's the basic story of me.. not counting all the mini-dramas in my life. Feel free to come to me if you need any advice on eating or working out, as I'm an old pro at it!

Good luck to all the Wildcats, and a warm hearty welcome to all who are new!!

This is such a great idea! Congrats Nicole, on your pregnancy.
I am 22 years old and have always been the fat kid in school. My early childhood, I was thin. I see pictures and I'm so thin and so tall...but around 3 or 4th grade (puberty I think) I began gaining weight. I think I also had alot of emotional problems around that time. My father would always call me fat, I loved riding my bike and roller skating and he took me to the rink. I remember one time I was skating and a kid called me fat so I told my father and he was like, well it's true. I think I overate alot due to that...and when I was in 7th grade my dad suggested to stop eating breakfast so I'd lose weight.
I hated high school but I'm in college now and no one bothers me about my weight. I have a higher self esteem I think, and don't do as much overeating due to emotional stress. But I am very self conscious about working out in front of others...
Well I have a great boyfriend, but he is also a little overweight and trying to lose it. His family has had alot of health problems due to obesity and so he's seen the risks, his father even had a heart attack a few years back and almost died. So my boyfriend is very concerned about the risks of my obesity on my health, and worries that I will have health problems in the future if I don't act now. Also he worries about if we have children, would those children inherit those health problems. If I am healthier, then I will be better prepared to pass down healthy habits to my children.
Also right now I have a tough time keeping up, like walking long distances. I get very out of breath and walking up stairs is tough too. Therefore I began to research weight loss and found buddy slim. I also joined a Curves gym, it's small, simple and only for women. I'm self conscious working out, and I have never belonged to a gym in my life. I had read the Member book and decided that it was a comfortable level for me. So now I am focusing on making healthier eating habits and exercising regularly.
Nice to meet everyone.

My name is Jennifer (Jenn) and I have been a member of this site for over a year now. I was doing an online food journal but it did not have what I needed. I needed people and when I did a search the first thing to come up was Buddyslim. I learned so much from being here and I am so thankful that I found this site when I did. I have learned that there are people just like me who struggle and what I value about this site most of all is that we all have a goal to be our best and hopefully healthiest selves.

My parents divorced when I was 3 and my Mom is an emotional eater. I grew up eating the standard white junk and my weight sky rocketed. When I was 10 years old (150 lbs) I needed to have hip surgery (related to issues that I had at birth) and my weight continued to rise as I did very little activity.

My weight has always been an issue with most people in my family except my Mom. We were overweight together, like mother, like daughter. My Mom remarried and high school was an extremely stressful time, both at home and at school. I did however explore my artistic and creative side at home and school by writing, drawing and painting. It made me feel really good to create. I had some wonderful friends through out school and this is likely why I was not super depressed. I was bulimic at times through out the last couple years of high school and this was weight related and extreme stress related. I felt like I had very little control over my security and life. At grad I weighed 250 lbs.

I went away for university and lost 50 lbs (water?, food? and a great deal of weight) in just 2 months! I had pretty steady losses after this, but still remained over weight and had numerous health issues (too many to count) and this is what lead me to really study nutrition and become so passionate about how important it is to take care of THIS BODY. I have learned that food is not a friend or a poison (though the wrong foods can certainly behave as poisons), but rather food is our best medicine. Yes, enjoy life and its many gifts, but doing so wisely and moderately…. So I try to tell myself. I am not perfect. Do not wish to be either. But I want to do my best and keep my body going for as long as possible. It is not hard to see where I have developed these thoughts since I have been a caregiver of the elderly for 8 years. It has been an education to see who does well in later life and who does not. The time is always now to take care of ourselves.

I have much to do in this life, but I take each day and try to do the best I can with that day, with this moment. I am currently studying Holistic Nutrition from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. I see what I just wrote and I think, wow, that is sad. I do not see the past really and I do not feel sad at all right now. Now in order to deal with some things, I have needed to delve into the past and explore, but I Jenn/Jennifer am about really understanding that I am limitless and the past does not define me. This is so tough for me, but I believe this and I will always strive to find that place where I am completely at peace.

I feel best eating mostly vegetarian (some fish) and when I am active. For most of my adult life I have been really active, but it is those numerous portions that have kept me over weight. And so change is a good thing.

I came to the Wild Cats team because of Kama and all that she represents here at Buddyslim. I was gaining and my bum knee was getting me down. Now I feel good to know that in those times when I feel like letting it all go, I have a team to think about. That is just too cool.

I wish everyone health and happiness!

Wow this is a great idea, Betsy!!
Ok, here is my story:
I think the only time I was not overweight was when I was born. I was a preemie, and my health problems began at an early age. I had Asthma and all kinds of respiratory problems.
Well, that led to my being restricted alot, was not allowed to run or play like the other kids. So I found solace, in books, music and of course food. My mom was always the kind who was baking treats and such, and that was used to cheer me up.
When I got to high school, I was a bit healthier, and could do more, but wasn't cooordinated like the other kids. I couldn't run well, So this discouraged me from alot of activity. I wanted to lose weight, but just didn't know how, I did however live in a small town and we walked wherever we went, and that helped.
Even when I went to college, it wasn;t too bad, until I met my exhusband, who had a car, and then we drove everywhere, and then the weight started creeping back up.
I went back and forth, and weighed 195 the week before I had my daughter!
Well then I joined Weight Watchers, and kept it down for a few years. Then my ex and I split up, and for the next few years I managed to keep it at a bearable level..
But then, I met my last ex boyfriend. He is hispanic, and his mom lived with us, and she cooks VERY unhealthy, all fried foods cheese etc. I gained up to my top wieght of 234. Plus there were other issues, that caused me to move out.
So then I moved here, was diagnosed as a diabetic, and that scared me. I did a Google on "Free Weight Loss Support" and was led here. This is the absolute best thing that I have ever found. The support is amazing, and not not only for weight loss.
As of last Sunday, I am now 137!! 2 more pounds to go to get to 135!

Originally Posted by Jenn

My name is Jennifer (Jenn) and I have been a member of this site for over a year now. I was doing an online food journal but it did not have what I needed. I needed people and when I did a search the first thing to come up was Buddyslim. I learned so much from being here and I am so thankful that I found this site when I did. I have learned that there are people just like me who struggle and what I value about this site most of all is that we all have a goal to be our best and hopefully healthiest selves.

My parents divorced when I was 3 and my Mom is an emotional eater. I grew up eating the standard white junk and my weight sky rocketed. When I was 10 years old (150 lbs) I needed to have hip surgery (related to issues that I had at birth) and my weight continued to rise as I did very little activity.

My weight has always been an issue with most people in my family except my Mom. We were overweight together, like mother, like daughter. My Mom remarried and high school was an extremely stressful time, both at home and at school. I did however explore my artistic and creative side at home and school by writing, drawing and painting. It made me feel really good to create. I had some wonderful friends through out school and this is likely why I was not super depressed. I was bulimic at times through out the last couple years of high school and this was weight related and extreme stress related. I felt like I had very little control over my security and life. At grad I weighed 250 lbs.

I went away for university and lost 50 lbs (water?, food? and a great deal of weight) in just 2 months! I had pretty steady losses after this, but still remained over weight and had numerous health issues (too many to count) and this is what lead me to really study nutrition and become so passionate about how important it is to take care of THIS BODY. I have learned that food is not a friend or a poison (though the wrong foods can certainly behave as poisons), but rather food is our best medicine. Yes, enjoy life and its many gifts, but doing so wisely and moderately…. So I try to tell myself. I am not perfect. Do not wish to be either. But I want to do my best and keep my body going for as long as possible. It is not hard to see where I have developed these thoughts since I have been a caregiver of the elderly for 8 years. It has been an education to see who does well in later life and who does not. The time is always now to take care of ourselves.

I have much to do in this life, but I take each day and try to do the best I can with that day, with this moment. I am currently studying Holistic Nutrition from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. I see what I just wrote and I think, wow, that is sad. I do not see the past really and I do not feel sad at all right now. Now in order to deal with some things, I have needed to delve into the past and explore, but I Jenn/Jennifer am about really understanding that I am limitless and the past does not define me. This is so tough for me, but I believe this and I will always strive to find that place where I am completely at peace.

I feel best eating mostly vegetarian (some fish) and when I am active. For most of my adult life I have been really active, but it is those numerous portions that have kept me over weight. And so change is a good thing.

I came to the Wild Cats team because of Kama and all that she represents here at Buddyslim. I was gaining and my bum knee was getting me down. Now I feel good to know that in those times when I feel like letting it all go, I have a team to think about. That is just too cool.

I wish everyone health and happiness!

Omg, Jenn, You really humble me thank you. ((((((Jenn)))))

Wow! What great stories so far- I'm so excited to see so many of them so far- as I promised, I will do mine shortly- will probably be tomorrow however since my boss is suppposed to come in this afternoon! Thanks to those who have shared so far and I look forward to reading more!

Originally Posted by Betsy

Wow! What great stories so far- I'm so excited to see so many of them so far- as I promised, I will do mine shortly- will probably be tomorrow however since my boss is suppposed to come in this afternoon! Thanks to those who have shared so far and I look forward to reading more!

I really love this!

Originally Posted by FiestyKitty Kama

I really love this!

Me too!!

Hey WildCats. My name is Jenny, but sometimes I forget because I hardly get to be her anymore. I am usually Chauncey, Chelsea, or Corran's mom, or Ken's wife. I can't really remember being thin, but when I look at pictures of my first few years I know that I was for a short time. I am the oldest of four(Jessee 28, Jacob 26, and Jamee 22) and have always been what they call mature for my age. I have also always been quite tall....I can still remember in kindergarden taking a nap and having my feet hang over the mat. I think that around the time I hit the fourth grade my weight just ballooned....that was the time I also started my period. I think mother nature just took over from there. My dad worked for the phone company and my mom worked part time as an RN. She worked second shift, so a few nights a week she would be gone. I played mother to my younger siblings until dad got home. I hate to put the blame on my being overweight on anyone, but I think my dad(whom I love dearly) got the ball rolling for me. He was/is a huge control freak. I can remember coming home from school and cleaning the house spotless for when he came home. As soon as I heard his car come in the drive my stomach would ache. You never knew how dad was gonna come home.....the house could be a mess and he wouldn't say a word, or it could be spotless and he would still find a spot of something to complain about. Sometimes he would just come in like a tornado and sweep everything into one big pile dishes, clothes, anything. I turned to food as my comfort, my getaway. What I put in my mouth was the only thing that I had control over and boy did I control it!! The pounds just piled on and by the time I graduated from high school I was 280Lbs.
Around the time I was 16 I met Corey, who is the father of my children. After I had Chauncey, Corey became really controlling and than abusive. I stayed in that relationship for 8 years, because I thought noone else would want me. I had no self-esteem. I didn't even like myself. At 25 I walked away from him and never looked back. I also at that time managed to lose about 50lbs, so I was feeling real good about myself. I began to find out just who I was and what I wanted. I learned that other people may cause you problems, but you are just at fault if you continue to let them. I spent the next two years just being me, plus a mom. I had ballooned to around 350lbs by than, but joined WW in 2002 and by Feb of 2003 I was 313lbs.
In April of 2003, I met Ken. We fell in love instantly and have been going strong for the last five years. Of course in the last five years I have gained all the weight lost plus some back. When I joined BS I was 365lbs. However, for the first time in my life I feel like I am in total control and that I am unconditionally loved by someone. I took these steps again, by joining BS, towards weight loss, because I want to be around for a long time. I am so sick of hearing you would be so beautiful if you would just lose some weight...I am beautiful regardless. I want to be able to ride the roller coasters with my kids, go on a bike ride, play on a coed softball team, and be able to shop at any store without having to worry about if they have my size. I find myself saying no to a lot of things, because of my weight. Things that I know I would enjoy. My husband is what you would call an extrovert and of course me an intro, which I know is due to me being so heavy. Sometime I don't even want to leave the house. I would have to say now I feel totally commited to a new healthier me. I am so glad that I found BS. When I have no motivation you give it to me, when I feel crappy about something I ate, you put it into a better perspective. Someone the other day even told me that I am an inspiration to them. That is how I want to live my life and with you guys I feel like I can accomplish anything. Thanks so much....Jenny